Chapter 58

The war concerning the survival of the species has reopened; on the Dragon Gate side, all planetary-level high-ranking War God-level warriors have rushed to the battlefield.

Although the group of newcomers led by Chén Chén are all making rapid progress, most already possess War God-level strength, yet only few have the qualifications to be dispatched to the front line.

Except for Jī Héng, who was extremely worried about the situation in China and immediately obtained a combat quota through connections, only one other person had previously obtained a combat quota.

This person is naturally the current number one on the Black Dragon List, namely Chén Chén himself.

As for the remaining others, those who wish to leave Dragon Gate to participate in this war still need to undergo one final trial.

This war, aside from not affecting America and the European Union, has left Dragon Gate—which used to be the primary focus of the monsters' attention—peacefully undisturbed.

Not even a trace of the monthly beast tide that had been mentioned before could be seen; it can be said that, aside from Jiāng Jiāng, many martial artists in the entire Dragon Gate felt uneasy.

Because of the influence of the Two Great Martial Halls and the two top human martial artists, contemporary martial arts thought is also close to that of Hong and Lei Shen, and most martial artists are the type who enjoy growing in battle.

The fighting spirit and arrogance inherent in a martial artist's nature naturally cannot accept, from the heart, the tedious secluded cultivation within Dragon Gate during wartime, especially when some have already left ahead of time.

However, such days that someone would call incredibly fortunate did not last long, because some unexpected events caused Dragon Gate's current batch's training plan to be greatly advanced, or rather, a certain fate‑nurturing plan was greatly moved forward.

On the surface, the collective activity called the 'War Trial' is also meant to test whether the martial artists from last year still have the resolve to join a life‑and‑death war.

At home, Jiāng Jiāng took out the coming-of-age gift Chén Chén had given her.

Although she had held it many times before, every time she picked it up she felt an unparalleled sense of security, as if she wanted to hold Chén Chén's hand.

Jiāng Jiāng was referring to the sense of security.

Although she really wanted to properly cherish the gift Chén Chén had given her, going out this time was truly too dangerous, and Chén Chén wasn't by her side, making it an unprecedented crisis.

Moreover, before leaving, Chén Chén had also instructed her to be sure to bring these two knives.

As for how Chén Chén left, the story has to start from three days ago.

————

"You're going to leave for a while???"

"Why?"

"What are you going to do?"

"Can you take me with you?"

Although she seemed hurried, these were indeed the first questions that came to Jiāng Jiāng's mind.

In front of Chén Chén, Jiāng Jiāng always straightforwardly expressed her true thoughts.

The good news is that Chén Chén has always been willing to accommodate her a little, but only up to a limit.

The bad news is that this time it just happened to reach that limit where he could no longer accommodate her.

Chén Chén's complexion wasn't good; ever since the war on the front lines broke out a few days ago, he has been preoccupied. Based on their years of interaction, this is a worry he hasn't faced in years.

Moreover, Chén Chén's departure this time is likely related to this huge worry.

As expected, Chén Chén shook his head.

Jiāng Jiāng hadn't seen Chén Chén this solemn in a long time; the last time she saw such an expression was the previous time.

"I have to do something very important."

Jiāng Jiāng nodded and quietly clenched her fists.

"Mm."

Chén Chén sighed helplessly and continued speaking.

"This war trial is very important; try to go as far forward as possible."

"Okay."

"Remember to keep the gift I gave you with you at all times."

"Okay."

"Also, don't trust anyone else."

"Of course."

Although Jiāng Jiāng answered with a smile, she felt an unbearable sadness in her heart.

Chén Chén has many secrets; he can always see what others cannot, say what others cannot say, and do what others cannot do—he shines like the sun.

And she is like the moon; without reflecting the sun's light, she is nothing.

She can't do anything, can't help at all; it's been like this since long ago, since she first met him.

