Chapter 2200: Return to the Starry Sky
Watching Jiangnan and the others follow Jiu Lan's lead, fleeing along the Minghe Star Path, Youming couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. But then his face immediately twisted with disgust.
Damn it, Jiangnan had taken so many of his prisoners—Yakeli, Damon, all of them were brought out?
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have agreed. Who knows what kind of chaos they'll cause once they get out?
But since things had already come to this, what else could he do? Let them go!
After all, reclaiming Chong Feiyu's Spirit Cocoon Shell required strength too. More people meant more power, and once the minerals were secured, he himself would get a share.
Helping Jiangnan was helping himself!
But he couldn't just stand by and watch Jiangnan run away. That would make his leniency too obvious. Who knew if the Sacred Law Council would come after him for it later?
You had to play the part completely. What if there were spies from the Sacred Law Council planted in his own clan?
"Listen up, men! Jiangnan has led a prison break. Activate the highest-level combat alert for the Netherworld Clan!"
"Deploy all Netherworld Legions to pursue them. Don't let a single one escape the Minghe Star Domain!"
"And remember—take them alive! Jiangnan is currently using Jiu Lan as a hostage. She is my most beloved goddaughter. If even a single hair on her head is harmed, you can expect your heads to roll!"
"What are you standing there for? Get moving!"
The prison guards snapped to attention and saluted.
∠(｀～´*) "Yes, Lord Youming!"
They immediately began notifying all Netherworld Clan divisions to start the pursuit.
Even as they sent out the orders, they were inwardly cursing like crazy.
Pursue Jiangnan and his group? Fine. But take them alive? And not harm Jiu Lan?
What kind of hell-level difficulty mission was this, for crying out loud!
But since Lord Youming had given the order, what could they do? Even if they couldn't do it, they had to try!
As the news spread, the entire Netherworld Legion in the star domain mobilized, surrounding and intercepting Jiangnan and his group from all directions.
Youming changed his tone.
(￢益≠ꐦ) "Bing Chacha! You lead the Netherworld Legion to the front lines and act as pursuit commander. You must capture the fugitive Jiangnan and bring him to justice!"
He was pretty useless as an individual—a total loser. He probably wouldn't be able to catch them. Yeah, that's the one.
"Bing Chacha? Where are you? Get going!"
But at this moment, Bing Chacha couldn't care less about Lord Youming's orders.
He bolted straight back to the battered Minghe Death Prison and rushed into Chong Feiyu's room.
The room was empty, the furnishings exactly the same as before. Clearly, Chong Feiyu hadn't taken any souvenirs with her.
She didn't think anything in the past five thousand years was worth remembering. She was more concerned about her swarm and her assets.
Bing Chacha's gaze instantly locked onto the lamp on the bedside table. He let out an excited "Yahoo!"
Great! It's still here!
But the moment he took a step into the room, his instincts kicked in—hairs standing on end, afraid of traps or another swarm bursting out to subdue him.
Over the past month, Bing Chacha had been scarred by those beatings.
But clearly, he was worrying over nothing. All the bugs had been taken away. Chong Feiyu hadn't left any extra arrangements.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Bing Chacha teleported into the room, stole the lamp, and teleported back out.
Impatiently, he tore off the lamp base and quickly installed it on himself.
Instantly, a sense of security welled up. Bing Chacha covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face.
(#)༎ຶლ༎ຶ`)
Finally! He had finally found his happiness!
It was way too damn hard!
But as he cried, Bing Chacha realized something was wrong.
Wait! What good does it do me to just find it? It's still censored! It doesn't work at all!
I need Jiangnan to fix it. Only he can restore it!
Σ(°△°|||) Jiangnan... where's Jiangnan?
(#)⋟口⋞(#) "Ahhh!!!"
The scream of a groundhog echoed through Minghe Death Prison.
Jiangnan? Jiangnan had escaped! He was gone!
