Chapter 702 - 148: Black Fog (Part 2)

"Of course it’s a big deal. It took him years to recover his Duality-level strength, and now he’s reached the Second Transition after just a half-month trip," Guk Liancai chimed in.

Gan Zili paused, glared at Guk Liancai, and said, "You, shut up!"

"I..." Guk Liancai, who was about to pick a fight, saw all three of them staring at him and wisely shut his mouth.

Gan Zili turned back, dispensed with the pleasantries, and looked at Zhang Deming. "Junior Brother, we called you here today for three reasons."

Zhang Deming looked at Gan Zili and said, "Go on, Senior Brother."

"First, that was quite a commotion just now. We thought you might have reached the Three Talents realm, so we called you over to see. After all, a Three Talents Cultivator is perfectly qualified to be a Peak Master, which would mean less hassle for you," Gan Zili said.

Zhang Deming heard the implied question, glanced at the three of them, and smiled. "Although my Cultivation is recovering quickly, I’m still some distance from the Three Talents realm. This is a rebirth, after all. The body needs time to grow.

As for the commotion, it’s because my Second Transition’s Branch Rune is similar to Senior Brother Guk’s—it belongs to the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends. When I was recovering to the Second Transition just now, I also happened to advance to the Law Level, which caused some unique changes.

The combination of the two created the disturbance you just saw."

Hearing this, all three of their expressions shifted. Guk Liancai asked, "Junior Brother, does that mean you’re a Divine Power Cultivator too?"

Zhang Deming shook his head. "I’m not as capable as you, Senior Brother. My Rune Core is an Ordinary Technique. It’s only the Branch Rune from my Second Transition that extends toward the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends."

"Why wouldn’t that be called a Divine Power Cultivator? By your logic, the three of us also became Spirit Nurturing Masters through a similar method. Wouldn’t that mean we’re all just frauds?" Guk Liancai retorted.

’I... Forget it... Just pretend I never said anything.’

Zhang Deming gave Guk Liancai a look of utter exasperation and said bluntly, "Senior Brother Guk, I just got back, and I’ve been run ragged by the disciples from the Ministry of Rites for the past two days. I’m truly exhausted."

Guk Liancai faltered. Gan Zili and Yuee Mengsheng both had amused smiles on their faces.

"As for the second matter..."

Gan Zili waved his hand, and a Light Screen appeared before the four of them. At first, the screen was pitch-black, and the sound of heavy panting could be heard.

Watching the black screen and listening to the suggestive panting, Zhang Deming’s expression twitched slightly.

Guk Liancai gave Gan Zili a strange look, about to open his mouth, but Gan Zili must have guessed he wasn’t about to say anything pleasant. He’d been staring daggers at Guk Liancai ever since activating the Light Screen.

And so, the four of them watched the black Light Screen, each with a different expression on their face.

BOOM—

A silver light flashed across the screen, and the huge, sudden clap of thunder made even Yuee Mengsheng and the other two flinch.

"Aah...!"

A cry of alarm rang out. As the lightning flashed, the black screen slowly revealed a silhouette. The three of them saw a blurry figure suddenly fall to the ground. They now understood the earlier panting was from someone fleeing for their life.

ROAR—

An earth-shattering roar echoed amidst the thunder and lightning. Illuminated by a flash, the figure of a Primordial Chaos Alien Species—an Azure-Backed Xiaotian Wolf—appeared in the rainy night.

As the lightning flashed more frequently, the scene gradually brightened. The Demon Wolf’s entire body radiated an extremely powerful aura, suffused with the air of an ancient Demon Beast. An intense, oppressive feeling washed over them.

And in front of it, Pei Xiaoxiao’s delicate figure lay fallen on the ground. The rain had turned the earth to mud, soiling her white robes and lending her perfect features a pitiful look that tugged at the heartstrings.

Just then, a figure flew in from the horizon. Zhang Deming arrived on the battlefield, his expression indifferent. The Demon Wolf watched him warily and froze in place.

With that same indifferent expression, Zhang Deming ignored the Demon Wolf. He looked at the collapsed form of Pei Xiaoxiao and murmured dispassionately, "Faced with such peril, do you still wish to pursue the Immortal Dao?"

Pei Xiaoxiao looked up with a stubborn expression. "Immortal Master, my heart is set on the Immortal Dao. I would face ten thousand deaths without regret!"

"Sigh..." Zhang Deming let out an indifferent sigh. "So be it. All cause and effect are a matter of karma. Since it has come to this, I shall give you a chance. The result, however, will depend on your own Karma Technique."

With that, Zhang Deming flipped his hand over. The shot zoomed in for a close-up on several Spirit Nurturing Beads before he tossed them into Pei Xiaoxiao’s mouth.

Pei Xiaoxiao was completely stunned. Without any of the usual phenomena, like overflowing Spiritual Light forming a hollow sphere, she simply began to float. She was instantly transported back to the scene of her Enlightenment Dao.

She then became a Duality Extreme Path Cultivator. Her attacks were powerful and explosively fierce; she cut down the Demon Wolf in just a few strikes.

Immediately after, Spiritual Power surged through Pei Xiaoxiao’s body. The cicada-like wings on her back trembled gently. She resembled a Fairy in the rain, a stark contrast to her previous state.

She approached Zhang Deming and bowed respectfully. "I thank you for your aid, Immortal Master. May I ask your name, so I may remember it always? I will surely repay you for your kindness today."

"I am Zhang Deming, one of the Four Peak Masters of the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Spirit Nurturing Peak, and a Spirit Nurturing Master. I helped you today because of the karma between us. If you have nowhere else to go, and you are willing, you may follow me from now on," Zhang Deming said dispassionately.

Hearing this, Pei Xiaoxiao’s face lit up with joy. She immediately nodded and said, "I am willing!"

Zhang Deming then led Pei Xiaoxiao away, flying toward the horizon. The rainy night, the flashing lightning, and the rolling thunder stretched the shadows of the large and small figures. The scene continued until all that remained were the blurry silhouettes of a pair of Light Wings and a pair of cicada wings. Only then did the image freeze, becoming an eternal scroll etched into the minds of all who watched.

Then, the screen went dark once more, and an alluring voice sounded out.