Volume 3, Chapter 84 – Hostage (Two-in-One)

“Signal coming back online!” The announcer’s trembling voice echoed in everyone’s earpieces. “Unable to detect the radiation field emitted by ‘TA-01’!”

“Signal is recovering on my side too… the interference of intense radiation on electronic equipment is rapidly fading!”

“Sixth combat group is two hundred meters from Mingmo Street, no strong interaction detected!”

“Drone units have already been dispatched to the scene… image generation may take some time.”

This… how is this possible!?

In the tense and chaotic atmosphere, Dr. Judy stared blankly at the screen in her hands.

It was a remote-control rig linked to the Tyrant bio-reactor, able to interfere with the nervous system and issue suggestive commands to control this monstrous unit. Right now it was clear that nearly all the indices on the screen had already dropped to zero, and the few that hadn’t yet reached zero were frozen at some extremely low value, suffused with a dead stillness that did not belong to any living organism.

In truth, no one knew this better than Dr. Judy. Because of the reactor, the indices of Tyrant warrior “TA-01” were far beyond average. Even if, after activation, it were simply lying down to rest, the values here should not be this low.

Putting together the reports from all channels, there was only one way to make these numbers make sense. Tyrant warrior “TA-01” was already dead, killed by the enemy less than ten minutes after deployment.

“Doctor!” Over the droning of the rotors, the pilot in front could not help turning back to remind her. “We’ve got the live feed! Do you want to take a look?”

Numbly lifting her head, Dr. Judy looked forward together with many of the researchers in her group.

Even though she had braced herself mentally, her pupils still contracted and her heart began to race when she saw the scene rendered on the projection screen, as if she had been dropped into an ice cellar.

What kind of battlefield was this…

Mingmo Street in front of the company entrance had been almost completely reduced to ruins. Half of the archways on both sides had been smashed apart, turned into piles of brick and rubble along the roadside.

The half closer to the center was simply gone, presumed to have been vaporized by high temperature in that explosion.

A little farther out, two relatively tall buildings had been cleanly cut off at the base. Their “heads” were leaning against each other, slanted over the ruins and barely holding there in order to keep from toppling.

The street itself no longer bore any trace of what it had once looked like. The closer one drew to the center of the battlefield, the more crystallized stone blocks one could see.

As the drone’s camera slowly advanced, they saw huge cut marks, gouges, and shallow sunken pits appearing on those crystallized blocks. These traces were densely spread across the crystal. The smaller ones were over ten centimeters wide, and the thicker ones were a full meter across. One especially thick cut mark extended all the way from the largest crater, running more than thirty meters forward. When the operator tried to pilot the drone down to scan its model, the data showed that this “cut mark” went at least a hundred meters into the ground, and they still had not found the end of it…

Doubt, amazement, silence, panic… Dr. Judy could smell all kinds of disorder in the comms channel and in the chaos around her.

She knew the root of it was fear. She had to admit she was under the sway of that same emotion, her head full of absurd, unreal questions like “How is this possible?” and “How could human power reach this level?”

“This has to be fake, right?”

“No! This is live footage! This is the raw feed from the drones on-site! It’s all real!”

“By all the gods, they wiped out three whole streets!”

“Crystallized stone requires a certain level of high temperature to form. Judging from the amount of crystallized stone visible on-site, the heat she was facing was no less than that of a ‘Raven’ warhead.”

“You mean she took that level of nuclear blast head-on, then forced her way through all that heat, shockwave, and radiation to rush in and kill the Tyrant?”

“I don’t believe it either… but what other explanation is there? Some trick? At this distance… there’s no usable cover in any direction. How is that different from a frontal breakthrough?”

“I don’t believe those cut marks were made by a sword!”

“Look on the bright side. She was up close against that level of intense radiation. I don’t think she walked away unscathed. She must have suffered serious injuries. Maybe she’ll die soon…”

“According to the computer analysis, the reason those two buildings were cut clean at the same time is that she used that sword to split the Augu ray ‘TA-01’ fired into two halves.”

“Able to manipulate weather patterns in a certain area… guide lightning to form a shielding field… and still stand up to an Augu blast of that magnitude.”

“She’s not even human… she’s more of a monster than ‘TA-01’!”

