Chapter 101. Skygod Technologies’s Asura, Condition to Evolution

It was Asura of Skygod Technologies. At this very moment, he had already led the group into the depths of Shennongjia.

Those beside him were likely of the same faction. As for the foreigners trailing behind, their identities remained unknown. But one thing was certain. This group hadn’t come here on a whim. They were searching for something.

After all, in terms of mystique and seclusion, Shennongjia wasn’t just renowned within Huaxia. Even across the world, it was a place whispered of in awe, a land thick with secrets and shrouded in ancient fog.

The fact that it had caught the attention of powerful factions was no surprise. Such places, after all, often bore the traces of heaven’s blessings.

“Master, should we follow them and take a closer look?” the Golden-Winged Great Peng asked.

“No need. It has nothing to do with us… for now.” Lu Yuan’s voice was calm, yet laced with a quiet insight.

The moment he had recognized Asura, he had already discerned the truth behind the surface. Skygod Technologies had probably entered into some form of cooperation with foreign powers.

Over the past few days, Lu Yuan had gleaned pieces of news from his mobile. Ever since the dawn of the new era, since the Global Awakening descended upon the world and the road of evolution had unfurled, Huaxia, the ancient land of the East, had once again drawn the gaze of the world.

And the Westerners? Naturally, they wouldn’t sit idly by and miss such a grand opportunity.

Especially now, with his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes activated, Lu Yuan saw even more. Beyond the figures of Skygod Technologies, there was another group moving through the forest.

Coincidentally, he recognized them as well. They were operatives of Polaris Biotech. At their head was none other than the Ice Fairy, whose fame rivaled Asura’s.

By some strange coincidence, the two opposing groups were treading near each other’s path, seemingly unaware of one another’s presence.

For now.

Shennongjia was no ordinary land. A strange force blanketed the entire region. Should an Awakened step inside unguarded, they could lose all sense of direction.

And Lu Yuan only realized that upon activating the Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes, as it allowed him to pierce through such illusions.

“Looks like things are about to get lively.”

His gaze flickered slightly, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

But he did not dwell on the matter.

Instead, he turned toward the Golden-Winged Great Peng and asked, “Earlier, you said Shennongjia holds something that can further purify your bloodline and trigger your next evolution. What exactly is it? Or what conditions must be met?”

Throughout the journey, Lu Yuan had spent most of his time refining his internal state and growing ever more adept with the three divine arts at his command.

Now that they had finally arrived at their destination, it was only natural to seek clarity. With knowledge in hand, action would follow far more efficiently.

“Master, it’s a living creature,” the Golden-Winged Great Peng finally replied after a moment of thought. “Within Shennongjia resides a rare beast known as the Dragon-Blooded Jiao. It carries a faint trace of draconic blood, and the stronger the creature, the richer its bloodline. For our Golden-Winged Great Peng race to purify our heritage, we must obtain such draconic blood.

“My inherited memories can guide me. They allow me to sense beings carrying draconic essence. And right now, I can feel it… a Dragon-Blooded Jiao is nearby, somewhere within this region.”

The Peng hesitated briefly before speaking again. “However, this beast is usually quite formidable. Master… I may require your help.”

In truth, the Golden-Winged Great Peng had always known where its opportunity lay. But the reason it had remained dormant, choosing to bide its time, was simple. Its own strength had not been enough. To seek out a beast steeped in draconic blood with nothing but hope and arrogance would have been suicide.

But now, things had changed.

It was clear of Lu Yuan’s strength. With his master’s aid, slaying the beast would be much easier.

“I see,” Lu Yuan said. “So it’s not just the Dragon-Blooded Jiao, right? Any creature with draconic blood could further refine your bloodline if you devour them. The only difference is that the Dragon-Blooded Jiao happens to be especially rich in that essence.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. After all, in myth and legend, Golden-Winged Great Pengs are said to feast on dragons.

“Heh heh, Master is as clever as always,” the Golden-Winged Great Peng chirped in amusement.

“Don’t worry. Since you’ve submitted to me as your lord, then I shall naturally lend my strength in return.”

With those words, he said no more. Beneath him, the Golden-Winged Great Peng spread its wings wide and vanished into the clouds.

And because they remained high above, none of those below caught even the faintest glimpse.

***

“Asura, how much farther until we arrive?” Deep within a particular section of Shennongjia, a man’s voice rang out low and casual, yet laced with traces of arrogance.

