Chapter 883: Chapter 882: The Start of a Great Era (Additional Chapter for ’Just Love to Munch on Watermelon’, 3/3)_1
This single glance seemed to traverse ten thousand years, freezing time and space itself, leaving nothing in the Wuyuan Palace, neither person nor event; an eerie silence prevailed.
Words could not describe the sensation of that moment.
Shi Xiaole felt an intense rush of blood to his head, his pores dilating to their limits, his heart swelling as if it were about to burst. He opened his mouth to shout but found he could not make a sound, as if his throat was blocked.
For a very long time, Shi Xiaole had been searching for Shi Xuanzhong, hearing tales of his deeds and legends. Now, looking into these eyes, a surge of emotions overwhelmed his heart, leaving his mind in utter disarray, unable to sort through his feelings.
"This aura... are you his successor?"
The rasp of Shattered Space Blade Ancestor’s voice sounded. This time, his target shifted, and a flash of blood-colored saber light suddenly cut towards Shi Xiaole. But it disintegrated as soon as it came close, shattered by the Four Directions Great Array.
The blue-robed masked figure withdrew his gaze, clapped his hands towards the Nine-Colored Fire Pool, and with a few loud clangs, the airborne saber light silently exploded into pieces. Although he had shown some restraint before, his actions now clearly targeted the key points of the array system, revealing his earlier intent.
In an endless, bizarre illusionary world, the seated figure’s face could not be seen, but an overwhelming killer intent pervaded the air around him, emanating from the surging saber energy. He swung his hand towards the light gate in front of him, but this time, his arm exploded on the spot into a bloody mess.
"Wuyuan Palace has awakened."
"After the battle back then, that man escaped from the Lost World Peak, his powers nearly annihilated, his soul severely wounded, and he last entered the Heavenly Desire Origin, a place even more dangerous than Mirage City—it would be impossible for him to have survived. It appears that an old wretch is to blame!"
Shattered Space Blade Ancestor’s eyes flickered uncertainly, and after a long silence, he finally dispelled the light gate with a palm strike.
Even without the aid of Wuyuan Palace and the Divine Fire Order, given his strength, he could leave Mirage City in at most a century. There was no need to rush things and risk enabling the array system of Wuyuan Palace to track him down.
It wasn’t that he feared Wuyuan Palace, but even the Shattered Space Blade Ancestor had to admit that suppressing Wuyuan Palace wouldn’t be easy. It could likely worsen his unhealed injuries and prolong his entrapment, a cost too great for the gains.
Wuyuan Palace.
Witnessing the light gate within the Nine-Colored Fire Pool retracting, the elder of Wuyuan appeared ashen-faced, realizing that the efforts of thirteen generations had been in vain.
Humming resounded.
The blue-robed masked man reached out, and six Divine Fire Orders arranged themselves in front of him.
Eyes filled with desire watched this scene unfold.
It was rumored that this battle at Wuyuan Palace was related to a shocking opportunity of fate. All signs had so far suggested the rumors were true, and looking at the current situation, this fortune seemed likely to fall between the blue-robed masked figure and Shi Xiaole.
Unexpectedly, the blue-robed masked man did not take the six Divine Fire Orders. Instead, he wiped his hand forcefully, and boundless resentment erupted from the orders.
The Divine Fire Orders were created by absorbing the essence and blood of countless heroes, and this process naturally gathered the resentments of the world.
The Four Directions Great Array suddenly shook as the resentment, amplified by the power of the array, spread in all directions, while the six Divine Fire Orders visibly warped and vanished.
"The Divine Fire Orders are not of Wuyuan Palace. They are merely nefarious objects formed by reversing the Wuyuan Array, driven by some people with evil intentions."
Declared the blue-robed masked figure. He had not rejected the elder’s Divine Fire Orders previously because he had wanted to study them in depth to prepare for defeating his enemy.
For some reason, Shi Xiaole always felt as if these words were directed at him.
At that moment, beams of light rose across Wuyuan Palace, which combined into a six-pointed star pattern when viewed from above.
