Chapter 370: A Change of Heart

Chapter 370: A Change of Heart

Zhao Cangming stood still, staring at Shi Buzhi's twisted and familiar face after he had killed her with a single strike. It seemed as if he was lost in thought.

Ji Xinghuo didn't intervene, merely observing with a cold gaze.

In his opinion, if Zhao Cangming wanted to truly embark on the path of evolution, he would eventually have to take this step. This trial, if it could bring about a change in his heart and help him leave the shelter of his sister's protection, would be a blessing in disguise.

"Brother-in-law..." Zhao Cangming took a deep breath and turned back, "I should have spared her life and taken her back to Earth as evidence of Shi Hongyi's crimes. But I just couldn't control my anger. She deceived me terribly, and even at the brink of death, she tried to manipulate me."

"You did well," Ji Xinghuo praised, "In the Star Realm, if you want to go far, you must be decisive and ruthless. Do not hesitate."

"Decisive and ruthless?" Zhao Cangming muttered to himself.

He recalled the moment when Ji Xinghuo had taken action. His brother-in-law was only three years older than him, yet his strength was formidable. He must have killed countless people in the Star Realm, while Zhao Cangming had only killed one of his enemies, and even then, he had hesitated.

At this moment, Ji Xinghuo spoke, "One piece of evidence is enough."

"Him?" Zhao Cangming looked at the legendary hunter on the ground and gritted his teeth. This man had ordered his capture and caused him much suffering during the past several hours. It was also this man who had chopped off his finger.

The pain from his severed finger made Zhao Cangming grit his teeth. He raised his blade and walked towards the legendary hunter.

"Just cut him twice, don't kill him," Ji Xinghuo said.

"Don't worry, brother-in-law," Zhao Cangming replied as he swung his blade.

The legendary hunter screamed in agony as all the fingers on his remaining right hand were chopped off. "You better hope you don't fall into my hands again!" he shouted furiously.

"Shut up," Zhao Cangming said, turning the blade and slamming the hilt into the man's face, knocking out several teeth.

The legendary hunter glared at Zhao Cangming with contempt. "You're nothing but a good-for-nothing who's relying on his sister. What makes you think you're so special? You're a waste of life who will never even become a super-evolved being!"

"So what if I am?" Zhao Cangming remained calm, but he chose not to continue the torture. "The one lying on the ground isn't me."

"Waste..."

A bolt of lightning struck, knocking the legendary hunter unconscious. "We should head back," Ji Xinghuo said.

He could tell that although Zhao Cangming appeared calm on the surface, the word "waste" had struck a nerve. If he allowed the insults to continue, Zhao Cangming might lose control and kill the man in a fit of rage.

"Okay, brother-in-law," Zhao Cangming said, tossing his blade aside.

He then surveyed the surrounding forest. Long Ying was dead, and the silver-winged horses had flown out of sight. "How do we get back?" he asked.

Ji Xinghuo also turned to look around.

After the last teleportation, Xu Lingke had not reappeared, but he knew that Xu Lingke was likely observing from the shadows. If he could help them one more time and send them back to Olympia, it would be ideal.

However, after waiting for half a minute, there was still no sign of Xu Lingke.

It seemed that Xu Lingke was unwilling to intervene further.

"He's probably concerned about having others around and doesn't want to expose himself," Ji Xinghuo guessed silently, but he didn't voice his thoughts aloud. Perhaps Xu Lingke had already left.

"Wait for me for a few minutes, Cangming," Ji Xinghuo said as he flew into the sky. He didn't go far and soon located three silver-winged horses with his All-Seeing Star Eyes. He quickly caught up with them and brought them back.

"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Ji Xinghuo asked.

"I've only ridden earthly horses, not the flying ones," Zhao Cangming replied hesitantly.

"They're quite similar. As a mid-level evolver, you should have no problem controlling a silver-winged horse," Ji Xinghuo assured him and proceeded to teach him a few simple techniques.

