But now, Xiao Rou could only watch helplessly as Maxima grimaced and pulled out his telekinetic spear. He howled in pain, revealing a terrifying, bloody hole the size of a plate on his clean, dark chest. If you looked closely, you could even see his still-beating heart behind several pieces of snow-white, shattered sternum!
The telekinetic spear vanished the moment he drew it. It was a weapon purely formed from a mental energy field; if separated from its master for too long without an influx of additional mental energy, the telekinetic weapon would quickly disappear. If Maxima had waited a little longer, he might not have suffered the unbearable pain of drawing the spear, but the raging giant didn't dwell on that. He was already severely injured and incapable of self-defense or escape; his priority was to quickly deal with the woman before him and obtain the Heavenly Eye.
A lower-level berserker would likely have already roared and pounced, tearing Xiaorou to shreds. While a lack of intelligence makes berserkers more like animals, things have a dialectical nature. One advantage of low intelligence is lightning-fast action; they act without thinking, relying solely on instinct. Maxima, however, felt a rare sense of fear. The previous extreme thrust had caused him immense distress and injury. If he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he would have found it hard to believe that such a devastating attack came from the hand of a human woman he considered lowly and weak. The power instantly unleashed by the telekinetic spear had even made him prepared to die. In his entire life, Maxima never wanted to withstand such power again.
She was a delicate woman, but also a terrifying and horrifying one. Maxima instantly redefined his perception of Gu Xiaorou. While his intelligence wasn't exceptional, it was at least close to that of an average human. Though still violent and stubborn, he possessed a degree of thoughtfulness.
Maxima took a few difficult steps, his bull-like eyes staring straight at Gu Xiaorou. "Woman, you've lost. I respect you as a strong person, and we berserkers also admire the strong, but you've still lost. Hand over the Heavenly Eye, and I won't kill you."
Xiao Rou pressed her hand to her chest, slightly out of breath, and looked at Maxima. Although the berserker was irritable, he always spoke his mind. Since Maxima said so, she could save her life as long as she handed over the Heavenly Eye.
"This is also a strong person," Xiao Rou thought silently. The power of the ultimate thrust was enough to severely injure a colonel-level expert, yet Maxima was able to block it and still have some strength left. Obviously, the level of power was far beyond hers. The two were not comparable in terms of actual strength. However, battles are not simply determined by combat power. Mindset, environment, surprise attacks, assassinations, and unconventional methods—there are too many techniques that can be used to turn the tide of battle. Unfortunately, Maxima encountered Xiao Rou's breakthrough attack.
"Yun, where are you? I miss you..." Xiao Rou's eyes began to wander, her heart soaring to a distant place as if it had sprouted wings, where a young man's figure was silently watching her.
"Woman!" A hoarse roar pulled Xiaorou back into the dark, damp basement. Maxima took another step closer, looking down at the frail girl: "Tell me quickly, where is the Heavenly Eye? Don't force me to crush you into mincemeat!" This was just an empty threat. The berserker couldn't coerce or extract information, and he didn't know where the Heavenly Eye was, so he could only resort to threats. In fact, Maxima was even a little panicked, afraid that this frail woman would suddenly collapse because she couldn't hold on any longer. Then the Heavenly Eye would be lost forever. He would not only lose dozens of subordinates, but he would also almost lose his own life. In the end, he would be left empty-handed. Wouldn't that be too unfair?
Xiao Rou quietly looked at Maxima, slowly shaking her head. Without a word, her silent demeanor and tranquil gaze spoke volumes. Even Maxima, with his simple mind, understood the meaning of the girl's silent rejection. He finally erupted in furious rage once more. Did this woman really want to die? Maxima could no longer endure it. He took a step forward, panting heavily, and reached for Xiao Rou's delicate neck. With his strength, even if he only had physical power left, he could easily strangle the immobile Xiao Rou.
Xiao Rou closed her eyes, her dwindling spiritual energy gathering and contracting within her body. Even in death, she would not allow any other man to touch her. If Maxima dared to choke her, then what awaited the Thunder Berserker would be the final self-destruction of an ability user. Xiao Rou never considered her own life to be the most precious thing. Years of killing and being hunted had long since made her take life and death in stride. No one can live forever. Since death is inevitable, one must be prepared to face it at any time.
"Yun, can you hear my voice?" Xiao Rou's mind was clear. In her mental field, a thin line of silver and gray was clearly visible. It was the power of the curse, but Ling Yun had reduced it to the lowest level. Originally, the gray curse could be dispelled at any time, but now, it had become the only link between the two worlds.
