Calamity of Tomorrow

"Debating in Daluo Heaven?" Sun Jingping flashed an indifferent smile. He recalled his encounters over the past two days and felt his enthusiasm for the debates in Daluo Heaven rapidly wane, "Compared to that being, the debates are nothing but child's play."

"If you want to go, just go. I can take you there."

Then Sun Jingping asked, "Now, tell me what just happened? What did you do to me?" He glanced at his own body and added, "What exactly happened to me?"

The mysterious woman said, "You came into contact with him."

"Him? Who is he? What on earth is he?" Memories of that day's terrifying scene seemed to resurface in Sun Jingping's mind, causing his mental state to deteriorate once again.

The mysterious woman calmly stated, "An entity that is not human. A twisted monstrosity... composed of lies, ignorance, schemes, and evil.

"He has planted a twisted seed in your mind, and as time passes, this seed will gradually take root and sprout, slowly dragging you step by step, ever closer to madness."

Sun Jingping's heart tightened slightly, "Do you have a solution?"

The mysterious woman stroked Sun Jingping's cheek; her abilities could not only trigger the distortion within people's hearts but could also be reversed to soothe it.

As she activated her powers to offer comfort, she said, "I can alleviate the darkness in your heart for now, but to completely remove the twist he left behind, I need more."

Wei Cang silently observed all this. Seeing the look of relief on Sun Jingping's face as he was comforted by the mysterious woman, Wei Cang knew she had succeeded.

This meant they could count on Sun Jingping's support even more now, making their movements much easier.

Yet, Wei Cang couldn't help but ask, "Mysterious woman, why not report Zhou Bai's identity? If Heaven were to know..."

The mysterious woman shook her head; although killing Zhou Bai was her greatest desire, she knew that Heaven was also an enemy.

Once Heaven learned that Zhou Bai was the true perpetrator behind the attack, they would likely act immediately to apprehend him.

There were two possible outcomes to such a capture: one, they succeed and take Zhou Bai to be studied by Heaven, reinforcing Heaven's power and making life even more difficult for aberrants, thus making the future even more dire.

Or two, Zhou Bai escapes.

"If Zhou Bai were to escape, it would mean that he is completely unbound, and he... he will become uncontrollable," the mysterious woman narrowed her eyes slightly.

It has been said that the one who understands a person the best is their enemy.

The mysterious woman had similar sentiments. She thought of Zhou Bai's use of various tactics, lies, and deceptions in battle, and his uncompromising, decisive will to kill.

As Zhou Bai's nemesis, one of the aberrants endowed with wisdom, and a special life form capable of guiding distortion...

She could faintly sense, beneath Zhou Bai's normal exterior, an unrestrained malignancy, an audacity without inhibition, and an unrestrictive nature.

The mysterious woman thought to herself, 'Zhou Bai, you are fundamentally different from normal humans.'

'But now you confine yourself as a human, as a comrade among humans. Friendship, rules, and responsibility bind you.' The mysterious woman sneered inwardly, 'Choosing to protect humans has become the greatest weakness you've created for yourself, yet under immense pressure, you are still gradually lifting the restrictions on yourself.'

The mysterious woman could imagine that if Zhou Bai fully unleashed his restraint, abandoned his humanity, and used his twisted abilities without hindrance, the world would soon face a catastrophe.

However, a Zhou Bai still bound as a human was much easier to deal with.

'This Daluo Heaven debate is, in fact, Zhou Bai's weakest moment.' The mysterious woman thought, 'Because on the platform of Daluo Heaven, he would dare not use any twisted powers, let alone the Abyss Nether Dragon Armor.'

In the mysterious woman's view, there were only two possible outcomes.

'Killing you on the platform would be a satisfying result.'

'But if on the platform you are forced to reveal your true nature, to expose the twist within you, and then to be condemned by humans and immortals alike, watching you fight against those familiar companions, watching you being forced to kill the humans you are meant to protect...'

The mysterious woman couldn't help but close her eyes, a look of intoxication passing across her face.

"... That would also be a fine outcome."

Just then, Wei Cang said, "Someone's coming."

The mysterious woman nodded, "Then we'll leave for now. I'll come back to find you in a few days."

The next moment, the mysterious woman was seen grabbing Wei Cang by the shoulder, and with a flicker, the two disappeared without a trace.

Shortly after, Qiu Xingze and Yan Shan caught up and blocked Sun Jingping's path, one in front and one behind.

Qiu Xingze looked at Sun Jingping, recalling the details of the victims of this incident in his mind.

Aside from this alley, the experts of the Evil Sect in another courtyard had also been affected by the distortion phenomenon.

He addressed Sun Jingping, "Sun Jingping? Were you also a victim of this incident? Why are you here late at night?"

Yan Shan interjected, "We are investigators from the Plague Department, tasked with investigating this incident. We were planning to find you tomorrow, but since we've run into you, let's talk now."

"The Plague Department?" Sun Jingping's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent.

Qiu Xingze and Yan Shan exchanged glances, then stood out and said, "If you won't speak, then I'll start. The one who attacked you this time is named Gu Letian..."

While the investigation continued in Nanshan City, Zhou Bai was in Donghua City arranging his upcoming cultivation plan.

"My forthcoming path of cultivation mainly includes these goals."

"First, it's about integrating the Way and the primal Daoist Scriptures. I need to complete primal Daoist Scripture 05, break through 50% of the Way integration, reach the fifth realm, and unlock the next divine chart."

"Then, I have to complete the cultivation of the next divine chart."

"Additionally, I need to re-forge a flying sword, and restore the sword weapon and the techniques of Tianhe Star Explosion."

"Finally, I need to study the cultivation methods and the principles involving star points."

Zhou Bai looked at the goals he had written down on paper, his brows slightly knit together.

"To achieve these goals quickly, what I need most are values of laziness and face pressure."

"As for laziness value..." Zhou Bai wrote down the words 'garbage sorting': "Beneficial to the country and its people, and I'll also make a tidy profit—it should be enough as nourishment for my next divine chart."

"In the case of face pressure, that will depend on Nasha." Zhou Bai turned to look next door and said, "Nasha's face pressure and the former Little Pei are on the same level, if she can stay with me during my cultivation, then my progress will greatly speed up."

"But it seems she doesn't like cultivating with others."

"If it really doesn't work out, I just have to find a way to have a heart-to-heart with her, and move her with my sincerity."

Christina, hearing this, said, "If Nasha refuses to cultivate with you, you can cultivate with the cat instead. Zhou Bai, a man and a woman cultivating together, trouble is bound to arise sooner or later, and it's easy to be the subject of gossip."

Zhou Bai glanced at Christina's face pressure and shook his head, "The cat's face pressure isn't enough. Only Nasha's is sufficient. And..."

Zhou Bai declared righteously, "I am a cultivation machine devoid of emotion. Women and gossip are like passing clouds to me."

"No, at a time of national crisis, when the human race is facing an unprecedented threat, I need stronger power."

"Every single minute and second, I want to seize the time to cultivate. I can't wait any longer!" Zhou Bai suddenly stood up, "I'm going to find Nasha now and cultivate together."

Christina, angry, said, "If one cat isn't enough, you can get several more. Keeping a house full of cats to cultivate with would be much more convenient than finding Nasha."