Forge a path to success.

Chapter 37 Shattering the False Idol (Part 2)

A raging fire erupted in the south, while the northern sun shone blindingly. Explosive blasts swept from the depths of the dense forest, nearly knocking down residents near the settlement. A sharp-eyed observer saw a blood-red figure burst forth from the light, blown to the ground like trash by the storm. The ominous light persisted, and one after another, limp, glowing corpses emerged from the forest, silently shattering the hopes in people's hearts.

"It's the end of the world," said the desperate residents. "The end of the world has come."

The sliver of confidence they had managed to muster was quickly extinguished by the series of unexpected events. Some cried out softly, while many more stood frozen in shock, bewildered and helpless. Then, the armed monks appeared, vigorously shaking small bells. The great wizard Adari, who had appeared on the rooftop sometime earlier, smiled at the confused crowd.

“Pray. Sing my name,” Adari said solemnly. “In this way, calamity will depart and you will find peace.”

So many people did as they were told. Like desperate people grasping at a straw, they knelt and prayed. "Adali!" "Adali..." "Please save us, great Adali!" Their pleas were so humble, like the cries of the weak for divine favor. And the culprit who had caused the disaster was mingling among the fireflies, brazenly accepting the prayers of the crowd.

But how could this be? Wasn't the great wizard Adari fighting Chu Hengkong? Yes, this was just a false illusion created with relics, a last-ditch effort to thwart the Judgment Day plan... while the real Adari stood in the north of the settlement, watching the wounded human figures in the ruins.

"I'll give you one compliment, after all, you took the measures I predicted," the high wizard sneered. "However, they were incredibly crude and foolish!"

A bloodied hand pressed against the rubble, swaying precariously as if about to collapse at any moment. The heavily wounded Chu Hengkong stood up. His right hand was blackened from the intense heat, the charred wound revealing stark white bone. Tiny wounds accumulated on his tentacles, from which silver blood flowed. A penetrating wound in his left abdomen, bones shattered in the previous exchange, and now a deadly poison eroding his life… countless misfortunes had accumulated on the assassin, yet he was still alive, a survivor of the earlier explosion.

Before the corpses exploded, Chu Hengkong leaped into the air, using his last bit of strength to get away from the center of the explosion. He was indeed unable to control his body due to the mental attack, but his body could still move on its own. This was the preventative measure he had prepared before the battle, a conditioned reflex he had trained over three days. If he suddenly stopped moving at high speed, he would immediately jump away from the battle.

This strategy sounds utterly absurd, but a skilled hand capable of desperately controlling its body has the ability to employ such a crazy fighting style.

However, merely escaping a fatal blow wouldn't reverse the tide of the battle. In contrast to the gruesome assassin, Adari was unharmed, nearly perfectly healthy. Chu Hengkong forced a smile, staring at the blurry, distorted silhouette in the distance: "What are you doing standing there? Afraid of having your ugly true face seen?"

But Adari struck the ground with his staff, and a mud-covered firefly melted, enveloping the great wizard's body like liquid clothing, making him indistinguishable from an ordinary firefly. A skilled warrior like Chu Hengkong could discern the difference, but ordinary people couldn't. He had even considered such a subtle oversight.

That's why I said, "Incredibly dull."

Adali indifferently issued the order, and the mud-covered fireflies that had followed him leaped out, like glowing insects greedily consuming flesh and blood. Left with no other choice, Chu Hengkong retreated again, wielding his wounded tentacles like whips to drive back the fireflies' encirclement. But the fireflies struck emitted a bright light and exploded once more!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Three more explosions occurred in quick succession, blasting Chu Hengkong away through two buildings before he landed in the square of the Deep Roots settlement. Here stood a bronze statue of the Great Wizard Adali. Outside the square, a crowd of residents were praying around the phantom; after witnessing the light of the exploding corpse, they frantically thanked the Great Wizard for his protection.

Adali maintained a safe distance, preventing Chu Heng from getting any closer. He smiled smugly, his voice barely audible, knowing that only a skilled hand with exceptional hearing could hear him.

“You should have taken the opportunity to hide inside the building, but I know you couldn’t. Because you didn’t want to hurt innocent people… and it was this arrogant self-righteousness that decided your death!” Adari laughed disdainfully, looking down on the assassin who was his enemy, and on everyone in the swamp.

There was nowhere left to hide. The assassin lay dead in the ruins, the mud-covered corpses closing in on him. Chu Hengkong desperately flung out his tentacles, not giving up even in this moment, still thinking of fighting back. But the poison had completely impaired his senses, and his tentacles lashed out to the empty side. His dying counterattack failed to defeat even a single enemy. The mud-covered corpses swarmed forward, and a mass explosion of corpses was about to begin.

