# 207
Chapter 207: Getting Their Stories Straight
In the damp, gloomy jungle, several instructors were sprinting, their eyes fixed on the direction of the earlier rumble, faces grave.
“What just fell from the sky?” Instructor Zhang frowned as he ran.
Instructor Han Li shook his head. “No idea. It looked enormous—must be some kind of Mystery.”
“A Mystery that big? At least Sea Realm, right?”
“Didn’t you hear the Chief on comms? The mega-quake inside Jin-Nan Mountain earlier was probably caused by an Earth Dragon. Maybe that thing that fell is the dragon?”
“Impossible. Earth Dragons live underground. How would it get airborne? And with a body that huge, someone would’ve noticed if it flew up.” Instructor Zhang dismissed the idea flatly.
Han Li took a deep breath. “Stay sharp whatever it is. Chief is working to rescue Team One trapped in the Absolute Earth Domain. We just need to identify what crashed. And Chief warned—Church of the Ancient Gods people are still in these mountains.”
No one spoke again; they simply pushed faster toward the impact site.
After a while Han Li sensed something and skidded to a stop, turning toward a patch of forest. The others halted in unison.
“What is it?”
Han Li’s brows knit tight; he strode into the trees. The rest exchanged glances and followed.
Pushing through tangled branches, they reached a clearing. In the dim woods a boy in an army coat lay sprawled in the mud, a blood-stained Straight Blade stuck in the ground beside him.
“Lin Qiye?!”
Shock flashed across every face. Han Li rushed forward, confirmed the boy was only unconscious, and exhaled in relief. He hoisted Lin Qiye onto his back, retrieved the Straight Blade, and sheathed it.
“How’s he here? I thought he was caught in the Absolute Earth Domain,” Zhang said, equally relieved.
“Looks like he lucked out and missed the dragon-upheaval zone,” Han muttered, eyeing the blood dripping from the blade. “Still, he must’ve fought a tough battle—and won.”
“Top rookie of the batch—impressive!” Zhang grinned, then frowned. “But where’s the enemy’s corpse? Could they have survived? No way—the Church wouldn’t let him walk away.”
Han shook his head. “No clue. Let’s keep moving. When he wakes, everything will clear up.”
They pressed on. Soon they reached the Flame-Vein Earth Dragon’s crash site. At the sight of the colossal, headless corpse, every instructor’s jaw dropped.
“It really is an Earth Dragon! But how did it get airborne? And it’s at least Sea Realm— even the Chief might not kill it solo! Who in Cangnan City has the power to slay it and chuck the carcass into Jin-Nan Mountain?”
While everyone puzzled, Han Li froze, glancing at the unconscious boy on his back.
No way… right?
Subterranean.
Riding the golden sword-shadow formed by 【Yao Guang】, the three rose in silence. Baili Pangpang stared at the seemingly endless rock overhead. “You think Qiye’s okay?”
Instructor Hong answered after a pause, “Hard to say, but after the power he showed, he should manage.”
“How did he do it?” Shen Qingzhu was baffled. “Methods to ignite potential and jump realms exist—Night Watch’s Coat of Arms is one—but I’ve never heard of skyrocketing straight to Sea Realm in seconds. And when he struck… I sensed something divine.”
“A god?” Baili Pangpang’s eyes bulged. “The deity he’s proxying lent a hand?”
“No idea. But Lin Qiye’s secrets may dwarf anything we imagine,” Hong said.
Silence fell.
Eventually Baili Pangpang ventured, “Instructor Hong, once we’re out—”
“Better not mention it,” Hong finished calmly. “Everyone has secrets and opportunities. Night Watch is open-minded, yet anything involving gods is handled with extreme—sometimes excessive—caution. If they learn he harbors some divine mystery, they’ll suspend his freedom, transfer him to Shangjing for interrogation, and won’t release him until they’re satisfied he’s no threat.”
Hong’s voice stayed level. “Lin Qiye is prime stock—heart and potential. We know he’s no villain. No need to derail his future over this.”
Baili Pangpang exhaled in relief. “Thought you’d report him straight off. Guess I judged you wrong.”
“Hmph, you kids think we’re that rigid?” Hong snorted.
Baili Pangpang turned to the silent Shen Qingzhu. “Bro, don’t let it slip.”
“Relax. My lips are deader than a corpse.”
“Then we’d better sync our stories…” Baili Pangpang proposed.
After the trio finished coordinating, Baili Pangpang sighed and looked up. “Why aren’t we at the surface yet?”
“At this speed we’re about halfway—few more minutes,” Hong calculated.
Baili Pangpang shrugged—then the rock wall beside him exploded. A blur burst through, slamming into him like lightning. No one could react.
The impact spat blood from Baili’s mouth as he smashed into the opposite wall with a grunt.
The golden sword-shadow beneath their feet vanished instantly.