Chapter 548 - 547: Stranger in the Ruins

Chapter 548: Chapter 547: Stranger in the Ruins

This sudden turn of events terrified Duan Qiao.

It wasn’t trying to steal it—the Spatial Power had come on its own.

’They won’t blame me, will they?’

After a moment’s thought, Duan Qiao hid behind Sweet Potato so that the little beast could absorb some of it too.

’There’s safety in numbers, after all. Two of us are safer than just one.’

But to Duan Qiao’s surprise, the Spatial Power bypassed Sweet Potato completely and surged into its body once more.

Duan Qiao: "..."

’Is this a plot to get me killed?’

’Am I being framed?’

Duan Qiao grew nervous. If the Great Demon saw this and got annoyed, it was all over.

’For instance, he’s obviously the stronger one, so why wouldn’t the Spatial Power go to him?’

’If the Great Demon starts thinking that way,’ Duan Qiao thought, ’I’m dead. I’m really, truly dead.’

At this tense and frantic moment, Jiang Zuo appeared. He stared at Duan Qiao, then began to approach, one step at a time.

Duan Qiao felt like its heart was about to leap out of its chest. (It didn’t have a heart.)

It immediately rushed up to Jiang Zuo and stammered, "This... it... it just flooded in on its own! I don’t know anything!"

Jiang Zuo nodded, then picked up Sweet Potato. "I know. I’m the one who did it."

"I know it’s my fault, I... huh?"

Duan Qiao froze. ’The Great Demon did this?’

’He was being that nice?’

Then, Duan Qiao began to understand. The man simply couldn’t care less about this stuff.

Its own perspective and his were worlds apart.

Things it cared about, the Great Demon generally ignored. The only things that could make the Great Demon care...

...were usually things the mistress cared about, or things directly related to her.

Well, that was a relief. Duan Qiao sighed. Its life was safe.

No big deal.

On the bright side, its Spatial Power was growing stronger. Soon, it might even be able to fish across space.

Once it recovered to its peak, it would be able to fish across the All Heavens.

It would have piles of treasures then. Who on the balcony could possibly compete with it?

While Duan Qiao was absorbing the Spatial Power, Sweet Potato was still being held by Jiang Zuo.

Trembling, Sweet Potato offered the apple to Jiang Zuo. This time, it really wanted him to eat it.

"Squeak," Sweet Potato cried out painfully.

Jiang Zuo frowned. ’Am I still that scary?’

He placed Sweet Potato on his shoulder and ignored it.

Just then, the Jinling Loach returned. The moment it arrived, it cried out in shock, "What happened here? Did space collapse?"

The Jinling Loach quickly spotted Duan Qiao absorbing Spatial Power and was immediately disgruntled. "Why am I out there fighting for my life while she just reaps the rewards for free?"

Not that it could necessarily absorb the Spatial Power even if it had the chance, so it just snorted coldly.

There was no point in arguing.

Mainly, it was because the man shot it a glance, and the Jinling Loach didn’t dare say another word.

’I wonder if I should just gouge my own eyes out.’

On second thought, maybe not. It wasn’t Yongxi, who had to cut off a piece of itself just to get by.

Jiang Zuo looked over at the Stone Staircase Spirit. "Send us out."

The stele immediately replied, "Yes, Senior."

Jiang Zuo didn’t leave with Ximen Chuihuo. His task was already complete.

Ximen Chuihuo, on the other hand, still had much to do.

The Jinling Loach hesitated before asking, "Is the Heaven-Burning Spirit Beast really dead?"

Jiang Zuo paused for a moment. "Who knows," he finally said.

The Jinling Loach said, "Then I’ll have to stay here. I’m sort of part of the Spiritual Control Sect now, so I might as well help guard the place."

Besides, it was idle anyway, and it wasn’t easily corrupted.

’Well, mainly it’s because a lot of my old comrades who were sealed back then are still here. With everyone around, there’ll be things to do.’

’Getting into a few fights now and then should be interesting.’

Being alone was just too boring. The Jinling Loach was definitely staying.

However, it couldn’t just leave the mountain as it pleased anymore. It was famous now; going out wouldn’t be as easy as it used to be.

’It seems I’ve suddenly become the Spiritual Control Sect’s strongest Spirit Beast.’

’Wow, this feels great.’

’Finally, I’m not at the bottom of the food chain anymore.’

Jiang Zuo couldn’t care less about the Jinling Loach staying behind.

Now that it had used its power, the problem outside was essentially solved.

And since the Jinling Loach was now part of the Spiritual Control Sect, its people should be pleased.

Afterward, Jiang Zuo left the mountain peak with Duan Qiao and Sweet Potato.

The stele only transported them to the foot of the mountain; any farther would have been a strain for it.

Although it could leave the stone staircase, it seemed unable to leave the mountain itself.

Jiang Zuo glanced back at the mountain and saw that the Restriction Array hadn’t sustained much damage.

It would automatically recover before long.

But when Jiang Zuo stepped off the mountain, he found that the world outside had changed. It was nothing but a field of ruins.

Only the mountain itself remained standing.

’This has nothing to do with me, right?’

He hadn’t expected this. He had only come here to deal with the Spirit Beast problem, so how did the entire Spiritual Control Sect get wiped out?

’Was the Spiritual Control Sect really that fragile?’

He remembered the sect having a few decent members.

’They probably weren’t at the sect grounds.’

As for what had actually happened, he had no idea.

In his past life, he had killed powerful members of the Spiritual Control Sect, anyway.

Jiang Zuo put Duan Qiao and Sweet Potato away. There were some powerful auras lingering in the area.

Duan Qiao was currently absorbing Spatial Power and Sweet Potato was also weak, so it was better to put them away.

Then, Jiang Zuo started walking away. With this matter resolved, he could head straight home.

The sky was about to lighten.

He could get back just in time for bed and sleep through to the next day.

As Jiang Zuo walked, the Innate Qi in his body swirled around him, absorbing the residual energy in the air.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Zuo also took out the Battle Spirit Stele.

The moment the Battle Spirit Stele appeared, it also began to absorb the energy, feeding it back to Jiang Zuo.

The amount was enormous.

If he were to wander around the area for a while, he could probably advance several minor Realms.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have that much time to waste.

As Jiang Zuo was making his way out, Sect Leader Ximen entered the ruins alone.

He needed to confirm the situation here for himself; otherwise, he wouldn’t know what to do next.

He didn’t trust anyone else to come in, and none of them were as fast as him anyway.

More importantly, this was a chance for him to check on his son.

As he reached the central area, he sensed another person’s aura.

A stranger’s.

Sect Leader Ximen frowned. The presence of a stranger’s aura here was not a good sign.

He stopped, waiting quietly for the person to approach.

That’s right—the person was heading straight for him. They must have detected him as well.

In that case, there was no point in hiding.

Soon, Sect Leader Ximen saw the approaching person’s silhouette. It was a dark figure, yet it gave off the feeling of being the master of all shadows.

Sect Leader Ximen’s pupils contracted. In that single instant, he could confirm that this person was anything but ordinary.

As the dark figure drew nearer, Sect Leader Ximen’s frown deepened.

Without even realizing it, he found he had lost all will to resist.

This person... was simply terrifying.

Soon, the person emerged from the shadows. It was a young man.

A strange smile played on his lips. The moment Sect Leader Ximen saw it, he didn’t know why, but he suddenly felt the air grow cold.