Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 565 - 61 Mechanical Ascension (Part 2)
Water and fire are merciless, and the clash between Wu Zhiqi’s and Taotie’s high-ranking Yan Fu Heritages was especially prone to enormous upheavals. Yet, the moment the pure black flames of fury met the deep-sea ripples, it was as though two completely different colors overlaid in silence, everything without a sound.
This was the first time Li Yan had used the "Nine Variations of Calamity" in actual combat. The bursting black flames expanded continuously within the power of the Nine Variations of Calamity, nearly bursting through the pattern of ripples.
The Dragon Mane Jellyfish, the Seven-Treasure Saber Snout, the Ghost Horn Anglerfish... Countless strangely shaped creatures of the Water Lord Species swarmed forward, fearlessly charging into the Gluttonous Flames. Even though many were charred before advancing a few meters, being burnt to ashes, countless others followed in their wake, seeming endless, and actually managed to forcefully halt the expansion of "Gluttonous Rage."
The body of a hammerhead shark that had just been burnt to death vanished into thin air, only to be lively resurrected in Li Yan’s Water Lord Palace and charged once more towards the black inferno.
As long as Li Yan kept the ripples of the Nine Variations of Calamity open, all of the Water Lord Species, even if crushed to dust, could be instantly resurrected and thrown back into the fray.
In addition, the skill description of the Nine Variations of Calamity, which mentioned "dragging friend and foe alike into an irregular water sphere," actually meant pulling the opponent into a completely isolated alternate space. Once touched by the Nine Variations of Calamity, there was no argument of quickly pulling away to escape.
Wu Zhiqi was a great demon of the Huai River that caused calamities during Da Yu’s efforts to regulate the waters. The Calamity Demon Body and the Nine Variations of Calamity, the former being the preservation measure that even the heavenly deity Gengchen couldn’t kill the great demon Wu Zhiqi when captured, and the latter being Wu Zhiqi’s own life technique as he self-proclaimed as the Demon King of the Huai River, ruling over his realm with countless demons following his command.
"Gluttonous Rage" was fierce at first, then weakened, and finally exhausted. The relentless Water Lord Species gradually overwhelmed Cha Xiaodao, who was radiating golden light, with their fleshy bodies.
"..."
These creatures from the Abyssal Mouth were highly venomous, and being overwhelmed by them was almost equivalent to being sentenced to death. Yet, Li Yan showed not a hint of superfluous emotion, his eyes intently fixed on the faint glimmers of gold leaking out amidst the species.
Suddenly, Li Yan dived in a frenzied rush towards Cha Xiaodao, who was tightly enveloped by the species.
A blinding column of golden light pierced through the bodies of the species and even through the ripples of the Nine Variations of Calamity.
Dual Blades Martial Saint special effect: Mandate of Heaven Recruitment
Hero Cha would always find a way to survive from the brink of death. After bearing a fatal wound, he would revive in full state and gain the one-time skill "Invincible Hand," exchanging all reputation for a strike capable of turning away ghosts and spirits.
The intense shockwave plowed through every species within the Nine Variations of Calamity, nearly instantaneously killing them all.
Like a Golden Arhat, a shirtless Cha Xiaodao with bulging veins and muscles burning like a powder keg, emitted a terrifying aura. His cheeks moved up and down, clearly having just consumed something.
Bang!
His black hair and eyebrows flared up fiercely, with every pore ejecting a speck of black flame.
[Weekly Tribute Eight Delicacies: Cicada Cheese]
Legendary Chronicles · Gluttonous Rage!
Legendary Chronicles · Gluttonous Rage!
Legendary Chronicles · Gluttonous Rage!
...
In the silent Nine Variations of Calamity, wave after wave of terrifying black flame explosions occurred in succession. Cha Xiaodao unleashed Gluttonous Rage at least four times within the span of five breaths, and he showed no signs of stopping, intent on continuing. The watery ripples of the Nine Variations of Calamity were nearly evaporated, and aside from a few species that Li Yan did not release from the Water Lord Palace, the vast majority were completely exterminated, instantly burnt to ash by the high temperatures upon their resurrection and the moment they left the palace.
After all, Chef Cha was still Chef Cha. With a mouthful of the Weekly Tribute Eight Delicacies, he treated his ace in the hole, Gluttonous Rage, as if they were coins to be thrown away without care.
As black flames raged towards the heavens and the earth, Cha Xiaodao, bathed in the golden black flames, held an air of unparalleled arrogance. But gradually, the enhancing golden light of the Legendary Chronicles dissipated, his eyes filled with ruptured blood vessels, and a spreading blood mist. He suddenly rolled his eyes back, vomited a few bubbles from his mouth, and then passed out.
