I Was the Heavenly Emperor in the Primordial Age

Chapter 19: The Extraordinary Ones

Nangang City.

Underground air-raid shelter.

“No. 2 member has appeared, No. 2 has returned on time, the mission was successfully completed.”

“No. 8 member is back, one hour later than scheduled, but the mission was successfully completed.”

As one figure after another appeared, joy surged onto everyone’s faces.

But at this moment, bad news came.

“No. 8 reports that No. 5’s mission failed. No. 8 personally witnessed No. 5 getting lost in the mist, entering the second stage of aberration.”

Only the report sounded out, while everyone else fell into silence. Someone sat down and covered his forehead, perhaps because he had known that No. 5 squad member who would never return.

Afterwards, good news continued to arrive, naturally accompanied by bad news as well.

“No. 3 has delayed return for eleven hours past mission’s scheduled time. No. 2 reports that during the last contact, symptoms of being lost had already appeared.”

Luo Zhen watched as task force members either returned one after another, or had their disappearance reported. But he still had not seen Lu Gang’s figure, not even the latest update on him.

His brows seemed shrouded in a layer of dark clouds.

It had already been more than a day since the field team carrying out the Transcendence Experiment departed. Luo Zhen had not rested at all after Lu Gang entered Tao Mountain Island, but waited there, holding out until Lu Gang returned.

As time passed from twenty-four hours to nearly forty-eight, in everyone’s view, this was already approaching the limit.

“Why hasn’t Team Leader Lu returned yet?”

“After so long, could something have gone wrong?”

“According to the previous data, the longer one lingers inside the mist, and the deeper one goes, the greater the likelihood of problems arising.”

“This mission was still too dangerous.”

Tao Mountain Island was not an ordinary place. Ordinary creatures and people could not survive there.

Although Lu Gang had once entered and returned alive, every researcher here understood—

Once a person stayed in the mist of Tao Mountain Island beyond a certain limit of time, that person might no longer be human.

Not to mention—

Lu Gang’s mission had been to enter the most dangerous core of Tao Mountain Island.

Luo Zhen grew increasingly anxious as he waited, yet he dared not reveal even the slightest trace of his impatience.

At this moment someone at his side tried to persuade him: “Leader Luo, you should rest for a while. I’ll watch things here.”

Luo Zhen shook his head: “I must wait until Lu Gang comes back.”

The staff member wanted to continue persuading, but then noisy sounds came from ahead, as if something new was happening.

Luo Zhen immediately stood up. Although the depths of the air-raid shelter were covered by layers of plastic sheeting and protective barriers, through the cameras one could still see Lu Gang’s figure slowly appearing at the deepest layer of the shelter.

Luo Zhen wanted to approach, but at this moment staff at his side stopped him again.

He said: “Leader Luo, you must wait. Only after inspection is complete can contact be made, and at least forty-eight hours of quarantine is required.”

Luo Zhen knew this was a necessary procedure, and nodded.

Very soon, Luo Zhen saw Lu Gang inside a quarantine room. The two spoke across a glass wall.

Only, on the other side of the glass was just Lu Gang alone, while on Luo Zhen’s side there were two others besides him.

Luo Zhen: “How was it?”

Lu Gang: “I saw Li Jun!”

Luo Zhen’s heart stirred with excitement. He understood that this action had surely yielded a great harvest.

Luo Zhen asked again: “Are you certain he is still human?”

Just as when Lu Gang saw Li Jun, he too carried the same worry. In such a bizarre world for so long, who could be sure what changes a person might undergo?

And from all of Li Jun’s behaviors, his inhuman traits were becoming more and more apparent, no matter from which angle one looked.

Lu Gang said: “I don’t know, but at least he still retains his memories.”

Luo Zhen pressed further: “You’re certain?”

Lu Gang spoke earnestly: “I’m certain. At least when I last spoke with him, the one talking to me was a person, not some monster.”

Luo Zhen sat straighter: “Tell me about your experiences inside.”

Inside the quarantine room, Lu Gang began to recount in detail his passage into Tao Mountain Island this time.

When speaking of the dangers he encountered along the way, Lu Gang remained calm, but Luo Zhen could hear how perilous it truly had been.

Lu Gang weighed each of his words carefully, speaking somewhat slowly.

He knew that every sentence he uttered, even a single word, could influence many things that followed.

At certain key points, Luo Zhen and the others present would further question him.

Luo Zhen: “Li Jun admitted it was he who shifted the entire Tao Mountain Island into another space. You confirm he really possesses such power? Did he say why?”

Lu Gang: “I confirm he wields such power, because I had seen it with my own eyes before. And he mentioned the word ‘seal.’ He should have intended to seal away all these abnormal things.”

As these words fell, silence spread outside.

The man to Luo Zhen’s left seized the microphone: “Leader Lu, we must verify with you again. You are certain the Li Jun you saw was truly still human?”

