"The pursuit of freedom is a poison, but I am willing to accept it, and there is no cure."

So... come.

Chapter Sixty Disharmony

Inside the villa, a gunshot rang out; it was fired by the desperate, chaotic bandits from the province!

A thud sounded as something heavy fell to the ground... and it wasn't the seemingly helpless old gentleman who had fallen, but rather a bandit from the chaotic province!

Zhong Hongyu was not far away, so she saw it clearly. Just as the bandit fired his gun, the old gentleman suddenly sprang up and displayed amazing strength. He raised his arm backward and smashed the bandit's throat!

The bandit died unjustly... but not entirely unjustly.

The reason he felt wronged was because he hadn't been on guard against the old gentleman at all. In his mind, this man, in his seventies or eighties, was someone he could easily manipulate. Besides, with a formidable enemy at hand, how could Zhong Hongyu possibly spare the energy to care for such an old man? But it wasn't entirely unjust either... the old gentleman's strength was astonishing; even if he had been on guard, it wouldn't have been effective.

The bandit's body fell, but Zhong Hongyu's mind was still in a state of chaos. In terms of strength, she was already quite powerful, ranking among the top thousand in the world. However, she was ultimately an academic who had never experienced actual combat, and lacked the ability to cope with unexpected events... The old gentleman opposite her was different.

His movements were swift, unlike those of an elderly man over seventy. He pulled a gleaming dagger from his clothes and stabbed it at Zhong Hongyu!

Without exchanging a single word, they attacked!

The situation took a completely unexpected turn for Zhong Hongyu. She didn't know why things had suddenly turned out this way. Not only had an old man suddenly transformed into a war god and killed the ruthless bandits, but he was also inexplicably attacking her. Although she didn't know what was going on, as a martial artist, she had no other choice in the face of this situation.

"It seems the only option is to capture them first..."

-

"Got it..."

Cain smiled as his hand passed through the "door," grasping the destiny of the hazy figure. He then immediately began to plunder the ancestral destiny. As a higher being, he did not need rituals; once he had it, he could plunder it directly.

Once the destiny of the hazy figure is inherited, things become much simpler. Whether it's killing until the end of time, turning the past and present into a blank, or something else, it can all be considered. If Ji Chaoge is not capable, then we can only consider... um?

Cain suddenly frowned.

Previously, he didn't have a second... or rather, a true timeline. A true timeline is unrelated to a being's rank; only beings with time-manipulation abilities possess it. In a certain timeline, Cain had plundered the hazy figure's ability to foresee the future. But that was useless, because the hazy figure quickly rewound time, returning to the past. Although she possessed a true timeline and lost that ability, Cain didn't have a true timeline. That ability to foresee the future was like the untouched tiles on a mahjong table—it was "swallowed."

However, this ability will not be stuck in the gap of time forever. When the right person obtains the right destiny, he will naturally take back what is rightfully his.

For example... right now!

As a superior being, Cain inherited all abilities without loss from the progenitor's destiny. Only hard attributes like physical attributes were not covered. For example, if he inherited both the destiny of the Earth Mother and the Mysterious Figure, his final physical attributes would be his own + the Earth Mother's, not his own + the Mysterious Figure + the Earth Mother. Unlike Ji Chaoge, who directly inherited only the crippled Earth Mother, his own attributes disappearing entirely. This pertains to physical attributes, the hardware aspects. As for skills, they are all inherited without loss; the number received is the same.

This includes the actual timeline, which doesn't particularly resemble a "skill".

The ability to foresee the future... also arrived along with the real timeline. Out of curiosity about this skill, Cain activated it immediately.

Different abilities, activated by different people, will have different effects. The hazy figure also struggled to activate this ability on its own. Shen-9 saw many scenes as well. Neither of them could make any predictions about the "future" because the future is inherently uncertain.

But Cain's side... remained completely calm, calmly observing the future.

Perhaps it was because Cain was too powerful that what he saw was much more stable, or perhaps it was because... some things were already destined.

He saw the ultimate darkness and deathly silence that was so familiar to him that it almost became one with him, that had accompanied him for thousands of years.

