Chapter 194
Chapter 194
“That’s… Ning Wushen!”
“Holy shit, two Saint-tier powerhouses are actually fighting!”
The gods who had hurried over arrived just in time to witness Ning Wushen facing Gu Ming. They immediately retreated far away and dared only watch from a distance.
“Stay back!”
Wu Xing also seemed to realize that events were spiraling out of control. He quickly warned his subordinates to keep their distance, lest they be caught in the aftermath and die without even knowing how.
For a time, everyone ceased fighting and withdrew to the side, leaving the outcome entirely to Gu Ming and Ning Wushen.
Whichever of the two won would secure victory for his side.
No one else had any ability to stop a Saint-tier powerhouse.
“Must you make an enemy of me?” Facing Ning Wushen, Gu Ming did not dare grow careless.
This was the first time he had encountered such an unfathomable man.
Ning Wushen’s status screen clearly showed him at only Level 80, yet he possessed an absurd number of skills. It gave Gu Ming the bizarre impression that an otherworldly demon had been reincarnated into this body.
“A dignified Saint-tier powerhouse bullying someone so far below him. Have you no shame?”
Ning Wushen walked toward Gu Ming step by step as overlapping layers of pure white arrays appeared across his body.
The number of arrays continued to increase. Behind him, they spread outward in a dense, seemingly endless mass.
“!!”
Gu Ming’s heart tightened. Seeing that the matter could not be resolved peacefully, he released the sharp sword in his hand. It stopped in front of him, then transformed under his control into a fiery-red streak of light. Moving fast enough to pierce the void, it appeared before Ning Wushen in the blink of an eye.
Ding!
[System Notification: Flame Sovereign · Gu Ming has used [???], dealing 5,000% damage based on 300% of his Attack to the target unit. This attack ignores Defense and Damage Reduction, is guaranteed to hit, and is guaranteed to inflict Burn!]
“Clang!!”
The next instant, the streak of light stopped in front of Ning Wushen and hung perfectly motionless.
Ding!
[System Notification: Boundless Shadow · Ning Wushen has used [Time Stop], halting all effects of [???] for 5 minutes!]
“Hiss!!”
Even the god-tier powerhouses involuntarily sucked in sharp breaths.
The skills of Saint-tier powerhouses were so outrageous that the gods were not even qualified to inspect them.
Ning Wushen’s mastery of the rare powers of time and space made his upper limit impossible to estimate. Time in particular, though considered the equal of space, was in truth even more profound and mysterious.
“Who exactly are you?”
Gu Ming’s pupils contracted. A chill rose from beneath his feet and shot straight to the crown of his head.
“Leave now, and I will overlook everything that has happened!” Ning Wushen said calmly.
“What a joke!”
Hesitation appeared on Gu Ming’s face, but then his gaze swept toward Zhou Ming behind Ning Wushen, and madness surged in his eyes. “We are both Saint tier. Why should I fear you?”
The potential gains from this battle were simply too great!
A temporary cross-domain teleportation array had brought him here, so he could not remain on the Destiny Continent for long. He could not afford to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“Whoomph!”
Towering flames incinerated everything within five kilometers. Gu Ming unleashed his full power and charged toward Ning Wushen, transforming into a fire qilin of world-shaking might.
“You leave me no choice!”
Ning Wushen sighed helplessly as the pure white arrays covering him erupted completely.
Ding!
[System Notification: Boundless Shadow · Ning Wushen has used [???], granting him twice the power of his former peak state for 1 minute!]
Ding!
[System Notification: Attention! The system has detected that Boundless Shadow · Ning Wushen possesses a special identity and does not qualify as an adventurer. Sanctions will now be imposed!]
…
At that moment, pressure capable of destroying heaven and earth erupted from Ning Wushen.
Before he even moved, space collapsed piece by piece and black matter spilled out. The Skyhawk Sword in his hand could not withstand the force and crumbled to dust.
Facing the charging Gu Ming, Ning Wushen’s gaze remained indifferent. He pushed out his palm, making the fire qilin vanish like smoke, then pressed his hand against Gu Ming’s forehead.
Ding!
[System Notification: Boundless Shadow · Ning Wushen has used [Forbidden · Heavenly Dao Prison] to suppress Flame Sovereign · Gu Ming. Based on the disparity in strength between both sides, suppression will last for 90 days!]
“Damn it! Damn it!”
Gu Ming tried to escape, but it was already too late. The power of time enveloped him, leaving him unable to move.
“Clatter…”
At the same time, mysterious chains of order intertwined with lightning emerged from the void and wrapped around Ning Wushen, preventing him from breaking free of the system’s sanctions.
Clearly, using transcendent power allowed the system to detect his actions and his true origins.