The three of them seemed unable to believe that a human-shaped being could achieve such a feat—sitting cross-legged beneath a tree, chanting an incantation, and distorting space to alter reality.

Lu Gang carefully considered and recalled: “Let’s not debate the definition of human. But I am very certain the one speaking with me was Li Jun.”

In the end, Lu Gang even produced two items as proof.

Luo Zhen asked: “What are these?”

Lu Gang: “Li Jun said, within this is a method to become a shaman. And the other is something necessary for becoming a shaman.”

Luo Zhen and the other two exchanged glances: “What is a shaman?”

Lu Gang continued: “One who possesses extraordinary power.”

At that, even Luo Zhen could no longer control his emotions, his gaze snapping toward the mobile phone and peach branch in Lu Gang’s hand.

The other two men beside him stood up at once, nearly pressing against the glass as they stared at the two items Lu Gang displayed.

Luo Zhen could not help but say: “Lu Gang, you are the greatest contributor of this mission.”

But Lu Gang recalled Li Jun, trapped beneath the phantom of the Divine Wood. That ghost god who frightened even him to his core with just a glance—he did not know how that ghost god would treat Li Jun, nor what the so-called price would be.

Lu Gang lowered his head: “Someone had to do something.”

Afterwards, the three turned around.

One made calls, another issued orders.

Luo Zhen and the others all knew what the two items Lu Gang had brought back signified. Inside that mobile phone lay something that could change the world.

Perhaps in the future it would not amount to much. But at this moment, it was a spark that could ignite the world—or a blaze that could consume an entire civilization.

After a long while—

The three returned before Lu Gang, preparing to swiftly complete the quarantine process and obtain what he had brought out.

Lu Gang stood up, and finally spoke of one more matter.

“When I saw Li Jun, I saw something falling from above within that void space, and at the same time something else was rising from below.”

“Li Jun said what sank from above was some place of the present world. He wondered if it had something to do with that incident at Mount Kunlun you mentioned before.”

Luo Zhen’s pupils trembled, but before he could pursue the question, Lu Gang delivered even more shocking news.

“As for what was rising from below—he guessed it was something from the ancient age.”

“He said Zhou Shentong and the Longevity Temple may be bringing certain things of the ancient times into this world. As for what consequences that would bring, even he was uncertain.”

“But.”

“He entrusted these two things to me, which surely means he foresaw extremely dire consequences.”

Just as when Lu Gang first heard these words, all three instantly felt chills spread across their bodies.

At that moment, someone outside came seeking Luo Zhen.

Luo Zhen said impatiently: “Whatever it is, wait.”

But the person outside pressed urgently: “Leader Luo, something has happened.” Thɪs chapter is updated by noⅴelfire.net

Luo Zhen turned then, walking out: “What happened?”

The other held out a phone, urging Luo Zhen to turn it on: “Look at the push notification.”

Luo Zhen pulled out his phone, and saw he had received a push—a video seemingly broadcast to the entire network.

As soon as he opened the pushed video, he saw a handsome Daoist Priest dressed in a Daoist robe. That face was one Luo Zhen found extremely familiar.

“Zhou Shentong?”

This was a mountain peak independent of the outside world.

Above, below, left, and right was nothing but void, shrouded in thick clouds and mist. Only the faint light from above—its source unknown—allowed one to distinguish between up and down.

A Daoist Priest holding a white jade horsetail whisk stood with a group of disciples upon a building close to the cliff’s edge, overlooking the abyss below.

Ancient-style pavilions stretched layer upon layer downward, all the way to their base, and beyond that lay the boundless cliff.

Below the cliff was endless void, and within the darkness of that void, something seemed to be swimming.

That thing was incomparably massive, resembling distant towering mountains—except those mountains were black.

On closer inspection, one could see that “mountain” was moving.

All disciples of the Longevity Temple who saw this scene gasped sharply, unable to stand at the cliff’s edge any longer, retreating again and again.

“What is that thing?”

At this moment, Zhou Shentong’s face revealed a smile. He slowly uttered two words.

“Candle Dragon.”

The disciples were so frightened they collapsed to the ground, not daring to look down again.

Yet Zhou Shentong’s spirit only grew more vigorous. Then, turning his head and seeing the disgraceful appearance of his disciples, he could not help but laugh.

“What is there to fear? The Candle Dragon has not yet truly appeared in the world. What lies below is only a phantom.”

“Just a mere shadow frightens you to this extent.”

“If you were to see the Candle Dragon open its eyes, would you not be scared to death on the spot?”

The disciples hastily knelt in panic, saying in unison:

“Master is the reincarnation of an immortal. We disciples are but mortal eyes of flesh. How could we behold a true god?”

The back of the pavilion was embedded in the cliff face, while from the front it became a Daoist temple of only one level.

Layer after layer of steps led downward from the temple’s main gate, passing through a tall paifang gate upon which the three characters “Longevity Temple” were inscribed. The entire main entrance of the Daoist temple appeared magnificent and imposing.

