Volume One Mutation Chapter 48 A New Discovery

Liu Cong was unaware of the events unfolding in the distance; his battle with the colossal seahorse had reached a fever pitch. As he grew more familiar with the creature’s attack patterns, his confidence soared, and he fought with increasing boldness. The giant seahorse’s body accumulated fresh wounds with each exchange, yet despite its relentless assaults, it failed to so much as graze Liu Cong. Frustration mounting, the beast thrashed wildly with its powerful tail, its blows weaving an impenetrable curtain of fury.

Spotting another opening, Liu Cong darted close to the seahorse’s massive body, driving his sword into its flesh several times. Each thrust sent ripples of sword energy through the blade, deepening the wounds further. Sensing pain, the monster lashed its tail at him, only to have Liu Cong nimbly dodge aside, causing the seahorse to strike itself instead.

With a sigh, Liu Cong lamented, “Big and foolish—you were born to be a target, it seems. You’re destined to take the hits.”

“Let me put an end to your suffering!”

In a burst of motion, Liu Cong shot into the sky like a cannonball, vanishing from sight. The seahorse, bereft of its adversary, stared upward in confusion.

“What’s he doing?” Zhang Chu was dumbfounded. In the midst of battle, why had Liu Cong suddenly soared skyward with such fervor?

The warriors who had stolen a moment to watch this epic duel were equally stunned, unable to fathom why this god of war had suddenly taken to the air, disappearing for an uncomfortably long time.

“Look, everyone!” Liu Qingqing, whose vision had been enhanced, was the first to spot the figure high above.

“Where? I don’t see it!” The young guard squinted into the azure sky but saw nothing but endless blue.

But in the next instant, all eyes caught sight of a luminous dot plummeting rapidly, growing larger by the second until the figure within became clear for all to see.

After ascending to the heights, Liu Cong surrendered his body to gravity, maintaining a head-down posture, both hands gripping his sword, its tip pointed straight ahead. As he fell, his descent gained speed, energy surging ever more fiercely into the blade, which became enveloped in a dense aura of black and white light. A faint cyan stream coiled around the hilt, propelling Liu Cong and his weapon downward with catastrophic force.

“Is this… could it be that technique, the one that descends from the heavens?” Zhang Chu stood in shock.

Liu Qingqing suppressed a smile and corrected him, “Not a palm technique—this is the Swordfall from the Heavens!”

The brilliant point in the sky streaked down like a meteor, trailing a dazzling tail of black, white, and cyan flames. It crashed squarely onto the giant seahorse, which had just begun to spit defensive bubbles in panic. The attack sliced effortlessly through the newly formed bubbles and pierced straight into the creature’s crown.

The moment the sword penetrated its flesh, Liu Cong twisted, landing heavily atop the seahorse’s head. He drove the blade deeper, channeling the cyan energy to force the sword further and further into the beast’s body, carrying with it an overwhelming, unstoppable might.

The giant seahorse had no time even to feel pain before it realized its body was paralyzed, all strength draining away as if sucked out by the sword.

Standing atop the creature’s head, Liu Cong gauged the sword’s position. When he reached the limits of his control, he uttered a single word, soft but resolute: “Detonate!”

In the next moment, as if a titan had been reborn, the mountain-sized seahorse erupted with blinding black and white light from both flanks. The brilliance was so intense it illuminated the entire sky, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

When they opened them again, the monstrous beast had been split from head to tail. The halved corpse, unable to support itself, toppled to either side with two tremendous crashes, the tremors of which could be felt even along the G15 defensive line.

“Is it… dead?” This thought echoed in every heart. Even the marauding oceanic mutants fell silent, gawking at the titanic body now lying in ruin.

Yet, no matter how much they doubted, no matter how surreal it seemed, the two halves of the beast, streaming black-red blood, made the truth undeniable: the monster was dead.

“God of War! God of War!”

In the hush that followed, someone began to chant, and soon the entire assembly took up the cry, their voices resounding, thunderous, across the sky.

