Volume One: The Dragon Soul Awakens Chapter 71: Scorching Crimson Lotus!

Two minutes ago.

Shenzhou Power Module.

Wu Danze was just about to turn around when, without warning, a dagger slashed toward his neck, its keen blade emitting a screeching sound—metal clashing against metal!

His attacker froze for a fraction of a second, and Wu Danze seized the moment to unleash Energy Blast, attempting to hurl him away.

The opponent quickly recovered, reacting in an instant. He retreated swiftly, his silvery weapon shifting into a shield to absorb the brunt of the shockwave.

“How did you get in here?” Wu Danze frowned, deploying Iron Bastion to block the main entrance. He had clearly seen this fellow engulfed in artillery fire moments ago—how had he managed to appear behind him in the blink of an eye?

Just how fast and agile could one be, moving without detection?

“Hey, you tell me first—why couldn’t my dagger pierce your body?” the attacker asked curiously.

The sudden strike hadn’t even left a scratch on Wu Danze, let alone drawn blood.

“See the scars on my arm?” Wu Danze paused for effect. “Seventeen in total! You think your blade could even compare? It’s hardly worthy next to these!”

“Haha! Interesting! No wonder you’re the top freshman at Saint Sky Royal Academy!” the other exclaimed. “A walking iron fortress indeed—you live up to your name!”

“Oh? So you know that much? Seems your employer not only paid you handsomely but also handed over my personal file!” Wu Danze shrugged, then fired a Focus Ray from the cannon, a blue-white beam streaking toward his foe. “Are you really here to wipe me out completely?”

The other dodged yet again with fox-like cunning, evading the attack with a slight twist of his body. “I’m combative, not a killer. I live quietly in the city, untouched by the world, taking on missions as assigned. That’s all.”

“Don’t act so righteous! Weren’t you the ones who dealt with the Shenzhou’s maintenance crew?” Wu Danze raised Dragon’s Roar, launching several missiles. The opponent slipped past every one, nimble as ever.

“We’re just cleansing evil, not committing crimes,” the attacker explained.

“Don’t make excuses for your crimes.” Wu Danze extended his left hand, summoning a powerful magnetic force that spiraled through the surrounding air.

Magnetic Storm!

A skill that could instantly pull everything nearby into its grasp!

“What the—? You’re using that?” The attacker was startled as Magnetic Storm restricted his movements, his shoes scraping against the floor. “Aren’t you afraid the newly repaired hub will rupture again?”

“Of course I considered that!” Wu Danze grinned, baring his teeth. “But right now, the priority is getting rid of you!”

“Heh, amusing!” the other said cheerfully. Suddenly, his body erupted in a dark red glow, golden light flickering in his eyes. He became a phantom, slipping from the magnetic field’s grasp, his dagger morphing into a dark-gold blade. “I’m not one to be underestimated!”

Wu Danze was caught off guard. His opponent’s power had just multiplied several times over—what kind of enhancement skill was this?

He cast Iron Bastion again, uncertain if it would hold, gathering gold elements to further strengthen his defense.

Just as shield met blade with a thunderous clash, a cheerful ringtone rang out:

“Handsome Saso~ Handsome Saso~ Your friend Lin Ao is calling with a video chat~”

The tense atmosphere shattered instantly. Embarrassment flashed across his opponent’s face as he halted his attack and stepped back.

Wu Danze was stunned by the sudden interruption.

What... what was going on?

“Wait, let me take this call first.”

Saso waved a hand, asking for a pause, and answered the call. A blue-white screen lit up with a figure—black hair, sharp, striking features, and a cold, stern expression.

The very same person Mo Xing had met on the deck.

“Old Ao, why’re you calling out of the blue?” Saso scratched his head. “I was just about to finish off my opponent!”

“Mission accomplished. Withdraw now.” The call ended as quickly as it had begun.

“What the heck... Hung up on me just like that! Do all the strong ones have such weird tempers?” Saso grumbled, then quickly composed himself. “Hey, buddy! I’ve got to run—let’s settle this another time!”

“Leaving so soon?” Wu Danze snapped his fingers. Instantly, countless metal arms appeared around Saso.

“What the—? You set traps while I was on the phone?” Saso exclaimed in shock, unable to break free as the metal limbs locked him in place. “That’s downright dirty!”

“Fighting criminals—there’s no such thing as too dirty,” Wu Danze replied with a laugh, wrapping another Steel Shield around his captive, adding yet another lock. This guy, after all, was slippery.

“Can you get any dirtier?” Saso began, but before he finished, Shenzhou lurched violently. He tumbled to the floor, saved from harm only by the Steel Shield and the grip of the metal arms.

Wu Danze pitched forward, grabbing a nearby rail to steady himself.

“We’re done for! Shenzhou’s going down!” Wu Danze scowled deeply. Too much precious time had been lost in their battle.

“What? Shenzhou is falling? Let me out—now!” Saso panicked. “I don’t want to go down with the ship!”

“This is all your doing!” Wu Danze muttered, activating his High-Altitude Device and soaring into the air to continue repairing the damaged fuel conduit.

Time was up. With Shenzhou plummeting, could he still salvage the situation?

