SFS Chapter 378 It's Not a Natural Disaster, It's a Man-Made Catastrophe
Chapter 378 It's Not a Natural Disaster, It's a Man-Made Catastrophe
A long serpent? What is that? Does it refer to our sea god, Omikami?
Xu Ning could tell from Zheping's blank expression that he knew nothing about this title.
"It's Nagahei Kitain, a martial artist who was once on par with Kirigiri Takane and Mikoto Michiki. It's said that he has been serving as the Eight Guardians on this island, exterminating evil spirits... Okay, stop making that face. I know you haven't heard of him."
Zheping scratched his head sheepishly, "I'm not well-educated, so there are many things I don't know."
Xu Ning shook his head helplessly.
"Because I saw that you were also guarding Hachiyū Island, and the spears you were carrying looked like they were evolved from his famous 'Kitain Jumonji,' that's when I remembered him."
"Although I haven't witnessed his spear technique, in my opinion, the fact that he's given the title 'The Long Serpent' is a compliment to the treacherous, venomous, and unpredictable nature of his spear. The horizontal blades on both sides of his spear are as straight as knives, adding slicing, chopping, slashing, and hooking techniques to his spear technique, which is mainly based on thrusting. Especially when the spear body swings like a snake, the horizontal blades on the left and right are more suitable for group battles and have astonishing killing power."
Xu Ning casually recounted some anecdotes, but the long spear in his hand mimicked the S-shaped shooting motion that Zheping had used when he attacked him that day.
“We in Liyue have an old saying: ‘It is better to learn from the universe than from people.’ In my opinion, even the remains of your Great Gods can be your teachers. When you can use your spear to depict every turn and undulation of its body, and bring its form to life on your spear, then you can graduate.”
Zheping watched as Xu Ning's familiar yet unfamiliar spear technique drew smooth curves in his hands. Even after Xu Ning handed the spear to him, he was still immersed in the unpredictable spear movements he had just witnessed.
When Xu Ning woke up and washed up in the cave, Zhe Ping was already waiting outside, carrying a long spear and looking very energetic.
"They're in great spirits today, like a completely different person from yesterday."
Xu Ning looked at the bright spear tip protruding from Zheping's back and could tell that the guy had taken care of himself from head to toe, including his weapon.
Just as I was about to praise myself for my excellent teaching, I suddenly heard a calm female voice coming from not far away.
"It seems this is Lord Xu Ning of Liyue."
Xu Ning turned his head and looked towards the street corner, where he saw a beautiful shrine maiden in a light blue dress and white robes standing at the door, staring at him curiously.
Looking back at Zheping, whose face was full of excitement, Xu Ning sighed inwardly that all his teachings that night were not as effective as the beautiful witch standing at the door. Look how neatly this kid has dressed himself up!
"That's right. Are you one of Coral Palace's subordinates?"
The priestess nodded and replied, "I am Shihe, a servant of the current Goddess Priestess. Thank you for helping us eliminate the Eye Hunting Order in this great war, allowing the rare peace to return."
"Last night I received information from our current human god priestess that there was an aura of the Great God leaking out here. Coincidentally, I am skilled in some suppression techniques, so I was sent here."
Before Xu Ning could speak, Zhe Ping chimed in, "Xu Ning suspects that someone may have deliberately sabotaged this."
"If anyone dares to desecrate the remains of the Great God, I will make him spend the rest of his life repenting."
Sihe's pretty face was frosty as she spoke without hesitation.
Xu Ning waved his hand, "I'm just guessing. After all, when it comes to the ability to destroy, humans are much stronger than nature itself."
Sihe nodded, "So Lord Xu Ning has already thought of the same thing as the current Goddess Priestess."
"My lord said that the Fools lost one executor in this war, and another executor is missing. Their overall strategic plan has been completely disrupted and destroyed. The remaining losers will certainly not give up easily. I was sent here this time to keep an eye on their whereabouts."
"I've just arrived and haven't encountered anyone outside of Lord Goro's command yet. However, in an area with a high concentration of supernatural power, I did meet an interesting fellow. I'm going to meet him today. Would you like to come along?"
Sihe smiled and said, "Of course I'm willing."
Zheping led the way, with Xu Ning and Sihe following behind at a leisurely pace.
