The old man’s memories about the three cities were hazy and lacked depth, leaving him unsure if some memories had been erased or if there was simply a lack of information to begin with. He struggled to recall specific details about the cities, their rules, and the consequences for breaking them.
"I heard that fighting is prohibited here, is that true?" Liang asked the young man casually, hoping to gather more information.
The young man nodded in affirmation. "Yes, that’s correct! Violence is strictly forbidden within the city walls."
Curiosity piqued, Liang’s eyes flickered as he probed further. "And what happens to those who violate these rules?"
The young man paused, considering his words carefully. "It depends on the severity of the violation," he explained. "For minor infractions, the city lord, along with a team of law enforcement experts, handles the situation."
Liang nodded, realizing that an authority figure was necessary in such a place to maintain order.
"What about the most serious offenses?" Liang inquired, his curiosity growing.
The young man’s brow furrowed, his expression growing somber. "The highest violation would be murder, without a doubt," he said gravely. "If someone were to kill another person, they would be swiftly punished on the spot by the dragon deity."
Liang was about to ask a follow-up question when a sudden commotion erupted nearby. A voice filled with anger and grief pierced through the crowd, capturing everyone’s attention.
"Lin Si, you wretched motherfucker! How dare you kill my son?!" The voice boomed with rage, causing a ripple of unease to spread through the gathered onlookers.
Liang’s attention immediately shifted towards the source of the voice. Standing amidst the crowd was a young man adorned in a flowing blue robe, his aura emanating the presence of a powerful expert at the peak stage of the Runeforged Embodiment Realm.
"Hoho, old man, hold on for a moment. I haven’t killed anyone," the young man called Lin Si nonchalantly, seemingly undisturbed by the accusations thrown his way.
But his words were met with a burst of raw anger. A white-robed middle-aged man materialized in the sky.
"Lin Si, my son’s blood stains your hands! Prepare to face the consequences!" the middle-aged man roared, his voice trembling with wrath.
Lin Si maintained a calm demeanor, a playful smirk crossing his face. "Your son had it coming. He brought this upon himself," he retorted, his voice dripping with taunting arrogance.
Enraged, the middle-aged man’s aura blazed with the intensity of a raging inferno as he gathered his energy, causing the very air around him to tremble in response.
Igniting his blood essence and true runes, he pushed through the limits of a Late stage Runeforged Embodiment Realm, breaking through the barrier to reach the Runic Mastery Realm. The surge of power that emanated from him was palpable, a furnace of raw energy that threatened to consume everything in its path.
In a surreal display of prowess, three shimmering runes materialized in the air around him, forming a massive array. The runes pulsed with vibrant hues, resonating with the very fabric of the surroundings. The hum of potential filled the air, as if the array were an ancient, slumbering beast awakening from its deep slumber.
The middle-aged man commanded the array with a firm resolve, a colossal green serpent emerged as if it’s been freed from its ethereal prison. Its presence alone was awe-inspiring, with scales that shimmered like emeralds in the icy light. Each movement of its sinewy body exuded power and grace.
With a thunderous roar that reverberated through the city, the serpent lunged forward with astounding speed. Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp fangs that gleamed menacingly.
Caught off guard, Lin Si’s initial shock quickly turned to desperation. He attempted to summon his own true runes, but the serpent’s strike was too swift. In an instant, its jaws closed around him, trapping him within its powerful grasp.
As the serpent devouring him, Lin Si’s body disintegrated into countless particles, an unsettling sight that seemed to defy reality. The serpent’s insatiable hunger consumed the particles, its jaws closing relentlessly until every trace of Lin Si had been consumed.
The air seemed to still as the serpent finished its feast, its colossal form shrinking back into the runes that adorned the array. The once fearsome creature transformed into an ethereal essence, assimilating into the middle-aged man’s being.
Silence fell over the city as onlookers stood frozen, their breaths held captive by the spectacle they had witnessed. The middle-aged man exhaled, his aura slowly subsiding, but the aftermath of his staggering display of power lingered in the air.
