Immortal God of War-Chapter 678 - 645: The Terrifying Bridge of Helplessness, Bitter Sea! _1
"It’s useless," the Heart Demon said, bursting into wild laughter after a moment. "Whether it’s Battle Souls, War Techniques, or even the Counter Curse Manual and the War Technique, I know them all. If we continue, we’ll achieve a draw at most. However, you don’t have much time to waste. In here, you only have an hour. Although you’ve recovered your cultivation now, nothing else will change. In the end, you’ll still forget everyone, everything—even your Battle Souls and War Techniques."
"Really?" Qin Feiyang retorted. "Then let me tell you, the one who disappears last will definitely be you."
"I really don’t know where you get your confidence from," the Heart Demon sneered.
"My confidence comes from my convictions," Qin Feiyang replied. "But you have no convictions, only desire in your heart. Actually, when you get to the root of it, this is all my fault. I was too obsessed; otherwise, you wouldn’t have been born," he sighed.
"Is all this talk useful?" the Heart Demon roared, tilting its head back for a resounding howl to the heavens. "Only a fight to the end will reveal who survives! Come on!"
"You’re right." Qin Feiyang’s eyes flashed with a fierce light. "A battle is the best choice. Only one of us can survive today, and that person will be me!"
Accompanied by earth-shattering rumbles, his six Battle Souls simultaneously tore through the sky and collided. Instantly, a wave of destructive energy surged from their location, spreading in all directions. The ground cracked where it passed, and the void trembled! One magnificent palace after another collapsed, the rumbling deafening as dust clouded the sky!
PFFT!
At the same moment, Qin Feiyang and the Heart Demon both spat out mouthfuls of blood. Qin Feiyang only staggered back a few meters before steadying himself. The Heart Demon, however, was sent flying, its flesh visibly cracking as its blood dyed the sky red.
"How is this possible?" The Heart Demon’s face was etched with disbelief. With the same cultivation level and the same Battle Souls, why is there such a huge disparity?
"Even though you possess everything that is mine, you are, in the end, just a Heart Demon," Qin Feiyang said, looking at the Heart Demon from a distance, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Is that so?" the Heart Demon murmured, then suddenly shrieked hysterically, "I don’t believe it!"
BOOM!
A burst of crimson light erupted from its body. Its long hair and eyes instantly turned blood-red, its battle intent soaring to the heavens!
This was the War Technique!
Qin Feiyang sighed. "Give up." No matter what, the Heart Demon was born from his own obsession; he didn’t want to destroy it with his own hands.
"The words ’give up’ have never been in your vocabulary, and they’re not in mine either!" the Heart Demon roared. "Today, either you die, or I perish!" It charged toward Qin Feiyang in a single bound.
"Fine, I’ll grant your wish." Qin Feiyang nodded, immediately activating the War Technique and surging towards the Heart Demon.
In an instant, they converged, simultaneously raising their arms and activating the Counter Curse Manual. Dazzling golden light erupted from their palms.
BOOM!
Their two colossal hands slammed together, erupting like a golden sun exploding in the sky, scattering brilliant golden light that dyed the heavens for miles!
"AH!"
A moment later, the Heart Demon screamed as it was sent flying. Qin Feiyang also grunted, retreating several steps, blood continuously trickling from the corner of his mouth, his face deathly pale.
But the battle was already over.
The Heart Demon, flung through the air, had cracks spreading across its body at a visible rate, utterly unable to heal. Blood rained down, turning the sky crimson.
When the Heart Demon steadied itself, it looked across at Qin Feiyang and said, "I am not reconciled."
"I know," Qin Feiyang nodded.
"But you were right. A Heart Demon is, after all, just a Heart Demon. It doesn’t possess the will and conviction of the true self. But I have no regrets," the Heart Demon said. "I hope you won’t have any regrets either and will bravely continue on your path." At this moment, not a trace of its earlier malevolence remained; a smile even touched its bleeding face.
"No matter what setbacks I encounter in the future, I will face them bravely and without regret," Qin Feiyang also smiled.
"I believe in you, and I wish you well." The Heart Demon gave a radiant smile as its body shattered, then rapidly dissipated into the heavens and earth.
"Thank you," Qin Feiyang murmured. To part with his Heart Demon in this way brought him a sense of comfort; at least it proved that his Heart Demon also had a benevolent side.
Once the Heart Demon vanished, time in this world resumed its flow. Everything that had been static stirred to life. Qin Feiyang’s appearance, however, no longer changed. He looked down at the ruins below, at the familiar imperial palace, his eyes holding little attachment.
SWOOSH!
Not long after, two figures tore through the air and landed beside Qin Feiyang.
"Who are you?" they asked, looking at Qin Feiyang in surprise. These two were none other than the Emperor and the Empress.
Qin Feiyang looked up at them and smiled. "I am your child."
"Child?" They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with doubt. Did they have such a child?
