Chapter 1082: When People Are in Trouble

"[Painted Rouge]..."

Inside the theater, Chen Ling muttered these three words, his brows furrowing tighter and tighter.

Painted Rouge was the Red King’s unique technique. When Chen Ling was at the Drama Path Ancient Treasury, he used the eye makeup Chen Yan had drawn for him as an anchor to possess a face of his own... But a face is just a face, not a mask. How could it become a Nuo mask capable of bearing both the Drama and Witch God Paths?

"The essence of Nuo is the combination of Drama and Witch. Your Painted Rouge already has A-Yan’s Drama God Path... As long as my Witch God Path is also inscribed upon it, it can become a one-of-a-kind Nuo mask in this world."

"Inscribe the Witch God Path onto it?" Chen Ling seemed to realize something. "Yao, you..."

Yao smiled slightly.

"Have you forgotten? The original purpose of us learning Nuo was to solve the problem of having two souls in one body... Now, the best solution has appeared. As long as I become a part of Painted Rouge, not only can we solve the two-souls-in-one-body problem, but I can also help you master the 'God-Sacrifice Dance'... There is no more perfect ending than this, is there?"

"But solving the two-souls-in-one-body problem shouldn't come at the cost of your life!"

"I am already dead."

Yao looked seriously into Chen Ling’s eyes and repeated, "I am already dead... If it weren't for you, my soul would have scattered long ago. It was you who gave A-Yan and me more possibilities.

Besides, merging my soul into Painted Rouge is not true death. I am just changing into a different form to accompany you and A-Yan."

Chen Ling opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say...

The loss of control by the Calamity of Mockery and the death of his Senior Brother had already thrown his mind into complete chaos. Faced with Yao’s farewell, his mind went blank...

"I have seen everything you have experienced during this time. No one understands your pain and sorrow better than I do..."

Yao gently raised his hand, his gray-clad figure gradually fading into the void. A touch of pure purple light began to bloom on his index finger, and the aura of the Witch God Path spread rapidly.

"Don't be sad for me, and don't blame yourself. You haven't done anything wrong... A-Yan chose to lend his power to you, and I am just making the same choice."

As Yao’s finger tapped on Chen Ling’s forehead, a shining purple mark was branded there. Dense Witch God Path patterns spread outward instantly, like the ghost patterns of a Nuo mask—three-dimensional and mysterious.

[Painted Rouge], the second stroke.

At the same time, the apricot-colored eye makeup that Chen Yan had drawn by hand was also immediately outlined.

The auras of Drama and Witch merged on Chen Ling’s face, and a terrifying aura erupted from Chen Ling as the center!!

Chen Ling’s pupils were already occupied by purple. He only felt the second anchor being carved deep into his heart. In the dark, an extremely profound power seemed to cross time and space, pulling his consciousness toward the end of the world...

The originally dim auditorium receded like a tide. Chen Ling felt as if he were in an infinite void. Yao’s figure floated in front of him, disappearing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Yao!!"

Chen Ling called his name and reached out his hand, but it only passed through the void.

"After I leave, no one will be able to talk to you in this theater anymore..." Yao’s eyes gazed at him quietly, like an older brother or a close friend about to go on a long journey, his eyes full of worry and reluctance.

"No matter what happens, you must remember that while there may be thousands of Mockery’s consciousnesses, you are not alone behind you..."

"A-Yan and I will always be your strength."

Yao’s figure disappeared completely in the void, and the complete Witch God Path was inscribed on Chen Ling’s [Painted Rouge]. That face with purple patterns and apricot eyes let out a roar, as if howling at the malice and injustice of fate.

The auras of Drama and Witch intertwined, and Chen Ling’s figure rose rapidly in the void. A moment later, a massive altar took shape on the other side of the void...

The Land of Divine Sacrifice.

The power of [Nuo] successfully allowed Chen Ling to re-establish a connection with the Land of Divine Sacrifice. Perhaps because of the unity of Drama and Witch this time, Chen Ling could feel that this connection was even clearer and stronger than the previous two times!

Chen Ling, draped in large red theatrical robes, hovered in front of the Land of Divine Sacrifice, as small as a speck of dust...

He was no longer facing a specific place, but the collective of all "Sacrifices" from ancient times to the present—a corner of the pyramid of human civilization.

"Come..."

Chen Ling looked at the center of the Land of Divine Sacrifice, Shen Nan’s words from back then echoing in his mind, and he whispered softly:

"When people are in trouble, there is Nuo..."

"As long as I can help the people around me get through this trouble, I am willing to pay any price... including my life."

In Chen Ling’s eyes was unprecedented madness and resolve. His Senior Brother was dead, and Yao had sacrificed himself for this. He had finally obtained such an opportunity to reclaim everything... No matter the price, he had to move forward.

As the light of the Land of Divine Sacrifice gradually brightened, the power of [Nuo] radiated from Chen Ling’s body. Twisted Drama and Witch intertwined around him. He slowly raised his hand, his five fingers reaching toward his face...

Red and black flames ignited at Chen Ling’s fingertips. As his five fingers hooked into his thin skin, the two-colored flames danced rapidly!

A hideous Nuo mask gradually replaced his face!

……

"Misfortune, huh..."

Jian Changsheng was silent for a long time, then gave a bitter smile.

He looked at the eerie black figure not far away and the pile of corpses he had killed with his own hands at his feet. In his mind, he could already imagine the madness and pain Chen Ling would feel after seeing everything... He had spent the most time with Chen Ling and knew what kind of person he was. If he knew he had killed his own Senior Brother with his own hands, he would probably be desperate enough to commit suicide.

Jian Changsheng slowly raised the pendant in his hand, placing it under the hazy starlight, making it shine brilliantly.

"Spade, do you want that Heaven-Reaching Star Position or not?"

“……”

"If you want it, I'll go grab it for you!"

“……”

"From now on, we will change your fate for you..."

“……”

The figure in the large red theatrical robes surged in Jian Changsheng’s mind, gradually overlapping with the eerie figure in the ruins.

The black leather jacket swayed silently in the wind. Jian Changsheng seemed to have made up his mind and spoke calmly:

"My life was changed for me by Heart, and this pendant was also a gift from him... In the end, this luck never belonged to me."

"Since that's the case..."

"I'll just return this luck... to him."

As his voice fell, Jian Changsheng gripped the pendant tightly. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and as if using all his strength, he slammed it violently onto the ground!

Bang—!!

Under the hazy starlight, the silver pendant instantly exploded into specks of stardust. Jian Changsheng’s luck was smashed to pieces by his own hands at this moment, and the ink-like misfortune surged like a sea wave, swallowing his figure bit by bit.

The next moment,

A terrifying killing intent that made one's scalp tingle, like a black torch, shot into the clouds!!