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Chapter 278 Good and Evil, Two Sides Forcibly Separated!

Fang Qingyu's phrase, "I'm growing up," is relevant here.
The anxiety on the faces of Shi Kong, Liu Hanyan, Wei Banmeng, and the newly arrived members of Shi Kong's team, Liu Qingyan, and others was instantly replaced by immense confusion.

All eyes were fixed on Fang Qingyu's unusually strange expression.

"grow up?"

Shi Kong touched his bald head, his face, now slightly handsome after the sallow disguise was washed away, was full of astonishment.

"Captain Fang, isn't Xiao Jiangwei always growing? What... what's going on with this energy fluctuation?"

Wei Banmeng was extremely anxious, her eyes still red, and her voice trembling slightly: "Qingzi! Let me go in and take a look."

She instinctively wanted to rush in again, but the violent energy fluctuations made her heart pound.

"Don't be impatient, listen to me."

Fang Qingyu spread his arms wide, forming a human wall to block the doorway. His divine power swirled around him, creating an invisible barrier that kept everyone outside.

His expression was a mixture of embarrassment, shock, and an indescribable sense of absurdity.

"Her body,"

Fang Qingyu's Adam's apple bobbed, as if he was struggling to find the right words to describe this unbelievable sight. "It's growing in a very rapid way! Literally, literally! Very fast! So, it's not convenient to go in right now!"

Rapid growth? Growing up in the literal sense?
The group exchanged bewildered glances, feeling as if their common sense had been severely challenged.

It's not uncommon for faith in deities to bring increased power, but what makes a seven or eight-year-old child "grow up" instantly?
This is similar to Fang Qingyu's ability to possess dual-system capabilities.

Unheard of.

Shi Kong opened his mouth, but in the end only murmured, "The followers of God are indeed all kinds of strange and wonderful people."

This is perhaps the only plausible explanation at present.

The forms of power gained from worshipping different gods are inherently vastly different, leading to this incomprehensible phenomenon.

It seems that it's barely acceptable?

It's at least easier to accept than admitting that your worldview has collapsed.

Liu Hanyan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down: "So, she's not in mortal danger right now? She's just growing up?"

"Currently, his vital signs are stable, but the outburst of this force was somewhat sudden."

Fang Qingyu nodded affirmatively, calming everyone's tense nerves slightly.

Just then, the blinding crimson light in the ward receded rapidly like a tide, and the violent energy fluctuations were also smoothed out as if by an invisible hand, instantly calming down, leaving only a warm aftertaste flowing in the air.

"All right!"

Fang Qingyu breathed a sigh of relief and stepped aside to clear the doorway. "It's okay now. But, Banmeng, why don't you go in first and change her clothes?"

Wei Banmeng was the first to rush in.

After she changed Jiang Wei's clothes again.

Only then did the others follow them inside.

Time seemed to freeze again when their gaze fell on the hospital bed.

The bed, the spot that originally belonged to the little girl Jiang Wei.

The person lying there was a girl who looked to be at least fifteen or sixteen years old.
Her face had completely lost its childlike roundness, and the lines had become clear and delicate.

Her delicate nose was pert and upturned, and her lips were like newly blooming petals, with a natural rosy hue.

A head of long, black hair was spread out on the pillow, its sheen flowing.

This face.
She is exceptionally beautiful, possessing an innocent purity that seems untouched by the world, yet subtly revealing an indescribable, almost divine, sense of detachment.

"hiss"

Someone gasped in surprise.

A deathly silence permeated the ward.

All eyes were fixed on that sleeping face.

His face was filled with extreme shock and a chilling realization!

Shi Kong stared intently at that face for a long while before murmuring in a dry, almost dreamlike voice:

"They look so alike!"

Liu Hanyan nodded subconsciously, her eyes filled with deep astonishment.

It's more than just similar!
The contours of those eyebrows and eyes, the charm and temperament they exude.
It was as if the image had been copied from the face of that peerless, red-clad, red-haired deity.

