Chapter 1717: Restart

Under the blood-red firmament.

A figure clad in black armor stepped across the rugged earth.

Pitch-black ribbons danced in the wind, and countless dust particles rose toward the sky like a spiral. He was stained with blood, his steps heavy, like a lone general returning from a bloody battlefield.

Not far ahead of him, a massive realm of ruins stood silently...

It was the Lingxu Realm.

"Finally..."

"Almost there..."

Jian Changsheng slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze toward the realm flashing with gravity.

Since using the Ancient Armory of the Military Path to obliterate the Disaster of Taboo, Jian Changsheng had pushed his speed to the limit regardless of the cost, rushing here all the way from the far north...

The Sea of Taboo and the Lingxu Realm were extremely far apart. If traveling normally, even Jian Changsheng would need a day, but he knew very well that the Red Star’s arrival was imminent, and he had no time left.

Thus, he frantically overdrawn his body and killing intent, flying like a dragon all the way. By now, his mental energy was exhausted, and with the arrival of the Red Star, his internal Military God Path was flickering, forcing him to move forward with difficulty on foot.

He wondered how Chen Ling was doing.

The battle between the Twilight Society and the Disaster of Taboo was life-and-death, but Chen Ling’s duel with Lingxujun was equally dangerous.

If Chen Ling failed to defeat Lingxujun...

No,

He was Chen Ling.

Jian Changsheng took a deep breath. He glanced at the Red Star getting closer above his head and continued to stagger toward the Lingxu Realm.

Just then, he seemed to discover something. His eyes, brimming with killing intent, swept across the other side of the realm... Vaguely, a few strange figures flashed by.

Jian Changsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He tilted his head as if pondering something, then silently quickened his pace, moving through the ruins.

The moment he stepped into the Lingxu Realm, Jian Changsheng’s tense heart relaxed immediately... He didn't sense the domain protection of Lingxujun, which meant this last of the Nine Lords was likely already dead.

At the same time, a melodious ballad drifted into his ears from afar.

"『The earth and rose-red are your bed』,"

"『Frost, snow, and the setting sun are your heavy makeup』;"

"『I will weave hope into dancing kapok flowers』,"

"『Until the rocks remember the fragrance of the flowers』..."

Hearing this voice, Jian Changsheng’s footsteps paused slightly. He looked toward the ruins of the collapsed clock tower in the distance.

Vaguely, he could see the figure of an actor standing within it, the red and black opera robe fluttering in the wind. He stood calmly under the world-destroying blood-colored firmament, singing the ballad leisurely.

This wasn't the first time Jian Changsheng had heard Chen Ling sing the Requiem. Every time he heard this song, Jian Changsheng’s heart would quickly calm down... And Chen Ling’s singing style was different from the other K-cards, possessing a unique, tragic beauty.

Jian Changsheng didn't speak; he just walked quietly toward the clock tower.

"『Oh, weeping one』,"

"『Please gently close your eyes』;"

"『Wait until the twilight falls in the darkest era』,"

"『I will promise you the morning glow and the blue sky』."

As Chen Ling finished the last line.

The young general clad in armor was already standing behind the fluttering opera robe.

In the lonely ruins of the apocalypse, a pair of cinnabar earrings swayed silently. Chen Ling looked back, the wailing cold wind in the rugged ruins sounding like an ancient flute, humming.

The black-armored general took a deep breath, holding up the purple-glowing Witch Path foundation fragments with both hands...

His calm and steady voice followed:

"Spade 6, Jian Changsheng, on behalf of the entire Twilight Society... presents the Witch Path foundation to Lord Red King."

"We..."

"Have not failed the mission."

The blood-stained black ribbons fluttered in the wind.

Jian Changsheng’s words were light, as if skipping over the bloody battle of mutual destruction at the Sea of Taboo. He didn't mention how they defeated the Disaster of Taboo, nor what price they paid...

He only needed Chen Ling to know that the entire Twilight Society would not let Chen Ling down.

Chen Ling stared at Jian Changsheng for a long time before asking hoarsely:

"Where are Xiaohua, the Gray King, Heart 9, and Zhao Yi?"

“……”

Jian Changsheng didn't look up, maintaining the posture of offering the Witch Path foundation, and replied slowly: "The battlefield situation was chaotic, they... were unable to take the poison as promised."

The figure in the opera robe trembled slightly.

I don't know how much time passed,

Only then did he give a soft "hmm."

Jian Changsheng looked up slightly, seeing the indescribable loneliness and bitterness in Chen Ling’s eyes. His gaze drifted, as if merging with the bleak, blood-scented cold wind.

In fact, before the battle started, Chen Ling had already anticipated that there might be casualties who couldn't take the poison in time, but he didn't expect the price of this battle to be so heavy...

"Alright, you’re the one who became the Red King, why are you still acting so sentimental."

After completing the mission on behalf of the Twilight Society, Jian Changsheng returned to his usual tone, punching Chen Ling lightly on the shoulder, "Hurry up and reverse the era, restart the world... Our hope is all pinned on you."

"Chen Ling, don't embarrass us 6-generation members!"

Chen Ling took the Witch Path fragments, took a deep breath... and exhaled slowly.

Above the blood-colored firmament, the light of the meteor became more brilliant, the incandescent glow gradually obscuring the blood color, and rolling flames attached to the meteor, as if capable of burning everything.

"I will." Chen Ling handed a dose of poison to Jian Changsheng at the same time.

Who knew Jian Changsheng would shake his head directly:

"It’s useless, your poison can't kill me."

"...Also, you’re already an eighth-stage [Asura], harder to kill than a cockroach."

Chen Ling’s poison could kill an ordinary person, but for Jian Changsheng, who possessed [Blood Garment] and extremely strong vitality, it wasn't fatal... Chen Ling was in a bit of a dilemma.

In his current state, even if Jian Changsheng sought death, he might not be able to kill the other party in a short time.

"It’s not that simple to kill me, I’ll do it myself." Jian Changsheng couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Ling nodded helplessly: "Then do it yourself."

"You start the restart first, I’ll guard you for a while." Jian Changsheng’s gaze swept across the surroundings leisurely, "Some rats seem to have slipped in here again."

Chen Ling frowned, glanced in that direction, hesitated for a moment, and nodded.

Chen Ling turned and stood still in the ruins.

As his fingertips lifted, nine centipedes emerged from the ground carrying coffins. They circled around Chen Ling like towering black pillars, their hideous centipede legs on both sides swaying gently, slowly opening each coffin...

Ruoshuijun Wen Ruoshui, Jiguangjun Yang Xiao, Tianxujun Lu Xun, Nanhaijun Chu Changqing, Xuanyujun Ji Xuan, Cangyunjun Qi Muyun, Hongchenjun Su Zhiwei, Wujijun Lou Yu, and... Lingxujun Wu Tongyuan.