Chapter Forty-Nine

Beside the boundless forest, a steel metropolis rises abruptly, contrasting sharply with the lush, natural surroundings. Under the sunlight, the metallic exterior walls gleam, reflecting a dazzling radiance. This brilliance spills over the bustling streets, casting clear outlines on the passing pedestrians, resembling a wondrous tableau where reality and science fiction intertwine.

The heavy city gates are raised, and spearmen march out in a continuous stream from both sides. Wearing black powered armor in neat strides, they line up orderly in two columns and stand at attention.

At this moment, the people entering and leaving the city proceed in an orderly fashion. There are no inspections; instead, a simple curtain of light sweeps over everyone passing through.

The battle just witnessed in the plaza makes some people eager to step outside immediately to see if the Demon Emperor is dead. At any rate, there is no movement from him for now.

Hu Yu stands anxiously at the edge of the large crater, peering down at her father lying inside. Everything happened so fast that it was over before she could even react; the overwhelming onslaught gave her a suffocating feeling just thinking about it.

Hu Yu leaps into the crater to examine the Demon Emperor's severe injuries.

Residents streaming out of the city gradually arrive near the crater as well.

"Old Niu, go check it out. You have the highest strength here—step up and deliver a finishing strike. If you make a contribution, the City Lord might reward you with a floating car, and you'll be set for life!"

"Scram, you shameless dog-headed bastard. Why don't you go? You want to trick me, but you're far from it—I'm as crafty as a monkey!"

"Brother Niu makes sense," a monkey demon nearby says, resting his right hand on his chin in a thoughtful pose.

Hardly had he finished speaking when Old Niu kicks him flying. He tumbles across the ground several times and lies there for a long time, unable to get up.

The crowd here grows larger by the moment, gathering over a thousand people in a short while. Furthermore, none of these onlookers are ordinary figures; they all possess formidable strength.

At this point, a beautiful elf senses something and looks toward the city gate. She sees that the residents still exiting the city are clearing a path as a squad of ten white powered armors slowly emerges, walking toward the crater.

"What are these?" Eileen asks with a flickering gaze in her eyes.

"These are medics. That's what people in the city call them. They are terrifyingly powerful beings who use abilities similar to light magic. Their healing prowess is on par with our Greater Restoration, or perhaps even greater," a nearby elven elder says respectfully.

"I can feel a surging life force emanating from them. It feels as if ten Mother Trees of Life are walking toward us. This is incredible."

"I was startled when I first arrived as well. I remember coming here a few months ago and feeling the aura of the Mother Tree at the city's medical hall. When I went to investigate later, I discovered it was them. Moreover, their magic can purge hidden injuries—that is a power approaching divine magic," the old man says, gazing excitedly at the ten medics.

While Eileen is still digesting the information from the elder's words, the old elf continues, "You just arrived and aren't familiar with this place yet. There are many more incredible things in the city that will make your trip worthwhile!"

As the medics appear, the crowd ceases its loud clamor and drops to murmuring in hushed whispers, much like a classroom when a head teacher steps through the door.

With the approach of the medics, the crowd yields a pathway. The medics reach the side of the crater unobstructed and, standing a few meters apart, encircle the pit.

Hu Yu is attempting to treat [him] using spells, enveloping the Demon Emperor in a ball of green light, but the results do not look ideal.

One of the medics scans the Demon Emperor with the machinery on his shoulder and speaks up, "Miss Hu Yu, your father is heavily injured. His bones are shattered, and he is hanging on by a single breath. Ordinary treatment will not work. If he is to recover, we must intervene. Please step aside."

"Alright!" Hu Yu realizes the gravity of the situation as well, so she leaps out of the crater, stands beside the medic, and gazes anxiously at her father, who is still venting white smoke down below.

"Can he be cured?" Hu Yu asks worriedly.

The medics waste no words; they raise both hands, casting two beams of white light upon the Demon Emperor. The rich life energy makes everyone in the vicinity feel a surge of refreshment.

The onlookers on the outer perimeter take a few more steps forward.

Reviewing the data report on the Demon Emperor sent back, Shen Yi is slightly startled. This wave of attacks nearly beat the Demon Emperor to death. He originally thought the fellow was quite tough, but it lasted less than five seconds. Had it gone on for one more second, the Demon Emperor would have been pulverized. Fortunately, he called off the attack in time. Equipment upgraded to level five is truly satisfying to use against opponents....

"Commander: Due to the target's critical injuries, we request permission for multiple units to conduct joint treatment. Please authorize." The medic communicates with Shen Yi via the mecha's comms.

"Authorized!"

As the words fall, the remaining medics raise both hands simultaneously, and eighteen beams of white light shoot toward the Demon Emperor at once.

The dense life energy instantly multiplies severalfold, enveloping the Demon Emperor in white light until his condition is no longer visible from the outside. Hu Yu stares intently at the sphere of light in the pit, though fortunately, the glow is not blinding.

The surrounding crowd grows denser. Those in the back, feeling the benefits of being close, push forward, until those in front are merely a few meters away from the medics. A surging aura of life radiates from the pit, as if a holy angel resides within.

