A surge of Tianwang-level power suddenly emerged, leaving nearly every warrior from both sides stricken with awe and their minds blank, save for the single question haunting them all – “Why would a Tianwang appear here?”
Tianwang himself did not manifest. Yet, from the primordial energy bullet Zhao Jundu had fired off, an unmistakable Tianwang essence and power radiated forth. The bullet suddenly accelerated to an unfathomable speed, beyond comprehension, leaving behind only a slowly expanding luminous halo where it once was.
Jingmeng–one of Endless Night Parliament’s Three Holy Weapons–instantly responded as expected, its blade glowing swifter in tandem the fleeting moment it predicted. It sliced directly onto the bullet—its strike swift and fierce.
And yet, the spectacular blade shattered before impact; the bullet barely strayed from its deadly course. Within a blink it vanished into Yelai’s chest.
Such devastating force could only belong to one person: Lord Qingyang – unmatched within and far beyond all the empire!
Beyond far horizon, in the main fortress of Liyan Empire, Song Zinings gaze snapped sharply skyward upon sensing the explosion’s impact. Despite the vast distance, the immense shockwave caused even the formidable warlock to take notice immediately.
Events unfolded far too quickly–when Song Zinings attention finally seized on it, Yelai already collapsed in mid-fall.
Instincively extending his arm, Song formed her phantom outline mid-air. Thirty-some divination staves burst free of nothingness, wrapping tightly over the phantom figure surrounding it in a sacred bind.
This moment—their only fleeting chance that could let him peer slightly deeper into the truth of her nature through Celestian Art’s power
Back at the battlefield’s core, all golden-dark flowers withered instantaneously; the sacred immortal bird sang mournfully into dissolving wisps of nothingness itself. Yelai’s Domain shattered—a thousand golden starlit shards drifting softly into skyward. The battlefield of once blood-soaked terror turned hauntingly elegant amidst the sorrowful light.
Every Darkkin leader was seized in shock, rushing desperately towards her, surrounding Yelai with their protection. They dared not touch her however, all channeling primordial forces simultaneously to keep her airborne, steady–not a soul dared a breath amiss.
Suddenly snapping her once-closed eyes wide opened—cold eyes pierced forward, voice sharp as winter ice—
**“Want to calculate my destiny once again? Marvelous synchronization! Trying hard to make sure I can die for sure huh?”**
Her crimson irises now darkened, settled into deep golden hue; entire landscapes, entire mountains, entire worlds appeared within – a depth deeper than endless void itself… yet void of pupils all the same
Before Song Zining, new realities instantly crumbled, swallowed by the void’s emptiness. From depths of nothingness—twin pools of amber-gold slowly opened their eyes. No visible pupils, but in depth of that gaze—there existed the entirety of nightfall, entire constellations dancing upon the eye’s reflection
In moments of that stare’s grasp–Song Zinings voice shattered in agony, his sacred staves all exploding at once; crimson trickling steadily down his eyes as body crumbles in unconscious fall
That gaze then swept downward as though ready to peer upon the unconscious Song Zining again, paused, as if weighed by invisible exhaustion before slowly closing shut.
The vast emptiness slowly faded—normalcy returned.
Yelai’s eyes fluttered shut, tone resuming quiet commands.
“I am fine. Order full assault!”
“So shall it be, Your Highness!” roared the Darkkin Lords before swiftly scattering away in formation—leaders reuniting their divisions. Particularly the Vampyric warriors, each biting their teeth, their eyes fixated upon humans—glowing bloodlust drowning their irises
Yet just then an earth-shaking peal of thunder rang through skies–an unspeakable dread descending from above. Each being on the battlefield choked on this sensation as if their very consciousnesses choked in unseen grip of a force beyond comprehension.
For the warriors present here, this dread came none other than from The World That Was New itself’s malicious gaze—summoned by Tian Wang’s unexpected burst earlier—the very Tianwang of absolute power, the legendary Lord Qingyang.
