Qi Xiao returned the umbrella to him: "No time to explain! Turn back now, and you might still make it out."
"Thank you. Are you the Principal's man?"
"You're welcome. I'm here for what's in your trunk."
Seeing Chu Tianjiao's immediate look of caution, Qi Xiao explained: "Don't misunderstand. I don't want your box; you'll know when you open the trunk. The extra item is what I want."
Chu Tianjiao gestured for Chu Zihang to open the trunk, backing away to the rear of the car, wary of Qi Xiao.
Indeed, there was an extra box in the trunk.
He gestured for Qi Xiao to come and take it himself.
After Qi Xiao got the treasure chest, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it was a close call but without mishap.
Just as Chu Tianjiao turned the car around, intending to drive back the way he came, a white light illuminated the path.
Within the white light, Odin appeared, riding his eight-legged steed and accompanied by a group of Deadmen.
The steed was clad in metal armor, its white fur glowing.
Each of its neighs was accompanied by the sound of thunder, and fine sparks of electricity shot from the metal nostrils beneath its mask.
Odin, riding him, was likewise clad in dark golden armor, holding a curved long spear—the legendary Gungnir!
On his face, also covered by an iron mask, his single golden pupil gleamed with dazzling light.
Damn, he came so fast.
The Deadmen around Odin charged towards the Maybach.
Chu Tianjiao unbuckled Chu Zihang's seatbelt and forcibly pulled him from the back seat to the passenger seat: "Son, listen to your old man later. When your old man tells you to go, you go!"
He held Murasame, released his Word Spirit, and charged into the heavy rain, twisting and turning, cutting the charging Deadmen into pieces.
But more Deadmen surged forward, one after another, their golden pupils glowing with a fierce red light.
"Son! Drive, go!"
Chu Zihang was stunned.
Odin was in front, the Train was behind, where was he supposed to go?
Qi Xiao swallowed, taking a step back. The treasure chest was already in his hand; he needed to leave quickly.
Chu Tianjiao, hold on a little longer. It would be best if you could stall until I depart.
However, Odin didn't go after Chu Tianjiao; instead, he looked at Qi Xiao:
"Human, why are you in my Nibelungen?"
"I, I stumbled in, stumbled in."
Qi Xiao said, backing away: "I'm leaving now. You all do your thing; don't mind me."
The surrounding rainwater began to converge, with water enveloping water, forming a spherical space. Beyond the water was boundless darkness.
Tsk, as expected, it's not that easy to leave.
There were still ten minutes until the earliest departure time; he needed to find a way to stall for these ten minutes.
After Odin trapped Qi Xiao, he continued: "Anyone who has been to this land can return to this land, so everyone who comes here must be a servant of God."
Qi Xiao suddenly laughed.
"Haha, hahahaha, hahahahaha." Qi Xiao held his stomach, laughing so hard he was bent over: "God? You are God?"
"You're killing me, you're God?"
"Odin, stop joking. This is just a novel. It's not the real world you think it is."
"You are just a character in this novel; you are not a god at all! Everything about you was given to you by the author; those are all the author's settings. Everything you have can be taken away at any time!"
"As long as the author likes, he can write you to death the next moment. Or just delete you!"
"Turns out he's a madman."
Seeing Odin unmoved, Qi Xiao continued to bluff: "Do you know, the author's new book has already revealed your identity."
Qi Xiao looked directly at Odin, his gaze burning: "King of Sky and Wind, right?"
The moment these words left his mouth, Odin froze.
How did he know my identity? Impossible, he must be guessing!
Undeniably, Odin did show a hint of hesitation.
Chu Tianjiao also froze upon hearing it.
"Think about it, why was I able to enter your Nibelungen?"
"Also, do you think I really can't leave?"
The next moment, Qi Xiao's figure disappeared from where he stood.
He appeared inside the Train, outside the water sphere barrier.
Odin immediately expanded the water sphere, this time enveloping Qi Xiao's Train as well.
Damn it, my only Anchor Point Retrospection is used up.
While bluffing Odin, Qi Xiao glanced at his watch.
10:45, still five minutes until departure.
He had to stall for these five minutes!
