Forge a path to success

A pale white flower bloomed in a small space, its petals slashing towards the swords, spears, and bone hands, successfully blocking Chu Hengkong's surprise attack!

The bone blade that once tore Wu He apart reappeared, parrying Chu Hengkong's attack with exquisite control. Six bone blades floated behind Qingxia defying gravity, their tips connected to her back by thin, almost transparent lines of blood. These floating bone blades, controlled by nerve bundles, were Qingxia's weapon of choice during her time in the second phase of the materialization era, and remain her preferred secondary weapon.

She twisted her upper body and threw a punch. The blood-fueled uppercut pierced through the defense and struck Chu Hengkong's face, with a force far greater than that of the punch to Wu Heshi, sending him flying into the sky.

Chu Hengkong's bone claws swirled behind him, using his injury as an opportunity to shatter the bone lock barrier. His face was covered in blood, but the emergency appearance of his protective aura armor saved him from having his head smashed by a single punch. His torso repaired itself while floating, and his bladed forelimbs melted and reformed, forming a giant hand forged from steel.

The current unit's integrity is 7.4%, and its energy reserves are 40.8%. The kinetic energy reflection armor is available for 30 seconds, and the ghost body annihilation field can be applied.

The cost of rapidly replenishing energy is the further depletion of Chu Hengkong's life force, which is considered his physical body. Once his integrity drops below 5%, he will never be able to return to human form, and his existence will be completely transformed into a machine composed of flesh and blood—the outward corruption of the Truth Empire. At that point, even a high-quality powerhouse could not save Chu Hengkong.

However, the Immortal Machine does not consider the "life" of the machine; it only cares about the death of the enemy.

It waved its giant hand in mid-air, its forced aura tinged with blood, forming a palm print a hundred meters wide, enveloping the hardened air. On the ground, Qingxia swung her Qingkun Spear, the giant lance accelerating with a piercing echo. She hurled the spear, its tip imbued with blood energy, forming a crimson dragon shape.

The forces of qi and blood collided in the air, and the repulsive force within the Qingkun Spear was unleashed, shattering Chu Hengkong's palm print in the sky!

The impact of the attack created a towering crimson column of energy, forcing Vande to tangle Qingxia's hair to prevent it from being blown away. Qingxia gazed at the monster in the distance, its form constantly shifting, the proportion of flesh decreasing while the metallic structure increased at a visible rate, like a giant metallic worm trapped inside a human body, tearing open its cocoon of flesh to reveal its true form.

That's so unfortunate.

How could something that was once so beautiful and captivating have become so ugly?

Cold, deformed, devoid of any vitality... standing there, burning with life force, fighting a battle that had nothing to do with him, so weak it was heartbreaking.

Vande sensed the murderous intent beside it and cried out urgently, its voice fading in the wind: "He's affected by misfortune... I can hypnotize him! Please... have mercy..."

Qingxia sighed.

"Yes, it's very unpleasant. I understand how you feel. The feeling of having your actions and decisions manipulated by self-righteous idiots is the same no matter how many times you experience it."

Vande's heart sank instantly; it understood Qingxia's unspoken meaning. It was unpleasant, unacceptable, but nothing could change the situation. A life beyond saving was beyond saving; even someone as powerful as Qingxia couldn't defy fate. Its best friend had become a heretic, and there was no turning back.

"—So, leave it to me."

However, it heard unbelievable words. Promises that defied common sense and logic. It looked up and saw the wind whipping through blood-red hair, and a confident, warrior-like smile on a stunning profile.

"I hate stories like this the most. People who fall into malice, souls who die in despair, I've seen the same tragedy so many times I'm sick of it."

"So I won't give up, I won't admit defeat. Keep your eyes wide open, I will definitely save him!"

Chapter 143 Parting Gifts

Blood surged behind Chu Hengkong, useless waste was constantly expelled, and new structures took shape as he fed. Seemingly realizing that close combat was impossible under the current circumstances, he turned his attention to modifying his deformed arm, continuously stacking devices on his right arm to form a white cannon-like structure.

