Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Heart Source Like Sea, Myriad Swords Slaying God!
However, the reward has been promised, and the pie has been painted—now comes the work pressure.
"Have you learned all about the situation in my world?" Shen Yu asked.
"Immortal Shen, Immortal Yu has already given me a rough description." Sword Return Two nodded heavily, Immortal Fate so close at hand, and he himself was full of fighting spirit. "What I need to deal with is a gigantic worm that has invaded beneath the city; I must subdue it before it brings catastrophic destruction."
Martial Artist Shen Yu had indeed already given an explanation.
It was a world utterly lacking in Primordial Energy, crowded with people, yet with frail bodies.
The apocalyptic calamity had only just appeared, and the Reincarnated Immortal’s current self had yet to recover his power. Though there were blessings from his past life, every use depleted them further; he could not make wanton use of them.
That is why powerful martial artists from this world had to be "hired"—in essence, it was still mutual assistance between Tribulation Immortals.
For Sword Return Two, this was not hard to comprehend.
In this Martial Arts World, different factions often issued bounties, hiring experts from other powers.
But, this time, the one issuing the bounty was an Immortal!
Seeing that the other party truly understood, Shen Yu nodded, saying, "Then prepare to set out. However, to reach another world, we must pass through the Immortal Court. Yet mortals cannot survive there; only by my mana’s protection, and passing through swiftly. Therefore, after we enter, you cannot return for a time. All supplies and letters must be entrusted to me for delivery. It’s best to prepare now."
"Weapons and Recovery Elixirs are already on me." Sword Return Two gripped the sword at his waist, his eyes turning grave, but equally full of anticipation.
Not only was there the Otherworld, but also the Immortal Court!
Even if just passing through, it was still the Immortal Court!
It’s not an exaggeration to say that just this chance alone is worth going.
"Let us go, then." Shen Yu no longer delayed, placing a hand on Sword Return Two’s shoulder; in the next instant, they’d returned to the rooftop of Jerald City!
The whole process took less than half a second.
But upon arrival, Shen Yu saw, to his shock, Sword Return Two’s forehead and back erupting in cold sweat, rapidly streaming down.
In the depths of his eyes, there was intense fear.
Yes, true fear!
Zero point three seconds—for an ordinary person, perhaps too brief to react, but for a master at this level, it was more than enough.
Thus, he remembered clearly what he had seen and felt in that instant.
A pitch-black space, filled with faint gray mist.
If it were only that, perhaps it would be nothing—but in that instant, he could clearly feel everything about him being devoured: whether the life force emanating from him, stray thoughts, even all his senses!
Only a ceaselessly mysterious force tightly shielded his flesh and Primordial Spirit. Save for that, every perception and power that crossed the border was instantly severed and devoured, disappearing without a trace.
This feeling of utter helplessness, as if to vanish utterly in the next instant, was the true cause of his sweating profusely.
The Immortal Court—sure enough, this was no place for a mere mortal such as him. So terrifying!
"How are you feeling?" Shen Yu was concerned about his state, hesitating whether he should use some gray mist to recuperate him a bit.
All his gray mist was nearly depleted; if this mercenary couldn’t deliver, it would be a real problem.
"I’m fine." Sword Return Two took a deep breath, doing his utmost to adjust his state.
Looking at Shen Yu and Martial Artist Shen Yu, both, his gaze held even greater reverence than before.
Before, this Reincarnated Immortal, aside from his supernatural tricks, hadn’t seemed all that powerful.
Only now did he truly understand: the gap between Immortal and mortal is as vast as an abyss!
That sort of place—likely only Immortals could come and go as they please.
Still, despite that, Sword Return Two’s inner longing only burned hotter.
Martial Arts—only the strong are revered!
Now that he had glimpsed the power of another tier, which martial artist could help but yearn for more?
"Even if it costs this old life, I must give it my all!" His gaze dropped.
He could already sense it—that giant entity wantonly radiating waves of Primordial Spirit.
It’s here!
Not only Sword Return Two felt it—at this very moment, every insider at the Northern Alliance command center, even across the entire world, tensed up!
There were only three minutes left until the time foretold by prophecy.
The Northern Alliance command center had already, from the probe feeds provided by interstellar world Shen Yu, seen it clearly: that massive, coiling worm had suddenly moved.