-

Mu Nandong opened his eyes and saw a familiar ceiling... It was the Royal Courtyard, his own dormitory.

He paused for a moment, glanced at the alarm clock and calendar on the bedside table, along with the class schedule pasted to the side, and quickly realized that class time was approaching. Without lingering in the warmth of the bed, he got up, washed up, tied his silver hair into a high ponytail, grabbed his textbooks and teaching materials, and headed to the teaching building.

As for breakfast, taking two pills solves the problem. Mu Nandong's daily diet is very regular and nutritious. Occasionally, when there is not enough time to eat, he will take medicine to solve the problem. Unlike Ying Qin Guan, who has the great awareness of "even if the students wait in vain, I must finish breakfast first", "I can't let the children suffer, but I can't let myself suffer", and "health is the capital for slacking off".

He swiftly arrived at the alchemy workshop and began his lesson. The alchemy students at the Imperial Academy were incredibly adept at creating outrageous and dangerous scenarios... which was hardly a bad thing; at least they were innovating. And for alchemists, innovation was their very lifeblood. Of course, the downsides were also obvious, yet when Mu Nandong was teaching, the entire alchemy workshop fell silent... he always managed to suppress the entire room with his exceptional aura.

"Teacher Mu!"

After the two classes ended, Mu Nandong packed his things and was about to leave when a student called him back.

"The dean said that after you finish your class, go to his office and he has something to tell you."

"What's the matter."

"The dean said you'll know when you get there."

"it is good."

Mu Nandong's answers were always so concise and powerful. He sensed that Jiu Yi wanted to talk to him about something that wasn't convenient for a student to relay. What could it be...?

He picked up his things and headed towards Jiu Yi's office. But on the way, a strange, unsettling feeling suddenly arose within him, coming and going just as quickly... He didn't know where it came from. It was very inexplicable, as if he had witnessed something very wrong. However, after stopping to think about it carefully, he still couldn't pinpoint what was wrong, so he could only put it aside for the time being. When he arrived at Jiu Yi's office, he knocked on the door, received permission, and pushed it open to go inside.

Chapter Sixty-One: On the Road

When a person decides to participate in something, no matter what they do, whether they do it well or badly, they are already forced to take on a portion of the responsibility once they have participated.

For example, Fu Feihan, who let Ji Qiuming go, and Jing Fang, who knew that Fu Feihan had let Ji Qiuming go but did not report it, will both bear some responsibility for the Ji Qiuming incident. Both of them have long been aware of this... not only of the changes brought about by this incident, but also of the awareness to end everything when things go beyond what was expected.

So, Fu Feihan arrived.

He had no choice but to come... He sensed that this would be his only chance in his life, his only chance, and his last chance. If he had to put a period to this ill-fated relationship, it would be now. If he missed this moment... the period would still come, but it would certainly not be the one he drew himself.

Therefore, Fu Feihan came. Since it is their story, it is naturally their turn to put an end to it. No one is more qualified than them.

He stood not far away, confirming the battle between the Red Emperor and Ji Fenming.

The situation was initially quite simple: a battle between the Red Emperor and Ji Chaoge. However, with Fu Feihan's involvement and the entry of a third force, things became complicated. The Red Emperor was Fu Feihan's target, and Ji Fenming was clearly his enemy. With enemies on both sides, what identity and stance should Fu Feihan assume upon entering the fray?

Moreover, Ji Fenming knew the Red Emperor's true nature and that Ji Qiuming was beyond saving. While Fu Feihan had some guesses, they were ultimately just guesses. His intervention would inevitably steer events in an unpredictable direction, provided that... Ji Fenming and the Red Emperor first fought to a standstill. Only then would Fu Feihan have a chance to influence the situation. Otherwise, in a battle between two unparalleled masters, how could a newly promoted top-tier expert like him possibly stir up trouble?

However, the current situation is indeed moving in this direction.

From Fu Feihan's perspective, everyone except himself is an enemy. But from Ji Fenming's perspective, it's hard to say which side Fu Feihan is on, but it's obvious without even thinking that he's not on Ji Fenming's side.