The clamor of voices mixed with the rotors of the “Oriole”-class helicopter. Most of them came from the research group under Dr. Judy’s command. More than half of the backbone of the scientific team she led were on this helicopter with her.

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The fear was spreading. It was even affecting the company combatants deployed in the field. When many squads first heard the news, their first reaction was disbelief. After confirming several times that this was not a joke, people began to voice a different opinion: should the company directly activate “Star Dawn”?

“There’s no time.” Dr. Judy finally spoke. “With the power and speed she has displayed in this confrontation, she will not allow us to evacuate this city.”

What does that have to do with using “Star Dawn”?

Some people had just been about to refute her, but their expressions quickly froze as they realized the problem. The destructive power of “Star Dawn” was too great. Once fired, most of Diming City would be vaporized. They themselves would be the first ones hit. Unless they were prepared to die together with Bai Xiang, giving that order was no different from suicide.

Bai Xiang could easily take them hostage. As long as she kept them within a certain range, Starwater Company’s orbital cannon would have to fall silent.

And most importantly, there was no point.

Dr. Judy silently added that in her heart.

With the energy technology currently in the Federation’s hands, firing “Star Dawn” once was not much of a loss. But what would it actually gain the company?

International condemnation for crimes against humanity?

If they could kill Bai Xiang in one stroke and even recover her remains and tissue, then fine. But the result would be either her escape or her being completely vaporized. Either outcome was meaningless to the company. The former possibility would be especially disastrous.

“Damn!” On another channel, a senior executive suddenly let out a panicked shout. “Hurry up and confirm whether she’s still alive!”

“Quick! I want to know her current movements!”

“What’s wrong, Councilor Ramon?” Dr. Judy quickly asked. “…Are you hiding something from me?”

“…Miss Aurora.” The man called Councilor Ramon, the bald executive who had appeared before, paused before answering.

“She came here in secret to receive treatment, because the experience here with treating radiation sickness is… mm… comparatively advanced… I haven’t had time to inform you yet.”

What does he mean by that?

Everyone stationed at this branch, every surviving senior member, Dr. Judy included, fell into a stunned daze.

Miss Aurora… needs treatment… for radiation sickness… put together, did he mean “Dando-Aurora”? The jewel of the Aurora family, the true power behind the company?

She’s here… and you still dared have me deploy the Tyrant?

“As long as she’s not in close contact with intense radiation, she can withstand the exposure.” Councilor Ramon said on the channel. “In fact, Dr. Judy, the order to witness the project’s results came directly from…”

“That’s enough, Ramon.” A young girl’s voice, trying to sound mature and deep but still carrying a hint of youthfulness, suddenly joined the executive channel.

“Dr. Judy, you don’t need to agonize over it… I know my own body. I was the one who told Ramon to push you.”

“Miss Aurora…”

“Because I know you’re too cautious, always trying to make everything perfect. I’m not saying that’s a bad trait, but sometimes we need to make a few adjustments based on reality.”

“Like right now.”

The signal jumped rapidly along the data lines and finally cut to a sealed room in the underground shelter of the company building, revealing a blonde girl seated in a wheelchair.

“You can contact her now,” she said softly.

“Tell her that as long as she is willing to spare the company’s site, I, ‘Dando-Aurora’…”

“Am willing to become her hostage.”

“What!” Everyone was shocked.

No matter how you looked at it, this was far too risky.

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“‘TA-01’ didn’t perform as expected, but I’m more inclined to think the enemy’s strength exceeded expectations too,” the girl said in a low voice. “It won’t be easy to cultivate such an excellent ‘breeding ground’ again. Her personality model is not bloodthirsty. I think I have more than a fifty percent chance of surviving.”

“And I’m very curious as well.” She narrowed her eyes. “What kind of lifeform she really is.”

The strong have no need to explain their words and actions.

Inside the Starwater Building.

Walking down the metallic passage to the door yet again, watching the green light flash on the camera above as it recognized her and the door swung open, Bai Xiang felt that she understood that sentence even more deeply.

“Walking nuclear warhead” was no longer an exaggeration for her. Since she had such power, and she was still in the “gray zone” that did not entangle karma, why should she skulk around with Alai and the others?

