LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Nightmare
Han Zhen's request made Gongyang Jin's beautiful brows furrow.
"I thought you'd ask for something more excessive, like making me your contracted spirit."
"Da Xia, is it really worth you going to such lengths for it?"
Gongyang Jin couldn't understand.
Because, in her eyes, the internal affairs of Da Xia were also full of scheming and chaos.
The frontline battle spirit contractors were fighting to the death, yet it couldn't stop the back-end higher-ups from engaging in their own hideous ploy.
The trend of the world is that long unity must divide.
The Li family being able to maintain Da Xia's foundation for a hundred years was already no small feat. The subsequent tide of events, even if those big figures wanted to resist, was likely impossible to reverse.
In the City of Extreme Evil, there was at least one benefit—
the "scandals" of every nation could be heard here.
However, she did not reject Han Zhen's request.
If it were another request, she might have had a headache, but merely hunting Izanagi Serpents? There was nothing simpler than this task, which only required action.
The four eighth-tier Serpent Kings had already been drawn away by Wei Qing. Within the Izanagi Serpent clan, there wasn't a single one capable of fighting her now.
It was complete dimensional suppression.
Gongyang Jin agreed readily, and Han Zhen displayed his task map.
On the map, there were over thirty mission markers. Now, only ten were green, indicating completion. The other twenty-plus locations were bright red.
Red meant mission failure.
These twenty-some Izanagi hatchlings would converge from various directions to join their elite main force.
The evolution of the Izanagi Serpents was peculiar and tyrannical. They evolved by constant devouring.
Be it animals, plants, or even soil.
As long as it could be swallowed, it could be converted into energy to assist in their evolution.
According to records, it only took a single day for a Izanagi hatchling to grow into an elite serpent on the battlefield. In this aspect, they left human spirit contractors and contracted spirits far behind.
Han Zhen's mind worked rapidly as he re-marked three points on the task map.
These were at a canyon entrance 5,000 kilometers away, a plain 15,000 kilometers away, and the junction of a valley 28,000 kilometers away.
These three locations would be the critical spots where large numbers of Izanagi hatchlings converged.
They were also the locations that Xiao Ya and the others had previously suggested to Han Zhen.
Han Zhen might not be able to accomplish this mission, but if it were Gongyang Jin, there would be absolutely no problem.
"At these three locations, intercept the Izanagi hatchlings, provide support to the front lines indirectly, and assist Da Xia's main forces in the final decisive assault."
"No problem."
Gongyang Jin nodded without hesitation.
Just as she agreed and was preparing to act immediately, suddenly, her pupils turned pitch black.
Faint black energy rose from her back, even forming the outline of a terrifying and ferocious beast behind her.
"Run..." Gongyang Jin lowered her head, clutching the Destruction Great Blade tightly. She was speaking to Han Zhen.
Han Zhen had no idea what was happening.
One moment, he was communicating normally with Gongyang Jin. The next, black energy engulfed her body, making her look more terrifying than the serpents.
He heard Gongyang Jin's warning and was about to turn and run.
Suddenly, Han Zhen stopped abruptly.
It wasn't out of conscience—it was the realization that he could never outrun an eighth-tier contracted spirit.
He couldn't run.
What should he do?
Han Zhen's mind raced, and a spark of inspiration struck him.
Gongyang Jin's current state resembled "falling into madness." Although this world had no concept of madness, Han Zhen had a tool uniquely effective against such states.
The Fuxi Zither.
As one of the ten ancient divine artifacts, the Fuxi Zither not only captivated minds but also purified the spirit.
With this thought, Han Zhen wasted no time. He sat cross-legged on the ground, summoning the ancient zither to rest on his lap.
He gritted his teeth; his life was on the line. This was his gamble.
As Han Zhen plucked the zither strings, the melody of Serene Heart Tune echoed throughout the secluded forest.
The dense black energy around Gongyang Jin, nearly enveloping her entirely, seemed to shrink slightly upon hearing the music.
'There's hope.'
Seeing this, Han Zhen quickened his strumming pace.
At that moment, Gongyang Jin's brows furrowed tightly, her eyes shut, as she entered an extremely peculiar state.
She called this state "Nightmare".
It wasn't any sort of madness. Gongyang Jin's condition stemmed entirely from a wound on her back.
That injury had been inflicted by a ninth-tier Insect Emperor.
Even as a Valkyrie, Gongyang Jin was only an eighth-tier supreme. The gap between her and the ninth-tier pinnacle was vast. In such disparity, she had narrowly escaped with her life, leaving a hidden injury.
That ninth-tier Insect Emperor was named "Nightmare."
Thus, Gongyang Jin would periodically fall into the "Nightmare" state. In this state, she lost all control and became a mindless killer.
But today, just as she was about to be consumed by the Nightmare, she heard a lingering, melodious zither tune.
It was as if the music descended from the heavens, giving her fragmented consciousness a moment of respite.
That brief respite allowed her energy and spirit to recondense.
No one knew how much time passed, but suddenly, she opened her eyes. As she did, the black, ferocious insect-like figure behind her dissipated instantly.
Gongyang Jin broke out in a cold sweat.
Looking at her regained body and her hands untainted by blood for the first time upon waking, a bright light flickered in her beautiful eyes.
"Was it you?!" Gongyang Jin looked at Han Zhen.
At this moment, Han Zhen was utterly exhausted. If Gongyang Jin hadn't awakened in time, he wouldn't have lasted much longer.
But fortunately, she had.
"Now, I can't let you go even more." Gongyang Jin's tone carried a hint of madness.
That was the Nightmare of the ninth-tier Insect Emperor.
It had troubled her for countless years.
Gongyang Jin had tried every method imaginable. Even as an eighth-tier powerhouse, she had no solution and had to abandon any hope.
Unless a ninth-tier healer spirit contractor or contracted spirit intervened—but as far as she knew, the few existing ninth-tiers weren't healers.
And now, a mere third-tier spirit contractor had solved this problem.
"You're not only handsome but also skilled. Your future potential is limitless."
"So, what do you say? Will you consider forming a contract with me? With me as your eighth-tier contracted spirit, you'll dominate effortlessly and be unmatched among your peers."
Facing Gongyang Jin's tempting offer,
Han Zhen shook his head. Instead, he made another request.
"Can I take a closer look at the wound on your back?"
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