If he really got away, who could restore me? I'd be cut off from happiness for the rest of my life!
[From Bing Chacha's Resentment Value +1010!]
[From Bing Chacha...]
[From...]
Jiangnan! Can you be any more ruthless? You're running away and not even leaving me a way out?
...
"Boom!"
Two enormous millstones smashed through the surface of the Minghe Death Star.
Startling Youming.
Bing Chacha stood on the Death Millstone, his aura surging, drawing in an endless amount of Stygian energy. Flames blazed in his eyes.
Bing Chacha was in full bloom!
(☄益☄ꐦ) "Lord Youming! Leave it to me! Even if I have to stake my life on it, I will capture Jiangnan and bring him to justice!"
"I will never let him leave the Minghe Star Domain! I have never been this serious in my entire life! Jiangnan, don't run!"
As he spoke, he controlled the Death Millstone and chased in the direction Jiangnan had fled.
Youming: ???
What the hell? Is this Bing Chacha?
(‧̣̥̇ŏ口≠)ھ "Uh... you don't have to be that serious. No need to stake your life. You're one of my capable subordinates. I'd be heartbroken if you died."
"Hey, hey, hey! Listen to me!"
Bing Chacha didn't look back.
ﾚ(☄口☄ꐦ)ﾍ "Lord Youming! Say no more! I cannot betray your trust! Ya—stop right there! Stand still!"
Youming covered his face. You useless piece of trash on a normal day—why do you have to be so fired up now?
Don't actually catch him. That would ruin everything.
In his mind, he was already cursing Bing Chacha a thousand times over.
But the Minghe Koi was not pleased. Normally, after bumping into stuff a couple of times, that little guy would give it a drink.
Today, it had bumped more than twenty times and still got nothing?
It had just seen that little guy leave. Sensing with its Stygian energy, it pinpointed Jiangnan's location.
The Minghe Koi performed another powerful headbutt, smashing the Minghe Death Star.
Blood sprayed from Youming's nostrils. Then the koi flicked its tail, shattering the God King Avatar.
With a flash of multicolored light, its massive body vanished into the river.
Youming: !!!
It's leaving? Why is it leaving? Don't go! We're not done yet!
Just then, Youming's heart sank.
Damn! Is this stupid fish chasing after Jiangnan? The Minghe Koi has the ability to freely traverse the Minghe Star Domain!
If Jiangnan and his group are intercepted halfway by this koi, will they even survive?
At this moment, Youming looked at the direction Jiangnan had fled, then at the Minghe Death Star that had been sent flying far away.
The entire star was dented and smoking, looking like a melted black frozen pear.
It seemed like it would shatter into pieces at the slightest touch.
Youming's face grew even darker. A perfectly good Minghe Death Star—how did it end up like this? Damn it!
No matter!
Might as well go all the way. Help the guy out to the end!
Frustrated, Youming stomped his foot and vanished from the river surface.
ﾚ(Ò益≠;)ﾍ "Where do you think you're going!"
...
On Jiangnan's side, the journey had been extremely smooth. Jiu Lan hadn't taken any detours—she used the shortest path.
They had now reached the edge of the Minghe Star Domain. It wouldn't be long before they got out.
Throughout the journey, they had encountered many Netherworld Legion interceptions.
But with the hostage in hand, the pursuers didn't dare act recklessly, or else they'd lose their heads.
Seeing that they were about to escape, the entire Bully Gang felt their spirits lift.
Was freedom finally within reach?
But just then, another legion of over a hundred thousand Netherworld troops suddenly appeared in the river, forming an airtight encirclement.
Before Jiu Lan could change course, the commander spoke up: "This path is blocked, Jiangnan! I advise you to release the hostage peacefully, and you might live. Otherwise—Ah!"
Before he could finish, an endless radiance bloomed. The Minghe Koi appeared in the river without warning.