However, she lacked some of the languor and detachment of a deity looking down upon all living beings, and gained more of the purity and innocence of a young girl.

Jiang Wei was only seven or eight years old before. Although there was a resemblance between them in their eyes and brows, the childishness of the child masked too much of the resemblance.

Now that the body has suddenly grown up, the astonishing resemblance is as if a veil has been lifted, revealing itself nakedly to everyone.

The serious expressions on everyone's faces showed that they were frantically digesting and pondering this shocking fact.

Why does Jiang Wei look so much like that deity called "Hanba"?!

Is this just a coincidence?

Or is there some deeper connection that they cannot imagine?
The air in the ward seemed to freeze, with only the heavy breathing of everyone remaining.

Hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor; the border guards' medical personnel had finally arrived.

Several doctors and nurses in white coats quickly squeezed in. When they saw Jiang Wei, who had "disappeared" from her bed, they were equally shocked and speechless, but their professionalism made them immediately begin to conduct various examinations.

"Vital signs are stable."

"The fluctuations within my body have subsided."

"Brainwave activity is normal; the patient is in deep sleep."

"All her physical indicators are incredible; they perfectly match those of a healthy, growing sixteen-year-old girl. There are no signs of overexertion or damage whatsoever."

The doctors examined the patients while whispering amongst themselves.

The astonishment on his face was impossible to hide.

Even if they are doctors who specialize in treating the bodies of superhumans.

So many years.

I've never seen anyone suddenly grow seven or eight years older.

It's totally off the mark.

Shi Kong and Liu Hanyan exchanged a glance, both seeing deep apprehension and a tacit understanding that was best left unsaid in each other's eyes.

This matter involves a true god.

The secrecy surrounding Fang Qingyu's core team members is too sensitive.

As outsiders, the less they know, the better.

"Since the doctor has confirmed that everything is fine, we won't disturb you any longer."

Shi Kong clasped his hands together and nodded slightly to Fang Qingyu. The shock on his face had mostly subsided, and he had regained his usual composure. "Captain Fang, if Miss Jiang needs anything, please let us know at any time."

Liu Hanyan nodded and, along with her younger sister Liu Qingyan and the other team members, quietly left the ward.

Soon, only Fang Qingyu's team remained in the ward.

And the medical staff who left after completing the basic examination and explaining the precautions.

Chu Kuanglan scratched his messy hair, looked at Jiang Wei, who looked completely different on the hospital bed, and then at Fang Qingyu. He broke the silence with a muffled voice: "Fang Shen, little Jiang... she looks too much like that person, doesn't she? Won't this cause some trouble later?"

His rugged face was etched with worry.

Jiang Wei's sudden resemblance to that terrifying god is hardly a good thing.

Wei Banmeng carefully helped the sleeping Jiang Wei change into her clothes, covered her with the blanket, and sat down on the edge of the bed.

Her brows were furrowed on her cool face as she looked at Fang Qingyu. Although she didn't speak, the questioning and worry in her eyes were exactly the same as Chu Kuanglan's.

Xiao Jiang's situation is too strange. What will the higher-ups think?
Will there be any danger?

Fang Qingyu's gaze swept over his two teammates, finally settling on Jiang Wei's profile, which appeared exceptionally peaceful and beautiful as she slept.

He was silent for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head and chuckled softly.

"fine."

"I'll talk to them. You don't need to worry."

Chu Kuanglan and Wei Banmeng looked at Fang Qingyu, and their tense nerves relaxed a little.

Fang Qingyu has been with Jiang Wei all the way from Qingjian City to where she is now, so his understanding of Jiang Wei is naturally far greater than that of others.

Moreover, the fact that Jiang Wei was able to pass through the layers of scrutiny by the Bureau of Divine Religion to join the Hidden Dragon, especially the crucial test of her belief in the alien gods, proves her innocence and that she is by no means a follower of the alien gods.

This is perhaps the only piece of evidence that can offer them some solace at the moment.

"Alright! As long as you understand, Fang Shen!"

