Nuclear weapons were launched, shocking the world.
In a northern city, Wu Enchu heard the exclamations of people around him and looked up at the night sky.
He saw—
Several brilliant streaks of fire, like shooting stars, streaked across the night sky, leaving a breathtaking spectacle.
Wu Enchu realized what was happening, clenched his fist, and roared, "Damn it, they actually used forbidden weapons! If I hadn't found the right moment to leave Xuantian Temple, I would have turned to ashes in two minutes!"
"Ding Ling, you dog, remember this!"
"And Chen Jinzhao, I will repay this blood feud tenfold!"
Wu Enchu did not linger, fearing exposure. With his understanding of Chen Jinzhao, he might spare no effort to kill him. He muttered, "Humans are too fragile in the face of forbidden weapons. Even as a Yaoguang realm cultivator, I am no match. Unless I can reach the legendary Kurong realm."
After saying this.
Wu Enchu turned and disappeared into the night.
According to his estimation, the remaining twelve forces had likely also been reduced to infernos. His current task was to contact the remaining powerhouses from these twelve places, and preferably find any surviving Yaoguang realm cultivators.
Only then could he avenge himself on Chen Jinzhao!
A night passed.
The lairs of the thirteen extraordinary forces had already turned into ruins, with scorched earth extending for thirty kilometers.
Since these extraordinary forces had no intention of integrating with the secular world from the beginning, these places were uninhabited. There wasn't a single living person within a fifty-kilometer radius.
For Chen Jinzhao, the plan was a success.
He knew there were innocent people among these extraordinary forces, but Chen Jinzhao was no longer the person he used to be. He was now decisive and knew what was more important.
"Let all the karma fall upon me," Chen Jinzhao said fearlessly.
Having accomplished this great task.
Chen Jinzhao finally breathed a long sigh of relief.
Ding Ling said, "Now can you tell me what's wrong with your body?"
Chen Jinzhao pondered for a moment and then said, "I explored a breathing technique of my own through the resonance of my heart, but it was not perfected. That day, I learned in seclusion that Wu Zhi Nian was coming with people, and I had to interrupt the process, which caused some damage to my heart."
"What you and I know, let heaven and earth know. Do not let a third person know."
Ding Ling was greatly surprised.
He looked at Chen Jinzhao with disbelief, "You created your own breathing technique, and it was even interrupted? That you are still alive is simply a miracle!"
Chen Jinzhao retorted, "Was it that dangerous?"
Ding Ling hesitated to speak, but under Chen Jinzhao's questioning, he said, "More than dangerous? It was suicidal! Your strongest part is your heart, and now with your heart damaged, you cannot exert 100% of your strength. Wu Zhi Nian is truly detestable. If you had enough time, you might have been able to step into the Yaoguang realm in one go after perfecting the breathing technique."
In short.
Even Ding Ling felt that Chen Jinzhao was a monstrous genius!
Someone even more monstrous than himself.
"However, the world is peaceful now, and apart from minor regional conflicts, there should be no major upheavals. You can take this opportunity to recuperate over the next few years and fill in the incomplete parts," Ding Ling advised.
Chen Jinzhao nodded.
Then he mused, "After using forbidden weapons to level their lairs, there will definitely be survivors. These survivors are hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. I do need to put some effort into dealing with them."
"If you trust me, you can leave it to me. Your task is to focus on yourself, understand?" Ding Ling said.
Chen Jinzhao thanked Ding Ling.
A month later.
In a no-man's-land in the northwestern part of China.
Seven figures stood under the bright moonlight. Four of them had extremely ugly appearances, with clear signs of facial disfigurement.
Wu Enchu, who was at the forefront, said, "Everyone, what are your plans?"
A disfigured, flesh-mangled old man said, "Damn Chen Jinzhao, he leveled our sects like a mad dog! He will surely face divine retribution one day!"
Another person snorted, "Elder Dai, say less. If there were divine retribution, our extraordinary forces would have been wiped out long ago. To kill Chen Jinzhao, we cannot rely on these ethereal things. We need to work together and storm the capital of China again to kill Chen Jinzhao!"
Wu Enchu said slowly, "I'm afraid that's not feasible. I've heard that the entire China has strengthened its defenses. Once the traces of extraordinary individuals are found, they will be relentlessly pursued. Given our current situation, it will be difficult to resist."
Modern technology is no joke.
"Have we taken the wrong path?" another disfigured middle-aged man sighed.
Everyone fell silent.
"Our path is correct. Since everyone has no specific plan, I will brazenly offer one. We will disperse and go to various countries to survive, secretly recovering our strength. After three years, we will gather here again and declare war on Chen Jinzhao!" Wu Enchu said.
Three years would be enough for them to recover to their peak strength.
Wu Enchu also wanted to use these three years to secretly contact his old subordinates and seek support from secular powers.
Only then would they have a sure chance of winning.
The others had no objection to Wu Enchu's use of the term 'survive'.
Were they not now like stray dogs?
"Alright, I'll head to Nanyang first. I have people there," said the person addressed as Elder Dai.
Another person said, "I'll go to Western Europe."
"I'll go to the Southern Hemisphere..."
"..."
Wu Enchu watched them leave. Only he chose to remain in China.
Seven Yaoguang realm cultivators had fallen to such a pathetic state.
"It's truly ironic," Wu Enchu said with a bitter smile.
He looked up at the high hanging bright moon and murmured, "Chen Jinzhao, three years from now will be your death day."
As long as Chen Jinzhao died.
The extraordinary forces would re-establish themselves and rule this world.
Days passed.
Three years flew by.
It was the season of peach blossoms in full bloom. Chen Jinzhao, residing in the capital, had grown a thick beard, giving him a look of weathered age. It wasn't until Yamashiro Chiho reminded him that his beard was too coarse that Chen Jinzhao looked in the mirror and murmured, "Has it really been three years?"
"You still haven't made a move. I've been waiting for you so hard."
Yamashiro Chiho tidied Chen Jinzhao's clothes and said, "What are you muttering about?"
"Oh, right."
"Are you still planning to go to Japan? I heard the cherry blossoms are in bloom there. Lingjun sent me photos a few days ago, they were quite beautiful."
Chen Jinzhao shook his head. "I cannot leave the capital even half a step now."
Yamashiro Chiho gave a soft "oh," clearly a little disappointed.
But she quickly became happy again. Being able to accompany Chen Jinzhao was the greatest happiness.
Chen Jinzhao walked with her to the courtyard.
The cherry blossom tree in the courtyard had not yet bloomed, only a few buds of varying sizes.
"Didn't you want to see cherry blossoms?" Chen Jinzhao broke off a branch, and to Yamashiro Chiho's increasingly astonished gaze, the seven or eight buds on the branch burst into brilliant cherry blossoms, making Yamashiro Chiho smile even more joyfully.
Taking the cherry blossom branch, Yamashiro Chiho suddenly realized something.
"Wait."
"How did you just do that?"
"Is it magic?"