Forge a path to success

The sea was calm, reflecting the glittering Milky Way. A black fishing net floated on the water, drifting silently beside a furry hand. The angler, with no intention of fishing, was fast asleep on the surface of the sea.

Chu Hengkong struggled for a while, only to find himself motionless. The fishing net was made of floating skeletons, and he realized he had become a fish caught in the net.

The splashing water startled the angler. He had just woken up and let out a confused cry.

Oh...you're lost again, little one.

He gently scooped Chu Hengkong up. The fishing net fragmented his vision, preventing him from seeing the angler's full appearance; he could only make out the dirty yet warm fur of many large animals.

oh oh……

Chu Hengkong tried to speak, but only managed to utter a silly call. After a long while, the angler slowly nodded. His response was very slow, but exceptionally gentle. Listening to that relaxed voice, one felt that there was no such thing as impatience in the world; taking things slowly would always lead to a solution.

"You've had a tough time this time too. You all always have a hard time," He said. "We also feel this isn't good, so we all want to lend a hand... but actually, it's not good..." He thought for a moment, then corrected Him, "This, well, isn't always good."

A slight change can lead to big changes. But the result of those changes may not be what you consider 'good'. In fact, I also feel that some of the changes are not 'good' enough...

He held the fishing net in his hand and thoughtfully fished.

After stroking it for a while, it seemed that the slow thought finally became too much for it to bear, and it said with a frown: "You tell me, the road was placed there perfectly fine. How did those little bugs grow like this?"

"Oh, oh..." Chu Hengkong said.

[I think it's very difficult for anyone to say clearly what another life is thinking.] He seemed thoughtful.

Just then, a glittering light rose from the other side of the sea, casting a shadow behind the furry angler. He yawned and announced happily that he was going to "go to gurgle." This was a word Chu Hengkong didn't quite understand; it seemed to evoke the feeling of a tea party or a gathering of friends. So the angler untied his net and cast him into the sea.

The world before his eyes spun around him; the sea surface became the seabed, the seabed became the sky, and he surfaced, seeing the sunlight—

·

Based on past experience, sleep after a serious injury is rarely pleasant. Vicious environments like fire and the deep sea are familiar haunts in my dreams, while itching and excruciating pain are recurring visitors. This has little to do with psychological state, but rather with objective physical laws: if you've suffered life-threatening injuries, and you're still alive, you have to wait for the wounds to heal. And aside from lustful demons, virtually no creature feels no pain from injury or no itch from healing.

However, this time his experience didn't apply. Perhaps it was thanks to the angler's good fortune, but Chu Hengkong woke up feeling refreshed. He stared at the familiar hospital room for a while, then found a freshly peeled apple on the bedside table.

“You were the last one to wake up again,” Ji Qiufeng said.

The city lord sat on the edge of the bed, having just put down the knife he'd used to peel fruit. Chu Hengkong grabbed the fruit, wolfed it down, and after finishing, gasped for breath: "Congratulations on your successful promotion..."

"Not at all, I've only advanced to level 6. Heng Kong, you guys have taken down a notorious evil god!" Ji Qiufeng shook his fan. "That's a feat that will be remembered for ages. I'm ashamed to admit my inferiority. Time really flies. It's time for me to retire. The future of the Chendong Realm rests on the shoulders of you young heroes..."

This sarcastic and sarcastic remark almost made Chu Heng choke. He patted his chest to catch his breath for a while, then glared and said, "No, what are you saying?"

"He did it on purpose, he's so jealous~" Youyou popped out of the city lord's pocket, hissing as it spoke, "Back then, he was personally instructed by the Three Palaces, and his master saw him off, vowing to break through the Blood Plains and shatter the Heavenly Prison in one fell swoop. How proud and triumphant he was, a young hero! But in the time it takes to advance to the next level, his own disciple's daughter has already shattered the wilderness. All this unparalleled achievement has been stolen by the younger generation~"

Chu Hengkong was both amused and exasperated: "Did you really steal my credit?"

"There's no such thing as stealing; it's just a joke. If you asked me to go to the wilderness, could I even get in?"

After laughing, Ji Qiufeng's expression turned serious: "Do you know what a remarkable thing you've done?"

"To be honest, it doesn't feel real," Chu Hengkong said. "In that place, the only way to survive is to fight your way out."

"The outermost Desolate Wilderness at the border of Heavenly Prison is a dead end that all the supreme beings unanimously agree is impossible to breach," Ji Qiufeng said. "Note that it is all the supreme beings, including not only the righteous gods you are familiar with, but also the true forms of various heretics. Because the life essence of low-quality points is too weak, the means they can use are too few, and the one who dominates the wilderness is that Nightmare King. This is like trying to challenge a demonic storm with a toothpick; it is theoretically impossible."

