Chapter 21: Encounter with the Giant

Chapter 21: Encounter with the Giant

At the same time, Qin Zhe and Liu Qingzhi also felt the tremors from the ground and looked toward the scorched depths.

In the distance within sight, dust and smoke billowed, thick clouds lingering in the air, as if a terrible explosion had occurred in that area.

“Shall we go check it out?” Yao Jing asked Liu Qingzhi.

“Let’s go.” Liu Qingzhi responded decisively, without hesitation she grabbed Qin Zhe’s hand, summoned her sword, and transformed into a streak of light, swiftly flying out.

Yao Jing did not lag behind; enveloped in dark demonic energy, she stirred a shadowy cloud and followed closely.

Qin Zhe felt utterly speechless as he was dragged along by the two senior ministers.

This was not what had been agreed upon earlier! They had clearly said to retreat if anything went wrong, yet now, having encountered trouble, they intended to venture so deep into the danger zone. Were they sure they wouldn’t run into more trouble?

However, Liu Qingzhi and Yao Jing showed no hesitation and were in full agreement. Qin Zhe found it difficult to voice any objections.

After all, although the two were women, both held ministerial rank, while he was only a minor figure. If he had concerns, he could only keep them to himself.

The trio soared swiftly through the sky and in the blink of an eye, arrived at the location.

Thick smoke still hung heavily, visibility was extremely low.

Moreover, the temperature in the area was abnormally high, with the heat felt on their skin exceeding sixty degrees Celsius, an extreme anomaly.

“Be careful! There’s something in the smoke—something huge!” Yao Jing warned, wrapped in demonic energy as she controlled the shadow cloud to retreat beyond the smoky veil.

Liu Qingzhi glanced up and also withdrew, riding her sword backward.

Suddenly, amid the swirling fog, a massive crimson hand shot out, enveloping Liu Qingzhi and Qin Zhe.

“What on earth is that?” Qin Zhe was startled, instinctively clutching Liu Qingzhi’s hand tightly as he focused, trying to discern what was concealed in the smoke.

The gigantic hand bore human features, but its immense scale was such that it could be described as blotting out the sky!

Within the smoke was apparently a humanoid creature of enormous size.

Before Qin Zhe could observe further, Liu Qingzhi accelerated on her sword, instantly escaping from beneath the giant’s grasp.

“Wow! That’s enormous! How could something like this exist in the Cold Moon Secret Realm?” Yao Jing shouted excitedly from a distance, pulling out her phone to snap a couple of pictures.

Qin Zhe and Liu Qingzhi, having just escaped, turned their heads instinctively to look and saw a towering figure resembling a giant, its body seemingly spewing molten lava.

It was a humanoid creature over a hundred meters tall, its form almost indistinguishable from a human’s, even exhibiting facial expressions.

At that moment, it wore an angry scowl, its eyes glowing with molten lava as it glared at them.

“A lava giant?” Qin Zhe was shocked to see such a bizarre being for the first time.

Since crossing over, he had fought humans and recently encountered spirit beasts.

But this giant completely overturned his previous worldview.

“Do you recognize this creature?” Liu Qingzhi turned back and asked seriously.

“Which category does it belong to? Spirit beast, demon beast, or magical beast?”

“Uh, no, Minister, I was just guessing randomly,” Qin Zhe coughed awkwardly.

He had simply called it a giant based on its appearance, never expecting the minister to take it seriously.

“Liu Qingzhi, what do you say? Shall we test this giant’s strength?” Yao Jing rode the shadow cloud closer, looking eager.

Unexpectedly, Liu Qingzhi, who had insisted on venturing deep into the scorched earth earlier, firmly refused.

“No. You were too far away just now to see clearly. When I was under the giant’s palm, I felt a destructive force. Whatever this thing is, its power cannot be underestimated.”

As they spoke, heavy footsteps shook the ground, causing the earth to tremble.

Startled, the three turned around, only to see the giant was not pursuing them but slowly moving in another direction.

Though its steps were slow, its enormous size made its movement visually imposing—slow yet steady.

As it walked away, the thick smoke gradually dispersed.

“Forget this giant for now. Yao Jing, you retreat and regroup with the rest of the student council. Explain the situation to them. I’ll follow the giant for a while and also see if there are any students who have entered the scorched earth to prevent them from getting into danger,” Liu Qingzhi said cautiously.

“Don’t argue with me. The student council rules state that in emergencies, all departments must prioritize the Discipline Inspection Department’s orders.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you. You’re really laying down the law!” Yao Jing replied reluctantly but didn’t insist on following. She then asked, “Do you want me to take Qin Zhe out? This giant isn’t friendly, and if we get attacked again, you alone might handle it, but he probably can’t.”

“No need. He can protect himself,” Liu Qingzhi answered confidently.

Qin Zhe was deeply moved by her trust, nearly brought to tears.

He hadn’t expected the minister to have such faith in him—not to mention, it justified his previous performance when he let the Cold Moon Divine Dog tear him apart.

But to be honest, he truly didn’t want to take risks following Liu Qingzhi.

He was good at enduring blows and with his counterattack talent, he was confident facing most threats.

Yet this giant was clearly no ordinary foe; with a body over a hundred meters tall, a single stomp could be fatal.

Qin Zhe didn’t know the limits of his enhanced constitution, but he wasn’t arrogant enough to think he was invincible.

Still, with the minister’s words, he had no choice but to silently comply.

Besides, as a man, he couldn’t bear to back down in front of two women—especially two beauties.

Yao Jing, seeing Liu Qingzhi’s firm confidence in Qin Zhe’s self-protection abilities, looked at him with newfound curiosity.

Compared to the various rumors circulating in the academy recently, Yao Jing clearly valued Liu Qingzhi’s approval more.

“I’ll head out first. You two be careful. Once I meet up with the main force, I’ll come back to support you and send messages to keep other students away from this area,” Yao Jing said seriously, then, without lingering, she rode the shadow cloud away.

Liu Qingzhi watched her depart, turned her sword in the opposite direction, and said, “Qin Zhe, sorry to drag you into this adventure. If we confront the giant, don’t worry about me. Leave and find those foolish students who entered the scorched earth to ensure their safety.”

“Minister, can’t we try to contact the academy?” Qin Zhe hesitated.

“With the dean’s cultivation, dealing with this giant should be easy.”

“The academy’s test wouldn’t be meaningful if it were too easy. We can’t contact the outside world from within the secret realm.”

Liu Qingzhi followed the giant at a distance on her sword.

“To contact the academy, we’d have to wait until tomorrow morning. During the test, every 24 hours, the academy sends someone to check progress and evacuate those injured or incapacitated inside the secret realm.”

Qin Zhe was silent upon hearing this. Thinking carefully, it seemed to be true.

If they could contact the outside world anytime during the test and had someone monitoring progress constantly, the test would be far too simple.

After all, as students and cultivators, each had to learn to face potential threats on their own.

(End of chapter)