The Path Toward Heaven

The Immortal Chi Song had a brief conversation with Jing Jiu before he died.

One of the statements was very important.

Jing Jiu claimed that asking the Immortal Chi Song to receive Cao Yuan was an attempt to have him killed.

This speculation was probably correct, but it could also be wrong. No matter what, the whole crew of the battleship would die since the Immortal Chi Song would die at his sword; what was the purpose of making that statement?

It was because Jing Jiu was fully aware that a certain person had been keeping contact with the black battleship in the distance and was watching what was happening.

It was maybe not enough to induce that person out after he killed the Immortal Chi Song and the entire crew of the battleship, but that statement could achieve it.

If that person intended to maintain his Dao, he had no choice but to explain Jing Jiu and himself.

“Put down the murderous knife and become a Buddha instantly. Chi Song expressed his willingness to join our cause, and I had no reason to refuse him.”

The calm voice echoed like the chime of a bell amid the breaking-up of the battleship, “You shouldn’t have killed him.”

Cao Yuan’s voice used to sound like a bell, but this voice was a little hoarse, sounding like a broken bell.

Yet, comparing the two, Jing Jiu preferred Cao Yuan’s voice.

“It was evident that he had never put down his knife; otherwise, Cao Yuan wouldn’t have struck him with his broadsword.”

Jing Jiu looked at a spot perpendicular to the battleship.

The battleship was badly damaged and lost the ability to readjust itself. Everything was flying up from it, drifting all over the sky.

A cable was connected to the vibrating sound system from which the voice came out.

Jing Jiu continued without asking if the other party was General Li, “And he intended to kill me.”

The person said, “You must be well aware that we didn’t have any intention to kill you; otherwise, why would you have dared write that novel?”

Jing Jiu said, “Looks like I was wrong.”

“The Cultivation practitioners have a long lifetime,” said the person. “They will always find something to challenge themselves, sometimes for seeking meaning and sometimes for strengthening themselves.”

“Have you been through the tests?” pressed Jing Jiu.

The person said, “All the cocoon breakers have to go through this process in order to become a butterfly.”

“Only children would recite such a screenplay,” said Jing Jiu.

The person said, “Come to the Main Planet; we’ll meet.”

Jing Jiu said, “If we met…”

He didn’t finish the sentence because the communication was cut off.

The battleship was severely damaged, and all the channels for data transmission were dysfunctional.

The speaker on the cable was swaying hither and thither like a butterfly who was lost; it looked more like a kite in the strong wind and was on the verge of being torn to shreds.

Jing Jiu flew several hundred kilometers away from the battleship and turned around to look at it.

The black battleship was dismantling, turning into tens of millions of broken pieces as if they were the raindrops in a storm drifting in all directions.

In the space farther away, a black battleship was entering the warped black hole, most part of which seemed to have disappeared into emptiness with its tail still visible, a blue glow flashing around it. It was an amazing scene.

Jing Jiu turned to fly toward the Scorching-Sun Battleship.

Thousands of nuclear bombs were still exploding. Some of them had dissipated, and some were still giving off dazzling light and heat.

Relying on the remaining fairy energy in the space, Jing Jiu flew to a place several hundred thousand kilometers away effortlessly.

Seeing the battleship that had participated in assassinating him, he, for some reason, felt a sense of affection for it.

The Scorching-Sun Battleship sounded similar to the Scorching-Sun Gorge; was it a fortunate name for him?

No, it was not true. It was probably because he had friends on the battleship.

…

…

“Cancel the alarm.”

“Attention, all crew members. The battleship is still on the alert, and it will check the data by itself in three minutes.”

The emotionless mechanical and electronic sounds echoed on the Scorching-Sun Battleship.

The regular mechanical maintenance soldiers, the advisory officers, and the captain were all taken aback for a moment before they recovered their senses. Then, they went back to their respective positions to carry out their work.

Nobody knew what had happened.

Nobody knew why their battleship had encountered two black battleships with foreboding intent in the space passage of the Yinhai Nebula that was the safest route in the Federation of the Milky Way. It was unfathomable that those two black battleships had neither name nor digital marks; how could they conceal from the watchful eyes of the Federation?

As the officers and soldiers of the Scorching-Sun Battleship were ready to fight back nervously and in bewilderment, they found that their rights of authority were deprived; no one knew who was in control of the battleship at the moment.

When everybody thought that they would die, they found that thousands of nuclear warheads were launched from their battleship.

Thousands of nuclear bombs exploded in tandem, illuminating the dark space, turning into a road leading to the distance.

Yet, no one could understand what had ensued.

It was because nobody, save for the four girls by the window in that room, could see the sword light.

A black battleship was ablaze and then dismantled.

The other black battleship fled in a hurry and vanished.

…

…

“Please let me in. I’d like to know what has happened.”

The captain of the Scorching-Sun Battleship went on while staring at the main preacher, “You’re an important figure on the Stargate Base, but this is my ship!”

“What has happened earlier proves that this battleship is not yours.”

The main preacher continued while looking at him calmly, “As for what has happened, I believe that the praying hall and the military headquarters will investigate it after we are back on the Main Planet.”

After a moment of silence, the captain said, “Where is Colonel Ran? I’d like to talk to her.”

The main preacher said expressionlessly, “Colonel Ran is taking care of some urgent matters. I’ll let her know your request. She will find you after she is done.”

Having said that, he turned to enter the room, saying nothing more.

Looking at the tightly closed door, the captain recalled those heart-wrenching scenes earlier. He turned and left the place after remaining silent for a long while.

In the end bedroom of the suite, Zong Lizi was helping Jing Jiu get dressed.

Seeing his pale face, she couldn’t help but ask him after debating for a long time, “Are you okay?”

Jing Jiu uttered “hmm” and said, “A bit tired.”

Zong Lizi knew his temperament; if he claimed he was tired, he must be extremely tired. She couldn’t help but feel worried.

She pushed open the door and motioned for Jiang Yuxia and the others to leave and not to disturb him.

Jiang Yuxia hesitated a bit, but she decided not to say anything. She dragged Hua Xi out of the room by holding her hand.

Ran Handong didn’t leave. After staring at Jing Jiu’s face for a long time, she suddenly asked, “Are you really…the new god?”

Jing Jiu ignored her and lay on the chair.

Zong Lizi turned to Ran Handong and commanded curtly, “I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

Ran Handong had no choice but to leave the room reluctantly after she shot two glances at Jing Jiu.

By the time Zong Lizi spun her head around, she found that Jing Jiu was already asleep.

His face was a little pale.

She sat down on the edge of the chair and caressed his face sympathetically.

Today was her birthday; it was the reason why she told him those things. She intended to invite him to have supper with her like they had done in the apartment. Unfortunately, this unexpected incident occurred.

She looked at the outside of the window, her pretty eyes and brows illuminated by the lights from the outside.

Some of the thousands of nuclear bombs had already abated, and some were still ablaze.

It seemed as if countless fireworks sprang up in the dark space.

They all looked like burning butterflies.