She can't help in a fight, can't help make money, and going out hunting is like bringing a child along…

So, back then he would say that following him was a bad thing, no matter who it was.

"No crying."

Jiāng Jiāng came to her senses, and Chén Chén pinched her nose with one hand.

"Jiāng Jiāng, you mean a lot to me; if it weren't for you, I would already be dead—don't you forget that."

But if it weren't for bringing me along to run, Chén Chén would never have gotten injured.

"Of course not."

Chén Chén seems to have read all the girl's thoughts.

"Actually, I owe it all to you."

"And I haven't finished yet; there's still the most important thing."

Chén Chén leaned close to Jiāng Jiāng's ear.

"This time I really need help."

After saying that, he lightly touched her cheek.

"Remember this feeling."

At that moment, she blushed.

————

At that moment.

Jiāng Jiāng drew the twin swords that had never seen blood; the blades lightly scraped the fingertip of her index finger, and a few drops of bright red blood flowed out, the blood evenly sliding down the sword tip and blade, as if it had merged into them.

Jiāng Jiāng named this ritual the Blood-Drip Recognition.

Gripping the twin swords tightly, she recalled Chu Chen's words when he left—words she had longed to hear, yet words he had always been unwilling to say.

When he is willing to say that, it shows that it is a huge problem he truly lacks confidence to resolve.

Just thinking about it makes one's heart race.

But if I could be of help...

Even if it means death...

Pah pah pah, damn, I almost set a flag—take warning, take warning.

Regarding the trouble Chu Chen encountered, even before he said he would leave, Jiāng Jiāng had investigated many times with no result, but it can be confirmed that it is related to the worldwide beast tide.

The resumption of war between humans and monsters is indeed a headache.

In short, it all boils down to insufficient firepower; I must become stronger quickly, and following Chu Chen's hint, this 'War Trial' is indeed a crucial opportunity.

————

As for Chu Chen, after leaving Dragon Gate for a legitimate reason, he did not rush to the battlefield but instead arrived first at the destination of this 'War Trial'.

Mist Lake, Lake Island.

Although the scenery here seemed like the work of supernatural craftsmanship, it was not nature's doing at first, but rather the intelligent life Babata, personal attendant of the Lord of the Mo Yin Star, using its limited influence to slowly draw from underground several meters ahead.

However, for this trial activity, Chu Chen also renovated this place thoroughly, and set Babata and its starship as the ultimate treasure of the trial.

Chu Chen walked into the central island; the two banks of the island gradually separated, holding back the lake water between them, revealing a broad staircase.

Chu Chen descended slowly; though his steps were not fast, after just two or three steps he vanished from sight, the split island slowly closing together, leaving no trace, not even a seam.

From within the island, continually going downward, the originally complex terrain yielded to Chu Chen, and before long he reached the lowest destination—the 'Mo Yin Star Vessel'.

In stealth mode, the Mo Yin Star Vessel was completely integrated by Babata into its surroundings; even when Chu Chen first came looking for it, it had taken considerable effort.

"Babata, come out and see me."

Chu Chen was not using his true form from Earth to speak; he merely shouted with his own body.

Babata, who had long sensed something amiss, immediately disengaged stealth mode, revealing the hatch of the Mo Yin Star Vessel.

Chu Chen entered the hatch and saw Babata formed from converging projections, clad in a black robe, with two sharp horns on his forehead, his eyes blood‑red despite being only 1.45 meters tall.

"You finally came."

"I have waited for you fifty thousand years..."

"No, you are not a Spiritual Mind Master at all!?"

Chu Chen rolled his eyes and spoke with a slight apology.

"I'm sorry for ruining the opening line you've rehearsed twenty‑seven million three thousand five hundred times."

Upon hearing this, Babata instantly knew Chu Chen's identity and stomped his feet in anger.

"Damn, it's you! Are you deliberately mocking me? Where is my successor?"

Although Babata had no physical form, he still rushed to Chu Chen's side, no longer maintaining his former dignified demeanor.

