Chapter Sixty-One: The Most Brilliant Move in History

Splash!

“Zhang Ning, you... I’ll kill you!”

Meng Meng’s cheeks were flushed, half from rage. She had barely emerged from that strange space before Zhang Ning threw her straight into a mountain stream, the suddenness of it making her choke on several mouthfuls of water.

Meng Meng knew Zhang Ning was trying to relieve her of the alluring effects she was suffering from; she wasn’t someone who would blindly vent her anger on others.

But to turn around and run—what was that supposed to mean? Did he really think I’d pounce on him? Was he so unsure he could push me away?

“Coward, Zhang Ning, you’re a coward!” Meng Meng spat out the water, her voice muffled with frustration.

Truth be told, after rescuing Meng Meng, Zhang Ning truly didn’t dare face her—not for the reason she imagined, but because this “invincible state” was his greatest trump card, tied to secrets of his origins. He would never reveal it lightly.

What’s more, after activating the invincible mode, Zhang Ning had thought himself invincible, only to find he’d merely gained a formidable body—no epic moves, no overwhelming powers!

It was true that with the invincible mode on, Zhang Ning instantly grasped every skill he knew as if he’d spent years studying them. Unfortunately, he only knew a handful of advanced techniques, so he felt the opportunity had been wasted.

He ground his teeth in regret: if only he’d known about this benefit, he’d have memorized some difficult and profound arts beforehand—he could have mastered them all in an instant!

But the greatest boon from the invincible mode wasn’t this, but his newfound understanding of the Dao of Time.

Earlier, as he rushed through the beast tide, Zhang Ning recalled the moment he first arrived in this world, when his master had swiftly—yet somehow leisurely—lifted him from the marketplace into her arms. After activating the invincible mode, he kept replaying that scene, and somehow, from his master’s technique, he gleaned profound truths of the Dao of Time.

Even though Zhang Ning’s understanding of this world was shallow at best, he could tell with his toes that the Dao of Time ranked among the most formidable of all divine abilities. Such a mysterious art—see it once, then instantly comprehend it in invincible mode and be able to use it? Something about it felt off!

For now, Zhang Ning could at best use this insight to slow the movements of the strange beasts, but anything more advanced would take time. So he relied on his powerful body to devastate the beast tide, then fled to safety, tossing Meng Meng into the creek.

He had considered the Moonlit Deep Pond, but its icy waters might leave a girl with lasting afflictions, so he specially sought out a stream to throw her into.

Zhang Ning trusted Meng Meng—once she cooled off, she’d be fine. In truth, the effect of the intoxicating fruit combined with the fermented wine fruit... if fulfilled, was terrifying, turning one into a puppet of desire, a toy for others. But if one could endure and ignore it, there would be no harm.

Yet Zhang Ning’s mind wasn’t even on her—he felt a pain as if his heart were being torn apart, for the first time experiencing the agony of burning through his resources! Every second, every moment, his “attention points” were consumed. With his current limits, he could only sustain the invincible mode for several minutes—a brief, intense burst.

Watching the red countdown tick away, Zhang Ning took a single step, covering a thousand miles in an instant, charging toward the source of the beast tide.

He had to use these last moments to figure out what exactly was happening in that place. After all, post-invincible mode, Zhang Ning sensed a great battle had erupted there.

“This really is...”

When Zhang Ning reached the cavern where the battle had taken place, he was shaken to his core. The aura emanating from the fallen bodies was indescribably terrifying—if not for the invincible mode, he would have collapsed to his knees... The scale of the battle and the strength of the combatants must have been monstrous!

Looking around, Zhang Ning saw no sign of the other main character. He exited the cave and circled the area, then his gaze fixed, breath caught, and his heart groaned in despair: Could it be—no way! Are they all so lacking in common sense?

He saw someone half-reclining against a massive stone, the ground littered with bitten intoxicating and wine fruits. With his current hearing, Zhang Ning could even catch the faint panting coming from the figure. And their clothes—slightly disheveled! Oh heavens! Where are your hands wandering? Restrain yourself!

From the figure’s posture and silhouette, every line spoke of a peerless beauty; the glimpse of a pale, almost translucent neck was enough to move hearts. If someone like this were to... Zhang Ning knew, regardless of her relationship to the battle’s combatants or why she was here, he could not ignore this any longer.

No longer concealing himself, Zhang Ning strode forward, intending to warn the person. At that moment, the figure turned.

His appearance was flawless, as if carved from jade—yet so familiar. It was the very person Zhang Ning had been dreaming of in the midst of the beast tide, freezing him in place like stone.

Heavens—Master, it’s you!

Chu Hanyu turned and saw before him a young man with an aura of strength, a striking, almost devilish face, and a somewhat casual style of dress, staring fixedly at him.

Chu Hanyu frowned. “Who are you?” he asked, unable to hide his weakness. Though his expression was composed, to Zhang Ning it was clearly a mask.

At once, Zhang Ning jolted—No! I can’t let my master step into the abyss!

Without hesitation, Zhang Ning rushed forward, locking Chu Hanyu in his embrace, instinctively channeling his internal energy into Chu Hanyu’s body to immobilize him.

In that instant of contact, a mysterious energy of the Dao of Time merged between them, unnoticed by either.

“Forgive me—I must do this,” Zhang Ning said calmly. Anyone hearing those words would believe he felt no emotion whatsoever.

Yet in truth, Zhang Ning didn’t dare meet Chu Hanyu’s eyes, feeling more terrified than he had facing the beast tide. Steeling himself, he pressed Chu Hanyu’s face into his chest, refusing to utter another word.

Believing himself kidnapped, Chu Hanyu erupted—his alertness and fear spiking, emotions in turmoil. The “Chu Hanyu” persona faded, and the true Chu Hanyu surfaced!

He had intended to retreat deep within, to heal his wounds quickly, but now forced “online” again, Chu Hanyu was stunned to discover the newcomer who had restrained him possessed unimaginable strength—Chu Hanyu couldn’t even discern his cultivation!