237: Chapter 235 The Kunpeng Spreads Its Wings, the Fallen Spirit Appears, Quickly Ascend to Heaven

For the residents of the cities along the direct NH route to Su City, today was no ordinary day.

People woke up, washed up, had breakfast as usual, and then headed out to work.

They brushed past commuters returning from night shifts at subway doors, or caught each other's gaze across asphalt roads while waiting for traffic lights in their cars.

The night-shifter, face etched with exhaustion, sighed at how comfortable the day-shifter must be. The day-shifter, eyes bleary with sleep, envied the other for not having to crawl out of a warm bed so early for work.

If things had followed their usual course, once the red light turned green, they would have released their brakes, crossed paths, and moved away in opposite directions.

But today was different.

As the digital countdown hit zero and the bright red turned to fluorescent green, the stationary cars and electric bikes at the intersection didn't move like a video being played; instead, everyone stared blankly at the sky.

The winter sun wasn't as annoying as it was in the summer.

So, when their surroundings suddenly dimmed and the biting chill of the wind grew even sharper, they instinctively looked up, perhaps with a flash of irritation in their hearts.

Who is it? Not even letting us bask in the sun?

Then they discovered that not only was the sun blocked, but even the sky was no longer visible.

A vast bird's belly obscured the entire blue sky, and its massive, sharp talons looked like the hands of God, capable of destroying the world with a single strike.

On the bird's back, the Director sat cross-legged at the edge as the shadow cast by the Kunpeng's form gradually eroded and covered the entire city.

The Immortal is so huge; how much does he have to eat in a day?

The Director looked down at the city, which looked as if its lights had been extinguished, and a bizarre thought suddenly popped into his head.

“Kunpeng Immortal, what do you usually eat back at the Mountain Gate?”

“Hao——”

The responding cry jolted the humans in the city awake, and camera flashes began to go off everywhere. Unfortunately, the Director didn't understand the reply.

It made sense; he wasn't a bird and didn't know the language of birds, but he really wanted an answer.

After pondering for a moment, the Director's eyes lit up: “Kunpeng Immortal, do you eat immortal items? Tilt your head left for yes, and right for no.”

The Kunpeng's head didn't budge as it continued to flap its wings.

The Director let out a disappointed sigh. An Immortal, after all—it was understandable for him to be a bit aloof.

Little did he know that Zhang Mu, who had returned to the “World,” was on the verge of a mental breakdown from his pestering.

...

“Is there something wrong with him?”

In Geoffrey's laboratory, Zhang Mu sat in a corner, deeply bewildered.

Although he disliked socializing and never reached out to others unless necessary, he had interacted with quite a few people.

He had never seen anyone talk so much nonsense!

“City Lord?”

“It's nothing, let's continue.”

“Alright.” Geoffrey sat back up from his leaning position. “The ore you brought me has been tested. As the main material for the magic guidance sniper rifle's body, its magic resistance is still slightly lacking.

But I found that adding a small amount of magic crystal to it significantly improves the magic resistance.”

“So that means it's usable?”

“Yes!” he asked excitedly. “Has this ore been named? What are the reserves like?”

“Rhenium.”

As he answered, Zhang Mu fell into deep thought.

After returning to the “World” from the deep sea, he had come straight to the lab to give Geoffrey a sample of the rare metal Rhenium he had taken the time to “borrow” a couple of days ago for testing.

While waiting for the results, the two had discussed the magic guidance sniper rifle.

Geoffrey had initially wanted to give up. He believed that in terms of individual combat power, the Professionals of the Saul Continent were the best choice. Rather than wasting energy on a magic guidance sniper rifle that would likely fail, it would be better to train a group of Professionals from the First Army Soldiers.

However, Zhang Mu disagreed.

The reason the magic guidance sniper rifle couldn't be put into practical use was that the steel used for the gun body couldn't withstand the magic fluctuations during a spell's release.

Materials that could withstand it, like magic crystals, were too hard, making the process of melting and reshaping them extremely difficult and tedious.

As a Magister, Zhang Mu could do it easily, but they couldn't exactly kidnap a few Magisters just to “forge iron” on an assembly line, could they?

Most importantly, high-burst thermal weapons weren't limited to sniper rifles. Grenade launchers, artillery, rocket launchers—which of those didn't have stronger firepower?

They would eventually have to integrate them into the magic system. If they couldn't even overcome the R&D for a magic guidance sniper rifle, there was no point talking about the rest.

After thinking it over, Zhang Mu suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Why did they have to focus on the hardness of the material?

To keep the gun body from being shattered by magic, wasn't the essence just to withstand the energy impact?

That was simple—just increase the magic resistance, right?