The hundred-thousand-strong legion was thrown into chaos by the churning energy currents.
The encirclement was broken instantly.
The Minghe Koi was extremely excited. It raised its massive head and charged straight at Jiangnan and his group.
The scene was terrifying.
The Bully Gang members' eyes bulged, and they screamed in panic.
Σ(꒪ͦ口꒪ͦ|||(꒪ͦ◊꒪ͦ‧̣̥̇)...
Even Yakeli changed his expression.
Damn! What's going on? Compared to this, staying in the iron cocoon seemed safer!
Jiangnan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. (•́益•̀٥) "Giao! How did this seven-colored big crucian carp get released? Is Youming eating shit?"
It's coming to demand a drink again?
No! I really don't have any more! Leave me some savings, will you? I still need to expand my territory at the mine!
If I trade all my resentment value for drinks, what will I use?
Chong Feiyu frantically slapped Jiangnan's back.
(งᵒ̌﹏ᵒ̌)ง⁼ "Hey, hey, hey! What do we do? What do we do? Think of something! It's charging again! None of us can stop it!"
Jiangnan's expression turned grim. He reached into his sack, pulled out a seven-colored Small Fire Jar, double-tapped it, and tossed it to Ta Luo.
"Never mind! Throw it out! Little Jiu Jiu! Change course! Fast!"
Ta Luo's muscles bulged. With a roar, he violently hurled the seven-colored Small Fire Jar.
The next moment, Jiu Lan used the Minghe Star Path to instantly shift everyone to a different river channel.
They could already see the edge of the Minghe Star Domain.
Just then, the seven-colored Small Fire Jar shattered the star.
"Boom!"
An unparalleled burst of seven-colored light erupted, like an exploding rainbow.
The terrifying force deflected the fish's head and even broke the river's flow.
Such immense power made Chong Feiyu, Yakeli, and the others gape.
∑(❍ฺ口❍ฺlll(Ŏ◊Ŏ‧̣̥̇)
Holy crap? What was that they just threw out?
Such terrifying power?
Not only could it destroy a planet, it even broke the Stygian River? What level of weapon was that?
Jiangnan had been carrying treasures like this all along?
If he wanted to, he could blow up the Minghe Death Star anytime!
Jiangnan, watching the scene, was also horrified.
Damn? The seven-colored Small Fire Jar extracted from the Minghe Koi had such terrifying power?
When he pulled it out, it didn't seem to take much effort. Who knew it had the power to destroy a star?
If I had known, I would have pulled out more. What a loss!
Compared to this, the Dark Matter Star Bomb was nothing!
But this attack didn't cause any substantial damage to the Minghe Koi.
It couldn't even break through its defense. After all, the energy came from its own body—how could it hurt itself?
The Minghe Koi shook its head, flicked its tail, and once again appeared in the river channel where Jiangnan was.
It raised its head to charge again.
Wanting a drink.
Chong Feiyu tugged desperately at Jiangnan's sleeve.
(☍口⁰。) "Do you have any more? Fire one! Fire another one!"
Jiangnan's face was pained. (￢﹏￢٥) "I don't have many left. Only a hundred or so. Every one I use is one less!"
Chong Feiyu: ???
You call that not many?
Just as Jiangnan was about to reluctantly toss another one, Youming's figure suddenly appeared beside the Minghe Koi.
With a roar, he punched.
"Ya! Stupid fish! Don't you dare harm my most beloved, most beloved goddaughter!"
"Boom!"
A powerful punch landed squarely on the Minghe Koi's eye.
It sent the fish reeling, and the immense force shattered the Minghe River channel.
The energy ripple surged outward like a wave, pushing Jiangnan and the others out of the Minghe Star Domain, tumbling out of the river.
At that moment, Jiangnan and all the Bully Gang members officially returned to the starry sky, completely out of the Minghe Star Domain's range.
No longer suppressed by Stygian energy, their abilities were fully unsealed.