Forge a path to success

"What if the underground spiral tower ruins are completely destroyed in your duel?" Gulibo said helplessly.

Chu Hengkong pondered for a moment: "If the situation is really bad, I can try sending a message to the Empire."

Do you think the Imperial Empire will come to our rescue?

“The Empire will annihilate us along with the heretics,” Chu Hengkong said. “That way, we can die with the enemy, and at least we won’t lose out.”

Gulibo spun around, then collapsed to the ground with a thud, feigning death. Ji Huaisu couldn't help but chuckle: "He's just joking. He'll definitely ask Huilong City for reinforcements once things get better."

"Will the request for help be delivered today?" Sethlen, who was listening in, interjected nervously.

[The magic concentration is still too high; it will take at least half a day to activate long-distance communication.] Stone Seed wrote. [Bad luck.]

The luck was really bad. The magical turbulence after the stone goblin's death severely interfered with information transmission. Even though everyone had used every means to clean up the demonic dust these past two days, it wouldn't be until after the duel that it completely dissipated.

It was such a coincidence that it seemed like it had all been planned in advance.

"The situation is already like this, there's no use in rushing it, let's just let nature take its course!" Van der was quite optimistic. "Let's see if this thing can help."

It handed over a thick stack of notebooks, a compilation of manuscripts previously collected at Jinye's mansion, each page as rough as rock. After Jinye's death, much magic flowed into the manuscripts, turning them into a relic.

Although the original owner of this relic was not a good person, he was at least a talented individual. Chu Hengkong took out the large book and pressed it down. He hadn't had high expectations, but the result was much better than he had anticipated.

[Mixed Elements Magic Draft]

[Rating: 3 (Bold)]

【Origin: ■■Fortress■Er■La (A string of smeared characters, with only a few characters visible)】

Kinyo City

【Effect: A collection of research results from the late-life scholar Jin Ye, containing manuscripts of numerous weapon and equipment designs. Some of these are whimsical ideas with no practical value, but nearly one-third of them reach the level of the Strange Blade.】

By inputting mental energy and matter, the design in the manuscript can be transformed into a physical object.

[For use only by those who have ascended to the Path of Submerged Light.]

[Thoughts: I am the true academic genius, and I must prove it. One day I will prove to the world that I am the best leader, that the ignorant masses will weep at my artistic talent, and that I will become the bravest adventurer in the world of motion. In this way, my inventions will possess the strongest power.]

Three more catties of fruit wine, please!

Everyone looked at the report and felt a mix of emotions, as if they had witnessed a drunkard who vomited every day actually come up with some kind of invention.

Van der, who was organizing the manuscript, was the most disappointed: "It's like drawing a high-rarity card that I can't use..."

The item is valuable, a top-tier, sustainable relic of level three. If Youyou saw it, he'd drag it to the workshop on the spot. Unfortunately, the team doesn't have a single Path of Light, so expecting it to help in the duel is hopeless.

Chu Hengkong stared at the incomprehensible text for a while, and for a moment even he had the thought of "reasoning with Shaks." He shook his head with a wry smile, stuffed the manuscript into his Qiankun sleeve, and stood up.

"Just to be safe, let's stay here until communications are restored. I'm going to fight."

"Come back alive!"

"You've worked so hard to come up with the ideas, there's no reason for us to lose this time."

The assassin left the base and headed to his own battlefield.

·

Very deliberately, Wu He let himself drift off to sleep.

In most of the Dust Isles, dreams represent the unknown and taboos. Dreams are the battleground between dragons and the moon, while nightmares are the domain of a notorious deity. Outside the protection of the ancient dragons, entering the dream world signifies emotional turmoil and instability, and some superstitious people even believe it to be an omen of misfortune.

However, Wu He didn't care about these claims. He possessed an extremely reliable "method" for protecting his dreams, perhaps the most dependable method in the world. With the help of that power, he remained detached from the dreams, looking down upon his past like a superior observer.

At first, it was a secluded paradise of green mountains and clear waters. In the temple atop the waterfall, monks painted, sang, and taught the mysteries of talismanic arts. It was fascinating, even by today's standards. But that wasn't the life he needed.

The scene faded away, transforming into the horrified faces of his fellow disciples. It blurred again, turning into a port, a forest, a city, a wilderness, a benevolent figure overlooking all things from a city gate, the battle lines where various races clashed, a battlefield that would never end... He waved his hand without hesitation, letting the past fade away one by one.

Suddenly, Wu He's movements stopped. The scene in his dream transformed into an endless sea, with vulgar and lowly people gathered on the ship, praising his power and vision. It was all thanks to the revelation that he had evacuated the fortress beforehand, escaping the white calamity. He turned around triumphantly, only to see the white light that annihilated everything, and within the light stood that cold, powerful steel humanoid figure.

Then the tsunami began. Giant waves crashed down like an entire world. Their ships sank, capsized, and their memories were cut off. When they regained their senses, they were on an unknown shore, thanks entirely to his "methods" that saved his life.

