Chapter 158: Marionette Strings

The next moment, just when Cao Wei thought the boy would once again dodge his attack and strike back with his dagger, he unexpectedly strode forward instead of evading.

At night, the only illumination in the Forbidden Land were the sparse streaks of moonlight

As Cao Wei watched the boy's cold eyes approaching closer, he waved the dagger in his right hand to the left, instinctively targeting Qing Chen's throat with a backhand slash.

But Qing Chen pressed on with an abrupt dash. Switching the dagger to his left hand, he used his right hand to catch Cao Wei's wrist and suppress his oncoming slash.

At the same time, he thrusted his dagger into Cao Wei's spleen.

Cao Wei was horrified; he knew what the dagger had pierced, and knew that his death was certain, but he was unwilling to die alone.

In a spurt of desperation, Cao Wei used all his remaining power to throw off the arm restraining his right hand.

But before he could break free, the boy opened his mouth and ferociously bit his wrist, restricting his hand once more.

Qing Chen rammed into Cao Wei and rushed forward with all of his might, biting down on his wrist with an extremely vicious expression.

With a loud thump, Cao Wei's entire body crashed into the big tree behind him.

The federal soldier weakly stared at the pair of eyes inches away from him — savage as a wild beast's, those eyes pinned him with an unfaltering glare.

Then, they gradually turned calm.

The blood from the wounds on Cao Wei's arm flowed over and stained the boy's face.

A few seconds later, Qing Chen slowly let go of his hold, letting Cao Wei tumble to the ground.

After struggling to raise his head and look up at him, Cao Wei gazed into the depth of the Forbidden Land.

Only then did Qing Chen explain to him, "I chose to kill you first because I can't afford to let you escape. Before I have enough capability to help my teacher, I can't let the public know about my status as a Knight."

Cao Wei gave him a strained nod to indicate his understanding. After a long silence, he mustered the last of his strength to ask, "The scenery on the top of the Great Cliff of Qingshan... is it beautiful?"

Qing Chen thought for a moment before replying, "It is."

"Thank you," Cao Wei closed his eyes.

It wasn't until this moment that Qing Chen could finally take the load that had been hanging for more than ten hours off his mind.

Killing a C-level master was truly a difficult challenge.

First, he had to incapacitate him with the trap of the landmine. Following that, Cao Wei lost his fighting spirit due to witnessing him taking on the Knight's Life and Death Stage. In the end, Qing Chen still had to spend more than ten hours to completely exhaust him.

Among these, what played the most critical part was the landmine. If it hadn't caused Cao Wei such serious injuries, Qing Chen wouldn't be able to exhaust his stamina regardless of how long the chase went for.

Despite having just killed a person, Qing Chen did not trigger the punishment of the Forbidden Land.

In fact, the moment he successfully climbed the cliff, he realized that this place was the home ground of the Knights. It was only natural that the Knights could do as they pleased in this land.

Because his teacher was a Knight, he was able to tell Qing Chen about the rules without the slightest scruple.

Li Shutong previously told him that there was a second common rule applicable in all of the Forbidden Lands.

At that time, he did not say what the rule was.

But now, Qing Chen had already guessed what it was. When you meet the containment conditions of a Forbidden Land, even if you came from the outside, that Forbidden Land would become your home ground.

However, because this was simply too difficult to accomplish, no one had ever tried to 'accomodate' a Forbidden Land.

Qing Chen slowly sat down next to Cao Wei. For him, this chase that had lasted for more than ten hours was incredibly taxing.

...

Countdown 24:00:00.

"Teacher, are you there?" Qing Chen sluggishly asked his surroundings, "I have some questions to ask."

"Cough, I'm here," Li Shutong walked out of the forest to the west of the cliff, looking rather embarrassed.

He clearly said he would only accompany Qing Chen for a part of the journey, but in the end, he still snuck into the nearby forest to quietly watch over his disciple.

He was obviously not as composed as he made himself out to be!

If the Qingshan Falcon knew about this, it would definitely scorn him.

Li Shutong looked at Qing Chen, "What do you want to ask?"