Golden-haired, blue-eyed, tall and imposing—he hailed from the West, his figure towering at nearly two meters. And the aura he exuded belonged to one who had already stepped into the Awakened Realm.

He spoke with a languid ease, as though no danger here could truly trouble him.

The group trailing behind was composed of five Westerners. Among them, one stood out—a woman with an exceptional figure, clad in a nun’s robes that clung subtly to her curves. In her hand, she held a golden cross-shaped staff. A faint, sacred glow wafted around her like morning mist, pure and untouched.

Atop the staff, an angel with radiant wings was carved in exquisite detail. Judging from their attire and aura, it was evident that this group was associated with some kind of church.

Asura shot the group a glance. His brow slightly furrowed, but he did not voice his displeasure. Instead, he responded with measured courtesy, “Mr. Hans, we’ve already entered the Shennongjia region. If all proceeds smoothly, we should reach our destination in a few more days.”

Hans sneered. “Make it quick. This place is unbearably primitive. The beasts, the humidity… I haven’t tasted proper wine or steak in weeks.” His tone oozed disdain. “Lady Jennifer is already most displeased. She wishes to retrieve the Divine Blood and be rid of this wretched wilderness.”

He didn’t wait for a reply. With a flick of his coat, he turned and walked away. He leaned in close to the nun and whispered something into her ear.

The woman’s brows tightened, her expression unreadable. She offered no response, only bowed her head and began murmuring a silent prayer, her fingers wrapped reverently around the golden staff.

“Damn Westerners. Endless complaints the whole way through. They were the ones who insisted on cooperating.”

“Exactly. We’re guides, not their lapdogs. They act like we’re their servants.”

“That woman’s the worst. Hasn’t said a word this entire trip.”

A few Skygod Technologies personnel at the front of the group muttered under their breath. Clearly, they were displeased.

“Enough,” Asura said with a sigh, raising his hand to silence them. “This was the company’s decision. Ours is to carry it through.”

After the advent of the new era, Skygod Technologies had been conducting long-term surveillance over famed lands and ancient ranges across Huaxia. Not long ago, their instruments detected a violent energy surge deep within Shennongjia. At the same time, the Vatican’s Celestial Archangel claimed to have received divine revelation, an oracle that foretold of a divine boon awakening within these mountains.

Soon after, their emissaries arrived and proposed cooperation.

Meanwhile, Skygod Technologies had long-standing ties with various Western powers. And many of its most cutting-edge technologies, after all, had been developed with backing from the West. So when the Celestial Archangel’s forces came knocking, both sides struck a deal with ease. They would enter Shennongjia, seek out the item named Divine Blood, and bring it back to the Vatican for safekeeping and study.

Asura could only sigh inwardly.

Shennongjia belonged to Huaxia. That was an undeniable fact. No matter how miraculous the so-called Divine Blood might be, shouldn’t it be claimed and utilized domestically? Why should it be given to a foreign power?

Even if there was cooperation, even if agreements had been signed, it still made his heart twist. He couldn’t understand why would the company allow a foreign power to take the lead?

But it wasn’t his call to make.

Company decisions were company decrees and defying them meant ruin.

Asura was all too aware of his own position. No matter his strength, no matter his title, at the end of the day, he was merely a high-ranking puppet on Skygod’s strings.

“Let’s go,” he said after a pause, shaking off the frustration gnawing at his chest. “We’ll likely encounter more complications along the way.”

After confirming the route, he led the ground ahead. He knew it clearly in his bones that Skygod Technologies was far from the only force to set foot in Shennongjia. He could only hope things wouldn’t spiral out of control.

But then—

“Wait.”

The golden-haired woman suddenly spoke. She gazed down at the cross-shaped staff in her hand. The angel etched atop it shimmered faintly with divine light, pulsing as if resonating with something unseen.

Her lips curved into a faint smile, and she turned her gaze toward a certain direction.

“Just ahead… I sense traces of spiritual fruits and rare herbs. As expected of Huaxia’s mysterious realm. We’re merely at the outskirts, and already we’re blessed with discovery. Truly, God is watching over us.”

“Well then, we must investigate.”

“If we’re lucky, it may catalyze another evolution.”

“To strengthen ourselves with Huaxia’s treasures… sounds like a fine plan.”

The others nodded, their faces lighting up with greedy delight.

Officially, this expedition had been ordained by the Celestial Archangel to seek out the Blood of God hidden within Shennongjia.

But secretly, each of them harbored their own ambitions.

