Applied Immortality

“Ha-ha-ha…”

Yang Jun’s sinister laughter echoed through the trees, creeping them out. Mao Zimiao sympathized with Yang Jun’s plight, but their differing perspectives made them dislike each other. She sensed animosity from him, taking away any desire to talk with him. 

Wang Qi pulled Mao Zimiao as he glared at Yang Jun. “Hey, how come you’re here? Where is your babysitter?”

Yang Jun broke the rules and had no freedom until he served his punishment. Venturing outside could only be done under the watch of a Foundation Establishment member of the Behavioral Office. But sensing his aura, it was clear that he was let go.

[Where’s his tail?]

Yang Jun stared at Wang Qi with unfocused eyes. “Ha-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha-ha! I’m powerful now! Die, demon!”

He charged straight for Mao Zimiao. The girl wasn’t too slow, on guard ever since Wang Qi questioned him. As Yang Jun came for her, she jumped back.

Wang Qi withdrew two steps, avoiding his punch. He started, finding Yang Jun’s power far stronger than when he fought him yesterday.

“Has he lost it?”

Yang Jun didn’t aim for the demonborn, the ones he hated with a passion. He attacked Wang Qi. Wang Qi used the Book of Geometry to find the punch’s trajectory. The heat behind it was enough to sing Wang Qi’s hair, even if he dodged it.

“What is he even cultivating? How did he become so fierce?”

Wang Qi couldn’t let Yang Jun hit him. The heat from that punch was greater than what Wang Qi could generate through Celestial Entropy.

The good news was that, despite the force and speed behind Yang Jun’s punches, there was no Immortal Institute art behind them.

Yang Jun had no intent on using fist arts, nor was he focused on Wang Qi. If not for the swinging fists, Wang Qi would think he was after himself. 

Mao Zimiao lowered her body, ready to back Wang Qi up. Just then, a gray glow enveloped Yang Jun’s legs from behind. The glow turned into a rope and sealed his movements.

Wu Shiqin raised a hand, preparing to send a wave blade. Wu Shiqin rushed over and grabbed it, then to Mao Zimiao to pull her hand, shouting, “Run!”

Wang Qi and Mao Zimiao used their movement arts to run hundreds of meters. Yang Jun cackled behind, “He-he-he, ah-ha-ha-ha…” 

Just as Yang Jun was out of sight, Wu Shiqin collapsed. Mao Zimiao rushed to hold the disciplinary officer. The catgirl discovered her friend’s mangled and bleeding back.

“Nya!” The girl panicked. Wu Shiqin crouched and inspected Wu Shiqin’s wound.

The disciplinary officer’s magic clothing was ruined. The wound didn’t reach the spine but was as wide as a plate. Wang Qi said this butch was all muscle and no brain, but Wu Shiqin was still just a fourteen-year-old girl with a slender body. The wound covered half her back.

“Was it Yang Jun?” Wang Qi peeled the pieces of cloth, accidentally touching the wound and making the almost unconscious Wu Shiqin shiver as she cussed, “Be careful, damn it!”

“Her spirit is fine.” Wang Qi was careful as he opened her magic clothing. Given that it was July, the girl wore a silk slip and underwear underneath. Wang Qi carefully ripped a piece of the slip, noticing the wound’s carbonized edges.

[Heat?]

Wang Qi held a hand above the wound, using entropy reduction to lower the heat. Wu Shiqin spasmed, gripping Mao Zimiao’s hand and gnashing her teeth. 

“The wound looks to have been made by an explosion. Did Yang Jun do this?”

Wu Shiqin closed her eyes, giving a weak nod.

Wang Qi frowned. “Just what is going on?”

Wu Shiqin strained to talk. “I’m not… sure. The Foundation Establishment Senior Brother Bai watched him throughout the tour of the headquarters. When everyone was given time off… Senior Brother Bai and we escorted him back. He was quiet all the way, and then Senior Brother Bai received orders to go, and he… lashed out. I don’t know how, but the seal on his spiritual power broke, and… and he killed Xiao Chen. The rest of us fought him, but it’s like he didn’t suffer any damage… Not even the magic restraints worked…” 

Wu Shiqin was frantic, but Wang Qi managed to make sense of it.

“He somehow trained a skill that nullified magic items and magical arts.” Wang Qi was pensive. “Then he used high heat, never engaging in melee.”

“We lost…”

“Shiqin, why did you keep following him, nya?” Mao Zimiao was close to tears. “You should’ve gone to a teacher.”

Wu Shiqin smiled. “He had me, ready to finish me off, but then he… came this way. I knew people were nearby, so… I couldn’t just…” 

Wang Qi sighed, “Why force yourself?”

Wu Shiqin was limp in Mao Zimiao’s arms, but her weak voice carried pride. “It’s my duty…”

“I would’ve informed a teacher or Foundation Establishment senior in your place.”

Wu Shiqin’s voice faded. “The martial test for the disciples beneath Qi Refining Realm has finished. There aren’t many people in the Immortal Institute… the teaching assistants and Primordial Spirit teachers are gone as well.”

Mao Zimiao bit her lip. “I know… there’s one Foundation Establishment Senior Sister still around. She is definitely in the Immortal Institute. I’ll take you there, nya.”

Wang Qi perked his ears, smiling. “Ah’Zimiao, be realistic.” 

“Nya? This isn’t the time for…”

Wang Qi shook his head. “Can’t you hear it? Yang Jun’s roars are getting closer. He broke the restraint.”

“Then…”

“His cultivation deviated, or he went berserk. His speed is on par with mine.” Wang Qi shook his head. “If we take Wu Shiqin, we won’t shake him.”