A blinding light shot out like a sword, piercing through everyone's eyes!
The light wasn't a sign of the zombie explosion; the glowing zombies weren't that fast yet. The light came from the bright headlights of a car. A deep blue SUV roared as it crashed through the wall and into the enemy ranks, its excessive speed turning the glowing zombies into mud under its wheels. The driver's side door was wide open, and a thin hand gripped a tentacle tightly.

"Get in the car!" Jie An's voice was hoarse.

Chu Hengkong mustered his last strength to retract his tentacles and climbed into the SUV just before the explosion. The explosion of the pile of corpses sent the vehicle flying into the air! The Grand Wizard was completely wrong; Chu Hengkong's decision not to hide was a deliberate attempt to reveal his location. He needed to create a large enough commotion in an open area so that others could find him.

Adali, realizing what was happening, roared angrily. The SUV bounced violently after hitting the ground, while Chu Hengkong lay on the passenger seat, laughing hysterically. Jie An frantically closed the car door, driving with one hand and holding a pestle in the other, his voice trembling: "Laugh! You're about to die and you're still laughing your ass!"

"You should only laugh when you're about to die..." Chu Hengkong coughed uncontrollably, yet his eyes held a hint of pleasure. "Where are the others?"

"Ji Huaisu is fighting the fire-breathing monster, the other team members went to get reinforcements." Jie An's legs were trembling uncontrollably. He released the steering wheel and pounded his legs hard, but his hand holding the pestle was still moving in the mortar, without stopping for a moment. "You have to hold on! Say something and don't close your eyes!"

Chu Hengkong was still laughing, a weak and ugly laugh, his facial muscles almost out of control, death looming. "Why are you here?" He completely ignored Jie An's words, continuing his unfinished topic, "Too risky."

"It's not your turn to fight to the death," Jie An gritted his teeth. "This is my gold...my medicine!!"

He's the one who wants the gold the most, not just to save Ji Qiufeng. The gold is a promise he made to his father, the meaning of his life. Now everyone is fighting tooth and nail while he's hiding in the back—what kind of bullshit is that, trying his best?
This is his battlefield, it has nothing to do with assassins or knights, he, Jie An, is the one who should risk his life the most!
The SUV rampaged through the city like a ferocious beast. He kept the accelerator pressed down, skillfully shifting gears with one hand, changing direction at the last second, leaving the muddy corpses far behind without harming a single civilian. His driving skills were phenomenal, for he was also a cornerstone of Point One; even with weak talent, the power to manipulate tools and machinery was etched into his very being.

But Jie An's expression grew even more somber. The light in the rearview mirror faded, revealing a human figure that gradually grew larger. It was Adali, who had personally pursued them! He had taken another dose of the drug to stimulate the poison within his body, causing his leg joints to buckle and transform into a hideous structure resembling insect legs. This mutated body granted him immense explosive power; he was faster than an off-road vehicle. Each step Adali took left deep footprints on the road, the heavy echoes of his footsteps approaching like a death knell!

"You fucking monster. You're a worthless cornerstone!" Jie An cursed.

He struck the pestle one last time, then shoved it and the mortar into Chu Hengkong's arms. Chu Hengkong fell silent. Jie An couldn't relax; he jerked the steering wheel, trying to turn and shake off the pursuers, but Adali threw several purple poisoned needles. The needles, like bullets of poison, pierced the tires, penetrated the car body, and deeply embedded themselves in Jie An's hands and lungs.

He suddenly felt breathless, his vision blurring as if an earthquake had struck. The great wizard in the rearview mirror was still approaching. The car was about to stop. He knew he had no chance. He snapped into reverse, accelerated, and rammed into Adari behind him!
Adali nimbly leaped over the vehicle and threw another poison needle. Jie An's desperate struggle was futile; the SUV veered off course and exploded after a short distance. Adali stood in the distance, watching the fools die.

"Adali." "Adali..." "Adali!"

The fools continued to pray, chanting his name to the phantom. The great wizard stretched out his hands, basking in the omnipotence that worship brought. This was the end of the farce, just as Sanga was banished to the backwaters, just as Alex was exiled to Midgard; those who were his enemies would ultimately be defeated, as was the fate of those who were enemies of God.

In the swamp, everyone worships gods, yet these idols are nothing but illusions in the eyes of fools. In this land of self-deception, only the ruler who controls people's hearts is worthy of being called a god. And there is only one god who controls all, and that is him, the great wizard Adari!
However, at this moment when he should have been enjoying himself, a look of shock appeared in Adari's eyes. He saw a black silhouette emerge from the firelight, and in the center of the ruins caused by the explosion, a blood-soaked killer stood up.

"Thank you," Chu Hengkong said softly. "I feel much better."