At this time, the heavy temple doors slowly pushed open. A light extended outward from deep within the temple, and the clouds below it gradually dispersed.

Then Zhou Shentong slowly stepped out of the light, standing at the temple’s main entrance.

Immediately, all Daoist children upon the steps at both sides of the gate knelt simultaneously, shouting in unison:

“Immortal Master!”

Besides these ordinary Daoist children, there were also people present who appeared wealthy and noble in bearing.

These individuals seemed not young, most being middle-aged or elderly. Yet at this moment they too wore Daoist robes, mingling among Daoist priests and Daoist children, bowing in reverence before Zhou Shentong.

Zhou Shentong swept his gaze across the crowd below and asked:

“Are you ready?”

A tycoon who controlled a trillion-yuan conglomerate immediately came before Zhou Shentong, knocking his head to the ground.

First came a loud cry: “Greetings, Immortal Master!”

Then he said: “Everything is prepared.”

Zhou Shentong said: “When the matter is accomplished, you may enter my Longevity Temple as my named disciple. I will teach you the wondrous Dao of longevity and the immortal prescriptions of agelessness.”

The man’s face wrinkled further from smiling: “Greetings, Master!”

Then, piece after piece of equipment was placed before the temple. Long cables extended from the front of the temple all the way down toward the mountain’s foot, disappearing into the mist.

A large number of individuals who looked extremely professional operated these instruments, seemingly preparing for a live broadcast. Yet the degree of professionalism exceeded mere streaming—closer to a full television station.

In this moment, immortal mountains, ancient temples, Daoist priests, and modern technological equipment intermingled with one another, exuding a surreal sense of past and present colliding.

Crowds thronged the streets.

At this moment, nearly everyone’s phone rang simultaneously. Many stopped in their tracks, pulling out their phones and looking at their screens.

The scene gave one the feeling that the world had been synchronized, every person controlled by their phone.

“What’s this?”

“A game trailer?”

“What the hell, another advertisement?”

“So annoying.”

Yet many still opened it, whereupon a live broadcast video popped up.

Most people did not know that these live videos were being broadcast simultaneously across many countries worldwide, in different languages and scripts.

The video began by mentioning the strange viral infection from a few months earlier, something many still remembered. This immediately aroused great curiosity, sparking widespread discussion.

[Half a year ago, the Double Pupils Virus infected tens of thousands across the world. All infected dreamed of remnants of ancient myths. Yet governments swiftly suppressed the spread of information.]

Onscreen, footage played of infected people worldwide. These clips were extremely authentic, some even familiar to many who had seen them before.

Then people began discussing fervently.

“A virus?”

“I remember this—it broke out all over the world at the same time. Really strange.”

“Didn’t some people say it was an omen of doomsday?”

“All the infected worldwide dreamed the same dream. That’s truly bizarre.”

“Didn’t they say it was just limited transmission, and all patients recovered?”

“What does this mean?”

Everyone’s eyes were drawn in. If earlier content still seemed connected to reality, what followed grew increasingly outrageous.

[Finally, in Nangang City, the Double Pupils bearer Li Jun awakened a portion of the powers of ancient immortals.]

Onscreen appeared first a photo of Li Jun seated with many patients.

Then a scene of Li Jun meditating atop a ritual altar, surrounded by figures dressed as immortals and Daoist priests. The entire image was steeped in mystery.

At last, the camera zoomed closer.

Li Jun opened his eyes, his pupils splitting into two.

Next came footage of Li Jun transforming into a Feathered Person and battling the Wood Guests. This time it was not a censored version, but multi-angled, showing every detail of the battle—including its most brutal and bloody moments.

The sight of extraordinary beings fighting instantly stirred memories online. After all, this video had once spread wildly across the internet, just recently, and many remembered it vividly.

But whereas the earlier version had been blurry and censored, this time it was entirely different. The video even marked time and location, and for the first time introduced accurate names of people.

Li Jun, Tao Limin, and others appeared one by one—names familiar to many who had seen or known them.

“Damn, I’ve seen this video.”

“This… could it actually be real?”

“Weren’t they saying it was fake?”

“But it doesn’t look fake. That virus outbreak really happened, and here are real names, real times, real places—it looks real.”

“I checked before. That group photo of Nangang City’s infected was real. Li Jun really was among them. But his personal info and name have since vanished online. Yet his appearance is exactly the same as in this video.”

“Could there really be extraordinary ones?”

“This power… it’s insane!”

“He can fly—that’s Superman!”

Those who had dismissed it as just an ad or game trailer, seeing the people around them discuss the possibility that it was real, reopened the link and continued watching.

Zhou Shentong was pushing Li Jun to the very forefront of attention—whether in revenge for Li Jun’s earlier deception, or as a declaration to all that the age of the extraordinary had arrived.

A proclamation of the existence of the Extraordinary Ones.