At first, Xu Ning was a little worried about whether the witch of this island could withstand the influence of the evil spirits here. However, after walking a few steps, Xu Ning noticed a coral bead hanging on her waist. Every now and then, a faint blue wave would flash across her body, gently brushing over Sihe's entire body.
"It seems that Coral Palace also came prepared."
Seeing that Sihe didn't need his protection, Xu Ning focused his attention on the martial artist in the land of the snake's head.
When Xu Ning arrived at the dilapidated shrine, he found that the valuables that had been scattered all over the ground yesterday were still there, untouched. Near the shrine, there was another treasure chest.
"Needless to say, this treasure chest is what I deserve from my worship, isn't it?" Xu Ning gestured for the two to stop, then walked closer and asked.
The martial artist watched as Xu Ning kicked open the treasure chest, then suddenly cried out, "'He' is coming! Don't stop the worship! You can't stop the worship!"
Xu Ning looked around but didn't see any strange people or objects.
"'He' is angry, a wicked man who refuses favors, like that fox mask, refusing favors."
When Xu Ning heard the words "fox mask," his heart skipped a beat, and he was about to ask the martial artist about it.
"You have received this reward; go and offer sacrifices immediately! Go and offer sacrifices immediately!"
Xu Ning noticed that the martial artist was breathing rapidly and heavily, and his emotions were unusually intense. It seemed that this third worship ceremony was extremely important to the martial artist.
Without wasting words, Xu Ning walked to the shrine, kicked aside the pile of valuables on the ground, and offered his third prayer to the shrine.
Apart from the heavy breathing of the martial artists around him, Xu Ning still couldn't hear anything.
This martial artist must have something in mind. After all, he's willing to spend so much money and time. What does he want to gain?
Xu Ning didn't know, but the answer would definitely be revealed tomorrow.
"You did very well, you did very well," the martial artist praised.
Xu Ning tilted his head back and took a sip of wine, then said to the martial artist, "It looks like you won't tell me the meaning of the ceremony until tomorrow, is that right?"
The martial artist seemed not to hear Xu Ning's words, and was just muttering to himself.
"I let it escape... return... sacrifice... please forgive me, please forgive me."
Xu Ning asked the martial artist two questions, but there was no response. The martial artist just kept talking to himself, so Xu Ning had no choice but to turn around and shrug at the two people waiting there.
"Looks like he's gone back to his own world. The truth will only be revealed tomorrow."
Sihe frowned and asked, "How long has this person been in this state? There's no one around for dozens of miles. How has he been eating and drinking?"
“If you had started your investigation from this angle, you would have found a breakthrough much earlier.”
The two men exchanged a disdainful look; how could you not think of such a simple method?
In the end, Xu Ning frankly admitted their oversight, "Well, that's a good idea. We can also see where this guy got so much wealth."
The three watched from a distance for a while, and the martial artist remained motionless, like a statue.
"We can't possibly spend the whole day here with him."
Sihe counted on his fingers: "There are a total of four lightning-type magic arrays that suppress the power of the Great God: three bright and one dark. They are Wuxiang Blade Narrow Space, Serpent God's Head, Serpent Bone Mine, and Wuming Fortress. We don't know which magic array is malfunctioning yet, but this place has the most divine power dissipating, so let's start by investigating the Serpent Bone Mine."
Zheping immediately rejected Sihe's proposal.
"Everything else is fine, but the snake bone mine is a different story. The Shogunate army stationed troops there a long time ago, designating it as a military stronghold and forbidding anyone from approaching it. I'm afraid..."
Sihe decisively said, "There's nothing to be afraid of. The ceasefire agreement was signed a long time ago, and they should have left here and returned to Narugami Island long ago. The fact that they are still lingering here probably means they have other plans."
"I suggest we proceed with these two matters separately. Zheping, you stay here and keep an eye on that strange fellow. Lord Xu Ning and I will go to the Snake Bone Mine to investigate. What do you think of my plan?"
Zheping could tell that he was somewhat unwilling, but he had to admit that letting Xu Ning go with Sihe was the safest option.
Xu Ning looked at Si He and thought for a long time before agreeing to the plan.
