Chapter Twenty-Five: Opening the Left Arm

Zhou Yu and Hua Queyue squeezed out of the crowd and walked to an open area. Night had already fallen, and the sky was studded with stars. The crescent moon, at last freed from the thick clouds, poured its radiance generously upon the earth.

“You really are a monster, you know. I can’t believe you managed to eat that much,” Hua Queyue said, glancing at Zhou Yu, who was rubbing his belly.

“It’s not that much. My digestive system is just a bit more efficient than most,” Zhou Yu replied nonchalantly.

The two of them chatted idly, wandering without purpose until they found themselves beside a small lake. Moonlight sparkled on the water’s surface, sending shimmering ripples across the lake. The gentle waves lapped quietly against the shore, producing a crisp, clear sound.

Zhou Yu picked up a small stone and tossed it into the lake. Water splashed, disturbing the calm ripples and sending concentric waves outward.

“It’s really nothing worth mentioning,” Hua Queyue said, watching the water. “As it happens, it’s time for the once-in-a-decade competition in the Spirit Realm. In the past, all the major sects and factions have sent their disciples to compete. Since you’re all going to be tested, it made sense for them to join as well.”

Zhou Yu watched the spreading ripples, raised his eyebrows, and asked, “Whose idea was it?”

“Zuo Hao from the Beast Sect,” Hua Queyue replied.

“What do you think?” Zhou Yu turned to look at Hua Queyue.

Hua Queyue frowned. “There’s something odd about it, to be honest. But the envoys accepted his suggestion, and Elder Jin agreed as well, so...”

“So I have to participate too,” Zhou Yu said, standing up and lifting his head to gaze at the star-filled sky.

Hua Queyue followed his gaze. The stars in that part of the sky seemed especially bright. He asked, “Aren’t you being a little too reckless?”

Zhou Yu didn’t answer the question. Instead, he pointed at a cluster of particularly brilliant stars. “Do you know what constellation that is?”

“Constellation?”

“That’s Pegasus,” Zhou Yu said. “It means never backing down in the face of an enemy.”

Hua Queyue withdrew his gaze and looked at Zhou Yu as if he were an idiot. “The duel is in ten days. Right now, you’re practically crippled. Even if you’re determined, you still need to have your life to gamble with. I really don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

“You’re right. It is foolish. But I need to put pressure on myself—lately, I’ve had this inexplicable sense of danger,” Zhou Yu said, shifting his gaze to a different constellation.

For some reason, at Zhou Yu’s mention of a vague sense of danger, Hua Queyue couldn’t help but recall the man from the previous night—the one whose presence was almost godlike in its power, sending chills down his spine.

Looking at the stubborn youth before him, Hua Queyue’s feelings grew complicated. The world was already descending into chaos, and he’d learned from the other transmigrators about the events of that other world, about the Six Paths. If the reincarnation of the Asura King really was among these transmigrators, then which one was it?

These days, he’d been watching the group closely: Morrison, unmatched in strength among the transmigrators, ruthless and iron-fisted; Abuli, pure as a child, whose smile seemed to carry the scent of sunlight; the cold, aloof Russian who never took action but radiated indifference; and the German with a hooked nose and the eyes of a wolf.

And then there was this stubborn youth in front of him. Hua Queyue’s thoughts were in turmoil.

“What are you thinking about?” Zhou Yu asked.

“What kind of person are you, really?” Hua Queyue replied.

Zhou Yu was taken aback. “Why do I feel like you have a crush on me when you say things like that? I’m a model citizen of the new era—honest, upright, and not interested in guys.” Seeing Hua Queyue’s confused expression, he grinned, then grew serious. “I used to doubt it, but now I realize I’m becoming more and more like a typical Capricorn. I know you don’t know much about Capricorns, but if you want to find out, help me clear the meridian in my left arm.” He held out his left hand.

Hua Queyue rolled his eyes. “It’s only been a few days, and you want to clear the meridian in your left arm? It took me a full forty-nine months back then.”

Zhou Yu chuckled. “You only had one bowl of noodles just now.”

“So what? Don’t you know maintaining one’s figure is a long-term battle?” Hua Queyue retorted.