Chu Kuanglan patted Fang Qingyu's shoulder heavily, "Then I'll head out first. Old Lu should be waking up soon, I'll go check on him. Remember to call us when Xiao Jiang wakes up!"

After he finished speaking, he glanced at Jiang Wei again before striding away from the ward.

Wei Banmeng also stood up and said softly to Fang Qingyu, "I'm right next door. Call me if you need anything."

"Ah."

Fang Qingyu nodded.

After the two left, the ward became quiet again.

Fang Qingyu instructed the nurses on duty at the entrance to keep a close eye on things and notify him immediately if anything unusual happened.

Afterwards, he walked out of the ward again, through the corridor that still smelled faintly of disinfectant, and headed towards Hong Qitian's office.

Tap twice.

"Enter."

Hong Qitian's voice came through.

Fang Qingyu was slightly taken aback when he pushed open the door and went in.

Besides the old man lounging on the sofa, sipping tea from a small purple clay teapot, there was another person in the office.

It was the same imposing man in old-fashioned military uniform who had stood before him like a mountain on the icy plains, forcing back the Heavenly Maiden Ba. His aura was as deep and unfathomable as a bottomless abyss.

Wu Zunshan inscription.

At this moment, Shan Ming sat upright opposite Hong Qitian, his back ramrod straight, like an ancient sword drawn from its sheath.

There was a cup of tea in front of him, but it was clearly untouched.

Upon seeing Fang Qingyu enter, he showed no expression on his face, only giving a very slight nod as a greeting.

There was a hint of approval in his eyes.

Hong Qitian raised his eyelids slightly and pointed to the empty sofa next to him, "You can sit down first."

Fang Qingyu sat down as instructed, remaining silent and acting as a listener for the time being.

Shan Ming's voice rang out, speaking slowly but clearly.

"Commander Hong, the Ghost Festival offensive ended five days ago, and preliminary statistics are in. The intensity and scale of the Ghost Army's attacks have increased by 63.7 percent compared to the same period last year. The increase is mainly concentrated in the second-tier elite clusters and the third-tier shockwaves in specific areas."

He paused, his facial features tightened, and a hint of seriousness flashed in his eyes.

"The pressure is greatest in the Frostbone Fjord battlefield. The frequency of heavy siege units centered around the super-large Life Ghosts has increased significantly. Although they were repelled by a joint effort, the 7th Army Corps of the Garrison suffered heavy casualties. The 'Frostbone Rift' defense line also encountered an unprecedented 'Shadow Claw Bat' swarm attack. They used the complex terrain and shadows of the rift to stealthily move, causing great trouble for our outposts and resulting in the loss of three forward observation points."

“What’s even more troublesome is,” Shan Ming’s voice took on a chill, “that according to the fragmented information intercepted by the ‘Listening’ team and feedback from the front-line troops, the tactical coordination of the Ghost Army has significantly improved.”

"The cooperation between different types of ghosts is no longer as chaotic and disorderly as before. There are signs of organized feints, division, and encirclement and reinforcement. Although it is still very crude, this trend is very dangerous."

Hong Qitian's hand holding the teapot froze in mid-air, his cloudy old eyes narrowing slightly.

Inside, a sharp light gleamed, and there was no trace of the previous lazy and roguish air.

After a long silence, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and slammed the purple clay teapot heavily onto the coffee table with a dull thud.

"Understood. Tell Qin Wu that the vacancies and compensation for the Seventh Army Corps should be filled first. Send an additional heavy battalion to the Cold Bone Fjord direction."

Hong Qitian spoke slowly but clearly, issuing a series of instructions swiftly.

Shan Ming listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

"That's all. You can go ahead and get busy."

Hong Qitian waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Shan Ming abruptly stood up, gave Hong Qitian a crisp military salute, nodded slightly to Fang Qingyu, and then strode out of the office, his heavy footsteps fading into the distance. Only Hong Qitian and Fang Qingyu remained in the office.

Hong Qitian leaned back on the sofa, picked up the teapot, took a sip, and looked at Fang Qingyu with a knowing and teasing expression: "You came for that little girl?"