Therefore, even the counterattack plan in Longquan Township had to go through great lengths, starting with the middle-level 'Blood Plains'. Our original plan was even to conquer the Blood Plains and then fight the Nightmare King, who had been upgraded to level 5. You can imagine how absurd it was in the eyes of the big shots to directly conquer the wilderness.”

Chu Hengkong imagined what the demon king would look like as a point 5, and couldn't help but feel a chill. He said sincerely, "I don't think the big shots are necessarily so resourceful. It's a good thing that the original plan wasn't used."

"You've got some nerve, daring to interfere with even Zhulong's plans." Ji Qiufeng said with a half-smile. "Now that you're awake, tell us how you won."

Just as Chu Hengkong was about to speak, his stomach growled loudly, much to his dismay. He heard similar noises around him. The other patients, who had recently regained consciousness, all poked their heads out expectantly, their faces filled with longing.

Seeing this, Ji Qiufeng chuckled: "The food will be here soon, let's talk while we eat. Also, Miss Guangshi, your family elders have sent a message..."

"Oh my gosh!" Qingye tumbled and jumped off the bed. "I'm going right now!"

"...I told you you could reply after you've recovered from your injuries." Ji Qiufeng shook his fan. "Look at this child."

"You're doing this on purpose." Youyou rolled her eyes at him. "Hurry up and tell me, what happened?"

Chu Hengkong, having painstakingly pieced together this unusually long story, slowly began, "This all started when we met Chongming..."

·

Shura Island, Jingluo Prefecture.

The atmosphere inside the Mitsuki family mansion was solemn. The younger generation sat silently in their rooms, not daring to even breathe loudly. Even the ornamental birds in the courtyard kept their beaks tightly shut. Led by the patriarch, Mitsuki Akira, all the elders and high-ranking members of the prestigious Mitsuki family were gathered together. Even the daimyo who had been dispatched abroad and the generals who had been fighting in distant lands had rushed back today, just to hear news from afar as soon as possible.

The tea had long since gone cold, and everyone in the room sat upright, no one daring to utter a sound. Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached, and a Ghost Eye Instructor entered, holding a communicator and bowing deeply: "Master, a message from Huilong City!"

"Receive it," the patriarch said calmly.

A second later, a familiar voice came: "I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting. I'm Guang Shi Qingye!"

The patriarch stroked his beard, his face kind and gentle, and instructed everyone to drink tea. The elders of the Guangshi family were all relieved, knowing that this visit must bring good news. They picked up their teacups and heard the patriarch ask, "Qingye, you've returned from the Despairing Wilderness?"

"Yes! I, that one, did not fail your teachings. Together we successfully defeated Vansalar!"

This incredibly important information made many people's hands tremble. Although they had received the message from Huilong City half a day ago, hearing the truth in person still greatly excited some of the elderly. A faint look of satisfaction appeared in the patriarch's eyes. "Well done..."

"And, that!" Qingye didn't hear a word and kept excitedly saying, "He even dueled with Lord Yexing!"

puff!

The tea that had just been drunk was sprayed out! This is extremely rude! Especially in front of the head of the family; it's a level of humiliation that would get you ostracized. But since everyone else couldn't help it, it's okay!

The old men and women almost coughed up the secret spirit, and the patriarch's eyebrows relaxed and his face was full of smiles.

"Did you properly bid farewell to your brother?"

“Yes! Mr. Nightwalker… oh no, Lord Nightwalker took great care of me, and I personally saw him off.” Qingye said earnestly, “I also brought his sword back, and I will certainly deliver it to you intact!”

"Since he gave it to you, then Longyu is yours." The patriarch smiled. "From now on, carry it with you at all times and don't slack off on your swordsmanship training."

Yes! Definitely!

The elderly women breathed a sigh of relief, their eyes filled with a deep sense of sadness mixed with profound pride. The patriarch lowered his head to drink his tea, trying to conceal the emotions in his eyes.

But unfortunately, an idiot is still an idiot, rambling on because he can't see the screen: "Also, Master, there's something else I'd like to report. We received a lot of care from a senior member of the Heartless Ones in the Wilderness of Despair, probably an ancestor from the same era as Mr. Nightwalker..."