He swallowed the last mouthful of medicine, a cool sensation flowing through his body. His vision cleared, his sense of direction became fixed, distorted and slender objects returned to normal, and the light returned to its yellow hue. Like a clear spring washing away accumulated stagnation, the vile toxins were uprooted. The miracle came from the miraculous medicine that Jie An had risked his life to create along the way, that prescription known to everyone in the swamp. A panacea for curing evil poisons.

Chu Hengkong carefully put away the pestle, rolled up Jie An with his tentacles, and placed it some distance away. A poisoned needle flew from behind, which he slightly turned his head to avoid.

The assassin turned, clenching his fist, his body transforming into a jet-black light due to the incredible speed. The next instant, a vengeful punch tore through the air, a devastating blow slamming into Adali's face!
Adari's vision went dark as a circular shockwave radiated vertically from his head. The punch was incredibly heavy, slamming Adari to the ground. His body sank deep into the mud!
"You lowly commoner!!" Adali roared as he rose to his feet, his corpse disguise shattered instantly, revealing his wretched true form. Adali swung a poisoned hand chop, while Chu Hengkong retracted his right arm, meeting the attack with a lash of his tentacles. The fierce strike landed squarely on his wrist, completely dispelling the poisoned hand chop.

Adali calmly stepped back, secretly channeling his energy to stimulate the poison within his body. He saw his enemy preparing to unleash a powerful punch, the perfect opportunity to inflict further poisoning. However, his right hand, retracted to his waist, flicked out two fingers, the water bullet striking Adali's shoulder first. Adali's flesh twitched, the stimulated poison bursting forth, its fangs protruding, yet it only managed to shatter the water bullet. At that moment, Chu Hengkong roared and unleashed a punch, smashing the poison into a bloody pulp, then shattering the Great Wizard's shoulder blade!
Adali roared in agony, his eyes filled with disbelief and confusion for the first time. Chu Hengkong, however, remained indifferent. "It's just a petty trick."

That vicious protective technique has been completely seen through. Ultimately, Adali is not a true martial artist. The "counterattack" from the poison within his body is merely an automatic defense mechanism formed in a program-like manner, which can be completely broken by triggering it with a probing attack first. A battle-hardened assassin will not be fooled by such a petty trick.

Now only strength can determine the victor; he'll use his Deadly Heart and Poisonous Hands to counter the Dragon Township Fist. Adali leaped onto the rooftop as if flying, intending to create distance and wear down his opponent's stamina. But Chu Hengkong appeared on the rooftop at the same time, their speeds nearly identical. The two ran, leaped, and used their unarmed combat skills to whittle down each other's strength within the deep-rooted settlement. One round… ten rounds… thirty rounds!
Adali unleashed a side spinning kick, sharp bone spurs sprouting from his shinbone. Chu Hengkong countered with an identical spinning kick. At the moment of impact, the sound of bones snapping rang out; Adali's right leg was broken on the spot!
This was the obvious outcome. In terms of strength, the two were evenly matched, and Adali even had a slight advantage in speed and reflexes. However, in the most crucial aspect—skill—the difference between them was like heaven and earth. How could a conman who had spent ten years deceiving people possibly defeat a seasoned killer in hand-to-hand combat!
Adali's right leg bent in an unnatural direction as he rolled awkwardly across the rooftop. Chu Hengkong immediately gave chase, but without warning, a wall of blue fire rose between them.

It was the man in the top hat who, sensing Adali's predicament, intervened to change the course of the battle. And the blue flames weren't confined to one place; Chu Hengkong felt an astonishing heat emanating from behind. Five meters behind him, the flames transformed into a ferocious, gigantic bird's head, pecking at his back. The firebird was the size of a car, yet moved with the speed of a bullet. Even Chu Hengkong had to abandon the pursuit, or he would be pierced through the heart by the raging fire.

Chu Hengkong did not dodge; he leaped over the blue wall of fire. In the instant the firebird caught up, a golden shield of light appeared behind the assassin, blocking the inevitable attack.

A moment later, the black sword wind sliced ​​through the firebird, and Ji Huaisu landed amidst the sparks-filled ruins. With her back to Chu Hengkong, she hoisted the greatsword and exhaled a scorching breath.

"Don't let anyone else interfere with your battlefield. Just take him down!"

"Leave it to me."

Chu Hengkong leaped over the blazing wall of fire, while Adali, barely managing to stand, delivered a blow aimed straight at the heart of the assassin in mid-air. Chu Hengkong, using his height advantage, countered with a heel strike, his heel shattering Adali's hand and kicking the great wizard off the roof.

At the same moment, several gunshots shattered the prayers. Adari's phantom vanished, pierced by bullets, while the armed monks were felled by the enraged soldiers. But this action did not provoke a riot, for an old woman stood in the crowd—Grandma Sangja, who had been brought there in haste.

"Look," Granny Sangjia exhaled a puff of smoke. The smoke billowed above everyone's heads, revealing a clear image within it. It was Chu Hengkong, heavily wounded yet still fighting fiercely, and the ugly demon who was his enemy had a face familiar to everyone.

