Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 394 - 345 Chaos and Separation

The Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s complexion changed drastically. Intense light, composed of pure Haotian Power, burst from his sleeves, illuminating the entire Purple Cloud Pavilion as if it were broad daylight.

However, the light curved around Yan Xuan. Her eyes rolled back, a silent scream escaping her as veins bulged one by one on her forehead. A continuous stream of fine, red, sand-like particles flowed out from between her brows. These red particles, suspended in midair, firmly trapped the Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s fingers, palms, and arms, seeping into his skin.

"AAAAHHH!" The Faith Cultivation Cardinal howled in anguish. His palm, aimed at Yan Xuan, erupted with dazzling Haotian Divine Light that soundlessly annihilated the floor beneath them. Yet, the attack still avoided Yan Xuan—as if his body was controlled and unable to harm her.

The incident happened so suddenly that everyone was horrified. Li Hui, standing closest, subconsciously unleashed his Telekinesis, attempting to pull the two apart.

But in the next instant, the Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s left hand twisted at an unnatural angle. Each of his five fingers emitted a pillar of light that seemed to pierce the heavens, striking Li Hui and sending him flying backward with great force. If not for the highest-grade protective Jade Pendant Li Hui wore, that single blow would have been enough to reduce him to dust.

Also struck by the light pillars were the people of Taihao Mountain, who had rushed forward regardless of the danger. Some were sent flying, their bodies scorched, while others simply melted and disintegrated in midair.

As a Candle Cloud Cultivator, the full might of the Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s attack was far beyond what the small Purple Cloud Pavilion could withstand. The roof tore apart, beams shattered, and the floorboards splintered and collapsed. Guests who hadn’t been hit by the light pillars shrieked in panic as they scattered, the scene descending into utter chaos.

Mountain Master Lian Xuanxiao materialized before the Faith Cultivation Cardinal. His right hand wielded a Longsword, which he quietly thrust toward the point of connection between the Cardinal’s finger and Yan Xuan’s forehead.

HISS! The Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s left hand, radiating intense Haotian Divine Light, intercepted the Longsword. Even as the blade pierced his palm, he gripped the sword tightly, pouring Haotian Divine Light into its length.

BUZZ— The sword trembled, tearing through the air. Mountain Master Lian Xuanxiao remained unflustered, raising his left hand to swiftly draw a talisman in midair. With iron strokes and silver hooks, his power seemed to penetrate the void itself as an extremely intricate talisman gradually took form.

While the Faith Cultivation Cardinal was thus engaged, Xi Yangyu floated up from his seat. His Telekinesis flashed like lightning through every corner of the teetering Purple Cloud Pavilion, forcefully shoring up the collapsing structure and preventing everyone from being buried.

"Help!" Xi Yangyu ground out through clenched teeth.

Body Study Division Master Xue Che immediately snatched a porcelain plate from the low table before him. He effortlessly crushed it into several pieces, and with a flick of his wrist, the shards shot out like lightning, blasting open all the main doors of the Purple Cloud Pavilion. Sacrificial Officer Chen Danqiu waved his sleeve, conjuring a strong wind that swept numerous guests out of the Purple Cloud Pavilion, depositing them safely in the open space before it. The other Division Masters, along with the cultivators from the various countries’ delegations, also reacted instantly, helping to evacuate the crowd.

Only Imperial Palace Tributor Shen Tuyu remained silent. He used a Flying Sword to break open a wall, then escorted the Emperor, the Empress, and the Crown Prince away from the scene, flying towards the Great Ming Palace. The duty of the Imperial Palace Tributor was to protect the Li Yu Royal Family’s lineage. Even if the wedding ceremony devolved into a bizarre and calamitous event—one that could provoke a war between Taihao Mountain and the Yu Country—the Imperial Palace Tributor had to prioritize the Emperor’s safety.

"Quick..." Veins bulged all over the Faith Cultivation Cardinal’s body, just like Yan Xuan’s. He trembled violently, Haotian Divine Light uncontrollably blasting from his every orifice as he roared, "Run!"

