Chapter 25: Yellow Spring Road: Black and White Manifest

In the very center of the arena, the atmosphere grew even tighter due to the involvement of the Double Card.

"Xiao Han Republic decides to activate the Double Card!"

The judge's announcement thundered like a startling clap, echoing through the entire hall and focusing everyone's attention on this point.

Therefore, the stakes of this challenge are upgraded—if Xiao Han Republic can defeat Dragon Nation in this challenge, it will not only win unprecedented glory but also reap a massive fortune of one hundred billion Long Guo Currency, and successfully rescue Jin Yongshun and Pu Xiangzhong.

The judge's voice grew heavier at the right moment, striking the ground with authority:

However, the scales of justice never favor either side; according to the Double Fairness Principle, if the outcome reverses and Dragon Nation claims victory, Xiao Han Republic must pay Dragon Nation compensation as high as one hundred fifty billion Long Guo Currency!

When the words fell, the hall erupted in a roar, discussions flared, and the tense atmosphere seemed to solidify.

The Mysterious Judge's gaze pierced the crowd, locking onto Jin Yuzhen and Zhang Cheng, his voice steady yet bearing undeniable authority:

"Do either of you have any objections to this decision?"

Jin Yuzhen, nonchalantly digging his nose, looked at his opponent with utter contempt.

"No objections."

His tone was icy, his words laced with a hint of mockery; the look he gave Zhang Cheng was as if scrutinizing an insignificant ant,

"Kid, those who recognize the times are heroes; conceding early is the wise move. Fighting a yellow‑haired brat like you brings me no honor."

Facing the provocation, Zhang Cheng merely gave a cold smile, his eyes slanting at Jin Yuzhen, that gaze sharp as a blade,

"Uncle, haven't you heard of the saying that villains die from talking too much?"

"Indeed, while you can still speak, say a few more words!"

Hearing this, Jin Yuzhen's body trembled slightly, a cold smile curling at his mouth as he stared directly into Zhang Cheng's eyes.

"You're young, yet your tone is not small."

After speaking, Jin Yuzhen stomped his foot hard, the force so great that the entire arena seemed to tremble.

In an instant, the arena was covered with spider‑web‑like fissures, those cracks expanding rapidly with an unstoppable momentum.

Crack—crack… Immediately, the seemingly still scene was torn apart by a series of complex fissures,

the fissures spreading like uncontrolled vines, turning the once‑calm arena into a glass pane about to shatter, bearing an unbearable force.

Finally, at the moment Jin Yuzhen's foot touched the ground for the second time,

the entire ground erupted with a deafening roar, the arena vanished in an instant, and in its place was a massive plaza,

Jin Yuzhen stood atop a ten‑meter‑high structure, behind him a dense swarm of Zombies of all sorts, moving in strange ways.

These Zombies seemed summoned by some unknown command,

converging on the plaza like worker ants, the scene was spectacular.

Among them were not only sluggish ordinary Zombies,

but also Zombies with massive flesh wings leaping down from tall buildings,

racing Zombies, Iron‑wall Zombies, massive Giant Zombies…

Zombies of all colors appeared one by one at Zhang Cheng's will, like cockroaches emerging at night,

and in an instant the entire plaza was engulfed by a tide of Zombies.

The sky dimmed as a result, and the earth trembled under the heavy steps of the Giant Zombies,

looking around, everywhere was filled with Zombies; the wave of corpses surged forward inexorably!

"What I have summoned is far from ordinary mindless Zombies!"

Jin Yuzhen's voice echoed over the plaza as he looked down at Zhang Cheng, a strange light flashing in his eyes,

"Beneath their filthy shells lie the souls of the dead from when they lived! This makes their power far exceed that of normal Zombies; they can think, they possess intelligence!"

Jin Yuzhen's words were like a strong stimulant, instantly igniting the passion of the Xiao Han Republic spectators, who waved their national flags,

their faces flushed with fervent red, veins bulging on their foreheads, the excitement indescribable.

Spectators from other nations present were also moved by these remarks, and many began to silently lean toward Xiao Han Republic.

Although other nations usually harbored some grievances against Xiao Han Republic, compared with winning a challenge against Dragon Nation,

they preferred to see Xiao Han Republic rise,

the genuine thoughts in everyone's hearts were stirred by this challenge; reality is always so cruel and merciless,

the weak may develop in seclusion, but once signs of rise appear, possessing power enough to lead the world,

they become the focus of all nations, the target of every arrow.

