Yang Zhen, with a runny nose and tear-streaked face, explained to her about âtens of thousands of yearsâ of human society. His stories were peppered with all sorts of delicious food and beautiful scenery, even a ferris wheel.
Only when Yang Zhenâs throat was parched from all the talking, did the little girl finally sit beside him excitedly, hugging her legs, and said, âIs that Ferris wheel you mentioned really a must-play for human children?â
Yang Zhen clapped his hands and said, âThatâs the truth, no doubt. I donât know how long I played for, but now, ten thousand years have passed. Thereâs nothing as fun as that in the world of practitioners anymore. By the way, whatâs your name?â
The little girl rubbed her nose, looking annoyed, and said, âMy name is Jiajia. Is that spicy strip you mentioned truly the most delicious thing in human society?â
Watching Jiajia salivating as she spoke, Yang Zhen secretly regretted his words. If he knew this kid was such a foodie, he would have only mentioned dishes he could whip up. Now, in the world of practitioners where could Yang Zhen find spicy strips?
Yang Zhen sighed, and Jiajiaâs excitement also faded as she asked, âThey are gone too?â
âGone!â Yang Zhen nodded and said, âBut you donât have to feel down, thereâs still plenty of delicious food in human society these days, this rascal cat can vouch for that.â
Jiajia looked at the naughty cat with interest, stroked its head and asked, âLittle Kitty, have you also lived in human society for tens of thousands of years like Yang Zhen?â
The naughty cat scoffed and said, âNot only ten thousand years, Iâve lived so long I donât even know how many years itâs been. I even heard about the time you guys got sealed by divine punishment.â
Jiajia was taken aback, her eyes filled with disbelief as she said, âMy mother told me we were sealed for twenty thousand years, are you saying you have lived for twenty thousand years?â
Yang Zhen pushed the naughty cat aside and said, âDonât listen to its nonsense, you didnât live for twenty thousand years. If you know about the demonic race being sealed, why canât it?â
Jiajia came to her senses, glared at the naughty cat and said, âSo, you also heard it from your mother! You liar!â
Yang Zhen stifled a laugh and said to Jiajia, âBy the way, you were sealed for twenty thousand years. Why have you appeared now?â
Just as Jiajia was about to speak, furious roars and shrieks echoed from all directions. Jiajiaâs face brightened as she said, âMy mother and the others have also appeared. Yang Zhen, I need to go back. You should come with me. I donât know who broke the Heaven and Earth Shackles. I heard this is the second set of shackles. We waited for twenty thousand years, finally, someone managed to break the Heaven and Earth shackles. Otherwise, we wouldnât know how many more years we might be sealed, donât worry, now that we the demonic race have re-emerged, you wonât have to survive in human society alone. We will surely stand between heaven and earth again.â
Yang Zhen shook his head and said, âI am already used to living in human society, so I wonât be going back with you. This time you have come out, did your mother tell you any plans?â
Jiajia tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, âNot really, but many elders in our tribe want to take revenge on humanity. Many just want to find a quiet place. Twenty thousand years have passed and we no longer bear grudges against humans.â
Yang Zhen sighed as he watched Jiajiaâs retreating figure, they were such a pitiful race.
The naughty cat grinned and said, âThe demonic race has been struggling under heaven and earth, attempting to defy the way of heaven but was still not accepted by heaven and earth. Now that theyâre back, with the drastic changes in heaven and earth, I wonder what will happen.â
Yang Zhen waved his hand and said, âThatâs none of our business. Look at us, just this tall. These matters between races reach as high as the sky. We are still too far from that height.â
The naughty cat playfully replied, âI didnât expect you to have such insight. Youâre stronger than most.â
âOf course!â Yang Zhen proudly said, then looked over at the naughty cat skeptically and asked, âBy the way, why werenât you sealed?â
The naughty cat snickered and asked, âDo you think the war between humans and the demonic race resulted in the humans driving the demonic race here to be sealed?â
âDidnât Jiajia just say there was divine punishment?â Yang Zhen asked subconsciously.
The naughty cat snorted and said, âSo, not all demonic races were sealed. In fact, those who were sealed were the lucky ones. Where are those who werenât sealed?â
Yang Zhen was startled, âAre they dead?â
âTheyâre dead!â The naughty cat, looking at the clear sky, said, âAccording to the old tales, when the world drastically changed, besides human practitioners, all other kinds of beings were either driven away or sealed. Those barely managing to survive were all killed by the divine punishment.â
Yang Zhen gasped for breath in shock, saying incredulously, âWhat on earth happened? Why do I suddenly feel like the heavens arenât necessarily just?â
RUMBLE!
A fierce thunderbolt flashed across the sky. Yang Zhen immediately closed his mouth.
This freck⦠Wonât even let me speak?
Watching the disappearing thunderbolt, the naughty cat slyly said, âThe will of heaven and earth, is something no creature can escape. In times of antiquity, I donât know what happened when the great calamity befell heaven and earth. But now it seems that the catastrophe likely represented a cleansing of all beings by heaven and earth.â
A shiver ran down Yang Zhenâs spine at the thought of that terrifying black thunderbolt that could annihilate everything.
Under the power of heaven and earth, isnât whatever it wants to cleanse simply cleansed?
But why�
âWhy?â A baffled Yang Zhen asked the question countless people had been seeking for years.
The naughty cat looked at Yang Zhen, âDonât ask me, I donât know anything. Damn it, I even forgot how many years Iâve lived. My memory is in chaos, Iâm confused all day long, itâs really annoying!â
Yang Zhen smacked the naughty cat on the forehead and stared at it, âDo you know why you canât remember anything?â
âWhy?â The naughty catâs spirit picked up, it stared at Yang Zhen, eyes ablaze.
Yang Zhen laughed heartily and said, âItâs because you learn things too quickly. Even how to be annoyed, youâve mastered that. Iâll bring you to our village another day, I guarantee no one will recognize youâre a⦠err⦠time-traveling cat.â
The naughty cat looked at Yang Zhen with interest, âThatâs what you promised. Iâve been very curious about your village. What kind of place could have brought up such a creature like you?â
âNaughty cat, are you asking for a fight?â
âNo, no, no! A gentleman uses his mouth, not his fists. Not everything can be solved by violence.â
Yang Zhen felt very pleased by this sentence. He drew a deep breath, looking at the endless sky, and then at the howling and tumult around him, beholding the overwhelming demonic aura sprouting everywhere, his spirits were at their peak.
No matter what was going to happen in the future, Yang Zhen had to survive; perhaps even return to the Blue Planet?
Even if it was just a glimpse, Yang Zhen would be content.
If he really could go back, damn, that would be awesome, wouldnât breathing alone be showing off?
At this moment, the violent energy throughout the world began to stabilize, countless practitioners were rushing back towards the Ancient Ruins.
When Yang Zhen perceived the rapid movement of worldly energy, his face changed, and he looked at the naughty cat and said, âItâs starting.â
The naughty cat nodded and echoed, âItâs starting.â
âIâm not sure what this encounter signifies, whether itâs for humans or the demonic race, so⦠shall we start?â
âLetâs do it! Hey, get excited! Ha!â