The vault of heaven looked as if it were torn apart.
Above Xinquan, the pervading darkness across the sky was rapidly shrinking and dissipating, vanishing completely alongside the Great Serpent's fading projection. The lingering defilement of the Great Sin was washed away into nothingness beneath the rain of quicksilver. Soon, the entire town returned once more to its former state.
As the quicksilver curtain walls retracted and vanished one after another, the sirens abruptly cut off. Once the security department lifted martial law, pedestrians reappeared on the streets.
The onlookers, still shaken, exchanged glances and murmurs as wild rumors began to swirl. After all, too much had happened in the span of just half a day—far exceeding what most people would see in a lifetime.
Some began worrying that Haian was running some sinister experiment that might blow all of Xinquan sky-high. Others retorted, "You're fucking bullshitting! I saw it with my own eyes—this is a resurgence of spiritual energy, get it? Director Ji must have achieved full cultivation, survived the heavenly tribulation, shattered the sky with a single sword stroke, and ascended riding a serpent..."
All manner of rumors spread in creative variations, each displaying an eye-opening burst of vibrant imagination.
Before long, the chaos subsided—or rather, outside Haian's industrial park, things had always been quite chaotic anyway; it was merely settling back to its usual baseline.
In no time at all, stalls were set up again in the market, business running as usual.
If you wanted to live outside the city walls, you needed thick nerves.
These days, storms and deaths were everyday occurrences, nothing out of the ordinary. Besides, hadn't nobody died this time? What was there to fear? Continuing work this afternoon counted as overtime, with double pay!
Put in an hour or two on the assembly line, and wouldn't that cover another foot-massage session?
Living the dream, boys!
"...Essentially, that covers it," Isis reported. "Due to interference from the attackers, the eradication across the Haizhou wilderness is currently incomplete. Shall we proceed?"
"What about the cleanup progress in key areas outside the city?"
"One hundred percent," Isis replied decisively. "All marked Swarm adults have been completely eradicated."
"Let's leave it at that for now, then."
Ji Jue lowered his gaze, watching the inquiries and warnings popping up ceaselessly on his phone screen. Sneering, he put the phone away. "Since what needed to be done is done, if they only care about minding their own doorsteps, let them."
At first, each of them had turned a blind eye and a deaf ear; now that Haian had taken action, they all jumped out to flaunt their relevance.
Nothing more than clattering buffoons.
He only hoped that when the inevitable backlash hit, their mouths would stay just as tough.
Ji Jue rolled two quicksilver crystals forged via Solid Alchemy between his fingers. Sensing the aura of spiritus plundered within them, he fell into deep thought.
Crafting a Soul Pointer needed to be put on the agenda, but Xinquan's stockpiles of Aether-branch materials were still too meager. He might have to carry a couple of chickens over to trouble the Tong family again.
Compared to that, what drew his attention even more was the anomaly in the palm of his hand.
Not long ago, just as the Great Serpent disintegrated and its incarnation dispersed, some unexpected glitch had occurred. As that beam of crystalline light rose from Yacheng, it had completely lost control, causing its structure to collapse outright, wide open and utterly defenseless.
There was no way Ji Jue would let such an opportunity slip by...
Quick of eye and swift of hand, he took advantage of the momentum to rip something straight out of the Great Serpent's core.
And unexpectedly, he really did seem to have yanked something back.
Enhanced by the workshop's state, his hand of Non-Offensive had performed well beyond normal. For a split second, Ji Jue truly felt himself grasp hold of something vital, grip it tightly, and haul it back...
Yet his palm was empty.
Like an illusion.
A fragile thing, like a dream or phantom bubble, as if it had never existed in the first place.
Only under dual observation—through Chunjun's soul shadow and Ji Jue's own spiritus vision—could he make out that faint, indistinct silhouette in his palm.
An eerie emblem like a phantasmal flower in the mist.
Without close inspection, it was virtually undetectable.
Ji Jue frowned, instinctively attempting to analyze it, only to realize that it was merely an intangible spiritus imprint—like a mark, a credential, a...
Key?
But if it were a key, what was it meant to open?
