Chapter Seventy-Four: When the Wind Comes, It Comes at Once

A long road stretched ahead, seemingly without an end. Had the trial begun just like this? A desolate environment and an empty path. Even Lin Liu probably had not anticipated that this road would be so remarkably long.

Zhang Xuandao did not quite understand, finding it bizarre and even harboring a nagging sense that he had been deceived. Of course, the reality was precisely that.

Walking stubbornly down a single path till the end.

The less hope was in sight, the more one had to persevere.

Zhang Xuandao told himself just that, his steps unwavering and resolute. He kept his right fist clenched against his abdomen while his left hand remained behind his back—a posture that appeared casual yet radiated lethal vigilance.

Meanwhile, switching to the other side, Wu Yue successfully entered the laboratory. Its most striking characteristic was its pristine cleanliness. The familiar silver-white packaging remained, and the interior was exceptionally quiet.

"This is one of Nars's primary laboratories, dedicated chiefly to biological research," Lin Liu stated.

Intelligent robots typically referred to Nars—that intellect who had shaken the starry skies—simply by name. Because the voice was synthetically generated, it was impossible to tell whether any profound emotion underlay it. Lin Liu was certain that Nars was already dead; as for the origin of that voice, even Lin Liu could not quite explain it.

However, time was limited, and this was truly snatching chestnuts from the fire. Who knew when Zhang Xuandao might return? At this moment, there was no spare attention to bestow upon the gray-robed elder outside, who was thus left completely unattended, his mortal-shedding existence utterly ignored.

Wu Yue dared not leisurely tour the laboratory now. The place was filled with treasures—at least to the vast majority of people. Priceless items and various kinds of super-technology were scattered about. Yet, Wu Yue belonged to that tiny fraction of people for whom these objects were currently of little use; firstly, he did not know how to operate them, and secondly, he could not carry them away.

Lin Liu was still doing its best to introduce the exhibits, such as this... (omitting five hundred words here). This machine could transfer a single gene between two organisms, but because it remained incomplete, the outcome was entirely random. What a powerful machine! Unfortunately, it was of no practical use.

Lin Liu was primarily searching for data—ways to break through the current environment, or methods to quickly locate Lin Xiuxiu and the others. To be precise, Lin Xiuxiu and Zhao Qingzhi.

Wu Yue had no time to entertain Lin Liu and concentrated on finding items that were small in volume and lightweight, such as the two vials of potion that Lin Liu had dismissed. No one could decipher the symbols left behind by Nars, not even Lin Liu. Yet, it was easy to tell that these were ordinary items simply because they had been tossed aside so casually.

Naturally, even ordinary items, once brought to the Immortal Spirit Realm, would be considered peerless treasures. Regrettably, no one knew what was actually inside them. Nars would hardly waste time explaining such things to an intelligent robot, and living alone meant there was no need to guard against thieves. Consequently, most things that could be called ordinary treasures were merely left haphazardly in various corners.

Take this chair, for instance. Before sitting down, Wu Yue examined it carefully to ensure it was not an intelligent robot. "This object is Nars's chair," Lin Liu said. Wu Yue thought to himself that he could see that clearly enough. Lin Liu continued, "It was designed merely to save time—the time spent walking."

This chair was undoubtedly a treasure, and Wu Yue's heart throbbed with desire. Sitting upon it, a single thought propelled him several meters away. Discovering this function, Wu Yue stood stunned for several minutes, gripped by an unreality born of how easily it had been obtained.

However, that illusion of unreality vanished very quickly.

Three knocks sounded on the door. Yet, due to the room's peculiar walls, the resulting sound came out somewhat distorted.

"I am coming in," a voice announced.

The newcomer meant no good. Base Zero was entirely out of control, and the laboratory door, once opened, stubbornly refused to lock no matter what.

The visitor was an acquaintance from a previous fleeting encounter.

Clad in purple robes, the newcomer laughed audaciously. "Wu Yue, what a coincidence!" Truly, enemies were bound to cross paths; Wu Yue cursed under his breath at his bad luck.

Guoxiefeng flexed the fingers of both hands, a movement remarkably out of place, resembling that of a pugilist wandering through the martial world.

"Where is your senior brother?" Wu Yue stalling for time carefully, yearning intensely for Zhang Xuandao to return right then and there. Would the two of them fight to the death once he revealed Zhang Xuandao's identity, leaving him to reap the spoils as the third party? Unfortunately, such convenient timing rarely aligned.

"My senior brother is lost." Wu Yue would have been better off not bringing it up; the mere mention instantly summoned Guoxiefeng's painful memories. "If it weren't for you, how would my senior brother have found me?" Guoxiefeng narrowed his eyes slightly, and this young man, who had sworn to be invincible under heaven, unhesitatingly prepared to strike.

"Would it work if I just surrender?" Wu Yue asked directly.

"Of course it would," Guoxiefeng smiled faintly, then added, "But I won't allow you to leave today. By the way, I saw your friends being hunted down."

Wu Yue nodded, feeling somewhat anxious yet not overly panicked. Guoxiefeng was taken aback; he had merely intended to toy with Wu Yue and had not expected the fellow to be so coldly direct. Just as he prepared to renege—Guoxiefeng never believed he had to keep his word—

Lin Liu suddenly interjected, "Who is it?" Just because Wu Yue was not in a rush did not mean other robots shared his calm.

"So you two are accomplices? Interesting, very interesting." Guoxiefeng had spotted this bulky machine long ago, though he had not bothered to investigate their relationship for one simple reason: sheer laziness. Nothing more.

"Guess who? Naturally, the easiest one to deal with," Guoxiefeng laughed. Who was easiest to deal with? Naturally, beauty was in the eye of the beholder. Wu Yue could only emit a silent sigh of dismay, knowing that in Lin Liu's calculations, the easiest target to bully would undoubtedly be Lin Xiuxiu.

Action was now unavoidable. Since he still needed to rely on Lin Liu, Wu Yue certainly could not abandon this major asset. Yet, had he been able to avoid a fight, he certainly would have chosen not to, as it was exceedingly troublesome and entirely unnecessary. "Actually, come to think of it, your senior brother and I are friends, and the two of us have no enmity."

"My era does not allow the light of others to shine," Guoxiefeng said lightly with a smile.

There was nothing left to discuss.

Lin Liu could no longer restrain itself. Unfurling its four wings, it darted forward like a swift ghost. Wu Yue glanced at the chair, realizing that escaping successfully was out of the question, and joined the fray as well. He had not forgotten Zhang Xuandao, who had slipped away after tricking him; compared to Guoxiefeng, Wu Yue somehow felt Zhang Xuandao was far more terrifying.

Compared to Guoxiefeng's physique, Lin Liu was like a child facing an adult. Yet this child actually engaged the robot in brutal, brute-force combat, exchanging blows step for step without yielding an inch. Intricate and profound runes flickered across Guoxiefeng's body, an aura Wu Yue had encountered before.

Years ago, in the Longevity Realm, upon the dying body of Song Leizhou, Wu Yue had witnessed a martial arts grandmaster for the first time—someone who walked a path nearly Dao itself. Every punch, every kick, and every movement possessed a natural perfection that surpassed countless divine arts. In an instant, Guoxiefeng grew fiercer with every clash, leaving Lin Liu in grave peril.

Soul-Rending Technique.

Wu Yue closed his eyes and summoned Chang'an.

At that moment, several more figures, drawn by the commotion, began to approach from afar, and a faint breeze stirred across the space.