Super God Golden Crow Record

Chapter 48 Undercurrents

Over the next two weeks, Zhao Chen led the three women to raid three more mines.

The layout of each mine in the North, West, and South was roughly the same—over forty guards, four squad leaders, and a second-generation peak commander. The three girls were a little nervous during their first battle, but by the third, Liang Bing was able to chat with He Xi while fighting the enemy.

"Sister Hexi, do you think all these angels were taught by the same master? They're all standing in the same position."

He Xi ignored her completely and pierced the throat of the last guard with her sword.

Zhao Chen continued to deal with the mine commander, using a combination of immobilization and Chaos Bell each time, clean and efficient, without even spilling blood. He then sent the three women and their men away, staying behind to clean up the mess—devouring all the corpses, including the commander's. Energy accumulated within his body, and the golden patterns on his primordial spirit grew increasingly bright, bringing him one step closer to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

More and more people were rescued. The first time, there were more than a dozen; the second time, more than twenty; and the third time, more than thirty. The asteroid was almost full, so Keisha had to relocate them in batches, sending some of the female angels to more secluded places.

That evening, fewer people sat around the campfire than usual. Most of the female angels had already been sent away, leaving only a few who were still recovering from their injuries. Liang Bing was unusually quiet today, leaning against a rock in a daze. He Xi was in a corner looking through the crystal plates seized from the mine, which recorded the coordinates and guard deployments of other mines.

Keisha walked over and sat down next to Zhao Chen.

"He Xi said that the next mine is deep in the western border, and there are more guards than before." She paused, "The commander is at the peak of the second generation, but it is said that he has already touched the threshold of the third generation."

Zhao Chen looked at her. "She can fight."

Keisha stared at him. "Why do you always say that?"

Zhao Chen didn't explain, and Keisha didn't press him further. In the past two weeks, she had learned one thing—if Zhao Chen didn't want to talk about something, asking was pointless. She didn't know where the corpses had gone, only that he always returned smelling of blood after staying out alone, and that Zhao Chen was now much stronger than she had imagined.

"That mine in the western border is holding people from the Tianji family." He Xi didn't look up as she spoke. "I checked the list; there are at least twenty names. One of them..." She paused, "...was my former adjutant."

Liang Bing sat up from the rock. "Let's go then! We took down the previous three, didn't we?"

Keisha shook her head. "It's different. The previous mine guards were scattered, and the commanders were generally weak. If this commander has truly reached the threshold of the third generation, our previous tactics might not be effective."

Zhao Chen spoke up. "I'll go."

Keisha looked at him. "Are you alone?"

"Um."

Liang Bing panicked. "Brother-in-law, you're going alone? There are hundreds of people at that mine!"

Zhao Chen didn't answer, but just looked at Keisha. Keisha was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"careful."

Liang Bing's eyes widened. "Sister! You're letting him go alone?"

Keisha ignored her. He Xi glanced at Zhao Chen, then lowered her head to continue looking at the crystal panel.

Zhao Chen stood up. "Come back at dawn." With a flash of golden light, he disappeared into the night sky.

Liang Bing moved closer to Keisha. "Sister, are you really okay with letting him go alone?"

Keisha gazed at the starry sky. "I'm worried."

Liang Bing was stunned. "Then why are you still..."

"He's going," Keisha said. "I can't stop him."

Liang Bing opened her mouth, unsure what to say. He Xi, without looking up, spoke, "He's stronger than you think."

Liang Bing turned to look at her. "How did you know?"

He Xi did not answer. The campfire flickered, and the three women each had their own thoughts.

Deep in the western borders, a dark copper mine.

Zhao Chen landed in the shadows at the edge of the mine, his sharp eyes scanning the entire area. There were at least twice as many guards as before, six squad leaders, and the aura of the commanders was indeed much stronger than before.

He moved. In his invisible state, he moved like a ghost through the guards' lines. A freezing spell immobilized the two guards at the doorway, and the Chaos Bell resounded, its chimes echoing in the night. Before the guards could react, the spear's edge pierced their chests. The Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife shot out from a spatial fold, silently reaping lives.

Some tried to escape, but he caught up and shot them dead. Others tried to shout, but a throwing knife pierced their throats.

A quarter of an hour later, the mine fell silent. Zhao Chen stood amidst the corpses, fully activating his Devouring Talent. Flesh and blood transformed into surging energy that flowed into his body, and his primordial spirit opened its eyes in his dantian, greedily absorbing this energy. The second-generation peak commander was the last one; he knelt down and pressed his body against the corpse. An energy far more concentrated than that of an ordinary angel surged into his body, and the golden patterns on the surface of his primordial spirit shone even brighter, bringing him only a hair's breadth away from the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Standing up, Zhao Chen surveyed his surroundings. All the corpses had vanished, leaving not a single drop of blood. He flicked out Pure Yang True Fire from his fingertips, incinerating the bloodstains on the ground.

Before dawn, the golden light returned to the asteroid. Keisha was still sitting in the same spot, as if she hadn't moved. Liang Bing was asleep leaning against He Xi, whose eyes were closed, but it was unclear whether she was truly asleep or not.

Zhao Chen had just sat down next to her when Keisha's voice rang out, "You're back."

Keisha tilted her head to look at Zhao Chen. "Are you injured?"

"no."

Keisha stared at him for a few seconds before looking away and admonishing him, "Don't go alone next time."

Zhao Chen nodded in agreement. "Okay."

The sky was beginning to lighten with the first light of dawn. The campfire had burned out, leaving only ashes. Keisha leaned on Zhao Chen's shoulder, her eyes closed as she rested.

In the distance, on the planet Tiancheng, stands the Holy Light Tower.

Hua Ye leaned back on the throne, listening to the guards' report. Sumali stood below the throne, his expression grim.

"The western mines have also been raided. The entire guard was wiped out, the commander was killed in battle, and all his bodies have disappeared."

Hua Ye, holding his wine glass, didn't even lift his eyelids. "How many is this?"

"The fourth one."

Hua Ye took a sip of his drink. "Have you found any clues?"

The guard's forehead was beaded with sweat. "The other side was very clean, leaving no trace. But..." He paused, "the commander of the Western Mine sent back a message before he died."

Hua Ye put down his wine glass. "Speak."

"Only two words—golden."

Sumari frowned. "Golden?"

The guard nodded. "The commander only managed to send out those two words before cutting off contact."

Hua Ye was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Golden," he repeated, "Immobilization, earth element, that pitch-black bell... and now there's gold."

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside the window was the brightly lit Tiancheng Star, and in the distance was an endless sea of ​​stars.

"Interesting. A golden rat." He turned to Sumari. "Send more men to keep a close watch on the rest of the mines. Next time they come, I want them alive."

Sumari nodded. "Yes."

Hua Ye sat back on his throne and picked up his wine glass. "I'd like to see how long this rat can hide."

A night breeze blew, and the lights of the Holy Light Tower flickered.

In the distant sea of ​​stars, on that inconspicuous asteroid, the campfire had gone out. Keisha leaned on Zhao Chen's shoulder, her breathing even. Liang Bing curled up to the side, muttering "Brother-in-law is really amazing," before turning over.

He Xi opened her eyes, glanced at Zhao Chen, and then closed them again.

It was almost dawn.