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The next morning, Liu Cong and Liu Qingqing, engrossed in their cultivation, were roused by a clamor from outside.

Liu Qingqing was clad in a thin layer of sleepwear, modestly wrapped, yet the delicate fabric could not conceal the soft glow of her youthful skin or the inviting curves of her figure. Liu Cong, never tiring of her beauty, stole another lingering glance upon opening his eyes.

Days of shared cultivation had accustomed Liu Qingqing to their intimacy. Though still a hint of shyness colored her cheeks, she allowed his gaze, even feeling a subtle pleasure at his admiration.

“What’s going on outside? It sounds so lively!” Her embarrassment deepening under his look, she changed the subject.

“Whatever it is, it’s nothing bad,” Liu Cong replied, his keen hearing discerning the soldiers’ voices as they cleaned the battlefield, discovering something that had caused a stir.

“Oh, then let’s go and see for ourselves,” Liu Qingqing suggested. For some reason, Liu Cong's gaze was especially fervent that morning, leaving her flustered.

Her rosy, delicate face was all the more enchanting for its bashfulness, transforming her from a celestial beauty to a more earthly, captivating presence.

Liu Cong could restrain himself no longer. He pulled her into his arms, seeking her lips with his own. After so many days, to kiss her again was rapture—her lips were soft, yielding, sweet as nectar. Liu Qingqing, too, was swept away, lost in the embrace.

How long they lingered, neither knew. Liu Cong’s hands wandered, caressing her, and as she offered no resistance, his heart leapt, eager to go further—when a knock at the door startled them both.

Knock, knock!

The sound jolted Liu Qingqing from her reverie. Realizing his hand still rested on her chest, she hastily pushed Liu Cong away, casting him a coquettish, reproachful glance before taking her clothes and retreating to the bathroom.

But the knocking persisted.

“Who is it? Who comes knocking so early?” Liu Cong, his mood soured by the interruption, strode to the door, his voice tinged with irritation.

Standing outside was the young guard from Zhang Chu’s side. Startled by the sudden door opening and Liu Cong’s stern tone, he stammered, “C-Commander! Commander Zhang requests your presence—there’s been a new discovery at the seahorse’s remains.”

Hearing that it was business, Liu Cong’s mood improved slightly. He grunted, “Wait there. I’ll change,” and shut the door with a thud.

The young guard stared at the still-quivering door, bewildered. This god of war certainly had a temper in the mornings! Then, remembering his own commander, he mused, “Does greater power bring greater morning grumpiness?” No wonder he was only a mere aide. For the first time, he found himself lamenting his lack of a formidable temper.

Liu Cong dressed in casual white clothes. Once he was ready, Liu Qingqing emerged from the bathroom, also changed.

She had donned her white hanfu, embroidered with delicate patterns, looking full of vitality and as ethereal as a fairy. Noticing Liu Cong’s gaze lingering on her, she recalled the earlier scene and, blushing, shot him a reproachful look.

“You look so beautiful—once you step outside, everyone will be left speechless,” Liu Cong teased.

“Is that so? No one seemed particularly stunned yesterday,” she replied mischievously.

Liu Cong was momentarily at a loss. “That doesn’t count—everyone was in low spirits after the battle, and it was nearly dark. If they’d seen you clearly, they’d have been mesmerized for sure.”

“Hmph, don’t think your flattery will make me forget what just happened. I remember everything!”

“What happened just now?” Liu Cong grinned wickedly.

Not expecting him to ask so directly, Liu Qingqing’s face flushed, and after a few stammered words, she simply glared at him in mock annoyance.

“Alright, alright. It’s only because you’re so beautiful that I couldn’t help myself. Don’t be angry. Let’s go—Uncle Zhang has made a new discovery and is waiting for us.”

“Oh!” Liu Qingqing panicked. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? Let’s hurry—I took too long getting dressed, they’ve been waiting ages.”

She did not mention the true reason for her delay: since she’d begun cultivating, her skin had grown fairer and her figure fuller, making her clothes fit more snugly and requiring extra time to adjust them properly.