Chapter Sixty-One: He Did Not Move an Inch
Volume One: The Nature of the Devil Does Not Change
Arc: The Great Gang War
By that moment—hours later—Scarlet King had already crossed hundreds of thousands of universes within the void, traveling toward the Sky-Grasping Sect.
When he entered the universe where the Sky-Grasping Sect resided, the scenery shifted drastically—from a vast cosmic expanse into a world resembling a traditional cultivation realm.
The surrounding void warped abruptly.
The silence of space vanished, replaced by a blue sky and breathable air.
Scarlet King thought to himself:
(From the outside, universes appear ordinary—but within, some exist as complete worlds, like classical cultivation realms, rather than empty cosmic voids.)
The air struck his face sharply, yet his body did not move at all—
as if he were a nail fixed firmly in the sky itself.
The scent of cloud-water filled his nose.
His mind grew completely still—
like a lake untouched by wind for countless ages.
His emotions became so clear and empty that the world found nothing to reflect within them.
His gaze lowered toward the distant horizon.
He exhaled softly, warm vapor escaping his mouth and dissolving into the cold sky.
(I need to meet Ikalat and discuss our plans to leave this impoverished dimension.)
Four mountain peaks pierced through the clouds like pillars holding up the heavens.
Along their slopes, the rooftops of small houses appeared—scattered like stars among pink-leaved trees.
The mountains were connected by narrow black wooden bridges.
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound came from behind him.
A powerful yellow beam slammed directly into his jetpack.
It shattered into burning fragments.
The surrounding air convulsed violently, and the stench of scorched metal and ruined machinery filled his senses.
Scarlet King clenched his teeth and spoke coldly:
"Damn it."
His body began to fall—from a height above the clouds themselves.
Air pressure crushed down on him, forcing his back to bend involuntarily.
He tore through the clouds like a hurled stone.
The wind ripped at his clothes, pressure clamping onto his chest until his ribs felt close to shattering.
The roar of air screamed in his ears, nearly tearing his hearing apart.
His descent accelerated violently—
like a meteor plunging toward the earth.
Seconds later, he slammed into the ground with overwhelming force.
The impact shook the entire region.
The earth cracked and shattered like broken glass.
For a brief moment, Scarlet King couldn't tell whether his body was still intact.
Giant trees surrounded the crater at the base of the mountain.
A heavy silence followed the collision.
Then—
soft footsteps approached.
A childish humming sound echoed as it drew closer to the crater.
Scarlet King made out her figure:
A small girl with white hair, skin pale as sugar, wearing a loose red robe with short sleeves, and gentle green eyes.
Then her innocent voice sounded:
"Hm? Why is the ground cracked like this?"
She peered into the crater with blind curiosity.
"Oh? What are you doing here?"
Scarlet King did not answer immediately.
Instead, he observed her carefully.
He instantly realized that this child possessed extraordinarily powerful talent and roots.
He spoke in a warm, deceptively gentle tone:
"Little girl… do you have a master?"
She responded with a loud, childish shout, revealing a chipped tooth:
"What's it to you?! Whether I have a master or not is none of your business!"
Suddenly, a rough, massive male voice sounded from behind her.
"Where did he go?"
A giant man stepped forward—enormous in build, dark-skinned, with red hair and two massive hammers strapped to his back.
The girl stomped forward angrily toward him.
Behind the giant appeared many men, wielding various weapons and possessing different cultivation levels.
She shouted furiously:
"What are you looking for, you jerk?!"
The man glared at her, veins bulging across his body as his eyes burned red like embers.
He thought to himself:
(Hah? A child? Doesn't matter… I'll kill her and continue searching for Gu Yue.)
The giant swung a crushing punch toward the girl.
She shut her eyes in fear and raised her arms to shield her face.
But the punch never reached her.
The giant's fist collided with another body.
Dust exploded outward.
The ground beneath cracked violently as a thunderous impact echoed.
When the dust settled—
Scarlet King stood there.
He had taken the blow directly on his neck.
He did not move an inch.
He looked calmly at the man.
A blue aura flickered within both of his eyes.
Then he spat blood onto the ground.
The man stared in shock, pupils dilated, teeth clenched:
"You—!!"
Scarlet King responded with a devastating punch.
The man was sent flying, crashing through several of his companions before their bodies smashed into the trunk of a massive tree.
The wood bent inward.
Dust surged into the air.
Their bodies were embedded deep within the tree.
The remaining men stared in disbelief at Scarlet King's strength.
Scarlet King thought calmly:
(They're all stronger than me…)
(If not for the element of surprise, I would already be dead.)
(I need to escape… but I'll take the girl with me.)
As the enemies closed in, Scarlet King moved at near-light speed.
He grabbed the girl and placed her on his shoulders.
He glanced back at the men—members of the Dragon Gang—whose faces were frozen in shock, and said coldly:
"Jackpot."
He shot through the forest at terrifying speed, racing toward the Sky-Grasping Sect.
Behind him, the men roared as they drew their weapons:
"Get him!!"