Chapter Fifty: Awakening of Divine Consciousness

Chapter Fifty: Awakening of Divine Sense

Xia Zheng felt as if he had entered a state of emptiness, yet it wasn’t quite the same. This time, he sensed himself drifting deep into the vastness of the cosmic night, where before him loomed an immense celestial body. He was so close to it that he couldn’t discern its true form. The surface of this astral giant shimmered with flickering starlight, occasionally sliced by flashes of lightning, sending a tremor of fear through his heart, yet also evoking a strange sense of kinship.

What is this… He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some fateful connection between himself and this astral body, as if it inherently belonged to him.

He tried to pull away—again and again, distancing himself from it. Gradually, an astonishing image surfaced before his eyes, and Xia Zheng’s expression turned to one of utter disbelief.

From this far-off vantage, he could finally see the true nature of the celestial body: it was divided into left and right hemispheres, connected by countless fine threads, with occasional glimmers of light darting across their surfaces, which were marked by deep grooves and raised ridges.

In the science of life, this image could only be one thing: the human brain. Somehow, Xia Zheng had journeyed into the depths of his own body and now beheld his own brain.

With a thunderous sound, something stirred behind the brain’s structure—a massive shadow, closely mirroring the shape of the brain itself, so subtle that only careful observation could reveal it. From time to time, this shadow would crack open, releasing waves of power Xia Zheng found intimately familiar: spiritual force. Each time the shadow released this energy and it entered the brain, Xia Zheng felt a surge of fullness and satisfaction. Clearly, this shadow contained a vast reservoir of spiritual strength, nourishing and enhancing the brain as it fractured and bled its essence.

Could this shadow, shaped like a brain, be the source of my extraordinary abilities? Xia Zheng wondered. As the shadow continued to split, the brain’s spiritual power grew steadily, until eventually the shadow ceased its activity, as if falling into a slumber, perhaps drained by the effort, its mass shrinking by a tenth. Compared to the ever-strengthening brain, the shadow became almost undetectable.

Xia Zheng sensed his mind operating at a level of extraordinary activity, undergoing incredible changes—a transformation from quantity to quality brought on by the accumulation of spiritual power.

The shimmering starlight on the surface of the brain gradually transformed into another kind of brilliance—a dazzling, blood-red glow.

As this crimson radiance spread, pushing the brain into a state of heightened excitement, a fierce aura of slaughter and dominance naturally emerged.

Willpower—charged with the force of life and death—flared like lightning from within his brain, evolving and surging forth as a thunderbolt that engulfed Xia Zheng before he could react.

But there was no pain, no harm. Instead, that murderous will took on the form of “him”—an incarnation of this very will.

Slowly, “he” opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings. This was the crude cave he had excavated for himself.

Within the cavern where his stone-like avatar lay hidden, a droplet of water seeped in, carrying a chilling, probing aura that Xia Zheng recognized at once—it was the presence of the person who had previously crossed blades with him.

I never expected this man to possess such a peculiar ability—to transfer his consciousness into droplets of water, using them for reconnaissance. This is a skill worth studying, thought Xia Zheng’s will, monitoring the droplet and ready to strike at any moment.

The bead of water rolled around the cave, moving closer to the stone avatar. Sensing danger, it tried to retreat, but a crimson flash pierced it, tearing and swallowing it whole.

A guttural cry rang out. The man who had been wounded instantly recalled the rest of his dispersed consciousness, but found that one of his fingers was now severed, blood gushing forth—the vanished droplet had been formed from his own flesh.

He stared in horror toward the cave, torn by indecision.

What was that… Just now, what in the world was that? Is there a high-level blood beast or an A+ class ability hunter lurking nearby? Did the Alliance send someone to hunt me down? His imagination ran wild. Whatever had devoured his consciousness in that instant was far too terrifying—he only saw a flash of scarlet and had no time to react.

He was none other than Wozworth Walker, wanted by the Alliance and long at large. His strength had reached B+, and the Alliance rarely sent A-rank hunters after targets like him.

Yet this encounter left him shaken to the core. The more he thought about it, the more fearful he became. His murderous intent toward Xia Zheng was replaced by terror, and he fled the woods at once.

Sensing the threat had vanished, Xia Zheng’s dominating crimson will returned to its source and sank back into a state of hibernation.