Deep within his eyes, there flickered a mix of relief, sadness, guilt and exhaustion.
My son, forgive me for being such a terrible father," the middle-aged man laughed manically, tears streaming down his face as he reveled in his revenge.
Suddenly, the entire city trembled, and all eyes turned towards the colossal icy dragon statue that hung suspended in the sky. The atmosphere grew heavy with anticipation.
The dragon’s eyes slowly opened, revealing a frigid realm hidden within their depths. Its gaze swept over the scene below, fixating upon the middle-aged man who had committed the act of murder.
A majestic voice resounded throughout the city, commanding attention. "Guilty one, do you acknowledge your sin?" it boomed, its power reverberating in every corner.
The middle-aged man’s face turned pale as he stared up at the watchful dragon eyes. Fear and regret washed over him as he trembled in its presence.
"Galactic Dragon Deity," he stammered, his voice filled with desperation, "this man, Lin Si, murdered my son and his wife out of envy. He desired my son’s wife but was unable to win her affection!"
The voice of the dragon deity boomed once more, more menacing this time. "Guilty one, are you ready for punishment?"
In response, the middle-aged man’s laughter turned maniacal, his eyes brimming with defiance. "You fucking ancient relic," he spat, "you have no right-"
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Before he could complete his sentence, two icy rays shot forth from the dragon’s eyes, instantly turning him into an icy statue. The sound of cracking ice filled the air as the statue shattered upon impact, its broken pieces scattering across the ground like fragments of frozen tears.
Silence fell over the crowd as they watched in awe, their breaths held in anticipation. The laws of the dragon deity had been enforced, and justice had been served.
Then, the entire city was enveloped in a hushed tranquility as a deep, resonating voice echoed through the air. "Kneel, children of the dragon deity. Kneel before the frozen might of the dragon deity and receive its divine blessing."
The crowd, both in reverence and obedience, dropped to their knees. A palpable energy filled the air as the people closed their eyes and bowed their heads. Soft whispers of prayer and devotion filled the space.
"Dragon deity, protector of Frostfell, we seek your wisdom and guidance," they murmured in unison, their voices blending together in harmony. "Grant us strength, fortitude, and prosperity. May your icy gaze shield us from harm and nurture the ice within our souls."
As the unified prayer continued, a subtle yet significant change occurred. A blue, slumbering dragon symbol materialized on the foreheads of those who knelt, its intricate design exuding a serene sense of power and protection. The symbol pulsated with a gentle, icy glow, blending seamlessly with the natural hues of their skin.
The icy dragon statue above responded to their devotion, shimmering with a radiant blue light.
Suddenly, the millions of ice shards that littered the ground began to glow with an intense blue light. They transformed into particles of light and disappeared, absorbed by the kneeling individuals.
In an instant, their auras soared, and some even broke through to higher realms of cultivation.
The dragon’s eyes, now filled with a gentler warmth, closed once more as its presence merged with the collective consciousness of the city’s inhabitants.
One by one, the people rose from their kneeling positions, their expressions transformed with newfound strength and resolve.
The young man beside Liang, previously a Rune Vaporization Realm expert, now stood at the Rune Transmutation Realm, his power vastly increased by the intervention of the dragon deity.
Liang’s jaw nearly dropped at the spectacle before him. It was his first time witnessing such a phenomenon, one that had not been documented in the old man’s memories.
This only further reinforced the notion that the old man’s memories were limited, possibly due to his recent arrival in Frostfell.
Liang’s gaze then landed on the emblem etched into the young man’s forehead.
"Senior, would it be fair to surmise that the recent happenings have addressed your inquiries?" The young man beamed, his cheer unmistakable, taking delight in the turn of events.
"And this mark upon your brow—what is its significance?" Liang probed with genuine interest.
With a chuckle and proud expression on his face, the young man responded, "Ah, you’ve mean the dragon blessing?"