He led the survivors on an expedition… frail indigenous people… an absurd abundance of resources… secrets discovered in the ecstatic plunder. Incredible treasures. A power that defies common sense. It was like a dream; the long-awaited "antidote" was so easily obtained.

Then, the monster discovered them.

That was an absolute monster. An invincible monster. A deformed body bathed in blood, golden eyes as terrifying as a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Those eyes saw him. From that day on, he was targeted by the monster. There was no point in running away. The monster would catch up. The monster would find him. The monster would kill him. It would, it ...—

"cough!"

Wu He sprang to his feet as if struck by a heavy blow, clutching his mouth tightly, strange-colored blood seeping from between his fingers. He swallowed the blood, his eyes filled with the unwillingness of a defeated man. The trembling in his body subsided. He took a deep breath. A twisted smile appeared on his face.

"Excuse me, I've made you laugh at me."

Shakes threw a box of tissues at him: "I told you long ago that dream divination is a terrible idea. You can't beat dreams."

“I don’t believe it. You clearly have a lot of experience with nightmares.” Wu He wiped his mouth. “Tell me about it. It’s not like it’s some valuable information.”

“I’ve never beaten my nightmare,” Shakes said coldly. “I’m setting off now to beat it.”

Wu He paused for a moment, then understood what he meant. Nightmares cannot be defeated; they are the fear born of past defeats and setbacks. To overcome the source of nightmares, you can only start with reality, to conquer past defeats, and to defeat the very things that once terrified you.

Shax's nightmare is that assassin. His obsession with the upcoming duel stems not only from a thrill of the hunt, but also from a desire to settle his past.

"Whether you win or lose is none of my business... but as someone who shares your pain, I still wish you success."

"Oh, thank you."

Wu He watched as Shakes left the room, preparing for the life-or-death battle that would be upon the assassins.

A smile appeared on his lips. His previous wishes were sincere; as a semi-partner, he genuinely hoped that Shax would succeed.

He took out a small handbook containing a movable map. The employee handbook, which Gulibo had accidentally lost, had somehow ended up in this man's hands.

Chapter 133 Gun and Sword Feud: A Deadly Battle in a Second (Part 1)

After setting up the trap, Shakes went to the sniping position.

He lay prone on the ground, using a support frame to secure the strange blade. Three bullets lay upright beside him: one had brown sand floating in its casing, another had a bullet head that looked like gold, and the last bullet was nothing but gray, the "death bullet" that had killed the stone demon.

He loaded the three bullets into the Holy Lance one by one. This was all the fighting force he had prepared for this duel, and also the bottom line for the duel.

The snake's speed and reaction time were too fast; a single shot was wishful thinking. Therefore, he prepared three bullets. This number allowed him to adjust the order of shots and devise different tactics depending on the situation. These three shots also represented his estimated time limit. The moment the bullets ran out would be the moment of victory or defeat; either the enemy would die by gunfire, or he would perish by sword.

He took a deep breath after the bloody holy lance. His movements were neither fast nor slow; he wasn't in a state of flow, letting his mind wander. He looked down at the crowds on the street through the scope.

A short man with large ears... possessing an exceptionally keen sense of smell and hearing, and his specially trained arms gleaming with a metallic sheen...

One shot is enough to kill.

An Ascended disguised as a small-time vendor... with the eyes of a Foundation Establishment member, always ready to draw the gun at his waist...

One shot is enough to kill.

A race unlike humans, with the heads of beasts. Young people secretly harboring malevolent relics, seeking demonic power. Foolish pirates manipulated by others. This one too. This one too…

One shot is enough to kill.

Hell is a boring world.

The path to ascension, other races, relics—there are countless ways to gain power. Power can be gained through limb transplants, by finding treasures, through heartfelt emotions, or by praying to those in high positions for alms.

So much time... sweat... opportunity... something I craved day and night in agony...

In hell, it only takes a day to get it.

Everywhere you look, there are people with power. On this obscure, dusty island, a few mediocre individuals can easily kill former elites and humiliate geniuses. People are accustomed to the existence of power, and everyone tacitly accepts the rules of this world. That's why hell is so utterly boring.

Blood ties and relics cannot conceal the ordinariness of one's true nature.

Everywhere there are weak people with power.

"Power" is not something easily obtained. In the real world where the living are active, power is a treasure that can only be acquired by paying a price ten thousand times, a hundred million times. It requires possessing talent one in a billion, exerting effort surpassing that of billions, and receiving guidance from an equally rare group of strong individuals. It requires adventure, struggle, and surviving on the edge of life and death. Only in this way can one obtain power…

To receive such a negligible, insignificant amount of power!

The mercenary, renowned as a sharpshooter, had killed over a thousand people in his lifetime. Had he been lucky enough to survive that rainy night and continue working, firing, and killing, that number might have doubled.

—It's not even comparable to a missile in war.

This serpent, hailed as a monster, has mastered all known martial arts techniques in the world. It has slain ferocious beasts, soldiers, assassins, and has even destroyed military weapons.

—In the face of technology and the masses, it is no different from an ordinary snake.