As his final shout of "Run!" echoed through the Purple Cloud Pavilion, the Haotian Power within the Faith Cultivation Cardinal finally erupted. Intense light tore through the night sky, forming a pillar that reached the heavens, visible even from the most northwestern point of Chang’an.

On a street in South City, Li Ang saw the pillar of light above Furong Garden, and his face paled abruptly. He immediately unleashed his Cultivation, stomping his foot against the ground and using Telekinesis to accelerate, skimming low through the air as he shot forward.

RUSTLE, RUSTLE! The massive amounts of ash from the one hundred and eight colorful, splendid fireworks that had filled the entire city began to fall upon every workshop below. No sooner did the ashes land than they reignited, setting ablaze anything flammable they touched. Trees, grass, thatched roofs, clothes hanging in courtyards, and even... human bodies.

The wildfire spread rapidly throughout the city like a prairie fire. Houses burned fiercely, sending up billows of thick, choking smoke that suffocated the people. The garrison, the Imperial Guard, Government Officials, and constables from the Imperial Censorate patrolling the streets were utterly powerless against the ferocious, towering flames. Even the few Cultivators who soared into the air, attempting to extinguish the blaze with Water Talismans and Rain Talismans, could not stop its spread.

The fate of the people was even more tragic. The embers from the fireworks clung like grease and were difficult to shake off. Once they adhered to a person’s body, stripping off clothes or even gouging out flesh was futile—the embers would continue to burn and seep inward until they pierced the very bones.

Screams, the pounding of running feet, cries for help, the roar of collapsing houses—Chang’an City, so peaceful just a moment ago, had transformed into a living hell.

Atop a tavern in Changle Square, Lu Yunan gazed dumbstruck at the burning Chang’an City. The Brocade Bag in her hand was open and empty—whatever had been inside had already escaped.

That was...

Above Chang’an City, the billowing smoke seemed to be consumed by something invisible. The smoke churned, dark clouds pressed down upon the city, and the wind fanned the flames.

Lu Yunan took a deep breath. She now understood what had been in the Brocade Bag: Chaotic Wind.

It was an extremely rare and special First-level Deceit. Normally, Chaotic Wind had no specific form; it was just an ordinary breeze, undetectable by any means. However, if large-scale chaos erupted in its vicinity—such as war, a hurricane, a volcanic eruption, a thunderstorm, or a flash flood—the Chaotic Wind would rapidly expand. It would "feed" on the chaos in a way incomprehensible to ordinary people, thereby intensifying it. This turned a controllable disaster into an unstoppable calamity.

Better to be a dog in a peaceful time than a person in an age of chaos...

「In Banzheng Square.」

Yuan Sou looked up at the night sky, where the thick smoke slowly swirled, forming a pattern like a ghastly face. He chuckled lightly. "The Chaotic Wind has taken effect. I had thought Chaotic Wind was just a legend, but it turns out to be real. I wonder where Mr. You Qiong got it from."

"Hmph, maybe he dug it out of some grave," Ghost Shovel said coldly. "A Chaotic Wind this large should be able to disable all the Mutated Objects and Arrays in Chang’an City’s defenses: the Chang’an Micro-View in the Imperial Palace, the City Defense Formations along the city walls, the Fire Extinguishing Talismans in the workshops, and..."

"...the Prohibition set up by the garrison specifically targeting Candle Cloud Cultivators," Yuan Sou finished with a chuckle. He drew the Soft Sword disguised as a belt from his waist and strode toward the garrison headquarters.

The entrance to the garrison headquarters was a flurry of activity. Large numbers of Cultivators and soldiers stationed there were being hurriedly deployed throughout the city to control the fires. A few soldiers, noticing the two men approaching with unnervingly calm expressions, sensed something was amiss and shouted, "Halt!"

SWOOSH. The whisper of a sword edge sliced the air. All the soldiers and Cultivators at the garrison entrance abruptly froze, motionless.

Yuan Sou, with an air of nonchalant ease, stepped forward and passed through the garrison’s main gate.

Behind him, all the frozen soldiers slowly disintegrated, their bodies falling apart and dropping to the ground in pieces.