Flags, medicine, spare weapons, supplies... he took out all the remaining resources from his storage relics and stuffed them into his arm like ammunition. Two rows of heat dissipation holes on his giant wrist emitted a golden light. Chu Hengkong rolled up his tentacles to support his right arm, and aimed the cannon in his palm at Qingxia's head.

A flash of golden light, and the first loaded bullet was fired. The flesh-reinforced cartridge case was enveloped in golden light, and a two-tone shockwave instantly pierced the battlefield, striking Qingxia's eyes with terrifying accuracy. She swung her bone blade, slicing the bullet open; the sudden shockwave sent a slight shiver through her mind. The bullet was filled with a compressed annihilation field; the trap was detonated by the strike, and the damage to the ghostly body exploded at extremely close range.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chu Hengkong shifted his position, and the next bullet came from Qingxia's side. Qingxia slammed the Qingkun Spear down on the spot, and the repulsive shield exploded into a sphere. The bullet's trajectory deviated, stirring up a cloud of mud in the no-man's-land a kilometer away. Vision was temporarily obscured by the rain of mud, and Chu Hengkong plunged his enhanced tentacles into the earth. The metallic elements were absorbed, dissolved, and combined, forming a simple tubular structure at the tip of the tentacle.

A standard feature of the soul container is the gravity generator.

He manipulated tentacles to pierce through the ground, their tips unleashing colorless slashes like wind blades. These gravitational slashes drifted into a repulsive shield of similar nature, temporarily disrupting the force field and creating a flaw in the otherwise perfect defense. An invisible, minute hole appeared on the surface of the repulsive shield, and a third bullet pierced it, grazing Qingxia's cheek and drawing blood.

Chu Hengkong began to correct his prediction, because the test shot shouldn't have hit; the enemy's reaction speed was fast enough to easily evade the attack. But Qingxia didn't dodge; she turned her head in surprise, her golden eyes reflecting the outline of the burning ammunition.

It was a vibrant green leaf, a hidden weapon used in the Immortal Machine Deathmatch, but never used again after its memories were destroyed by the Ghost Body Annihilation Field. The sentimental Chu Hengkong had always carried it with him, until now, when it was used as ammunition.

Qingxia stared intently at the fallen leaf, so focused that she was completely oblivious to the next attack that was about to strike.

"Grandpa, the tides of fate really do exist," she whispered, speaking words no one could understand.

She suddenly burst into laughter, pulling out the Qingkun Spear. She swung the chains connecting the spear's handle, turning the massive weapon into a white whirlwind. The Qingkun Spear moved like nunchucks in her hands, gravity and repulsion shifting at will with its movement. A simple shield that could be easily broken a moment ago had become an unpredictable turbulent force field. Before the next bullet could even get close, it was obliterated by the turbulent force field. Qingxia locked onto her target and launched a rapid charge towards Chu Hengkong!

The current unit's integrity is 6.3%, and its energy reserve is 48.1%. Kinetic energy reflection armor is activated, and the Zhengxuan Gang Qi armor is partially deployed…

Judging from the situation, they could not withstand the direct impact of individual enemies, so they adjusted their attack strategy and began long-range sniping.

Chu Hengkong arched his back high, using both hands and feet to run up the collapsed building's surface in a manner resembling a small predator. His specially modified arm, slung behind his back, continuously fired golden bullets as he ran. Qingxia's defense was impenetrable; she used the swirling motion of her Qingkun Spear to deflect all the bullets, shattering them with the chaotic force field, but this process caused a constant stinging pain in her head.

Chu Hengkong precisely calculated the impact point of each bullet, ensuring that Qingxia would pass through the attack range just as the ammunition shattered. Qingxia, however, had no time to react. Her speed was too great. This speed, which should have been an advantage in frontal attacks, was a disadvantage in guerrilla warfare. Her physique was inherently unsuitable for attacks from the side or rear, so her attacks were often direct and straightforward. In normal combat, Qingxia didn't need to worry about this; she could simply sprint and crush her opponent. But after going berserk, Chu Hengkong could keep up with her speed. At this moment, even a slight difference in size could yield tenfold results in actual combat.

