I Am Your Natural Enemy

In an instant, the demon’s body went rigid. At that very moment, dozens of Yellow Talismans that had been knocked flying earlier suddenly burst into flame by themselves. Dozens of tiny bolts of lightning fell in succession, striking the demon squarely on the forehead.

The demon’s pupils slowly dilated. Even in death, his eyes were fixed on the Wooden Sword he was reaching for.

Huang Zhiji wiped the sweat from his forehead. He gave two more stabs for good measure, added a few more Thunder Talismans, and finally relaxed.

He pulled out his own Wooden Sword and checked the hilt: still three-fourths full of electricity. He’d have to get someone to tweak it later.

He looked at the demon who had dropped dead on the ground and let out a cold laugh.

What era do we live in? You really think a Maoshan Sect Disciple only knows how to use a peachwood sword?

Don’t you get it? Naturally-grown lightning-struck peachwood, after enough years and suitable for making swords, is not only rare but obscenely expensive.

Mount Mao grows peach trees in high lightning zones, and with all the extra measures, most of the yearly yield is barely good enough to make Wooden Talismans.

I’m not insane—why would I waste an outrageously expensive peachwood sword on a demon that peachwood swords can’t even restrain?

This thing is a custom-ordered, bottom-of-the-chest electric shock weapon.

Having dealt with the demon, just as Huang Zhiji was about to head for the building complex, he saw something stirring in the overturned truck in the distance.

A crushing sense of oppression, like meeting a Natural Enemy, slowly filled the air. Even at this distance, cold sweat broke out all over his body and he felt himself starting to lose control.

The cargo compartment of the overturned truck had been completely empty just moments ago.

As the Sun’s light gradually faded, gigantic feet began to appear near the back doors of the cargo hold.

Then, heavy, ragged breaths could be heard from the cargo box—like some ancient, battered bellows pulling at the air, making a tremendous racket.

Hearing those throaty breaths, Wen Yan’s hair stood on end.

He only saw a single pair of feet, yet instantly a bright red exclamation mark flashed before his eyes.

”Night Vigil Deity.”

”Strange creature that hides by day and appears by night. It vanishes entirely in daylight and only manifests after sunset.

Exceptionally vicious, violent, carnivorous, and cannot digest bamboo.

Prefers to live where there are snowy mountains. Each day when it sees the golden peaks of the snowcapped mountains, it disappears.

It’s one of the few creatures that can draw power from moonlight.”

”Tip: With your tiny body, at best you’d get stuck in its teeth.

Don’t even think about using your power to face this creature head-on.

You’re not even playing in the same patch. If you try to go at it straight, you stand zero chance of winning.

Once it wakes up, it’ll kill and eat everyone here within four hours.”

”Temporary Ability: None.”

Wen Yan’s eyelid twitched. What does ”none” even mean?

Does it mean the power he has now is already enough? Or is it saying that no Temporary Ability, no matter what, could possibly bridge the gap?

This thing’s called Night Vigil Deity, so—is it a ghost or a god?

No, wait. It was just described as a creature, so how could it be a ghost or god?

As he was mulling it over, the cargo box started to shift. The sheet metal began to bend and warp, some of the joints changing shape.

”Run!”

Cai Qidong grabbed Wen Yan and bolted. Never mind that Cai Qidong wasn’t young anymore—he still managed to stay half a stride ahead, even while dragging Wen Yan along.

Once they’d run a safe distance, the screeching sound of steel being torn apart still echoed behind them.

The thick steel panel of the cargo trailer was ripped open. A huge hand reached out from inside. Just seeing the hand and foot, Wen Yan guessed this Night Vigil Deity had to be at least a dozen meters tall.

If it can tear steel with its bare hands and stands over ten meters tall—what the hell are we supposed to do against that?

His Chunjun Mace hitting it would probably feel like someone poking it with a toothpick.

”Minister Cai, what the hell is this—fishing? More like you hooked Godzilla! This guy will slaughter and gorge on everyone here, then still have time for a nap before sunrise!”

”You know what that thing is?”

”This is a damn Night Vigil Deity! It absolutely shouldn’t exist at this stage!”

Cai Qidong glanced back and suddenly grinned as if relieved.

”I’ve already got the result I wanted. If a thing like this appears, it’s not just the Scorching Sun Department involved—someone from one of the Three Mountains and Five Ridges must’ve had a hand as well. No wonder I could never get to the bottom of it.”

”The hell, Cai Heizi, what is that supposed to mean? At a time like this, can you speak clearly? Are you a traitor or what?”

”No, it’s not just about traitors. It’s about a struggle over paths, over direction.

Domains will become more and more common, and with Spiritual Qi Resurgence, all sorts of things will keep popping up.

Different people have different views, sure. But within the bigger picture, it’s all about agreeing to disagree.

But now—the time has come to decide the big direction. It’s not just a fight over interests anymore.

With something like this popping up, it’s clear nobody expects anyone here to survive.

If I don’t die here, there’s no way to explain it away.

When you manage to get out of here, just go home and tell them exactly what happened.”

”With you saying that, you really think I’ll even get out of here alive?”

”If I’m dead, it’s enough.”

The screech of steel behind them faded. Turning around, they saw a giant—head wrapped in a gauze hat, dressed in a black-brown robe, easily fifteen or sixteen meters tall—standing there.

The giant’s brows were thick, eyes glaring round, and when it opened its mouth, jagged teeth gaped out, scraps of flesh still wedged in between them.

The giant looked their way, opened wide, and with a forceful exhale, a thunderous gale burst forth. Broken steel sheets on the ground whirled up like leaves in a storm.

Massive steel plates, each larger than a man, hurtled towards them with a howling whistle, spinning through the air and sending trees flying in their wake.

One steel plate, wailing as it went, flew right over their heads and buried itself in the ground not far ahead of them.

The next instant, the wild wind faded. The giant opened its maw, and a point of light began to gather there, swelling larger and larger.

Seconds later, a glowing orb over a meter wide, trailing light, shot toward them in a blur—it was at their feet almost instantly.

The two of them dodged aside, only to watch the ball crash into the ground and explode with a thunderous blast, the shockwave tossing both of them into the air.