MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 180
The gulf between humans and zombies was unbridgeable. Lu Ming harbored no mercy for those who sought to harm him.
As his smile widened, a wave of despair washed over Shin Kanazawa and Yamanaka Hitomi. Their pleading eyes met his, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Lu Ming's hand moved, weaving the intricate patterns of the Weapon Transformation Technique. A sleek, 1.2-meter long sword materialized in his grasp.
Without a word, he swung.
The Atomic Sword Technique's incandescent blade arced through the air like a crescent moon.
Lu Ming had honed both the Physique Realm Origin Power Skill and the Atomic Sword Technique to perfection. The power of a Physique Realm skill dwarfed that of a Mortal Realm skill, and it showed.
As the sword light swept through the air, time seemed to freeze. With flawless control, Lu Ming's blade sliced through every zombie, leaving none untouched.
The scene hung in suspended animation.
Lu Ming calmly sheathed his sword and turned to leave.
Only after he had retreated a distance did the true horror unfold. The sword light, like insidious maggots, began to glow from within the wounds it had inflicted.
The Atomic Sword Technique's energy clung and spread, inexorably consuming the zombies' bodies.
With a soft whisper, the zombies, enveloped in the radiant sword light, crumbled into ashes. It was as if they had been incinerated, their forms dissipating into the wind, leaving no trace behind.
This was the terrifying power of the Atomic Sword Technique at the atomic level – an unstoppable, irreversible death sentence.
Of course, the disparity in strength played a role. Lu Ming's mastery of the Atomic Sword Technique was another factor. The difficulty of cultivating Physique Realm Origin Power Skills meant that few could achieve such a level of perfection.
In conclusion, with the zombies reduced to ashes, the incident seemed to have reached a temporary conclusion.
However, upon Lu Ming's return to the Nanxiang gathering place, the repercussions of this event quickly became apparent.
"This situation is quite complicated..." Velo remarked, his brow furrowed in concern.
Lu Ming continued to replenish his energy with exotic beast meat, patiently waiting for Velo to elaborate.
Velo's voice broke through Lu Ming's thoughts.
"The nearest Undead Clan gathering place is the Blood Flame Sect."
No one present knew of its destruction yet.
"And those zombies from Tokyo were likely incorporated into the Blood Flame Sect..."
"They are tribulation transcenders. Due to their value, neither the Blood Flame Sect nor the Undead Clan will let this incident slide."
It was a classic case of prioritizing the bigger picture.
The world operated on a harsh logic. Regardless of who was right or wrong, if the weak were bullied, the strong would retaliate – it was a matter of survival.
This was the reality that frustrated Lu Ming.
After a moment of silence, Lu Ming couldn't help but ask, "How strong is the Blood Flame Sect?"
Velo's expression turned grim. "They have a Spirit Realm expert overseeing them."
Lu Ming's frustration intensified.
Even the weakest Level 9 Physique Realm expert, in theory, possessed three-dimensional attributes vastly exceeding his – a level Lu Ming couldn't currently match.
Spirit Realm experts were even more insurmountable, like towering mountains he could only gaze upon from afar.
But could Lu Ming be blamed?
He was merely defending himself.
If he hadn't retaliated against those who sought to harm him, he would have faced dire consequences.
"That's why I suggest relocating," Huo Sheng interjected, resuming their earlier conversation. He looked at Lu Ming, his gaze steady. "We were interrupted by those zombies earlier, but I believe it's crucial to reiterate my point."
"Nanxiang should relocate as a whole and settle within the Hundred Thousand Mountains."
Velo's expression remained neutral. As an outsider, he couldn't offer much advice to Huo Sheng. However, given the circumstances, relocating to the Hundred Thousand Mountains seemed like a reasonable course of action.
Lu Ming had no strong objections.
This wasn't his original home, so moving wasn't a major burden for him.
But a flicker of unease crossed his face as he recalled Huo Sheng's earlier request for his help and the mention of the Aeonians.
"You're not suggesting that I cross the Hundred Thousand Mountains to find the Aeonians, are you?"
Lu Ming didn't mind relocating, but traversing the treacherous Hundred Thousand Mountains was a different matter entirely.
He needed a stable environment to cultivate his attributes. With Bear Mountain surrounded by enemies, it was no longer a suitable place to stay.
However, in Lu Ming's view, staying put seemed more stable than venturing into the uncharted Hundred Thousand Mountains.
The treacherous route wasn't called difficult for nothing!
Huo Sheng, sensing Lu Ming's hesitation, quickly reassured him with a smile. "Where did you get that idea?"
He knew Lu Ming well and wouldn't suggest something he'd outright reject.
"What I meant," Huo Sheng clarified, "is that I want Brother Lu to lead the youngest, most promising, and most elite force from Nanxiang to establish a foothold within the Hundred Thousand Mountains. You would become the beacon of hope, the last flame of our Nanxiang people."
Huo Sheng had previously mentioned his intention to disperse the current Nanxiang population and reorganize them into smaller, more manageable groups, not wanting to risk everything on a single venture.
Lu Ming represented the largest and safest "basket" Huo Sheng had prepared for the people of Nanxiang.
Moreover, ever since learning the secret of the Heaven Ascension Stairs, Huo Sheng knew that Lu Ming was the Earthlings' greatest hope for ascension.
He couldn't put Lu Ming in harm's way.
Hearing Huo Sheng's revised proposal, Lu Ming's expression softened.
He tentatively inquired, "Then who will undertake the journey across the Hundred Thousand Mountains?"
This question indicated that Lu Ming had accepted Huo Sheng's arrangement.
Huo Sheng offered a wry smile. "Colonel Bai and Duan Mei... Who else could it be?"
The course of worldly events was often shaped by chance and coincidence.
Here in Nanxiang, preparations for relocation were already underway. The community remained blissfully unaware that Hachima An and his companions were deserters from the Blood Flame Sect, which had been decimated by the Insect Clan.
They had no knowledge of the impending war between the Insect Clan and the Undead Clan, triggered by the Queen of Blades. Nor did they know that Prince Hao Lie of the Giant Clan was mobilizing his forces, preparing to cross Bear Mountain and join the fray – a very real threat to the people of Nanxiang...
However, this threat wasn't considered a major concern.
Nanxiang was too weak, holding no value as prey, and the status of being a transcender was no longer important to the Mother Tree's collaborators.
They were also unaware that while the major threat had subsided, smaller ones still lingered.
At the foot of Black Feather Mountain...
Apelo emerged from Hao Lie's grand tent, his expression grim. The fading sunlight seemed to cast a long shadow over him.
First, his ally had become entangled with their sworn enemies.
Then, he had sought an audience with Hao Lie, hoping to secure some Heavenly Stairs qualifications for the Black Feather Tribe. But he had grossly overestimated his importance in Hao Lie's eyes.
Yes, the Mother Tree was impressive and could grant access to the Heavenly Stairs.
But even Apelo's own tribe hadn't received all the qualifications they desired. How could Hao Lie possibly give them to an outsider like him?
"You, Black Feather Tribe, will just have to wait." Hao Lie's voice echoes in Apelo's mind "As for when that will be, it's hard to say."
Apelo understood Hao Lie's intentions all too well. Returning to his dwelling, he contemplated his options and made a decision.