BXBX NOVEL Chapter 91: 91 Ascenders
Lu Mingchuan looked at Zheng Yan, who had been shackled but still maintained an unchanged expression and showed no sign of regret, and said coldly, “Zheng Yan, do you realize what you’ve done wrong?”
“Zheng Yan doesn’t know, please enlighten me, Family Head,” Zheng Yan said expressionlessly.
“I don’t care about your scheming against Lin Shen, but you shouldn’t have dragged my daughter Lu Qing into this.” A flash of anger crossed the depths of Lu Mingchuan’s eyes; he was very dissatisfied with Zheng Yan’s attitude.
“I didn’t involve Lu Qing,” Zheng Yan still had that indifferent attitude.
“Didn’t you? You took the Angel to where Lu Qing was, how could you be sure the Angel wouldn’t harm Lu Qing? When you were incapable of controlling the situation, you did something out of your control and placed my daughter’s fate in the hands of someone else, that’s enough reason for you to deserve death ten thousand times over,” Lu Mingchuan said angrily.
“Family Head, what’s the use of talking to someone like him? This sort of scum should be chopped up and fed to dogs directly, to avoid tarnishing the name of our Lu Family.”
Most of the Lu Family members also looked down on Zheng Yan’s actions and requested that Zheng Yan be executed directly.
“The Family Head is right, I did not consider the consequences of this matter thoroughly enough,” Zheng Yan nodded and said.
“It’s good that you admit it, that is the path you’ve chosen for your death. Since you’ve done it, you should accept your fate,” Lu Mingchuan gestured for the servants to take Zheng Yan away.
“Wait a moment,” Zheng Yan suddenly raised his voice to stop the people taking him away, and said with an unchanged expression, “Family Head Lu, I indeed handled the matter inappropriately, but my life is not yours to decide.”
“In the Lu Family, if I don’t have the authority, then who does?” Lu Mingchuan scoffed.
“I do.” A voice came from outside.
Many of the Lu Family’s experts changed their expressions. Someone had stealthily entered the most core area of the Lu Family without them noticing beforehand.
Stepping out of the council hall, they saw a silver-haired elder floating above the courtyard of the Lu Family, without wings on his back, and without any device on him, yet able to float in midair. His white robe fluttered with the wind, as if a deity had descended upon the world by stepping through the void.
The Lu Family’s guards immediately launched an attack, as alloy arrows rained down like a deluge from the ground towards the silver-haired elder walking on air.
The silver-haired elder did not even intend to use Base Mutation power, merely pointing a finger, and red, fine Crystal Jade particles flowed out from his fingertip. Those particles gathered together, instantly forming a red Jade Sword floating in front of the elder.
The moment the alloy arrow rain was about to strike, the red Jade Sword moved on its own, suddenly turning into a red streak of light that rapidly shifted, slicing through the entire sky of alloy arrows, shattering them into countless particles that fell to the ground. Not a single alloy arrow was left intact enough to reach the elder.
Such a terrifying scene caused everyone from the Lu Family to freeze in shock, staring at the deity-like, demon-like silver-haired elder, and the archers didn’t dare to make any further moves, utterly stupefied.
If Lin Shen were here, he would have recognized at first sight that this elder must be one of the Ascenders that Tian Xin and Wei Wufu had spoken about.
Ascenders and Mutators are entirely different concepts; it’s a true qualitative change.
Steel, alloy, and Crystal Base all belong to the Base Mutation level, while Ascension is a level above Base Mutation, a significant leap.
Base Mutation is merely the transformation of the human body, while Ascension is a genuine rebirth, like an ordinary person achieving an immortal’s body through a daytime ascension.
Of course, Ascenders are not literally ascending during the day to become deities, but they do possess stronger physiques and survival abilities.
The primary ability of an Ascender is flight. In cosmic battles, without the ability to fly, one wouldn’t even qualify to participate in the fight.
Even the constraints of planets could not be escaped, leaving them only to be slaughtered at will.
Ascenders’ bodies were even more powerful, capable of surviving in the vacuum of space without the need for spacesuits or oxygen supplies.
Moreover, the most essential foundation of an Ascender, known as “Life Base,” was also referred to by some as Spirit Base or Blade of the Heart.
