Chapter 098: Military Drills

The few days back in the countryside could be considered Chen Xiao’s most relaxed time. There were no intrigues or disputes, and everything was as peaceful and serene as in a small rural village.
Although Chen Xiao had learned some things, they only made his mind even calmer, allowing him to fully focus on his cultivation.
……
“Damn it! I’m so angry!”
That morning, Chen Xiao and his grandfather Chen Jianzhou were sitting on small benches in the courtyard, around a small wooden table having breakfast, when they heard Hu Zi Xuan shouting angrily as he rushed over.
“What’s wrong, Zi Xuan?” Chen Xiao and Chen Jianzhou knew that Hu Zi Xuan had awakened supernatural abilities and become a superhuman, but Hu Zi Xuan was unaware of Chen Jianzhou’s situation.
“The Americans, the Japanese—they’ve even dared to bully us right at our country’s doorstep!” Hu Zi Xuan snapped angrily.
“What exactly happened?” Chen Xiao put down his dishes; he seemed to have realized something.
“Military drills! Damn military drills! They’re holding drills right at China’s doorstep, with aircraft carriers coming over too. What is this? A provocation? Or a demonstration?” Hu Zi Xuan was almost furious.
“It seems that as soon as China expelled those foreign supernatural forces, pressure from the secular governments came.” Chen Xiao and Chen Jianzhou exchanged a glance. Over the past few days, Chen Xiao had briefly told his grandfather about what had happened in Jinghua City. Except for the matter related to the Supreme God, he had told him almost everything.
Now that the three countries were conducting joint military drills outside China, the grandfather and grandson immediately understood what was going on.
“Where did you get this news?” Chen Xiao asked slowly.
“It was just reported on TV. I’m afraid the whole world knows now. It seems that aside from European countries, many other nations are also supporting them. Strange—don’t European countries always follow the lead of the Americans? Why are they so calm this time?”
The vampires and various forces in Europe rarely expanded their influence into China, as ancient Europe was truly representative of the West, while the Eastern supernatural world was led by China. The conflict between the Eastern and Western supernatural worlds mainly involved China and the ancient forces of Europe.
China’s supernatural forces had not spread to Europe, nor had Europe’s reached China; otherwise, Chris wouldn’t need to lead a team to visit China personally.
As for the United States, its history was only a little over two hundred years. Although its secular power was immense, it wasn’t as strong in the supernatural world as people thought. Yet, its powerful secular strength could actually compensate for its weakness in the supernatural world. Now, no supernatural force dared to underestimate the United States.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly and then asked, “Did the TV mention China’s government’s reaction?”
“Condemnation! Strong condemnation!” Hu Zi Xuan was a man with a strong sense of honor. Though his ambitions weren’t high, he couldn’t tolerate foreign countries provoking China like this. The saying “Everyone is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation” truly applied to Hu Zi Xuan.

In the United States, Japan, and South Korea, all the wealth left behind by the supernatural forces in those countries was accepted by China, and all the benefits were taken for itself. It was enough for them to shout and condemn from outside the country’s borders.
“I really wish a lightning strike would hit them!” Hu Zi Xuan shouted angrily.
“That’s a good idea,” Chen Xiao’s eyes lit up slightly.
“Xiao Zi…” Chen Jianzhou seemed to understand Chen Xiao’s plans; his expression changed slightly. Although he knew Chen Xiao was very powerful now and had several strong subordinates, even a seventh-tier supernatural being would have no choice but to flee in the face of advanced modern weapons.
“Hehe, I was just saying that,” Chen Xiao laughed lightly.
“Xiao Zi, what do you think we should do next?” Hu Zi Xuan also seemed to realize what Chen Xiao intended, and a hint of excitement appeared on his face.
“Don’t think too much. What can I do? I’m just a tiny nobody,” Chen Xiao rolled his eyes.
“When does the military exercise start?” Chen Xiao asked.
“This afternoon, at 2 p.m.! Right in the Yellow Sea!” Hu Zi Xuan clenched his fists tightly. At this moment, there were likely many passionate young people in China, too, gripping their fists and roaring in anger.
Chen Xiao nodded silently; no one knew what he was thinking.
……
At noon, after having lunch, Chen Xiao quietly left home.
“Xiao Zi…” At that moment, Chen Jianzhou’s voice came from behind him. “Do whatever you want. Grandpa doesn’t object. But no matter what, always protect your own life. You are Grandpa’s hope!”
Chen Xiao’s body trembled slightly. He turned around and looked at Chen Jianzhou’s face full of worry, then nodded firmly.
“Grandpa, don’t worry. I’ll definitely be back by night,” Chen Xiao said after taking a breath.
“Xiao Zi, one more thing,” Chen Jianzhou nodded and said, “The foreigners are doing this just to intimidate us. Remember, although this is a display of military strength in the secular world, it’s also a hidden struggle among supernatural beings. Whether it’s the U.S., Japan, South Korea, or China, supernatural beings will definitely be involved this time. You need to act wisely.”
Chen Xiao was slightly stunned, then nodded and said, “In that case, I’ll probably just go to watch the excitement. It’s not certain whether I can get involved or not.”
“Go then,” Chen Jianzhou smiled upon hearing Chen Xiao’s words.
……
As soon as he arrived by the sea, a sense of familiarity rose in Chen Xiao’s heart. It seemed as if this endless sea was his true homeland and his destination.
Chen Xiao dipped his hand into the sea. The water within dozens of meters around him began to tremble slightly. This wasn’t caused by any external force but was a genuine tremor. It seemed as if every drop of water, every molecule in the water, was trembling rhythmically, emitting pleasant emotions. These emotions were transmitted seamlessly into Chen Xiao’s mental energy.
“Huh…”

Chen Xiao let out a slight sigh of relief, then leaped into the sea. Having grown up by the sea, he was naturally good at swimming. Moreover, having now obtained the divine essence of the Water Deity, he was constantly nourished by its power, making his body and spirit perfectly in harmony with the seawater—to an extent unknown even to himself. Even if thrown into the sea with nothing to do, he would not drown. His body moved through the water like a fish, swiftly and without any hindrance, and his speed surpassed that of any fish or other creature in the ocean. Liancheng was located at the junction of the Yellow Sea and the Bohai Sea in Huaxia Country, not far from the site of the military exercises. Chen Xiao determined the direction and rushed toward that area. ……