“I had forty-nine bowls,” Zhou Yu replied.

At this, Hua Queyue stared at him, deadly serious. After a pause, he asked, “Are you saying... you’re just a glutton?”

Zhou Yu felt dizzy, his mind going blank for a moment before he recovered. “What I mean is... since I eat forty-nine times as much as you, my recovery should be forty-nine times faster.”

“What kind of logic is that?” Hua Queyue scoffed. “By that reasoning, pigs ought to be the most powerful beings in the world!”

“You don’t believe me? Just check for yourself,” Zhou Yu said, extending his left arm.

With skepticism, Hua Queyue reached out to examine his pulse. What he discovered shocked him. “How did you do that?”

Zhou Yu scratched his head. “The injury to my left arm was the least severe, so I’ve been focusing on clearing its meridian these past few days. But now, all the energy I’ve accumulated in this arm is exhausted. Even though I eat so much, with the meridian still blocked, only a little energy gets through. I’m so close—just a bit more, and I’ll break through.”

Hua Queyue took his pulse again, closing his eyes to feel carefully. The main meridian in Zhou Yu’s left arm was almost open, save for one severed section. As Zhou Yu said, there was barely any energy left in the limb.

After a while, Hua Queyue opened his eyes. “I finally understand the true meaning of ‘freak.’ I’m convinced. I’ll help you.”

Zhou Yu thought for a moment, then asked, “You probably know us transmigrators better than anyone. With an ability like mine—rapidly converting food into energy and recovering super quickly—where would I rank among them?”

Hua Queyue frowned in thought. “It’s hard to say. Your ability isn’t directly offensive, and there’s no special cultivation path that suits it. Apart from making you harder to kill, all it really does is make you a champion in eating contests.”

Zhou Yu’s face darkened. “Forget it, just help me open up the meridian.”

Hua Queyue said nothing more. What he didn’t say was that only those with the resilience of a cockroach could survive and go further in this world ruled by strength.

They sat facing each other. Hua Queyue spoke in a low voice, “I’m going to channel energy into your left arm to break through the final barrier. Are you ready?”

“Yeah, don’t worry. I’m used to the pain by now. But... could you send the energy in slowly?” Zhou Yu asked.

“How are you supposed to break through a meridian if I go slow?” Hua Queyue replied.

Zhou Yu grinned slyly. “I’ll tell you when it’s over.”

Hua Queyue, half-believing, began to channel the energy slowly as Zhou Yu requested.

Zhou Yu closed his eyes and entered his inner void. Above his head, one of the broken red rivers was nearly opened, shrouded in a faint green light. The virtual assistant guided the green energy, slowly mending the red river.

Despite that, the pain made Zhou Yu tremble and sweat profusely. Being able to see his own meridians, combined with the assistant’s guidance, made the process swift and safe, without risk of rupture. The only issue was lack of energy, which was half the reason Zhou Yu had come to Hua Queyue—to learn about the duel, and to trick him into helping. That green energy, brimming with vitality, was exactly what Zhou Yu needed.

After two hours, Hua Queyue opened his eyes and slowly withdrew his hand, the faint green light in his palm fading away.

Zhou Yu opened his eyes as well, saw Hua Queyue’s pale face, and said simply, “Thank you.”

Furious, Hua Queyue snapped, “You’re not just a glutton—you’re a bottomless pit!”

Zhou Yu laughed sheepishly. “You caught me.”

“How far did you get?” Hua Queyue asked solemnly.

Zhou Yu answered awkwardly, “About a third of the way...”

“What? I gave you half my energy and you only managed a third?” Hua Queyue stared at Zhou Yu in disbelief. “You really are a monster!”

“The Medicine King said I was born with a special gift—a vessel made to hold energy,” Zhou Yu replied.

“The Medicine King? You actually met him?” Hua Queyue was even more shocked. “If he said so, then it must be true. But...”

“Yeah, he also said my cultivation may never progress, because my ‘vessel’ is too large,” Zhou Yu confessed.

Just then, a loud grumbling sound interrupted them.

Zhou Yu and Hua Queyue exchanged glances. Hua Queyue looked thunderous.