482: Chapter 482 ZERO's Test

"Before, when Chen Yi's Contracted Spirit Beasts were fighting in the southern border of Dragon Country, it took them almost an hour to wipe out these strongholds—"

"Chen Yi took action himself—and it only took one move?"

"No way, is this something a human can actually do?"

"Help—help me, who can stop him?"

—

A group of bystanders muttered in shock.

On the coastline, Chen Yi withdrew his hand and turned to walk toward Shi Yuying.

He took Shi Yuying's hand.

"Let's go!"

Shi Yuying stared at him blankly, her eyes reddened, unable to say a single word.

She could only nod vigorously, gripping that hand tightly.

Then, a cyan tornado swept through, and the figures of Chen Yi and Shi Yuying vanished into the light.

Only then did those Japanese Beast Tamers watching from the coastline finally collapse to the ground.

No one dared to speak.

No one dared to look up.

They didn't even dare to confirm if Chen Yi had truly left.

What if he doubled back?

What if he was just pretending earlier?

A full ten minutes passed before someone spoke tremblingly.

"Has—has he left?"

"It—it seems like he has—"

"Did he really leave?"

"I don't know—"

A long silence ensued.

Then, someone whispered, their voice laced with a near-sob.

"What kind of monster—have we provoked?"

No one answered.

This question would likely never have an answer!

—

Meanwhile, at the temporary headquarters of ZERO in Eagle Country.

In the spacious surveillance room, ZERO sat alone in the main seat, facing one of the hundreds of screens.

On it was frozen the image of Chen Yi taking Shi Yuying's hand and leaving.

He had been sitting there silently for a full three minutes, his brow furrowing involuntarily.

"As expected—"

"I didn't expect that I would actually fall for his trap!"

"To think I was outmaneuvered by a twenty-something-year-old brat!"

ZERO leaned back slowly, closed his eyes, and replayed everything that had happened over the past few days in his mind.

The news of the rift between Emilia and Chen Yi, the failed Breakthrough in Antarctica, the large-scale counterattack on the Dragon Country border, the attacks on the energy nodes, and the abnormality vaguely sensed within the Space-Time Rift—

And then today.

The unauthorized actions of Abe Jinshi and Takashi Saomiao, Chen Yi's furious strike, and the display of overwhelming power that completely exceeded expectations—

All these seemingly independent events were now gradually connecting into a line in his mind.

"So that's it!"

"He was laying out a plan from the very beginning."

"Emilia's rift was bait, the anomaly in Antarctica was bait, the counterattack on the Dragon Country border was bait, and even the attacks on the energy nodes—were all bait!"

"That fool Abe Jinshi thought he had found an opportunity for revenge, not knowing that from the start, his killing intent was merely a byproduct of the suggestion I had implanted in him!"

Four days ago, when ZERO sensed those two entities within the Space-Time Rift, the terror he felt remained fresh in his memory.

One was only about seven thousand years old, not worth mentioning.

But the other—had the life accumulation of at least one hundred thousand years!

One hundred thousand years!

That was an existence even older than his, ZERO's, grandfather!

Why would a powerhouse of that level suddenly appear near this obscure Blue Star?

Coincidence?

Impossible!

The only explanation is Chen Yi!

He didn't know how Chen Yi had attracted such an existence, nor did he know if Chen Yi himself realized he was being watched by such an entity.

But he knew this was an opportunity to probe.

So, he used mental suggestion to fuel the hatred in Abe Jinshi's heart toward Shi Yuying, making him believe that he was acting out of righteous indignation to eliminate a traitor for the country, and thus proactively provoke Chen Yi.

If Chen Yi didn't come to save Shi Yuying, it would mean his strength hadn't improved much, or he was busy with more important matters.

If Chen Yi came—it would mean his strength was sufficient to support him in being distracted by other matters!

Now he had his answer!

Chen Yi not only came, but the strength he displayed!

"He has already achieved a Breakthrough to Tier 14! And it's at least five stages or higher, perhaps even more!"

"How exactly did he grow up? Why is his power growth rate so fast?"

"Even if he is an inheritor of the world will, it shouldn't be this outrageous, right?"

"This kind of growth rate is definitely not just as simple as the favor of the world will."

A glint of greed flashed in ZERO's eyes.

He had lived for tens of thousands of years and had seen several agents chosen by the world will.

Those people were indeed stronger than ordinary people, but their growth trajectories were linear!

Ten years, twenty years, fifty years, steadily improving, eventually reaching the Thirteenth Rank or Tier 14, and then being refined by the world will to become a part of the world itself!

But Chen Yi's growth curve completely defied common sense!

"There must be something else inside him!"

"Perhaps it's an ancient Legacy, perhaps it's a lost treasure of the Void Mirror—"

"Regardless of which one it is, if I can obtain it, plus the world will that is about to be refined—"

"After returning to the Void Mirror, I will be able to—"

He did not continue.

But in his eyes, a flame that had been suppressed for ten thousand years was burning.

That was a longing for freedom, a craving for dignity, and a fire of revenge against those kin who had once enslaved him and treated him like an ant!

"Just wait!"

"When I refine this world, when I seize Chen Yi's secrets, when I return to the Void Mirror—"

"Those who once kicked me when I was down, those who once trampled on my head and acted with impunity, those who discarded me like trash—"

"I will make you pay the price, I swear!"

The corners of ZERO's mouth curled up slightly, as if he could already see his bright future!

Of course, all this probing had to start from four days ago!

At that time, he was making the final preparations for his true body's descent.

He split off a portion of his consciousness to reinforce the seven energy nodes, ensuring the stability of the coordinates during the descent.

Then, his true body within the Space-Time Rift sensed those two auras.

One was a youthful aura, about seven thousand years old.

At this age, one is just a child in the Void Mirror; although the aura felt very powerful, it was still not to be feared!

But the other aura—

ZERO's breathing almost stopped.

That was the radiance of at least one hundred thousand years of accumulation!

It was not the kind of aggressive, sharp power, but the introverted nature of Return to Truth!

Like the deep sea, calm and waveless on the surface, but containing power deep down capable of swallowing everything!

An existence even more outrageous than those who had framed him back then!

ZERO's first reaction was to flee!

Flee immediately, escape at once, flee as far as possible!

But he forcibly suppressed this impulse!

Because he sensed that those two auras didn't care too much about him!

They were just passing by.

Just as humans wouldn't care about ants in the grass by the roadside; as long as the ants didn't provoke the humans, there was almost nothing to worry about!

And at this moment, for them, ZERO was indeed just an ant hiding in the grass, trembling!