The berserker's massive hand was already halfway out, but suddenly froze in mid-air. He lowered his enormous head, staring in disbelief at the gleaming blade of light emerging from his chest. For a moment, Maxima thought he was hallucinating, but as a searing pain shot through his heart, he realized that the gleaming blade was real, not an illusion.
Unbeknownst to them, a third person had been hidden within the isolation barrier of the underground bar, so well concealed and so silent that Maxima only noticed the lurking enemy after the Thunder Berserker's heart was pierced. But it was too late.
After a moment of silence, a roar like thunder echoed through the underground bar. Maxima whirled around, his massive iron arm swung out in a dazzling golden flash. Berserker duels were always fair and square; backstabbing was unheard of. But today, the Thunder Berserker had finally paid the ultimate price for his singular method of attack: his life.
A slender, graceful figure flew silently backward, the golden light almost grazing past her before crashing into the other wall of the underground bar with a deafening boom. A large crater, two meters high and over a meter deep, immediately appeared, causing the entire underground bar to shake violently. However, for some reason, the dim lights never went out, remaining lit from beginning to end. Near the lights, countless specks of dust and gravel could be clearly seen falling down.
Maxima stared wide-eyed, pointing his thick, club-like fingers at the expressionless yet stunningly beautiful young woman before him. His eyes seemed to spit out flames of anger. He took a shaky step forward, finally shook his head, and then fell heavily to the ground with a thud, kicking up a cloud of dust.
With the obstruction of their view gone, in the basement, two equally stunning girls gazed at each other, silently observing one another. Both possessed long, flowing, glossy black hair, fair skin, and figures almost identical to those of models. One was exceptionally beautiful with exquisite features, the other breathtakingly charming and captivating. Like powerful individuals appreciating each other, the two girls were instantly captivated by each other upon first meeting.
"Gu Xiaorou?" The stunningly beautiful girl smiled slightly, revealing pearly white teeth that resembled scattered jade, bringing a refreshing ray of light to the dark basement.
"Who are you?" Xiaorou asked after a long silence. She seemed to think she had seen the girl in front of her before, but she didn't know her very well. She must have caught a glimpse of her in a public place.
"My name is Xia Lan, an ability user from the China Superpower Headquarters, and the deputy leader of the first ability group," the stunningly beautiful girl said meaningfully after glancing at her.
"Xia Lan? The Superpower Headquarters?" Xiao Rou said with some surprise, "You're Xia Zhen's older sister? I've heard Ling Yun mention your sister."
Xia Lan's expression darkened, as if she had thought of something. She sighed regretfully and said, "Yes, Xia Zhen is my sister. I've seen you before, Xiao Rou. I saw you from afar when Ling Yun broke out of the Superpower Headquarters, so I recognize you. But don't worry, I came to Hong Kong with you this time not for your 'Heavenly Eye,' but to protect you. Our Chief Instructor, Tang Tiejin, explained the matter after returning to the Superpower Headquarters and reached a reconciliation with Ling Yun. In any case, at least the Chief Instructor acknowledges that Ling Yun is a superpowered individual from the Superpower Headquarters, so he is my junior brother and colleague. We can't just stand by and watch you enter danger."
Her words not only clearly stated her purpose but also presented the best aspects of the relationship between the Superpower Headquarters and Ling Yun. At the same time, she casually mentioned the most important Heavenly Eye, indicating that she had no intention of spying. She first demonstrated her sincerity and then dispelled the other party's doubts, which can be described as comprehensive.
Xiao Rou opened her mouth slightly. Since Xia Lan had already made her stance clear, there was no need to pursue the matter further. She had been harboring resentment towards the Superpower Headquarters because of Ling Yun, but her impression of Tang Tiejin had changed after meeting him. Clearly, this head instructor was incredibly powerful and approachable, leaving a good impression on her and Ling Yun. Moreover, in the underground bar, it was Xia Lan who had saved her; otherwise, Xiao Rou would have been dead long ago.
"How did you find out about this place? And this barrier seems to be closed to the outside world. Without the key to the barrier, it's difficult to get in or out." After a moment of calm, Xiaorou asked.
