Forge a path to success

"Without crossing the first abyss, one is ultimately just a mortal subject to the whims of others!"

His hand moved towards Chu Hengkong's head, the repulsive patch of color resembling protruding sharp claws. At that moment, Van der screamed, "Use your spirit!"

A crimson slash appeared out of thin air, as if the blade had struck the wolf-headed man's fingers. Chu Hengkong remained motionless, his right hand still gripping the hilt of the Divine Slash. It was a reverse-blade draw!

The spirited slashes erupted simultaneously, and three more bloody slashes blocked the long claws, causing the wolf-headed man's movements to be delayed for a moment. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chu Hengkong raised his left arm, his prosthetic hand pointing forward.

"When fate turns against you, heaven forsaken you; misfortune and torrential rains follow!"

A sudden, heavy, gray rain poured down, like countless long nails piercing the pages of a book. The wolf-headed man's hand crushed the powerful strike, but he barely brushed past Chu Hengkong.

The third ability of the Wrist of Calamity is a vortex that disrupts probability. In this unfortunate downpour, nothing is certain; all attacks will be deflected by fate.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chu Hengkong exerted his strength, piercing through the solid floor and falling downwards. The wolf-headed man stepped forward to give chase, but the raindrops in the room began to spin strangely, developing into a raging torrent that engulfed him in a short moment.

The Vortex of Calamity.

“You old man who clings to old feelings,” the wolf-headed man muttered.

Chu Heng descended to the lower level, slashing through the wall and rushing out of the corridor in a blood-red gust of wind. The blood that had flowed out of his body flowed back under the effect of the Undying Technique, his organs reorganized and his eyeballs repaired, and in less than half a second he was back to his peak condition.

There was a life force at each end of this level, which was the normal configuration for the Grand Archives. The guards on the top floor should have been much tighter, but they had all been dealt with. The wolf-headed man had been eyeing this place for a while, but he couldn't get through door 2978, so he waited here to ambush him.

He mustered his courage and threw the two guards out the window ahead of time. His heart pounded, a heavy sense of oppression weighed on his chest, and despite encountering such a mad and powerful enemy, Chu Hengkong unconsciously laughed.

Van der, finally daring to speak from his pocket, yelled almost in despair, "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck! How could it be this old bastard? Run!"

"Who is that guy?"

“It’s Fruidan Tanna Marijvis, the Chaos Smoke!” Vand screamed. “That guy is a genuine god, the most powerful illusionary demon ‘Chaos’ in terms of attack!”

All the doors in the corridor swung open simultaneously, an inexplicable force shattering the documents behind them. Turbulent currents carrying shredded paper were blasted out, like countless white butterflies dancing in the corridor. Chu Hengkong's momentum halted abruptly; his vision was completely disrupted, and the erratic gale brought immense weight, making him feel as if he were walking against a storm.

He heard footsteps again, slowly approaching behind him. The Chaos Demon had arrived. The level of the Vortex of Calamity was sufficient, but the power of mere Point 3 was not enough to slow its advance. It spread its arms, and sharp claws formed from color blocks extended like the wings of a colossus.

“I heard your voice,” said the Chaos Demon. “It really is you, Twilight’s puppet!”

"Don't look back, get out of here!" Vande screamed. "That thing is the opposite of order. Matter that exists based on structure will inevitably collapse once it encounters it. When it gets serious, just one look from it is enough to scatter you all over the world!"

“We haven’t traveled the world yet, have we? It’s a fragment of a spirit.”

"Its fragmented spirit is enough to sink your head to the bottom of the sea, so run!"

Chu Hengkong had already stopped breathing. His previous serious injuries caused the Qi of a Thousand Autumns to be activated quickly. He wrapped the burning Qi around his side and used the Burning Night to clear a path in the storm.

The Chaos Demon watched Chu Hengkong leave, then slowly raised his hand forward. His palm dissolved, turning into pale purple smoke.

"Phew." He blew a breath.

The smoke was easily blown away, spreading in the swirling wind and seeping into the ground and walls. Far below ground in the Great Archives, the crowd gasped in surprise. They saw a floor near the top turn a deep purple, cracks spreading like forked branches inside the glass, accompanied by unsettling creaking sounds.

Immediately afterwards, the entire exterior wall of the 256th floor shattered simultaneously, and shards of glass cascaded down like a waterfall. A piercing scream echoed under the blazing sun, but Chu Hengkong, inside the library, was no longer aware of the scene outside.