"I want to know if my DNA will remain the same after my genetic limit is unlocked," Qing Chen curiously said.

"Of course not," Li Shutong shook his head, "Your DNA will undergo a great change upon unlocking each layer of genetic limits. This applies for every Knight."

"Are we still considered human beings?"

Qing Chen pondered.

"Of course. It's just that your genes are being overwritten to reach closer to perfection. As you are now, you're still a human being," Li Shutong explained, "The benefits of unlocking the first layer of genetic limits are longer life expectancy and improvement of hereditary traits. Let's use an analogy, if any elder in your family had the baldness gene, you would now no longer be at risk of inheriting it. There are actually a lot of unfavorable genes similar to this."

"What a humble and practical use," Qing Chen emotionally sighed. At least he didn't have to worry about things like baldness anymore.

Li Shutong continued, "Because you've just unlocked the first layer, only your muscles will be strengthened. The respective order for subsequent layers will be bones, skin, and then internal organs. When you unlock the fifth layer, you will attain Qi..."

As he spoke, Li Shutong suddenly realized that this wasn't exactly right because Qing Chen had already attained Qi even before unlocking his genetic limit. Would it even make sense to evaluate the effects of his unlocked limits according to the normal standard?

Qing Chen looked at his teacher and said, "Teacher, I could clearly perceive that my bones, skin, and internal organs feel different from before. The amount of Qi I have has also grown by quite a lot... You've also seen that I can make those leaves fly, but I can only do it for a handful of times, and the power isn't very strong as well."

Li Shutong solemnly looked him up and down, then reached out his hand to pinch the boy's wrist and feel his bones, "This is so strange, why on earth are you so different!"

Beside the astonishment in his voice, you could even hear some indignation...

In truth, Li Shutong was already considered exceptionally gifted among the Knights. Each Knight would have a different degree of improvement after unlocking their genetic limits, and he had always been the most powerful among his peers.

But now, Qing Chen was showing a potential that was much greater than his.

Before this, he had never heard of any predecessor who could already use the Autumn Leaf Blade immediately after unlocking the first layer of genetic limits!

Ever since Qin Sheng created the breathing technique, there had never been such a special case!

While Li Shutong was thinking, heavy footsteps rapidly echoed from the depths of the Forbidden Land.

The sound was as loud as a beating drum, getting closer with each passing second.

Qing Chen looked at Li Shutong and saw a trace of surprise on his teacher's face, yet there was no hostility in his expression.

The footsteps were coming from the hinterland, was it perhaps some kind of giant beast rushing out of the Forbidden Land?

The next moment, a burly man with a height of more than four meters pushed aside the tree crowns to stop in front of the two of them. Under his nest of dishevelled hair was a very simple and honest face.

However, Qing Chen discovered that there were two pupils in each of this kind-looking giant's eyeball.

Double pupils!

He heard Li Shutong confusedly ask the giant, "Ding Dong? Why did you come here?"

Qing Chen was stunned — this imposing and sturdy giant had such an unexpectedly dainty and jolly name!

Without speaking, Ding Dong slowly squatted down in front of Qing Chen and extended his hand, spreading out his chair-sized palm to the boy.

But there was nothing in his palm.

Qing Chen asked with some doubts, "Teacher, what's going on?"

Instead of answering him, Li Shutong's face stiffened. He promptly nagged at the darkness of the Forbidden Land, "What are you guys trying to do? I didn't give him any Forbidden Item because it's not yet the time, so what are you rushing for? You guys are showing off, aren't you! You think you're great just because you have some Forbidden Items? I also have it! I told you guys not to spoil him rotten, why won't you listen!"

Qing Chen stared at his teacher with wide-eyed surprise — he had no idea why his usually mild and easygoing teacher suddenly threw such a big tantrum.

There wasn't even anything in the giant's palm!

Ding Dong smiled at Qing Chen, motioning for him to also spread out his palm.

The giant then carefully transferred a ball of transparent silk thread from the center of his palm into Qing Chen's hand.

"Teacher, what is this?" Qing Chen asked.

Li Shutong scoffed, "Forbidden Item ACE-019, Marionette Strings!"

Translator: Zee