Such warriors–mere insects crawling upon land, often left untouched due merely of sheer irrelevance in grand cosmic design. That is, unless they foolishly drew attention upon themselves with displays of arrogance at this fragile time—then the malicious gazed gaze simply deemed them all worth sweeping bugs to death—just like a simple finger’s press.
Instinctively both forces withdrew their domains, the ones entangled in battle instinctively disengaged. In mutual and silent agreement—they turned and retreated inward to reform lines—this wasn’t courage—it’s stupidity and worse.
Yalai stood shakily but steadfast—adorned in golden-black armor forged from coagulated dark aura, revealing nary trace of the supposed lethal wound from Qingyang’s blow
She scanned cold once upon humans upon Empire side, voice cutting through tension—
“Extend their lives 3 more days—for now…withdraw forces!”
A long warhorn cried into battlefield still—marking the dark kin exodus retreating like tides fading from shore
A tall graceful vampyr duke oversaw remaining rearguard’s withdrawal, spitting with derision as final remark “Do all your race pull all your punches like this?! Just pathetic beings fit for food at best!”
Zhao Junyi stood as stoic pillar, face as impassive water—showing no crack of even slight sentiment in response—nary an eye flinching—he stood unmoving amidst it all, gaze locking on the fading shadows of the darkkin exodus
Malevolent presence spread over fields like a flooding surge, hunting desperately its source—the cause of its awakening wrath–eventually, as rage dissipated slightly so did the unseen gaze. But remnants… the feeling being perpetually eyed, persisted still
All the masters among the warring factions clearly recognized one absolute—hatred remains ever watching, waiting nearby, still. It might need days—perhaps longer for the unseen gazed presence to retreat into its rightful place, allowing itself time to… forget. This—why precisely Yelai offered those last three grace-days
Once darkkin forces withdrew from field, Zhao’s order echoed swift “Check my order—review Qingyag’s personally prepared energy bullet’s entire stock archive—including access logs! Every single one!”
A nearby aide stiffened—hesitant caution in his tone “Lord… Your authority likely insufficient for such high-level records. I fear, may I recommend alternate…”
“Pull what you *can*, don’t worry. Other parts–access permissions will… be rectified in couple days.” Having spoken–Zhao rose in single burst of momentum, uncaring of stares and shocked gazes—as though invisible, Zhao propelled onward toward Empire Command Bastion
A thick–bearded officer nearby murmured aloud amidst tension lingering, “Was that just… *a setup?”*
His comrade shivered, immediately covering his teammate’s mouth— “Don’t say it out! Don’t theorize! Just head back, refill all bullets. Three days… *they’re returning.”
Eyes finally open to his folly, he nodded curtly and departed.
Back at central high command bastion, Zhao Junyi strode through Song Zinin’s quarters as if he had no doubt this is where he would go
Facing the window, Song lightly clutched white handkerchief over mouth. “I knew you come. But… you arrived earlier than I thought. So the Primordial Nature transformation… has also altered your soul?”
“Tell me how you were hurt?” –Zhao’s demand crisp with steel
“Tianji术 backlash!”
“That energy shell was crafted by TianWang, you synchronized with it through TianJi术 so quickly. So… trying hard trying really hard to finish me isn’t it?”
The noble turned—eyes tired—“Suppose I told you–It was merely a random coincidence. Would you…believe?”
“A very convenient one you claim. Have you already reached the mastery over *Destiny Reading* that reacts on mere feeling? Or are you plotting even with a power at a level rivaling a Tian Wagnk?”
Cold gaze from Zhao cut deeper than steel blade. That one gunshot… split universe for mere moments that not even light would have time describe. Yet even from the extreme range—Song somehow grasped timing in impossible precision to react. Such feats would have needed more preparation than the cosmos has stars if *not* planned ahead!
A light cough spilled from Song’s red lips; He silently rewrapped the soot-stained handkerchief once more, now both sides already bloodstained, the crimson proof already evident he had paid dearly.
Still, even amidst Zhao’s accusing look and tone—
“Still just coincidence.”