A bulge appeared on the skin of his back, indicating his spine had been forcefully broken; an injury that would be fatal for an ordinary person.
Even for Cha Xiaodao, such severe injuries were enough to rob him of most of his mobility.
Li Yan grabbed his neck and then hoisted the unconscious Cha Xiaodao onto his shoulder.
At this moment, Li Yan was nothing but a blurred mass of flesh, a charred skeleton. Horrific wounds oozing out ghastly white smoke covered him, and it wasn’t just his skin that was damaged but his internal organs had suffered greatly too. The sight of new flesh sprouting before one’s eyes only added a more eerie and terrifying flavor to the scene.
The river water nurtured Li Yan’s flesh and blood, and the Surgery Element was almost ineffective under these circumstances. If it had been Li Yan who had just entered this event, the best course of action would have been to immediately return, using Yan Fu points to treat his severe injuries, especially since Cha Xiaodao had already passed out. As long as he returned, the Super Ancient Ghost that was attached to him would be dispelled without great loss.
But for the Li Yan of now, such an ending was not necessary.
Because he had awakened Summer Yak.
At the time, Ramu Jue, with only more than half of his head left, was still able to hold a conversation with Li Yan, even under the damage of "The Pale Void," a forbidden item far more powerful than Gluttonous Flames.
Li Yan’s Summer Yak had just awakened. Naturally, he couldn’t reach that level yet, but given ten or so minutes, there would be no problem for him to appear completely unscathed.
————————————————
Bang!
St. Yves’s head hit the concrete wall at the very tip of Cupid Tower, the sweat on his face leaving muddy streaks as he cried and laughed like a madman.
Chang Yu looked up as the steam airships in the sky completely surrounded him. Tonight, San Francisco had lost its usual splendor. Looking down from the high tower, there were congested cars everywhere, ruins, black smoke, dark despair, and panicked crowds. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
"Is this what you wanted, Chang? Have you succeeded? Hahahaha..."
St. Yves’s legs trembled uncontrollably, surrounded by oil tanks and boxes marked with dangerous goods labels, the pungent smell of gunpowder spreading everywhere.
Chang pulled St. Yves up, dragging him to walk alongside him on the edge of the high tower; their four feet dangling in the air.
"Smoke?"
Chang Yu removed his mask, revealing his terrifying face.
St. Yves shakily accepted the cigarette Chang Yu handed him.
Chang Yu lit one for himself as well and then offered the lighter to St. Yves, speaking to himself, "You know, sir, in the days right after the new law was enacted, I made countless excuses for myself. I was reflecting."
He gestured toward the city packed with resplendent buildings.
"Why does this city reject us so? Because of our different skin color? But wasn’t the recent war supposed to have liberated people of color? I thought, maybe it’s because of different cultures—we don’t believe in God. But why only target Chinese people? There are other Asian ethnic groups that don’t believe in God either. I really rationalized the new law."
Chang Yu’s expression became terrifying, "I thought, is it because we don’t join in strikes, don’t fight for workers’ rights, so the Irish see us as scabs? Is it because, in the past, our votes were easily bought by factory owners with small favors, destroying the great democracy of San Francisco, so we were deprived of the vote? Because we believe in ’fallen leaves return to their roots,’ many of us came here only to make money to send back home, without intending to live here long-term, so we are ostracized. I even haughtily thought, out of so many foreigners, why these people? That must mean there is something wrong with these people themselves. I used every excuse in the book to defend the new law, to defend myself."
He stared intently at St. Yves, "Think about it, how shameless am I? My own people die in a foreign land without a fair trial, the murderers roam free, and what am I doing? I try to pin the blame on those wrongfully deceased souls! I argue that it’s because they don’t understand democracy, they’re ignorant and numb, so they are excluded."
Chang Yu suddenly fell silent, painfully rubbing his hair and the wounds on his face: "I understand better than them what democracy and human rights are, yet I’m the one besmirching my compatriots. The knowledge I took pride in has made me the most shameless bastard."
His fingers stained with patches of blood, Chang Yu composed himself for a while, then smiling at St. Yves said, "Whether I admit it or not, those innocent spirits...and the culprits behind them, including me and you, will slowly be forgotten. Perhaps future generations of San Francisco will truly accept us. Don’t you think so, sir?"
Scared by Chang Yu’s maniacal behavior, St. Yves forced a smile, "Maybe, I aaahhh!"
Mid-sentence, St. Yves was pushed off the top of the tower by Chang Yu. His body struggled helplessly in mid-air before plummeting, the wind lingering long, eventually ending his life with a dull thud and a splash of blood.
"It’s over, sir, everything’s over."