"The Great Wizard...?" "Lord Adari?" "Why, Divine Messenger?" "How could this be?" The crowd descended into chaos due to the overwhelming force of the impact, while Granny Sangjia raised her cane high.

“Because the great wizard Adari is the one who brought the light poison,” she said.

The scene descended into near frenzy; some denounced her for spreading falsehoods, while others wept at the truth. But a few seconds later, the noise subsided, and people saw Adari raise his cane amidst the smoke, surrounded by golden light.

"Don't get too cocky, kid!!!" Adali roared.

He gripped the stone staff tightly, not letting go even during the intense battle, because he needed to keep issuing commands to the fireflies. Now, those simple commands had an effect; the mud-covered fireflies scattered throughout the city came to the edge of the battlefield, gathering once again into giant, torch-like piles of corpses, their surfaces radiating intense light.

It's about to explode! The explosion of the torch-laden corpse pile would be enough to raze a third of the settlement to the ground. Adari would rather sacrifice countless innocent souls than let his enemy die here. Chu Hengkong stopped in his tracks, choosing not to flee but instead facing the about-to-explode pile of corpses head-on. He put a power-charging bracelet on his tentacles.

His wound was still bleeding, but he seemed oblivious to the pain, forcefully spinning his body to face the enemy with his defenseless back. In the instant before the explosion, his spinning body suddenly straightened, his power-charging bracelet activated, and silver tentacles shot out like light.

Zheng!
Like a hundred long arrows slicing across the sky, like a thousand swords being drawn simultaneously, the deafening roar that pierced the atmosphere shook people's eardrums. In that instant, people saw a silver circle, rising from the center of the pile of torches and corpses, expanding outwards at the speed of sound. The pile of corpses exploded with a deafening roar, turning into a rain of mud that filled the sky!

This was the result of Chu Hengkong's diligent cultivation. Using the power accumulated within the relics as "fuel," he amassed strength through his spinning techniques, ultimately unleashing a rapid lash with his supple whip. The muddy body could withstand piercing strikes, but it couldn't withstand lightning. The lightning-fast whipping transmitted the impact in every direction, the evenly distributed power exploding simultaneously, shattering the originally physical-defying firefly corpse.

This is a unique technique achieved by utilizing the flexibility of the tentacles. Thunder Whip!
The pile of corpses was destroyed, the explosion of corpses was abruptly interrupted, and the Grand Wizard's last resort failed. Adari decisively withdrew, leaping backward to conceal himself using the massive force of the disintegrating corpses. He could wait for another opportunity; the hearts and minds of the people he had cultivated for ten years wouldn't be easily shattered. As long as his core support remained, the Grand Wizard wouldn't die… But his steps suddenly halted, and silver tentacles shot out from the dust, accurately wrapping around his neck. It was sound-based location.

Adali breathed heavily, feeling fear for the first time in a long time. The man, his face covered in blood, emerged from the dust and smoke, his injuries so severe he looked as if he would die at any moment, yet his eyes burned with a furious rage.

"Enjoy it," the assassin said. "This is your last breath!"

Tentacles erupted, and Adari was thrown into the air by the immense force. In that instant, he finally saw his location: the central plaza of Deeproots settlement, with his own bronze statue directly below him. Chu Hengkong used all his strength to slam the Great Wizard downwards. He smashed an ugly dent into the statue, landing on its base.

The sudden impact drained the air from the great wizard's lungs; he opened his mouth like a stranded fish, but couldn't breathe. The assassin's iron fist was already upon him. Chu Hengkong lunged forward, his tightly clenched fist slamming into Adali's abdomen, the force causing the bronze statue behind him to tremble!
"Stop...! Stop..." Adali screamed in terror, "You must not... offend... God...!"

He desperately forced the poison needles out of his body, trying to repel Chu Hengkong's attack with the poison. But the assassin didn't retreat an inch, enduring the deadly poison head-on, punching with his own blood. His punches grew faster and faster, each one heavier than the last. His fists shattered the stone staff the great wizard used for self-defense, shattered the various poisons within Adali's body, causing the hideous man to expel all the air and vomit vicious blood.

The powerful force traveled to Adari's back, causing the magnificent bronze statue to crack. Chu Hengkong roared, pulling his right arm back like a drawn bow, and unleashing a final, devastating blow with all his might. A punch as hard as steel!

This punch pierced Adari's heart and shattered the crumbling bronze statue. Before the eyes of the crowd, the false god was shattered!

Adali's upper body exploded into purple flesh and blood, submerged in the ruins left by the collapsed bronze statue. Chu Heng spat out a mouthful of blood, nonchalantly wiped his mouth, and took his coat from the arriving team members, putting it on.

"Mission accomplished," he said.

(End of this chapter)