They all knew that places like this were bound to be brimming with fortune. If they could secure even a single strand of heavenly opportunity, the benefits would be unimaginable.

And now that one such opportunity lay within reach, how could they possibly let it slip away?

Among the Westerners, the golden-haired woman held the highest authority. With just a word from her lips, the rest followed without hesitation.

“But Miss Jennifer,” one of the Skygod Technologies personnel finally mustered the courage to speak, turning to the woman with a cautious expression, “our company’s orders were clear. We are to venture deep into the mountains to locate what you refer to as the Divine Blood.”

To him, Shennongjia was a perilous land. Any wrong turn could awaken an unknown terror. Wandering off the designated path was asking for death.

And more than that, he was Huaxian. Deep in his bones, he resented the idea of foreign hands meddling so freely with their nation’s lands and fortune. It didn’t feel like cooperation; it felt like plunder.

“Oh, my dear friend. You’re merely a guide. A compass doesn’t get to choose the path but only points the way.” Hans stepped forward then, cutting an imposing figure. His usual arrogance lingered on his face, but this time there was something colder beneath his words—a subtle but unmistakable threat.

“You…”

The Skygod operative nearly snapped, but before he could retort, Asura’s voice cut through the rising tension.

“Enough. Let’s go have a look.”

His tone was calm, yet firm. It left no room for argument. With a glance, he silenced his men, preventing any further protest from spilling forth.

The Skygod operatives exchanged glances, their eyes dark with frustration. Were they really being ordered around like errand boys? But what could they do? Their lives rested in the hands of the company. Defiance wasn’t a luxury they could afford.

And so, the group set off again.

This time, led by the golden-haired Jennifer, they moved deeper into Shennongjia.

Sure enough, it didn’t take long before they stumbled upon a rare treasure.

Just ahead, nestled within the mist, stood a small purple tree, roughly three meters tall. Several luminous fruits the color of amethyst hung from its branches, their surfaces glistening with spiritual dew. They were nearly ripe and ready to be plucked at any moment.

But they were not alone.

At the base of the tree, a fierce battle was already underway. A group of Awakened was engaged in a brutal clash with a powerful mutated beast. Clearly, both sides sought to claim the tree as their own.

“That’s the Ice Fairy.” Someone whispered the name, eyes darting toward Asura.

He had noticed her as well.

Of course he had. In a place like Shennongjia, where opportunities and dangers lay intertwined, it was only natural that many domestic powers had cast their eyes this way.

But only those supremely confident in their strength dared to actually step into the mist-shrouded realm

After all, most spiritual fruits and rare herbs grew only in the heart of famed mountains and rivers.

And even when they had yet to mature, powerful mutated beasts often guarded those trees.

Just like now.

But as time passed, the tide of battle began to shift.

With the combined strength of the Ice Fairy and her team, they slowly but surely gained the upper hand. The beast’s roars grew weaker, its resistance faltering. A final blow seemed imminent.

“They’re fully ripened,” Hans remarked, eyes locked on the glistening fruits. “Excellent quality. Five in total. How convenient.”

He chuckled lightly, his lips curling into a smirk laced with greed.

“We happen to be five as well. Surely, this is divine providence.”

Spiritual fruits were a rare commodity, especially ones capable of advancing evolution. Even in the West, they existed, but were exceedingly scarce. Naturally, he wanted to claim them all for himself.

As for whether Asura and the others from Skygod Technologies deserved a share?

The thought hadn’t even crossed his mind.

“Mr. Hans,” Asura finally spoke, his tone even but firm. “They’re the ones who fought the beast. By right, the fruits should belong to them.”

He could already see through Hans’ plan. Hans had planned to wait for the Ice Fairy and her team to finish off the beast, then swoop in and snatch the spoils.

But the Ice Fairy wasn’t a stranger. She was backed by Polaris Biotech, and like him, she was Huaxian. That alone was enough reason for him to intervene.

He wanted to deter the Westerners, dissuade them before they stirred up conflict that couldn’t be undone.

But Hans merely laughed, casually stretching his limbs as though preparing for a stroll rather than a confrontation.

“I recall an old saying from your lands,” he mused. “When the snipe and clam fight, it’s the fisherman who profits.”

He turned to face the battle once more, his voice laced with amusement and unmistakable intent.

“Let them kill the beast. Wouldn’t that save us the trouble?”

The implication was crystal clear. He intended to take those spirit fruits no matter the cost.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep