Chapter 639: 100 Long Years

Chapter 639: Chapter 6: 100 Long Years

Back on Earth, it was because Spiritual Qi was cut off that they had to use generators. Otherwise, with such an advanced civilization built on Spiritual Power, why would they ever need to develop a new power source?

“This might be my fault…”

Su Zhou had a theory to address Shao Qiming’s confusion. He told him how he had given a hand-cranked generator to Mo Ganxiu, one of the ‘Skilled Craftsmen’ who had helped forge the Divine Blade. It was meant to charge the Thunderstruck Wood within the blade. “They probably realized that a True Qi Furnace could generate electricity. After they used it to charge that rare Thunder Element Spiritual Material, they must have gone down that particular tech tree…”

“You can’t be so careless next time! Who knows what sort of creations time will catalyze.”

In response, Shao Qiming could only caution Su Zhou, “A hand-cranked generator is one thing, but if you’d accidentally left behind something like a smartphone, this world might have turned into some kind of True Qi cyberpunk setting… It wouldn’t even be surprising if it became Super Robot Wars!”

Su Zhou said, “My bad. I’ll be careful next time, I promise.”

Originally, Su Zhou and Shao Qiming had planned to wander around the city some more and observe the various facets of life in the Human World—which could be considered a form of Cultivation. After all, observing the creations of an Otherworld’s civilization was an excellent way to broaden one’s horizons and way of thinking.

But soon enough, because they were wandering around in the middle of winter without padded jackets or mobility machines, the two suspicious individuals were quickly noticed and put under surveillance by the local Patrol.

Ten minutes later, Su Zhou—who was in the middle of critiquing the technique of a barbershop that used a Wind Element Martial Art to cut its customers’ hair—and Shao Qiming—who was observing what the locals liked to eat and how it differed from Earth—found their path blocked by several Patrol officers on specialized police-issue mobility machines.

The police mobility machine was actually similar to Exoskeleton Armor. It had a large L-shape, with towering Protective Walls shielding the Patrol officer’s sides and a translucent plastic shield in front to defend against impacts, making it look very safe and sturdy.

Facing two men who were clearly at the Innate Tier, the lead Patrol officer’s tone was extremely polite.

“Gentlemen, we have no record of any Martial Saints entering the area… As you know, Innate Martial Saints are required to report to the local authorities when they travel.”

Although the number of Innate Martial Artists was no longer as rare as in the past, they were still called Martial Saints. This was the Formal official term, which led to the popular joke among the people of Tianzheng: ‘Grandmasters are a dime a dozen, and Martial Saints are everywhere.’ However, when most people actually came face-to-face with an Innate Level expert, they could clearly sense that these were higher beings whose very life forms were on a completely different level from their own.

“Could you… please show me your ‘Martial Artist Certificates’?”

In response to the Patrol officers’ cautious question, Su Zhou and Shao Qiming exchanged a look.

‘Didn’t you prepare tools for forging documents?’

‘I did, but I’ve never seen a real one. To make a copy, you at least have to give me a prototype.’

‘I didn’t expect this world’s identification system to be so complete. You know, back on Earth, over in Fusang, it was almost 2017 and they still hadn’t sorted out their national ID card system.’

Seeing as things had come to this, Su Zhou had no intention of hiding anything. He held up a hand, stopping the cautionary words Shao Qiming was about to say, and spoke bluntly, “Sorry, I’m not from around here, so I don’t have a Martial Artist Certificate. But don’t worry, I’m not here to cause trouble.”

The Patrol officers were now on high alert, their hands already resting on the weapons at their sides. The civilians, meanwhile, had begun to disperse on their own, looking quite practiced as if they were used to seeing Martial Artists fight. To all of them, Su Zhou offered a bright, friendly smile. “But, I’d like to ask, how do you usually handle Martial Artists without a Martial Artist Certificate? Do you suppress them on the spot or take them in for questioning?”

“Uh, because those without a Martial Artist Certificate are usually separatist lunatics or remnants of the Undying Sect, we would immediately call for reinforcements and then suppress them on the spot.”