A nuclear warhead should exert the deterrent force a nuclear warhead deserves.

For example, right now, she had to make them soften, make them afraid, make them realize that even a tightly sealed door could not stop her. Only when they saw that it would lead to greater losses would they behave themselves and open a path to let her in.

“I want to speak to your company’s senior executives.”

Standing at the main door, she did not step inside. She simply glanced around and spoke calmly.

This demand was immediately met. A projector beside the door lit up with a half-body image of Dr. Judy. She first gave Bai Xiang a complicated look, then bowed to her with utmost respect.

[Respected Dao Lord Bai… please state your demands.]

“Starwater Company wants my biological samples, but you wouldn’t have reacted so fast without someone feeding you information.” Bai Xiang narrowed her eyes. “Tell me who provided the intel.”

[That…] Dr. Judy hesitated.

Bai Xiang did not push her. She only stood there, those strange golden demon-pupils wide open, staring at her.

[It was ‘Yong’an Manor’.] Dr. Judy said in a low voice. [I’m sorry, I can’t say more than that…]

Yong’an Manor. So this was the handiwork of Princess Yong’an, Yao Ying?

A cold light flashed in Bai Xiang’s eyes.

So the imperial clan really couldn’t keep still.

Fine.

She would remember this.

[Does Dao Lord Bai have any other demands?] Dr. Judy asked again.

“My people, you know exactly who I mean. I want their absolute safety guaranteed.”

[I’ll notify General Walker to cease fire across the board, including ordering the Fire Snake Gang’s boss to stand down. You can find him on the eleventh floor… he doesn’t have long to live anyway.]

She agreed that readily?

Bai Xiang gave Dr. Judy a different look. “…Seems this branch is very valuable to your company.”

[Whether I told you that or not, you would have figured it out very soon.] Judy’s stiff lips twitched in a smile.

[Allow me to formally introduce myself. I’m ‘Kevin-Judy’, the principal in charge of the Tyrant Project. The Tyrant warrior you just eliminated was my child.]

Are all female researchers this deranged?

Bai Xiang could not help comparing her with Hannah and found that the two really did look more and more alike. In some ways, they seemed cut from the same mold.

“I want all the data from this site and this research project.”

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Bai Xiang said it flatly.

In the past she probably would not have cared about this kind of thing.

But God-Descent Calisthenics had given her a taste of its benefits, and she had just obtained a piece of Blood Jade, which might open up a new path of advancement. She wanted all of Starwater Company’s research achievements here.

To give a simple example, the path of qi had already made a breakthrough. On the foundation of the three realms of Enter the Dao, Refining Qi, and Core (Jindan), it had taken another step forward. The new realm was “Origin Aperture (yuanqiao)”.

Enter the Dao corresponded in combat power to the sword realm of Forge the Sword. This stage emphasized “building a heart-flow foundation and forming a self-contained circulation”. First, one refined a nascent strand of root qi, which faintly revealed some of qi’s innate qualities.

For example, Bai Xiang’s was violent and sharp.

Bai Zhuqing’s was fine-grained control.

Among the other disciples of Shenming Sword Dao, Xu Shu’s qi-force quality was gentle and long-flowing.

Lian Feng’s was tenacious and keen.

This stage more or less fixed one’s future direction. Later, if they could create more techniques suited to these characteristics, they could distribute them for targeted cultivation. For now they did not have the conditions for that.

The next realm, Refining Qi, brought a huge leap in fighting strength.

The sign of achieving Refining Qi was, as when Bai Xiang had done it, successfully transforming qi and refining true qi-force.

The first and second layers of Refining Qi corresponded to the early Condensing the Aspect realm in Sword Dao.

Third and fourth layers corresponded to Condensing the Aspect with Purple Qi.

Fifth and sixth layers corresponded to Condensing the Aspect with Purple Blood.

Seventh and eighth layers could kill embracing-the-core Sages and True Persons.

Eighth and ninth layers could contend with veteran Core Tribulation experts.

After the tenth layer, one should prepare for “False Core”. This was also the realm Bai Xiang had reached that morning when she attained enlightenment through The Tiger-Subduing Arhat Scripture. At that time, in her inner body-scape, a nascent “qi core” was beginning to condense. She was only one step short of true embracing-the-core.