It opened its huge maw—the probes could even image those rows upon rows of razor teeth within, like a meat grinder—then lunged upward!
Yes, it was charging straight up, just like that.
At first, it wasn’t fast, but as that immense body undulated, it accelerated at terrifying speed!
The tremors caused by the movement of such a behemoth reached the surface ahead of time!
The ground began to tremble and shake, then kept getting worse.
Shen Yu could hear it clearly—the city’s screams rising and falling in waves, blending into a single, hysterical cacophony.
Even Sword Return Two was stunned for a moment.
At first, all his attention had been focused below ground; only now did he notice this city in the twilight.
"So many people..." Sword Return Two stared at the high-rises he’d never seen, at countless rooms, at the panicked crowds flooding the streets.
He had mentally prepared for the Otherworld—Martial Arts World had grand buildings too—but the density of this city and its people still shocked him.
Especially, he noticed that none of these people possessed even the slightest Martial Arts Cultivation, and they were even weaker than he’d expected.
Weaker even than seven- or eight-year-old children in their world!
Wouldn’t that mean a casual bump could kill them?
Cold sweat broke out all over him once again.
"Don’t overthink—just do your utmost to control that worm and minimize casualties!" Shen Yu could see the tension and pressure weighing on Sword Return Two.
"Yes!" Sword Return Two nodded heavily; with an Immortal’s assurance, he could finally breathe a bit easier.
Meanwhile, in the city, as the tremors intensified, people’s terror reached its peak.
"We’re doomed! Hahaha, this is the apocalypse, the end of the world! Everyone is going to die!" Someone holding up a camera was screaming and laughing madly in the street.
Others kept fleeing in total panic.
Every livestream from Jerald City was exploding with bullet comments.
Everyone was venting their fear, leveling accusations, desperate for answers.
They all felt a massive human tragedy was unfolding before their eyes.
And Kari, who had once been saved by Martial Artist Shen Yu, only just managed to reach the edge of the city center.
The whole family was barely able to stand through the shaking, but still clung together, looking back at the city’s tallest building.
Large swathes of electrical systems had already collapsed, lights going dark, leaving only twilight and the glow of fires above.
Everyone was full of fear and despair, powerless to do anything.
All they could do was pray, awaiting the verdict of fate!
Even across the world, countless watchers felt the same terror.
This disaster wouldn’t just strike one place—all humans now sincerely longed for a miracle in the face of doom!
Already, people were typing frantically across the web.
"Where are our allies? Where are the superpower users?"
"No matter who it is, please! Someone, do something!"
"God, save us!"
"I can’t watch—no miracle is coming!"
"..."
Voices overlapped, countless people unleashing their emotions at this moment.
Until—the earthquake reached its zenith!
BOOM——!
A roar that nearly tore both earth and sky asunder exploded, so loud that under the dusk, everyone, in the city and across the world, could clearly see: that massive gray-white form burst up from the ground, its monstrous maw instantly swallowing the tallest skyscraper whole!
"It’s over!" Kari shut her eyes in despair.
Countless people the world over reacted the same way.
No matter what they thought beforehand, facing such a behemoth, terror and despair relentlessly surged up.
And that was only its head!
Just imagine the hideous length hidden below ground!
Even a city humans spent ages building looked so tiny, so fragile, so easily destroyed!
"Ready a nuclear strike." Northern Alliance’s commander Lars let out a long sigh—this was all he could do now.
Yet, deep inside, a sliver of hope lingered.
He just didn’t dare yearn for it.
"Sir!" Suddenly, an excited subordinate’s voice interrupted.
Lars’ eyes flew open.
On the screen, he saw a sight he would remember all his life.
Swords—!
Countless illusory, razor-sharp swords appeared in the twilight sky, densely packed, surging forth.
Wooooong——!
A deafening sword-moan swept the city in that instant.
All the desperate crowds stared at the city center, dumbstruck.
In that moment, everyone present could feel it: the blade-sharp force staring right into their souls!
Sword Return Two was truly pushing himself to the limit.
He raised his long sword high, hair and robe billowing in the roaring True Power. Shen Yu, too, was witnessing for the first time what Sword Intent Manifestation truly meant!
"Heart Source Like Sea—Myriad Swords Slaying God!" Sword Return Two chanted solemnly, "Thus is born the Heart Source Sword Sea!"