Chapter 259 - Taking the Initiative
“Woah!”
Jiang He could not help gasping when he saw the ‘500,000 ton’ under the ‘yield’ header and exclaimed in shock. “Five hundred thousand ton-yield… Not even I would last for seconds if I was at the epicenter, would I?”
What does a five hundred thousand yield mean?
The yield of the atomic bomb ‘Little Boy’ was twenty thousand, but the application of nuclear materials at the time was not very advanced, which was why the actual explosion was measured to be around fifteen thousand tons.
And though Little Boy was just 50,000 tons when it detonated 580 meters in the air, it reduced the city of 245,000 people to rubble, killing 200,000.
In other words, any explosive with a 500,000-ton yield would wipe a city from the face of the earth when dumped on any city.
It would blow even Feral Emperors to death!
The scorching heat generated from the 500,000-ton yield would instantly vaporize everything. Even though Jiang He had already cultivated the Nine Stars Heavenly Body Formula up to the third tier and had many other cultivations at his disposal, he would last no longer than three seconds before he was blown to pieces.
Nonetheless, having cultivated to his level, he could flee several kilometers away at his top speed in just three seconds, so escaping the epicenter and surviving would not be a problem.
“Would the Dragoncroc Emperor die if I use this thing to blow it up?”
Jiang He thought even as he continued plucking the other Doom Shrooms.
Ding!
1000 Farm Points.
Ding!
1000 Farm Points.
Ding…
There was a total of 38 Doom Shrooms, earning Jiang He 38,000 Farm Points.
Jiang He glanced at his System Panel and noticed that his Farm EXP had reached (20,800
/500,000).
“It seems that EXP could be farmed easily too. One Doom Shroom is worth 1000 Farm Points and 100 EXP, so with a thousand or so Doom Shrooms I have, I would earn more than a million Farm points and over a hundred thousand Farm EXP.”
Jiang He had originally intended to plant the Doom Shroom in peace, but could not help getting irritated once he remembered the partnership between the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor.
How could he farm in peace without resolving that matter?
After some thought, Jiang He decided to bring along the Cloudscraper Vine when he went to town.
The Cloudscraper Vine which had evolved up to divine-tier has eighteen tendrils now, each of them thick and massive, extending more than 200 meters.
Arriving before the Cloudscraper Vine, Jiang He extended his hand and said through clenched teeth, “Get in.”
To tell the truth…
Jiang He was a little anxious.
The Cloudscraper Vine was so massive. It was frightening even in appearance if it really entered his body.
Its tendrils were several meters thick and over 200 meters long… most importantly, it had spikes under the branches and leaves which absolutely could be used as a toothed club.
Ooom!
A green light flashed.
The Cloudscraper Vine rapidly shrank, turning into a green light before it climbed inside Jiang He’s body.
Taken aback, Jiang He then exclaimed in shock, “Did the method you enter my body also change after evolving?”
***
It was already eleven when Jiang He stepped out of the farm.
He took out a lunchbox and ate it for breakfast, laughing bitterly and shaking his head even as he ate, “Who eats lunchboxes in the morning… honestly, the stronger I am, the more chaotic my lifestyle had become. When I’ve dealt with the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor, I’m going to have Sora make me some steamed dumplings to carry around, which I could heat up with my fire-type powers during breakfast.”
And at the thought of steamed dumplings, Jiang He suddenly found the ‘cucumber with carrot shreds coleslaw over tofu skin’ was not all that tasty now.
When that happened, he could use several new stuffing in his dumplings.
For example, leek and Golden-Winged Roc, pickled cabbage and Blue King Drake, eggplant and Dragoncroc Emperor…
After finishing breakfast, he headed to the Martial Arts Department (MAD) of Jingdu City.
Zhou Yu came to welcome him once he reached the MAD tower.
“Where’s Old Wang?”
Jiang He asked. “How much has he recovered?”
Zhou Yu replied, “Minister Wang is still recovering under confinement, although he did ask for Elder Lin—Lin Tianzheng, saying that he had something to discuss.”
Jiang He frowned.
What was going on?
He had prescribed some medicine to Wang Hou, but could the Amoxicillin capsule and band-aid be useless?
After some discussion, Jiang He learned that the Ferals were amassing everywhere across the nation, with Feral Kings of various sectors raring to go, that the Ferals could attack the cities at any given moment.
There was also a good deal of Sky Demon Cultists apprehended around the country, and according to Zhou Yu, they had spread news of Wang Hou’s injury.
And since Zhou Yu was also busy with work and did not have the time to spend with Jiang He, he left with a fist-palm salute after several exchanges.
Jiang He himself headed to the training room where Wang Hou was recovering, and found the man himself lying on a cane chair, holding a Thermos cup with both hands and sipping from it very leisurely.
Opposite Wang Hou was an elderly white-haired man.
He was wearing a Tang suit and had an imposing air to him, drawing Jiang He’s gaze to him involuntary once he entered the room. His heart skipping a beat, Wang Hou exclaimed in shock, “Is that old man Three Blades Lin’s gramps?”