Moments later, the two men were each riding a silver-winged horse, with the third horse carrying the badly injured legendary hunter. They headed south, retracing their path back to Olympia.

Zhao Cangming quickly mastered the riding skills and looked excited.

Previously, he had been kidnapped and unable to move, so he hadn't had the opportunity or the mood to experience the wonders of the Star Realm. Now that he was free, he curiously observed his surroundings, finding everything novel and fascinating.

Although he had learned a lot about the Star Realm on Earth, seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different experience.

"Brother-in-law, what's that?"

"Brother-in-law, are there a lot of monsters in that rift below? The Thousand Peak Abyssal Forest truly lives up to its name. That rift is like a deep abyss."

"Wow! Look at the size of that iron-backed bear!"

Zhao Cangming gradually regained his playful nature, asking questions whenever he encountered something he didn't understand.

Ji Xinghuo answered all his queries.

"Ahead is the suspended city of the Winged People. We'll take a detour," Ji Xinghuo said as he gazed into the distance. He spotted a suspended mountain several dozen kilometers away, with a small city at its peak that was home to several tens of thousands of Winged People. It was best to avoid any confrontation with them.

As they took the detour, Ji Xinghuo cautioned, "In the Thousand Peak Abyssal Forest, the Winged People are the ones we must avoid at all costs."

"I'll keep that in mind," Zhao Cangming said.

Soon, the suspended city of the Winged People was left behind. Just as Zhao Cangming was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he suddenly heard Ji Xinghuo say, "We're under attack by monsters."

"What?" Zhao Cangming's heart skipped a beat as he looked around, but he couldn't spot any monsters. "Where?"

Ji Xinghuo pointed forward.

Zhao Cangming widened his eyes and stared for a long time. After half a minute, he finally noticed a group of black dots approaching in the distance, drawing closer and closer.

As they came into view, he recognized them as a large group of black feathered monsters with a wingspan of over three meters. They resembled owls, with heads similar to human faces and sharp claws at the ends of their wings that looked like human hands.

"Man-Faced Owls!"

Zhao Cangming exclaimed in horror, "There are so many of them! Brother-in-law, should we try to avoid them?"

He had read about Man-Faced Owls before and knew that they were vicious monsters that usually lived in groups of around a dozen. However, the flock ahead of them numbered in the hundreds, and the largest among them had a wingspan of over ten meters, making it a Super Beast monster.

"There's no need." Ji Xinghuo remained calm. "This group of Man-Faced Owls has already spotted us, and with their burst flight, they are even faster than the silver-winged horses."

As he spoke, Ji Xinghuo drew out his Black Heng Crystal Battle Bow.

Riding on the horse, he began to shoot.

One titanium alloy arrow after another flew out, creating an explosive sound.

Zhao Cangming fixed his gaze on Ji Xinghuo but found that he couldn't even see his brother-in-law's hands clearly, let alone count how many arrows were shot. He only saw the approaching Man-Faced Owls screaming and exploding one by one.

The Super Flock's Man-Faced Owl at the front was the first to have its head blown up, followed by the others falling down like raindrops.

Feathers and blood splattered everywhere.

In just a few seconds, a third of the flock was shot down even before they could reach them, and the rest scattered in fear, shrieking as they fled.

Ji Xinghuo stopped shooting and did not pursue them. He simply put away his battle bow as if what he had done was a trivial matter.

"Phew..."

Zhao Cangming let out a breath.

Although this was his first time in the Star Realm, he was not entirely ignorant about it. In fact, over the past two years, he had studied and learned a lot in preparation for his journey to the Star Realm. He was well aware of the danger posed by a flock of over a hundred Man-Faced Owls.

Even an elite hunting party might capsize if they encountered this flock, and there could be heavy casualties.

Yet, Ji Xinghuo had effortlessly taken care of them with his archery skills.

