Chapter 600 - 330: Duty

Chen Chuan stood at the edge of the Rift, blade in hand. After waiting a moment, he saw three Riding Warriors spur their horses to the mountaintop. Once they were outside the Rift, they dismounted and approached on foot.

The leader was clad in full Armor, wearing a Covered Face Armor and holding a Long Spear adorned with a white tassel. His appearance immediately marked him as an elite Duty Samurai.

This man’s rank was likely on par with the Iron Demon he had encountered before. Judging by the sense of threat from his Spiritual Power, his strength might even be greater. The two behind him were Attendant Warriors.

Upon entering the Rift, the Duty Samurai spotted him immediately. The gaze behind his Face Armor seemed to shift slightly. Without the slightest hesitation, he began to transform, white tentacles of Mutated Organization tissue instantly erupting from his body.

This was no chance encounter; the man had come to deal with the problem he already knew was on the mountain. Thus, he held nothing back, immediately entering his peak state.

Chen Chuan, too, advanced with his blade. His steps were exceedingly calm, as if he were completely unconcerned by his opponent’s transformation.

And in the split second that the warrior’s Spiritual Power began to shift but had yet to fully merge with his physical body, a light flashed in Chen Chuan’s eyes. He unleashed the "God-Shaking Hammer," striking directly!

Previously, he might have needed a medium like a weapon to use such a technique, but now he was capable of striking from a distance.

Struck by the blow, the Duty Samurai’s mind momentarily blanked.

And in that instant, Chen Chuan had already closed the distance with swift, steady steps. He raised his blade and slashed diagonally. After a flash of light from the blade, the tall, imposing figure before him—Armor and all—was split in two.

His entire sequence of movements was perfectly clear and rhythmic, possessing a graceful, unhurried beauty from start to finish.

From the perspective of the two Cavalry Warriors in the back, he had simply walked forward and delivered a single, simple slash, and their commander’s Long Spear and upper torso went flying.

Before the severed torso could even hit the ground, the blade’s light flashed again, and the head that had been attached to it was also sent flying.

Chen Chuan held his final striking pose as a wild current of air swept through the Rift, rustling the ends of his hair and his clothes. In the distance, a head rolled away.

The two Attendant Warriors were utterly horrified. They never imagined their commander would be cut down in a single move. The opponent they faced this time was undoubtedly far beyond their ability to handle.

However, under the military system of the Old Imperial Family, Attendant Warriors like them shared their commander’s glory and their doom. There was no possibility of escape.

If they died in battle alongside their commander, their families would be well cared for. But if they fled, not only would they face military justice, but their families would also be implicated. Thus, with no way out, they both charged forward with red eyes, spears leveled.

Chen Chuan didn’t care about their intentions. Since they were enemies, he would not hold back. He stepped forward to meet them, and with two flashes of his blade, the two who charged were also slain on the spot.

After finishing the three of them, he flicked his blade clean and straightened up once more.

’Back in the Merging Land,’ he thought, ’facing three such enemies alone would have meant a bitter struggle. But now, it’s over in the blink of an eye.’

This was not just because he had mastered more techniques; his own strength had also grown significantly.

He then inspected the weapons in their hands. Aside from the side-sword on the Duty Samurai, which was somewhat impressive, the rest were not worth collecting.

Slightly disappointed, he stepped forward, unfastened the side-sword, and walked back with it, returning to where Chen Bitong was still propped up.

"Teacher Chen, they won’t be coming up anymore. We can continue our talk."

Chen Bitong looked up at him. "Captain Chen, what else do you want to know?"

Chen Chuan said, "What I want to know is this: Teacher Chen, how did you know the Rift would open here? And why was an army from the Old Imperial Family of the Merging Land waiting right on the other side? Is there some connection here?"

Chen Bitong did not hide anything, answering his questions directly:

"Because if a splintered offspring is to find a place containing ’Pure Essence,’ the Rift must be expanded to a certain degree.

The Rifts that naturally form after a Fumu splits are very unstable.

But if someone on the other side of the Rift cooperates with us to provide some guidance, it can be stabilized.

So this time, we exploited the Old Imperial Family’s desire to break into Central City during the Fumu’s splitting. We sent people to communicate with them in advance, and at the appointed time, we simultaneously activated Iron Armor Jade Postures that came from the same cultivation chamber, thereby guiding a stable Rift into existence."

Chen Chuan looked at him and said slowly, "So, you’re saying you were in contact with the Old Imperial Family beforehand, Teacher Chen?"