“There’s mana signature on his body—could he have assumed the path of immortal Qi Refinists as well?”
“No, no, his mana is very weak, and he had yet to reach the six-fold in Qi Refinist. That said, his martial artist cultivation is not bad, and even a class above Wang Hou.”
While Jiang He was staring at Lin Tianzheng, Lin Tianzheng was returning his gaze too.
“Is that… the aura of a complete Golden Aura?”
Jiang He did not deliberately hide his aura, which was why Lin Tianzheng could sense Jiang He’s cultivation, was subtly stunned by it and felt disbelief, “Is he the rumored Jiang He? Completing the Golden Pellet-tier at such a young age, even cultivating up to divine-conversion pinnacle in martial arts…”
Lin Tianzheng’s expression changed after further observation.
He could vaguely sense the terrible energies hidden within Jiang He’s body: his blood surged like a great river and his heart pounded like resounding thunder. Indeed, Lin Tianzheng could even feel that the seemingly frail body was lurking with strength that could kill him with a single punch.
He hence put on a fist-palm salute and said, “Brother Jiang He. The name’s Lin Tianzheng—I’ve heard of your good name before, and seeing you today, you really do deserve your reputation.”
Jiang He laughed out loud. “You’re too kind, Elder Lin.”
Inside, he was actually feeling bliss.
‘Three Blades Lin’s gramps is calling me brother?
‘Does that not mean my seniority has improved further?
‘Since I am being brotherly with Three Blades Lin’s gramps, is it not appropriate for me to call Three Blades Lin grandson?’
Clang.
Nearby, Wang Hou dropped his Thermos cup to the floor.
He could tell how Jiang He’s body changed, and exclaimed in surprise, “Your physique… strengthened again?”
“After I left, I cultivated myself a little and improved my physique when I wasn’t paying attention… is my physical strength that obvious, Minister Wang?” Jiang He sighed.
Ascending too quickly could be an annoyance.
When you are too strong, you would not be able to keep your power under wraps at once.
Being weaker was fine, because being someone powerful, your qi that was as vast as the seas could be sensed from miles away.
His plan therefore had to be postponed again.
He would at least need most of the day to adapt to his own power.
“You’ve recovered, Minister Wang?”
“Yeah.”
Wang Hou was surprised once again upon the mention of that matter.
The band-aids and Amoxicillin capsules had actually worked!
Even when Wang Hou suppressed the Sword Qi and Demonic Qi that lingered at his wounds at full strength, he still needed around half a month to completely extinguish them. On the other hand, it took less than an hour to dispel everything after using Jiang He’s Amoxicillin capsules.
After a few exchanges, Wang Hou’s tone shifted as he said, “Everything is in motion across the nation. The Saint of the Sky Demon Cult has set his cultists everywhere to spread news of my injury, and every Feral King is raring to go, ready to unleash Feral Swarms at any moment.”
He laughed, killing intent flashing upon his face as he growled, “Even so, the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult would never imagine that I’ve recovered!”
Standing up, he went to the window and stared out afar, “If the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor are really in league with each other, elites across the country would be tied down and no one would be available to save you.”
He then turned and laughed. “However, neither the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult nor the Dragoncroc Emperor knows that Old Lin here is back, and they would never have thought that I could heal so quickly in their wildest dreams.”
“Jiang He, we could use that fact to turn the tables and kill both the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor.”
Wang Hou then spoke of his plan.
He meant to hide himself and Three Blades Lin at Jiang He’s house. When the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor come to attack him, they would show up and catch them unawares—they would definitely be able kill at least one of them.
Indeed, that plan seemed good.
Jiang He could not help nodding, but soon frowned since he had some questions, “But… what if neither the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult or the Dragoncroc Emperor come to ambush me?”
“The Sky Demon Cult needs to get past you if they want to occupy Lingzhou City, not to mention that you single-handedly wiped-out half of their elites. Do you really think that the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult wouldn’t want to kill you?
“Or perhaps the Dragoncroc Emperor is reluctant to kill you as well?
“As a matter of fact, now is the best timing to kill you.”
Wang Hou switched to Detective Conan mode then as he offered a clear and logical analysis, “Normally, I would need at least ten days to recover my peak power from such an injury. If the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor were to make a move, it would be in ten days… No, to avoid long nights and excessive nightmares, I would make a move in the next seven days if I were the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult.”
Seven…
Seven days?
Jiang He, who thought that Wang Hou’s analysis was sound at first could not help chuckling bitterly.
As long as the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor did not attack, his subconscious would be strung up by a thread, worried and fearing, thereby losing more sleep. And if he slept poorly, his spirit would wear out, affecting his appetite…
It was so frightening! So tiresome!
Waiting for seven days…
Jiang He could not do that at all.
After musing to himself for a while, he hesitantly said, “Minister Wang, I actually have a better idea… why don’t I take the initiative and kill both the Saint of the Sky Demon Cult and the Dragoncroc Emperor? Wouldn’t I no longer have to worry about them?”
“…”
Both Wang Hou and Lin Tianzheng gaped…
It feels like Jiang He was speaking reason!