Fang Qingyu wasn't surprised the old man knew, and nodded: "Yes. She woke up, but fell into a deep sleep again. Her body has undergone a significant change."

Hong Qitian slowly poured himself more tea without even lifting his eyelids: "Don't worry, she's fine. Or rather, I've known about her ever since she stepped into the Bureau of Divine Management."

Fang Qingyu's eyes showed some doubt: "You knew all along?!"

When Jiang Wei joined Qianlong, she underwent a rigorous review, especially a test of her belief in the alien gods, and there were no abnormal reactions whatsoever.

How did the old man know?
"Strange?" Hong Qitian glanced at him, a half-smile on his face. "You know that there are some true forms of gods in our world who are on the side of our Federation, right?"

Fang Qingyu suppressed the turmoil in his heart and nodded.

Lin Kang had indeed mentioned to him in the early days that the Federation was backed by several ancient gods, but their numbers were extremely small.

"After the drought demon gained power and began to wreak havoc in the Arctic."

Hong Qitian put down the teapot, his eyes becoming deep. "Those gentlemen mentioned a story to me."

"In the Battle of Zhuolu, Nüba helped the Yellow Emperor capture and kill Chiyou, making an unparalleled contribution. However, her divine power was exhausted, and she could no longer return to the Heavenly Palace, so she had to wander to the mortal world. That's all that is written in the ancient books. But how did she end up wandering to the mortal world? The ancient books don't say."

Hong Qitian paused, his gaze fixed intently on Fang Qingyu.

"Those people told me that in order to preserve Nüba's last hope of returning to her peak and restoring her power, the Yellow Emperor used his supreme power to forcibly split Nüba's vast divine consciousness into two. One side carried the relatively 'good' part of her divine power, which held hope, while the other side was stripped of all the 'evil' roots of violence, greed, and destruction."

"Actually, both of them were originally named Nüba."

"It's just that the evil side did too many things in the world, and thus became a drought demon."

"The divine consciousness that carries 'goodness' and hope was protected by the Yellow Emperor with a secret method and cast into the long river of reincarnation in the human world. Life after life, it is reincarnated and reborn, like a torch being passed on, waiting to accumulate strength again in the endless river of time, to regain the divided authority, and finally, to be reborn in Nirvana."

He pointed towards the ward, his eyes sharp:

"That little girl in your team, Jiang Wei, is the 'kind' side of Nüba."

Good and evil, hope and destruction, two sides forcibly separated.

Fang Qingyu suddenly realized something.

No wonder they look so alike.

It turns out that the two people were originally the same person.

"I see."

Fang Qingyu let out a long breath, feeling as if a huge rock that had been weighing on his heart had been lifted a little.

At least, Jiang Wei's identity is no longer an unresolved hidden danger.

"So she suddenly grew up?"

Fang Qingyu then pressed on with the most crucial question, "Was it caused by the drought demon's finger? Will it harm her? When will she wake up?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Qitian rolled his eyes in annoyance, picked up the purple clay teapot and took another sip: "I'm not a god, how would I know what earth-shattering changes are taking place in her body?"

"Just wait, I've already asked for you. I'll let you know when I have news."

He paused, looking at Fang Qingyu's still furrowed brows, then changed the subject with a hint of amusement: "But kid, that's probably not what you should be concerned about right now, is it? Are you thinking about how to use the fact that our team is raising a future god to bargain with this old man and squeeze some money out of him?"

Fang Qingyu didn't even blush when his thoughts were exposed.

Instead, he confidently took advantage of the situation and said, "Otherwise, how can I say you understand me? Since Jiang Wei is now on the Federation's side and is a sure thing for future top-tier combat power, she needs resources to grow, right?"

"Our team bears the heavy responsibility of nurturing and protecting us. Shouldn't the Federation show some appreciation? Offer some substantial support?"