The Patrol captain, who had already retreated several dozen meters and formed a defensive formation with his men, was incredibly wary. Seeing Su Zhou’s good-natured smile, however, he wavered slightly. He thought for a moment, then frowned and answered seriously, “But if you’re really willing to come back with us for an investigation, then of course we don’t have to use force. We can negotiate peacefully…”

To be honest, the Patrol officers naturally didn’t want to fight. The combat power of an Innate Level expert was far beyond what a few Patrol squads could handle. If they were forced into a direct confrontation, reinforcements aside, those present would certainly die.

And who wants to die?

‘Separatists and the Undying Sect? More new intel.’ Su Zhou nodded slightly. He was planning to ask a few more questions to fish for information before simply flying off.

But very quickly, one of the Patrol officers seemed to receive a notification. He pulled a mirror-like Magical Artifact from his coat and stared at the shifting patterns of light on its surface for a good while.

After reading the message, he was first taken aback, then nodded at the mirror with extreme respect. He had clearly received instructions from a superior.

Then, he handed the mirror to his captain.

“So that’s how it is?!”

After looking at the instructions on the mirror for a moment, the captain was also stunned. He looked up, his gaze on the friendly-faced Su Zhou and Shao Qiming filled with shock and uncertainty. Then he raised his hand, signaling for his men to stand down.

He then stepped forward and said, somewhat bewildered, “Gentlemen, it’s all right now… A team from the ‘Demon Suppression Bureau’ will be here shortly to receive you… I’m very sorry for interrupting your vacation! But we were only acting out of concern for public safety.”

This statement immediately set off a flurry of whispers from the surrounding onlookers, who had been expecting to see a duel between Martial Artists.

“The Demon Suppression Bureau? The one that supposedly suppressed all the remnants of the old Demon Dynasty and wiped out all who later tried to harness the Power of Undying?”

“Isn’t that just something made up for movies and TV shows? The Demon Suppression Bureau actually exists?” a younger voice asked.

“Of course it’s real. Back in the day, it was agents from the Demon Suppression Bureau who went to the Hundred Thousand Mountains and East Japan to eradicate all those Demons and Evils… It’s just that the world has been at peace in recent years, so the Bureau hasn’t been deployed in a long time,” an older voice explained.

“So those two are from the Demon Suppression Bureau? They look too young…”

“Didn’t you hear they’re Innate Experts? It must be Rejuvenation… But don’t they say all those masters who’ve undergone Rejuvenation have crane-white hair and youthful faces, like beautiful boys and girls with white hair…?”

“It’s fine. We don’t mind.”

Su Zhou and Shao Qiming were both slightly taken aback. They looked at each other, clearly confused as to when they had become members of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

But soon, they realized what must have happened.

‘I didn’t expect my acquaintance to react so quickly. Looks like someone is still alive after all.’

Understanding the meaning behind this turn of events, Su Zhou couldn’t help but smile slightly. “I wonder how many are still alive, but Zhou Buyi should be one of them.”

Shao Qiming, however, shook his head. He checked the anti-surveillance system in his drone with a puzzled expression. “Strange. I didn’t detect any surveillance, and there are no security cameras here.”

“Look at that mirror. They must be using Mirror Spirit communication. This world’s technology is completely different from ours on Earth. Their methods of surveillance are probably different too, and might even involve things like scrying and Prophecy,” Su Zhou explained. Being more experienced, he knew more about such things and wasn’t surprised.

Soon, one minute and forty seconds later, the waiting pair sensed something unusual.

WHOOSH! With a rush of wind, a small, snow-white, unmarked Flying Airship descended directly from the sky. It landed before Su Zhou and Shao Qiming like falling snow, bringing with it a gentle breeze.

Five fully-armed Demon Suppression Bureau Specialists, clad in white uniforms and masks, strode out from within.

All five Demon Suppression Bureau Specialists possessed the power of Awakening Peak. Their leader seemed to study them for a moment, then bowed respectfully to Su Zhou and even extended a hand in a guiding gesture.

“Lord Su, please, this way.”

His tone was filled with sincere respect. “An old friend of yours asked me to relay a message: ‘After a hundred long years, why have you suddenly returned without notice?'”

“He is very happy and is waiting for you now.”