The thick smoke acted like a barrier, isolating the world inside from the outside. One second he was running wildly through the collapsing building, and the next he had stepped into the smoke, and in front of him was... a chaotic demon reaching out its hand! It was as if he had handed himself over to the demon's palm!

Spatial disruption. The chaotic smoke disrupted continuity, causing different coordinates to overlap!

The demon's palm loomed infinitely large before Chu Hengkong's eyes, its terrifying deep purple radiance seemingly capable of swallowing even the soul. At that moment, he closed his eyes, leaped into the air with a light touch of his toes, and silently unsheathed the Divine Slash. The blood-red light transformed into a blinding brilliance the instant it was unleashed—a strike of unparalleled power.

Shadow Appears in the Radiant Sky - Yang Yi!

He disregarded his own safety, choosing instead to slash at the demon's arm with the fastest possible strike. His burst of energy propelled him to extreme speed, so fast that even the chaotic smoke couldn't interfere with the strike forged from his will and light.

The chaotic demon's arm instantly disintegrated into smoke, and the smoke that filled the corridor surged back, forming a chaotic cage of corrosive light. The two forces clashed fiercely, erupting after only a moment of contact.

The Chaotic Demon took a step back, while Chu Hengkong was swept by the storm to the end of the corridor. He slashed through the barrier with a backhand slash and leaped into the world beyond the sunlight!

"—That's all."

Then, the fist of smoke pierced his chest.

The Chaos Demon's other arm appeared behind him, piercing his heart with a merciless blow!

This is the natural course of events. Being able to disrupt the enemy's position naturally allows one to change their own. No, for this terrifying deity, even altering their own existence is effortless. It can freely appear anywhere; smoke, air currents, and liquids can all become "chaos demons." It clenches its fist and shatters a living heart!

-

Its palms were empty.

There was no blood, no remains, the heart was gone, and even the enemy's corpse was nowhere to be found.

The chaotic demon stared at the palm that had materialized, its mind a jumble of confused sensations and contradictory memories. The reality that should have happened had been erased. One possibility had been abruptly shut down.

"This is……!"

On the 248th floor, Chu Hengkong sat down with his back against the wall. His withered bone wings stretched out behind him, like a cloak covering half of his body.

Deathwing in the Sky!

Chapter 326 Hiding in Seclusion (8)

The Void Shadow Spell: Deathwing of the Void is the most malevolent magic developed by Vansalal. Deathwing strips away "possibility" itself, leaving only inevitable destruction. These skeletal wings, which render all efforts and miracles futile, represent the despair at the very end of fear.

However, the same spell can have different meanings in the hands of different users. The forbidden spells that the Nightmare King used to poison the world can also be used to save lives.

Chu Hengkong leaned against the wall, breathing heavily, the wound on his chest gradually healing. A bright red heart pattern was appearing on the Deathwing's wing membrane, only to be erased by dark claw marks.

The instant Fridan threw his punch, he used the Deathwing of the Void to eliminate any possibility of dying from the attack. Fridan was thus momentarily stunned, and he used this opportunity to escape and hide several floors below. The fog in that enclosed space was a trap; escaping would inevitably lead to a demonic counterattack, so he could only maneuver within the Great Archives for the time being.

"It's been a long time since we've had a battle of this intensity; it's exhilarating!" Chu Hengkong laughed.

"I'm begging you, can you please be a little more cold-blooded? Don't fucking charge in, fighting it is a sure way to die!" Vande screamed. "This is different from before. Olek's little spirit fragment was only a 3-point particle, and Vansalal even reached a 2-point particle, but the spirit fragment that Fruidan sent this time is at least a 5-point particle! In terms you can understand, this is the level of the Unborn Blood Origin!!"

“Not at all. It’s a pure split spirit without a contractor,” Chu Hengkong calmly assessed. “If it had a contractor, we would all be dead by now.”

"Is there a difference?! It's just the difference between sudden death and beheading!!" Vande was frantic, then suddenly realized something. "You..."

It heard Chu Hengkong's voice. At this moment, the assassin was speaking in a normal manner. This ominous sign made Vande's eyes turn pale.

"Can't even the Qi of a thousand years be maintained..." it whispered.

"Deathwing was too exhausted; it's a miracle he survived."

Chu Hengkong remained calm, harboring no resentment towards this dire situation, for he was utterly unable to unleash his full power. Furuidan's abilities had stifled all his techniques, rendering both swordsmanship and secret arts useless. Fighting against a serious, high-quality opponent was futile; it was an unreasonable "level" beyond mere strength.