"Brother-in-law is amazing!" Zhao Cangming exclaimed in admiration, his face showing a hint of regret. "Ah, I don't have much talent in shooting. Otherwise, I would have chosen 'Ranger' as my profession so that I could learn from you."

His profession template was "Water Master," with abilities focused on control, close combat, and healing. He was most powerful in watery environments, but this came with certain limitations.

"It doesn't matter if you're a Water Master or a Ranger. An Evolver should not be restricted by their profession template," Ji Xinghuo said indifferently.

He continued, "The profession template is just a means to evolve in the early stages. Once you reach the Super Evolver or Legendary tier, you can choose your advancement path again."

"Super Evolver..."

Zhao Cangming shook his head, feeling both yearning and dejected at the same time.

He glanced at the Legendary hunter riding the silver-winged horse beside him, and the man's curses echoed in his mind.

Sensing his thoughts, Ji Xinghuo said, "Don't listen to this guy's nonsense. Your talent is not bad. With my support and that of Man Ying, it's possible for you to become a Super Evolver before the age of thirty. As for whether you can become a Legendary, that depends on your own efforts and fortune."

"I feel relieved to hear you say that, brother-in-law," Zhao Cangming said with a smile.

The golden light in the west gradually faded.

It was the third month of the Star Realm's hot season, known as the "Bud Month." After the golden light disappeared, the silver sun rose, and the starry sky with its reflected galaxy shone brightly.

"Wow!"

Zhao Cangming gazed up at the starry sky, filled with awe and wonder. He couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment.

Ji Xinghuo smiled, remembering his own reaction when he had first entered the Star Realm a few years ago. Anyone who witnessed the starry night in the Star Realm for the first time would react the same way. No amount of description could compare to experiencing it firsthand.

"Traveling at night in the Star Realm is very dangerous. Normally, we should set up camp now," Ji Xinghuo said. "But this time, we need to get back to Earth as soon as possible."

Zhao Cangming tore his gaze away from the starry sky and curiously asked, "Brother-in-law, how did you find me?"

He had lost consciousness after being controlled at the airport in Asuncion.

When he woke up, he found himself in the Star Realm.

Then, he had been carried away by the dragon eagle, and at that point, he had almost given up hope. Yet, somehow, Ji Xinghuo had managed to catch up with them.

Ji Xinghuo gave a vague explanation, "I spent a lot to ask a friend to track your whereabouts, and then I caught up."

"How much?" Zhao Cangming asked curiously.

"A thousand ether crystals."

Zhao Cangming's eyes widened in shock. He knew the value of ether crystals. A thousand ether crystals were equivalent to 20 billion yuan on Earth! Ji Xinghuo had spent 20 billion to save him, leaving him at a loss for words.

A thousand ether crystals were nothing; the truly challenging part was getting a Star Saint to lend a hand. But there was no need to burden Zhao Cangming with those details.

The silver-winged horses stopped to rest twice, and by daybreak, they had arrived at Olympia.

"Olympia!"

Zhao Cangming gazed down at the city in awe. He had been unconscious when he passed through the stargate, and by the time he regained his senses, he found himself in the wilderness, clueless about what had transpired. So, this was his first time actually entering Olympia.

"Let's go down." Ji Xinghuo landed in the city and took out a communicator to contact Hawk Jie.

Soon enough, a steam-powered military vehicle pulled up, bearing the insignia of the Star Realm Army, with several soldiers inside.

Ji Xinghuo handed over the silver-winged horses to them and boarded the vehicle with the captive.

Back at the military camp...

Ji Xinghuo briefly met with Hawk Jie, returning the jump crystal, and then they took a special passage through the stargate back to Earth.

"We're back!"

Zhao Cangming stood in the Chakaxingmen Fortress, his face filled with emotion as he reflected on the incredible events of the previous day, which felt like a dream.

