Xia Chuan floated mid-air, his gaze distant and contemplative.
"Thor's Hammer… I underestimated its power," he murmured, fingers brushing his chin. "One blow. A single strike to obliterate a million evil spirits. I expected devastation, but this…"
His words trailed off, as the sight below lingered in his mind—ash where an army once stood. Though he'd known of the hammer's might in the miniature world, witnessing its power unleashed in this realm was an entirely different experience.
The voice of the hammer jolted him from his thoughts.
"Quack! Master, that's obvious. I am Thor's Hammer, after all!" Quake's tone was smug, yet tinged with dissatisfaction. "But Master, isn't it a bit underwhelming? A million evil spirits? They crumbled too fast! Not even a second strike was needed. It was over before I could enjoy myself."
Xia Chuan's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Patience," he said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "This is only the beginning. Xuanhuangxing won't stay quiet for long. The ghost world is just one of many threats. Soon, others will come—barbarians, invaders from realms we've yet to encounter. The turbulence ahead will test us both."
"True, Master," Quake replied, its voice laced with anticipation. "I'll be ready when the time comes. Just don't let me go to waste!"
Xia Chuan nodded, his gaze suddenly shifting as a faint commotion below caught his attention.
"Master, there's a woman," Thor's Hammer said. "She's rushing towards you, calling out something. Shall I—?"
Xia Chuan raised a hand to silence the hammer, his sharp eyes scanning the ground. A lone figure was indeed moving at incredible speed, her presence unmissable even from this height.
Her voice rang out, desperate yet resolute, carrying over the silence of the battlefield.
"God above! How can I obtain extraordinary power? Please, show me the way! I am willing to pay any price!"
The woman stood amidst the devastation, her gaze locked on Xia Chuan. Her posture exuded determination, a stark contrast to the broken city around her.
Xia Chuan's brow furrowed slightly. The woman's physical strength was remarkable—uncommon for an ordinary human of Xuanhuangxing. She moved with the grace and power of a peak Bronze Realm warrior, a level few could attain.
Her voice trembled, not with fear but with suppressed frustration.
Bai Yingxue stared up at Xia Chuan, her heart pounding.
"I've had enough…" she muttered under her breath, though her words were aimed more at herself than the man above. "Enough of being powerless. Enough of watching disasters unfold while I stand helpless."
Her fists clenched, the faintest tremor betraying her desperation.
"I can't bear it anymore," she shouted, louder this time, her plea reverberating. "If I must die, let it be chasing strength—not crumbling in weakness!"