Hong Qitian was so angry at Fang Qingyu's blatant extortion that he laughed. He grabbed a folder from the table and pretended to smash it: "Get lost! You little brat! She's not even awake yet, and you're already thinking about the benefits? Let her come and talk to me herself when she wakes up! Now, get back to what you were doing."

Fang Qingyu nimbly dodged the non-existent attack.

Without waiting for the old man to scold her again, she quickly turned around and slipped out of the office.

Seeing the closed door, the anger on Hong Qitian's face vanished instantly.

Instead, it was replaced by a profound reflection.

After leaving Hong Qitian's office, Fang Qingyu returned to Jiang Wei's hospital room.

The nurse on duty at the door immediately reported in a low voice: "Captain Fang, Ms. Jiang's vital signs are stable, she is still in a deep sleep, and there are no abnormalities."

Fang Qingyu nodded and gently pushed the door open to go inside.

Under the soft light, the girl on the hospital bed was fast asleep.

Having shed its childlike appearance, its face, which bore an eight or nine-tenths resemblance to the drought demon but was now much purer and gentler, appeared exceptionally serene and beautiful in its sleep.

Her long, black hair was spread out on the white pillow, making her skin appear even whiter.

Fang Qingyu pulled up a chair, sat down on the edge of the bed, and quietly gazed at her.

For a moment, only the soft breathing of the two people remained in the ward.

The old man didn't give a specific explanation for growing up.

But at least it confirms that Jiang Wei herself is not in danger, and that her position is absolutely reliable.

This finally put Fang Qingyu's mind at ease.

"When you wake up, you'll have to settle accounts with the old man about raising a future female war goddess. It's not cheap."

A faint smile appeared on Fang Qingyu's lips.

Now that it's confirmed that Jiang Wei is unharmed, all that's left is to wait for her to wake up naturally.

As for bargaining, that's something to do after you wake up.

……

Meanwhile, deep in the Arctic.

Beyond endless snow and desolate ice plains, at the core of the extreme cold and desolate region.

A vast and breathtaking complex of buildings lies sprawled on the permafrost.

It is composed of countless huge, pale, and differently shaped skeletons.

This is one of the important strongholds of the Ghost of Fate deep in the Arctic.

Eternal Frost Skull.

In the very center, and also the tallest, was a hall of white bones.

The cold air seemed to freeze.

At the far end of the hall stood a throne made of countless enormous, smooth, pale skulls.

The drought demon leaned back, its fiery red skirt, like flowing blood, spreading out across the stark white bone base, creating a jarring contrast.

With his elbows resting on the armrests of the throne and his fair hands supporting his perfectly sculpted chin, his crimson eyes, like molten lava gems, gazed indifferently through the windowpane, carved from massive ice crystals, at the howling, swirling, and ceaseless polar blizzard outside.

That face, so similar to Jiang Wei's, yet filled with a divine languor and extreme indifference, was expressionless, like a lifeless, perfect sculpture.

The hall was deathly silent, with only the endless howling of the wind and snow outside.

suddenly.

Beside the throne, on the surface of a pale bone pillar supported by a thick spine, the heavy shadow twitched eerily, like an undercurrent beneath a calm surface.

The drought demon didn't even turn its head. With a casual lift of its right hand, which was supporting its cheek, a wisp of crimson fire, as thin as a hair, suddenly shot out from its fingertip and struck the edge of the writhing shadow with perfect accuracy.

laugh!
A slight burning sound rang out, and the edge of the shadow instantly turned black, like scalded skin.

Did I say that?

The drought demon's cold, emotionless voice echoed in the hall, like a polar wind sweeping across an icy surface, carrying suppressed rage.

"If you're coming to find me, come in through the front door!"

"You still need to knock!"

Her voice echoed in the empty bone hall, carrying an undeniable divine power.

The hall fell silent once again.

A full dozen or so breaths passed.

The door to the Hall of Bones, pieced together from skeletons, creaked open with a teeth-grinding sound as someone slowly pushed it open a crack from the outside.

A shadow, like a thin sheet of black paper, flowed in through the crack in the door.

It has no physical form, no facial features, it is just a pure human-shaped outline.