An air-sky fighter landed before them, taking away the severely injured legendary hunter. After treatment, he would be handed over to the Chancellor for a psychic interrogation.

Ji Xinghuo escorted Zhao Cangming back home.

"Cangming!"

Along the way, Zhao Manying had received the news, and when she saw Zhao Cangming, she was still overcome with emotion.

"Sis, I'm sorry for worrying you," Zhao Cangming said guiltily.

"It's okay as long as you're safe. It's not your fault," Zhao Manying reassured him with a relieved smile, then turned to Ji Xinghuo and said, "Thank you." The gratitude in her eyes was overwhelming. She had initially thought that her brother might not make it, but now he was safely back.

Ji Xinghuo gave her a nonchalant smile, "Take Cangming to the hospital to get his finger reattached. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for it to heal properly."

As he spoke, he handed over the severed finger.

"Okay."

Zhao Manying didn't hesitate and immediately took Zhao Cangming away.

Ji Xinghuo rested at home for a little over an hour before the siblings returned. Zhao Cangming's finger had been reattached, but he still needed a few days of rest to fully recover. After two tiring days, he was exhausted and quickly fell asleep in the guest room.

Zhao Manying said, "Cangming told me that you spent a thousand ether crystals to save him. I'll pay you back."

"Let's each cover half," Ji Xinghuo shook his head. "You need ether crystals for your cultivation. If you give them all to me, it might delay your promotion to Legendary. I don't lack ether crystals right now, and if I have a surplus later, we can discuss it again."

"Xinghuo..."

Zhao Manying was deeply touched and couldn't help but throw herself into Ji Xinghuo's arms. "Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life."

"Mine too." Ji Xinghuo gently caressed her back.

As their auras intertwined, Ji Xinghuo's phone rang, interrupting the moment. He glanced at it and said, "It's the Chancellor."

The call only lasted a couple of minutes.

Ji Xinghuo's expression turned somber.

Zhao Manying, who had been listening in on the call, sighed, "I didn't expect Shi Hongyi to be so cautious that even the Chancellor couldn't find any evidence against him."

There was a spiritual imprint in the legendary hunter's mind, a trigger mechanism in his psychic world. If another psychic hacker had invaded his brain, his related memories would be immediately erased.

The Chancellor had been extremely cautious, but he still couldn't unlock it. After the psychic interrogation, the legendary hunter had turned into a vegetable.

This method was similar to how the Jingying Tribe had sealed off the Earth Abyss Star.

Ji Xinghuo pondered this turn of events.

"Among Shi Hongyi's accomplices, there's definitely a psychic hacker at the King level or above, and their abilities surpass even the Chancellor's... There doesn't seem to be a psychic hacker of that caliber on Earth..."

"An alien from another star tribe?" Zhao Manying asked softly.

Ji Xinghuo nodded.

The first group that came to his mind was the Winged People, but he couldn't be completely sure. That spaceship was in the True Dragon Dynasty's territory, and Shi Hongyi might have come into contact with other powerful aliens there in his attempt to board the ship.

However, the Winged People were a likely suspect.

Previously, Shi Daoyuan had been exposed as a high-ranking member of the Qian Yuan Society, and after a psychic interrogation, it was clear that his actions had nothing to do with Shi Hongyi.

Now, Shi Hongyi's suspicions couldn't be completely cleared.

If there was an extremely skilled psychic hacker, they might be able to modify Shi Daoyuan's memories, thus evading the Chancellor's interrogation.

The Chancellor had his suspicions, but he lacked evidence.

Ji Xinghuo felt a sense of frustration. Everything required evidence, and even with the Chancellor's high degree of certainty, he couldn't violate procedural justice. Just as Shi Hongyi had said: the law is the weak's armor but the strong's shackle.

A sudden urge rose within Ji Xinghuo.

If he had absolute power, who cared about evidence? He would just punch Shi Hongyi in the face and tell him: I don't eat beef!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end