If the magic resistance was high enough, even a piece of straw could remain unscathed under a magical blast.

Hearing this, Geoffrey had immediately run to the testing lab and instructed his assistant to add a certain proportion of magic crystal powder to the Rhenium ore.

And it worked.

Furthermore, because the gun body made of Rhenium metal had excellent magic resistance, it could even be used as a physical shield against defensive magic during combat.

A win-win!

But with the old problem solved, a new trouble appeared.

Rhenium reserves on Blue Star were extremely scarce. He wasn't sure about the Saul Continent, as no geological surveys had been conducted.

However, according to Geoffrey, he had never seen the same or even a similar element.

Zhang Mu bounced his leg irritably. “Even if I set aside my pride to... to borrow it, I can't borrow much...”

Mid-sentence, he remembered what his unlucky disciple Luo Xiling had said.

“Master, can you go to the heavens?”

“Go to the heavens...”

Rubbing his chin, a light gradually dawned in Zhang Mu's eyes. “This has potential...”

At the time, he had boasted that he could take everyone to space, and he indeed could.

By increasing his magic level to Saint Magician and then studying Knight Magic to the level of Saint Knight, floating his physical body into the sky would be easy.

But he hadn't planned on achieving it in the short term.

Not only was a Magister two ranks away from a Saint Magician, but he didn't even have a clue where to find Knight Magic.

“I need to level up quickly, and then go to the heavens... I can't do it alone!”

Zhang Mu thought that going to other planets to collect rare metals wouldn't be a transport problem for him; he could just stuff them into his inventory.

However, mining was the issue.

Rhenium metal wasn't just lying around on the ground waiting to be picked up.

Regardless of how complex the refining process was, it required a whole industrial infrastructure to support it, and the equipment required human operators.

“I have to find a way...”

Geoffrey watched Zhang Mu talk to himself for a long time and asked softly, “City Lord, is it because the ore reserves are insufficient for mass production?”

“Don't worry.”

The worry faded from Zhang Mu's face, replaced by a confident smile. “Someone will help.”

Didn't the Director go back to call for backup?

When the expert team from Huaxia arrives, I'll give them a little guidance. Would they really not be interested in Blue Star's neighbors?

Hmm... but a spaceship really does need to be considered. I can't be the one ferrying them back and forth every time, can I?

Besides, for transporting personnel and such, would I use my inventory for that too?

Even if I'm not afraid of them discovering my secret, I'd be worked to death.

Tsk, I wonder how Huaxia's aerospace technology is developing. With my help, could they establish an extraterrestrial base in a short time?

I'll just have to wait for them to arrive and then...

Zhang Mu suddenly stood up. Geoffrey was startled and jumped up with him. “City Lord, what happened?”

“It's nothing.” He pulled a handful of various colored stones from his Storage Pouch. “I have some more rare metals here. Take them.”

After Geoffrey carefully took them, he said, “Focus your research on these for now. Don't worry about the quantity.”

“Understood, City Lord.”

Geoffrey bowed, and when he looked up, Zhang Mu was already gone.

...

London, Ying Country.

The Queen's Palace in the suburbs.

Today the sun was pleasant, perfect for going out.

The Queen was limited by her status, and with her youth restored, she would be mobbed if she walked down the street. Even guards with guns couldn't stop the public's enthusiasm.

Therefore, she had moved from her bedroom to a small European-style open-air pavilion in the middle of the garden, sitting on a wooden chair and sipping coffee.

“Li.”

“Your Highness.”

A figure silently appeared behind her. The Queen took a sip of coffee. “Have they made any moves lately?”

“Most have been quiet. A few individuals seem extremely focused on Hogwarts, often lingering near the entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

After an in-depth investigation, it appears these are not actions taken on superior orders, but personal behavior.”

“Then ignore them.” The Queen set down her coffee cup. “Without a Hogwarts acceptance letter and Mr. Dumbledore's approval, no one can pass through that wall.”

“As you say, Your Majesty.”

With her elbow on the table, her right palm in a white glove facing down, she rested her face on the back of her hand. “And what about the Prime Minister and Suleiman?”

“Everything is normal.”

“Good.”

Li, standing behind her, understood the signal and backed out of the courtyard.

The Queen was about to head back to her bedroom, but after only two steps, Li returned, carrying a laptop.

“Your Majesty, an emergency contact.”

As he spoke, he opened the laptop on the stone table. On the screen was the face of a middle-aged man.

“Your Majesty, we need support.”

“Support?”

She recognized the man on the screen; he was the captain of an American carrier strike group.

He was asking her for help? Was this a new joke? Or a conspiracy?

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind, but ultimately, the Queen ruled out the possibility of a trap.