"It hurts……"

The golden light of the annihilation field flickered continuously, slowing Qingxia's advance for a moment. That instant was enough for Chu Hengkong to create a distance of over a thousand meters. Standing atop the collapsed building, he raised his right arm, aiming at Qingxia, whose back was turned to him. Hundreds of blood vessels burst forth from his body, piercing his reinforced arm and filling it with energy for the impending strike.

Machine integrity 5.2%, energy reserve 50%. Target locked, energy replenished, attack module modification complete, third secret section unlocked. Consuming 90% of existing energy, temporarily activating the ray program—

Bio-disintegration rays, fire!

The deliberately modified right palm gleamed crimson, like the crimson eyes of a former immortal machine opening within the assassin's body. The ray fired, forming a massive crimson pillar as thick as a building. Wherever the light touched, everything was vaporized, losing its form in the scorching heat. It was a biological extinction weapon, powered by the burning of vital energy and channeled through willpower; a strike that consumed life force, its destructive power against living beings surpassed even the original matter-disintegrating ray.

Qingxia had just turned around, circling back like a warhorse. She raised her eyebrows at the approaching attack, showing no fear, but rather a strange excitement. She stood still, only lightly patting her chest.

In an instant, a thunderous roar, like the sound of war drums, resounded!

The sound came from Qingxia's chest, from the beating heart within her. The deliberately suppressed power was released; the "heart," symbolized by point mass 3, throbbed as it was unsealed, like a fire burning within her body. The area where Qingxia stood suddenly sank, a vast life force radiating with her heartbeat, causing faint streaks of blood to appear in the air. The presence of those blood streaks brought terrifying pressure; all sound except for the heartbeat vanished, and even the air seemed to solidify.

That is the result of long-term cultivation and arduous training, a symbol that transcends mere physical strength. The Path to Unifying Destiny, Point 3, the "Asura's Heart," with its explosive power that surpasses all others!

Thump. Thump. Almost all other sounds vanished, leaving only the powerful voice of the soul in the world. Vande was paralyzed by the overwhelming aura, unable to utter a word. A bone knife gently flicked him away, and the banshee's voice drifted over slowly.

"You should avoid me for now. I have strong vitality, and if I move around normally, the people around me might die."

She wasn't just powerful, she was a monster. The drum-like heartbeat wasn't a result of using secret techniques to unleash her potential; it was simply a phenomenon caused by her normal activity! Vande vaguely guessed the truth: Qingxia had actually been suppressing her body, slowing her heartbeat to once every few minutes, even tens of minutes, moving in a near-death state. At that time, she was practically a moving corpse; her combat power was nonexistent, and it was a miracle she even survived.

She has been fighting until now while feigning death.

What exactly is she?

Before he could even think, the bio-disintegration rays filled his field of vision. Vande was blown away by the ensuing storm, and he saw Qingxia charging forward with her spear, piercing through the crimson light of destruction!

The moment the heartbeat of the war drum struck, Qingxia transformed from extreme stillness to extreme motion. Her highly concentrated life force blossomed with the sound of her heartbeat, causing all her abilities to experience an explosive increase. She charged towards the bio-disintegration ray, like a young girl running towards the blazing sun. Her heartbeat spread throughout the entire city, each sound higher and higher, until everyone in Golden Leaf City could hear the distant sound of the war drum.

The bio-disintegrating rays shattered all obstacles, yet they couldn't interfere with Qingxia and her spear. The vital energy that arose from her heart transformed into a vibrant barrier; the rays couldn't keep up with Qingxia's replenishment as long as they destroyed it. The overflowing blood threads clung to the spear, transforming the Qingkun Spear into a bewitching and beautiful weapon. In a mere instant, she pierced through the beams of light, the spear shooting out like a dragon, piercing the assassin's body. Strands of blood twisted behind the spear, as beautiful as the flowing silk of a celestial maiden.

Demonic Spear - Blood Piercing the Sky.