The old men and women exchanged glances, thinking that Lord Nightwalker was probably the most famous among those who died in that great battle, and they hadn't heard of any other general who died in the same period. The little girl was probably too anxious to grasp the main point, and kept talking about things like her bad personality, until finally she got to the point.

“That senior was truly remarkable; one of us has learned his ‘Shadow Manifestation Sky Flow’…”

Pfft! The old men and women spat out their tea! Even the patriarch spat out his tea!

The second sip of tea that I had just taken a sip of sprayed out completely! How incredibly rude! But even the patriarch couldn't hold it in, so it's alright!

The patriarch clutched his chest and coughed violently, blowing the communicator into the air.

"What's wrong, patriarch?!"

"Qingye, say it again, who did you meet!"

“It’s…that…” Qingye said hesitantly, “Commander Seven Star Chongming…”

She heard a tremendous commotion coming from the other end of the communicator; the ancestors were making a racket like a hornet's nest. The patriarch's shouts were particularly clear.

"That is--"

·

"...And then we won." Chu Hengkong finished his story, burying his head in his char siu rice. "It was a really tough trip...What's with those expressions on your faces?"

Ji Qiufeng stared blankly at him, like a mole seeing the sun for the first time. Youyou started rolling around on the ground halfway through, as if having an epileptic seizure.

Ji Huaisu, ever outspoken, asked, "Youyou, are you having a cramp?"

"My God! Lord Zhulong!" Youyou cried out in despair, "Silly children, are you blind?! How could you... how could you be so stupid?!"

Ji Qiufeng got up and drew back the curtains. At that moment, hurried footsteps came from the corridor, and Qingye rushed into the ward, her face almost bloodless with excitement.

"Commander Chongming... He, he is...!"

Chu Hengkong no longer cared about obeying orders; he stared blankly out the window, as did everyone else.

They saw the sea divided by pure white, the sky reflecting a dark, gleaming arc, and from countless distant places, light shone into the illusory sea, forming a bright passage leading directly to the City of Returning Dragons.

The road continued forward through the city, past the ruins of a former divine kingdom, across the battlefront in the central part of the Mysterious Realm of Senluo, and stretched all the way to the place where the sun rises between heaven and earth.

That was a slash mark.

A slash that traverses the entire realm of motion.

·

~History~

The year 2504 of the Candlelight Calendar is destined to leave a significant mark on history.

In this year, the allied forces were formally formed. Through the tireless efforts of the Discipline Emperor, many forces were finally moved by his sincerity. The beings of the Submerged Realm set aside their past grievances and resolved to form a united front against the heretics. A far-reaching war officially began this year, many once-renowned figures stepped down from the stage, and many more brilliant new stars rose during the war. Later generations, when reviewing this history, will find it like watching a dazzling meteor shower.

At that time, the Nightmare King was still active, haunting the world like a nightmare. He was the man closest to the supreme being, the universally acknowledged first god, and his demon army was invincible.

At that time, the renowned Chunhe Wuzun Guangshi Mingwu was merely a Ghost Eye, the Holy Knight Dulanbai was just an archer sent to provide assistance, and the Canxinzhe Daotu was a newly emerging army. Among them, the most eye-catching man was Guangshi Yexing, who was unparalleled in swordsmanship. People hoped that his swordsmanship and righteousness could change this deformed team, so that the evil heretics could abandon their demonic tricks and return to the righteous path of martial arts cultivation.

So much happened that year, but storytellers and historians alike inevitably begin with a battle, recounting the brutal conflict that occurred at the very beginning of the war.

On February 13th, in the year 2504 of the Candlelight Calendar, the Nightmare King Vansalal personally arrived at the border battlefield. Nearly half of the Remnant Hearts' army died, and the Night Walker General became a messenger of fear. The front line was in dire need of help.

Fifteen days later, on February 28th, Paladin Duranbai led another Remnant Heart to cross 3000 Dust Islands and rush back to the front lines. On the same day, the Demon King's army was completely annihilated, the Nightmare King Vansalal died, and the Remnant Heart who killed the Demon King ascended to the 7th point, becoming the first "Martial Venerable".

Starting with this incredible feat, the path of the Broken Heart became the focus of the world. Countless people remembered the man who slew the Demon King, but little did they know that this was merely the beginning of his legendary journey.

That was destined to be the most dazzling starlight of 2504, becoming a radiance that illuminated an entire era. At the beginning of the legend, he had no title; people only remembered him as "Seven Stars Shining Brightly." It wasn't until later, when he became the new Supreme Being, that his achievements and name were etched into history. Thus, later generations reverently called him:

A heartbroken fate.