Beneath Shenzhou.

Zhang Zhihao unleashed the power of the Fire Dragon God, Aisra, from within. The immense force supported the entire vessel.

His upper garments burst apart, his body aglow with crimson light that dyed half the ship’s protective barrier red.

Scorching Lotus—Full Release!

Maintaining this state would allow him to steer Shenzhou rapidly toward the nearest landing zone to Dragonfang Island.

The Fire Dragon God, Aisra, dwelled within Zhang Zhihao, granting him the primal power of fire—a legacy of that fateful accident years ago, which had bestowed this strength upon him.

Was it luck or misfortune?

He had always been the center of attention—academics, talents, in every aspect he shone. Now was no different.

If he could bear the praise, then he must shoulder the burden.

Yet... sometimes the weight became overwhelming—so much that it left him exhausted...

Countless times, he wished he could confide in someone, but others only replied with a smile: “You’re the capable one! Only you can handle things like this. We sure can’t, so you’ll have to hold up the sky!”

Indeed.

Such things could only be borne alone; no one else was truly able to help...

How did that song go...

Invincible is so... so lonely...

Invincible is so... so empty...

Such interesting lines...

Yet some only laugh after hearing them...

How could one grasp the chill of the summit without ever standing alone at the top...

It wasn’t just a chill on the surface, but a coldness deep within...

No matter how warm the fire, it couldn’t melt the ice in his heart...

Just like those so-called “elite students” whose first instinct in a crisis was to run—there were hardly any who could unite and face hardship together...

Zhang Zhihao’s eyes gradually turned dark red, his skin slowly overtaken by crimson dragon scales. Then, from deep within, a clear voice echoed:

“Zhang Zhihao, you have to hang on!”

It was Mo Xing’s voice—like a pebble cast upon the still surface of a lake, stirring gentle ripples. That slight disturbance pulled Zhang Zhihao back from the brink, and the spread of dragon scales on his body halted.

“Resonance between Dragon Gods?”

Zhang Zhihao gazed at his dragon-scaled, scarlet arm and smiled. Overusing the power of the Fire Dragon God, Aisra, had nearly let his inner demons consume him, but Mo Xing’s call through the Dragon God’s bond had pulled him back from the edge.

In his current state, he could probably sustain Shenzhou’s flight for another ten minutes. According to the original plan, Wu Danze should have already repaired the damaged conduit—something must have gone wrong, but he trusted Wu Danze to resolve it.

Mo Xing, ever the variable, paired with Shiyan, would surely play their crucial part.

And Xia Ningxin—it was about time for her to make her move...

Elsewhere.

Corridor, Fifth Deck.

Footsteps echoed as Lin Ao, his short black hair framing a solitary figure, strolled unhurriedly down the hallway. The tilt of Shenzhou moments ago had not affected him in the least. With documents in hand and Saso, that competitive spirit, notified to withdraw, his mind wandered to the boy he’d encountered on deck just minutes before...

He possessed a unique gaze capable of shattering an opponent’s psychological defenses in an instant. Anyone who met his eyes for two seconds would be paralyzed with fear or flee in panic—only a handful of true experts could withstand it.

There had once been many such experts, but one by one, they’d fallen to his strength.

As for that boy...

He wasn’t strong, and his sword grip was awkward, but after a moment’s panic, he quickly regained his composure and maintained eye contact. In that instant, there was an inexplicable feeling.

The mission target wasn’t the boy, so Lin Ao spared him. He also had a hunch they’d meet again soon.

Suddenly, Lin Ao stopped in his tracks and uttered,

“Come out, Light that Shines upon the Skies.”

At that moment, a brilliant radiance appeared at the end of the corridor. Emerging from the light was Xia Ningxin, followed by an orange cat—Little Moonshadow.

“It’s been a while, Cleanser of Darkness,” Xia Ningxin greeted.

“Meow~” Little Moonshadow chimed in.

“Longer lines than last time,” Lin Ao smiled. “And you’ve brought the Celestial Fox.”

“Oh.” Xia Ningxin replied coolly, dropping the subject. “How many did you purge this time?”

“You can guess,” Lin Ao paused. “Other than the students of Saint Sky Royal Academy, everyone else on Shenzhou was a Kalandis Order infiltrator.”

“Thirty-six in total,” Lin Ao counted off on his fingers. “Seven of those, you handled.”

“Who’s the employer?” Xia Ningxin asked another question.

“You know how it is in our line of work. We never concern ourselves with the employer’s identity. As long as the job’s done and payment arrives, we’re strangers again.” Lin Ao smiled.

“Don’t you find it suspicious?” Xia Ningxin pressed.

“I never doubt people—those who make me doubt them don’t live long,” Lin Ao dusted off his shoulder, his body dissolving into black particles. “One more thing—”

“Goodbye.”

—Idle Words from the Pit—

The weather’s been wild lately, with frequent rain. I ran downstairs to buy some spicy strips to warm myself and found prices have skyrocketed! So, dear readers, I hope you’ll support the novel—cast your recommendation votes, maybe even a monthly ticket!

Introducing two new characters in these chapters: Saso and Lin Ao. Have you memorized their faces?

Go back and reread the first two paragraphs.