He didn't want Fu Feihan, this variable, to get involved in the battle. Everyone thought they were the protagonist. In Ji Fenming's heart, if the Red Emperor—or rather, Ji Qiuming's physical body—had to die, it should be at the hands of his older brother, to put an end to all of this.

This is also a unique sense of ritual. Just as Fu Feihan came here to put an end to his story with the Red Emperor, Ji Fenming had a similar thought in his heart. The fates of the Red Emperor, himself, and Ji Qiuming are intertwined. This battle will determine the fate of at least two of them. Isn't this also a way to put an end to the story?

"You two, go and kill him!"

Ji Fenming shouted sharply. The two souls exchanged a glance, and despite their many misunderstandings, they could only obey. They had been trained by Ji Chaoge, who always emphasized strict discipline. No matter your ability, as long as you are obedient, you can always find your place in Ji Chaoge's eyes.

Of course, this does not mean that Ji Chaoge cannot control those who are disobedient. As long as they are capable enough, Ji Chaoge is willing to spend time and energy to figure them out and make use of them. Those who are obedient should be used, and those who are disobedient should also be used. Only in this way can one be a qualified politician.

The two turned to face Fu Feihan... However, they were not in good condition at the moment. The Red Emperor's direct combat strength was at the level of a peerless master. But that did not mean he was just an ordinary peerless master. Fighting against the progenitor always comes at a great cost... Perhaps this was why Ji Fenming had them leave the battlefield.

"Stop!"

"What a ruthless brat! Years of master-disciple relationship, you just kill him like that... Humph!"

Facing Fu Feihan as he slowly approached, the two men had similar attitudes. Officially, Fu Feihan was their enemy; privately, their colleague and half-friend Gu Xuan had been killed by Fu Feihan. At this moment, both men had sinister expressions on their faces. However, if one were to observe closely, one could sense that they were all bark and no bite.

The Red Emperor left them with all sorts of injuries, and their physical strength, remaining internal energy, and mental state were all in bad shape. Although they still had a great advantage in a two-on-one fight, the battles between martial artists are naturally not just about paper strength.

"If I don't stop, what can you do to me?"

Fu Feihan continued walking, answering the first person, then looked at the second person and calmly said, "As a martial artist who has come this far, how can you still say such things? Do you want to go back to the school and ask the teacher to teach you again?"

Many people like to use stereotypical, impressionistic labels to quickly distinguish different people. But people aren't as flat as labels. Fu Feihan never argues with anyone and is always easy to talk to. But that doesn't mean he can't argue; his current performance is quite impressive.

The first response was nothing special, just a normal one. The second response, however, accused Fu Feihan of being heartless and ungrateful. Fu Feihan immediately retorted, "As a martial artist, you're quite old. On the battlefield, you've become enemies with each other, yet you're still thinking about this nonsense. It's incredibly childish. I suggest you go back to kindergarten and cry to your teacher!"

That's roughly the gist of it.

It's not unusual for martial arts fighters to engage in verbal sparring before a fight; it's an age-old custom. After all, it's inconvenient to talk once a fight starts, so it's best to say everything beforehand. These two, having suffered a loss, naturally wanted to get revenge... However, the current situation was simply inappropriate. Two peerless masters were fighting to the death, their brains practically spilling out, while these two were arguing with a junior. Was that appropriate? Obviously not.

Of course, they might also have realized they couldn't win the argument. After all, the only point they could use to attack Fu Feihan was his personal morality. However, the two sides were currently in a conflict of racial stances. In a debate, they wouldn't even choose to go on stage and humiliate themselves. For now, they could only snort coldly and neatly assume their stance.

"What a silver tongue you have! I hope your hands are just as sharp!"

Fu Feihan suddenly drew his sword, which emanated an astonishing chill. He took a deep breath and suppressed the surging internal energy in his chest.

"Just how many hurdles..."

He sighed inwardly, and in an instant, sword light flashed as he launched an attack!

"Although today is not a good time, let's send you two on your way!"

Chapter Sixty-Two: Countless Difficulties and Obstacles

The residents of the City of Truth will never forget this. Although very few people witnessed this scene, when they were interviewed afterward, they all became firsthand witnesses.

