I Shall Steal the Heavens 237 Chapter 236: Back to school

Unfortunately, they couldn't find the breach, but I suspected that was because the breach wasn't something physical. From what Tian Yu Di told me, the close proximity of the underground passageways to the underworld (or the Warp) meant that there were occasional cracks between the material universe and the Immaterrium. They didn't linger for too long, but it was often long enough for the demonic inhabitants to slip through.

And we needed just a few to get through before they turned the passageways into a nest.

After clearing out the underground passageways, the Imperial Guard decided to seal the passageways and fill them up with earth and concrete. As they were unused and would pose a potential hazard if left alone, Zi Shou De agreed. Right now, combat engineers were preparing to demolish the entire underground space and restore it to nature.

Even though I mentioned the underworld, it didn't seem like they believed me. But they didn't want to take any chances, which was why they ended up going with the option to seal the underground passageways.

In any event, the war underground had nothing to do with me. Okay, maybe it did. That was why I took an interest in following its development – no one could rest comfortably at night knowing there was a bunch of demons dwelling underground.

Thanks to the Imperial Guard, we could rest easy. But that was just the first phase of recovery.

"You kids should go back to school."

Zi Shou De ordered us disciples to return to whatever schools we were enrolled in. It did make a lot of sense, come to think of it. The sect was devastated and Tushan City was destroyed (by my own hands, admittedly). There was no places for us to stay. Okay, scratch that. The main sect grounds remained untouched, so technically the Blood Blades disciples and inner sect disciples still had our dormitories to stay in.

However, with the civilians displaced and still trickling to other cities or shelters, we were asked to move from our dormitories to accommodate the civilians. Essentially the civilians were currently living inside our dormitories, particularly the ones who chose to stay. And they would remain there until the city was rebuilt and they had homes to move back to.

Thus the disciples were sent back to their usual academies. Tong Xue and I returned to Wu Ling Academy (along with Lian Rou) to stay in the dormitory rooms the school provided us, while a couple of homeless families took up residence in our dormitory rooms in the main sect grounds. We didn't complain – especially after seeing the pitiful state of the civilians. If anything, we were more than happy to be able to help, if only a little.

That was how we were back in Wu Ling Academy after what seemed like forever. I could hardly remember the last time we attended classes here. Truthfully, it hadn't been that long ago – less than two weeks, in fact. We had only stopped going to Wu Ling Academy because we were sieged and assaulted by the ten invading sects.

However, even though the entire invasion lasted less than two weeks, that entire time felt like an eternity.

Worse, as we stepped into the classroom, we realized that quite a few of our classmates wouldn't be setting foot inside ever again.

Tang Qi Hong's desk remained empty, as did Li Chun Long. Qing Xin Xia was present, which indicated that she either did not participate in the siege or survived it. Considering that all the surviving participants in the invasion had been arrested and imprisoned, I was more linclined to believe that she fell in the former category.

Qing Xin Xia gave us a troubled glance, but didn't say anything. Good. I didn't know what to say to her either. I was the one who killed Li Chun Long, so it wasn't as if we were the helpless victims here. I had a lot of blood on my hands.

Not to mention I was the creator of the Sunburst bombs that decimated ninety percent of the invading forces in a single explosion. Okay, seven explosions combined into one, but you know what I mean.

"Hey, Zhu Jiao."

"Oh, Wu! You're back after so long! Xue and Lian Rou too!"

Zhu Jiao greeted us with a warm smile as he swiveled in his chair. An expression of immense relief spread across his face.

"It hasn't been that long, has it?"

Like me, Bai Ning Xue had realized that it had only been less than two weeks actual regarding our absence from school. Given how Wu Ling Academy encouraged its students to go on missions that could last for months at a time, two weeks were considered nothing. Furthermore, Bai Ning Xue didn't personally experience the siege and being trapped in her territory as the invading forces pressed on from all sides, so unlike us, she didn't feel as if it was forever.

"I'm glad you guys are back, though." Feng Tian Yong flashed a brilliant smile at us, which was filled with some sincerity. "A lot of us were so worried when we heard the news about you guys being besieged."

