NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Chapter 22
Chapter 22: The Capital To Rise Among the Stars
On the vast platform of the war base, numerous fighters were on high alert, observing the movements deep within the ocean.
"What's happening? Why did it suddenly become quiet after Commander Jia Yi went down? Could it be that the battle has concluded?" The wargod-level fighters appeared shocked, but deep down, they were masking their apprehension.
Just moments after Councilor Shen Mu descended, a powerful wave of spirit energy had erupted from the depths of the ocean.
According to the spirit practitioners in the base, they speculated that Shen Mu was engaged in a spirit confrontation with the Azure Dragon.
Then, an incredibly dazzling white light exploded from the ocean depths, illuminating the seabed for thousands of meters, leaving everyone puzzled about what was occurring.
Even if they wanted to provide assistance, they felt powerless. Although their laser weapons were formidable, they posed little threat to a king-class monster beneath the surface, and any misfire could lead to disastrous consequences for Shen Mu.
Fortunately, at a critical moment, Commander Jia Yi arrived. Upon learning that Shen Mu had entered the water to confront the Azure Dragon, his expression changed dramatically, and he rushed to provide support.
Suddenly, the ocean roiled with immense waves, and everyone witnessed a breathtaking sight. The vast sea parted as if an invisible hand had drawn it aside, and next, a fierce azure-scaled dragon emerged from the depths. The scales of the dragon shimmered under the sunlight, emanating a terrifying pressure from a higher plane of existence that caused everyone to tense up instinctively.
Atop the dragon's head stood Shen Mu, clad in a sleek black combat suit, unwavering in his stance. Beside him, Jia Yi stood in mid-air, surrounded by a thick, earthy yellow genetic force, his expression complex.
"Commander Jia Yi, Councilor Shen Mu." A wargod-level warrior approached; his voice filled with reverence.
"Deactivate the alarms; the crisis has ended." Jia Yi instructed the warrior, his tone firm.
Shen Mu added, "The Azure Dragon has been tamed. It will now oversee the Luan River estuary. However, if it shows any intent to attack the war base, you have permission to retaliate."
In the sky above, a deep blue king-class fighter jet soared toward Changshan City. Inside the jet, Shen Mu was in conversation with the dojo master, Hong.
"I heard you subdued the Azure Dragon. What's the situation?"
Hong was somewhat familiar with the Azure Dragon's strength. Although it was only a second-tier planetary-level beast, it possessed formidable spirit power. While its combat capability might not match that of the other top councilors, if a battle occurred underwater, only he and the Lei Shen could guarantee a victory against it.
"The actual combat situation wasn't as dire as it seemed. The Azure Dragon didn't intend to attack humans; it came seeking refuge."
"Refuge?" Shen Mu's statement surprised Hong, who immediately thought the dragon had been targeted by the two beast emperors of the sea.
"Was it pursued by the two beast emperors?"
Seeing Hong's mind racing, Shen Mu confirmed, "Exactly. The Azure Dragon has shown signs of improvement, with its genetic energy elevated to the planetary level. After killing the Toxic Jellyfish King, it posed a threat to the Octopus Beast Emperor…"
After hearing Shen Mu's explanation, Hong finally understood. If the Azure Dragon had no intent to attack, it made sense; otherwise, he could not fathom how Shen Mu had managed to defeat and tame it.
"Although the Azure Dragon has been tamed by you, it's essential to remain vigilant. You understand what I mean, right?" Hong clarified his warning to avoid any misunderstanding.
"Of course. I've already informed Jia Yi of the specifics. The Azure Dragon will be stationed at the Luan River estuary to prevent any large monsters from infiltrating the land. Naturally, the war base must also ensure the Azure Dragon's safety. If the Octopus Beast Emperor attacks, we must use laser weapons to support the Azure Dragon."
Human laser cannons were still quite powerful, capable of instantly killing monsters below the planetary level. Even if a planetary-level beast was hit, it would still suffer severe injuries. If multiple lasers targeted it simultaneously, even the two beast emperors of the sea could potentially fall.
During the Great Nirvana Era, the rise of Hong and the Lei Shen merely provided humanity with a place to survive. It wasn't until the successful development of laser cannons that the end of the Great Nirvana Era was declared.
"Good, I understand the specifics. I haven't had a chance to congratulate you on your recent battle, where both your spirit power and genetic energy have reached the planetary level."
"I owe that to your guidance, Master."
After some casual conversation, Hong mentioned that the Palace of Wargods would announce globally Shen Mu's success in subduing the Azure Dragon. Once that happened, Shen Mu's status would rival that of the top councilors.
After hanging up the phone, Shen Mu returned home. At that moment, his parents, Chen Wen and Shen Gang, had received news about Shen Mu confronting the Azure Dragon. Seeing that Shen Mu's fighter jet had successfully returned, they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Son, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, Mom. I'm fine. The Azure Dragon was nothing; it couldn't even match me." Shen Mu reassured Chen Wen, whose eyes were slightly red, and his father, Shen Gang, who appeared stern but was clearly worried.
Once home, Shen Mu took out his phone to inform friends and family, like Tang Yongqing and Zhu Qiang, that he was safe before choosing to enter seclusion once more.
In the meditation chamber crafted from Ke Luo alloy, Shen Mu sat cross-legged on a mat. Within Shen Mu, a transparent crystal sphere pulsed with a faint glow, its surface adorned with intricate chaotic patterns that twisted and writhed like a living entity.
This was Shen Mu's Core, the essence of his life, which housed a unique talent technique. This so-called talent technique required no study; it could be wielded naturally.
His technique possessed one singular ability: to analyze and solidify the innate talent techniques of other beings. As long as Shen Mu acquired genetic material from other life forms, he could analyze and gain their talent techniques. However, this ability had limitations. Starting from the planetary level, with each advancement to a new major realm, he could analyze and acquire one new technique.
Having just broken through to the planetary level, Shen Mu could now analyze and obtain a brand-new talent technique.
Countless spirit energies surged within his consciousness as he desperately recalled the techniques he was aware of.
The Clone Technique was a given; it was nearly a mandatory choice, enhancing both talent and combat capability. It could even save his life at critical moments—opting out of this would be foolish. In addition, there were other noteworthy techniques, such as the "Ocean Transformation" technique, which allowed for a massive physical form, and the "Manipulation of Time and Space" technique of the World Tree.
These were merely the techniques Shen Mu was aware of; after all, the talent techniques appearing in the original work were only a fraction of the countless techniques in this reality. There were undoubtedly many more that Shen Mu had yet to discover.
Late at night, the metallic door of the meditation chamber slid open, and Shen Mu emerged, his eyes marked with fine veins of blood yet sparkling with vitality.
In the next instant, Shen Mu appeared on the rooftop, gazing up at the twinkling stars in the sky. Under the clear night sky, he could see a beautiful light band stretching from the northeastern horizon to the southern horizon—that was the vast Milky Way.
The boundless starry sky seemed almost within reach.
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