Chapter 15: After Effect

Chapter 14

Everything around them was covered in white after the glowing light slowly faded. Inside a sphere, two shadows can be seen in each other's embrace, while everything around a wide area is like a winter scenery in a hot summer season. Broken carcasses of flying Rock Ants and some demon beasts which did not escape the blast radius are all over the place dying the area with white and red.

"Are you okay?" asked Shin Jiao as he checked Cherry Lao's condition.

Her blushing face looks radiant as she lay on his embrace, although their position is a little embarrassing, Shin Jiao didn't notice it. She has expanded a large amount of her energy while they escape, and she is feeling the brunt of it now. Although feeling tired Cherry Lao is happy to be in the arms of the man she liked. But there is something that's bogging her mind as she slowly recalls their escape. And that is the devastating effect of the artifact that Shin Jiao just randomly tosses around. She had seen those spells before, as the first elder of her sect actually showed it to them in one of their training classes.

According to the first elder, only those with high water and wind elemental affinity can use this spell, it's called the Ice Dragon spell. When this spell is cast it will eat up a large amount of spiritual energy, so only those in the nascent realm can effectively use it. If someone below this realm will cast this spell it would almost always cost the caster's life.

"I think it's safe to break the sphere now, the sub-zero fusion effect is gone." Shin Jiao said as he tried to look outside using his goggles.

"Shin, what did you just do?" Cherry Lao asked with a befuddled expression.

"Oh, umn… What do you mean?... Ow... the freezing bomb?" Shin Jiao answered as he is trying to find a way to explain things to Cherry Lao in his mind.

The confusion in her eyes shows that she couldn't understand what he is trying to say. And then she knits her brows as more confusion could be seen in her expression. So Shin Jiao haplessly had no choice but to explain it as simple as possible.

"The small trinkets I was making as we travel is a combination of a beast core, an ice crystal, a metal casing, and some runes. I just made a trap intending to slow down the advance of the beast so that we can escape. I didn't know that it would be this powerful."

"Ow, I see to it was just some traps... What a powerful trap, well, I want some, give me." Cherry Lao said although still unable to determine what kind of trap it was. But she coquettishly extended her hand to Shin Jiao and ask for some freezing bomb, not intending to ask more questions.

"I could give you, but not now. Those things are still far too dangerous. I still need to tweak it so that it could be used more safely and handy for the user."

"Okay, but you promise to give me some…" Cherry Lao acquiesced to his explanation but still demanded to give her some of it.

"ROAR!"

But before they could relax a booming and angry roar reverberate in the area.

"What was that?" Cherry Lao said as she suddenly jumps up, as the force of the roar broke the ice shell that envelops both of them.

From afar, they can feel an oppressive aura of a very powerful beast. Then all of a sudden from behind the frozen trees in front stumbled a giant creature at about 3 meters in height. Most of its body is covered in green and red blood, as some of its legs and carapace are already torn and broken, it seems that it crawled and drag its gigantic body towards this area in one dash. But because of the thickness of its carapace, the freezing bomb didn't damage its inner body. Just like the flying Rock Ants, their outer carapace is the only parts frozen but when they fell and break their shells, death is the only outcome.

The horrifying beast in front of them made Cherry Lao shiver in fright as its oppressing aura emanated doom. She has an unbelieving expression in her face as realization dawned on her. The beast in front of them is a level 6 beast, one on par with a nascent realm cultivator or maybe even stronger, as beast are innately more powerful than humans.

Because of the spiritual pressure, it emits Cherry Lao found herself struggling to maintain her consciousness. But alas no matter how much she tries, as she is only in the gold core realm she was not able to hold on and fainted.

"Cherry! Wake up!" Shin Jiao shouted in panic upon seeing her slumping down the ground.

He held her in his arms as he tried to check her pulse to confirm her condition. Luckily she didn't suffer any major internal injuries, it's just that she expended her spiritual energy just to counter the spiritual pressure from the beast.

"YOU TINY HUMAN… HOW COME YOU'RE NOT AFFECTED BY MY PRESSURE?" the gigantic Rock Ant old queen asked in a loud booming voice.