A purely psychological attack might have some effect, but relying solely on the reverse blade is a pipe dream. Similarly, getting support from Huaisu and Li Ke is pointless. But this is the Divine Tree's stronghold; reinforcements will arrive quickly. The most urgent task is to buy time…

"How long do you think it will take for Jing Sha's reinforcements to arrive?"

“If I were you, I wouldn’t expect that,” Vande said dryly. “Personally interfering in internal affairs is a ‘taboo’ for the Divine Tree. I’ve never heard of them directly intervening outside of external battlefields. Besides, the Fruidan are the Divine Tree’s natural enemy…”

"So we can only hope for the Divine Guard."

"Do you think the old man wouldn't have thought of this? The fact that it dared to show up means it's definitely holding back the first team!"

Chu Hengkong came up with an idea: "Then Fan De, you can help buy some time."

Van der was frantic: "How could I possibly buy myself time?! How could that old man be hypnotized?!"

"Use your second ability."

"What did you say? You..." Van der was taken aback. "Could it be..."

·

On the 256th floor, Furui Dan dispersed the smoke, reverting to his wolf-headed, human form.

The Deathwing of the Void is an attack that is almost impossible to defend against. It had known how troublesome this method was for a long time, and therefore was now extremely cautious, even hesitant. Furudan was filled with doubt because this was magic that should have been completely eradicated from the world.

—After all, the Nightmare King is completely dead.

Not long ago, that madman could still interfere with the mortal realm by possessing the Demon Slayer. But the wilderness is shattered, meaning that Vansalal, the lord of this layer of the Heavenly Prison, is doomed. The Void Wings have no chance of reappearing unless it passed them on to someone before its death…

“Vaklo Lockvar?” Fruidan pondered. “That rabid dog couldn’t use magic like that. So, was it Karsord who made the move…?”

Did Kalsord rescue Vansalal as the wilderness crumbled?

The mere appearance of this speculation struck it as absurd. Let alone the Lord of the Broken Heart, even the other supreme beings wouldn't stand idly by. The God of Funerals would likely unleash a direct attack from Eternal Time. But that was, after all, something Karsod… the Sorcerer Supreme was determined to accomplish, and so far, not a single attempt had failed.

Could it be that the Nightmare King is still alive?

The instant this thought arose, the shadows of the 256th floor flowed backward like water. Strands of shadow crawled across the walls and floors, converging into a murky pool at the end of the corridor. The chaotic mass of color beside Furudan suddenly swelled, forming gigantic claws. At the same time, a screech of bats rang out, and thousands of bat shadows burst forth, swarming around the withered, yellow-haired humanoid figure!

"It really is you, Vansalal...!"

Vansalar clapped enthusiastically, letting out his signature nauseating laughter.

"Oh my, it's been a long time! Isn't this our adorable little wolfhound, Fredan! Goodness, where have you been stirring up trouble lately?"

"He's spouting nonsense again," Furuidan sneered.

“Fruidan is a little puppy who’s afraid of being alone!” Vansalar sneered. “He’ll die of loneliness if he’s alone, he can’t survive without hiding in a group, and he can’t understand his own meaning without making a mess of his surroundings! What’s he doing this time? I know without even thinking. In short, he’s smashing up the sandcastles the kids built and laughing on the sidelines. You’re just running around day after day doing the same ridiculous things.”

He didn't even glance at Furudan's expression, disdainfully picking his ear with his little finger: "But speaking of which, why is it Jing Sha again? Didn't you used to cause trouble in places a little further away? What's going on? Let me guess..."

Crackling sounds of bones breaking rang out. Vansalar's head turned ninety degrees, tilting to reveal a mocking smile: "Your spine was completely broken by Karsod, so you'll never dare to run around again, right?! Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!"

“You’re still the same as ever, unable to speak without belittling the existence of others.” Frendan raised his giant claw. “Why is that, Vansalal? Because deep down you already know your own madness, yet you subconsciously want to stand on the right side. A madman intoxicated by his distorted ideals, you are perfectly suited to be the representative of your Spiral Tower.”

Vansalar, holding his head, asked in surprise, "You old dog, why did you write such a long reply instead of taking action? Did you really get hit where it hurts?"

Furudan's pupils turned into purple dots of light, and its voice gradually became hoarse, like the howl of a giant wolf.

