Chapter 1142: Rivalry Battle

Chapter 1142: A Nemesis Battle

The Pupil Sun hung high in the sky; the Black Moon lay fallen on the ground.

Jian Changsheng stood within the Black Moon's shadow, his eyes clearly reflecting the sky-purging red. The calamitous aura descending from the heavens violently assailed the wave of killing intent surrounding him, and even the Black Moon beneath his feet seemed to totter.

His expression was grim.

Jian Changsheng had never imagined that Chen Ling had already mastered this level of power. Before Chen Ling activated his second Severance of Malevolence, Jian Changsheng had a seventy percent chance of defeating him, but seeing the current scene, his winning odds were now less than ten percent.

Jian Changsheng had thought he had progressed quickly, but after only a few days apart, Chen Ling was still a step ahead of him.

He did not flinch. Instead, he gripped his sword hilt more tightly, let out a furious roar, and his killing intent surged wildly, like a stream of black light rushing towards the sky!

A colossal hand, seemingly capable of shattering heaven and earth, materialized from the swirling red, bearing down on Jian Changsheng's face like a divine punishment. With nearly a thousandfold difference in size, Jian Changsheng appeared as tiny as an ant.

The Netherwheel Night Dance was pushed to its limits. Jian Changsheng, with his lone sword and a long trail of killing intent, collided directly with the red hand. Countless red papers surged before Jian Changsheng, and no matter how he unleashed his sword energy, an endless supply of red papers replenished them.

Jian Changsheng's spiritual energy rapidly depleted, but his body continued to slowly descend under the pressure of the colossal hand. The calamitous aura from all directions continuously stimulated the killing intent within Jian Changsheng, and gradually, a hint of black re-emerged in his eyes.

Jian Changsheng could clearly feel an ancient killing intent, not his own, stirring deep within his body.

“Trying to control me again? Not a chance!!”

Jian Changsheng was resolute in not abandoning himself. He resisted Chen Ling's attacks while simultaneously suppressing the restless killing intent within him.

As Chen Ling's offensive grew fiercer, sweat poured from Jian Changsheng's forehead.

He knew very well that if this continued, he would undoubtedly lose.

Jian Changsheng hardened his resolve and directly focused his attention on the ancient killing intent within his body, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes!

Jian Changsheng would not allow that entity to seize control of his consciousness, but if Chen Ling could wield the power of calamity, why couldn't he actively mobilize this ancient killing intent? He had succeeded once before in the Tianshu Realm.

If he could harness this ancient killing intent for his own use, he would surely defeat Chen Ling!

With this thought, Jian Changsheng did not hesitate, immediately attempting to mobilize the killing intent within him. But the next moment, the blurred figure in the swamp suddenly flashed through his mind, and the killing intent he had just drawn forth instantly became chaotic, even affecting the killing intent attached to his body, causing it to violently shake!

“Oh no!!” Jian Changsheng's heart sank.

Failing to mobilize the ancient killing intent, his own aura instead faltered for a moment, and the Netherwheel Night Dance and Infernal Purgatory he had been maintaining revealed a weakness, allowing the surging red papers to tear open a gap!

Tear—!

His killing intent dissipated, and his defeat was like a landslide. In the next second, Jian Changsheng's figure was engulfed by the colossal red hand and slammed into the earth with a resounding crash!

Even though Jian Changsheng had tried his best to minimize the impact of his killing intent, in a battle between masters of the same caliber, even a fleeting flaw could change the entire situation.

Jian Changsheng re-mobilized his killing intent, and with a single sword slash, cleaved through the surging red papers around him, but it was too late.

As the red papers dispersed, a figure draped in an opera robe emerged from the red clouds amidst the distant ruins. He pressed his palm firmly onto the ground, and dense electric currents coursed through the remnants of the bonfire!

Reconstruction.

The not-yet-extinguished embers and shattered stones from the bonfire reshaped themselves under Chen Ling's palm, transforming into slender, sharp black rods. They whistled across the ground and, before Jian Changsheng could react, embedded themselves deeply into his arms and thighs.

With the embers entering his body, Jian Changsheng felt his Divine Path being disturbed once more, and the killing intent he had just gathered largely dissipated again.

He gripped his longsword tightly and deflected two more incoming black rods with a clang, but as Chen Ling lightly spun the boning knife in his hand, Jian Changsheng's longsword flew directly out of his grasp!

Thud—thud!!

Four black rods pierced Jian Changsheng's limbs, pinning him firmly to the ground. The black rotating halo behind him slowly disintegrated and vanished.

Seeing this, Sun Bumian, from a distance, sighed deeply:“It seems the outcome has been decided...”

Faint embers flickered behind Chen Ling, and countless red papers receded beneath his large red opera robe. Chen Ling approached Jian Changsheng, who was pinned to the ground, step by step.

He raised a fingertip and touched his brow. Moments later, a brass bullet, containing a fragment of memory, was slowly extracted.

In Chen Ling's other hand, a revolver had appeared at some point. With a gentle flick, the cylinder popped out, and after a bullet was inserted, it spun with a clicking sound.

Yesterday's Revolver.

Chen Ling held the revolver, his eyes reflecting Jian Changsheng's figure pinned to the ground, and slowly spoke:

“The power within you is indeed very threatening... but unfortunately, you don't seem to have mastered how to use it. Reckless misuse will only harm yourself.”

Jian Changsheng was out of strength and could only barely lift his head to look in the direction Chen Ling was approaching. Unwillingness, regret, helplessness, bitterness... his gaze was incredibly complex.

He opened his mouth as if to protest something, but ultimately turned his head away stubbornly.

“You lost.” Chen Ling, looking down at him, spoke again.

“...I don't need you to remind me.”

Jian Changsheng's voice was muffled.

Chen Ling bent down and placed the muzzle of the revolver against the back of Jian Changsheng's head.

“Anything else you want to say?”

“...No.” Jian Changsheng took a deep breath, his voice low, “My skill is inferior; there's nothing more to say. Do what you will, fight or leave.”

Chen Ling was silent for a moment.

“I won't be returning to the Human Realm, at least not in the short term... I have many things to do here.”

“Oh.”

After a long moment, Chen Ling spoke again:

“Leaving without saying goodbye was my fault. At the time, my consciousness wasn't very clear, and I just wanted to leave that place as quickly as possible... I'm sorry.”

Jian Changsheng trembled slightly, and slowly turned his head back, not saying a word, just looking at Chen Ling, with a look that implied, 'What good is an apology now?'

Jian Changsheng opened his mouth, about to say something, when Chen Ling spoke again:

“Remember this fragment I'm giving you well... I have a premonition that this world is about to fall into great chaos, and improving your strength is the most important thing. Don't waste time specifically searching for me... Once I've finished my tasks, I will come find you.”

Jian Changsheng froze.

Next, Chen Ling pulled the trigger!

Bang—!!

The brass bullet, imbued with 'yesterday,' directly entered Jian Changsheng's mind. A scene, carrying a terrifying impact, crashed into his memory, and he rolled his eyes back, passing out on the spot.