"…not all of you returned, though."

Tu Zi Yi glanced at Tang Qi Hong's empty desk sadly. She also snuck a glance at Li Chun Long's unoccupied seat, but didn't say anything. Qing Xin Xia didn't seem to notice, and perhaps she wasn't close to Li Chun Long despite the latter's crush on her.

Clearly she intended to wash her hands off the matter, given her refusal to participate, and the official stance of her sect when they condemned the participants as dissidents and rebels who disobeyed orders and allowed their greed to blind them to what was right.

A load of bullshit, if you asked me, but they were good at covering their tracks and fabricating evidence, so there was no proof they were lying. No matter how skeptical I was, I wasn't a lawyer, so there wasn't anything I could do. Besides, given how those dudes didn't directly show up to attack us, it was a waste of time trying to pursue the matter and seek revenge.

However, the moment they made their move against us, I would be sure to retaliate. I just had to make sure I kept an eye on them, but I was sure that Tong Xue and the intelligence arm of the Blood Blades would do that job reasonably well.

Speaking of which, Senior Shen Cha had been killed during the vicious invasion, so Tong Xue would most likely replace him as the investigation squad leader, especially given his skills as a former member of Smart Shadow Sect. Which had been wiped out, courtesy of my Sunburst bombs back then. Tong Xue thanked me for killing Cang Li with the blast. Apparently he had quite the horrible run-in with her, and she was threatening to kill Lian Rou.

Well, she deserved getting vaporized by the pseudo nuclear detonation of my Sunburst bombs. They all did.

Qing Xin Xia cast a glance at Bai Ning Xue, but she said nothing. As usual, she didn't get along with Bai Ning Xue, and the reason was very clearly Zhu Jiao. In fact, I could sense more hostility from Qing Xin Xia than usual. No doubt the cause was Bai Ning Xue's declaration of Zhu Jiao as her fiancé a couple of days ago.

The news had spread quite some distance, having been circulated on social media. Qing Xin Xia evidently had heard about it, and her resentment toward Bai Ning Xue increased.

Not good, I thought.

If this was the typical wuxia or xianxia or even historical romance settings (the one with the assassin or ex-marine or divine doctor or pro martial artist Mary Sue female protagonists dying and getting reincarnated in the body of a fourteen-year-old "trash" princess/noble daughter), you can bet that Qing Xin Xia would be plotting and scheming how to kill Bai Ning Xue right now. Reality, on the other hand, probably wasn't that extreme, but I honestly doubted Qing Xin Xia would just let Bai Ning Xue take the guy she loved without a fight.

And as usual, Zhu Jiao remained unbelievably dense to Qing Xin Xia's feelings for him. Not that I cared. He was currently paying attention to us.

"Still…it feels weird, you know?" Tong Xue stretched his arms as he stared at the holographic screen that served as a blackboard or whiteboard in modern classrooms. "After fighting such a horrific war, coming back to school and attending classes again…it feels so surreal. Like it isn't real. You know what I'm saying?"

I nodded. "I know exactly what you mean."

Indeed, it just felt unreal returning to school and taking classes like normal after a severe life-and-death experience and participating firsthand in such a horrific war. More so as the guy who literally nuked ninety percent of the invading forces into oblivion. I thought my life would change forever, and I had heard that people were inquiring about my Sunburst bombs. Fortunately, Nine-Tailed Fox Sect was sheltering me from those persistent requests for now, but sooner or later one or two would slip past the net and approach me directly.

My answer would still be the same, though.

"Okay." Teacher Jiao walked into the classroom. "Homeroom is starting soon. All of you, get back to your seats."

He paused for a moment and glanced in Tong Xue, Lian Rou and my direction.

"Good to see you back." An expression of immense relief flashed across his face. "As long as you are safe, that's all that matters."

However, when Teacher Jiao's eyes passed over the empty seats that used to belong to Tang Qi Hong and Li Chun Long, a streak of sorrow flickered behind those bespectacled eyes. He shut them for a moment and took a deep breath.

