Chapter Thirty-Five: The Mortal World Is a Prison, and Karmic Fire Descends [Part One] [Please Subscribe]

At this moment, all of London was in an uproar. The strange phenomena in the suburbs had not only alerted the highest levels of government but had also stirred the common people.

“General, we have failed!”

Inside a secret underground military base in London, Colonel James, his face full of shame, spoke to Marshal Hawk.

This operation had indeed been perilous. If not for the quick reflexes of the slender black man, even he might have been swallowed whole by the three-legged golden toad.

“Pfft… What did you say?”

Looking at the disheveled and ashamed Colonel James before him, Marshal Hawk was filled with disbelief. Suddenly, he spat out a mouthful of bright red blood, his vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground.

That was over ten thousand elite soldiers—the trump card of his navy—completely wiped out silently, dragged by his trusted general into the abyss of hell.

How could Marshal Hawk bear this? In his lifetime, he had never experienced such a crushing defeat, let alone one that ended with the total annihilation of his forces. It was simply unbelievable.

“Marshal, please take care of your health!”

Seeing Marshal Hawk fall backward, the small black man panicked and rushed forward to help him up.

It was not out of genuine concern but because he knew that now he and Marshal Hawk were tied by the same fate. If anything happened to the marshal, his own end would not be much better.

As a major criminal in the Empire upon which the sun never sets, the only reason he was still free and at large was due to Hawk’s protection. If Hawk fell now, the Empire’s upper echelons would undoubtedly strip him bare in an instant.

“Take care? Hahaha, what use is that? I have already pledged a military oath before the Empire’s high command. As a soldier, if I fail my mission, I deserve death. But before I die, I must not sacrifice my navy’s tens of thousands of elite troops in vain. I cannot accept this!”

Marshal Hawk let out a bitter laugh, a strange flush rising on his pale face. His sharp eyes now burned with a determined death wish.

“Marshal, there is no need for such despair. After this defeat, we have at least uncovered some of the enemy’s weaknesses. Ordinary soldiers and conventional firearms are ineffective against them. To deal with them, we will need the help of mutants.”

Seeing the marshal’s expression, the small black man quickly urged him loudly.

“Do you think I lost over ten thousand elite troops just to gain such little intelligence? I understand what you mean, but the fact is, there are very few mutants left in the Empire.”

“Besides, I am already a traitor to the Empire. These matters are no longer my concern.”

Marshal Hawk sneered self-mockingly, standing up and straightening his uniform. He then strode toward the base’s exit, ready to meet his end with composure.

“Marshal, if you do this, you will become a traitor to the entire Empire. Can you face the over ten thousand soldiers who perished under your command?”

Seeing Hawk’s actions, the small black man grew anxious and raised his voice again.

“These soldiers gave their precious lives to uncover the enemy’s weaknesses. Are you really going to give up just like that?”

“Right now, you are the only one in the entire Empire who knows the threat posed by the werewolves and vampires. You are the only one determined to eliminate them. Have you considered that if you die, the Empire’s power will eventually fall into the hands of these two dark races? Then, you will truly become the Empire’s traitor.”

Indeed, upon hearing these words, Marshal Hawk’s steps faltered, and a visible struggle appeared on his face.

He did not fear death. As a seasoned military veteran, he had long been prepared to face it. But he was deeply worried about the Empire’s future.

The ancient nobility had long maintained ties with the vampires, unaware that the vampire clan was gradually eroding the core of the Empire’s power. If he truly died, the hardline faction he represented would perish, and the entire Empire would likely fall into the hands of the dark races, becoming their prey and source of nourishment. He could not bear to envision that dreadful future.

It must be said, the small black man had spoken directly to his heart.

“I have already traced a lead to contact mutants. I know of an ancient mutant organization with a branch in Ireland. I am willing to act as the bridge between the Empire and this group. As far as I know, this organization was established in the eighteenth century, gathering numerous powerful mutants. With their help, eliminating the werewolves and vampires would be a simple task.”

Seeing the marshal moved by his words, the small black man quickly revealed his greatest trump card.

“What? Such an organization really exists?”

Marshal Hawk’s eyes flashed with keen light as he turned to the small black man.