“I only found your address based on your hotel check-in records in Hong Kong. I originally wanted to meet you and Lingyun beforehand, but I was afraid you would misunderstand, so I stayed hidden until I saw you heading towards the underground bar, and then I followed you here,” Xia Lan explained. “There was also a powerful person with me. We didn’t know why you and Lingyun separated, so we agreed that he would secretly protect Lingyun, while I would follow you in case anything went wrong. But when you entered the bar, I found myself blocked by a barrier and unable to go in. Just as I was getting anxious, a few gaps appeared in the barrier for some reason, and I quickly came in. You know what happened next.”
Xiao Rou nodded silently. She had also noticed the gap in the barrier caused by the power of the ultimate thrust, and Xia Lan must have taken this opportunity to enter the barrier.
She thought for a moment, and was about to ask Xia Lan if she knew about Ling Yun's situation when she suddenly saw the girl opposite her seem to sense something, a hint of tension appearing on her face. Then, Xia Lan silently darted to her side and whispered, "Don't move, someone else has entered the barrier." Her slender, fair hand grasped Xiao Rou's soft hand, and after a flash of silver light, the two figures instantly disappeared into the basement.
A ripple spread across the exit of the barrier, and two incredibly powerful and violent auras once again filled the small underground bar space.
Chapter 246 Long Time No See
The moment this aura appeared, it gave Ling Yun a very familiar feeling, as if he had seen it somewhere before. The aura was not deliberately concealed; although the person's form was not revealed, it was clear that they wanted Ling Yun to know of their presence.
Matsumoto Tomoki and the other two also sensed something at the same time, and all looked in the direction Ling Yun was looking. A soft, charming laugh came from the direction they were looking: "Ling Yun, it's been a long time. I wonder if you've missed me." The voice was murmured and enchanting, so captivating that the gloomy sky seemed to be swept away by this enchanting laugh, and the bright sky was revealed again.
As the words fell, a fiery red light suddenly burst forth in the void, and a fiery red girl slowly emerged from the light. The sky was gray, the earth was black, and the background of the void was a desolate, apocalyptic ruin in black and white. The sudden appearance of a fiery red girl, with its intense colors against the black and white background, brought an unparalleled visual impact, as if a miracle had suddenly occurred, leaving people feeling incredibly shocked.
A crimson glow illuminated her flawless, fair face, giving it a rosy hue. Her beautiful eyes shone like stars, and her nose and lips were delicate and exquisite. She appeared radiant and alluring. Her curvaceous, fiery figure exuded a breathtaking charm and an indescribable allure. Anyone, including women, would be irresistibly drawn to her at first glance.
Ling Yun, Matsumoto Tomoki, and the others were all stunned. The girl who had appeared as if by divine intervention was none other than Lin Nami, whom they hadn't seen for many days. Ling Yun hadn't seen her since breaking her illusionary barrier, and Lin Nami hadn't returned to school either, seemingly disappearing mysteriously. Ling Yun had tried to inquire about Lin Nami's background, but this enchanting, elfin-like girl seemed to have appeared out of thin air. Not only did Jinghua University have no records of her, but even special agencies couldn't trace her origins.
Ling Yun had a deep impression of Lin Naimei, mainly because she knew that he and Xiao Rou possessed the secret of the Heavenly Eye. However, this secret was no longer significant; it seemed that many people already knew. Since the Superpower Headquarters knew Xiao Rou's origins and the Heavenly Eye, other superpower organizations would likely find out soon as well. What Ling Yun didn't know was that even the berserkers of Northern Europe now knew the secret of the Heavenly Eye; it was common knowledge in the city.
Another impressive aspect was Lin Namei's mastery of deception. The deeper Ling Yun delved into the study of deception, the more amazed he became by Lin Namei's abilities. She was able to combine human psychological weaknesses with deception to create a powerful and extraordinary technique. To some extent, this was a genius-level creative ability.
While both Matsumoto Rie and Matsumoto Tomoki are masters of deception, Matsumoto Rie relies purely on the human instinct of lust to attack her opponents, which puts her at a lower level. Moreover, apart from deception, Matsumoto Rie is useless. Although Matsumoto Tomoki is stronger than Hayashi Nami and can perform deception silently, his techniques are merely conventional. In terms of creativity, he is clearly inferior to Hayashi Nami's deception.
Moreover, judging from Lin Nami's current aura, she is much stronger than when she first saw Ling Yun using his magic. Her mental energy field is exposed without any concealment, and her strength is in no way inferior to Matsumoto Tomoki.
