V2C170

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What is that spell called? Never heard of it, never seen it… Nor even was there any record of it in all the ancient magical texts of Kongsang.

But what a terrifying display of power that was, almost close to that of a God or a Demon!

Standing in the divine temple at the top of the Jialan White Tower, Shi Ying watched the event unfolding ten thousand miles away from him, and although he tried his best to control his emotions, his entire body was trembling slightly.

Yes, something terrible happened to the Grand Master! He must rush to the Purple Terrace in the far north of Yunhuang at once!

However, as soon as he turned around, something suddenly flickered at the other end of the water mirror, causing him to return abruptly – there was still no one visible in the water mirror, and it was full of dead silence and stacked corpses. Yet looking more closely, the blood that was pouring down from the void drop by drop was falling in a regular pattern, gradually merging into a line.

In that instant, although he could not see where the Grand Master was, Shi Ying suddenly understood his friend’s intentions.

Yes, the Grand Master was writing!

Trapped in the void, knowing that he could not escape, the old man was actually using his last bit of strength to write on the ground with his own blood!

One dot, one cross, one stroke… turned out to be the word “He”.

“He?” Shi Ying exclaimed – what exactly was he trying to tell him?

In no time, another character was written out: “Come”.

And then, another stroke in a vertical direction.

Shi Ying stared fixedly at the three words written in blood on the ground, and his entire body shivered slightly as he gritted his teeth in silence, while his face turned white like death.

“He. Is. Coming.”

The words that the Grand Master left with all his final strength and blood were just these three words?

Who is He? Were they the ghastly hands that suddenly appeared in the shadows earlier? And what kind of being was behind those hands? Such a terrifying power could not exist in practically the entire Yunhuang…

Him, exactly who is He?!

“Grand Master?” He called out to the other side of the water mirror, and his voice carried a hint of tremor.

However, after the third word had been written, the blood in the void continued to shower down, but no longer made a single movement. The fire on the water mirror gradually went out, no longer reflecting any scene – the water mirror that led to the Green King’s inner palace has been silently shut off by some unknown force!

Without hesitation, Shi Ying extended his hand towards the mirror, trying to prevent it from shutting off. However, the moment his finger touched the central point, the thin surface of the water suddenly began to move.

With a sharp clatter, the calm surface of the mirror shattered, as if another force had impacted from the other side, and the thin sheet of liquid raised up in the middle, like a spring gushing out!

Not good! In a flash, Shi Ying flipped his wrist and pressed his fingertips together, pointing downwards; in the same second, the layer of water erupted and morphed into the shape of a hand in mid-air! The two hands collided against each other in the void.

Right then, Shi Ying’s body swayed slightly, and suddenly retreated two steps, while the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring on his finger suddenly emitted a dazzling light, and the entire temple got instantly brightened with a snowy light!

“It’s you?!”

The moment the flash of lighting intertwined, he vaguely heard a whisper.

Who is it? Who was speaking to him from across the water mirror?

However, the voice faded in a blink of an eye and the whole temple returned to darkness amidst the wariness. The hand also disappeared from the void, and only countless droplets of water fell from mid-air, showering the mirror like a sudden drizzle – everything happened so suddenly, nearly like an illusion in the span of a fleeting thought.

Except that Shi Ying knew it was real.

In that moment, through that thin layer of water mirror, he and a force from an unknown source unexpectedly met, tested each other and disappeared in a flash – in that short encounter, he could feel that the force was so powerful and mysterious, so unfathomable, that he was unable to probe the source and limits of his opponent!

Was it that force who killed the Grand Master?

Shi Ying’s hand rested on the edge of the water mirror, lowering his head to look at the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring on his hand, in silence. The waves of light strayed from the water mirror, reflecting his face, pale and austere.

Some time passed before Shi Ying turned his eyes away from the empty water mirror and turned around to look at the night sky outside the shrine – the Gui Heng was still silently operating beneath the heavens, and the stars were shifting overhead as the firmament shifted endlessly. Yet, there was no longer the pale old back figure standing on the high platform gazing at the stars.

The star of destiny that belonged to the Grand Master has gone dark!

In that moment, Shi Ying’s heart was struck so fiercely that he actually staggered and bent over, taking a deep breath soundlessly before he finally managed to regain his concentration.

Yes… the Grand Master is dead!

The old man who rescued him from the downfall of his childhood, who protected him and taught him, just a few moments ago has perished in front of his own eyes! Even his body was reduced to dust and vapor!

All the while, he could only stand by and witness, unable to do anything.

Less than a day earlier, he was still angry at the old man for trying to separate him from Ah-Yan, for interfering in his life, and he was even thinking about how he would settle the score when he would return – but little did he know that at in the same moment, the other man was fighting alone desperately against an unprecedented enemy on the other side of the Yunhuang Desert!

He took a deep breath, trying his best to suppress the waves of anguish and wrath that were raging inside his heart, but he almost collapsed. He opened his mouth to cry out, but his throat was silent. The pain gripped his chest, pulling at his heart and lungs, making it impossible for him to breathe.

It was the second time in his life that he was losing someone dear to him.

That old man, having shed his last drop of blood and being trapped between the two colorless realms, was unable to return in this world forever. The desperate Grand Master used his last bit of strength to warn him; and he, to his surprise, could not even see who the murderer was!

“He is coming.”

Who is He, exactly?

Shi Ying lowered his head and gazed at the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring on his left hand, the silvery wings holding the gemstones were still shining like cold, piercing eyes. After staring for a long time at this Thousand-Year-Old Royal Heavenly Ring, Shi Ying slowly lifted his hand and covered it with his other palm.

The precious jewel was still blazing hot, like a ball of fire burning.

At the time of that encounter across the water mirror, the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring emitted a dazzling light, and ever since it continued to appear as if it were burning – an anomaly that has never been seen before, and one that compelled his heart to wince. Why would the Imperial Ring suddenly brighten up in the presence of this strange and terrifying force on the other side of the water mirror?

Even someone like him, who had studied everything about heaven and earth as well as the classic scriptures, could not answer this strange phenomenon.

After a long silence, Shi Ying lifted his garment and walked out of the temple to the top of the White Tower.

The stars were already setting and the night was as dark as black ink. In the sky above the northernmost county of Jiuyi, the emperor’s star has been eclipsed and a new light has not yet been revealed, indicating the change of sovereignty in the Yunhuang, the death of the monarch and the absence of a new ruler.

Yet beside the Northern Dipper, a thick black aura was suddenly rising up!

The black aura loomed over the Yunhuang, bizarre beyond description. Judging from its direction, it should have come from the Western Sea, yet the tail was whirling and convoluted, causing one to lose sight of where it had originated from in the first place.

Even with his spiritual power, he could not trace the true origin of this mysterious force.

Shi Ying could not help but be secretly alarmed, and watched carefully through the speculum at the northernmost part of the Yunhuang Wilderness.

What he saw was a black mist hovering over Jiuyi County and, as if sensing his prying eyes from the top of the White Tower, it suddenly changed direction and hurtled towards the center of Yunhuang!

In that moment, Shi Ying could sense a sudden blaze in his hand, and the Royal Heavenly Divine Ring actually became radiant again!

Could it be… Him? Shi Ying suddenly raised his head from the Gui Heng to gaze into the night sky, and suddenly came to a conclusion in his mind – a secret agent reported a long time ago that the Green King and the Ice Clan on the Western Sea were very close; and ten years ago, when he was a teenager, he had also been chased by the Ice Clan in the Nightmare Forest.

All of this, had nothing to do with the Green King.

Could it be that the tribulation that will destroy the entire Kingdom of Yunhuang in seventy years is coming early?

After a moment of contemplation, Shi Ying strode down from the top of the White Tower and summoned the Head Steward of the Imperial Household without delay, and spoke in a stern tone, “Where is the Huotu Divine Ring? Why is there no news at all?”

The Head Steward of the Inner Palace turned ashen and hurriedly prostrated to the ground: “Your Highness, I have sent my men to rummage through Consort Qing’s chambers, digging up the ground and torturing all the maids and attendants, but… I have not been able to find out where the Huotu Divine Ring has been hidden. I beg Your Majesty to punish this servant!”

“…” Shi Ying’s eyes were stern, and he slammed his hand heavily on the armchair, wanting to say something but forcefully holding it back… The Head Steward is a man of means, if he said he couldn’t find it, he must have already done his best, further blame would not be of any use.

In that moment, he gritted his teeth slightly, reminiscing about the woman who had given him a lifelong nightmare.

Even after years of cultivation in the outside world, his hatred for Consort Qing, who murdered his mother and took over her nest, had never been eradicated in his heart. However, until her death, he actually never had the chance to meet her face to face, let alone seek for revenge! Right now, she is dead, Shi Yu her son is also dead, her brother and her family are in danger of being wiped away… Everything about her is smashed away from inside Yunhuang.

And yet, even in death, she still left behind such a difficult situation!

Shi Ying lowered his head and gazed at the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring in his hand, suppressing his inner emotions, and after a pause, he ordered to the Head Steward of the Inner Palace, “Summon all the Vassal Kings to enter the Court at once, and have the Divine Officers of the Six Clans also urgently enter the Capital from their territories – also, mobilize all the Shadow Warriors of the Primus Army to be on stand-by!”

“Yes!” The Head Steward was stunned, but didn’t ask for the reason.

When the Head Steward retreated, the late-night Purple Palace remained empty, with only him left behind inside. Shi Ying sat alone in the supreme Palace of Yunhuang, mingling with the Imperial Heavenly Divine Ring he wore on his finger, and a hint of loneliness passed through his eyes.

Yes… he was left completely alone in the world.

Even in his childhood, when he was abandoned by his father and sent into the deep recesses of the mountains, there was always the Grand Master at his side, assisting him, protecting him and teaching him. But now, looking across the entire Yunhuang, all he could see were subjects who needed his protection, and surprisingly, there was no one left to rely on.

Such a burden was almost too heavy to bear.

If, after taking off that divine robe, he had chosen to travel the world and spend the rest of his life across the six realms and seven seas, wouldn’t he be free of the troubles he is facing today?

Suddenly the draped curtain moved, as if a breeze was blowing through it.

“Chongming?” He whispered without looking up.

In just an instant, Chongming transformed into the size of a parrot and flew in swiftly past the curtain, stopping on his imperial cabinet, tilting its head and staring at him with his four red eyes the size of a pea, cooing as if surveying something.

It has been almost a day and a night since the previous evening that this divine bird has not come to greet him, but right now, once he flew back, there seemed to be something strange in his gaze.

However, Shi Ying paid no attention to Chongming’s perversity, only frowned with a heavy heart and ordered, “Go to the Red King’s residence to find Ah-Yan, and tell her to come to the Purple Palace as soon as possible.”

The Chongming divine bird received the command but didn’t move, only rolled his eyes and keep staring at him.

“What’s wrong?” Shi Ying frowned slightly, “The matter is urgent.”

However, the Divine Bird still didn’t move, squaring him up and uttering a coo of mockery – this bird has grown up alongside the lonely child in the Valley of the Kings, following him practically like a shadow, so it was in that moment that Shi Ying understood what he meant, and his face suddenly turned slightly pink.

“Yes.” He coughed twice, “I was in the company of Ah-Yan last night.”

Hearing his personal admission, the Chongming bird chirped with joy and unexpectedly swished its wings wide and just danced in the air in the middle of the Purple Palace!

“What are you doing? Now is not the time to talk about this!” Shi Ying sighed and had no desire to continue with this topic, “The Grand Master has just been killed, and with a powerful enemy upon us, how can we bother with this right now?”

Chongming who was dancing in the air upon hearing the last words was suddenly stunned as if struck by lightning and snapped to attention, staring at him, with its four eyes remaining fixed on him.

“Yes, the Grand Master has just died… in the depths of the Purple Terrace of the Green King’s Palace, and his Golden Pupil Mythical Beast has not returned.” Shi Ying squeezed his forehead into his palms, and his voice was tinged with deep sorrow and exhaustion, “Can you see? His star, now it has been darkened.”

Chongming’s feathers instantly collapsed, and after peering out at the starfield, he cooed in disbelief and froze in shock.

Shi Ying sighed, “I couldn’t even see who was the one who killed him.”

Chongming trembled for a moment, and suddenly tilted its head up and roared. In a flash, blood-red tears fell from its crimson eyes, staining the white feathers with a scarlet color which was shocking to behold.

For decades, this was the first time he had seen Chongming crying!

“Chongming…” said Shi Ying, who strained to collect his thoughts, but whose voice was also shaking slightly, “you have lived hundreds of years longer than us humans, you should know that reincarnation is endless, even the gods have to die one day. Now is not the time to mourn.”

Chongming shuddered and suddenly released a miserable wailing sound.

“Yes, of course I must avenge him!” Shi Ying lowered his voice, each word spoken being filled with a murderous aura, “And even if I don’t go out to seek revenge for him, that murderer is on his way here at this very moment!”

Shi Ying got up and walked out of the Purple Palace, raising his hand and pointing it to the north-west demarcation – that black cloud of Qi was charging towards the center of Yunhuang at an alarming speed, and everywhere it reached, the stars were darkened!

In that moment, the Chongming Divine Bird stopped wailing, and the feathers on its entire body erected swiftly.

“Do you see that?” He turned around and stared in the distance.

The sacred bird that had been his companion for over twenty years was grim, with an almost human-like expression in his eyes, and after a moment of silence, nodded slowly.

Shi Ying frowned, “Do you know what that thing is?”

Chongming cooed lowly, wanting to say something.

“The black clouds are crushing down upon the city, and in no time that certain ‘He’, will be here in the Jialan Empire!” Shi Ying turned his head and addressed to the divine bird beside him, “Go to the Red King’s residence and summon Ah-Yan for me… Today she is the only one who can fight alongside me in the entire Yunhuang!”

Chongming nodded and with a flutter of his wings, he darted through the window in a whirlwind.

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