Once the Colossus left, Mingliang and Somad felt as if they just returned to reality. The smell of blood and rotten meat were the first that greeted their senses. Mingliang and Somad wrinkled their nose. The next thing that greeted them was the traces of previous night slaughters. It was a horrible sight but was nothing compared to the horror of the Colossus.

Anton couldn't see or feel the Colossus, but he saw how Mingliang and Somad were struggling against something. The horror became intense as he didn't know what was going on.

As Mingliang and Somad relaxed, Anton felt the tension in his chest was relieved, he took a deep breath and asked, "What just happened?"

Somad focused his attention on his teacher too, although he was involved in the struggle, he only vaguely sensed of what happened. Mingliang saw the boy's eyes at him.

He smiled and patted Somad's shoulder approvingly, "You've done well back then."

Somad felt his chest swelled with pride.

Mingliang turned to Anton, "I'll explain when Detective Jim arrived. I think I finally know the purpose of this array."

Anton reluctantly nodded his head. He felt Mingliang had changed. He couldn't tell what changed in Mingliang, but now when he talked with Mingliang, he felt like he was facing someone with authority.

Mingliang thought a bit and then added, "I need to do something, we still have to wait for Detective Jim anyway. Could you help? Make sure no one disturbs me?"

Anton nodded his head. It was as if, he was naturally to follow Mingliang's order. Mingliang smiled and patted his shoulder, "Thanks a lot."

Mingliang turned to Somad and nodded his head, "Somad, you do the usual."

Mingliang chose a spot that relatively clean and sat down. Without paying attention to other people in the room, he began to meditate. After his fight against the giant, Mingliang had made a decision. Although he would not be able to complete the 2nd layer of Xuan Wu body, he decided to start practicing the 2nd and the 3rd layer of Xuan Wu body to certain parts of his body.

The 1st layer of Xuan Wu body was too passive, but the 2nd layer of Xuan Wu body, strengthen his muscles. It wouldn't just add some form of defense, but depending on which muscles, it translated into increased in strength and speed.

Now, with the gate opened, he had an abundant source of energy for use. Mingliang didn't want to waste time. His suspicion was likely true. After he met the Colossus existence beyond the border, he understood that he probably didn't have much time to prepare. He might not have time at all. But he didn't feel any fear, he knew he wasn't alone.

There were people in his past. Their existence prepared him for today. There would be those in the future, those who would keep the hope alive.

He wasn't a dot or a short line, that started at birth and ended in death. He was a part of a long line, a long thread that began far away in the past and continued far away to the future.

Mingliang had made a choice, he wanted to work on his lower leg. This would give him a short burst of speed. It also turned his lower leg into a weapon. A weapon he could use to defend and attack.

He closed his eyes and concentrated to etched the rune to the muscles in his lower leg. About an hour passed by, Jim had ended his conference with reporters and now checked on Mingliang. He stared at Mingliang and Somad who were meditating in the room. He turned to Anton who helplessly shrugged his shoulder.

A man of little words, Detective Jim glanced over the master and disciple once more, then turned to Anton, "You guard here. Call me when they're done."

Jim didn't wait for Anton's reply, he turned and left the room. Followed by Anton who scratched his head bitterly. Mingliang knew about Jim's arrival, but he chose to ignore the detective. He had determined that he wouldn't stop until he completed the change in his lower leg. He could only offer an apology to Anton silently.

Hours passed by, noon turned into evening. In the beginning, Somad had drawn a simple array and left the medal to absorb the energy. Now, he was meditating and slowly absorbed the energy around him. It was a rare opportunity, and he didn't want to miss it. Most of the time, cultivation was a repetitive and arid business. Many people failed long before they achieved anything, but Mingliang and Somad weren't one of them. Both master and disciple were diligently practicing, ignoring the noise around them.

Jim came once again, this time he carried two boxes of chicken rice, few bottles of coke and snacks with him. Anton was sitting on one chair, playing games on his mobile, "Cap... dinner?"

Jim gave one box to Anton, "Hm... dinner."

"How long are we going to wait?", Anton asked with a lowered voice. He unconsciously tried not to disturb Mingliang and Somad.

