CHAPTER 650: 608 FIRE SEA ENCIRCLED CITY

If I were a righteous character unafraid of shadows or at least an eloquent orator, even if the forbidden romance with the young girl Mazao under common moral and legal ideas was exposed before her parents, perhaps I could, like many protagonists in stories, receive recognition, normal blessings, and encouragement.

But obviously, I possess neither of the aforementioned excellent qualities. Therefore, it is natural that this illicit relationship cannot gain the approval of the girl’s parents and has even created tension between us.

Ma’s father’s threat is naturally ineffective for me.

To put it bluntly, even if he immediately carries out his threat, what could he do? I am Impermanence, while he is just an ordinary person. Even if I stand here at his mercy, he could spend the rest of his life on this matter and still not cause me any substantial harm. Anyone with some common knowledge of the abnormal world would understand how empty this threat is.

He doesn’t know what Impermanence truly is. Even though he might have heard brief introductions or descriptions, they are merely hearsay, having never truly witnessed how Impermanence’s power can change heaven and earth. Saying such a threat now may also partly be due to ignorance.

However, he certainly understands that I am an extraordinary figure and can imagine what enormous power I symbolize. He must know his warnings and possible revenge are laughable, and even to voice them must bear risks. As he said, I am a "wicked guy," not a weak, easily bullied kind person.

Yet, as a father, as a man, perhaps there remains a part that cannot compromise. I can somewhat understand his heart. He is earnest, and no matter what he can achieve, as long as I dare to harm Mazao, he would act using all his life.

Is this the spirit a father should have? I speculated as such, while feeling happy that Mazao has such a father.

In the deep night, Mazao and I bid farewell to this couple and left the bakery.

Mazao turned back every few steps, clearly still caring about her mother, who was tearfully seeing her off, though that figure had long vanished at the corner as we moved away.

"Later, let Lu Chan arrange for them to move to a safe place," I said.

"Mm..." Mazao nodded, unable to let go, "If I regain my memory in the future, I still want to meet them again... Zhuang Cheng, will you accompany me next time?"

"If we are still together then," I said.

Mazao seemed to have finally returned to her usual self, saying decisively, "We will definitely be."

-

We quickly returned to the Luoshan Headquarters, and I started rechecking the situation on the other side.

Firstly, regarding the "Southern metropolis engulfed in the phenomena of time-space distortion and the mysterious sea of fire" mentioned last time, before it was a simple description from the perspective of ordinary people, now let’s elaborate it from the perspective of Luoshan.

It was indeed not an incidental abnormal event. Based on Luoshan’s observations of the location, it can be concluded that it resulted from the conflict between Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang and Xuanming.

Even before the event, the area had already become a region heavily populated by Taoyuan Village believers.

As for Xuanming’s deep-seated loathing and hostility toward Taoyuan Village’s "Paradise" plan, approximately one month ago, it finally materialized into a determination to take action and ultimately kill Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang.

This blatant emotion was received by the believer community through its retribution body, and like a pebble causing a thousand ripples, most Xuanming believers began spontaneously engaging in large-scale hunts of Taoyuan Village believers.

This behavior stems not only from a zealous belief in Xuanming but also from a pursuit of power, more so a mix of both. Impermanence’s followers can channel its power onto themselves through devout prayers and ritual behaviors, and by demonstrating their faith through actions, they conform to the ritual concept and hone their conviction.

In history, even religions devoid of true divine miracles have incited massive religious fervor, let alone worship centered around God Impermanence? For a significant part of the demon hunters, belief is far more than just a spiritual support or means to gain power; it is the fundamental reason for existence and the guiding philosophical thought, inseparable from all aspects of life and related social relationships.

As a result, many Xuanming believers who had been lurking well within Luoshan were exposed, and many Xuanming believers headed toward that southern city. As many Taoyuan Village believers were active there, Xuanming believers regarded it as the prime hunting ground.

Until half a month ago, for unknown reasons, Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang appeared there personally, and established a super large-scale barrier covering the entire closed city. Xuanming then rushed in upon hearing the news, broke into it by secret means, presumably clashing with Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang. What happened afterwards even Luoshan couldn’t ascertain and could only observe from the outside that Xuanming encased the city in a sea of fire.

Recalling what Xuanming said to me last time, it seems he couldn’t kill Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang inside and fell into a standoff.

By the way, the "firefly" that I sensed not long ago had somehow wandered into an area with extremely poor signal, it’s now inside the city sealed off by the barrier and fire sea.

I didn’t place the "firefly" in that southern city before. It ended up there because someone brought it in.

