Chapter 186: Attracted Another Spiritual Body

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Attracted Another Spiritual Body

"Get back! Everyone, get back!"

Guo Kai grabbed a Sentinel who was about to rush forward, his voice low and urgent.

"Don’t go near him! Anyone who gets close will be treated as an enemy! Major General Qi is an S-Class Sentinel. His spiritual power is rampaging—this isn’t something we can handle!"

Everyone scrambled back.

Yun Sheng was pulled back several steps by Cheng Nian, but her gaze never left Qi Yao.

The spiritual power erupting from him was still surging wildly, like a caged beast tearing frantically at its bonds, desperate to break free.

His breathing grew heavier, his chest heaving violently, and the crimson in his eyes was slowly devouring the original color of his pupils.

"Major General Qi!" Guo Kai’s voice was stretched taut, like a string about to snap. "Are you all right?"

Qi Yao didn’t answer.

The rampaging spiritual power was lashing back at his spiritual landscape. With every tremor, his face grew a shade paler.

"What do we do?" Cheng Nian gripped Yun Sheng’s arm, her voice trembling. "Major General Qi, is he... is he going to..."

She didn’t finish, but everyone knew what she wanted to say.

What happens to a Sentinel whose rampage spirals out of control?

They lose their minds. They attack everyone around them. They fall into darkness and never return!

Yun Sheng stood at the back of the crowd, watching as Qi Yao slowly bent over and sank to one knee at the mine entrance. He braced himself with one hand on the ground, his knuckles digging into the gravel as veins bulged on his skin.

Watching the spiritual power around him grow increasingly violent and uncontrollable, her first reaction wasn’t fear, but surprise.

’It was one thing for Si Jin to have injured Qi Yao to get even for her, but there was no way he’d have hurt him this badly. Besides, Qi Yao is the commander of this Preparatory Guide wilderness training and an S-Class Sentinel. A spiritual rampage from him would directly endanger everyone’s safety. Si Jin isn’t that reckless.’

Yun Sheng recalled the look Qi Yao had given her after the lights came back on.

It was heavy, like a pool of stagnant water, revealing no emotion, yet it sent a chill down her spine.

She suddenly wasn’t so sure.

’Is Qi Yao really having a rampage? Or... is this another test?’

Yun Sheng suppressed her doubts, forcing a look of terror onto her face to match the others, and decided to observe a little longer.

"Quick!" Seeing Qi Yao’s condition worsening, Zhao Heng—the Sentinel who had led Yun Sheng earlier—whipped his head around and yelled at the comms operator. "Contact the camp! Get an S-class Guide over here, now!"

The comms operator fumbled with his equipment, shouted into the mouthpiece a few times, and then said hesitantly, "The signal... the signal’s gone! There’s always been interference near the mine. I can’t get through at all!"

Zhao Heng’s brow furrowed, and he made an instant decision. "Old Zhou, take two men and get out of here. Run until you get a signal, contact the camp, report the situation, and tell them to send a guide immediately!"

The slightly older Sentinel at his side nodded. Without a word, he tapped two companions, took the comms operator with them, and turned to run toward the outskirts of the mine pit.

Zhao Heng then looked at Guo Kai and Ma Yu. "It’s not safe near this mine pit. The contaminants could return at any moment. Protect the trainees and fall back to that high ground over there. It has a wide field of view, making it harder for us to be ambushed."

"Right," Guo Kai and Ma Yu replied in unison, just as they were about to lead the group to the high ground.

Just then, a low growl suddenly echoed in their ears.

Qi Yao’s entire body tensed violently. His back arched, and a spectral form materialized explosively behind him.

It was a massive brown bear, its body as sturdy as a mountain. Its shoulders were high and humped, and its sheer size blocked half the mine entrance.

When its thick forepaws slammed down, the ground shook, sending gravel skittering. Its ferocious, bell-like eyes stared fixedly at everyone present.

Cheng Nian’s legs gave out, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Luckily, Yun Sheng reacted quickly and caught her.

The others also grew pale, their hands trembling as they gripped their knives.

Even Zhao Heng subconsciously took half a step back, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

The giant bear opened its mouth and let out a deep roar. It planted its feet and took a step toward the crowd.

Zhao Heng gripped his knife and shouted sharply, "Protect the trainees!"

At that moment, Qi Yao snapped his head up.

His face was frighteningly pale, and a trickle of blood stained the corner of his mouth, but within his completely crimson eyes, he had forced out a sliver of clarity.

"Get back," he rasped, his voice like sandpaper scraping against stone.

The great bear ignored him and took another step forward.

"Get back!" Qi Yao gritted his teeth, his spiritual power tightening abruptly like iron chains.

The great bear’s form froze mid-stride. A resentful growl rumbled in its throat, but it was still being dragged back, inch by inch.

But it was unwilling. Its savage eyes swept across the crowd, from left to right, then right to left, as if searching for something.

Finally, they locked directly onto Yun Sheng.

Yun Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.

The great bear’s eyes were fixed on her. It stopped moving, stopped struggling. A series of rapid, almost greedy, growls escaped its throat, as if it had seen something irresistible.

A moment later, it suddenly erupted, violently breaking free of its spiritual power restraints and charging toward Yun Sheng.

Its speed was astounding, its massive body leaving afterimages in the air.

"Stop it!"

Zhao Heng roared. Several Sentinels instinctively moved to block the trainees, their blades drawn in unison.

But the great bear didn’t even look at them.

It lunged straight for Yun Sheng, its claws already raised.

"Come back!"

Qi Yao’s voice exploded. His spiritual power snapped tight like chains, cinching around the great bear and holding it fast in mid-air.

The great bear struggled, letting out increasingly resentful roars and kicking its legs wildly in the air, but its eyes never left Yun Sheng.

Qi Yao’s face was terrifyingly pale. The veins on his temples bulged, and his entire body trembled.

Gritting his teeth, he dragged the great bear back inch by inch.

The great bear was finally dragged back to his side, but it refused to dissipate. It crouched beside him, a low whine rumbling in its throat, its gaze still glued to Yun Sheng.

Qi Yao followed its line of sight.

Yun Sheng stood frozen to the spot, pale and breathing rapidly, looking as if she had been scared witless.

Qi Yao looked at her, his expression indescribably complex.

He said nothing, simply retracting his spiritual power with a sharp tug.

The great bear let out one last resentful growl as its massive body, his spiritual body, dissolved into a stream of light and flowed into his chest.

Perhaps because his spiritual body had vented its rage, the rampaging spiritual power around him had receded significantly. Although it still fluctuated, his breathing had steadied, and most of the crimson had faded from his eyes.

Qi Yao braced his hands on his knees and slowly stood up, his body still a little unsteady.

Zhao Heng took a step forward to support him, but Qi Yao stopped him with a raised hand.

He stood at the entrance of the mine, his spine ramrod straight. Aside from his pale face and disheveled appearance, he had once again become the composed and stern Major General Qi.

"Zhao Heng, send someone to intercept Old Zhou’s group. Tell them there’s no need to call for a guide. I’m fine."

Zhao Heng hesitated. "Major General Qi, your spiritual power..."

"I said, I’m fine," Qi Yao cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Zhao Heng didn’t dare ask any more questions. He pointed out two men, who then ran toward the outskirts of the mine pit.

Just then, Qi Yao’s gaze passed over the crowd and landed on Yun Sheng. He said suddenly, "Yun Sheng. Come here. I have something to ask you."