Chapter 728: Phoenix
“But the original world isn’t all bad, I mean, there’s an advanced technology. As for your great inventions, I like computers very much. Not only I can use it to watch shows, but I can also play video games and listen to music with it. I can even mimic the master’s voice using some software. It is simply a spectacular invention.” The duck emperor sat before his computer as he professed his admiration for them.
Xiao Luo could not help but comment, “It is a shame that your computer isn’t connected to the Internet. If you go online, you’ll discover even more interesting things.”
He had checked the duck’s computer earlier, and while there were many animal doc.u.mentaries, he only had one movie about humans. It was a Cantonese film, so this duck would use Cantonese swear words sometimes in his speech.
“Yes, yes… I always want to see the world outside!” The duck emperor enthused pa.s.sionately, and it filled his eyes with excitement.
“So, that’s why you wanted to follow me to the Arcana Land, am I right?” Xiao Luo said with a chuckle.
“Oh, dear, was it so obvious?”
The duck emperor covered his mouth with his hand-like wings, looking like an innocent child. “I have been living in this hall since I was born, and I’ve never once seen the world outside. Although I am more than five hundred years old, my perspective is shallower than a three years old kid. Please, sympathize with my situation and take me along with you. I promise I won’t be a burden.”
“Aren’t you afraid that the Master G.o.d of Chaos will punish you when he finds out?” Xiao Luo asked.
“Punish? No, no, no… He has gone on a vacation to the outer world. Why can’t I take a break too?”
The duck emperor was planning to risk it all. He desperately wanted to see the world out there for the longest time. And, had he the capability to tear through the dimension of chaos, he would have left this prison-like hall a long time ago. “Speaking about the outer world, I am so fascinated by it. According to my master, two parties rule the outer world—the Ultimate Martial clan, and the Ultimate Tech clan. The Arcana Land here and the original world resemble these clans from the outer world. The Arcana Land represents the Ultimate Martial clan while the original world represents the Ultimate Tech clan.”
Xiao Luo suddenly became serious and asked, “What is the Ultimate Martial clan, and what is the Ultimate Tech clan? Be clear about it.”
“Mm, how should I make it clearer? Let me give you an example… If people want to fly, they would need the help of an aircraft. This belongs to the realm of the Ultimate Tech. Some can fly using their capabilities without the help of an aircraft—they belong to the Ultimate Martial realm. Similarly, using a communication device to communicate over a distance of a thousand miles belongs to the realm of the Ultimate Tech. Those who could transmit their voices using their inner power to communicate belong to the realm of the Ultimate Martial.”
The duck emperor had a cigar in his mouth and started smoking. “Regardless of whether it is the Ultimate Martial or Ultimate Tech, they can all achieve the same results. In the outer world, they have always been rivals. Is it clearer now?” he said.
Xiao Luo finally got a better understanding of the matter. He even suspected if the Ultimate Tech clan invented the genius system.
One clan represented the top martial artists, and the other clan represented the power and ingenuity of science. The higher one progressed, the more likely he would appreciate how little he knew. In Xiao Luo’s mind, he had formed an understanding of a vast and complicated universe called the outer world civilization. And compared to this civilization, the world that he knew was simply insignificant.
The Ultimate Martial clan and the Ultimate Tech clan made up the universe. His original world and the Arcana Land were miniature versions of these clans. Xiao Luo suddenly felt the vastness of this universe and how small he was in comparison. But he also knew that the stronger he became, the higher the level he could attain.
But, he had no wish to go to the outer world and only wanted to remain in his world, in his own home with the love of his life. It was a simple and ordinary wish.
Ten days later, the Nihility outside had finally dissipated.
The duck emperor had packed his backpack long ago and was ready to leave with Xiao Luo to see the wonders of the Arcana Land. Its entire backpack only comprised some clothing.
“I did not agree to bring you along.”
Xiao Luo rolled his eyes. Although Xiao Luo thought this duck was rather helpful, he suspected Duck Emperor was still going to be a burden. Besides, adventurers usually brought along cool mythical beasts with them, so he didn’t wish to be stuck with this d.a.m.n white duck. It was awkward in every way.
What?
As the duck emperor heard that, he froze and sat on the ground, then threw a tantrum. “You rascal, how could you do this to me. Aren’t we are friends? Would it cost your life to show me the world?” he cried.
He was crying pathetically and looked exactly like Donald Duck.
Xiao Luo was speechless, but he was determined not to bring Duck Emperor along. On top of it being a burden, what if the Master G.o.d of Chaos returned and realize that he had brought the duck out? That could be another potential cause of unnecessary trouble.
“Duck, guard the temple well for your master, I’ll see you when I return!”
He waved to it and left the room. Stepping out to the cylindrical-shaped tunnel, he continued to the other side of the temple.
The pitch-black tunnel was chilly, and it looked like a devilish ghoul lived within it!
