Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 408 - 381 Old Fist God Appears

Chapter 408: 381 Old Fist God Appears

Most demon hunters do not evaluate the moral standards of Impermanence, because within the mainstream opinion of the demon hunter community, Impermanence is considered to be above morality, or rather, it is the benchmark of morality, or even its definer.

If one were to forcibly judge Old Fist God by moral standards, one could only say that he is a person of chaotic morality. Sometimes he performs righteous acts that delight people, and other times he drags many innocents into his whims like a Qilin. Since he taught a disciple like Qilin, who stops at nothing, it is enough to show that he is also a person who stops at nothing in many aspects.

During Old Fist God’s rise, in many ways, he was even more ruthless than Qilin. Countless lives from both the righteous and the Demon Path were sacrificed under his fists. The motive for why he suddenly killed his prideful disciple remains unknown, with various theories circulating within Luo Mountain.

Some believe Qilin finally committed an act of evil and madness that even Old Fist God could not tolerate, while others speculate that Old Fist God feared his disciple would surpass him, so he preemptively snuffed him out.

No matter the reason, the result is irrefutable — Qilin died by the hands of Old Fist God.

Perhaps because Qilin was a relatively young Impermanence, his death did not have far-reaching effects on the natural structure, so his sudden death did not cause severe natural upheavals. Fu Hongchen, who was slain by Xuanming half a year ago, was also relatively young within Impermanence. From the perspective of secular society, it amounted to additional natural disasters like typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis, still within the scope of meteorology’s explanation.

However, in Weichi’s heart, Qilin’s death was akin to the collapse of heaven and earth.

After a long period of depression and pain, he made a decision.

"I want to grow strong, strong enough to kill Old Fist God, to avenge Qilin," Weichi said firmly.

After hearing his account, I had only one thought in my mind.

——Why are all you widowers so heavyweight?

First Ying Lingyun, then Xu Gou, and now Weichi. How come the lives of these widowers are so tumultuous, and their actions so earth-shattering.

Thinking of the first two, I couldn’t help but wonder: "Aren’t you planning to resurrect Qilin?"

"I have no idea how many innocents Qilin’s recklessness has claimed. Even if she were killed in turn, she would have no one to blame. Although it wasn’t someone related to those victims who ultimately killed Qilin, but Old Fist God, death itself might be seen as her retribution," Weichi said lightly, "Besides, if she were resurrected, she would surely repeat her past behavior.

"I would definitely find ways to persuade her, but during that time, many might be drawn into her whims again and die... Should their lives be the price for her turning back from the brink?"

"You’re so open-minded about it, yet you still insist on revenge?" I asked.

Weichi said with no expression: "I can accept Qilin’s death, but that doesn’t mean I will forgive Old Fist God’s actions."

At this moment, a stranger’s robust elderly voice came from beside us.

"——Well said."

Instinctively, I turned to look, and Weichi’s reaction was even greater, as he sprang up as if startled.

The source of the voice was an elderly man sitting not far away. With white hair and beard, sharp eyes, and muscular physique, wearing a dark grey cloth robe, he sat upright on a stool with a half-full food plate in front of him.

He didn’t just appear there all of a sudden. While I was conversing with Weichi, he had been there, eating and drinking indifferently.

I could even recall when he appeared. He arrived in the cafeteria earlier than Weichi and me and initially sat at the cafeteria’s center. As Weichi and I started our discussion, he took his plate to the self-service area to pile on a lot of dishes and then plopped down near us.

Although no one could overhear us if I didn’t want them to, out of habit, I chose a secluded corner with Weichi. Therefore, if someone were to sit near us uninvited, I would naturally respond sensitively. Strangely, I didn’t react to him. When he sat near, I accepted it as naturally as a breeze passing by, realizing something was wrong only now.

No, that’s not right... This isn’t the first time I’ve seen him in the cafeteria. I saw him even earlier.

When Divine Light brought Weichi along to conspire with me about assassinating the Master of Divine Seal, this old man sat in with a stool beside us. Only when Divine Light mentioned we’d discuss important secrets did the old man stroke his greying beard, stand up, and leave my room, closing the door behind him as well.