The devastating blow shattered the disintegrating ray and exhausted Chu Hengkong's last bit of energy. He was propelled backward by the impact, flying an unknown distance. His consciousness briefly vanished, and when he regained it, he was leaning against gray cement, the Qingkun Spear piercing his right palm as a nail, pinning it crookedly to a wall.

The body... 5.0%, ... inventory 3%.

The fog... dissipates... judgment... hostile individuals...

Ronghua■■……■■Demon……

Eradicate...eradicate...eradicate...

"I'm exhausted~ I'm telling you, how can you be so rough with a girl? Be careful you don't end up not finding a partner later!"

In the blood-red vision, the outline of a monstrous creature emerged. Golden pupils, blood-red hair, a bewitching and beautiful face. It must be annihilated. A species forbidden to exist. The root of all sin…

Chu Hengkong's eyes were empty, his last vestige of humanity crumbling. He stretched out his tentacles, trying to strangle his enemy. Qingxia met his gaze for a moment, then smiled, her face inexplicably flushed.

"Don't do that, it'll get me excited," she whispered. "Okay, be good and don't move."

She grasped Chu Hengkong's tentacle, as gently as if holding a lover's hand, yet with an unyielding and forceful stance, pinning him against the wall.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and lowered her head to kiss the man's lips.

With their lips touching, the demon's blood flowed into the man's mouth. The powerful life force from the alien race surged through his body, melting metal that shouldn't exist, repairing damaged organs, causing the extra legs to retract into the body, restoring the limbs to normal, and injecting the power of flesh and blood into the human on the verge of collapse.

The indicator of the body's integrity changed from 5% to 6%, then surged to 15%, and then 30%. The demonic blood lured the human heart, causing it to beat with incredible ferocity. This was a vitality unique to life, which even the most intelligent cold machinery could not control. Thus, the steel finally retreated back into the skeleton, and the bloodlust in the pupils faded.

Chu Hengkong was lost in the overwhelmingly long kiss.

Their lips parted, and that otherworldly face was inches away, his blank expression reflected in her golden eyes. Qingxia chuckled softly, then kissed him once more.

"Sorry, you were so cute just now, I couldn't help myself." Qingxia pinched his earlobe. "Are you back to your senses? You won't go berserk again?"

Chu Hengkong nodded blankly.

"Very well, then I'll stop here for you. Saving someone is much more tiring than I imagined..."

Qingxia yawned, kneeling down like a horse. She licked her lips groggily, not forgetting to instruct the assassin, "Remember to bring back my treasure... This Dust Island is yours now..."

She closed her eyes and let out sweet breathing sounds.

She fell asleep.

Chapter 144 The Accumulation of Small Misfortunes

Chu Hengkong slid down the wall, clinging to it. A deluge of information surged through his brain like an electric current; he was nearly overwhelmed by his own memories. Berserk. Modification. The battle with Qingxia. And then…

An attack he couldn't dodge, artillery fire that pierced through him, a gun piercing his arm...

Defeat...!

"Get up...don't sleep!" He suddenly grabbed Qingxia's shoulder. "Let's fight again! Let's fight again!!"

No matter how hard he tried, Qingxia remained unmoved. The difference in their physical strength was too great; he had to stand on tiptoe to barely reach Qingxia's shoulder as she lay resting on the ground. The female demon's sleeping face was sweet, her breath carrying a flower-like fragrance. Such a beautiful face on such a powerful monster's body—he felt that despite his best efforts, Qingxia didn't even tremble.

Chu Hengkong's legs went weak, and he realized that his strength had waned to an extreme degree, to the point that he could barely stand. He slumped to the ground, forcing himself to accept reality.

He failed; he started the battle against his own will, was manipulated by power and fell into an out-of-control vortex, and was ultimately saved by a merciful enemy.

He lost to himself before he lost to his enemy. For a martial artist, there is no defeat more shameful than this.

Long, drawn-out breaths filled the air, as if he were deliberately suppressing his rage. Chu Hengkong closed his eyes, forcing himself to take deep breaths, etching the feeling of humiliation into his heart in the most intense way possible, thus awakening rationality beyond his fighting spirit. He regained some strength, barely managing to stand up, and bowed respectfully to the sleeping demoness… to his savior.