Holding it in hand, one could feel a tenuous calling and resonance, issuing guidance like an invitation, though the signal was so faint that it could hardly be sensed clearly.
Amid his contemplation, a stirring in his senses caught the sound of footsteps behind him.
Quicksilver flowed over his palm, completely enveloping and sealing away the spiritus emblem that seemed fragile enough to disperse in the wind.
He could study it at leisure later.
"Mr. Ji... are you all right?"
Gasping for breath, Yu Shu finally climbed the stairs to the upper floor, drenched in sweat, looking as though he had been searching for him for a long time.
Having felt the violent spiritus fluctuations and clashes earlier, he was still rattled even now, his face faintly pale.
Only after confirming Ji Jue's safety did he finally let out a long breath, though even he didn't know why he had been so worried.
Wiping away sweat, he panted heavily. "What... what just happened?"
"Oh, just a few scraps. Don't worry," Ji Jue waved dismissively. "Looks like the ones spreading the spiritus plague came knocking. We traded a few blows, and luckily I came out on top."
"The spiritus plague..."
Yu Shu looked bewildered, as if unable to comprehend. But soon, his pale face flushed red. Stunned, his fists clenched instinctively. "The spread of the spiritus plague is... man-made?"
"..."
Ji Jue looked back at his dazed, heartbroken expression, then withdrew his gaze with a touch of pity.
"In this world, how many hells aren't man-made?"
***
"Awake?"
A gentle voice spoke from her side, unhurried and measured.
In a daze, Wen Su opened her eyes from a long dream. She saw the figure seated by the window—a lazily smiling middle-aged man whose warmth was gentle. "Sneaking out like that, you really stirred up quite a mess...
"You took the mischief a bit too far. If I hadn't stepped in, Old Fourth would probably have skinned you alive and eaten you whole."
"...Father?"
Wen Su's expression froze for a moment. She instinctively sat up, fighting to suppress her cowering unease.
Only then did she sense her injuries... The grievous wounds that should have torn her apart had vastly improved, leaving no sequelae behind. Even that wisp of dragonfire capable of burning a soul to ashes had vanished into thin air.
A narrow escape from death.
Yet not a shred of joy or relief could rise in her heart—especially not when that figure had appeared inside the safe house she had gone to such painstaking lengths to conceal.
He looked as comfortable as if he were in his own home. He had even brewed tea using her favorite tea set; the steam coiled upward, carrying a subtle sweet aroma.
"Taste it. Good tea won from a bet. It calms the spirit and works wonders for your recovery." The languid man leaning against the window beckoned for her to come sit.
Resting his chin on his hand, he admired the way she raised the cup and took a small sip, just like watching a little hamster nibble on melon seeds, and gently stroked her hair.
"To tell the truth, I still prefer how untamed and rebellious you were before, but this look of concealed fangs and claws is rather cute, too."
Wen Su stiffened for a second. Holding back the trembling and spasms in her shoulders, she summoned the courage to look into those pitch-black eyes. In that pure darkness, there always drifted a faint, perpetual smile.
It reflected her face.
Like looking down at specks of dust.
"Father, you... don't blame me?" Wen Su asked.
"Blame you for what?"
Wen Zheng smiled, as if puzzled, or perhaps as if waiting for her confession, his smile perpetually gentle.
"Blame me for catalyzing the spiritus plague into the Federation, for revealing Fourth Brother's plan to Sister, and... and..." Wen Su paused, her voice turning dry and raspy. "And ruining your plans."
"Since you already know, what else is there to say?"
Wen Zheng was still smiling.
He merely extended his hand slowly toward her.
His open palm seemed like boundless darkness, gradually blanketing her entire field of vision, blotting out everything like a sky-obscuring shroud.
Then, curling his finger, he flicked.
*Snap!*
Leaving a red mark.
"Foolish words."
Wen Zheng shook his head indulgently. "While the Huangliang remains are precious, they are not irreplaceable. Although the Federation is troublesome, it is not unsolvable. Besides, no matter who wins or loses, aren't all of you my children?
"You had the heart to participate—what reason do I have to blame you?"
Then what was this?