Odin was indeed bewildered. This person had escaped his constructed barrier so casually.
Who was he? Not of his kind; he had no dragon aura on him.
Odin began to waver.
"What, still think you're a god?"
"Aren't gods omnipotent?"
"Your spear, isn't it said to be able to pierce through everything? Come, try this!"
Qi Xiao pulled out the Level 8 treasure chest he got from Monkey King from his jie bracelet and placed it on the ground.
"Come on!"
Seeing Odin unmoved, Qi Xiao continued to provoke: "You hesitated! You wavered!"
"Reverse psychology won't work on me."
Odin raised Gungnir, aiming at Qi Xiao.
Damn, this old bastard isn't falling for it.
Think, what else can anger him? Hurry, think!
"However, I can let you witness why it is called Gungnir!"
Odin confidently swung Gungnir, this spear, said to always hit its target and pierce through everything, streaking with a meteor-like glow, drawing a graceful and deadly arc, shooting towards the Level 8 treasure chest.
Odin was full of confidence.
This spear would shatter the false lies he had fabricated!
The moment the spear tip touched the treasure chest, only a faint clanking sound was heard.
Odin's calm face beneath his mask finally showed a hint of change.
Good, I won the bet!
Damn, Monkey King's Golden Cudgel swung so fast it left afterimages and didn't even leave a dent, I don't believe this idiot bird's broken spear can break it.
If it really could break it, I'd have to thank him.
It would save me from having to find that Level 8 treasure chest key.
Watching Gungnir fly back into his hand, Odin's belief wavered again.
He threw the spear once more, with the same result as before.
He whispered: "No, impossible, fake, it's all fake."
"Admit it, you're not a god."
"And your plan didn't succeed; the author has already written you to death."
"You, are offline."
Qi Xiao gave him the middle finger.
"No, I am. I am God-King Odin, I am the King of Sky and Wind!"
Odin furiously hurled Gungnir, this time aiming for Qi Xiao's heart!
10:50! Time's up!
Qi Xiao immediately put the treasure chest into his jie bracelet, used ten train coins, and the Train flashed with white light, disappearing from its spot.
Gungnir, having lost its target, automatically flew back into Odin's hand.
He stood rooted, the mask on his face cracking.
The spherical water barrier shattered with a roar, turning into washing rain.
Chu Zihang was already in the driver's seat. When he saw the Train blocking the road was gone, he executed a dragon's tail maneuver, turning the car around and flooring the accelerator.
"Dad! Get in!"
Chu Zihang had already opened the passenger door.
After Chu Tianjiao cut off the head of the Deadman behind him, he used the extreme speed of 'Time Zero' to get into the car.
The furiously roaring twelve-cylinder engine reached maximum power, and the Maybach roared out of Odin's shattered barrier.
The pursuing Deadmen were left far behind.
...
"Son, not bad, you can even do the dragon's tail maneuver!"
"As expected of someone who inherited my excellent genes."
The man started to chatter again.
Chu Zihang drove the Maybach, his brow tightly furrowed.
"Dad, was what that person said true? Are we, are we just characters in a book?"
Chu Tianjiao rolled his eyes at Chu Zihang: "Son, you've read so much you've gone silly. You actually believe that."
Chu Tianjiao turned on the stereo, and the half-played song "Daily Growing" began to play.
The rain finally lightened, and a toll booth glowing with white light appeared ahead.
The Maybach exited the elevated road and merged into the main road traffic.
...
Qi Xiao, who had successfully escaped, just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly felt an excruciating headache. Indecipherable, obscure whispers kept appearing in his mind.
Qi Xiao clutched his head in pain, curling up on the ground.
Chaotic purplish-blue lines appeared on his forehead, as if earthworms were writhing beneath.
Various bizarre, nightmarish images flashed before Qi Xiao's eyes, one after another, incessantly.
"Chief! Chief, what's wrong with you, Chief!"
"Woof woof woof! Woof woof woof!"
Lao Liu and Black Wind Monster anxiously paced around, seeing Qi Xiao in such pain.
Is it 'Spiritual Sight'?
"Damn it, I, too, have... dragon blood?"
"But why... did it only activate when I left?"
Finally, Qi Xiao fainted.