"What? It can talk?" Shin Jiao was in a dazed upon hearing the loud voice.

"NO MATTER, I WILL KILL ALL THE HUMANS THAT DARE TO DESTROY MY HIVE. YOU WILL DIE!" the gigantic beast shouted in an angry loud voice.

"Oh, crap. This is not good!"

The gigantic beast lifted one of its front legs which is still intact and quickly strike the place where Shin Jiao is crouching while holding Cherry Lao. But before its leg can come down, a silver flash suddenly appears and then a loud breaking sound can be heard.

Shin Jiao is now holding on one of his arms, the BARRETT. The gigantic beast was stunned for a moment as it didn't expect the small human in front of it has the power to destroy its leg. But before it could realize it another silver flash appears and a large hole on its head appears destroying its already weakened carapace.

"NO!!!" the gigantic Rock Ant old queen shouted not resigned to its fate as it gathered its last will to strike the puny human that killed it.

"Holy shit! This is truly not good!" Shin Jiao shouted as he immediately throws the weapon he is holding and held Cherry Lao on both hands.

He then dashed sideways trying to evade the gigantic ant's leg, which could crush them both into a paste. But then he realizes something, he cannot move. It's like space is locked and he cannot even move an inch. Shin Jiao didn't have any choice but to grit his teeth and receive the blow.

Well, if he is facing a level 6 beast in a normal setting he should have died a long time ago. But luckily for Shin Jiao the Rock Ant old queen is heavily wounded by the traps he had set up. But upon looking at the looming doom as it drew closer to them, Shin Jiao is feeling despair.

Then all of a sudden he suddenly feels the space lock was released, then he noticed that the gigantic creatures head tilted sideways which signifies its death. But the leg is still following its falling momentum as it neared Shin Jiao's location. When Shin Jiao was able to move he quickly dashes to the side with all his might, although he had successfully evaded the hard carapace of the leg, a short strand of the leg's hair was still able to reach him. It acted as a whip than strike Shin Jiao's back, leaving a deep gash.

"Arrrggghh…" shouted Shin Jiao as he grits his teeth in pain.

Although his body is very sturdy that even normal blades won't be able to hurt him still the pure spiritual nascent energy enveloping the strand of hair was enough to break his skin.

He and Cherry Lao were thrown to an ice wall which was smashed after being hit. Although he was hurt he still made sure that she did not receive any damages.

Then Shin Jiao lay on the icy ground still holding the unconscious Cherry Lao in his embrace, as his consciousness slowly dissipate and he was out cold. He didn't know how long has he been unconscious, but he can feel someone taking care of the wound on his back and carrying him towards a place.

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After some time his consciousness came back and he found himself in a cave. Looking around he noticed that the cave is man-made, judging from the rough edges and the hint of spiritual Qi on it.

"Ugh… Where am I?" Shin Jiao exclaimed as he lifted his weakened body up.

"Shin! You're awake!" Cherry Lao's voice suddenly entered his ears from the side.

Shin Jiao saw her sitting in a lotus position as she cultivated while waiting for him to wake up.

"I tried to heal you, but I guess the pills I have doesn't work that fast. And I'm sorry that…" Cherry Lao wanted to say something but became hesitant.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Shin Jiao asked in confusion.

Then a sudden bad premonition entered his mind. He quickly scanned his dantian and there he saw the spheres were gone and became a chaotic mess of energy, his dantian is damaged and some traces of unknown energy has entered his body.

"What's this? What's going on inside me?" he asked himself in confusion.

Seeing his confused look, Cherry Lao sigh in regret. She has checked Shin Jiao's dantian and discovered that it was damaged. So whatever it is that made him strong and able to do those things he did before is now may be gone.

"Shin, because of me you became like this. I can't help but feel responsible. Don't worry I'll take good care of you, as you took care of me. Okay?" Cherry Lao said with teary eyes.

"You don't have to feel this way. I made my choice in saving you… both of us. So, you don't have to feel responsible. We need to get out of this place, as we have killed the old queen, maybe the new queen will hunt us down." Shin Jiao said trying to appease her feelings.

