National Guardian's Gone and We're Done-Chapter 48: I Told You, You’re a Far Cry From Chu He, So Why Didn’t You Believe It?

Chapter 48: Chapter 48: I Told You, You’re a Far Cry From Chu He, So Why Didn’t You Believe It?

Above the Demon Cave of the Great Jing Empire, a haze hung like a heavy curtain, completely blocking out the sun.

The sky had lost its usual azure hue, replaced by an oppressive gray that foretold of the ominous events to come.

The towering, rolling mountains were covered in a layer of cold, gray fog that swirled and obscured all sight.

Whenever someone inadvertently stepped into this mist,

they would be struck by a bone-piercing chill, as if they had plunged from the scorching heat of summer into the depths of a frigid winter.

When Xiao Cangqing decided to face the Evil Spirit known as the Rotten Man alone,

the ten members of the Time Girl Group couldn’t hide their worry.

They knew that even more unknown terrors lurked beneath the Demon Cave.

Especially the Fishing Elder. He had yet to appear, but his existence was impossible to ignore.

As the group walked along the rugged mountain path, a nameless dread welled up within them.

They didn’t know how many more Evil Spirits were hidden beneath the Demon Cave, nor did they know if the Fishing Elder was truly the most powerful being within it.

A group of reporters cautiously followed behind them.

They held various types of live-streaming equipment, attempting to broadcast the situation to the outside world in real time.

In this land where Evil Spirits lurked, the live-stream signal began to waver.

The fluctuating signal made the reporters incredibly anxious, but they persisted, hoping to show the unfiltered reality of the situation to their global audience.

The live-stream chat was buzzing with activity. Countless people had gathered, closely watching every move on screen.

People at work, in class, or even in meetings all dropped what they were doing to watch the live stream with rapt attention.

The stream was not only heavily promoted by the Great Jing Empire’s government but had also captured the attention of many foreign Martial Artist organizations, other factions, and the general public.

As a result, the stream’s viewership skyrocketed, easily surpassing a billion viewers and still climbing.

"Good news! Good news! Great news! The Black Pearl’s trajectory has reappeared, and it’s heading straight for the Great Xia Empire!"

"This is fantastic! Now let’s see how that traitor, Chu He, handles it."

"I bet he thought leaving the Great Jing Empire would let him cover up the fact that he was just a glory hound who neglected his duties. Guess fate doesn’t let any scumbags off the hook!"

"Is there any chance the Great Xia Empire will escape this disaster?"

"When has an appearance by the Black Pearl ever ended without reaping countless lives? The Great Xia Empire is probably screwed this time!"

The audience kept one eye on the live stream and the other on breaking news from different sources.

The news of the Black Pearl’s impending arrival in the Great Xia Empire had already caused a global sensation.

On the trending charts of the world’s top video platforms, news about the Black Pearl held the number one spot.

Right behind it was the story of the Great Jing Empire’s new National Guardian War God, Xiao Cangqing, ascending into the Demon Cave to wipe out the Evil Spirits.

With these two major events unfolding simultaneously, the hype today was explosive.

As the gray fog writhed, the stench permeating the air grew stronger.

The figure of the Rotten Man finally came into full view. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

He was a twisted, ferocious-looking being, and his every step carried the shadow of death.

Xiao Cangqing tightly gripped the silver-white longsword in his hand, adjusting the flow of Elemental Power in his body.

Spiritual Power surged from his Sea of Consciousness like a tide, rapidly spreading toward the Rotten Man.

In a mere instant, he had locked onto his target.

Confidence swelled in Xiao Cangqing’s heart once more.

’He knew that once locked on by his Spiritual Power,

even a formidable enemy like the Rotten Man would be unable to escape his grasp!’

Xiao Cangqing’s Elemental Power began to rapidly condense on his longsword, its tip glinting with a sharp, cold light.

He took a step forward, and his body shot sideways several dozen meters like a bolt of lightning.

"Such a swift sword!"

"Such incredible speed!"

The move left the ten members of the Time Girl Group utterly impressed.

They could feel his razor-sharp aura, and a newfound respect for Xiao Cangqing bloomed within them.

Zong Yajuan, whom Xiao Cangqing had publicly reprimanded earlier, pressed her lips together. Her previous resentment had vanished, replaced by a bitter sense of helplessness.

Though she was also a King-level expert, only now did she truly comprehend the vast gap between her power and Xiao Cangqing’s.

As Xiao Cangqing moved, a sheet of frost rapidly spread from where he had been standing.

The frost seemed to have a life of its own, instantly enveloping the Rotten Man and freezing him into a giant ice sculpture.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze solid,

and even the acrid, rotten stench permeating the woods seemed to be frozen in place by the frost.

To Xiao Cangqing’s surprise, just as he prepared to run the ice sculpture through with his sword, the Rotten Man within it spoke again.

His voice, like the hoot of a night owl, was filled with endless malice and arrogance. "Mere frost. Is that all you’ve got?"

"Last time, I just couldn’t be bothered with you."

"If it weren’t for Chu He wounding me with a single glance before, I would’ve crushed you like a chick long ago."

Xiao Cangqing’s heart clenched. A sense of unease spread through him like wildfire.

He stared at the Rotten Man inside the ice, watching as a corrupting power eroded the sculpture at a visible rate.

In the span of a single breath, the ice sculpture completely dissolved under this power’s corrosion, revealing the Rotten Man’s savage face.

Then, without warning, the Rotten Man shot out his twisted, withered arm,

and seized the glittering, cold blade of Xiao Cangqing’s sword.

He moved without the slightest hesitation, as if the sharp blade were a mere toy in his grasp.

Immediately, the corrosive power surged forth like a tide, rapidly eating away at the blade.

The fruit of nearly a year’s painstaking labor by dozens of master craftsmen

was reduced to a pile of rotten dust in seconds, scattering in the wind.

Xiao Cangqing’s eyes went wide, filled with shock and disbelief.

The Elemental Power in his body erupted like a bursting dam.

At that moment, he truly unleashed his full power, holding nothing back.

Simultaneously, the Spiritual Power from his Primordial Spirit shot out like a sharp arrow, piercing straight toward the Rotten Man’s brain.

However, the Rotten Man merely swayed, as if brushed by a gentle breeze, before his senses cleared instantly.

His rotting hand was already clamped firmly around Xiao Cangqing’s neck.

Xiao Cangqing’s eyes nearly bulged from their sockets as he felt a despair he had never known.

’My Primordial Spirit attack... it only held him for less than half a second.’

’How is this possible? How can an Evil Spirit be this powerful?’

Xiao Cangqing’s mind reeled with fear and disbelief.

A tremendous force slammed him to the ground. His longsword had turned to dust, and in that instant, his world shattered.

His head was ringing, and the only sound was his own ragged breathing.

To Xiao Cangqing’s horror, the corrupting power had already begun to silently invade his body.

At some point, the gray fog had grown denser, threatening to swallow the entire world.

Xiao Cangqing’s vision began to blur. He could no longer see his surroundings, nor the ten members of the Time Girl Group.

The reporters, with their cameras and live-stream equipment, had also vanished into the thick fog.

"Help... help me!"

Facing the threat of death, Xiao Cangqing abandoned all dignity. He screamed for help, but the sound was muffled by the gray fog, unable to escape.

His body began to shrivel rapidly as the stench of decay filled the air.

His body was being corroded by that power; he could even feel the distinct sensation of maggots crawling through his rotting flesh.

"I told you you’re a far cry from Chu He. Why didn’t you believe me?"

The Rotten Man laughed savagely,

his voice echoing in Xiao Cangqing’s ears like a Curse from Hell.