In fact, he had heard rumors of this ancient mutant organization, said to have originated in Britain. But it was shrouded in mystery, and he had never had the chance to contact them.

“This organization does exist, but they are extremely secretive. Ordinary mutants cannot reach them. I was fortunate enough to be invited once due to my special abilities, but at the time I refused because I did not want to be bound by others.”

The small black man did not lie; years ago, shortly after his mutant genes awakened, he had indeed been invited by this mysterious organization.

He then took out a pitch-black metal card from his pocket and handed it to Marshal Hawk.

“Hellfire Club.”

Looking at the card, Hawk’s resolve to die rapidly diminished.

...

Meanwhile, on the surface near the Li Yang estate, as the strange phenomena occurred, the Empire’s high command sent a troop of scouts rushing toward the scene.

It was not only the Empire’s leaders who reacted; even some daring London residents were flocking toward the Li Yang estate, drawn by curiosity.

Curiosity is human nature, especially when faced with unprecedented events.

London was bathed in bright sunlight, yet the outskirts thundered with rolling storms and gathering black clouds. Accompanying these were lightning bolts of various colors and auroras piercing the sky.

Finally, the sky was filled with multicolored clouds, and golden celestial flowers fell like rain, bathing all of London in a heavenly glow of dazzling beauty.

Such phenomena were not only unseen by the naked eye but also unrecorded in the Empire’s historical annals. Only church legends spoke of such wonders, akin to the day of Christ’s holy descent, when heaven and earth were transformed.

Thus, all of London was speculating about the cause of this spectacle, with most concluding it was the descent of divine beings. Theories of angels descending were the most widespread.

This was because, in the entire Empire, only the church had the broadest reach, and the public’s perception of living beings largely stemmed from the legends of heaven.

...

By the time everyone arrived in the London outskirts, night had fully fallen.

...

“Do not disturb me. No matter what happens, do not panic,” Li Yang said in the underground laboratory, holding the Nirvana Golden Pill in one hand and turning to Lucien and the others.

“Oh, and send someone to guard the artifact I left behind. No one should approach it easily. Remember, it’s dangerous; you’d better not touch it.”

Li Yang was referring to the Thunder God’s Chisel. Ever since its seal was broken, he had been unable to touch this artifact.

A divine weapon possesses a spirit. Besides its master, no one else can lift it. This is the fundamental trait of a divine instrument. If the artifact’s spirit is temperamental and you touch it rashly, it may injure you with its energy.

Since the seal on the Thunder God’s Chisel was broken, Li Yang was currently incapable of refining it. To even begin to refine and wield the chisel, he would need to attain the Thunder Body cultivation first; only then could he attempt it.

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Li Yang’s words, all those in the laboratory immediately fell to the ground, responding in unison.

Seeing their solemn expressions, Li Yang nodded with satisfaction. His face darkened as he gazed at the Nirvana Golden Pill in his hand and swallowed it whole.

“Boom...”

The moment Li Yang ingested the pill, a pink, transparent flame rose from his body. This flame emitted no heat; instead, it radiated a vibrant divine aura.

Enveloped by the flame, Li Yang’s body visibly melted, eventually transforming into a golden sphere as tall as a person, resembling an egg—but one that constantly pulsed.

The surface of the giant egg swelled and contracted unpredictably, emitting a muffled thudding sound like a drumbeat. Each beat revealed obscure, mysterious runes on its surface.

At this moment, Li Yang’s consciousness was immersed in warmth. His mind did not slumber but overflowed from the underground lab, ascending toward the sky.

To him, everything in the world was composed of various gases; the world was a vast, gray balloon, and living beings were colorful glowing lights within it.

Countless threads wove through space, dense and intricate. These threads were elusive and vague—Li Yang could not see them clearly but could sense their presence. Though tangled in apparent chaos, each thread had its own order, intertwined yet distinct, never interfering with each other.

Li Yang knew these were the fundamental rules that composed the existence of the world. Yet with his current cultivation, he could not discern the true nature of the world. To perceive the essence of the world’s laws, he would have to complete his transformation first. Only then would he have the qualification to observe them.