Chapter 535: Wuji Jun

Boom—!!

On the black reef, Chen Ling’s bright red opera robe danced in the wind. He stared intently at the roaring waves, his hands slowly rising within his sleeves...

He recalled Ning Ruyu’s movements, keeping his palms as gentle as possible, and closed his eyes, trying to capture this so-called "conviction."

Conviction... Conviction...

Chen Ling’s vision was pitch black.

The roaring waves were like wild beasts, rushing toward the reef. Chen Ling could clearly feel the pressure of the splashing water and the waves. He knew he had to act.

He swiped his palm through the air. The next moment, the towering wave crashed heavily onto the reef, emitting a thunderous roar!

Chen Ling felt a massive force strike him, and he was sent flying backward from the reef, swept into the seabed by the water. The sensation of suffocation locked his body. He opened his eyes and saw the reef-filled surface getting further and further away above him...

Damn it, it really isn't that easy.

Following Ning Ruyu’s instructions, Chen Ling hadn't used any skills or mental power, so he was inevitably sent flying by the wave. He had to swim in the water, slowly making his way back to the surface.

Just then, a lifting force surged from beneath him, as if an undercurrent were actively wrapping around his body, pushing him toward the surface without him needing to exert any effort.

"Is this the undercurrent Senior Brother mentioned?" Chen Ling felt his body rising and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

Within ten seconds, Chen Ling was delivered to the reef at the surface. He took the opportunity to jump and landed steadily on the rock.

Dripping seawater slid from his hair and hem. He looked toward the horizon and saw another wave rushing from afar, blotting out the sky.

Chen Ling finally understood why Ning Ruyu kept saying there were risks to practicing 【Parting the Heavens with a Wave of the Sleeve】. On one hand, the force of the waves was immense; without using any skills or mental power, it was hard for the body to withstand the impact. Most importantly, after being swept into the seabed, one had to spend a great deal of energy swimming back.

Once or twice was fine, but if one kept repeating the process of being sent flying, swimming back, and being sent flying again, one would become increasingly exhausted, pushing toward their limit. Meanwhile, the waves would only get stronger. Eventually, he would likely drown from exhaustion or be crushed to death.

With Ning Ruyu’s modification, the undercurrent saved Chen Ling a significant amount of energy, allowing him to face the waves more calmly and devote more energy to feeling "conviction"—maximizing the best conditions for Chen Ling!

Chen Ling stood on the reef, took a deep breath, and the fighting spirit in his eyes burned fiercely!

Ning Ruyu had done this much for him; if he still couldn't master 【Parting the Heavens with a Wave of the Sleeve】, what face would he have to see him... Chen Ling had no way back. He stared fixedly at the second incoming wave, his hands rising within his sleeves again:

"Come again!!"

……

Wuji Domain.

A light, drizzling rain fell from the hazy gray sky, flowing down the uneven stone-paved road into the sewers. As the dim yellow streetlights overhead flickered, a figure in a black robe appeared like a ghost on the deserted road.

"The rain smells of rust and blood... and a faint burnt scent."

Under the black hood, a pair of deep blue eyes scanned the surroundings. It was a young man with black hair, his palms engraved with mysterious symbols. They were hidden in the sleeves of his black robe, swaying in the cold rain.

"Two major districts, tens of thousands of people, all vanished overnight. Only the Truth Church could pull off such large-scale alchemy... Are they insane?"

"So many people died, yet the Witchcraft Association hasn't taken any action. The Wuji Domain is truly becoming more chaotic."

After pondering for a moment, he changed direction and headed straight for the tallest and most mysterious cathedral in the city.

Along the way, he occasionally saw passersby, but most were holding umbrellas, hurrying along with large bags of daily necessities—enough for half a year, clearly not intending to go out often.

Some saw the black-robed figure walking under the streetlight, their expressions changing. They would vigilantly take a wide detour and then quicken their pace, as if they had encountered a terrifying ghost.

Seeing this, the man’s brow beneath the black hood furrowed even tighter.

As he approached the cathedral, numerous figures in silver armor blocked his path. The cold gleam of their longswords reflected in the man’s deep blue pupils, and a terrifying pressure radiated from their eyes.

"Who?"

The rusty raindrops hit the rune-covered iron armor, making a clanging sound, like an interwoven wall of steel.

Just as the man was about to speak, a voice rang out from the cathedral entrance:

"Oh~ Duran, you’ve finally arrived!"

The speaker was a middle-aged man in a red robe with gold patterns. He stepped down from the towering stairs, raising his jewelry-laden hands, and smiled. "Hurry, invite him in. This is our most talented alchemist, an honored guest of the Association. We must not be negligent."

"Brand, how could it be you??" the young man in the black robe said in a deep voice. "Where is Shang Shaoquan?"

"Chairman Shang met with an accident a few days ago and has passed away... Now, I am serving as the acting chairman of the Association," the man called Brand said with a face full of regret.

"How is this possible..."

A flash of shock crossed Duran’s eyes. At the same time, the wall of steel blocking him parted, clearing a path to the cathedral.

He stood there in deep thought for a long time before finally walking toward the cathedral.

"I’m really glad to hear you’re back, Duran." Brand patted his shoulder enthusiastically. "It must have been two... no, three years since we last met? The Wuji Domain has changed a lot, and so has the Witchcraft Association. There are some things you’ll be shocked to see!"

"What happened to those two vanished districts? Is someone performing large-scale human transmutation? I can't contact the Mysticism School, and the atmosphere on the streets seems very strange... What exactly happened to the Wuji Domain?"

"Don't worry, Duran, I will explain everything to you in detail. Come with me first."

Brand turned and walked into the depths of the cathedral, his red and gold robe reflecting on the marble floor. His smile grew brighter. "...I’ll take you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"A legend who has overturned the Alchemy School, a great man who is about to create an eternal kingdom, a King of Matter who transcends truth and logic!"

Brand pushed open a heavy door. In the luxurious, empty cathedral space, a massive sphere of mercury, resembling a moon, floated silently in mid-air. Dense ripples trembled on its surface, as if something were about to break through!

"He is... Wuji Jun!!"