Xu Ning left a small jar of wine for Zheping, telling him not to get drunk, before following Sihe slowly toward the Snake Bone Mine.
"Once we get there, I'll try to communicate with them verbally, hoping they'll let us in to investigate. However, if they refuse, I'm afraid we'll have to rely on your force..."
As Sihe spoke, she glanced sideways at Xu Ning's expression.
Seeing that Xu Ning's expression was normal, as if he was not surprised by his words at all, he asked with some confusion, "Lord Xu Ning seems to already know what obstacles we will encounter on this trip."
Xu Ning waved his hand and laughed, "I don't have the ability to calculate everything like you human goddesses. I've never even heard of the Shogunate army being stationed here in the mine."
"However, I don't know, but that doesn't mean that the human-god witch doesn't know. I think when she sent you here, she probably already included me in this matter. And in this matter, I'm afraid no one is more suitable to cause a big scene there than someone with my special status."
"Or think about it further, maybe you human-god priestesses know about this place and Teppei's situation, and just happen to use them to make me work for you for free."
The surprise on Sihe's face flashed by in an instant.
Xu Ning was absolutely right about her identity, and the current human-god witch knew this, which is why she devised a whole plan for herself.
The most frequently appearing word in these plans is Xu Ning.
Fortunately, although Xu Ning guessed the plan, he didn't seem angry, which put Sihe's worries to rest.
As the two approached the entrance to the Snake Bone Mine, they spotted several men dressed in Shogunate military uniforms guarding the entrance, watching their surroundings warily.
"Please wait here for a moment, since they don't seem to have any ill intentions yet..."
Sihe thought for a moment, and was just about to speak to dissuade Xu Ning when the soldiers of the Shogunate Army shouted.
"Halt, commoners! This is under the jurisdiction of the shogunate. Those who are not involved should leave immediately."
Sihe immediately stepped forward and said, "I am Sihe, a special envoy of the Coral Palace. I am here to inspect the current state of the body at the burial site of the Great God. Didn't your superior inform you...?"
"The people of Coral Palace? Hmph, I haven't received any notification. Besides, it's ridiculous. What divine body, what place of sacrifice... Your great serpent has long since become those glittering stones in the mine, our swords!"
The leading shogunate soldier arrogantly provoked, "You once bowed to the great serpent, and now you should bow to the sword forged from its remains. Our sword represents divine decree. It was only because of the general's momentary pity that you have survived until now. Don't be ungrateful, leave here immediately."
Upon hearing this, Sihe immediately became furious, "You'd better watch your words..."
Seeing that Sihe's identity as a priestess was not taken seriously by these people, Xu Ning gently patted Sihe's shoulder and said, "Let me do it!"
Xu Ning took two steps forward and said to the soldier in front of him, "Answer me two questions, and I will leave."
"First, did you defect from the Coral Palace camp to the Fool Clan, or from the Shogunate army camp to the Fool Clan?"
"Second, how did you manage to survive unharmed in such a place where the power of evil spirits is off the charts?"
The members of the Shogunate army opposite them looked at each other in bewilderment, and for a moment no one could think of a reply.
Finally, the tyrannical leader reacted faster, drawing his longsword from his waist and slashing at Xu Ning, coldly shouting, "Don't let a single one of them escape!"
The battle begins, the battle ends.
To deal with these small fry, Xu Ning didn't even need to release his elemental body; he could easily defeat them with a casual move.
However, Xu Ning noticed during the battle that these soldiers were using the tactics employed by the Coral Palace.
In other words, they were soldiers of the Coral Palace.
After informing Sihe of this discovery, Sihe found it hard to believe.
"I don't understand. The soldiers of the Coral Palace came together because of their wishes and ideals. What can joining the Fools bring them?"
Xu Ning searched the men and found two pages of what looked like an account book on the head of the unruly soldiers.
A detailed record of the mineral distribution on Ba Yun Island, its feasibility for industrial production, and the possibility of establishing an outpost.
The other document describes the lightning element suppressing system left by General Raiden, the possible consequences of leaking the remnants of the demon god, and also includes observation records of some patients from Hikimura.
Xu Ning casually handed the two ledgers to Sihe.
"Perhaps they didn't intend to get anything from the Fools. More likely, they made an irreparable mistake and had no other choice but to do so."