"...Thank you."

The fragments of his memory finally pieced together, and Chu Hengkong became aware of the rescue process he had deliberately ignored. He subconsciously touched his lips, which still seemed to retain a pleasant warmth.

"..."

For a moment, he didn't know what to say; his mind went blank and stopped working. He almost felt like he was back on his first night in New York, back to that panicked little boy caught up in the chaos of bars and nightclubs.

Chu Heng took two steps back and sat down against the wall. His brain kept telling him that this was no place of peace, and there were still too many urgent matters to be resolved, but his exhausted body banished all thoughts. He felt that he would fall asleep the moment he closed his eyes. Perhaps he wouldn't even wake up when the succubus awoke.

"Mr. Chu, are you alright? Mr. Chu!"

Qingye ran out of the ruins and pulled him up without a word. The black-haired girl was covered in dirt and reeked of blood, clearly having just been in a fight. She looked at him with concern.

"I was saved." Chu Hengkong mustered his strength. "Your true weapon..." "It got beaten back." "Huh?"

He took a moment to explain his experience, omitting the unnecessary kiss. Qingye listened quietly, supporting him as they walked forward. "You've had a hard time. But it's not over yet." "I know. I know."

The filthy crescent moon still hung high in the sky, its blackness surging like blood, pausing several times before its pointed tip, as if hesitating whether to fall upon this small, dusty island.

We must sever communication before the Moon Beast falls. We can perform a reverse exorcism ritual based on the Runemaster's array. If you have the Dragon's Rune Bead...

Transparent characters emerged from the dust, and the stone seed, like a package, rested on Qingye's back beside them. "Let's do it this way," Chu Hengkong said. "No," Qingye shook her head. "The talisman master's last attack destroyed the entire formation."

It was that amazing move that turned the entire hotel into a gravity ball... and it just so happened to be such a coincidence...

[If you have a foundation in talismanic arts, you can rebuild it.]

“I don’t know how to draw talismans,” Chu Hengkong said with a wry smile. “Ji Huaisu knows more about this than I do… but she’s not here right now.”

The stone remained silent for a while, seemingly speechless due to its bad luck. "Let's find something usable first," it said.

They had no choice but to leave Qingxia behind; even with Chu Hengkong and Qingye working together, they couldn't move her. It seemed such a fierce and powerful female demon wouldn't be afraid of any external corruption; those moon beasts couldn't even poke her skin. Qingye tried to contact Ji Huaisu and Fan De, but failed. The Dark Moon's magic rendered their communication artifacts completely ineffective, and they were lost in this small town.

Fortunately, they were still able to determine their direction; the hotel that Wu He had personally destroyed served as a clear landmark. The two walked back to the vicinity of the hotel ruins and discovered a glittering golden light amidst a pool of blood.

The talisman coiled around the dragon tree was intact, floating in the bloodstains yet completely untouched by the environment. Qingye exclaimed in delight, retrieving the talisman. "If we use this…!"

"Wait a minute," Chu Hengkong calmly stopped him. "Let me take a look at the book."

His luck had been terrible ever since he arrived in Golden Leaf City, and he couldn't believe he'd encounter such a stroke of good fortune in this critical moment. He shook off the bloodstains on the talisman, pressed it onto the page of the book, and the flickering words revealed the same shock in both of their eyes.

"...Are you kidding me?" Qingye muttered to herself, "What exactly...did that talisman master steal?"

【Nagarjuna's Talisman for Defilement】

[Rating: 3 (7)]

【Origin: ■■Fortress■Er■La】

【Effect: A talisman that gathers the power of the Dragon Village martial arts practitioners, the Ancient Dragon God, and the ■■■ riders.】

It harmonizes the balance of Qi and blood, and absorbs external forces. It maintains its own integrity amidst the erosion of these forces.

[Warning: This relic contains power that should not exist in the present. The holder will have a very high probability of traversing the mists of history and encountering the "battlefield".]

The artifact contains [■■■■■■■■■].

[Longing: I will fulfill my duty until my very last moment.]

...A relic of the 7th level in essence?

How can it be?