From the end of the world

Chapter 701 VS Meng Zhang 2
A sea of ​​fire raged across the land, burning everything in its path as fuel. I, however, found myself amidst the flames, receiving seemingly inexhaustible energy, much like Meng Zhang, who was supported by an external force. While the boost wasn't as significant as "Shangri-La," primarily reducing the energy consumption of Corona Mode, it was far better than nothing.

Because the spacetime within the city's barrier has expanded to a much larger extent than its original size, the range of the sea of ​​fire can also expand considerably. As it continues to extend and spread, the scale of its magical power will increase endlessly.

This can also be seen as my spiritual volume expanding endlessly. However, just as an ant, when scaled up to human size, would lose its ability to function due to its own weight, my spiritual structure will not allow itself to expand indefinitely. Although the sea of ​​fire itself can expand infinitely, the scale of magical power I can actually mobilize at any given time is limited.

Objectively speaking, I do now have some extra "computing power." This allows me to divert some of my attention to perceive other directions while fighting Meng Zhang, such as the dream network set up in this city.

Since Xuanming was able to disrupt the operation of the dream network with a sea of ​​fire in the sky, there is no reason why I, who have the same power and perception as Xuanming and even have the experience inherited from Xuanming, cannot do the same.

I vaguely sensed, hidden deep within the illusory and chaotic spacetime, omnipresent points and lines. Numerous nodes and lines constructed a complex form, like a neural network. Imperceptible to the naked eye, seemingly merely an illusion, yet undeniably real. Following my intuition, I commanded the sea of ​​fire to spread in that direction.

A sea of ​​fire spread and burned across the dream network. Sensing this, Meng Zhang's expression immediately turned extremely grim. At the same time, the detached gaze lurking deep within his eyes seemed to focus on me for the first time—"Shangri-La" was reacting to me.

I am well aware that this level of damage is not enough to destroy the "Shangri-La," at most it will only further delay its creation process.

However, this was enough to deeply provoke Meng Zhang's wrath.

Meng Zhang's movements underwent a dramatic change. Streaks of lightning seemed to wrap around his body like armor, and he seemed to transform into a super electromagnetic cannon fired from a spaceship, charging towards me with a fierce attack.

This direct physical attack style of combat is what I excel at. I also used myself as a cannonball, colliding with him. In the first round of impact, most of my body was shattered, and my true spirit also suffered some damage; Meng Zhang was also seriously injured, his lightning armor was completely shattered, and part of his torso was also blown apart. It seems that the lightning power built on the foundation of wood element magic is not the type that is good at defense either.

In the blink of an eye, a mysterious and unpredictable power descended from the blue sun above, and all his serious injuries vanished as if in a joke.

This is the power of rebirth—I recognized it immediately.

"Zhuang Cheng, aren't you very good at having more children?" Meng Zhang said coldly. "Then let me see how long you can last."

He once again transformed into an unstoppable "electromagnetic cannon" and launched a surprise attack.

At this rate, assuming he can restart indefinitely while I can only continue to accumulate spiritual injuries, I will ultimately be the one worn down and killed. Unlike the situation against Xuanming, this time it seems the enemy is relying on their greater resilience to defeat me.

Only when you actually encounter it do you realize how shameless this fighting style is. Regardless of whether I have the right to comment on others in this way, fighting with the backing of one's own cultivated territory and endless support is perhaps the way of fighting that the descendants of the Azure Dragon should be.

However, I did not hesitate at all, and continued to collide with him.

I don't believe Meng Zhang can be infinitely restarted. The injuries I inflicted as the Great Impermanence are not so easily healed time and again. Admittedly, it was "Shangri-La," whose status surpasses that of the Great Impermanence, that healed Meng Zhang's severe injuries, but "Shangri-La" is still not in the creation stage. The magical resources consumed during the repair must have been the same resources that should have been used to create it.

This can also be seen from the blue dragon claw incarnation just now.

If it were possible to synthesize such an avatar from five giant, cyan-glowing hands right from the start, it should have been done that way from the beginning. The current synthesis is clearly not something that can be achieved casually. From my observation, those Meng Zhang avatars are all constructed using the magic power of "Shangri-La," and the resulting dragon claw form also possesses some characteristics of a dream network.

The five incarnations of Meng Zhang did not truly merge, but rather became the five fingers of a dragon's claw, tightly interlocked together. This interconnected and unified form is the essence of "Shangri-La." I have reason to believe that this was also an exception, an unauthorized mobilization of the power of "Shangri-La."

The reason this is only done at crucial moments is because it would hinder the creation of the "Shangri-La." It's like forcing a fetus to do work before it has even emerged from the womb.