"You seem determined to start a war. But it doesn't matter, in fact, I'm more than happy to do so. I haven't exercised in a long time."

"No, no, you still have some backbone, don't you?" Vansalar spread his hands. "Angry? Ashamed? You want to tear me to pieces? Then let me see your courage!! Void Shadow Technique—"

"—Disorder and damage!!"

As Furudan dissipated into smoke, claw marks appeared from an invisible place. Unreservedly unleashing the power within its divided spirit, the chaotic demon's full-force attack shattered space within the battle zone, even slightly disrupting the flow of time. Its illusory wolf head, which had appeared "a moment ago," lunged forward, attempting to tear apart the mage's magic first—

However, the giant head of smoke bit into empty air. The blow from its giant claw shattered Vansalar, leaving not even a skeleton before it, only a wisp of smoke dissipating in the distance.

Furudan's gaze froze, and the shadow transformed into a tiny cockroach, waving its antennae as it spoke:

Happy April Fool's Day!

At this moment, the Chaos Demon finally realized what had happened. Having maintained its composure despite Vansalal's repeated provocations, it now felt genuine rage.

"Chu Hengkong, how dare you!!!"

·

Down several floors, Chu Hengkong, with a book in one hand and Fan De in the other, was running for his life. Laughter echoed from one of them, a kind of reckless madness.

"Well done, Vander!"

"Oh, not at all! Your facial expression imitation is also incredibly impressive!"

"Damn it, the biggest takeaway from that trip to the wilderness was learning how to play the Demon King! I never expected him to actually fall for it!"

“Of course it will win! That old dog and the Spiral Tower have never gotten along. The Sorcerer Supreme made his name by beating it up when he was young!” Vandal shouted.

"So they're still arch-enemies after all."

"Yes, so your trick is really underhanded. The more cunning and treacherous these kinds of people are, the easier they are to fall for this kind of trick. They've seen too much and know too much, which makes them hesitant and timid. Just think, if it were Ji Qiufeng, he would have punched us right through. We wouldn't have had time to waste talking!" Vande took a deep breath. "Alright, we can run now, but Furuidan is completely enraged! If capturing us before was just completing a mission, now it's probably a blood feud!"

"Since we're going to die anyway, isn't it better to play a trick on the old man first!"

"Dude, what you said actually makes some sense! Could you please use your clever little brain to think of a better way to proceed? I feel like I can't breathe!"

Vansalal was, of course, dead. The one who was dealing with Frudan was a fake created by Vandal using "Fear Manifestation." This signature spell of the Demon King was triggered by fear. Chu Hengkong's earlier brief appearance of Deathwing, which aroused Frudan's concern, just happened to meet the conditions for the spell's activation.

Now they finally had the strength to act again, but unsettling sounds came faintly from above, like the rumbling from deep underground before an earthquake. In just a few breaths, Chu Hengkong had descended to the 137th floor. As soon as he landed, he found that the smooth corridor in front of him had become as winding as ocean waves.

Space narrows, total length extends, and solid matter distorts simultaneously, transforming into unstable gas, liquid, or crystals. Chaotic forces extend with rage, enriching matter, destroying space, and turning the Great Archives' dusty layers into a chaotic, insane place.

Vande mustered its courage and turned around, seeing faint purple smoke billowing through the broken glass. It screamed, "Hurry, it's here!"

"Let's gamble on the second round now..." Chu Hengkong roared, "Hurry up and figure out what the use of your new book is, or we'll be dead before reinforcements arrive!"

He slammed Vande down onto the second large book, and at the moment of contact, the single eye on the page and Vande's eye simultaneously shone with a light that resembled the twilight at the transition between day and night.

Its gaze suddenly changed, and that clear voice, once again heard, rang out: "Take out my manual, Contractor!"

Without a word, Chu Hengkong pulled out the first large book. With a flick of his "Fan De" tentacle, the two identical books gradually overlapped. Chu Hengkong exerted all his strength to accelerate the fusion, and at the moment the purple smoke completely solidified, a transparent light emanated from his hand!

Frydane stood on the 137th floor, its gaze sweeping across the building, but all it saw were papers fluttering about, and the corridors were empty.

After the chaotic flow of information, Chu Hengkong stood against the wall, motionless. He felt his body had become something transparent, undetectable and untouchable.

Still shaken, Vande stammered, "I remember now, this is... invisibility!"

Chapter 327 Hiding in Seclusion (9)