They gestured wildly, trying to describe the incredible images and sounds in their meager language.

"I heard it... After all the magic was cut off... What? You mean anti-external force? That's not important, anyway, that's the gist of it. After the magic stopped for a while, suddenly, that... really loud sound rang out from the side. How should I put it... Have you ever heard of thunder?"

"I'm certain that on that day, two monsters were fighting in this city... Humans? Impossible, absolutely impossible. If I had to guess, they were probably some kind of alien race or a sacred magical beast."

"In fact, becoming a sacred magical beast does not increase combat power. The previous gentleman was not quite right. My personal opinion is that it should be a high-level magical beast, such as a Titanoboa... but snakes should not have that kind of destructive power and mobility."

"But the fact that there were two 'monsters' in the city that day is absolutely true... What? You're asking me what I saw? Please, do you know what happened back then? Thunder roared, and something like internal energy swept past, smashing through half of my house and turning it to ashes. Do you think I dared to stick my head out to look?"

There are naturally no magical beasts in the city, but as for "monsters"... there are indeed some, and more than one.

There have never been such battles before, and there will never be again.

Clang!

A chaotic barrage of sword light flashed, streaks of silver-white sword light suddenly appearing and slashing out with terrifying speed, as if slicing tofu, shearing off a corner of the building. Emerging from a blind spot, it slashed down fiercely, leaving a deep bloody gash on Kui's body... But it was ultimately just a superficial wound. Upon closer inspection, one would find that this incredibly astonishing attack hadn't even managed to pierce Kui's bones, leaving only a white mark on them.

Kui's expression remained unchanged. He swung his palm back, the sound tearing through the storm, and Ying Qin Guan narrowly avoided it. However, the oncoming shockwave felt like a knife scraping against his skin, sending chills down his spine.

After switching to the ancient martial arts system, Ying Qin Guan's offensive capabilities experienced an explosive increase. However, the internal and external pressures he faced also increased significantly. The internal pressure came from his meridians and dantian. While ancient martial arts techniques offer high offensive output, they place immense pressure on the meridians and dantian. Moreover, Ying Qin Guan possessed more internal energy than anyone else, making his pressure the greatest. Besides, he wasn't in peak condition to begin with.

External pressure aside, if a boss like Kui were in a game, the designers would be furious. He's incredibly tanky, deals high damage, has high defense with no weaknesses, can see through every attack trajectory—essentially absolute "seeing through"—significantly increasing his parry and dodge chances. Not only is he gigantic, but he's also incredibly fast. He even has a built-in breathing healing ability...and he heals while fighting!

Fuck your mother!

While players constantly boast, "If you dare show your health bar, I'll kill even a god," what they essentially crave are mechanic-based battles that require some strategy and offer a sense of accomplishment. If a boss like Kui, who completely overwhelms players with sheer numerical superiority, were introduced, the main battleground wouldn't be in the game, even if keyboard input were used. Generally speaking, a competent designer would avoid this scenario.

Unfortunately, in reality, there are no designers to balance things out; some people are strong in every aspect, without any blind spots.

Kui is the king among them.

No one had ever seen such full power, such overwhelming strength. Although he hadn't yet inflicted any real damage on Ying Qin Guan, Ying Qin Guan already felt the immense pressure bearing down on him like a collapsing mountain and a tsunami. His physical strength and inner energy were being depleted relentlessly. Once they reached a certain point, no matter how he fought, Kui would seize the opportunity and deliver a fatal blow.

"Even though I did nothing wrong and performed flawlessly, I still couldn't avoid death and failure."

There is probably nothing more powerless in the world than this.

This reminded Ying Qin Guan of some past events... Back then, he was just as powerless as he is now, perhaps even more powerless than he is now.

That was a few days after the Black Dragon entered Qin. Wuyang City fell, and Ying Qin Guan escaped with his life because he was away, but in the end he was still caught up by the Black Dragon's logistics troops... Yes, it wasn't even the Jue Tian Army that destroyed Southern Qin, but the logistics troops.

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