Nobody could meet his gaze after he opened his eyes. Teacher Jiao sighed, straightened his spine and steeled himself.

"Well, let's get started then."

"Yes, Teacher Jiao," the class chorused.

And so, after what seemed like an eternity, my regular school days returned.

*

While life returned to normal (somewhat, anyway) for me and the disciples of Nine-Tailed Fox Sect, the gears continued to move for the rest of the martial arts world.

In a bustling metropolis that was at least ten times bigger than Tushan City, located near the capital of the Great Zhou Empire and filled with hundreds of skyscrapers, many luxuriously dressed martial artists strolled along the broad streets or drove in expensive cars.

Along the busy districts were a collection of high-class restaurants, casinos, red-light districts, malls, and even gymnasiums and dojos that served as training grounds for combatants. Countless martial artists passed through this city or visited it, seeking entertainment, company, riches, extravagant property or businesses.

This was Profound Heaven City, which was ripped off from Spirit Realm, and thus served as the metropolis that housed the headquarters of the Martial Arts Alliance. A lot of the properties in this city were owned by both the Song and Nie families, and the metropolis itself was said to be among the most prosperous in the Great Zhou Empire, second to the capital.

Early in the morning, around the same time when my friends and I had just arrived in our classroom, a single skyscraper caught the gleam of bright sunlight, reflecting the brilliant rays of dawn to bathe the surroundings in a warm glow.

The skyscraper, which was known the Divine Heaven Manor, was currently the setting for an important meeting. Within its main hall, three imposing men sat on high chairs at the front of the hall, surrounded by rows of men and women in expensive business suits or formal clothing. All of them wore grim countenances as they listened.

Xie Zhi Zhang and Song Si Yuan stood right in front of the three leaders, delivering their report under the gazes of everyone. Even though they had already submitted a written report, they were required to present it orally to the higher-ups, explaining every detail regarding the major events that had transpired at Nine-Tailed Fox Sect during that day before the Imperial Guard arrived.

They included a description of the old demon who suddenly appeared and captured Xie Zhi Zhang, wielding unimaginable strength, as well as the terrifying weapon I had unleashed on them, which decimated ninety percent of the invading forces. The Sunburst bombs, of course. They had included the name of my invention in their reports.

Then the eventual arrival of the Imperial Guard, followed by White Tiger Sect and Red Phoenix defecting and declaring their cessation from the Martial Arts Alliance, and how they were forced to surrender. Fortunately, it seemed that their status in the Martial Arts Alliance had protected them, and they weren't arrested and imprisoned like the others.

The three men at the center were the patriarchs of the Martial Arts Alliance's three great clans. The Song family's Song Yu, the Xie family's Xie Yao Yang, and the Nie family's Nie Yun. Probably because I was too lazy to think of original names and this was pretty much becoming a Spirit Realm fanfiction at this point of time.

In any case, the three patriarchs had summoned all the core members of their clans and gathered them here to discuss the matters. Of coruse, they had all already read the reports. Xie Zhi Zhang and Song Si Yuan's oral presentation was a mere formality.

"Of course." Song Yu sighed as he leaned back against his seat. He rewarded Xie Zhi Zhang and Song Si Yuan with a weary smile. He was often perceived as gentle and easygoing, and the two men relaed under his weam gaze. "When we heard that the Royal Family mobilized the Imperial Guard, we quickly got word out to ensure you wouldn't be affected."

"You distanced us from the invasion," Song Si Yuan confirmed. "The Imperial Guard officers believed we were only there to mediate and negotiate for peace, insead of being aggressors, and they let us go because of that."

"It caused us a lot of trouble. We had to call in a lot of favors and jump through several loops just to secure your freedom." Nie Yun cast his stern gaze at both Xie Zhi Zhang and Song Si Yuan. "You two had better be worth it."

"Zhi Zhang and Si Yuan definitely are worth the effort," Xie Yao Yang said blandly, though there was an undercurrent in his tone that warned Nie Yun to back off. "They are among our best experts in the Alliance."