Ignoring their expressions, Qin Feiyang continued, "Mother, I am so happy to be able to see you here ahead of time. Today has been the most peaceful day I’ve had in over a decade. I truly wish time could slow down. However, what is meant to leave will eventually depart, and what is meant to disappear will inevitably vanish... But Mother, please believe me, I will return to the Imperial Capital, and it won’t be long!" As he spoke the last sentence, his dark eyes blazed with an unwavering, resolute light.
The moment his words faded, with a mere thought, the Empress disintegrated into specks of starlight, scattering throughout the heavens and earth.
The Emperor, witnessing this, stared furiously at Qin Feiyang. "What have you done?"
"What have I done?" Qin Feiyang roared. "I should be asking you! Why did you treat me like that all those years ago?"
"All those years ago?" The Emperor frowned, utterly bewildered by Qin Feiyang’s words.
Seeing the Emperor’s confusion, Qin Feiyang couldn’t help but shake his head with a self-deprecating laugh. This is just an illusion. This kind-looking father before me is merely a figment of my imagination. How could he possibly know about those things?
"Father..." Qin Feiyang said with a smile, looking at the Emperor intently for a moment. "This is probably the last time in my life I will call you that. Take care." Then, without hesitation, with another slight shift in his thoughts, the Emperor’s form also disintegrated instantly.
CRACK!
RUMBLE!
The moment the Emperor and Empress vanished, the sky above ruptured with fierce gales and thunderstorms! Blinding lightning struck down, the void collapsed, the heavens shattered, and the earth buckled...
BOOM!
In less than Three Star, this world completely disintegrated and plunged into darkness.
...
「In the meantime.」
On the Bridge of Helplessness, a long sigh echoed, slowly drifting away. Standing beneath the doorframe, Qin Feiyang’s face held a trace of indelible sorrow. He looked up at the blood-red sun in the sky.
The illusion was finally over. Yet, everything that had occurred within it was clearly imprinted on his mind. His longing for his mother was more intense than ever. He wished so much he could see his mother in the real world right now, even if only for a fleeting glance.
"Sigh..." After a long while, he sighed deeply, composed his emotions, and looked ahead.
At that moment, his pupils suddenly contracted. Before him lay a flat grassland stretching for several hundred meters, and at its end was a boundless Sea of Blood! Within the Sea of Blood, tempestuous winds howled, and blood-red waves surged to the sky, an astonishing Evil Qi permeating the air.
Along the shore of the Sea of Blood floated numerous small boats. Each was about three meters long and one meter wide, with an entirely black hull; it would be more accurate to call them canoes. These small boats had neither sails nor oars, and they were completely empty inside.
Countless questions flooded Qin Feiyang’s mind. Where is this? What are these boats for?
Suddenly, he noticed a Stele on the shore, upon which two striking characters were engraved:
Bitter Sea!
Qin Feiyang’s gaze trembled slightly. He hadn’t expected the Bitter Sea to actually exist. The purpose of these boats was now self-evident. According to folklore, the far shore lies just beyond the Bitter Sea. This meant they had to take these boats across this Sea of Blood to reach the other side. But another question arose in his mind. He remembered that before entering the illusion, beyond the doorframe was still the endless Bridge of Helplessness. How had he arrived directly at the Bitter Sea after waking from the illusion?
Looking down, he was surprised to find he was still standing on the Bridge of Helplessness!
He quickly turned to look back, and the familiar doorframe immediately came into view. Beside him now stood not only Dongfang Wuheng and Murong Xiong, but also the Wolf King, Ren Wushuang, and the others. They were all standing motionless on the bridge, evidently trapped in illusions, just as the dark figure had said.
Qin Feiyang glanced at them, then his gaze passed through the doorframe to the Bridge of Helplessness beyond.
"This..." He was stunned.
Was the Bridge of Helplessness really only about ten meters long? He clearly remembered that before stepping onto it, the bridge he had seen was winding and seemingly endless. They had walked for a very long time before reaching this doorframe. Yet now, the Bridge of Helplessness before him was only about ten meters in length? This was too absurd! And beneath the bridge, instead of an expansive black ocean, there was now a black river.
There was another strange thing: the people from Feng Province and Yu State, as well as Wan Chou and his companions, were all on the Bridge of Helplessness. Moreover, their eyes were closed, and they were marching in place! What was going on?
Qin Feiyang racked his brains. Suddenly, he thought of the illusion. He looked again at the doorframe, then at the Bitter Sea. After pondering for a moment, a wry smile touched his lips.
Actually, the Bridge of Helplessness he was seeing now was the real one. The bridge they had seen initially was just an illusion designed to confuse them. This meant that from the moment they first stepped onto the Bridge of Helplessness, they had already fallen into an illusion without realizing it. Wan Chou and the others were probably still walking within their illusion, not yet having reached the doorframe’s location, which was why they were, in reality, just marching in place.
Understanding this, a trace of fear flickered in Qin Feiyang’s eyes. The Bridge of Helplessness truly was terrifying! If the dark figure hadn’t awakened him, he would never have been able to escape that illusion.
