Chapter 1204: Chasing the Light-Grasping Buddha

"Court of Judgment."

Left with no choice, Chen Ling raised his gun and fired. The disintegrating bullets tore a path through the overwhelming tangle of roots, and he swiftly darted through the opening.

Looking back, Chen Ling saw that the plants emerging from various openings had interconnected, forming a unique "ecological zone" in this world. Some of these plants, writhing like raw flesh, detached from the zone and fell to the ground like mud, fragmenting into numerous individual entities that slowly spread outwards...

"'In our last class, we discussed the six world-ending calamities and their correlation with the five Zang organs and the extraordinary Fu organs in Traditional Chinese Medicine theory.'"

"'The Calamity of Mockery aligns with the heart, associated with fire and governing joy. The Calamity of Rest aligns with the lungs, associated with metal and governing sorrow. The Calamity of Taboo aligns with the kidneys, associated with water and governing fear. The Calamity of Turbidity aligns with the liver, associated with wood and governing anger... And the Calamity of Thought aligns with the brain, an extraordinary Fu organ.'"

"'Today, we will delve into the six calamity territories, the types of calamities they harbor, and their correspondence with Earth's ecology.'"

"'Calamities in the Abyss of Ghostly Mockery are predominantly subterranean creatures, mostly insects, thriving in darkness, living in swarms, and possessing remarkable vitality... Calamities in the Wailing Wilderness are creatures of the plains, adapted to extreme weather, known for their speed and strength... Calamities in the Forbidden Sea are deep-sea organisms, enormous in size, with poor vision, and a preference for dark, cold environments...'"

"'Calamities originating from the Forest of Bitter Flesh and Turbidity can be likened to unique species existing between animals and plants. They are rooted there and generally do not move easily, yet they possess extreme adaptability to their environment, growing rapidly and expanding their territory through seeding... However, because their growth is heavily dependent on nutrients, any area they infest becomes a dead zone; no life can survive there except for the plants native to the Forest of Bitter Flesh and Turbidity itself...'"

Chen Ling finally recalled the information Teacher Ye had presented in class.

"'At this rate, it's only a matter of time before they dig out the people in the shelter and turn them into nutrients... The entirety of Wushan will likely become another Forest of Bitter Flesh and Turbidity.' Chen Ling's brows furrowed deeper in concern."

Lu Xun's Star hung suspended amidst the dense plant roots, signaling that their shelter was now completely surrounded. To rescue them, he would have to fight his way through the calamities...

The current opening was not large, and the emerging calamities were relatively small and not particularly strong. It wasn't impossible for Chen Ling to fight his way in alone.

The real challenge, however, was how to get them out safely after he broke through.

No matter how skilled Chen Ling was, he was only one man; he couldn't protect everyone. Furthermore, if a high-tier calamity emerged from the opening, the situation would become far more complicated.

Boom!

Just as Chen Ling was deep in thought, a thunderous roar echoed from the ruins on the other side.

Chen Ling froze slightly, looking in that direction with surprise... In the nuclear-blasted ruins of Wushan, could there really be someone else besides him?

As immense imperial power surged from that direction, another figure, too, carved a bloody path through the dense roots. Behind him, a silhouette carrying a small lava hammer followed closely...

"'It's him?'" Chen Ling murmured.

"'Your Majesty!'"

"'In the future, will you all have to face monsters like these?'"

Fu Kun glanced back at the sky filled with writhing plant vines and roots, his scalp tingling. His gaze upon Ying Fu's back grew increasingly reverent.

Ying Fu, however, seemed perfectly calm in the face of the calamities from the Forest of Bitter Flesh and Turbidity, as if he were accustomed to such scenes. He merely glanced behind him and stated calmly:

"'Just the tip of the iceberg.'"

"'Your Majesty, those monsters are closing in again!' Fu Kun cursed, watching the overwhelming roots surge towards them. 'We've run this far, and they're still pursuing us? Are they insane?'"

"'They merely crave flesh and blood for sustenance.'"

Ying Fu casually conjured two bolts of purple lightning and hurled them behind him, briefly stalling the roots, before continuing to dart forward.

Boom!

At the same time, another explosion resounded from afar.

Ying Fu raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on that direction... Perhaps due to the great distance, he couldn't make out the person clearly, yet he seemed to already have an answer in his heart.

The two bolts of purple lightning failed to delay the plants for long; the dense roots swiftly began to encircle them again. After a moment's thought, Ying Fu changed direction, heading straight towards the source of the distant explosion.

"'Your Majesty, where are you going?'" Fu Kun asked.

Ying Fu did not reply.

Boom!

Unexpectedly, the figure continuously triggering explosions also simultaneously changed direction, rushing towards Ying Fu's position.

Without any exchange or identification, both figures, fleeing the siege of the Forest of Bitter Flesh and Turbidity, unhesitatingly chose to move towards each other the moment they spotted one another...

Seeing this unfold, Ying Fu's lips curled into a slight smile.

CRACKLE—!!

As the two drew near, intense purple lightning and wildly thrashing scarlet paper pythons erupted simultaneously. However, their targets were no longer each other, but the writhing roots that had already encircled them from both sides!

The combined assault of the two emperors shredded most of the extending roots. The calamities beyond the opening seemed to recoil in pain, slowly retracting their roots from that direction and ceasing their pursuit...

Fragments of flesh and blood rained down from above.

A figure in a grand red opera robe slowly emerged from the dust and debris on the opposite side.

"'I thought you had already escaped Wushan... I didn't expect to find you still here,' Chen Ling's voice calmly resonated."

"'There was a slight change of plans,' Ying Fu replied calmly. 'I'm here to rescue someone.'"

"'You? Saving people?'"

Chen Ling was surprised. In his memory, the only person Ying Fu would prioritize this much was A-Qian... but A-Qian shouldn't be in this era.

Ying Fu offered no explanation. Instead, he glanced at the distant shining star and spoke directly:

"'I know you intend to save Lu Xun and the others; my objective is also there.'"

"'That's quite a coincidence then.'"

"'Although you recently played a trick on me, given the unique circumstances, I can overlook it for now...' Ying Fu paused. 'Once this is over, I will come for your life.'"

"'Heh, if you had omitted the latter part, I might have believed you were more sincere.'"

"'Since you also chose to approach me, it indicates your willingness to cooperate. In that case, there's no need to waste time. You may not have encountered these creatures before; the longer this drags on, the more formidable they become.'"

"'...You're right.' Chen Ling sighed.

"'Cooperation is certainly fine, but I'm concerned that even working together, we might not have the strength to break through...'"

"'If two aren't enough, then we'll find more.'"

"'You mean...'"

Chen Ling and Ying Fu exchanged a look.

Then simultaneously turned to look at the Mid-Levels Hotel, shrouded in dark clouds...

Beneath the gloomy sky, Wushan still stood, like an unfeeling god transcending the mortal realm, indifferently gazing down upon the ruined city below.

Without a moment's hesitation, both men began to walk towards the Mid-Levels Hotel.

Fu Kun, looking bewildered, couldn't help but ask loudly:

"'Your Majesty, what are we going to do?'"

The two figures gradually vanished into the radiation-filled dust, like two tall shadows slowly propping up the entire sky...

A long moment later,

The voices of the two emperors echoed simultaneously:

"'Conscription.'"