Cross that step and you attained the Core (Jindan) fruit of the Dao.

Knowing fate, condensing qi-origin.

The qi-path Core realm would bring an all-around enhancement to a cultivator. Summarizing her own experience, Bai Xiang felt that the main goal at this stage was condensing qi.

Compressing and refining the qi-force and qi-strength in her inner qi sea, forging it into even more formidable sword qi, she had given this transformed sword qi a name: “Qi-Origin (qiyuan)”.

For now, she tentatively took condensing Qi-Origin as the marker of the Core realm.

After that, one had to reforge the body. Before comprehending the Innate, all the meridians and apertures in the body had to be cultivated to perfection. That was the peak extreme of the Core realm.

It was worth noting that this “extreme” was easy enough for Bai Xiang, but not for others.

Not everyone had “soul-vision of the body-scape” or “soul-abilities” to assist their cultivation. Many cultivators did not pay much attention to tempering the flesh. Some of their meridians were already blocked and sealed. Opening them would not only be difficult, the impact would be excruciatingly painful.

Only by achieving this level could one be qualified to “comprehend the Innate”, to search within this realm for the “great medicine of the human body” and uncover the first hidden Origin Aperture.

As for whether the sign of Origin Aperture was simply opening the first hidden orifice, Bai Xiang was not yet sure.

It was just that, based on the insights she had gained while comprehending the sword just now, she had a vague sense that cultivators of the Origin Aperture realm should have a new understanding of heaven and earth.

It seemed to be precisely because she had uncovered the “Hidden Field Orifice” that she could sense that hazy energy between heaven and earth and try to transform and use it.

Although a large part of this came from the fact that she had once created Creation Qi Tribulation and from it grasped part of the laws of nature, celestial phenomena, and cycles, she still felt this was likely a means only Origin Aperture cultivators could use.

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Why did she feel her progress in cultivation was somewhat contradictory?

Because, if she mapped herself onto this system, her work on condensing qi at the Core stage was not yet complete, but she had already stepped early into the Core extreme, even dug out the first Origin Aperture and begun wielding the powers belonging to the Origin Aperture realm.

The balance felt off.

As for this piece of Blood Jade, and Starwater’s design structure for that kind of biological reactor, she had actually considered trying them in her own body.

After all, the judgment of her soul-abilities took precedence.

As long as she was consciously aware of it, then this experiment would absolutely not harm her.

[As expected… you still made that request…]

Dr. Judy’s reaction was strange. She seemed relieved, like she had let go of some insistence.

[The young lady was right… hiding anything from a strong one like you is a grave sin.]

[I know you must have many questions about this, but please keep going.]

[Miss Aurora is waiting for you just ahead.]

At the same time.

Great Yu, Maozhou.

Bai Zhuqing sat cross-legged on the bed in her private compartment, drawing in her cultivation. She swallowed a white orb of light that had been circling her body.

Gulp. Her throat moved.

Feeling the obvious foreign sensation and the act of swallowing, Bai Zhuqing immediately showed an expression of disgust.

“Why is qi getting more and more solid… to the point I can only recover it this way.”

Her face darkened. This mutation had all come from absorbing Bai Xiang’s Qi-Origin.

But from another angle, didn’t this mean a part of her was in me and a part of me was in her?

The little sword pill… was condensed from my and Sister Xiang’er’s root qi and Qi-Origin…

Ahhh! Put that way it’s practically, practically like… like that thing!

Bai Zhuqing’s face flushed scarlet in an instant.

She suddenly realized that because her heart-flow meridians were not strong enough, she might not be able to properly absorb the sword pill. But Bai Xiang… Sister Xiang’er would definitely be able to handle it.

If, if during dual cultivation she stuffed it into Sister… wouldn’t that be the same as…

Eek!

Nursed along by that strange motivation, the girl closed her eyes again and threw herself wholeheartedly into meditation.

At the same moment, the hatch in front of Bai Xiang opened.

A blonde girl sitting calmly in a wheelchair turned to face her right then.

“Greetings, Dao Lord Bai.”

“My name is Dando-Aurora.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll be at your side from here on, and answer some of your questions.”