Jim opened the other box and started eating. Seeing that he wouldn't get any answer from his older partner, Anton sighed and opened his box. He mentally distanced himself from the room, before ate his dinner slowly.

The finished their dinner in silence. Jim finished first. He straightened his back and then turned to look at Mingliang and Somad. Anton pretended not to notice that.

"Seems like going to be a long wait.", suddenly Jim spoke.

Anton put down his box. He secretly sighed, "They've been like that for hours... maybe just a little longer?"

Jim patted his shoulder, "Call me when they do."

Anton gave up and dispiritedly replied, "Alright... I got it."

He resentfully watched Jim left the room, softly humming a song on his way out. Anton stared at his dinner. He took a big bite and chewed it vigorously.

"Just wait until I get a promotion.", Anton grumbled with his mouth still filled with food.

"That smells good...", suddenly Anton heard Mingliang talked.

Mingliang opened his eyes, he had harvested a lot this time. Both of his lower legs were filled with strength. He had completed the 2nd layer and 3rd layer Xuan Wu body for his lower legs. Although he couldn't use it fully until he strengthened other parts in his body, it's still adding to his battle efficiency.

Anton looked up at Mingliang's direction, quickly he gulped the food in his mouth and excitedly dialed Jim's number. Mingliang checked Somad's condition when he saw everything was well, he went to Anton, feeling a bit apologetic.

Anton frantically spoke to Jim, while his eyes stared at Mingliang, afraid of seeing him back to his meditation, "Yes, quickly come back. He just awoke."

"Sorry, I make you wait for a very long time.", Mingliang sincerely apologize.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"It's alright, that's part of my duty. Detective Jim is on his way, he'll be here soon.", all Anton's grudges were swept away by Mingliang's apology.

Secretly Anton kept wondering, how after the previous incident, something changed in Mingliang. It almost like he was a different person. Anton tried to find a word for it. Finally, he felt a blooming flower was the right way to describe it. He was the same person, but all of his good points suddenly multiplied several times.

Anton was wondering, maybe this was how it felt when people met with a charismatic spiritual leader in the past. People who would gather thousands of followers just by talking to them.

Mingliang saw how Anton looked at him reverently. He quickly realized what happened here. The battle with the Colossus existence helped him to reach another level in his practice.

A human had a physical dimension, a mental dimension, and a spiritual dimension. Each of them was like an independent existence on its own, but they weren't. They were closely related to each other, the physics affect the mental and vice versa.

When each aspect was not in harmony with the other, the human became weak. It was like a country in constant civil war. They would be fighting against themselves. They physically desired something but felt guilty about it. Or they physically satisfied but felt spiritually empty. It made them anxious, bitter and ridden with guilt.

When one aspect ruled over the other, the human became strong. But it was like a country led by tyranny. One aspect repressed the other. They would be too one dimensional, failed to use all the potential within themselves. Worse, they had to constantly repress a part of themselves. It became a hidden danger. There were many cases when such approach fired back. A priest forced to live in celibacy, ended up molested a child. Or a famous and talented celebrity suddenly committed suicide.

The most ideal situation would be when all aspects live in harmony. It supported each other work together to achieve one goal.

This was what happened to Mingliang. His struggle against the Colossus existence, helped him to bring all aspects of him to reach a certain situation, where they all have the same goal. It was a breakthrough in his practice as a cultivator.

Once he realized it, Mingliang quickly closed his eyes and examined himself. He was too focused on his Xuan Wu body practice that he missed the fact.

Anton saw him closed his eyes and feared that Mingliang would end up meditating again, he gingerly reminded Mingliang, "Uh... Detective Jim would be here in a minute."

Mingliang saw each of his chakras was lively and full of vigor. They were radiating energy like a generator running at full speed. Quickly he took control and restrained it. Anton felt it too, he knew somehow Mingliang controlled his own radiance.

Mingliang opened his eyes and smiled, "Okay, don't worry. I'll wait for Detective Jim first."

It didn't take a long time. Jim entered the room and directly went to Mingliang. He wasted no time, "Anton said you know something."

Mingliang didn't want to waste time either, he quickly told Jim everything he knew. He told him about the seal that separates two worlds. The rune's origin and what he knew about its meaning. The crack in the seal at each crime scene. The big hole in the border in their current location and the Colossus existence who peeped from the hole.