Chen Bitong said, "They on the other side are aware of the general timing of the Fumu’s splitting and reproduction. And once a breach appeared in the World Ring, the Old Imperial Family was certain to take advantage of the opening, most likely by trying to invade Central City.

Rather than letting them break through on their own terms, it was better to predetermine a location. That way, we could exert some control and block them at the Rift’s entrance."

Chen Chuan understood. They had used the Old Imperial Family. And this whole affair couldn’t have been accomplished by Chen Bitong alone; he must have had help.

Chen Bitong then said in a solemn voice, "Captain Chen, I will not let these people break through this Rift. From the moment it opened, I was resolved to defend this place to the death, until the Rift closes."

Chen Chuan knew he wasn’t boasting. If a Fighting Master hadn’t shown up, he indeed could have done it.

At the Rift, he could dodge and weave through space, and on top of that, he could guide that power with his mind. Even some people at the same level of strength would likely be no match for him.

At the very least, they would have been unable to deal with the Flying Dragon Fist Strength he unleashed in front of the Rift.

"It’s not just me," Chen Bitong said, his gaze shifting to the outside. "Do you see those people who followed me here?

They were all once my subordinates, but every one of them suffered severe, crippling injuries. So they voluntarily underwent physical modification. Every person who followed me here today came with no intention of leaving alive."

Chen Chuan asked, "Then what about Assistant Fang?"

Chen Bitong said, "His father was once my comrade-in-arms. He also died from that same infection. I advised him not to follow, but he insisted, hoping to be part of making this change with me."

Chen Chuan nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "I have one more question. Even if the Rift’s location can be controlled, Teacher Chen, how did you know the splintered offspring would land in this exact spot?

As far as I know, the appearance of splintered offspring is mostly random. After the first wave, not even the Defense Department can predict their locations with any certainty."

Chen Bitong shook his head. "In truth, I didn’t know. But there is a way to guide it. Do you remember when I borrowed the Fumu’s Domain resources during the training?

After borrowing the Domain’s resources, I used a certain something to establish a connection with the Fumu’s mind. Over the course of a month, this connection grew deeper and deeper.

Although it had no effect on the Fumu itself, its presence greatly increases the probability of a splintered offspring being created when the Fumu splits.

And even if the splintered offspring doesn’t appear right here, as long as there is a nearly stable Rift, it will be easily drawn to this location."

Chen Chuan now understood. So, he had started his preparations all the way back then.

He then looked at Chen Bitong and said slowly, "Then, one last question. When you and I were fighting just now, Teacher Chen, what was that phenomenon that occurred with your body?"

Chen Bitong looked up and said in a heavy voice, "Captain Chen, I know what you want to ask. I have not made any deals with the entities on the other side. That is my bottom line.

Captain Chen, you must remember: never, ever make a deal with the entities on the other side. Even if it seems beneficial on the surface, there will always be an unbearable price to pay."

He paused, then continued, "This time, although I was confident I could defeat many people, I knew my own power was still insufficient to see the plan through to the end. I might not have been able to last. So, I made another choice.

Do you remember what I told you about the ’Color Printer’?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

Chen Bitong said, "I told you that a Color Printer will infiltrate a person’s consciousness to change them.

But what I didn’t tell you is that a person with a strong will, especially someone with sufficiently stable Spiritual Power, can actively infect themselves and, in turn, use its power for their own ends.

However, the Color Printer is not an isolated entity. It is connected to some higher being, and its power comes from there.

Therefore, doing this is tantamount to borrowing power from that being.

But He can come to reclaim His power at any time.

So, when I drew upon power from another world within the Rift, He was drawn here as well. If I can’t suppress the Ink Monster’s power, I will become someone else."

His voice grew low. "Although, because of my obsession, this new person might still have the same goals as me... it wouldn’t be me anymore. And I don’t know what else I might do in the end. That’s why I would rather someone stopped me before that happens."

At this, he pushed himself up with both hands and slowly got to his feet. By the time he was standing straight, his previous injuries were hardly visible.

He looked at Chen Chuan and said frankly, "We prepared a kind of lure in advance. As soon as the splintered offspring enters the Rift, it will seek out the place with the ’Pure Essence.’ When the Rift expanded just now, if all went according to plan, the opening with the Pure Essence should have been torn open.

Captain Chen, I have done what I needed to do. What you do with me next is for you to decide, Captain Chen. But..."

He looked toward the Rift, his back ramrod straight.

"I have guarded the World Ring my entire life. I have never let a single enemy I could handle slip past me. Even with this breach in the World Ring, that hasn’t changed. I hope, Captain Chen, that you can give me a chance to fulfill my final duty."

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