Chapter 124: The Mutation

The quasi-god level—a tier surpassing the pinnacle of the Divine Ranking. While not entirely absent in the Land of Cherry Blossoms, such individuals are exceedingly rare. Tojo knew, however, that his mentor, Hattori Hanzo, possessed exactly this level of power.

High above the void, the battle between Xiao Yu and Orochi raged on. By now, Orochi had shed his monstrous form, appearing instead as a hazy, middle-aged man. Under the influence of Orochi’s dark power, Xiao Yu seemed to have lost his sanity; he fought with a wild, unrestrained ferocity. His quasi-god level combat power nearly wounded the onlookers in the distance several times over, a fact of which Xiao Yu was entirely oblivious.

The Twelve Heavenly Generals, led by Feng Qingge and Tojo, had retreated to two mountain peaks far from the fray, watching the duel with solemn expressions.

"Have you noticed the Big Brother's state?" Qinglong asked, his eyes filled with worry. "He seems to be losing his mind. If this continues, even if he defeats this so-called Orochi, he might succumb to his inner demons and fall into the path of evil."

"This state reminds me of that time on the battlefield," Liuhe added, frowning with equal concern. "We were surrounded by a horde of powerful enemies, and it was only by entering this state that Big Brother slaughtered hundreds of masters to rescue us."

"We must find a way to bring him back to his senses!" Huofeng exclaimed.

"Impossible," Qinglong sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "A battle of this magnitude is beyond our interference. The violent energy surrounding them would tear us to shreds before we could even get close."

The clash between Xiao Yu and Orochi was too intense. Even the supreme masters of the Flame Summer, such as Kong Wudao and Wuqing, would likely not dare to approach. The power generated by their duel was so terrifying that the shockwaves alone seemed to threaten the very fabric of the void, let alone the center of the battlefield.

They fought in a deadlock, powerful energies swirling through the void. Following another violent collision, a deafening explosion echoed out. The two figures were forced apart, retreating to opposite sides and glaring at one another.

"Haha! To think that after tens of thousands of years, you have become this weak," the middle-aged Orochi laughed wildly.

Xiao Yu ignored the taunt. As he raised his long sword to charge again, a gentle wave of energy suddenly rippled through the space.

The moment this energy emerged, Xiao Yu frowned, clutching his head as if enduring immense agony, struggling violently in the void.

Orochi, by contrast, was struck with terror. Ignoring Xiao Yu, he looked down toward the ground, sensing that this aura originated from deep beneath the earth.

As Orochi looked down, a pillar of green light shot into the sky, engulfing him. Stimulated by this light, Orochi flew into a rage, muttering, "Damn it, how have you awakened as well!"

As he spoke, the green light transformed into a massive hand and struck him with devastating force, slamming his body down from the void. This sudden power was similar in nature to energy, inflicting far more severe damage on Orochi than Xiao Yu’s attacks had.

Just as Orochi was about to crash into the ground, two wings sprouted from his back. With a frantic flutter, he rose back into the air.

At that moment, Xiao Yu, still clutching his head in agony, let out a heaven-shaking roar. This cry triggered a bizarre transformation in the void.

The clear, sunny sky darkened instantly. In the blink of an eye, day turned to night, and the firmament was filled with stars.

In a secluded courtyard of the Flame Summer Martial Arts Alliance, two figures shot into the sky. They looked toward the Land of Cherry Blossoms with shock etched on their faces. They were Xiao Yu’s mentors, Kong Wudao and Wuqing.

"Old fossil, that is Xiao Yu's aura. What in the world did that brat do in the Land of Cherry Blossoms to trigger such an awakening?" Kong Wudao asked, his tone grave.

"No time for questions. We must go at once," Wuqing replied sternly. "We cannot let him awaken now. If those people find out, they will send someone to nip him in the bud." With that, Wuqing tore open the void and stepped through, with Kong Wudao close behind.

Simultaneously, at the headquarters of the Law Enforcement Hall atop Mount Kunlun, Nanke, who had been meditating, opened his eyes wide. With a wave of his hand, he vanished from the hall and appeared on the plaza.

"Guardian Nanke!" Several cultivators with the Harmony-Stage cultivation bowed respectfully.

"Why has the atmosphere changed so drastically? Is it coming from the Land of Cherry Blossoms? Could a Dao-level master have emerged there? No, that’s impossible. In a world so devoid of spiritual energy, even breaking through to the True Immortal realm is uncertain. What is going on?"

Nanke ignored the cultivators, staring at the sky and muttering to himself. He had sensed a terrifying aura just a moment ago—though it was fleeting, he knew it was no hallucination. The atmospheric shift only confirmed his fears.

"You all, go and investigate what has happened in the Land of Cherry Blossoms and who caused this phenomenon. If it is a cultivator, ignore it; but if it is a martial artist, you must kill them, even if it costs you your lives!"

Nanke turned and commanded the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall. They nodded and soared into the sky, racing toward the Land of Cherry Blossoms.

Watching them leave, Nanke sighed softly, thinking, "I hope it is not what I fear."

With that, Nanke’s figure slowly faded from the plaza.