Before Nie Yun could retort sharply, Song Yu diplomatically interceded.

"The Sunburst bombs…invented by this kid, Fei Wu…that's what you said, right?" he turned to both Xie Zhi Zhang and Song Si Yuan, who nodded in unison. "Have you found out just who exactly this Fei Wu is?"

Song Si Yuan frowned, and then shrugged. "He's just an ordinary kid. His father was a captain in the Imperial Guard a few years ago, before he retired to run his own business. Fei Wu himself has not much background in martial arts until about four years ago, when he applied to enroll in Wu Ling Academy. After that…it seems that he chose the Experimentalist course and tried to restore the Heaven and Earth Formula."

"Hmm? Heaven and Earth Formula? Interesting…" Song Yu raised an eyebrow. "But what does that have to do with him inventing the Sunburst bombs?"

"That's…the mystery." Xie Zhi Zhang looked pretty puzzled. "He only joined Nine-Tailed Fox Sect a little over a year ago. He has no background in smithing whatsoever. Everything he knows about blacksmithing and Spirit Engraving, he learned them from Nine-Tailed Fox Sect during the past year he was there."

"They say he triggered a response from three of the Spirit Engraved Pillars," Song Si Yuan added with a shrug. "So there probably is some relation there. He probably is a genius blacksmith or some sort, if the rumors about the Spirit Engraved Pillars at Nine-Tailed Fox Sect are true."

Oh, they were making a horrible mistake. For one thing, I was definitely not a genius blacksmith. In fact, I sucked at being a blacksmith – you can ask Elder Tie Jiang if you don't believe me. I was an average blacksmith and slightly competent Spirit Engraver at best. But far from being a genius or the top blacksmith in the Great Zhou Empire.

Furthermore, the only reason why I succeeded in inventing the Sunburst bomb was because I had Tang Qi Hong's help. Without her help, I never would have succeeded in crafting it. The reason why I was labeled its inventor was because of the way patents worked. I patented the damned bomb under my name and was the sole owner of the Spirit Diagrams and recipe (more so, after Tang Qi Hong died). But in reality, the Sunburst bomb wasn't invented by a single person. It was the product of a collaborative effort between me and Tang Qi Hong. Hell, Tang Qi Hong was the one doing most of the heavy lifting. The only reason why the patent was under my name was because I was the one who came up with the idea, nothing more.

But ideas were just ideas. Without Tang Qi Hong's help, knowledge, expertise and skills, I never would have succeeded in creating the Sunburst bombs. Unfortunately, inventions tend to belong to the person who conceived the idea, and their assistants, partners, collaborators, teams, etc. often get waylaid and forgotten.

If only I was present…I could have corrected their misconception. But as it was, I wasn't there, and thus the misunderstanding continued.

"The Imperial Guard was also integral in helping Nine-Tailed Fox Sect clear the demon infestation beneath their city," Xie Zhi Zhang continued.

"Demon infestation? The ones our scouts reported during the first and second waves, when they tried to infiltrate Tushan City through those secret underground passageways?"

"Correct," Song Si Yuan affirmed. "They have sealed the tunnels and demolished them, so we don't have to worry about that. However…the worry is that demons have been infiltrating our dimension for a long time now. There may be breaches in other parts of the empire that we are unaware of."

"Not to mention the increased activity of the demonic sects." One of the audience within the rows spoke up, his voice bitter. "With the massive blow dealt to us by those Sunburst bombs, thirteen of our sects received devastating damage. Ten of them probably will be dissolved, especially after the Royal Family judge them guilty of corruption, genocide and war atrocities. Even if they are let off, they have lost over ninety percent of their members and forces. They will never be able to recover. The other three are severely weakened after the war, suffering so many casualties."

"On the other hand…" Song Yu smiled. "This Sunburst bomb may also prove to be our salvation."

There were several dramatic gasps in the crowd as everyone turned to stare disbelievingly at him. Song Yu spread his hands innocently.

