Chapter 1018: Return of an Old Friend

Return of an Old Friend

"Who did you... say?"

Seeing that the man actually walked out of the room, the Old Man sized him up in slight surprise and asked rhetorically, "It's only been this long... and you've succeeded?"

"En." Han Meng gave a faint reply.

"To think that a genius like you would appear in District Three back then... Unfortunately, if you were born a few years earlier, perhaps the fate of the Aurora Domain could have been changed." The Old Man let out a long sigh.

"I'm not interested in reminiscing about the past with you. Tell me, what happened to Chen Ling?"

"Didn't I tell you? He's going to die."

The Old Man raised the Note in his hand and handed it to Han Meng. After the latter finished reading it, his expression was somewhat gloomy.

"Destroying the Aurora Domain, assassinating the Lord of the Aurora... Are there really people who will believe these crimes?"

Han Meng coldly snorted. He casually tossed the Note onto the ground and walked into the darkness without looking back.

"Where are you going?" the Old Man asked.

"To save someone."

The Old Man didn't seem surprised by Han Meng's answer. He continued speaking slowly:

"It's not close to go from here to the Wuji Domain. With your current state, do you have the ability to cross that Gray World?"

"Perhaps." Han Meng replied calmly. He lowered his head and glanced at his hands. "I also want to see... exactly how far my current self can exert [Judgment]."

The Old Man didn't try to persuade him. After getting along for this period of time, he had long figured out Han Meng's personality. Once this reticent man decided on something, even ten bulls wouldn't be able to pull him back.

The Old Man ate the last bite of his breakfast. Sitting alone in front of the dim table, he looked at the back of Han Meng's Enforcer windbreaker and suddenly spoke:

"Han Meng."

Han Meng stopped his steps.

In the darkness, an aged smile curved up at the corner of the Old Man's mouth, as if he were entrusting him with something. "Don't embarrass our Aurora City."

Han Meng glanced back and gave him a deep look. After a long while, he nodded.

The windbreaker of the last Enforcer in the world swayed silently.

His figure disappeared into the cold end...

Beneath the aurora.

...

Gray World.

In the tri-color world of black, white, and gray, a thick, withered giant tree stood silently beneath the leaden clouds.

Although called a giant tree, its size had already exceeded the scope of trees on Earth. It was like the World Tree where dragons dwelled as mentioned in ancient religions, taking up an area close to half a county town...

The withered branches were like black spikes, pointing messily and diagonally towards the sky. The densely packed hollows in the trunk were like insect nests, each the size of four or five stories. Faintly, figures could also be seen moving through them.

Deep within the giant tree, a young man wearing simple hemp robes, with his hands wrapped in black bandages, walked forward slowly.

His attire was like that of a wanderer in the desert. A large hood covered his face, and his black hair silently fluttered beneath it. Through the sunlight that occasionally flashed past, one could see the secretive black Curse Runes on his neck, densely packed and looking incredibly bizarre.

"Holy Son, that person has been waiting inside for a long time," a figure dressed similarly as a wanderer said at the entrance.

"Did he say what he wanted with me?"

"No, you'll know the specifics once you go inside."

"En."

He walked straight into the tree hollow.

Passing through a patch of dimness, the scene before his eyes suddenly cleared up. This seemed to be the interior of this giant world tree. Mysterious tree vines draped down from above, emitting specks of fluorescence to drive away the shadows...

A figure stood in front of the tree vines. Seemingly hearing the footsteps, he slowly turned his head.

"You arrived too slowly, Zhao Yi." That person was somewhat displeased.

Zhao Yi shrugged. "You can't blame me for that. It's really too winding in here. I've been here for so long, and sometimes I still can't get my bearings straight..."

"Is this your reason for barging into the women's bathhouse last time?"

"I'm innocent, boss!! I really took a wrong turn last time, and I didn't see anything. At most, I just saw a few tails, wings, and... uh... ears..."

"... Enough. I called you here this time to talk about serious business."

Zhao Yi blinked, waiting for the rest.

The person in front of the tree vines casually tossed out a piece of paper that spun through the midair. Zhao Yi raised a brow and easily pinched it between his fingertips...

"This is a communication signal we intercepted just now. See for yourself," that person said slowly.

Zhao Yi lowered his head and scanned the text on the paper. Suddenly, his entire body jolted!

"Executing... Chen Ling? Is it that Chen Ling??"

"There is only one World-Ending Fusionist in this world. What do you think?"

"He... he-he-he... How was he captured by the Wuji Domain??"

"This matter is rather complicated. In short, the Wuji Domain side seems to be preparing to use him as bait to fish..." That person paused for a moment. "I called you here this time because I want you to lead some people on a trip."

"A trip?"

"Go to the Wuji Domain to save someone."

Zhao Yi's eyes instantly lit up!

"As the Fusionist of a World-Ending Calamity, Chen Ling can perfectly maintain his rationality. He is too important to us Fusionists... Regardless of whether the Wuji Domain truly wants to kill him or not, we must protect his safety.

Zhao Yi, you are very familiar with Chen Ling. I will send people to go to the Wuji Domain with you. You must rescue him, and then... invite him to join the Fusionists."

"That's great! I've been wanting to pull him into our group for a long time!" Zhao Yi was somewhat excited. Then, as if thinking of something, "Right, boss, aren't you going... Then how are we going to deal with the Silver King?"

"I cannot leave this place recently." The boss shook his head,

"As for the Silver King... you don't need to worry too much. That kid Chen Ling isn't that simple. Behind him, there's a guy even more terrifying than the Silver King."

"Then when do I set off??"

"Right now."

Zhao Yi turned his head and realized that at some point, seven hooded wanderer figures were already waiting at the entrance of the tree hollow. Their attire varied, but they basically all covered their faces and skin, their entire bodies exuding a terrifying Calamity aura.

Seeing these seven people, Zhao Yi's heart jolted. Having joined the Fusionists for so long, of course he knew who these seven people were...

It seemed the extent to which the boss valued Chen Ling truly far exceeded his imagination.

Zhao Yi grinned. He strode out of the tree hollow, followed closely by the seven Fusionists. They arrived at the edge of the giant tree's trunk, took a deep breath, and simultaneously leaped downward without hesitation!

Fierce winds surged, and everyone's clothes rustled loudly. A corner of Zhao Yi's hood was lifted, revealing a pair of pupils engraved with Calamity Curse Runes... Bits and pieces of his time in the Aurora Domain, as well as that figure draped in the Great Crimson Theatrical Robe, flashed through his mind.

He gazed distantly toward the direction of the Wuji Domain and chuckled lightly:

"Chen Ling..."

"I'm fucking coming!!"