"I think the ritual isn't as simple as trying to summon or exchange something with existence beyond our world. They're trying to break the seal and let the two worlds merged once more.", Mingliang ended his explanation with his hypothesis.

For a long time, there was silence. No one made even the smallest noise. Anton felt his back wet with cold sweat. He was thinking about the Colossus beyond the world, he was there when it peeped into the hole. Jim's expression grew grimmer by each second passed.

"There was nothing I could do about the seal. My job is to capture the murderer, tell me how I can catch them.", after a long thought, Jim spoke.

Mingliang shook his head apologetically, "Although I know what they're up to. I don't know, how they choose their victim or the location of the ritual."

"You don't have any clue at all?", Jim didn't want to give up at him.

"Hmm... maybe I can try to find a pattern from the location they've chosen so far.", Mingliang hesitated.

"Good, you do that. We'll do what we can do too.", Jim nodded.

"Actually, maybe you can try this man.", Mingliang took his notebook and pen. He wrote a name, phone number, and an address on it and then gave it to Jim.

Jim took the paper and read it, "Who is he?"

"A man who has deep knowledge in geomancy. If someone could calculate where the next ritual will be held, that's him.", Mingliang spoked confidently.

"Okay, I got it. Should I mention your name?", Jim asked.

Mingliang hesitated, "He doesn't know me. Try to ask his help first, when he isn't willing, try to tell him, Veronica's son asks for his help."

Jim raised his eyebrows, and Mingliang shook his head, "Don't ask."

Jim simply nodded. Anton's corner of lips was twitching, but he held it. He turned his attention to Somad who was still meditating and asked, 'So are we done here yet?"

Mingliang turned to Jim, "Do you mind if we stay here?"

Jim looked deeply into his eyes and asked, "Why?"

Mingliang nodded his head, "Two reasons."

"First, this environment is abundant with energy due to the big hole in this location. It gives us a big advantage to practice."

"Second, you won't want this big hole left unattended. Although such big powerful existence like that Colossus can't pass through, many lower and weaker demons could."

Jim sighed, "Can't you do something about the hole?"

"For now, I'll draw a huge array around it. It could hold for a while. I'm not strong enough to fix the seal.", Mingliang shrugged his shoulder.

"Okay, you can stay here as long as you want. I'll take the responsibility.", Jim quickly gave his permission.

"How about me?", Anton asked in trepidation.

"What about you? Want to be a paranormal too? You come with me.", Jim raised his eyebrows and snorted.

Anton laughed in relieved, he turned to Mingliang, "Well, see you then. Do you need me to ask people to buy some dinner and water for you two?"

Mingliang looked at Somad and then nodded his head, "That'll be nice. Something simple and mineral water would be enough. Thanks."

He took his wallet, but Anton quickly kept his hand, "No need, this time is my treat."

Mingliang laughed genially, "Haha, well thanks a lot then."

Soon, Anton and Jim left the two master and disciple cultivating in the room. It was a big harvest for Mingliang. He had studied and practice for a long time. He knew all the details and trained his body, soul, and spirit, but lacking the energy to provide the needed power for them. He was like a high tech computer, without electric power.

Now, in this environment, his growth was in leap and bound.

And with his breakthrough during the struggle against the Colossus, he progressed smoothly in his practice.

Meanwhile, Somad who was caught in the previous struggle between his teacher and the Colossus also got some benefit from it. His confidence in his teacher and his teaching grew. The doubts and worries that used to disturb his training were gone. And since the environment abundant with energy, he could clearly sense, how his strength progressed from one moment to another.

It created a sense of achievement, and this motivated him to work harder. It was a positive cycle that made the boy deeply fall into his practice. Mingliang carefully examined his condition. He saw the boy calmly progressed and not rashly absorbed the energy.

Mingliang then started drawing an array that kept away any supra-natural creatures who tried to pass the border. It was a complex defensive array but with his current condition, and the abundant energy around him, he smoothly drew one rune after another. It took about two hours. Once it had done, he checked it once again.

It was the best he could do for now. Freed from worries, Mingliang began to practicing Xuan Wu body.