Moreover, they walked very slowly, their posture even carrying a deliberate elegance.

It glided silently to the open ground not far below the throne and stood still.

"Are you still angry?" A gentle, neutral voice, devoid of any discernible emotion, rang out, echoing throughout the hall.

The voice was exactly the same as the one Black Duke used to stop Shan Ming from making a move on the ice plains.

The drought demon finally turned its head slowly, its crimson eyes looking down at the human-shaped shadow below, its gaze filled with undisguised disgust and contempt: "Spit it out."

Despite this hostile attitude, Shadow showed no sign of anger and asked gently, "I'm just curious. You went to such lengths, even risking your whereabouts, to see her, why didn't you just devour her?"

Its voice carried a hint of genuine doubt, as if it were truly just puzzled.

"Isn't this the best opportunity you've finally found after waiting for countless years? Devour her, and you can immediately replenish your essence, return to your peak, and even surpass your former self."

The drought demon's brow furrowed very slightly, then relaxed again.

It's as if I'm just annoyed by something annoying.

She turned her gaze back to the wind and snow outside the window, leaving only her shadow with an extremely indifferent profile. Her red lips parted slightly, and she uttered a few words:

"Leave me alone?"

The hall fell silent once again.

The shadow stood there silently, like a lifeless silhouette decoration.

But it showed no sign of leaving; its gentle yet persistent gaze, like a leech, remained firmly fixed on the figure on the throne.

Seemingly further irritated by this silent persistence, the drought demon finally couldn't take it anymore. It abruptly turned around, its crimson eyes blazing with suppressed rage, and growled in an extremely impatient tone:

"There are still remnants of reincarnation power within her. Forcibly absorbing it will only trigger a backlash from the reincarnation power. At best, it will cause a clash of origins that will result in mutual destruction; at worst, she may be dragged into the vortex of reincarnation by that power and completely lost! Do you want me to gamble on a less than one in ten thousand chance of not being affected by the backlash?!"

Her voice carried a hint of urgency, revealing that she was not as indifferent as she appeared.

"I need to let her completely absorb the power of reincarnation on her own! Only when that shell disappears, and her origin and my shared aura are no longer obstructed, can I devour her. Are you satisfied now?"

After the drought demon finished speaking, it seemed to have exhausted its patience. It suddenly waved its hand, pointed at the palace gate, and shouted sharply, "Get out!"

The shadow listened quietly to the drought demon's explanation, and its gentle voice seemed to carry a hint of understanding.

"understood."

The shadow responded softly.

"Don't worry. When that moment comes, I will help you. At all costs."

Its voice remained gentle, yet it revealed a chilling obsession and ruthlessness.

Upon hearing this promise, which was almost a confession, the drought demon was not moved at all. Instead, it felt as if it had heard the most disgusting words in the world, and goosebumps visibly rose all over its body.

He waved his hands repeatedly in utter disgust, as if shooing away foul-smelling flies:

"Get out! Get out of here right now! I hate seeing you!"

The shadow seemed to chuckle softly, a chuckle so gentle it was completely calm.

It didn't linger, just as it had come, silently "flowing" towards the palace gate, eventually merging into the wider shadows outside and disappearing from sight.

The heavy doors of the Bone Palace slowly closed, isolating the inside from the outside.

Inside the main hall, only the drought demon remained, along with the endless howling of wind and snow outside the window.

She remained frozen in the posture of chasing away the shadows for a moment before slowly withdrawing her hand and leaning back against the cold skull throne.

His crimson eyes once again gazed out the icy window at that desolate, white world ruled by wind and snow.

The anger, annoyance, and contempt in his eyes dissipated as quickly as the tide receded.

In the end, all that remained was a bottomless weariness and bewilderment.

She curled up slightly, her long, crimson hair falling down and obscuring half of her face.

A barely audible voice, tinged with endless weariness and a hint of barely perceptible fragility, drifted like a sigh through the cold, deathly silent hall of bones:
"this time."

"Can we even survive?"

(End of this chapter)