Chapter 1164: From the Future You

Chapter 1164: You From the Future

"He's truly a persistent opponent," Han Xiang muttered, feeling his spiritual energy constantly depleting while the red-robed figure remained agile and nimble. Han Xiang's expression was grim. Two sixth-rank cultivators were encircling a peak fifth-rank, yet they hadn't been able to kill him for so long. The combat power Chen Ling unleashed was incomprehensible to any divine path practitioner of this era.

Ying Fu's brow furrowed deeper and deeper. He watched Chen Ling, who was not far away, and for some reason, an ominous premonition suddenly arose within him.

"Something's not right."

"Your Majesty, what's not right?"

Just as Ying Fu was about to speak, the clouds on the horizon suddenly churned, and a seven-colored glow surged forth. In a haze, the outline of a mighty lion was revealed, rapidly approaching their location!

The lion's outline was so vast that at first glance, it appeared to be merely a large expanse of colorful clouds resembling a lion's head. However, Ying Fu keenly sensed the terrifying aura of the 'Play God Path' emanating from within.

"What is that...?" Han Xiang exclaimed, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes as he noticed the anomaly behind the colorful clouds.

It was at this moment that Chen Ling, clad in his large red opera robe, finally stopped.

"In this era, you're not the only one who can call for reinforcements." Chen Ling slightly raised his head, a smile flashing in his eyes as he looked at the colorful clouds on the horizon. "Now... the tables have turned."

A colossal figure, burning with seven-colored flames, streaked out from the clouds like a meteor, resembling a furious lion, and crashed straight towards the mountain peak!

"A peak seventh-rank Play God Path?!" Han Xiang exclaimed in surprise.

He and Ying Fu were both sixth-rank; even if they joined forces, they would definitely not be a match for a seventh-rank. Moreover, the Play God Path was filled with rage, as if it wanted to tear them to shreds, clearly not a benevolent entity.

"Your Majesty..."

"Let's go!"

Though reluctant, Ying Fu knew he was no match and decided to retreat decisively. For Ying Fu, the most important person, Chu Changqing, had already been transported away. Killing Chen Ling would have been ideal, but even if they couldn't, there would be no significant loss.

Ying Fu and Han Xiang's figures simultaneously dissolved in the inky rain, transforming into countless brushstrokes that vanished into the distant clouds.

What they failed to notice was that after their departure, the fiercely falling seven-colored flames showed no signs of diminishing, but instead, hurtled directly towards Chen Ling amidst the ruins!

"Is Sun Bumian this powerful in this era?" Chen Ling felt the overwhelming pressure rushing towards him, his heart similarly astonished.

However, by then, he had no time for any other actions; the power gap between them was simply too vast. The Awakened Lion opened its massive maw above the mountain, swallowing Chen Ling and the surrounding earth in one gulp, then its body turned semi-transparent, and it directly burrowed into the ground!

Chen Ling's vision blurred instantly, as a terrifying force restrained his body, sending him plummeting madly downwards!

Amidst the burning seven-colored flames, a figure clad in a Tang suit emerged from within the Awakened Lion. He grabbed Chen Ling by the neck, his small, round dark glasses almost touching Chen Ling's face.

"You're the one who called me, aren't you?" Sun Bumian gnashed his teeth. "Thief! What did you do with my gold?!"

"Calm down... your gold is still right where you left it."

Upon hearing this, Sun Bumian paused slightly, but the next moment, disbelief was etched on his face.

"You're lying!!"

"I'm telling the truth, I haven't touched your gold... That stuff is meaningless to me." As he spoke, Chen Ling casually grabbed a stone from deep within the earth nearby. With a flash of electricity, the stone transformed into gold right before Sun Bumian's eyes!

Sun Bumian frowned deeply. He snatched the gold from Chen Ling's hand and bit it hard with his teeth.

"Transmuting stone into gold?" Sun Bumian had a ghost-struck expression. "Such a divine ability truly exists?!"

"That's why taking your gold is meaningless to me... If I wanted to, I could turn this entire mountain into gold." Chen Ling patted the arm that was gripping his throat. "Now, can you let me go?"

"...No. I need to confirm it myself."

With his millennia of savings at stake, Sun Bumian couldn't rest assured. The semi-transparent Awakened Lion changed direction underground and sprinted directly towards a specific location!

Chen Ling's body was held in the Awakened Lion's mouth, and he felt the surrounding rocks flow past him like water, yet without any sense of obstruction. A hint of surprise welled up in his heart. The Sun Bumian of the present reality didn't seem to possess such incredible abilities. It appeared that the Sun Bumian of this era was far stronger than he had imagined. The strangest thing was that whether it was Sun Bumian from this era, Sun Bumian from his present reality, or Sun Bumian from thousands of years ago whom Chen Ling had seen deep in Sun Bumian's memories, his appearance had not changed in the slightest. He seemed incapable of aging or growing, always maintaining the appearance of someone in their late teens or early twenties, as if time itself had forgotten him.

"...Why are you staring at me?"

Sun Bumian, standing atop the Awakened Lion, noticed Chen Ling's gaze, and his expression became a little strange.

Chen Ling shook his head. "Nothing... I just remembered someone I know."

Sun Bumian's brow furrowed slightly. He stared at Chen Ling intently for a long time, then suddenly spoke: "Have we met somewhere before?"

"Before this, probably not."

"Then how do you know my name?" Sun Bumian stared seriously into his eyes. "And the location of my hidden gold? I've never told anyone about it... How did you know?"

"You told me yourself."

"Impossible! I would never tell anyone the location of my gold!"

"No, you would," Chen Ling said calmly, "especially the future you, after losing your gold..."

Upon hearing the latter half of the sentence, a deep bewilderment appeared in Sun Bumian's eyes.

"...What do you mean?"

"It's time we properly introduced ourselves..." Chen Ling, still held in the Awakened Lion's mouth, extended his hand towards Sun Bumian atop the lion's head. "My name is Chen Ling, and I'm from more than three hundred years in the future."

Sun Bumian stood utterly bewildered.

***

Edge of Shanghai.

Amidst barren farmlands, a black minivan slowly drove along a narrow road, finally stopping in front of a long-abandoned red brick house.

The driver in the front seat finally let out a long sigh, and with a trembling hand, wiped the sweat from his forehead, as if the tension of the journey had cost him half his life.

"Where is this place?"

Chu Changqing, whose hands and feet were bound, glanced at the fields outside through the rear window, his brow deeply furrowed.

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't, just stay put." The driver shot him a glance in the rearview mirror, his tone suddenly becoming sharp again.

Chu Changqing said nothing, simply leaning quietly in the back seat. After an unknown period, a dilapidated car, covered in dust, rumbled across the fields, and also pulled up in front of the brick house.

The car door opened, and Fu Kun, Zheng Zhiqiong, and others disembarked. They all had wounds, some more, some less, and their hair was disheveled. They looked utterly disheveled and battered.

Fu Kun glanced at Chu Changqing and the driver inside the car, then asked in confusion: "Where's His Majesty?"