The sea of ​​fire had spread to the area where the Water Master Xuanwu was fighting the Azure Dragon Claw avatar, and I could see the battle's progress. Although the Water Master Xuanwu had the upper hand in direct confrontations due to some attribute advantage, the Azure Dragon Claw avatar, taking advantage of the illusory chaotic spacetime, was able to prevent the Water Master Xuanwu from hitting it no matter what it did, while its own attacks always hit the opponent one-sidedly. The Water Master Xuanwu seemed to want to break free from the Azure Dragon Claw avatar and return to my battlefield. However, firstly, the Azure Dragon Claw avatar was not so easy to shake off, and secondly, without my help, it could not move normally in the illusory chaotic spacetime.

I'm also unable to provide remote support to the Naval Xuanwu. If we're attacked by Meng Zhang while our forces are scattered, my true spirit will be severely damaged, and the scales of victory will quickly tip in Meng Zhang's favor. Fortunately, from another perspective, it can also be seen as the Naval Xuanwu currently holding back that azure dragon claw avatar for me. I guess I'll have to figure out a solution myself.

In addition, I also saw the core points of Meng Zhang's tactics.

His real purpose wasn't to trade blows with me.

"—You want to send me flying?" I asked.

Although Meng Zhang and I were constantly moving at high speed, Meng Zhang seemed to be manipulating this illusory and chaotic spacetime, ensuring that the battlefield never strayed from the very center of the city center. It might sound like we were just wandering around in a very narrow area, but in reality, this space had already rapidly stretched and expanded to a extent far greater than the entire city area.

This reminds me of the battle at the Humanitarian Division's main base. Similar spatial stretching and expansion phenomena occurred there as well. This special spacetime phenomenon has the feel of a "Shangri-La" or another universe, and seems to originate more from Meng Zhang's technology than from Ying Lingyun's.

Meng Zhang's current actions are clearly due to his inability to leave this area; he is likely still in the process of creating "Shangri-La." This aligns with Xuan Ming's statement. Furthermore, I can deduce that he is attempting to manipulate the illusory, chaotic spacetime to do a second thing—that is, to drive me out of this central area.

Just as I can use spatial manipulation to send someone thousands of miles away with a gentle push, with each impact I can feel Meng Zhang trying to send me flying to an extremely distant place.

Why did he do that? I immediately came to the answer—because I am now just like Xuanming in the past.

Xuanming's flames could jeopardize the creation process of "Shangri-La," so Mengzhang had to drive them away to prevent them from interfering with his work. Xuanming was likely blasted away from the city center by similar means during battle, after which the "Wall of Shangri-La" was erected, making it impossible for him to reach Mengzhang again.

But I wasn't so easily knocked away. It wasn't because I was stronger than Xuanming, but because I had the home-field advantage of Xu Gou as Meng Zhang's collaborator, plus Xiao Wan's blessing. The combination of these two factors prevented me from being so easily swallowed up by the illusory and chaotic nature of spacetime. Meng Zhang's spatial techniques were ineffective against me.

As long as I stay firmly in the very heart of this "Shangri-La" where I am to be born, the "wall of the outside world" will be useless to me. Even if it is built, it will only lock me, the "burglar," and myself in the house.

To be honest, Meng Zhang's current thinking isn't wrong. My normal level is only that of a veteran, and I can only keep up with Xuan Ming and Meng Zhang thanks to my slag weapons. Therefore, I can't disrupt the dream network for as long as Xuan Ming can. As long as they lock me out, "Shangri-La" can be created in no time. That would be Meng Zhang's victory.

Based solely on my experience with the Dog (戌狗), my chances of blocking Meng Zhang's knockback attack were extremely low, maybe only 10-20%. Even if Meng Zhang failed the first time, he'd definitely succeed after a few more tries. However, with the Little Bowl's blessing, I can always perform exceptionally well. Even if he attacks me dozens more times, I'm confident I can make him taste the bitterness of failure each time.

After trying this about ten times, Meng Zhang seemed to realize that something was wrong.

"Zhuang Cheng, you—"

He made a sound as he launched another high-speed attack. But this time, before he could finish his sentence, I deftly dodged his attack. He seemed completely unprepared for such a subtle and unexpected move from someone who only knew crude fighting techniques. Taking advantage of his opening, I struck him on the side with a palm strike.

Flames erupted from my palm, sending Meng Zhang flying far away. His body and soul were blasted with terrible injuries, but he was quickly restored to his original state by the power of the "Shangri-La" restart.

"This attack is—Xuanming!?" He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

(End of this chapter)