The already scarce spiritual energy of heaven and earth was suddenly drained, part of it drifting towards the blue-robed masked man, who showed a look of surprise and delight.
The Illusion Orchid Tower Master watched him in a daze. Since she had met him, she had never seen such bright eyes in him, which were unexpectedly touching to behold.
A portion of the spiritual energy also drifted towards Shi Xiaole. As soon as it entered his body, it disappeared without a trace, but Shi Xiaole sensed that something within him had changed.
Not only was his spiritual platform clearer, but his mental strength also became more refined. A deep joy welled up from within.
At the same time, far away in the Flying Horse Dynasty, Xuanwu State, Nine Heavens Mountain.
In an underground chamber, the Inheriting Heaven Seal emitted a light so stunning it could not be perceived by the naked eye. It shot straight into the sky, turning into a drifting rain that sprinkled across Nine Heavens Mountain.
In Wuling Villa, from the lowest disciples to the highest elders, suddenly experienced a stroke of serendipity. Those in the midst of cultivation found increased comprehension, effortlessly unraveling problems that had long troubled them. Even those not cultivating sensed a transformation within themselves, a mix of astonishment and elation.
Above all, Xia Yunxi and Su Yanru felt the deepest effect, for their gains were also the greatest.
Following the possession of Blood Sun Mediator and Heavenly Hidden Seed Fruit, Xia Yunxi’s talent had already rivaled that of Xin Zhuliu. Now her comprehension soared further, securing her status as a top genius in Tian State.
Su Yanru was not on par with Xia Yunxi, but her metamorphosis had lifted her to the level of a first-rate genius in Tian State. Compared to her past self, the change was like night and day.
"Is it because of you?"
Within the hexagonal pavilion, Xia Yunxi clasped her hands tightly, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
Atop a mountain enshrouded in mist.
The woman in plain robes fluttered, her black hair gently lifting. Her beauty was flawless, cleaner than the clouds, purer than water, inspiring no unclean thoughts for fear of sullying her presence.
"The fragmentation of Immortal Island is imminent, the great fortune of ten thousand years is about to erupt; this day was bound to come eventually."
The woman smoothed a strand of hair beside her temple, she was Shui Lingping.
In the distant Tian State, a mountain filled with strange rocks and cliffs houses a succession of Daoist temples; with their gray walls and dark tiles, they bore the marks of time. They appeared to have grown out of the ground, harmoniously fitting into the surrounding environment.
None in the Martial World dared to provoke this place, not even approaching within a hundred miles.
For this was the legendary Wudang.
In a secluded courtyard.
An elder in grey with an immortal’s aura opened his eyes, in front of him the eight trigrams compass spun chaotically, yet he had no interest in looking any closer.
"I originally thought it would take at least decades, but I didn’t expect it to be so soon. Is it coincidence, or is it the will of heaven?"
Before long, several white-haired Taoist priests appeared in the courtyard but did not push the door open.
If a sufficiently knowledgeable veteran of the Martial World were here, they would be shocked. These few were influential figures in the current Wudang Sect, capable of deciding the direction of the sect.
"Martial Uncle Xuan Zhen, you summoned us, what are your instructions?"
The Taoist priest standing in the center bowed and asked, he was the junior brother of the Wudang Sect Master, Taoist priest Mo Yuan.
"From today on, seal off Mount True Martial, I will enter the True Martial Great Array in seven days."
The voice came from the room.
"Martial Uncle!"
It wasn’t just Mo Yuan; everyone raised their heads, trembling all over.
Years ago, a stranger passed by Wudang and left behind half of the True Martial Great Array. Thousands of years ago, Martial Uncle Xuan Zhen returned from the East Sea, and since then, his name as a divine calculator spread far and wide.
Only a very few at the core of Wudang knew that the stranger had left behind a prophecy that Wudang would face a calamity that only comes once every ten thousand years. Yet, this great calamity was also a great fortune, as half of the True Martial could reverse heaven and earth, the prerequisite being that someone could complete it.