Such are the rules of the world; individual force cannot change anything. It cannot influence the overall trend. The little power that one has painstakingly acquired is practically meaningless in the vastness of the world.

I understand this better than anyone. I know the truth better than anyone. Even so…

Or do we indifferently go against the tide?

To embark on a dead end that is incomprehensible, unacknowledged, and meaningless.

Forward. Forward against the resistance of the entire world. Amidst the omnipresent mockery, clutch at the last vestige of strength you have…

Use it to make your own voice heard.

Use it to take control of your life.

That kind of person is the strong one!

It has nothing to do with point mass. It has nothing to do with force. Strength and weakness are the essence of life. Those who were strong in the past will never be reduced to mediocre beings in hell.

They have their own style. They have their own principles. They won't flee like rats, nor will they harbor any cowardly thoughts. Even if thrown into a crowd like this, they will definitely stand out conspicuously...

You can see it at a glance!

"—"

Then Shax saw it. A man who could never be killed with a single shot.

He walked against the flow of people, maintaining his own pace. He completely ignored the surprised looks, the amused laughter, the chatter and noise around him, demonstrating his indifference to others and his surroundings.

It stretched out its soft-armored tentacles. It swung its fiery red fist.

Clad in full-body armor of pure Xuan Qi, he walked through the city in the attire of an ancient warrior. He made no attempt to hide or conceal himself, walking openly and proudly in the sunlight.

Tell his enemy, I am right here!

"what."

He couldn't help but laugh, folding the talisman he was about to take out back into his hand. He had miscalculated once again; he had intended to use the talisman to find the snake lurking among the crowd, but the sacrificial snake had no intention of hiding itself. He walked down the street like a warrior, facing his enemy, ready for a fight to the death.

That's how it should be; duels between the strong should be straightforward. Tricks, superiority, inferiority, gains and losses... let's not concern ourselves with those trivial and uninteresting details.

Sword drawn, spear drawn, with all their might—

We'll risk our lives to decide the victor!

The sniper pulled the trigger, and the duel began.

·

—A bullet that can kill with a single shot cannot be without limits.

For two days, Chu Hengkong had been pondering the shot that killed the stone demon. He had unleashed the strange blade, fired the bullet, and the stone demon was dead—the process was clear and obvious, but the mechanism of death remained unclear. He decided to stop obsessing over the cause and instead consider other possible solutions.

For example, why didn't Shakespeare reveal the Blood Lance when he faced off against him?

For example, why didn't Shakes use that bullet when the stone goblin first appeared?

Regarding the second question, Vande offered a conjecture. The mechanism of that deadly bullet was similar to "poison"; if the stone demon quickly severed the wound, it might have lost its effectiveness, which is why it waited until the last moment to act. As for the first question, Chu Heng vaguely realized the answer. The first thing he did upon encountering Shax was…

Create a protective armor to deflect bullets.

Upon closer reflection, it's clear that after that, Shax focused on breaking through the Qi Armor, ultimately resorting to the Ghost Shot, whose principles were unknown. Such concern about armor is unlike his usual style, unless this was precisely the method he feared.

The Bizarre Blade is the third point of the Path of Floating Light; no matter how powerful it is, it will always have its limitations. The bullet was already a deadly poison, so it shouldn't be as effective against anything other than living beings. The Qi Armor, capable of withstanding most attacks, is likely the nemesis of this move.

Therefore, Chu Hengkong simply abandoned concealment and went into battle fully equipped with his protective qi armor. He knew his guess might not be correct, and the truth might be far off, but it didn't matter. Compared to a reconnaissance battle where one had to hide, this kind of duel was more in line with his character.

"The earthquake the day before yesterday..." "Those men over there are terrifying." "The city government is still..." "If I had known this would happen, I would have gone out to sea." Complaints. Discussions. A cat-themed billboard damaged in the epicenter. Unrepaired streetlights flashing.

Chu Hengkong walked silently down the street, no sound of breathing beneath his helmet. Scents, the wind, the subtle vibrations in the air. His aura, like tentacles, preyed for information, searching for the only anomaly within range.

……tread.

Was it footsteps? Or the sound of typing? The air currents sent an illusory vibration into my ears. The pedestrians vanished, the environment blurred, unwanted information flowed away like water, and an extremely concentrated mental state formed a cone-shaped space.

He suddenly swung his arm, unleashing a thunderous whip into the void! Blue flames burned on his tentacles!

The sound barrier, broken, spread, revealing swirling blue rings from the flames. Transparent bullets emerged from the scorching flames. Shax's first move was "Ghost Shot," but Chu Hengkong, prepared, countered it. The mechanism of Ghost Shot is to trigger the demonic power sealed within the bullet; a higher-level Ambition Fire is enough to make it visible.

The bullet, originally aimed at the head, was drastically deflected by the lightning whip, its trajectory veering towards the right chest. Chu Hengkong twisted his body to dodge. The Immortal Machine had perfectly calculated the bullet's trajectory, providing ample room to evade even with the sudden change in movement. But then, the bullet abruptly changed direction, turning towards his throat like an unpredictable demon!

Double Transformation: Demon Shooting