Zhao stared him down endlessly, sighed deeply before replying:
“I’m choosing for trust you *this time*. But don’t blame me if others do not share that faith”
“I know.”
“I’ve ordered an audit–every archive regarding Qingyang’s personally prepared bullets inventory log and its release record. Every single one”
Song gently shook his head “And check… for a ghost? You and I both know this path leads only dead ends”
“Regardless—I will follow it… where all it ends”
“Qingyangs crafted armament–these are top secrets of state’s deepest layers–Neither of us hold clearance level required”
“I suspect you might have… tricks. Still–such clearances take DAYS more at the earliest… even once secured, whatever truth remained in records—surely erased long since before you reached it? No…” Even if somehow you *had* full access today – even then, by the time you reviewed all records—you’ll surely miss key truths already erased. What should be there has long long since been arranged…”
“So you want me to accept it’s simply falling from sky?”
A deep breath “Fine then… why push at all?”
“I want them… to at *least* toss me out few scapegoat hounds before this closes down”
“Which you’ll receive. No question. They’ll deliver”
“But it will be nothing. At best *a few pawns*”
“Better than none”
Song Zinings gaze turned toward his old friend. His mouth formed a long-drawn breath that became sound “you… ah…” before trailing into muteness
Zhao turned—before stepping again toward him “You met her as well–how dire is the injury? Will she survive it?”
“Illusion, perhaps,” Song Zinings hesitated. Said gravely, “Energy of Qingyang – it is absolute countermeasures, against all Darkkin. Her survival seems most unlikely.”
He added reluctantly after pause
“Tragedy, surely, for you. For me even more… Yet triumph? To the Empire? Beyond compare!”
“You know well… How many of her name have already doomed countless warriors ever since she fought in these fronts.”
Zhao gazed hard, piercingly “And so that’s your reason. You already… *agreed with them!* Is That Your Story?!”
Song coughed faintly – again the crimson bloom
“Still… coincidence… Only truth is fact. Only facts I’ve spoken”
Zhao’s stare hardened into frozen ice
“May it be, then…” before turning, not glancing once back through half open door
Song watched his comrade until gone beyond horizon. Another soft whisper of his soul escaped as the silence of his office swallowed song whole once more, watching the fortress below bustled about, as his soul stood still
Returning to command bastion–Zhao arrived amid murmurs of confusion and uncertainty rippling between warriors and officers stationed there. At sight of his form—voices fell, salutes rose, every form aligned perfect respectful discipline. Yet in every eyes – a secret lay hidden
Zhao’s brief command pierced the tense moment
“Gather me all field records detailing *absolutely anyone* from the past three days entering or leaving the stronghold. Especially individuals *outside* the command personnel of this base—list them all. *Anyone *hiding, anyone attempting deception—they will answer before death. Understand?”
Zhao did not merely utter death as a mere threat—*He carried it with grim final execution.* Each leader saluted with a solemn pale resolve, scattering silently as though even sound could summon death
Left alone in war room—Zhao stood silently. Unmoving
Minutes later. A general arrived with a folder–laid it in silence on desk before taking stance
“My lord—everything we can extract so far, regarding access logs of three days prior… though…”
Zhao remained unmoved despite interruption “speak”
“Amid preparations and continuous battle—we’ve acted for last weeks as central relay–recieving withdrawing forces, reassigning resupply parties. We literally could not have handled more. Some parts we simply weren’t able fully maintain, and certain entries might have slipped by without detailed attention, or… proper filing…”
“I see.” Zhao—shockingly–expressed no ire; picking up the files as he began methodically flipping, analyzing every line
These three quiet days granted Liyan respite rare since war began—many worked non-stop re-building shattered outposts along forward lines—and deploying supplementary flanking bunkers meant to slow enemy’s infiltration strike units.
Amidst the quiet storm—a Zhao, locked amidst records, cross-referencing every line, then another batch brought from rear—authorization granted quickly by Command itself. And finally… with elite escort arrival in hand—documents marked under top-tier *classified seals*… the ones few have read before him.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage