Chapter 986: The Human Chu Batian, Ten Millennia Gone in a Flash (II)

Over ten thousand years had passed. What has Big Brother Chen become?

The woman’s mind couldn’t help but recall once again that figure with black hair flowing behind him, descending like a true god. She was none other than Shi Feirou, the woman Chen Chu had encountered after being swept into a temporal storm and falling into the Lost World of the past.

That world had teetered on the edge of doomsday. Humanity was barely surviving, relentlessly hunted by mutated beasts and monsters. Civilization had regressed and was on the brink of extinction.

At that critical moment, Chen Chu had been summoned. Though he came and went in the blink of an eye, the impression he left on Shi Feirou and her sister was unforgettable.

Before Chen Chu left that world, he also left behind hope for its humans. He passed down an ancient art, modified to become even more powerful, and directed them toward the mythical level. In addition, he had also revealed the coordinates of an altar connected to the Ancient Civilization, which he didn’t take with him. He even tore open and stabilized a passage leading into the mythical world.

With the True Great Sun Body art left by Chen Chu, the prodigiously gifted Shi Feirou and Shi Feitong, who had already been able to rapidly cultivate to the fifth or sixth level even during the declination era, soon broke through to the ninth level.

They then stepped into the mythical world, ascended to the mythical level, and led the remaining humans in search of traces from the Ancient Civilization. After more than a decade, they finally arrived here. By that point, Shi Feirou had already broken through to the heavenly king level, placing her among the stronger members of the rising ancient human race.

However, when they finally reached the territory of the ancient human race in excitement, they were shocked to discover that among the six domains, there was not a single war general or supreme expert by the name of Chen Chu. There wasn’t even a record of his existence.

Ten thousand years had passed. Shi Feirou's cultivation had grown even more formidable, and she had become one of the palace masters ruling the Flamewheel Divine Region.

Those who had received Chen Chu’s legacy and survived had also become incredibly powerful after ten thousand years. One example stood before her now—the young man named Wu Ze with a scar across his face. Back then, he had merely been a boy following behind Shi Feitong in the ruin of a research site.

Throughout these ten millennia, the Shi Sisters had never stopped searching for traces of Chen Chu. Their persistence was something few could understand, even people like Wu Ze. In their eyes, Chen Chu had most likely perished long ago, lost to the endless flow of time.

After all, with the strength and talent he had displayed back then, had he survived, he would have long since shaken the heavens and earth.

What they didn’t realize was that "Chen Chu" had been his true name. Thus, they never connected the ultimate prodigy now known as Chu Batian, who was rumored to have killed a member of the Eternal Golden Divine Race, to be the very same Chen Chu.

***

"Roasted sweet potatoes! Roasted slowly over coal—guaranteed not boiled. Don’t believe it? Try one! Buy one, no regrets. Buy one, no scam..."

In Wujiang City, on a roadside stall not far from Chen Chu’s home, a loudspeaker blared the sweet potato vendor’s sales pitch on repeat. At the stall sat a hulking, burly man resembling a brutish warrior. It was the Tyrannosaur King Kavadora. It yawned lazily, sitting on a small stool, bored out of its mind.

It was around 5 PM. Office workers hadn’t finished work yet, so business was slow.

A young man with black hair draped over his shoulders silently appeared at the far end of the street. His expression was calm as he walked unhurriedly toward the stall. Pedestrians came and went along the sidewalk, yet none seemed to notice the figure of divine grace and noble bearing.

Even Kavadora didn’t see him until the young man stood directly in front of it. Its expression changed drastically as it leapt to its feet in excitement. "My King, you’ve returned!"

Chen Chu gave a slight nod. "How are things? Nothing unusual lately?"

Knowing exactly what he was referring to, Kavadora respectfully replied, "No abnormalities. Everything has remained secure. I’ve also been monitoring the people assigned to guard your mother."

"Good. Keep it that way."

Kavadora’s presence wasn’t just to ward off assassins from alien races or cultist threats targeting Zhang Xiaolan. It was also there to watch for potential traitors.

Chen Chu casually added, "By the way, someone might be arriving in Wujiang soon. They’re targeting my mother. Keep an eye out."

As soon as he exited seclusion, Xie Chen had informed Chen Chu about the demonic god puppets, including how those two puppets had boarded a high-speed train that morning. As such, Chen Chu immediately twisted space and returned to Wujiang.

He paid no mind to Chen Hu’s side. With Yan Ruoyi and Anstira there, and with prior knowledge of the enemy’s existence, if something still went wrong, it would be a joke. A mere pair of puppets of the Ninth Demonic Mark, at most able to burst forth with king-level power, could be suppressed with a single palm.

After exchanging a few words with Kavadora, Chen Chu stepped forward and vanished in the blink of an eye at the end of the street, leaving behind a solemn-faced Tyrannosaur King.

Internally, however, Kavadora was brimming with excitement.

Finally, someone has targeted the king’s family. Finally, I, Tyrannosaur King Kavadora, have a chance to prove my worth.

No one knew how long it had waited for this day; it hadn’t been easy. To show its gratitude, when that enemy appeared, it would make sure to smash them into meat paste with a single blow.

It wasn’t yet time for dinner. Outside the Chen household, by the roadside, Zhang Xiaolan was chatting with two middle-aged neighbors. Because of Chen Chu, the property value around his home had skyrocketed. The area had become the most expensive real estate in Wujiang, with prices rumored to reach a million per square meter.

Even so, demand far outstripped supply. At present, aside from the dozen or so homes that were quietly acquired by the authorities early on to protect Chen Chu’s family, and a few courtyards bought at astronomical prices by wealthy individuals with quick reflexes, no one else on the street had dared to make a move.

Even those whose monthly salaries were only a few thousand or ten to twenty thousand yuan had resisted the temptation of offers worth tens of millions or even billions. After all, this was the hometown of the number one genius of the human race—the Divine Might Heavenly King himself. If their descendants could establish even the slightest connection with him, it would mean boundless fortune and glory.

"Xiaolan, did you watch your Chen Hu’s match this morning?"

Zhang Xiaolan smiled cheerfully and nodded. "I did. It was alright. Little Hu’s first opponent wasn’t very strong, so he won by luck."

Immediately, one of the elegant middle-aged women shook her head. "Xiaolan, you’re too modest. Chen Hu’s opponent was the top genius from Beimou Province. That win was no stroke of luck."

"That’s right. That little guy is incredible. One punch and he flipped the entire arena. He really is a high-level cultivator."

"Oh no, not at all. You’re exaggerating too much." Zhang Xiaolan waved her hand, playing humble, though the smile at the corner of her eyes couldn’t be hidden.

While she was being praised by the neighbors, keeping up a show of modesty but clearly pleased, Chen Chu rounded the corner and called out from afar.

"Mom."

Zhang Xiaolan froze for a moment at the sight of Chen Chu’s sudden appearance, then broke into a bright, beaming smile. "Ah Chu, you’re back!"

The two middle-aged women beside her, however, grew visibly nervous. As they watched the young man approach with a warm smile, their expressions turned slightly stiff, filled with reverence and awe.

"L-Lord Divine Might."

"Divine Might Heavenly King, my lord..."

Chen Chu glanced at the two slightly unfamiliar middle-aged women, nodded slightly with a polite smile. "Aunties, no need to be so formal."

"Ah Chu, this is Aunt Zhang. Her daughter Mingyue also attends Nantian. And this is Aunt Chu. Her son Li Meng is your classmate. Yiyi and Ah Hu are also close friends."

Uh...

Even Chen Chu couldn’t help but pause at that.