Over the years, every generation has had predecessors who tried to manipulate fate before their final moments, entering Mount True Martial, but the True Martial Great Array had only been completed seven parts out of ten, still three parts short.
These three parts, like a chasm in the heavens, severed the spirit of heaven-blessed talents, despite the continuous efforts of the wise men of Wudang, it remained incomplete.
Now, Martial Uncle Xuan Zhen, whose talent ranked in the top ten in Wudang’s history, was also choosing this path?
"Martial Uncle must not!"
Mo Yuan and the others shouted, trying to stop him.
"The great era has begun."
Only one sentence came from inside the room, silencing everyone at once, their pupils contracting. The ten-thousand-year calamity of Wudang was to happen in this once-in-ten-thousand-years great era.
"Wudang has been gracious to me, I should repay it with my life. This is my wish, you need not say more."
Martial Uncle Xuan Zhen’s words were very light, yet also very resolute.
In the Daxia Dynasty, atop a barren mound.
Two old men were playing chess.
At a certain moment, the blue-clad elder let go of the black piece in his hand and looked up into the distance.
"You old swindler, what is it?"
The lute-playing elder asked in confusion.
"The Isle of Flying Immortals is about to break."
The words of the Heavenly Destiny Divine Fortune Teller caused the lute-playing elder to abruptly turn around, and afterward, his aged face filled with a sigh, he coldly laughed, "What’s meant to come will come. This time will surely be an unprecedented sight, all the hidden deities and demons will emerge one by one; perhaps, we might even see some old friends again!"
The Heavenly Destiny Divine Fortune Teller said, "The turbulence of the great era is indeed splendid, but after the splendor, there comes endless desolation and silence; this is the cycle and arrangement of fate."
The lute-playing elder laughed heartily, "Since it’s fate, let us go with the flow, on the crest of these raging waves, with a pot of turbid wine, enjoying the beauty of the moment, watching heroes rise simultaneously, and heroes battle for supremacy—isn’t that delightful?"
Giving him a sideways glance, the Heavenly Destiny Divine Fortune Teller also smiled, "I’m afraid this time, no one can remain uninvolved!"
On this day, throughout the Flying Horse Dynasty, the Daxia Dynasty, the Bei Liang Dynasty, the Western Region, the West Sea Archipelago, and even the mysterious depths of the South Sea, many were perturbed, looking up in a certain direction.
A tsunami was about to rise in the world!
Inside Rainbow Island, the Thousand Dark Poison Emperor and the Emotionless Whip Emperor looked up together at the sky that was about to shatter, their expressions complex.
Inside Wuyuan Palace.
Wisps of spiritual energy entered everyone’s bodies, varied in amount, with the most going to the man in the blue mask and Shi Xiaole, followed by Zhang Xiangfeng, the Great Sorrow Knife Emperor, and others.
"The great fate is indeed wondrous and infinite."
Fu Shuijing took a contented breath. However, upon seeing Shi Xiaole, a coldness flickered in his eyes.
The portion of Rainbow State’s fate he received was very small, but he had already felt its benefits; and as the second beneficiary, Shi Xiaole’s fortunes could only be imagined.
But with gain comes loss, once they leave this place, he will certainly become a target. Hehe, by then, let’s hope he’s tough enough to survive.
Wen Yuxing received even less fate than Fu Shuijing, but he didn’t care at all, only feeling excited. This was because he heard from the people around him that Rainbow State was about to shatter, and everyone would be able to leave. With his current strength, he would surely be able to rescue big sis from Hell Gate!
When the fate was all divided, the entire Wuyuan Palace rumbled, and to everyone’s shock, it vanished into a rainbow light into the sky.
The void, like glass, cracked with countless fissures, and then, amid the continuous crackling sounds, shattered into oblivion. All were repelled by an inexplicable force, rushing in all directions.
Shi Xiaole watched with his own eyes as the man in the blue mask tore through space with his hands, fleeing into the distance. From beginning to end, he never took another glance at himself.
