Chapter 124: Battling Odin Once More

The vault of heaven was masked by thick, dark clouds, impenetrable even to the sunlight. Only the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the world, followed by the deafening roar of thunder. Though the world’s most powerful typhoon had not yet made landfall, its sheer force had already engulfed the entire city.

The rushing winds transformed into a barrier, and the torrential rain was deflected to either side by an invisible shield. The world churned in this tempest, and a familiar sensation began to emerge.

"All conditions have been met. The Nibelungen is about to open. This time, even Odin, that turtle hiding in his shell, cannot avoid a head-on confrontation." With a camera mounted on her shoulder, Xia Mi’s golden eyes ignited. Cyan scales covered her jade-like skin as she whispered, "I hope to get some good footage—good luck, Senior."

"Mhm," Chu Zihang replied softly. Her right hand drew the alchemical weapon Murasame from its sheath. Unlike the weapon she had snatched from a Dead Servant, this blade was the latest model, forged by Xia Mi in collaboration with the scientists of the Heavenly Kingdom. It was the sister-blade to the Whispering Wind—a Han-style straight sword she carried in her left hand. Both were at the absolute peak of sharpness and durability, capable of withstanding the girl’s incredibly brutal fighting style.

The world was filled with the sound of rain. Countless fine lines descended from the sky, tearing through the air; under the fury of the storm, reality itself seemed to warp.

*Dong!*
*Dong!*
*Dong!*
*Dong!*
*Dong!*

At the top of the distant Clock Tower, the massive golden clock suddenly chimed, its mechanical voice piercing the dense curtain of rain:

"It is now five o'clock in the afternoon!"
"It is now five o'clock in the afternoon!"
"It is now five o'clock in the afternoon!"

The announcement acted like a switch. The world twisted violently, and a space that appeared identical but felt fundamentally different replaced the real city.

It was clear that Odin had not been idle while being blocked at his gates all these years. The Nibelungen, which had once been confined to a single overpass, had silently expanded to cover the entire city.

"Tian is not here yet," the girl said, slowly raising her blade to her brow. Her waist-length hair danced without wind, each strand fluttering behind her. Amidst the lightning, her weapon flickered with a cold, metallic gleam. "This is the best opportunity to take them out one by one. Are you not going to show yourself?"

"You have come after all."

The voice, layered like the overlapping chorus of countless souls, came from behind them—ancient, stern, and filled with an intangible, archaic, and noble presence. Even as a Dragon King, Xia Mi felt a subtle sense of being outmatched in lineage, as if her own essence were being suppressed.

Yet, Jormungand was one of the Four Great Monarchs; who could possibly be more noble than her?

"Odin," Xia Mi turned, the camera capturing the figure before them.

Just as he had six years ago, Odin wore the same attire: dark gold armor, a blue cloak, and the gnarled, branch-like Gungnir held in his hand. He sat atop his eight-legged steed, his face hidden behind a silver mask from which lava-like light erupted through the eye and mouth slits.

"You've shrunk," Chu Zihang said suddenly, the memory of that day still vivid despite the years. "Your body is a size smaller—no, many sizes smaller. Is this your true form?"

"A phantom of the Nibelungen, can even a hollow spirit achieve completion? You actually succeeded." Xia Mi took a step back. The "weak" girl hid behind Chu Zihang, her fingers tracing messages onto her back while she kept talking. "No, you’re still one step away. A critical step."

"Forget it, it’s none of my business. I’m sick of being a dragon; I’m not a combatant right now, just support."

"We have no irreconcilable hatred," Odin said, his voice flat, as if merely stating a fact. "I can return Chu Tianjiao to you. Can we part ways now?"

"As a Dead Servant?" Xia Mi countered. "Besides, anyone who has reached the Nibelungen can reach it again. A turtle like you, would you take that risk? Wait, I see—you’re trying to lock onto us!"

"Senior—go, I leave it to you!"

Xia Mi retreated a few more steps. Suddenly, a phoenix wreathed in blue flames soared from behind Chu Zihang. Gold-hued reptilian pupils replaced her dark eyes, and the tips of her hair began to turn snow-white. There was no doubt: the girl had entered battle mode.

No more words were needed; the necessary communication had already been completed. In a heartbeat, Chu Zihang vanished from her spot, and a sharp whistling sound echoed through the world.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

The sounds of blade meeting spear blurred into a single note. Gungnir streaked across the sky like a meteor, only to be intercepted by the blades time and again.

*Slash! Slash! Slash!*

Countless years and countless strikes had etched the art of the cut into every fiber of her being. Facing this long-awaited enemy, Chu Zihang’s spirit, will, and strength were pushed to an unprecedented peak.

In that moment, she forgot the heavens and the earth; only one word remained in her heart—*Slash!*

Three years ago, having undergone a complete baptism, Chu Zihang had shed her human identity. The blood of the Heavenly Kingdom’s divine race had merged with her human blood, evolving it completely and purging the dragon blood from her veins.

Now, Chu Zihang was one of the only two immortal, infinitely powerful beings of the Heavenly Kingdom’s divine race on this planet.

Because of this, just like Liu Tian, the elements of the world now refused her direct command. She had lost the ability to use Monarch’s Flame, but in exchange, another power of infinite utility had erupted from the depths of her blood—a formidable force known as the Flame of Control.

It was a super-flame with a peak temperature of six thousand degrees Celsius, reaching the surface temperature of the sun, and it possessed miraculous properties.

"Meaningless. How can a mortal look up at the radiance of a god?" In the heat of the exchange, Odin remained clearly at ease. "Even if another god has granted you power, you are but a demigod. How can you hope to fight me, the King of Gods?"

"Eh, acting like a turtle before, and now you’re bragging because my man isn't here?" Xia Mi said, filming every moment of the fight. "If you’re as strong as you claim, why don't we call a truce? Wait until my Senior comes, and you two men can settle it fair and square? It won't be long; he'll be here soon."

"If you can beat him, we’ll both just lie down and die. How about that deal?"

"..." Odin did not speak. Visibly, however, the speed at which he swung his spear increased, his power growing with every strike. The surge in his combat prowess forced Chu Zihang to draw the Whispering Wind from her waist.

Blade, sword, and spear clashed frantically in the rainy night. Massive shockwaves scattered, and the howling of the wind played a relentless symphony.

The two combatants carved out a space in the storm where not a single raindrop could fall. Fire and lightning flashed; the soaked earth was baked dry by the intense heat, cracking and splitting until the ground was covered in a web of fissures.