“Your debts must be settled by your own hand!”
As Ning Wushen’s figure gradually faded, he looked back at Zhou Ming and said solemnly, “From here on, you’ll have to rely on yourself.”
“Thank you!”
Zhou Ming was sincerely grateful.
“Whoosh!”
The scene shifted, and every member of the Hope Faction returned to the Breezewind Plains.
There was no question that Ning Wushen had helped him one final time.
Not only had Ning Wushen suppressed Gu Ming, he had also helped Zhou Ming escape the encirclement of the gods and demons.
From this point on, however, Ning Wushen would almost certainly be unable to return to the Destiny Continent unless his true body broke through the dimensional barrier and descended in person.
“In three months, I’ll fight Gu Ming again!” Zhou Ming gripped Ask the Heavens tightly, his voice resolute. “This time, I’ll rely on my own strength to slay gods and destroy saints!”
He had already received far too much help!
He truly could not accept ending every battle this way.
“Won’t three months be too soon?” Cangxuan felt that the timetable was far too tight.
Zhou Ming answered solemnly, “It has to be!”
If he continued hiding within the comfort of god-tier protection, his own actions would make a mockery of every grand ambition he had declared.
By now, too many people and too many grudges needed to be dealt with.
“For the next few days, I’m going to focus entirely on leveling!”
Zhou Ming could hardly wait. “I’ve held back for too long. It’s time to release everything I’ve built up!”
Everyone understood.
With Zhouyou Shijie’s foundation, he should have reached a far higher level long ago.
He had remained where he was only because too many matters had piled up. Now those matters were finally resolved.
“Then I’ll take this opportunity to visit home as well!” Ye Zhibei said with a smile.
He spent far too little time with his wife and felt deeply guilty about it.
Now that he had managed to find some free time, he should return to accompany his family and work off some pent-up energy while he was there.
Yun Wuyou strongly agreed. “I also need time in seclusion to study the Shadowless Rogue’s abilities. I should check on my disciple as well, or I’ll be failing in my duties as his mentor.”
“Then I’ll enter seclusion for a while too,” Cangxuan said. “I’ll see whether I have a chance to take that step!”
After discussing their plans, everyone went their separate ways. Qianying took Zhou Ming with her, while Renee transformed into a golden stone and hung from Zhou Ming’s waist, sleeping soundly.
According to Renee, sleeping and eating rare ores were the best forms of cultivation for her.
Ding!
[System Notification: You have entered [Dwarven Settlement]!]
The sound of weapons being hammered rang out as Zhou Ming entered the Dwarves’ home.
Of course, he would not charge ahead without thinking.
First, he would raise his Attributes to their present peak. That would make leveling far more efficient.
The Dwarves naturally remembered the owner of the Sacred Weapon and immediately called for their chieftain.
“Why are you here again?” Dwarf Chieftain · Rob asked with a pounding headache. “You’re drawing far too much attention right now. If the Dwarves continue associating with you, we may suffer for it too.”
“I’d like to ask you to forge one more item for me,” Zhou Ming said directly.
The location marked on the treasure map had happened to yield a piece of god-tier equipment, and it was even a rare ring!
That meant the elemental core sitting in his inventory could finally be put to use.
“Again?”
Dwarf Elder · Harrison did not know whether to laugh or cry. “If we help you again, how are we supposed to explain ourselves to the guardian of the Dragon Domain?”
“Just don’t let him find out.” Zhou Ming smiled.
“…I don’t like the sound of that!”
Rob’s voice grew angry. “Zhouyou Shijie, do you really think the Dwarves have no respect for our agreements?”
“So you truly won’t forge it?” Zhou Ming asked.
“Find someone else!”
Rob remained stubborn.
“Wait!”
Just then, Harrison thought of something and forced himself to step forward. “If… I mean, if… If the item is of decent quality, I could consider it!”
Once bitten, twice shy!
When Zhouyou Shijie first requested their services, Harrison had refused outright. Then Zhou Ming produced the materials needed to forge a Sacred Weapon, leaving Harrison so regretful that his guts nearly turned green.
This time…
Perhaps Zhou Ming had something similar again?
“Harrison!”
Rob scolded him in exasperation. “Don’t be a spineless Dwarf… Besides, do you really think rare forging materials are cabbages growing by the roadside, available whenever you please?”
“I was wrong, Chieftain!” Harrison said in utter shame. “I wanted to improve too badly!”
“The quality should be decent.”
Zhou Ming laughed. “Then I’ll have to trouble you.”
With that, he took the forging materials from his inventory.
“!!”
Harrison’s eyes widened. He challenged Rob, “Chieftain, may I ask what exactly I did wrong?”
…