Calamity of Tomorrow

Every time Zhao Shouyi thought of Xiaopei, he couldn't help but feel a persistent frown take over his face, especially when recalling the words she had said. Each memory stirred a slight restlessness in his heart, as if showing signs of another oddity emerging.

Pushing down the inner turmoil, Zhao Shouyi continued, "Xiaopei's situation is very suspicious. I think she might have developed some sort of anomaly ability. The Heavenly Demons are already terrifying, and if they can trigger anomalies as well, the consequences are unimaginable."

"After you return, I will investigate Xiaopei's situation."

Seeing Zhao Shouyi's serious and earnest gaze, Zhou Bai knew that persuading him was unlikely, heaving a sigh of resignation, "Alright, then."

He couldn't resist asking, "Principal, are you really... going to mutate?"

Zhao Shouyi offered a slight smile, "I've had many psychological evaluations, and my state has been deteriorating." With a confident smile, he added, "If I were in better shape, that great Heavenly Demon wouldn't have escaped."

Watching the somewhat sorrowful looks in the eyes of Zhou Bai and Qian Wangsun, Zhao Shouyi waved his hand to stop them from speaking, "Alright, I'll send you back. I know you have many tricks up your sleeve, but now with the Heavenly Demon's movements, it's too dangerous without my protection."

Thus, Zhao Shouyi took the two of them and flew at high speed, heading directly toward West Mountain City through the pitch black night.

Along the way, Zhao Shouyi, who was ready for combat, realized that neither on the ground nor in the sky could he see a single Heavenly Demon.

As they wondered where the Heavenly Demons had gone, the rapid flight soon brought a large cluster of clouds emitting blinding light into view in the distance.

That cloud mass touched the heavens and rolled incessantly, flashing with various colors, with countless dense sparks overlapping and spreading like mist in the sky and on the ground, conspicuously abnormal in the night.

They hovered back and forth, expanding continuously, yet seemed bound by an invisible thread that kept them from crossing the boundary, pulling back as soon as they reached their limit.

Seeing this, the three of them changed their expressions simultaneously. Qian Wangsun exclaimed in surprise, "Is this... the Heavenly Demons? What could they be planning by gathering in such numbers?"

"No wonder we didn't encounter any Heavenly Demons on our way here; they've all congregated here?"

Zhou Bai couldn't help but say, "Principal, could Xiaopei's situation be related to the current movements of the Heavenly Demons?"

"It's very likely," Zhao Shouyi replied gravely, without continuing. He simply sped up again with Zhou Bai and Qian Wangsun, creating a long trail of turbulent air in the sky, quickly arriving at West Mountain City.

After landing, Zhao Shouyi confirmed his identity to the surrounding cultivators and immediately asked, "Where's Wang Shouxuan? I must see him right away."

Turning to Zhou Bai and Qian Wangsun, Zhao Shouyi instructed, "Remember, don't wander off. Stay put in West Mountain City." With that, he turned to leave with the other cultivators.

Watching Zhao Shouyi's departing figure, a sudden realization dawned on Zhou Bai.

At the same moment, Christina's voice echoed in his mind, "Zhao Shouyi... he's probably prepared to die, isn't he? He seems to have accepted that he's approaching his end and is willing to sacrifice himself on the battlefield."

Witnessing this, Zhou Bai transmitted his voice hesitantly, "Principal, weren't you going to look for Xiaopei?"

Zhao Shouyi paused momentarily, a trace of struggle flickering in his eyes.

But the struggle quickly subsided, and turning back to Zhou Bai, he said, "Under these circumstances, how can I leave? My seventh realm cultivation is the result of countless humans' support, cultivated through Dao School's training. In the face of war with the Heavenly Demons, I cannot just walk away."

"Though I really want to understand Xiaopei's current situation, right now West Mountain City needs my seventh realm's battle power even more. I will report Xiaopei's situation, and you should rest up."

Zhou Bai, "But if you fall on the battlefield, you'll never be able to learn about Xiaopei's situation. Don't you want to know these things before dying?"

Looking at Zhou Bai, Zhao Shouyi smiled, "Zhou Bai, life is full of unfulfilled desires; most people can't complete their wishes before dying. I've already been much luckier than most."

Zhou Bai sighed and cast a grief-stricken gaze at Zhao Shouyi.

Zhao Shouyi patted his shoulder, "Zhou Bai, don't fear sorrow. It's human to spiral upward through pain and sadness. The sacrifices of countless humans and the passing of many comrades have made me what I am. Now, it's my turn to do what I must."

With that, Zhao Shouyi turned and left, his face showing no further sign of regret or hesitation.

His mind suddenly flooded with memories.

'Grandpa, can you hold me?'

'Grandpa, I want to practice Daoist magic!'

'Grandpa...'

...

Meanwhile, Zhou Bai was soon escorted away and given a dormitory to share with Qian Wangsun as they awaited further instructions.

Lying on his bed, Zhou Bai's mind teemed with thoughts, "The great battle is about to start; what can I do? And about Xiaopei's situation, if only I could figure out what's really happening. Have the Heavenly Demons mastered the power of anomalies?"

Christina asked, "Zhou Bai, don't tell me you're thinking of leaving the city?"

Zhou Bai, "I have the Black Lotus to save my life and the gemstone's Time Reverse, which together give me two lives. If I use them consecutively, the Black Lotus can die once, Time Reverse once, and then the Black Lotus can die again, that's three lives. Not to mention the healing from my laziness points, the speed increase from my laziness points, Mosaic cover from my ugly disaster, and the fate harvesting of Catastrophe Domain. Time Reverse even provides a full 40 minutes. It might sound arrogant to say, but in the entire West Mountain City, when it comes to the ability to survive, I'm probably the strongest. I shouldn't be hiding in West Mountain City during this war."

Christina, "But that great Heavenly Demon might already have its eyes on you, we can't beat him head-on."

Zhou Bai stroked his chin and pondered, "From what I've seen, the principal vaporized more than two-thirds of that great Heavenly Demon's body. Its strength is not at its peak, probably only at level 6? If I can find some more help, I should be able to deal with him. And now, since the Heavenly Demons have concentrated their forces, their rear must be very vulnerable, right? I could take the opportunity to investigate that paradise and look into Xiaopei's situation."

Christina, "Help? Where will you find that? Besides, hasn't Zhao Shouyi already reported the situation? They will send someone to investigate."

Zhou Bai's eyes narrowed slightly, looking at Qian Wangsun next to him, he inquired, "The Night Army of Dao City should have arrived at West Mountain City too, right?"