Thinking of how the two men from the Light clan had forced his wife to go through this tunnel under coercion, Xiao Luo hastened his pace and reached the exit within half an hour. The exit on this side resembled the entrance of the original world. They both resembled a demon’s head, and the exit was the demon’s gaping mouth.
If he had not seen it for himself that he walked through the temple, he might have thought that he returned to the same place he had left from.
He then shut his eyes to sense the existence of a s.p.a.ce barrier. When he successfully detected it, he unsheathed his sword and slashed the barrier immediately.
RIP!
A crack formed into the Dimension of Chaos, and it looked like a path that led to heaven, for it was blinding and it was difficult to tell what lay within it.
Xiao Luo frowned and stepped into the crack with no hesitation. When his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw a land covered in lush forests and an expansive blue sky. There were also cl.u.s.ters of tall mountains, and he was looking down upon this landscape like a deity. Xiao Luo floated in the high sky and saw a large river meandering in the woods.
The air was refres.h.i.+ng!
In this land, even breathing felt like a carefree enjoyment. There were no signs of industrial pollution and haze. The world felt like it had just been cleansed by a spring shower and it was clear as a mirror. He could also sense an abundance of spiritual energy overflowing in this world.
So this is the Arcana Land?
Xiao Luo performed the Levitation skill and flew across the boundless forests. The crack he opened up in the Dimension of Chaos was closing up quickly and finally disappeared into the horizon.
“Ri~”
Suddenly, a shrill bird call pierced through the air.
Xiao Luo looked over to the source of the call and it stunned him. A gigantic bird that was covered in crimson red feathers flew over to him from afar. When it spread both of its wings fully, it had a wingspan of twenty meters, making it an enormous monster that was large enough to block the sun.
A Phoenix?
Xiao Luo unconsciously thought of the name of this gigantic bird. It had the head of a chicken, the neck of a sparrow, the back of a tortoise, and the tail of a fish. Wasn’t this the mythical bird, the phoenix, as recorded in the Shanhai Scroll? He could not believe that such a creature existed anywhere.
“You brat, what are you waiting for? Dodge!”
Suddenly, Xiao Luo heard the duck emperor’s familiar voice, but he did not have time to search around as the phoenix was close. Compared to the mythical bird, Xiao Luo looked like a tiny sparrow next to a commercial aircraft. Therefore, not dodging wasn’t an option.
WHOOs.h.!.+
The gigantic phoenix flew past Xiao Luo and sent a gust of wind into him. If not for Xiao Luo’s powerful strength, he would have been blown off course by this gust and lost his control in mid-air like a broken kite.
When he recovered, he realized that there was another phoenix as both of them were crying loudly. They were pecking each other in flight and attacking with their sharp claws like they were each other’s nemesis. The fight was intense and many red feathers fell off from their bodies and floated to the ground. Their sharp claws had also resulted in terrible injuries, and blood was spilled from the sky.
CRAs.h.!.+
They continued to fight as they crashed to the ground, destroying a large area of the forest. Their wings were flapping madly and stirring sand into a violent tornado that raged through the surrounding area.
“Such giant beasts are very territorial by nature. It must be because one of them had entered the other’s territory.” The voice of the Duck Emperor seemed to be speaking right into his ears.
Xiao Luo turned around and saw the duck the size of a fly standing on his shoulder, giving a commentary on the fight between the phoenixes.”What are you looking at, this is my magic power, I can control my body’s size at will!” the Duck Emperor said as he stared back at Xiao Luo.”I was a little suspicious when you were so obedient, but it seems you had planned to sneak along after all,” Xiao Luo snapped.The Duck Emperor slapped Xiao Luo’s neck with his wing, and said, “You rascal, if I did not pull this trick, there’s no way you would’ve let me tag along. I call this strategy, do you understand?”SLAP!Xiao Luo reached out and slapped his shoulder like how he would swat a fly.”Arghhhh…!”The Duck Emperor screamed, “You rascal, what are you doing?”Xiao Luo ignored him and continued to swat at him, convinced he needed to teach this duck a lesson.”Argh… I am exploding, if you continue to hit me, I will explode… please, stop it right now!””Argh… I’ll address you as my brother. Please, spare me, brother, argh… Stop hitting me, you’re hitting the sh*t out of me…””Argh… Brother, I’m serious, stop hitting me, please. Let’s talk about this with an open mind…”The duck emperor was pleading for his life. He wanted to run away, but Xiao Luo had used his True Inner Force to lock him. He could not escape, regardless of how hard he tried to flap his wings. After being properly taught a lesson, Duck Emperor finally surrendered his dignity as a duck and gave in to Xiao Luo.Xiao Luo picked him up then placed him on his open palm, and said, “Why couldn’t you just stay in the temple? Why did you have to follow me? I can turn you into a roasted duck right now!””Fine, if that is what you wish. But I had to come. After that b.a.s.t.a.r.d from the Light clan called Curisa realized I was posing as my master, he hung me up and tortured me. He humiliated me. This trip to the Arcana Land is first to see the world, but it is also to reclaim my dignity.” Finally, the Duck Emperor spilled his thoughts.