Ever since Mr. Dumbledore had dropped that giant rock in the London suburbs and established close ties with the Royal Family, America hadn't dared to stir up trouble in Ying Country for a long time.

She believed that as long as Ying Country maintained a good relationship with Hogwarts and Mr. Dumbledore, even if there were ambitious people coveting them in the shadows, they wouldn't have the courage to reach out.

Most importantly... the Queen knew very well what state the Ying Country navy was in.

It simply wasn't worth the effort for anyone to dig a hole for them.

Having cleared her thoughts, she said, “Sir, what kind of trouble have you encountered?”

“We... *crackle*——”

Amidst a piercing static noise, the screen suddenly went fuzzy.

The Queen was somewhat stunned.

On Blue Star, nations capable of rivaling an American carrier strike group had a tacit understanding not to engage in direct hot war.

Aside from those few, who could beat them to the point of losing their electronic signal?

Or had those nations completely lost their minds and were attempting to start World War III and destroy humanity?

While she was puzzled, a dialog box popped up in the bottom right corner of the screen. Someone was transferring a file and requesting permission to receive it.

The Queen clicked confirm with the mouse.

A progress bar appeared in the middle of the screen.

The transfer was soon complete. She opened the file—a two-minute video.

“Boom——”

The footage showed a boundless ocean with waves reaching the sky, and the sound of an explosion came from off-camera.

“What is this?” the Queen asked herself in confusion.

The Soldier filming, perhaps hearing her question, quickly panned the camera to the right.

“Clatter——” When the image blurred by the camera movement became clear again, the Queen suddenly bolted upright, her straightened legs knocking over the wooden chair.

It was a giant made of mountain rock.

On its face, which emerged from the seawater, there was only a pair of eye sockets flickering with ghostly blue flames.

The strange creature seemed to possess a mysterious power; its body, submerged in the sea, could leap entirely out and stand steadily on the surface of the ocean.

The Queen vaguely sensed that its body must be massive and majestic.

But with the sky covered in thick black clouds and the same vast ocean all around, there were no reference points to give a direct sense of scale.

Until the Mountain Rock Giant soared forward and landed beside a destroyer. The Queen's eyes slowly widened.

The destroyer, a behemoth to humans, looked like a delicate little toy at the giant's feet.

Even the radar antenna at the highest point of the ship barely reached the giant's ankle.

“It...”

The Queen gripped the edge of the stone table, trying to calm her racing heart, but the creature on the screen was so shocking in every way that her pupils couldn't help but leak out fear.

Li, strictly following royal protocol, stood behind the laptop and couldn't see the video.

But the Queen's expression was plain to see.

“Highness.” Usually, when things were critical, Li would omit the full title. “Please give your orders.”

She was, after all, the monarch of a nation.

She turned and righted the wooden chair, smoothed her slightly messy gown, and sat down.

In a matter of seconds, her expression had returned to calm. “Contact Mr. Dumbledore and mobilize the entire navy on standby in the harbor.”

...

The open sea.

A carrier strike group was lifted into the air by a giant wave. As it dropped back down, freezing seawater washed over the deck.

Inside the island of the flagship, the captain pulled himself up from the floor using the control console, looking out through the porthole at the Mountain Rock Giant in the distance, which was slapping the water with its hands like a child playing.

“Damn it! He's toying with us!”

Not long ago, the captain had been sailing peacefully across the ocean on a mission.

But midway, they had suddenly risen into the sky—not lifted by a wave, but the hull of the ship truly leaving the surface of the sea and ascending vertically.

In his headset, the communications officers from the destroyers on either side were already screaming at the top of their lungs: “A hand, a hand!”

Video data was quickly transmitted.

The captain took one look and wondered if he was dreaming.

An aircraft carrier with an 80,000-ton displacement was actually being held in the palm of a giant rock hand.

Then the hand retracted into the seawater, and the violent vibration of the hull hitting the sea surface reminded him—your consciousness is perfectly clear right now.

Finally regaining his senses, the captain immediately ordered the entire group to attack.

Then, something else shocked them.

Radar could not find the enemy.

Even though that massive head sticking out of the water was right before their eyes.

Fortunately, because of this, they didn't need to perform impossible over-the-horizon strikes and simply poured ammunition onto the monster.

Unfortunately, after the fireballs and smoke cleared, the big fellow hadn't even suffered a scratch.

The captain fell into despair, holding his head and waiting for a broad palm to come crashing down.

But the Mountain Rock Giant didn't do that.

It just circled the fleet, occasionally slamming its fist into the seawater, creating giant waves that lifted the fleet into the air.

After a few times, not just the captain, but the entire crew understood.

This big guy was playing a game of lift-and-drop!