"Think about it," he urged them. "If we can acquire the blueprint and construction process of the Sunburst bomb, then we can unleash them against our foes. Seven such weapons obliterated ninety percent of the army of martial artists invading Nine-Tailed Fox Sect. Imagine unleashing hundreds of them upon the demonic sect hordes and their monsters! It would be a massacre!"
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An awed silence fell upon the crowd, and a few of them began murmuring excitedly, voicing their approval while remaining unseen.

"But how do we acquire its assembly methods?" one of them shouted. "After what we did, do you think Nine-Tailed Fox Sect will just generously share their inventions with us?"

Song Yu sighed. "You are right. But even if they aren't generous, they still need the money to rebuild their sect. If we buy the Sunburst bombs from them, I'm sure they'll be willing to mass-produce them and sell them to us."

"Money is what makes the world go round," Song Si Yuan agreed cynically.

"Indeed…but…" Song Yu looked deflated. After a while, he found his voice. "The problem is that we brazenly attacked and tried to invade Nine-Tailed Fox Sect earlier, and now we're about to ask them for favors. This is quite the troublesome matter. If we want to negotiate with them, we'll have to send someone skilled, persuasive and charismatic. I don't think just anyone from the Alliance will be able to deal with Nine-Tailed Fox Sect."

Another buzz swept through the crowd as they waited in anticipation, having already guessed who Song Yu planned to send.

"Where is Yu'er?" Song Yu asked after he scanned the crowd, his eyebrows furrowing in slight irritation.

A person from the crowd had the answer.

"Young Miss has just returned from overseas, and she is exhausted. That is why she is currently resting in her room."

"I see…that's understandable." Instead of yelling unreasonably like the original in Spirit Realm, Song Yu nodded with a gentle expression. "Let her rest. We're in no rush anyway. It's not as if the evil races of the Nether Realm are invading us right now or anything." He closed his eyes and did several mental calculations. "Give her a week off. Once she has rested enough, we'll send her to negotiate with Nine-Tailed Fox Sect."

"Only a week?" Xie Yao Yang asked, amused. "Ting Yu deserves the entire month off, after securing that deal with the Fallos Federation. You know how hardassed those bloodsucking Westerners are."

By the way, Xie Yao Yang wasn't insulting the people of the Fallos Federation. They literally were vampires. The people living outside the Great Zhou Empire were many and varied, and included vampires, werewolves and even elves.

"I know Yu'er well." Song Yu grinned indulgently. "After a week of resting, she will complain that she has nothing to do and grow bored." He sighed and shook his head. "Honestly, it's time she finds herself a husband, get married and settle down. Probably she'll find something to do with her time when she has children."

"Hah!" Xie Yao Yang chuckled. "Knowing that lass, she probably would be a working mom! She'll just push the responsibility of taking care of children to her husband, and continue delving in politics and corporate negotiations!"

"That may not be a bad thing." Song Yu nodded in agreement. "Times are changing. Women are becoming a lot more independent and capable…well, they have always been capable, but I'm glad Yu'er is living in a time when women get a lot more chances to advance their careers without having to face gender discrimination and stigmas…"

"Ahem…" Nie Yun cleared his throat. "Enough of your moonlighting for social justice and whatever. Just adjourn the meeting already."

"Oh, right. Dismissed!"

With a clap of his hands, Song Yu gestured for everyone to leave, and they scattered immediately.

*

Inside the Green Dragon Temple, Jian Ao stood within the grand hall and glared at the kneeling Long Shen.

"So Chun Long was killed by this Fei Wu?" he asked grimly.

"That is correct." Long Shen lowered his head and sighed. "Chun Long was overly reckless and charged into the frontlines, underestimating his enemy. It is unfortunate that he did not survive to learn from his error."

Jian Ao let out a shout that destroyed the stone altar a few feet away from where he was standing. The jade dragon that adorned it cracked, its head breaking off and crumbling on the ground. A single eye stared helplessly up at the ceiling.