Chapter 253 Unknown Tomorrow

Huilong City, control room in the atrium.

The sun's symbol shimmered in the water curtain, and the nautical charts marking the shipping routes were folded up and placed in a corner. Ji Qiufeng finished his report and sent a bamboo scroll into the tide.

"...The above is what Heng Kong and the others told us, and I think it is basically true." Ji Qiufeng said, "They were all infected by heretics to varying degrees, and Heng Kong's situation was particularly serious, but I think it was a necessary price to pay for survival."

Laughter came from the other side of the water curtain, and Ji Qiufeng laughed as well: "Compared to Lord Fate, of course... I know, I will take good care of them."

"...Yes, the situation has changed drastically. I plan to travel to the city-state of Jingsha soon, and I hope you will inform me in advance."

The ancient beings exchanged a few words, then the communication ended, and the water curtain faded. Youyou crept over, trembling with fear: "What did the old things say?"

"The true men can tolerate even the ancient methods and remnants of the heart, so why would they be afraid of these heretical elements?" Ji Qiufeng blew on a tea stalk. "Besides, these few are soldiers trained by the remnant heart masters, so it would be difficult for them to have any objections."

"That arrogant attitude of the Heartbreaker only works now." Youyou gloated, then wailed, "How did they reach level 3 so quickly?! How can they grow so fast?! If this continues, I won't be able to beat your daughter in a few years!"

Ji Qiufeng coaxed, "Is it possible that the two of them could also exchange blows with you now...?"

Youyou gasped, "No! Absolutely not! What will become of my dignity if it comes to this?! Ji Qiufeng, you must speed up the trade process, and I need to level up quickly too!"

"There's no rush for the upgrade; the current progress is just right," Fenya said. "The fact that the children are better than us shows that the education is working, which is a good thing."

Qi Su walked in carrying a large flowerpot, her little face beaming with excitement, as if she were about to achieve enlightenment. Fen Ya patted her head with a small leaf, then turned to look at the City Lord and You You, her eyes filled with longing.

"Qiufeng, Youyou, it's a pleasure to see you again."

Youyou's eyes immediately reddened, and tears streamed down her face, just like Qisu's. Ji Qiufeng squatted down in front of the flowerpot, grasped the outstretched leaf, and his fingertips trembled slightly.

"We never dreamed we would hear your voice again."

"Lord Sakuraryu."

·

“You know what, after all this, I sincerely think our world is a fucking messed-up place,” Van Der said. “The fucking thing about this place is that you can’t fucking predict which fucking big shot you’re going to meet.”

Chu Hengkong stared at it for a long time: "Your words are indeed very convincing."

"Look at this mess! I thought the old jellyfish and the Demon King were the worst we could ever hope for, but look what happened!" Vande slapped his tentacle. "Wow, the Lord of the Broken Heart! This is a fucking surprise!"

It slurped up a big mouthful of milk tea, then choked and coughed from the excessive sugar content. Gulibo, holding a small cup of milk, looked completely bewildered: "Isn't meeting your destined master a good thing? What an amazing adventure, Bo!"

Shakes, standing to the side, sneered. Jie An said kindly, "Bo Bo, use your little brain. Do you think we've met the master of destiny this time? Given the nature of fate, is it possible that we'll meet a big shot of the same level next time?"

"It's possible!" Gulibo said excitedly, "We might even meet the Lord of the Mysterious Fate, Lord Zhulong, and... and..."

“There are also the Spiral Tower Master, the Imperial Emperor, and other heretical figures,” Shax said. “Let’s calculate which one we’re more likely to encounter.”

Guli Bo's nose turned pale, and he lay sprawled on the ground, yelling, "Help me, Bo!!!"

Chu Hengkong casually picked it up and tossed it back onto the cushion: "To be honest, I never thought he was the Fate Master. I thought the Fate Master was the kind of... big shot who travels all over the world, but he's leading troops in the wilderness."

“A clone, of course. It’s obvious. There are tons of people with lingering spirits who can use the clone technique. Even Xiaoye can do it now.” Vande rolled his eyes. “I bet he exploited a loophole in the Mist Man’s mechanism and forced his ‘former self’ inside. Unfortunately, the Mist Man can’t affect reality, so we have to fight this war.”

Chu Hengkong stroked his chin, sensing something was amiss. After all, if this loophole were so easy to exploit, the other righteous leaders should have used their respective abilities, and the Spiral Tower Master should have personally entered the Heavenly Prison to rescue Fansalal long ago. Yet, they had only encountered Chongming, a supreme being, which was clearly strange.