# 1334
Chapter 1334: Just the Beginning
Hearing this, warmth rose in the hearts of Lin Qiye and the others.
As expected, no matter the time, the master's "Mindscape" always gave him a sense of absolute security.
It was the same in Cangnan, and now that they've arrived at Asgard, the Norse divine realm… still the same…
Szzt—!
Before Lin Qiye could finish the thought, a dull roar came from the garden sky. A thick tree trunk had torn through a corner of the "Mindscape," half its body thrusting into this sky, radiating terrifying divine power fluctuations.
Master Chen's mouth twitched. He forcefully hurled the cup in his hand toward the sky. As the cup shattered into countless fragments, that half-trunk was finally shaken out of the "Mindscape." Through the gap, one could clearly see the furious, unwilling eyes of the Forest God, Villa, staring intently at Lin Qiye.
The "Mindscape" swiftly repaired itself, blocking the enraged Forest God outside. Before the gap fully disappeared, a glimpse showed a three-pronged halberd slicing through the clouds, carrying terrifying divine might straight toward Villa's face!
"Ahem." Master Chen repaired the "Mindscape," and the garden outside the window returned to its peaceful,鸟语花香的 (birds-singing-flowers-blooming) state. He awkwardly cleared his throat. "This… though it can keep you safe, occasionally there are a few little mishaps… Lin Qiye, you should understand. You have experience."
Lin Qiye nodded repeatedly.
In Cangnan, Master Chen had been the same, chased by Indra, constantly having his "Mindscape" shattered while frantically repairing it.
"Master Chen, I see more and more Norse gods surrounding us outside." Jiang Er floated out from outside the coffin, asking with concern, "Can we win?"
Master Chen was silent for a moment.
"This matter, I'm not sure either… However, even if we can't deal a heavy blow to the Norse, withdrawing safely shouldn't be a problem."
As Master Chen spoke, he took out several sets of tea utensils, placing them one by one before the members of [Nightfall] Squad. Then he produced a box of tea leaves, beginning to brew tea unhurriedly.
Soon, cups of fragrant, steaming hot tea were passed to everyone.
"Master Chen, I can't drink." Jiang Er, in her ghostly state, sat in the chair, looking at the hot tea before her,苦笑 (bitter smile) and speaking.
Master Chen waved his hand dismissively. "It's fine, think of it as an offering."
Jiang Er: …
Baili Pangpang lifted his teacup, gently sipped, and nodded in praise. "This tea is quite good. Though compared to our family's Mother Tree Dahongpao, it's still somewhat lacking…"
Master Chen's hand, reaching for his tea, paused slightly.
"Lin Qiye, why aren't you drinking?" Master Chen glared at Baili Pangpang, then noticed that Lin Qiye, sitting by the window, remained silently in place. He couldn't help but ask.
Lin Qiye glanced at the lush greenery and flowers outside the window, 苦笑 (bitter smile) and shook his head.
"Others are still fighting bloody battles outside, yet we can only sit here drinking tea… I just feel like this is somewhat unfair."
An Qingyu and Cao Yuan, sitting nearby, also didn't touch their tea, their expressions complicated.
Master Chen's gaze swept over them, and he sighed helplessly. "Lin Qiye, let me ask you—what is happening outside right now?"
"…A divine war?"
"That's right." Master Chen sighed. "Divine wars are wars between gods themselves. Don't say you, even this old man sometimes feels powerless against them.
You're just a group of young people who haven't yet reached the apex. Feeling small and helpless before a divine war is completely normal. After all, you shouldn't even be here…
There's no need to blame yourselves for your current powerlessness. Your battlefield isn't now—it's in the future.
Someday, Great Xia will need young people like you to defend it… At that time, it will be this old man's turn to sit down and slowly drink tea."
Master Chen smiled, draining the tea in his cup in one gulp.
His form rose from behind the wooden table.
"Stay here and behave. This old man is going out to have a go at these Norse gods."
As the words fell, Master Chen's form turned into a streak of gray light and vanished from within the carriage.
…
Countless black threads intertwined in the air, Si Xiaonan's form taking shape as she plummeted toward the earth.
The demonic wolf Fenrir bit off a Lesser God's shoulder in one snap, then several bursts of divine power slammed into its body surface, leaving large patches of blood and wounds.
Its scarlet eyes instantly found Si Xiaonan falling through the midair. With a low growl, it broke through the blockade of several gods using sheer physical strength, charging straight toward Si Xiaonan. It leaped through the air and caught her safely on its back.
Si Xiaonan's form steadied herself atop Fenrir's back. Behind her, more than a dozen fierce slash wounds healed at visible speed, quickly returning to their original state.
She wiped away a few trails of blood from the corner of her mouth, her eyes fixed on the six Norse gods surrounding her in the sky above—ice-cold.
"What kind of monster is this…" One Norse god saw the severe injuries on Si Xiaonan's body—wounds that would have left any Chief God on the brink of death—heal in the blink of an eye. His expression turned grim.
"Does she truly not die?"
"Even Loki in his prime should have lost a life under such injuries, right?"
"If this continues, we'll really be worn down and killed by her."
"Not necessarily. Those escaped criminals from the Dungeon are nearly wiped out by now. More and more people will come to hunt her. Even if she truly can't die, she can be drained of all divine power and thrown into the deepest level of the Dungeon."
The several Norse gods surrounding Si Xiaonan spoke amongst themselves, their words all reaching Si Xiaonan's ears.
Her gaze swept across her surroundings. The seven or eight Lesser Gods that Lin Qiye had released were almost completely dead. Only the fire god Agni and the frost giant Ymir, brought out from the deepest level, were still fighting desperately.
"Si Xiaonan, give up resistance." In the sky, a Chief God coldly spoke. "Those Great Xia gods are barely holding their own now. When Lord Thor arrives, you will surely die… Surrender now, and we may, for the sake of the Trickery Law, spare your life.
This farce should end."
"Should end?" Si Xiaonan's brow raised. A cold smile curved her lips.
"No. The real show… is just beginning."
Si Xiaonan flicked her finger, and the black box behind her exploded open. A dark golden horn settled steadily into her palm, emitting mysterious light under the dim sky.
The moment they saw this horn, the pupils of all the Norse gods present sharply contracted!
"【Gjallarhorn】?!"