Toying with prey? Mocking an overambitious rebellion? Or the supreme satisfaction and amusement of watching a farce unfold from on high?
Hypocrisy...
"Don't worry. Father isn't petty enough for that."
Wen Zheng reached out once more. Just like when she was small, he lifted her affectionately onto his lap, then carefully combed through her hair, meticulously braiding it strand by strand.
"A parent's love for their child plans far ahead. A momentary setback or mistake means nothing. My only hope is that you grow stronger—stronger than me, surpassing the master."
Stroking his daughter's hanging braid, he told her, "Be it Xiao Sheng, Xiao Wen, Xiao Duan, or the others... or you."
He was brimming with expectation and benevolence.
Like tending to a beloved experimental subject—ever tolerant, ever patient, forever filled with appreciation and affection.
He said, "Besides, haven't you done wonderfully?"
In that instant, Wen Su froze.
She sat stunned, in utter disbelief.
"From the very beginning of this game, that child was a crucial participant, an indispensable key. Unfortunately, she was too stubborn, too rigid in her ways. I was fretting over how to convince her to return.
"And yet, completely beyond expectation..."
The man behind her chuckled, pleased and expectant, whispering into her ear, "Haven't you almost brought her back already?"
Wen Su felt as if plunged into an icy cavern.
Rigid.
"You... from the very beginning..."
"Yes, that's right. From the day you stole the original strain of Dreamloss Syndrome, I knew." Wen Zheng smiled. "It's rare for my little bird to take the initiative and do something, so how could I not pay attention?
"Besides, your method was flawed. If you truly wanted to keep Xiao Wen away from all this, you should have hardened your heart and severed ties with her completely.
"In the end, you were only lying to yourself, weren't you?"
Wen Su wanted to speak, but no voice came out. She trembled, consumed by fury.
"'I want to keep Sister away from all this, I want Sister to be careful, I want her to be prepared...' You kept telling yourself that, but in the end, all you really wanted was to see her. You never even considered that you might get her killed..." Wen Zheng said. "You're the one who dragged her back, Ah Su. Well done."
"I... I..."
"It's all right. Father forgives you, and Father will forgive her too. You are all my most beloved children."
Wen Zheng embraced her, tender and generous, and told her, "She will come back.
"Rebellious phases are short, and I have plenty of patience. One day, that child will return to my embrace. She will see reality clearly, and see herself clearly..."
Wen Zheng burst into laughter, thoroughly delighted. "Who knows? Perhaps that prophecy will truly come to pass through her."
Wen Su fell silent, unable to make another sound.
Rigid as a puppet, her mind was blank.
Only shattered echoes remained.
***
*"One day, among your descendants, someone stronger than you will appear."*
Ninety-one years ago, before the previous generation's "Heavenly Tome" returned to Supreme Goodness, she had made a prophecy for the Saintly Fool, who was not yet called the "Guide" at the time.
Unfortunately, there was a second half to that prophecy.
She had said:
*"—And you will die by their hands."*
It was an inevitable death knell.
Yet Wen Zheng had rejoiced over it.
From that moment on, having never married, he began appearing frequently throughout the mortal realm, fathering numerous children and adopting countless others.
He poured all his effort into nurturing his descendants, sparing no sacrifice or cost.
He never masked or concealed the prophecy's existence; instead, he solemnly informed every single child about it.
After every telling, he would solemnly ask the child before him: "Will you be the one?"
Whether the answer was yes or no, it did not matter to him. He would still support them unstintingly.
Hoping they could display their talents.
Hoping they could achieve greatness!
"After all these years, perhaps this is the closest I have ever come to that prophecy. Well, though it's still far away, it could probably be called a crucial turning point."
Wen Zheng murmured with emotion, stroking his daughter's hair, caressing a tool that had performed brilliantly, his smile unchanged. "Let's see, then. I'm quite curious myself to see who will take the prize in the end of this game."
"Father..."
In the long silence, Wen Su raised her head to look at him.
For a fleeting moment, her vacant expression seemed to shift.
She asked, "Can I participate?"
Wen Zheng fell silent, looking at her. Only his smile grew warmer and more fervent.
Deeply gratified.
"Of course."
Chapter 486