The Life Base was formed from the Base Mutation elements condensed within a Mutator’s body. During the upgrade to Ascension Level, a Life Base would also come into existence.
The Life Base could freely merge with the body, and once separated, it could autonomously fly and slay enemies; it could be controlled at will, even from afar. Though not an extremity, it was superior to one, which is why some also called it the fifth limb.
In interstellar wars, the Life Base was the most crucial combat tool. In aerial battles, there were seldom opportunities for close combat, so a long-range weapon like the Blade of the Heart was the main force in warfare.
Depending on the Evolution Skill practiced, the individual’s inherent talent, and even the type of Base Mutation Fluid absorbed, different kinds of Life Bases could form during Ascension. Generally, most Life Bases resembled weapons, which is why they were called Blade of the Heart.
For Mutators, Ascenders were super-powerful beings with overwhelming strength.
Yashen Base was much larger than Dark Bird Base, yet it was still just a small outpost on the fringe. Few in the Lu Family had ever seen an Ascension-Level powerhouse; upon seeing the elder, they thought they had encountered a legendary Deity.
“An Ascension-Level expert graces our Lu Family, may I ask what guidance do you have for us?” Lu Mingchuan obviously recognized the Ascender, felt a sense of foreboding, yet still maintained his composure as he addressed the silver-haired elder.
“My surname is Zheng, from Wanderer Base.” The silver-haired elder stood in the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back, the Red Jade Sword Artifact floating beside him, exuding an air of someone who was out of this world.
“Wanderer Base’s Zheng Family?” Lu Mingchuan’s expression shifted subtly as he involuntarily glanced at Zheng Yan. He also bore the surname Zheng. If Lu Mingchuan couldn’t guess what was going on now, he wouldn’t be the Family Head of the Lu Family.
“Indeed.” Zheng Guyuan nodded slightly. Without any display of arrogance, his demeanor was impossible to ignore.
As soon as the words fell, a flash of sword light streaked by, and the Red Jade Sword Artifact beside Zheng Guyuan disappeared in a flash. By the time everyone reacted, the shackles on Zheng Yan had already shattered to the ground, and the red sword artifact had returned to Zheng Guyuan’s side, unimaginably fast.
“Family Head Lu, I’ve said it before, you can’t decide my fate.” Zheng Yan moved his limbs a bit, walked over to Zheng Guyuan’s side, and spoke coldly to Lu Mingchuan.
“Our Lu Family has never had grievances with the Zheng Family of Wanderer Base. What is the meaning of this?” Lu Mingchuan still spoke with neither servility nor overbearance.
“Family Head Lu need not worry. My nephew has been training in your Lu Family, and I came to check on him on my way.” Zheng Guyuan said with a smile, “I once adventured through an Alien World with Lu Xian’er from Sea Corn Base, so in a sense, you’re also my juniors.”
Lu Mingchuan, hearing Zheng Guyuan say this, although still vigilant, knew that Zheng Guyuan was unlikely to trouble their Lu Family any further.
Lu Xian’er was an Ascender who emerged from the Lu Family. Although she had long since left, since Zheng Guyuan knew her, he was unlikely to harm any of the Lu Family under the watch of so many eyes.
Moreover, he had already sent the news about the Realm King Cultivation Device to Sea Corn Base, trusting that someone from there would arrive soon.
“If that’s the case, I’ll leave Zheng Yan to your care.” Lu Mingchuan was helpless, knowing that Zheng Guyuan’s rapid arrival was because he knew Zheng Yan and anticipated what Zheng Yan would encounter after his arrival. He had hastened here early on, certainly not to let them hurt Zheng Yan.
Wanderer Base was much farther from here than Sea Corn Base. The fact that he arrived here first spoke volumes.
“Then I thank Family Head Lu.” Zheng Guyuan said and then, with narrowed eyes, he continued, “There’s one more thing I need the help of Family Head Lu with.”
“Lord Zheng jests. The Lu Family, being merely a house of Mutators, what could we possibly aid someone like you with?” Lu Mingchuan frowned as he spoke.
“Family Head Lu worries too much. Considering my connection with the Lu Family, how could I ask you to do anything troubling? I simply wish to know the current whereabouts of Lin Shen.” Zheng Guyuan said, looking at Lu Mingchuan intently.