A green flaming qi rose from Jian Ao's muscular body as he paced about the temple. Tremors quaked throughout the floor, shaking loose stone and dirt, and the particles even rose to the air, borne aloft by the Green Dragon Sect Leader's potent qi.

"Chun Long was my most promising pupil!" Jian Ao roared. "All those years of training him…of nurturing him into the ultimate Green Dragon warrior…all wasted!"

"With respect, Sect Leader, this isn't the first time." Long Shen sighed again. "Even though Chun Long was punished for cheating and assaulting a classmate illegally in school, it seems that he didn't reflect and learn his lesson, but instead harbor a grudge against his victims." He shook his head heavily. "While Chun Long is talented in the martial way, his character leaves a lot to be desired."

"Who cares about that?" Jian Ao snarled. "Strength is everything! What use is character and moral values if you don't have the strength to back it up?! Chun Long was going to be the strongest among his generation…and now he's dead! Having died a useless dog's death at the behest of those accursed Martial Arts Alliance chiefs…and for what? A failed invasion!? We lost so much more than we gained by participating in that calamitous war!"

Long Shen stiffened. "With respect, Sect Leader, if strength truly is everything, then Chun Long clearly was lacking, considering how pathetically he was killed by a more powerful opponent. And I did warn you not to volunteer for this reckless war. The Martial Arts Alliance cannot be trusted."

"What's the use of telling me all this now?!" Jian Ao snapped.

So that you would learn your lesson and not repeat these mistakes in the future, Long Shen thought, but he was wise enough not to voice that out.

Jian Ao continued to pace about the temple for a moment. He sucked in a few breaths to calm himself down, forcing his bulging veins to sink back into his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists and withdrew his raging qi back into his body.

The stones around him stopped vibrating violently, and the tremors stopped. Jian Ao sucked a lungful of air through his gritted teeth before he finally relaxed.

Then, as if he had just remembered something amusing, he smiled. Turning to Long Shen, his gaze turned chilly.

"You mentioned in your report that this brat Fei Wu was also the one who invented the Sunburst bombs? Those super destructive spirit bombs that wiped out ninety percent of the forces we sent to invade Nine-Tailed Fox Sect?"

Long Shen hesitated for a moment, then he nodded.

"That is correct, my lord," he confirmed.

"I see. Call Mo Long here."

"Mo Long…" Long Shen's expression transformed into one of horror. "You can't be serious, Sect Leader."

Jian Ao smiled thinly. "I'm afraid I am."

"But…why? The Imperial Guard has forced us to stop attacking Nine-Tailed Fox Sect."

"I don't care about Nine-Tailed Fox Sect!" Jian Ao snapped. "I want the head of the brat who took the life of my head disciple, as well as wiped out so many of our sect members in a single explosion!" he then grinned ominously. "I'm carrying out justice, you see? This brat is the inventor of such a horrifying weapon…a weapon of mass destruction. If we leave him be, he would continue to create more horrifying weapons that will claim many more lives in future. I am saving the people of the future."

The fucker was insane, not to mention hypocritical. As if to prove my point, Jian Ao threw his head back and cackled in that cliché villain laughter routine.

Long Shen shuddered, and quietly retreated, aware that anything he said wouldn't reach his sect leader's ears any longer.

Before long, a middle-aged man dressed in green and black robes appeared. Bowing respectfully, he stopped a few steps away from Jian Ao.

"Mo Long has arrived."

"Good." Jian Ao turned toward him, his grin practically splitting his face in half. "You will go and kill that brat called Fei Wu. Take whatever you can from him…especially the blueprints of the Sunburst bomb and its assembly methods, if possible. Otherwise just destroy him. Leave no trace of him behind."

He then hesitated for a moment, as if remembering something important.

"There is an old demon protecting him, one powerful enough to defeat Xie Zhi Zhang and fight on par with Long Shen and Heavenly Way Sect's Shen Tian Yi on his own. Be careful."

"I understand." Mo Long bowed once before disappearing into the shadows.

While Jian Ao did his cliché villain laughter again, I couldn't help but think behind the fourth wall how he had just signed his own death warrant.

Chapter end