"No, it's okay now. Since we finished the old queen the entire colony will retreat back to its colony to protect the new queen, this is according to the records." She explained.

"Ugh… I guess my body will not heal as fast as it should be."

"Roar! Roar!"

From afar sounds of beast roars and loud fighting could be heard. As rumbling and breaking of ice echoed through the forest. It is evident that the beast has noticed that the Rock Ants have retreated and they are fighting at the remains of the frozen beasts.

"We have to go far from this place, or else we'll face more danger." Shin Jiao said as he attempts to stand up.

Cherry Lao also feel the same, so she moved towards his side and help him to stand up, then they walk out of the cave.

The sun is already almost out and the darkness starts to blanket the endless forest. Two shadows can be seen dashing from tree to tree, while the other is helping her companion. Although she already applied some healing panacea on his wound, it still did not heal quickly as the energy that invaded Shin Jiao's body is trying to reject any other spiritual essence that enters it.

Although it's like this and Shin Jiao's body is weak as a mortal now, but he didn't feel too much pain from his wound. And his body's vitality is not ebbing away, but instead, it just hangs in there maintaining his life. It's as if the law of the world is telling him that since he is a mortal then he should act like one. The feeling of being suppressed by the laws of the world is not a good thing for Shin Jiao, he felt insulted and outcasted. Why do the heavens interfere with his cultivation style? Why the earth does bring him down? These questions are always in his mind as they travel. As no matter what he tried to do, he could not put his mind on his situation. He feels that the cause of this is the unknown matter that entered his body.

"Shin, my spiritual energy is getting low and my spiritual stones are almost depleted. We have to rest." Cherry Lao said as she felt a little fatigued from continuously running.

She had used a lot of her spiritual energy so far as they try to evade the territory of higher level beasts. As Shin Jiao is the one carrying the beast cores and he cannot use his ring due to him unable to control the energy inside his body. So he cannot give her any beast core to use to replenish her spiritual energy. Without a choice, Shin Jiao lets her use the goggles so that she could see the beast in the area clearly.

As they landed on the ground, the sun is already shining on the horizon, breaking through the darkness of the night.

Albeit they landed, they never stopped traveling. Shin Jiao persevere just to escape the danger of the forest. Since he is unable to use any of his strength or even make higher runes only lower level runes is not a problem for him to make, but they are not effective against the beasts in the area. He tried teaching Cherry Lao, but she herself is not too proficient with runes so it's also hard for her. And she doesn't have time to learn more as at every corner of the forest is a danger zone, where beasts of every kind are slowly returning to their territories.

As they were walking a shadow suddenly appear in front of them. It's already nearing noonday and the sun is already high up in the sky. When the shadow appears they immediately noticed that it is a man wearing black clothes.

"Fellow Daoist, greetings!" the man said as he bowed and cupped his hands.

"How might we help you fellow Daoist?" Cherry Lao asked returning the greetings.

When he saw her face, he was stunned as was not able to reply immediately. As Cherry Lao's beauty is always evident no matter how her condition is, men and women would always be attracted to her. Right now, although her robe is a bit disheveled from their constant travel, still her hair which she just tied up in a simple ponytail stayed in place making her look more heroic and grandiose.

"Ah… I'm Xiao Liang, the scout leader from the town of Dis. May I asked, where you were coming from."

"We came from the middle part of the forest and just barely escaped the wave of Rock Ants." Cherry Lao suddenly blurted out after hearing that the man is a scout from the nearest town.

"By the way, is the town of Dis near this area?" she asked.

"Yes, how might I call you… Senior?" the man suddenly asked but became a little respectful when he suddenly noticed the aura of Cherry Lao.

"I'm Cherry Lao and this is Shin Jiao. Thank you for your direction, we won't bother you anymore and be on our way." She said as both her and Shin Jiao walked towards the direction that the man pointed.

"Senior, I might be presumptuous but I see that one of you is injured. Would you like to follow our group?" he offered.

Seeing the man's sincere eyes, both Shin Jiao and Cherry Lao accepted his offer and began their travel toward the town of Dis.

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