Chu Chen spread his hands.

"I didn't come just to give you good news."

Babata showed a hateful expression and said:

"Besides helping me find a suitable inheritor for the basic Mo Yin Star, no other good news can earn you any favor here—don't waste your effort."

Although he said that, Babata could not muster any aura.

After all, Babata still knows nothing about this person's background, refuses to accept the Mo Yin Star inheritance, and has used power to seal off the area around the starship.

Constantly claiming to be a local, yet for tens of thousands of years Babata has detected no news about this person or the World Tree he himself created.

He also said he would recommend to me the sole person on Earth capable of inheriting the Mo Yin Star, but so far there has been no word.

Babata, who is extremely vigilant in guarding his master's property, now suspects that this person is actually an interstellar swindler.

If that were true, his current form would be dangerous, and he might soon appear at an interstellar auction.

Therefore, regarding this person's obvious attempt to gain some benefit, Babata feels torn and has no confidence at all.

"Alright, alright, I have no intention of taking advantage of you."

Although he claims to be an old fox who has roamed the universe for tens of millions of years, he seems to think his projected age is easy to guess—perhaps he is indeed the legendary intelligent life.

"This time I've come indeed concerning your Mo Yin Star successors."

"I hope you can add another slot to your inheritance."

"No, absolutely not!"

"Although the master left abundant resources, cultivating a successor is already taxing, and the aptitude of people on this planet... is nothing to brag about."

Babata then switched to a high‑EQ way of speaking, although what he said wasn't really that tactful.

"I will only choose the best one."

Having guarded Earth for so many years, not to mention outstanding—there isn't even a single person who passes the threshold; now Babata only hopes that this person will, according to the agreement, find him a qualified candidate.

"Rest assured, the humans on this planet forever exceed your imagination in talent, even though you can't see it yet."

Just as Babata was about to retort, Chu Chen anticipated and continued his rebuttal:

"I know, I know; for apprentices, exceeding twenty‑brain‑domain width is the minimum baseline—I've already tested it for you, and both of my candidates meet this standard."

"Regarding the resource issue you mentioned, I also know this: you can rest easy, you may channel all resources onto the one you favor, and you only need to provide the core inheritance of the Mo Yin Star."

Babata hesitated for half a second, then nodded in agreement.

On one hand, Babata is temporarily unwilling to turn against this mysterious person; on the other hand, regarding the core inheritance of the Mo Yin Star, it is not for me, Babata the Great, to decide.

Chu Chen of course also saw through Babata's little thoughts, but there was no need to expose them.

The Inkfall Star Legacy isn't really a necessity for Jiang Jiang; it's just a small reward for her coming here.

【You still quite believe that kid, huh? Is it possible she would never come to a place like this?】

Babata noticed that Chen Chen's gaze was a bit off.

"What's wrong? Is there anything else, if you're after benefits..."

Babata hadn't finished speaking when Chen Chen waved his hand and took two steps outside the spaceship.

"See you next time."

Once again he witnessed the surrounding strata shifting in an unnatural way, opening a path deeper down for Chen Chen, then restoring itself in an even more bizarre manner.

Is it racial talent? Or perhaps the power of laws? Even Babata, who considered himself extraordinarily experienced, couldn't figure it out.

"This guy... just who is he?"

……

After bidding farewell to Babata, he continued toward the earth's depths, until the planet's center, where only Chen Chen could reach the 'Heart Chamber'.

It resembled a tiny sun, or a beating heart—the earth's stellar core, and was equivalent to Chen Chen's heart in existence.

Within the core, a shapeless lacquer shadow had long been waiting.

Upon seeing Chen Chen arrive, the black lacquer shadow slowly shifted its form, from appearance to build, gradually becoming exactly like Chen Chen.

"This is still the first time we've met in this form."

"Hey there, Chen Chen."

"Hey there, the one who messed up the plans—myself."