As for who this mysterious character is, Lu Chan has already helped me identify them.

It’s most likely Zhu Shi’s friend, Xiaoqiao junior.

More than four months ago, because she was involved in the Taoyuan Daoist incident, she became connected with this abnormal world, so Zhu Shi wanted to recommend her to enroll in the Luoshan Demon Hunter Academy. However, it wasn’t the enrollment season for Luoshan Academy at that time, and Changan was only able to transfer mid-term because he had received some foundational knowledge about the abnormal world as a child and could keep up with the courses.

So Xiaoqiao junior had some waiting time, and recently, she seemed to have been planning to visit relatives in the south, and thus set out for there—yes, the very same southern city now in turmoil.

I had previously left a "firefly" on Xiaoqiao junior, but later I never retrieved it, just casually leaving it with her. Unlike thermal energy markers, "fireflies" are easy to be found, so I originally thought she would discard it... no, I didn’t really think that, or rather, I simply never paid attention to that "firefly," purely forgetting about it. Perhaps she might have treated it as some sort of protective charm, always carrying it with her and bringing it into the incident area.

Zhu Shi is still unaware of this news, but there’s no blame on her for neglect, as she has recently focused all her spirit on defending against Ming Zhuo to protect Mazao.

Besides, even if she knew, it would have been useless. In the morning, after learning of this matter, I immediately relocated outside the city surrounded by the fire sea to see if there was any way I could infiltrate it.

Since knowing that Xuanming harbors ill intentions towards Little Bowl, there’s no way I would just sit and wait for the opponent to come challenge me. If conditions permit, I would certainly be the one to launch an assault myself. It was so with Ming Zhuo back then, and it remains so now.

To ordinary people, the fire sea surrounding the city is an impassable forbidden zone, but not for me. In the absence of Xuanming, I can even hack into these flames, turning them into my own strength—being harmed by them is not possible. However, because I am unaware of Xuanming’s specific purpose for setting them here, I opted to leave it as it is, lest I inadvertently assist Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang.

Yet, even if I could pass through the fire sea, I couldn’t easily breach the barrier enclosing the city.

The chaotic space-time phenomenon surrounding the city originates from this barrier. Having even experienced the chaotic space-time of the "Doomsday Era," the chaos here just pales in comparison. I proceeded along the highway unimpeded. After moving for a distance, I bumped into a world-engulfing layer of "matte glass"—this part is the core of the barrier.

This is clearly something personally set up by Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang, within which one can sense his highly refined mana. The touch feels like glass, with a solidity that can only be summarized as "impenetrable," likely a marvelous creation he painstakingly prepared. Even in my current state, without finding the correct strategy, trying to break it through pure force might be as challenging as an ordinary person attempting to shatter bulletproof glass with bare hands.

Fortunately, I actually do have a strategy. Although it might not be the proper way, the critical point is whether it can be used.

That is through the "firefly" that appears to have been brought inside by Xiaoqiao junior.

This was an experience I gained from the Human Bureau Headquarters battle back then. By establishing a connection with the "firefly" inside the enclosed different space, that space is no longer completely sealed. The established connection itself suffices to become a medium for piercing the target different space, as we attacked the independent reality space where the Human Bureau Headquarters was located at that time.

I don’t necessarily need to pierce through; I just need to keep increasing the link strength until it’s strong enough to transport myself inside.

The barrier, to maintain its high level of seclusion, emits energy to impede my link expansion, which is a form of resistance. Yet, once the first small flaw appears, my intrusion into the barrier is only a matter of time. This is a highly intricate task, and during phases where I lacked understanding of the path of density and merely recklessly exerted power, I would’ve been incapable of such precise work.

However, the current me possesses some degree of expertise. Even when facing unfamiliar barrier forces, I can rely on profound mana techniques to challenge it. Especially with Little Bowl’s blessing enhancing my efficiency greatly.

Despite this, the barrier set by Meng Zhang is truly remarkable. Its energy seems inexhaustible, requiring me to invest a lot of patience to upgrade my infiltration techniques and proficiency, rather than simply resorting to brute force. I estimate that it will still need five to eight days for me to complete this infiltration.

As for Xiaoqiao junior, I have a good impression. During the Taoyuan Daoist incident at the time, her reaction to me being a god very much satiated my shallow, childish vanity. So, I want to try and see if I can save her from this incident, where her fate is uncertain.

It’s uncertain whether I will infiltrate first or if Xuanming and Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang within will settle their dispute first.

And just on the following morning, a new development occurred elsewhere.

Fa Zheng conveyed an invigorating piece of news to me.