"Stop shoving, stop shoving! Any more pushing and I'll fall into the pit, buddy!"

"I don't want to shove either, but I can't control myself!"

"I feel like taking a few more steps forward will allow me to ascend to immortality!"

"It's not that exaggerated, brother!"

The surrounding crowd does not disrupt the medics' treatment; they execute Shen Yi's orders meticulously.

Just as everyone holds high expectations for the Demon Emperor to awaken under the medics' full treatment, the ball of light enveloping him suddenly flickers violently. Following that, with a loud "boom," a powerful shockwave ripples outward in all directions centered around the pit. The surrounding crowd is tossed about in disorder like fallen leaves caught in a gale.

Hu Yu is driven back several steps by the shockwave, feeling both alarmed and furious. "What on earth is happening? My father..." Her eyes are filled with worry and dread, terrified that something might go wrong with him.

Watching this scene through the surveillance monitors within the city, Shen Yi also knits his brows tightly, muttering a bad premonition in his heart: "Could an accident have occurred during the treatment? If this Demon Emperor dies right now, the subsequent trouble will be massive."

As the shockwave gradually subsides and everyone looks closely, they see the Demon Emperor in the crater slowly sitting up. Strange lights flicker across his body; his previously shattered bones appear to have completely healed, and his aura has grown even more formidable than before.

"I know you can hear me. Could you do me a favor and guard me? I am about to break through." A calm voice resounds from the Demon Emperor.

The Demon Emperor sits quietly cross-legged, his expression solemn and grave. The realm of the peak sixth rank is like an insurmountable chasm lying across his path of cultivation, having blocked him for many years. Throughout these years, no matter how much agonizing effort and bitter cultivation he poured in, breaking through this shackle remained persistently out of reach. He even once felt that he might stop right here for the rest of his life.

Yet, the trajectory of fate is always full of surprises. Today, an abrupt and unexpected turn of events has actually brought him an unprecedented opportunity for a breakthrough. This opportunity is as precious and rare as a sudden dawn in the dark. He knows deeply that this is a priceless gift bestowed by fate, which he must grasp firmly without letting it slip through his fingers.

"If this Emperor successfully breaks through, I declare that my Demon Clan and Shen Yi shall forge an alliance, sharing life and death. I, Demon Emperor Ao Qiong, swear this oath here and now!"

"Very well! Happy cooperation."

As the words fade, a loud broadcast echoes throughout the city: "Residents, please return to the city in an orderly fashion! Residents, please return to the city in an orderly fashion!"

The crowd of onlookers disperses, retreating back into the city. As the last resident steps inside, the heavy steel city gates slowly close, leaving only Ao Qiong and the ten medics outside.

Hu Yu glances once more at Ao Qiong before following the crowd into the city.

As the gates shut, twenty Wraith fighters fly in from afar, hovering above Ao Qiong. Cloaking their forms, they arrange themselves in a circular formation centered on him! Five thousand Ghost operatives drop from the city walls like dumplings into a pot, swiftly assembling toward Ao Qiong's location and performing their respective duties to encircle him in the middle. Five thousand sniper rifles lock onto every direction from which an enemy might appear, filling Ao Qiong with a profound sense of security as he watches.

These very machines had nearly claimed his old life. It seems he can finally break through with peace of mind; after all, one fears disturbance most during a breakthrough, as the slightest mishap can ruin all previous efforts, and in severe cases, even pose a mortal threat.

The Demon Emperor sits cross-legged on the ground, his aura churning as though a storm is brewing. The shackles of the peak sixth rank, which weighed upon his heart like a boulder for years, have finally presented an opportunity for breakthrough today.

He closes his eyes tightly, his expression solemn, as he guides the surging demonic power within his body with all his might. The surrounding space seems stirred by this force, emitting a low hum. Dense demonic power gathers frantically around him, forming a massive vortex.

Amidst the convergence of demonic power, the Demon Emperor's body repeatedly rams against the acupoints within him. An hour later, Ao Qiong feels he can barely hold on any longer, his body reaching its absolute limit. Yet he is unwilling to give up—missing this chance means losing all hope forever. He abruptly opens his eyes, catches sight of the ten medics nearby, forms a plan, and shouts aloud, "Shen Yi, assist me!"

Instantly, twenty beams of light shoot toward Ao Qiong, presenting a scene resembling ten masters transmitting their internal energy to him.

Suddenly, a dazzling radiance bursts forth from within the Demon Emperor, piercing through the darkness that shrouded his body. Following that, a thunderclap explodes, serving as the proclamation of breaking through his limits. The light gradually dissipates, and the Demon Emperor slowly opens his eyes, where sharp brilliance flashes like glittering stars.

He stands up, clenches his fist lightly, and feels the surging, brand-new power within his body. A confident curve touches the corner of his lips. At this moment, the formidable might of the seventh rank flows through him, as if he has established a deeper connection with the mysterious forces of heaven and earth. From this moment on, he steps into a new height in this world.

"Many thanks!" Ao Qiong clasps his fists toward the distant city and speaks in a resonant voice.