Chapter 68: Warming Up for Battle

The missile, its temperature rising from the intense friction of high-speed flight, traversed hundreds of kilometers—almost beyond the horizon—before reaching Nanhai City. If it were to fall within the city, it would likely enrage Adonsa, provoking a retaliatory strike against the Tianjing Nation and compounding the dire straits of their already overstretched military forces.

There was only one organization with both the capability and the motive to orchestrate such an act: Yamest, ever covetous of Tianjing Nation.

Adonsa said, “I agree. Hunt down Zhang Liaoyuan.”

Weng Dongqi almost thought he had misheard. “But the missile…”

The screeching missile was the very embodiment of humanity’s destructive will—a force of military industry far exceeding the immature powers of the supernatural. No practitioner or gifted individual could withstand, head-on, a weapon forged solely for annihilation.

Yet, it met its match: a formidable power born from another kind of evolutionary industrial system, one of flesh and blood.

With a soft pop, the missile seemed to collide with an invisible barrier. A ripple, visible to the naked eye, spread outward. Something clinging to the missile exploded violently, causing it to detonate prematurely and burst into a dense, fiery cloud high in the sky.

The molten explosion cloud lingered, refusing to dissipate—a major crisis vanishing into nothingness.

Weng Dongqi stared in shock. “What was that?”

Adonsa made no effort to hide the truth. “A very simple self-destructing organism. It produces a high-explosive gas mixture of methane and hydroxides within its body, allowing it to float in the sky. Any collision easily sets it off. The downside is, it’s hard to control in high winds. You may call it an ‘aerial jellyfish.’”

Above Nanhai City, countless spherical creatures, their refractive index nearly identical to air, floated with trailing tendrils, forming a tight shield around the city. From time to time, they released gas from their tendril tips to make subtle adjustments.

Though these flying organisms could not match a fighter jet in absolute speed, their agility and endurance far surpassed mechanical aircraft. Most importantly, they could reproduce to increase their numbers—offering cost and speed advantages over traditional warplanes.

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“Incredible…” Weng Dongqi gazed deeply at Adonsa. “Perhaps we truly should do whatever it takes to kill you.”

Adonsa shook his head. “As I have said, you cannot kill me. Since the moment I completed my evolution, I have become something beyond your comprehension.”

Nevertheless, Adonsa had no desire to launch an all-out confrontation with human society just yet. War might be a catalyst for evolution, but he was in a phase of rapid growth, and his existing resources were sufficient for a long time. Needless conflict would only distract him and delay the progress of his various projects, slowing his evolution.

Besides, Adonsa was genuinely intrigued by Zhang Liaoyuan—especially by the so-called Black Death Emperor’s remains, which he coveted intensely.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Black Death Emperor was a super-life form of the third evolutionary stage. Whether inheriting his legacy or uncovering the cause of his demise, both held extraordinary significance for Adonsa.

Thus, he was willing, for now, to feign cooperation with human society.

Having secured Adonsa’s promise, Weng Dongqi left without hesitation. Written or verbal agreements meant nothing to a non-human like Adonsa; they held no binding power. The only restraints on him were interests and threats.

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After Weng Dongqi and Qi Qiuchan departed, Adonsa turned to Lin Jicang, who stood to the side, face clouded with gloom. “How disgraceful. I’m beginning to doubt if freeing you was a mistake. Had I not intervened, you’d likely have been beaten to death.”

Lin Jicang clenched his fists, unwilling to accept it. “That woman—how can she be so unreasonable?”

Adonsa laughed. “The ‘reason’ you speak of is probably what society considers justice. But let me remind you: morality and law are merely tools used by rulers to govern the people and maintain their own power. When you encounter beings that even the ruling class cannot restrain, weakness becomes your original sin. Have you felt it? That crushing sense of helpless humiliation?”

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Lin Jicang forced himself to remain calm, sneering, “Where did you learn such juvenile rhetoric? Seems you’re not so impressive after all.”

Adonsa replied, “Ah, you’ve grown sharper—not daring to refute me directly, but attacking my character instead. No matter how much you deny it, the reality of mutual oppression will not disappear. The weak will always be trampled underfoot.”

Lin Jicang gritted his teeth. “That’s only because your kind have thrown the world into chaos! If it weren’t for you—”

Adonsa interrupted coldly, “Your pathetic weakness disappoints me. Without me, without practitioners or gifted ones, there would still be bureaucrats, tycoons, warlords—this world would not lack order, nor would it ever be free of evil.”

Unable to respond, Lin Jicang was left breathing heavily, emotions running high. Adonsa offered a gentle reminder: “Control your body. Your sympathetic nervous system is overstimulated. A stroke in a super-life form is no laughing matter.”

“Damn it…”

Adonsa reached out and touched Lin Jicang’s face. “The perspective of the weak has shackled your mind, narrowed your vision, made you ridiculous. You’ve grown accustomed to compromise, Lin Jicang. Those who are trampled have no choice but to beg for mercy on their knees—but when you become the one doing the trampling, everything changes. The more people beneath your feet, the broader and more magnificent your view becomes—your very soul will tremble. Would you like to see that landscape?”

“What nonsense! I don’t care!” Lin Jicang slapped Adonsa’s hand away and shouted, “Adonsa, tell me—how do I become stronger? If might makes right, then I’ll make the world reason with me!”

Adonsa seemed momentarily taken aback, as if reminded of something amusing. “You want the world to bow to you alone? Understand this: no matter how just your ideals, once you choose this path, you’ll find that standing in your way are not just evil, but also justice itself. All that you believe in will become obstacles before you.”

“What do you mean?” Lin Jicang asked in confusion.

“No, it doesn’t matter. That’s too far off—you may never reach that point,” Adonsa shook his head. “For now, you can come with me on a journey. Perhaps there, you’ll find something you never expected.”