Neither I nor Weichi, nor even Divine Light seemed to notice this old man’s comings and goings back then. This old man, appearing like a ghost, seemed only observable in recollection, elusive in face-to-face confrontation.

But now, he seemingly withdrew the power that allowed him to evade recognition, revealing himself openly before us.

To have power that can deceive the senses even of Impermanence — could this old man be—

A name suddenly arose in my mind.

"——Old Fist God!"

Weichi shouted through gritted teeth, his voice resonating throughout the quiet cafeteria yet failing to catch the attention of distant diners.

This strong old man was Old Fist God... I observed him carefully.

When it comes to the elderly, the stereotype is akin to a cold dusk, their hands often cool to the touch, their aura like dry wood in twilight. However, this old man’s eyes were vibrant with life, like a blazing iron furnace, continuously exuding immense vitality—as if his body temperature might melt the tables and benches around—outshining even the youthful exuberance of those still in their growth stages.

I attempted to sense his mana, to gauge my gap against Luo Mountain’s most powerful Impermanence, only to find out, astoundedly, that I couldn’t measure it at all.

It wasn’t that his mana was too formidable; rather, I couldn’t sense anything at all. From a mana-sensing perspective, it was as if the one sitting there was merely an invisible, colorless mass of air.

Had he concealed his mana? That was my initial reaction. Just as he could hide his presence from my awareness, perhaps he could obscure my perception of his mana by some means. Although I didn’t know why he would do so, it was certainly within his capability.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t avoid considering another, even more perplexing possibility.

Perhaps he hadn’t concealed his mana at all.

Ordinary demon hunters cannot sense the mana of an Impermanence, because compared to the diminutive demon hunters, Impermanence is as colossal as a mountain. As the saying goes, "when in the midst of the mountain, one cannot see the mountain," when the size difference is vast enough, one side will lose its sense of the other.

I might be perceiving Old Fist God the same way ordinary demon hunters perceive me.

Could such an absurd thing... such an improbable situation actually be possible?

Or am I misunderstanding, with other possibilities not yet considered? Perhaps Old Fist God doesn’t use a conventional magic system, hence it can’t be judged by the standard way?

I realized why many past enemies, despite not sensing my mana fluctuations, didn’t misunderstand our power gap; merely not sensing mana fluctuations indeed proves challenging as a measure of strength. Had I not known this old man was Old Fist God, I wouldn’t suspect our mana fluctuation disparity meant our differences were in separate dimensions.

"What have you come for?" Weichi gazed at Old Fist God.

"I am here for him."

Old Fist God seemed indifferent to Weichi’s impolite demeanor, his gaze fixed on me, "You’re Zhuang Cheng, correct?"

"Yes." I acknowledged.

"Have you finished your little secrets? Earlier, it seemed like you had something important to discuss, so I went to eat here in the cafeteria,"

Old Fist God spoke while observing me, then nodded: "Hmm... I heard you’ve reached the realm that Shan Liangyi dreams of achieving, the legendary Manifestation Monk... and I’ve never witnessed the so-called ’Manifestation.’ Indeed, it’s utterly distinct from other forms of elementalization, appears quite intriguing."

What do you mean by "looks intriguing," are you going to eat me?

"Why have you sought me?" I inquired.

"No particular reason, just to take a look. If possible, I also wish to see what level a Manifestation Monk holds... though it seems your condition isn’t the best. Perhaps I’ve come at a bad time."

Old Fist God first appeared regretful, then curiosity washed over his face. He then turned to Weichi: "However, you did earn my admiration. What did you say earlier—intent on becoming stronger, then killing me to avenge Qilin? Are you serious?"

For the first time, I heard Weichi speak with such a cold tone: "Do you doubt I can do it?"

"It’s not a matter of ’can or cannot.’" Old Fist God looked at him with an odd expression, "If any other demon hunter said such a thing to me, I’d only view it as setting a lofty ambition, using me as a benchmark to strive for improvement. Whether it can be realized aside, a man should hold grand ambitions.

"But you are different, aren’t you? Such ambition isn’t something you should claim. Although I don’t know how you intend to become stronger, do you truly have the courage to pay the price for strength?"

Towards the end, his voice seemed to reveal a feeling of expectancy.