The next morning, after a night’s rest, Xia Zheng fully recovered and withdrew from this dormant state, resuming his usual meditative posture.

He continued to recite the incantations from the “Divine Tempering Art,” relentlessly honing his spiritual power and strengthening his will.

The newly awakened, dominant, murderous intent grew ever stronger as it was hammered and refined. At a certain moment, like water bursting through a dam, understanding dawned within his heart, and a flash of inspiration compelled him to murmur, “Divine Sense—Manifest!”

He did not open his usual eyes, but a vertical crimson eye appeared between his brows. The instant it opened, a wave of spiritual power swept outward, rippling like a radar scan from his position, expanding in concentric circles until it reached a radius of about a hundred meters and then ceased.

Within this hundred-meter radius, information about countless living creatures flooded back to him—even the energy signatures of some plants—just as if he had gained a third eye.

So divine sense can be used for reconnaissance, not just attack, Xia Zheng thought with delight. He had gained an entirely new skill.

Although a hundred meters was not vast, he felt sure that as his spiritual power grew, so would the range of his scan.

With the area confirmed safe, Xia Zheng closed his divine sense eye and opened his regular eyes. He touched the space between his brows, finding no physical third eye—clearly, it was merely a manifestation of his ability.

With his awareness gathered, Xia Zheng pierced the cave’s ceiling, leapt up with his backpack, and breathed in the fresh air, relishing the world outside once more.

Remembering his previous humiliation while fleeing his pursuer, he resolved to return the favor. Now it was his turn to hunt.

Based on their prior clash and the other man’s adept control of water, Xia Zheng easily deduced that his foe was a water-elemental ability user, likely above B-rank. Xia Zheng knew he was still at a disadvantage in direct confrontation; to kill his enemy, he would have to rely on surprise.

His adversary’s proficiency with water gave him many advantages, yet also left traces—wherever he used his powers, subtle water stains could be found. These were not obvious, but with careful observation and Xia Zheng’s heightened senses, he could track such clues, greatly aiding his hunt.

He followed the “trail” onward, using divine sense to scan any uncertain areas. This made him far safer—even if he encountered his target, he’d have time to react.

Among the bounty hunters of the Federation, few exceeded B+ rank; those stronger would be conscripted to serve in Evernight City. Only after earning sufficient merit could they return to the life of a bounty hunter.

Technically, any B-rank ability user could serve in Evernight City, per military regulations, but the Federation generally recommended that only A-rank users make the journey.

After a day’s pursuit, Xia Zheng reached a mountainous region fifty kilometers from the Deadlands, near the site of his three-item quest. At this point he lost his quarry’s trail and had to shift his focus to gathering materials.

The Ice Spirit Fruit, Fortune Grass, and blood of the Snow Fox of Cassia were all rare ingredients—not easily found, and mostly growing in frigid regions. No wonder the wealthy patron had offered a million credits as a reward; otherwise, few would have accepted this task. Xia Zheng checked his map: the range of mountains stretched north, growing colder, with extreme temperatures said to reach minus fifty degrees or lower.

Fortunately, he was well prepared. His protective suit was highly insulated, and his unique spiritual power could summon flames at will, making him far more comfortable than most ability users.

He organized his pack, keeping one eye on his quarry’s trail while searching for the three ingredients.

Amid blinding snow and biting wind, Xia Zheng directed spiritual power to his soles, allowing him to walk atop the snow as if on solid ground.

He pressed on for over a month. Whenever the signal permitted, he called his parents and Claire to explain his long absence from the company and that he would not return until his mission was complete.

Claire had even asked Chu Yan to call and warn him not to rush for a breakthrough at the expense of caution.

His parents urged him to take care and stay warm, since it was now the Federation’s winter.

Xia Zheng also chatted with Nalan Sheng several times, usually after exhausting days, finding comfort in her company. He learned she had been training tirelessly since their parting, and he advised her not to push herself too hard, though he sometimes did the same.

Their plan to meet at the Professional Alliance Hall in Dannute City come spring remained unchanged, and Nalan Sheng looked forward to it.

As for Shen Hua, Xia Zheng had been unable to reach her, leaving only messages expressing his guilt and concern.

At last, one day, his phone signal vanished for good. It was now mid-December. He had traveled over a hundred kilometers from Ice Soul Town, deep into the snowy mountains.