Chapter 104: Chapter 13: So You’re the Actual Protagonist
Mo Ganxiu was on his way to the Volcanic Celestial Pool to deliver the Divine Monk Relics for the forging of the Divine Soldiers. Meanwhile, Fang Hui the Martial Monk and the Swordsman Liuu Xizhao, both injured by Su Zhou, were being taken away for treatment by several disciples from the Medical School. Only Zhou Buyi’s injuries were relatively light, so he was acting as a guide in the camp, explaining the current situation to Su Zhou.
"Our faction was originally hidden deep undercover. We specifically infiltrated Liaozhou, a region where the Demon Dynasty’s influence is relatively weak and whose mountainous areas are almost uninhabited. We planned to borrow the power of the Taibai Volcano to forge the Divine Soldiers. This was supposed to be a top-secret matter, something we could have accomplished quietly without attracting any attention."
’But there was a traitor, wasn’t there?’
Hearing this, Su Zhou, who had read countless novels and played countless games, knew exactly what was coming. And sure enough, Zhou Buyi’s next words were just as he’d expected. The Early-Aged Swordsman placed a hand on the hilt of his sword and sighed. "But a traitor somewhere leaked the news... Sigh... Young Hero Su, as you know, the temptation to regenerate limbs, heal hidden injuries, and gain a long life... what ordinary Martial Artist could resist such a chance to reach a higher level?"
"Decades have passed. The older generation, who shared a blood feud with the Demon Dynasty, has gradually withered away. And while the new generation has been educated about the past, there are always some who can’t resist temptation and turn traitor, throwing themselves into the Demon Dao for one reason or another."
Su Zhou could tell that no matter how much Zhou Buyi tried to suppress it, his voice was filled with a deep, unforgettable hatred whenever he mentioned the "Demon Dynasty." Seemingly noticing Su Zhou’s curiosity, the white-robed Swordsman gave a bitter smile, then said with self-deprecation, "Of course, I happen to be one of those in the new generation who holds an immense grudge against the Demon Dynasty."
He then briefly explained his life story.
"Your story... that’s quite something!"
After listening, Su Zhou had the strange realization that this guy he had defeated and captured for questioning was probably the true protagonist of this world!
Zhou Buyi’s father was originally a court guard for the Anx Dynasty, a core member who had been granted an Undying Root. But he was unwilling to devour the flesh and blood of the common people to sustain himself. Tormented by this, he plotted for decades. One day, he seized the ’Nameless Blade’—forged by the Great National Master of the Anx Dynasty—from within the court and fled the Southern Celestial Capital.
This Nameless Ritual Blade was forged from Earth Vein Flame Iron. It was the Magical Artifact the Emperor of the Anx Dynasty used to sever the Primordial Divine Wood’s Air Roots for transplanting the Undying Bloodline. The Ritual Blade could also suppress the Divine Wood’s self-healing powers to a degree, and it was used to quickly kill Exotic Beasts derived from the tree, such as the Water Purifying Centipede and the Yang Flame Cicada.
This Nameless Ritual Blade was the prototype for the ’Blade of Annihilation’. By deconstructing this blade, the upper echelons of the Hundred Schools reverse-engineered the weakness of the Divine Wood’s Undying Power. From there, they designed the ’Blade of Annihilation’—a Divine Soldier that, in a sense, was the perfect counter to the Power of Undying.
’Annihilation’ signifies ’Nirvana’—a state beyond birth and death. The main body of the Blade of Annihilation is forged from Earth Vein Flame Iron and Celestial Meteorite Crystal, with Thunderstruck Wood and High Monk Nirvana Relics used as supplementary materials. Furthermore, over a dozen rare Spiritual Materials are processed into Ink Jade Golden Gang Sand, which is used to inscribe a Divine Power Talisman capable of the ’Immortal Slayer’ effect. Even for the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army, which already controls half the world, forging this Divine Soldier requires their full, combined effort.
"This is already a weapon of the Extraordinary Level."
Yara explained to Su Zhou telepathically, "According to the local terminology, they intend to use their Postnatal bodies to borrow the Heaven and Earth Power of this Taibai Volcanic Celestial Pool to forge a specialized weapon. It will be an Innate High-level Weapon of fire and lightning attributes, designed to slay the undying. If someone at Awakening Peak were to wield it, they could probably kill an Initial Stage Innate expert."
Although Su Zhou didn’t really have a concept of the ’Extraordinary Level’, he could imagine how powerful something a whole major realm above him would be. He nodded with understanding, which prompted Zhou Buyi to nod in return.
But what happened next wasn’t so fortunate.
Although Zhou Buyi’s parents succeeded in sending out the Ritual Blade and various court secret techniques, they were both killed by pursuers from the Anx Dynasty. The story goes that they had their Undying Roots peeled away bit by bit with small knives, their flesh and blood drained, and were then thrown into a pool of acid to dissolve alive... Not only that, but over the past dozen years, countless friends of Zhou Buyi have also died miserable deaths at the hands of Demon Soldiers. It was no wonder his hatred ran so deep.