This is a game of power, also the law of survival; in this world full of challenges, only the strong can stand unshaken.

This is a game of power, also the rule of survival; in this realm full of challenges, only the strong can stand unshaken.

Jin Yuzhen sneered, his brows full of contempt, arms crossed over his chest,

that posture seemed to declare his absolute control over the current situation.

"What's wrong, are you so frightened that you can't speak?"

Facing such provocation, Zhang Cheng gave only an indifferent glance, his eyes flashing with an unfathomable depth.

"Every Zombie carries the soul of the person who died…"

Zhang Cheng's mouth formed a mocking smile,

"Collecting so many souls must be hard work!"

Zhang Cheng's gaze instantly solidified, the surrounding atmosphere changed, the air seemed to congeal, cold seeping to the bone.

He lowered his head, lips slightly parting, chanting a string of ancient and obscure incantations,

"Yin-Yang Alternation, Black-White Formation, Good and Evil Together, Soul Capture and Heart Seizure; Underworld Command, Mortal Avoidance!"

Each syllable seemed to carry undeniable power.

Accompanying the echo of the final syllable, a deep, ancient bell toll resonated through the void, reverberating in emptiness.

With the echo of the final syllable, a dull, ancient bell tone pierced space, reverberating in the void.

In the sky, heavy black clouds pressed down like an army, and the gale roared.

Between heaven and earth, countless wronged souls seemed to howl in the raging wind, lamenting unfinished regrets.

The ground beneath Zhang Cheng cracked open, revealing an ancient and broad Qingshi Dadao, with endless abysses on both sides.

Below the abyss, unknown terror lurked.

On this stone‑paved road, a layer of dark, viscous rot covered the surface.

Thick fog swirled, visibility was extremely low, adding mystery and dread to this path toward the netherworld.

In the abysses on either side, occasional bizarre monsters flickered in and out; however massive, once they fell into the abyss they only stirred silent ripples.

When the Huangquan Zhi Lu appeared, the white mist above the arena seemed infused with a strange energy, like the coldest frost of winter; wherever it touched, skin flushed red, and a bone‑penetrating chill surged straight to the heart.

Every spectator shivered; even wrapped in thick cotton coats, they could not fend off this chilling that seeped to the marrow. It was a cold severe enough to freeze the soul.

"Ah…" Jin Yuzhen waved his hands, trying to drive away the encroaching cold mist.

His gaze locked onto the deep, terror‑laden Huangquan Zhi Lu, his eyelids narrowing slightly, his inner unease impossible to conceal.

Amid the deathly silence and cold, a crisp sound of iron chains dragging across the stone slabs rang out, shattering the stillness, and everyone's attention snapped to the noise.

In an instant, two unusually tall silhouettes appeared silently behind Zhang Cheng, starkly black and white.

With each of their movements, the wails of vengeful ghosts drifted on the wind.

Their arrival caused the abysses on both sides to churn and boil, as if hellfire were seething through the entire space.

"What… what is that?" a voice of doubt and terror interwove among the crowd.

As the question lingered, the figures on either side of Zhang Cheng grew clearer.

On one side stood a tall figure clad in white, with a strange visage,

skin as pale as paper, a blood‑streaked cold grin curling at the mouth,

holding a Soul Summoning Banner that swayed gently, its eyes, as if seeing all sins and punishments, were terrifyingly deep,

on its official hat, the four bold characters "Instant Wealth" were prominently displayed.

On the other side was a fierce‑faced, robust black silhouette,

skin like ink, surrounded by black mist coalescing into a mournful visage,

a Soul-Drawn Rope dragged on the ground, leaving shocking blood‑red trails,

its official hat bore the four characters "World Peace" in a strong, vivid script.

The two were the Envoys who roam between the netherworld and the mortal realm, snatching souls—Black and Bai Wuchang!

At that moment, the whole world seemed inverted, time and space appeared frozen, all things fell into an extraordinary stillness, even the birds soaring in the sky were immobilized by this force.

The appearance of Black and Bai Wuchang not only shocked everyone, but also made the Dragon Nation spectators feel a loosening of some inner shackles, as if something that had long bound them was quietly unfastening…