Ling Yun felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed everyone was improving, not just himself; everyone was growing stronger simultaneously. Lin Naimei's disappearance during this time was clearly due to her diligent cultivation. He wondered how she had suddenly arrived in Hong Kong and then reappeared here. Was she also secretly following him? That was impossible! Ling Yun immediately shook his head. He was almost absolutely certain he could be followed; no one could hide without him noticing. Moreover, after the Eye of Illusion evolved again, it could now faintly glimpse the origins of all things, meaning no one could conceal their presence from Ling Yun, not even a general-level expert.
He remained silent, lost in thought. Seeing this, Lin Naimei smiled gently, her eyes sparkling with a hint of spring. She chuckled softly, "What? Ling Yun, can't I even crack a joke? Or..." She suddenly stopped, deliberately looking left and right, "Or is it because your little lover is here that you can't speak properly, hehe."
Ling Yun said calmly, "Long time no see, Nami. If I'm not mistaken, you've come for them, haven't you?" He then pointed at Matsumoto Tomoki and the others, staring intently at Lin Nami. "You're also one of the Japanese ninjas?"
Gu Xiaorou had long suspected that Lin Naimei was proficient in magic, likely a unique skill of the Japanese ninja clan. However, Lin Naimei had already disappeared, and Ling Yun couldn't verify it in person. Besides, even if he did ask her, Lin Naimei certainly wouldn't tell him the truth. This girl was cunning and ruthless, like a fleeting cloud, forever unpredictable. Ling Yun felt she was sometimes close, sometimes distant, seemingly constantly teasing him, yet also subtly hinting at something. But behind the vibrant, girlish charm, there was always an unconcealed killing intent, which was what Ling Yun feared most.
After breaking Matsumoto Rie's illusion technique, Ling Yun was finally certain that Lin Nami was a ninja. Moreover, judging from her talent and the illusion technique she had mastered, she should hold a high position in a ninja family. Furthermore, although Matsumoto Tomoki and the other two were stunned when they saw Lin Nami, they quickly fell silent. This expression did not escape Ling Yun's notice. Clearly, Matsumoto Tomoki and the others knew Lin Nami, which further confirmed Ling Yun's judgment.
For some reason, a sense of sadness suddenly welled up in Ling Yun's heart. He had no ill feelings towards Lin Naimei, and even had a deep impression of her talent for magic tricks. This impression was very beautiful. However, with the battles with the ninjas, he would probably have to become enemies with Lin Naimei in the future. This was something Ling Yun was somewhat unwilling to face. But having experienced so much, Ling Yun had long understood that as long as he had even a little bit of sentimentality, he would be torn to pieces by his enemies.
If one day Ling Yun were to become enemies with Lin Namei, and if he were to control her, would he choose to kill her? Ling Yun couldn't answer that question. Conversely, if he were to fall into Lin Namei's hands, would she kill him? Ling Yun couldn't answer that question either. It seemed to have become a contradictory knot; two people who could have been good rivals had become sworn enemies because of their possible backgrounds.
Lin Nami met Ling Yun's gaze without flinching and chuckled softly, "You already know the answer in your heart, don't you? Who I am, your little lover should have told you long ago after you broke through the illusion. You may not know the distribution of superhumans in this world, but Gu Xiaorou clearly knows that illusion techniques and wind concealment techniques are the ultimate skills of our Japanese ninjas. I think when I see you again, you will know this fact. Ling Yun, I don't want to lie to you. My real name is Mochizuki Nami, and I am a ninja from the Miyuki clan of Japanese ninjas!"
Ling Yun remained silent for a long while before slowly saying, "So, you Japanese ninjas already knew that the Heavenly Eye was on Xiao Rou? Did you come to Hong Kong this time also for the Heavenly Eye?" Lin Naimei had mentioned to him and Xiao Rou that she entered Jinghua University because of the Heavenly Eye, but at that time Ling Yun didn't know her true identity. Now, thinking back, it's very clear that Xiao Rou possessing the Heavenly Eye wasn't only known to the Heavenly Eye Society. Even the China Superpower Headquarters and the Japanese Ninja Clan knew, and perhaps even more people did. Who spread this news? Ling Yun once again sensed the enormous mystery hidden behind the Heavenly Eye.
Lin Nami has already stated that her interest is not in the Heavenly Eye, but she has no choice but to obey the orders from behind. These orders should come from the group power of the Japanese ninja clan. Even though she has a high position in the clan, she still has to obey the orders of the elders. That is why she has to abide by the barrier to break the illusion technique.