Zhou Buyi himself found shelter with the Rebel Army. He studied the teachings of the Hundred Schools from a young age. Although his master was a Daoist School Grandmaster, Zhou Buyi didn’t confine himself to a single discipline. At just twenty-four, he had mastered over a dozen Secret Sword Techniques, and his Inner Qi Cultivation was approaching the Grandmaster Realm.
In this world, human lifespans were longer due to the nourishment of Spiritual Qi, and their peak period, starting from age twenty, lasted a full thirty to forty years. Zhou Buyi was expected to reach the Grandmaster realm before thirty, meaning he could naturally advance to the Innate realm before his peak years were over. He was regarded as a prodigy of the Current World. His master, Li Daoran, gave him the courtesy name ’Buyi’, valuing his talent and hoping he would ’not stray from his own path’, focus on his cultivation, and enter the Innate realm as soon as possible.
"Of course, compared to you, Young Hero Su, my accomplishments are nothing." At this, Zhou Buyi gave Su Zhou a cupped-fist salute in sincere admiration. He had no choice but to be convinced; a Grandmaster before the age of twenty would probably become a Great Grandmaster before twenty as well. If someone like that didn’t reach the Innate realm, it would mean the heavens were blind.
The reason the Hundred Schools’ Righteous Army was so desperate to forge the Divine Soldier, despite holding a slight advantage on the main battlefield, was because they feared that if the war dragged on, the Demon Dynasty faction—with their longer lifespans and peak periods—would eventually produce an Innate Expert through sheer attrition of time.
And according to the records passed down by the various schools and sects, if such an existence truly appeared, an Innate Expert would be unrivaled across a thousand miles in the Human World. A single one of them was worth an army of a million soldiers.
"Not at all, you flatter me." After hearing Zhou Buyi’s backstory, which was filled with full-blown protagonist vibes, Su Zhou laughed heartily and replied with equal sincerity, "I have a feeling that you, Brother Zhou, will definitely reach the Innate realm in the future, sweep through the Demon Dynasty, and chop off that Dog Emperor’s head with a single swing of your sword."
"Hahaha, I’ll take that as a good omen."
The two had now arrived at the camp’s mess hall. The Taibai Fortress had enough food stored to feed a hundred people for half a year, which was more than enough time for forging the Divine Soldier. Zhou Buyi smiled and said he would treat Su Zhou to a good meal—and since when was Su Zhou the type to be polite? He nodded eagerly. [Zhou Buyi’s reputation increased by 500.]
At first, Zhou Buyi still had a smile on his face. So what if Su Zhou had beaten him up? He was still alive, wasn’t he? If taking a beating could bring a Grandmaster back with him, he would get beaten ten times and still say ’I don’t mind!’ without a moment’s hesitation.
But soon, after watching Su Zhou eat enough food for five people, Zhou Buyi slowly began to realize something was wrong. Despite the icy, snow-covered surroundings, a few beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
When Su Zhou set aside his tenth plate and casually said, "I’m still hungry, another round!", the white-robed Swordsman took a sharp, quiet breath. He had forgotten—this guy in front of him might not be human. No, with an appetite like that, he was definitely not human!
’It’s... it’s just food. Plenty of Grandmasters have strange quirks. Some love to slack off; you can never find them when you need them. Some love beef and can eat an entire cow in a day. Others have a thing for belts inlaid with all sorts of gold and jade... If Younger Brother Su just likes to eat, then let him eat his fill!’
Composing himself, Zhou Buyi kept his smile in place. He even smiled more cheerfully than Su Zhou, who was busy stuffing his face.
But their happy moment didn’t last long. The chef from the kitchen ran out and secretly made a few hand gestures at Zhou Buyi.
The meaning of the gestures was simple.
’There’s really nothing left!’
’The pots are empty!’
Fortunately, after finishing his current plate, Su Zhou didn’t ask for more. He patted his seemingly extra-dimensional stomach and turned to Zhou Buyi with a smile. "Thanks, friend. You’re a pretty honest guy. A good person."
Then he asked with curiosity, "By the way, since you’re planning to forge a Divine Soldier at Taibai Volcano, does that mean there are a lot of skilled blacksmiths here?"
"That’s right."
Being called ’friend’ by Su Zhou for the first time, Zhou Buyi seemed to have vaguely figured out how to raise his favorability rating... Hearing the question, he nodded slightly. "There are three master craftsmen from the Craftsman’s School in the world, and one of them is here, along with his disciples... You want to have a weapon made?"
"Yeah." Su Zhou nodded without any hesitation, causing the large spear on his back to shift. "This Wood Centipede Spear of mine... I just kind of forced it together using my own Inner Strength. If possible, I’d like to have it properly reforged. I’ve prepared the enhancement materials myself."
"That’s simple enough." Zhou Buyi smiled, then stood up to lead the way. "I’m sure the Grand Master wouldn’t mind forging a weapon for a young Grandmaster."
"Follow me. The master’s camp is near the volcano’s crater."
