Chapter 1017: Storm Approaches

The confessional fell into a dead silence.

After hearing those two words clearly, Chen Ling's brows furrowed deeper. "Are you kidding me?"

Chen Ling couldn't understand the connection between his own survival and killing the King of Silver.

Facing Chen Ling's questioning, Ying Fu replied expressionlessly, "I am not joking."

"Why?"

"Because... of the Emperor's Destiny."

Chen Ling was stunned.

"The Imperial Divine Path transcends the Fourteen Divine Paths. All who possess a Divine Path are drawn towards the Emperor's Destiny by fate. It's like a vortex. Wherever an emperor appears, that place becomes the center of the vortex... But typically, only one Emperor's Destiny emerges in an era. Yet in this era... two 'vortexes' have appeared."

Ying Fu's lips curved into a faint smile. "You and I were destined to be enemies. The two vortexes should have been in separate corners of the world, each drawing in Divine Path holders from a distinct region, resisting each other until one perished... But now, some fool is attempting to capture two 'emperors' simultaneously... What do you think will happen to this world when two vortexes overlap in one place?"

Ying Fu's words struck Chen Ling like thunder, instantly opening his mind. He realized something and spoke with uncertainty: "They'll... merge into an even more terrifying vortex?"

It's common knowledge that when two tornadoes appear in the same place, they create a super-tornado with far greater suction and destructive power. It's like someone attempting to control two immensely powerful individuals at once; what follows will be an overwhelming backlash and impact.

"Therefore, you cannot die," Ying Fu stated calmly. "If you die, the vortex's power will diminish... But as long as you live, the storm of destiny will eventually sweep through the Boundless Domain."

"If that's the case, why is the Boundless Domain so quiet right now?"

"The eye of any storm is always calm before it hits..." Ying Fu turned and slowly walked towards the door. "But in places we cannot see... 'It' has already arrived."

Ding-dong—

"Mr. Chu, a letter for you!"

Inside a residence in the South Sea Domain, a crisp knock sounded at the door.

Chu Muyun opened the door, but no one was there. Only a new letter lay quietly before the entrance.

Chu Muyun looked around, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he picked up the letter and turned back inside.

Static crackling...

"This is 'South Sea Speaks'. We interrupt this program for an urgent news flash..."

Chu Muyun sat at his desk. The radio, which had been playing soothing music, suddenly interjected with a serious male voice.

"After several months, the Boundless Domain, which had lost contact with other domains, has suddenly transmitted a message. The Usurpers of Fire claim they are not terrorists, but a new regime born from the populace. Adhering to the principle of human supremacy, they are dedicated to overthrowing the currently weak and conservative strategies of the human domains. They will use the Boundless Domain as their starting point to fire the first shot in the counterattack against the Grey Realm Calamity..."

"Furthermore, they claim to have captured Chen Ling, Heart 6 and former member of the Twilight Society, who is the fusion entity of the Calamity of Destruction, 'Mockery.' They have established a Tribunal of Justice, accusing Chen Ling of being a calamity spy, deliberately lurking within the human domains with the primary purpose of disrupting human internal unity..."

"His main charges include, but are not limited to, 'assassinating Lord Aurora,' 'destroying the Aurora Domain,' 'instigating the Calamity of Envy to attack the Mortal Domain,' and 'damaging the Celestial Star Array'..."

"After deliberation by the Tribunal of Justice, he has been sentenced to death, to be publicly executed three days from now..."

Upon hearing the radio's announcement, Chu Muyun's pupils slightly contracted!

Even the hand that was opening the letter paused mid-air...

He looked at the letter in his hand, as if realizing something, then suddenly sped up, tearing it open in a few swift motions!

A playing card silently fell out.

The moment he saw the card, Chu Muyun's heart jolted!

"This is..."

Just then, someone tapped on his window from outside, making a tapping sound.

"Old Chu, let's go." Heart 9, who lived on the same floor as Chu Muyun, was somehow already standing outside the window, with Club 8 behind him. Both their faces were unusually grim.

"...Hm."

Chu Muyun stood up. Without taking any luggage, he simply donned a white wool coat and walked out the door.

"Did you see who delivered the letter?"

Heart 9 and Club 8 shook their heads simultaneously.

"All members in the five human domains received the letter at the same time... Only a King card could manage such a feat." Chu Muyun mused. "I just wonder which suit it was..."

"The next domain train leaves in half an hour. After arriving at the Heavenly Pivot Domain, we'll have to cross the Grey Realm on foot to reach the Boundless Domain..." Club 8 said, flipping through a notebook.

"Cross the Grey Realm on foot? Isn't that a bit much for us?"

"It doesn't matter. The other Jacks, Queens, and Kings will clear the way."

"True..."

"That kid, Heart 6, has really stirred up big trouble this time..." Heart 9 shrugged. "But it's not all bad. It's the first full Twilight Society gathering since its inception... It should be quite lively."

"Are we going to be with those annoying people again? Just thinking about it gives me a headache." Club 8 sighed.

"Who isn't?"

"Fortunately..."

"With all of us together, someone else will likely have an even bigger headache."

The three figures gradually receded down the hallway, vanishing like specters in an instant.

On the table in Chu Muyun's room, a red-clad jester, whose face was obscured, was printed on a playing card, arms spread wide as if embracing the world.

Aurora City, the ruins.

Beneath the ice-shrouded urban wreckage, a base lay silently hidden underground. The surface frost and seawater had not permeated it, making it seem like the sole surviving utopia in a world of death.

Aurora Base.

Along the dark corridor, an old figure slowly made his way, leaning on a cane and carrying a kerosene lamp.

Buried deep underground, Aurora Base had long lost most of its power supply. The oppressive darkness seemed to have become its dominant color, conveying solitude and deathly stillness.

The old man came to a small round table, placed the kerosene lamp on it, its faint light illuminating his wrinkled face and the consistently closed door across the table.

The old man sat on the chair beside the round table, eating a canned breakfast while pulling a slip of paper from his pocket.

"By my reckoning, you shouldn't be ready to emerge yet..."

"However, I just received some very interesting news... This news comes from the Boundless Domain."

In the flickering light of the kerosene lamp, the old man spoke as he chewed his food. The tightly shut door opposite him remained as motionless as a rock.

"I believe I told you last time that the Boundless Domain has been occupied by the King of Silver, but it seems they're making a new move this time... They're going to execute a Calamity Fusionist."

"You should know this person too..."

"His name is Chen Ling."

Boom—!!

The moment the name "Chen Ling" was uttered, a muffled thud suddenly echoed from behind the door...

Immediately after, a man in an enforcer's trench coat slowly pushed the door open and emerged from the darkness.