Chapter 990: Train Ready

As the Longhorn was about to step out, a blinding red light pierced his eyes, forcing them shut.

Though the door was closed, it felt as if something had breached its way inside.

The Azure Dragon’s expression darkened. He turned around and saw that the door to the Sky Dragon’s room was also seeping with the same red glow. It was as if they were all encircled by this eerie light.

“What the hell…?”

“Who’s playing tricks here…?” The Longhorn growled, stepping forward to wrench the door open.

But the Azure Dragon, his face twisted with terror, lunged forward with inhuman speed and grabbed the Longhorn’s arm with crushing force.

The Longhorn wanted to demand an explanation, but the sheer panic on the Azure Dragon’s face—something she had never seen before—made her swallow her words.

The other Celestials in the room sensed something was terribly wrong. They had been on the “Train” for so long, yet never witnessed anything like this.

The red light kept seeping in, as if a raging inferno burned just beyond the doors.

They all rose to their feet, acutely aware that something alive lurked behind both doors—something that seemed to wail and clamor in agony.

Even though they were Celestials, fear of the unknown still gripped them.

A few seconds later, the Longhorn rolled up her sleeves, revealing her muscular forearms.

Worst-case scenario… had the “Train” been invaded?

An attack on the door leading to the Earthly-level area was understandable, but why were there strange noises coming from the Sky Dragon’s room?

No one could open the Sky Dragon’s door—only the Azure Dragon’s “Warp” could bypass it. How could anyone infiltrate that space?

“Why won’t you open it…?” the Longhorn whispered, unable to hold back. “What’s out there?”

The Azure Dragon didn’t answer. His eyes remained fixed on the red light until, a minute later, it vanished completely. Only then did he exhale slightly in relief.

“How could this happen…?” Gone was the Azure Dragon’s usual madness—now, genuine fear flickered in his eyes.

Slowly, he reached out and grasped the doorknob. After a long hesitation, he cracked the door open just a sliver.

Seeing nothing beyond, he finally swung it wide. The familiar corridor lay empty.

Not a soul in sight.

“Damn it…” The Azure Dragon’s shock melted into fury, as if he had been betrayed. “Sky Dragon… you goddamn bastard…”

The other Celestials exchanged bewildered glances, none the wiser about what had transpired.

For that brief moment, the door had seemed to lead somewhere else entirely. But what could have caused it?

“The ‘Train’… it actually moved…” The Azure Dragon gritted his teeth. “Sky Dragon… You’ve been pulling the strings all along… Making a fool out of me…”

Before anyone could react, he vanished into thin air.

The Longhorn frowned but shook her head, deciding the lunatic wasn’t worth chasing. She hurried toward the cargo hold instead.

The next second, the Azure Dragon reappeared inside the Sky Dragon’s chamber.

In a flash, he was at the sleeping Sky Dragon’s side, his face contorted with rage.

“The ‘Train’ can move now…?” he snarled. “You prepared this in advance? You were planning to leave… alone?!”

The Sky Dragon remained still, propping his cheek lightly, his breathing steady.

“You bastard…”

The Azure Dragon seized the Sky Dragon’s throat—and instantly, five finger marks materialized around his own neck.

“I was too soft… I thought we had time to figure out how to kill you…” he gasped, struggling for air. “But you never meant to kill me—you were just biding your time to escape!”

The tighter he squeezed, the harder it became to breathe.

And for the first time, the Sky Dragon’s brow furrowed.

“Aren’t you a ‘Zodiac,’ Sky Dragon? How can you ‘desert’? You don’t even follow the rules you set…” The Azure Dragon’s voice was a growl. “You hid the fact that the ‘Train’ was ready… You deserve to die…”

A few seconds later, he released his grip. The Sky Dragon’s expression smoothed back into serenity.

Bent double, the Azure Dragon caught his breath before letting out a bitter laugh.

“Even now, you refuse to tell me how to control the ‘Train’… So this was your trump card all along. You never wanted to kill me or rule this place again—you just wanted to run. Ha… Hahaha…”

The Sky Dragon slept peacefully, but the longer the Azure Dragon stared, the more it felt like he was being mocked.

“Yes… escape this place… and you’ll never have to worry about the ‘Twin Flowers’ again…” He shook his head. “Lucky for me… If not for the doors trembling, I’d have fallen for your trick.”

His gaze drifted to the towering tree in the room.

“No matter… I truly want to see which of us is right. You seek a ‘New World,’ while I’ll forge the ‘Old World.’ I still believe the foundation of everything lies in those livestock-like ‘humans.’”

Calming himself, he turned back to the door.

“We’ll see, Sky Dragon. When you die, make sure to tell me… I won’t die with you. Our twisted entanglement ends here.”

—

After being stopped by the Earth Dragon, Qi Xia fell silent for a moment before finally writing a name on the screen—one that made sense yet still caught everyone off guard.

**Han Yimo.**

“Qi Xia…” Chu Tianqiu chuckled softly. “What’s the meaning of this…?”

“What?”

“Wen Qiaoyun is still outside,” Chu Tianqiu reminded him. “Was she not an option?”

“Wen Qiaoyun?” Qi Xia shrugged. “You want me to bring her onto the team?”

“Not what *I* want—it’s what *you* should do.” Chu Tianqiu’s voice was measured. “If I want to know the gap between us, I need you to hold my weakness. Yan Zhichun is already in my hands. Taking Wen Qiaoyun would level the field.”

“You’ve misunderstood something.” Qi Xia’s voice turned icy. “Yan Zhichun isn’t my weakness. It doesn’t matter which side she’s on. As for Wen Qiaoyun…”

He smirked, lowering his voice.

“You want me to use her as a shield, forcing you to kill the woman you love with your own hands… How idealistic can you get?”

“What…?”

“Being forced and acting willingly—those are two entirely different motives.” Qi Xia’s gaze sharpened. “Chu Tianqiu, at this critical juncture, you’re still hoping I’ll help you? That’s disappointing. Think harder… How *should* Wen Qiaoyun die?”

Chu Tianqiu closed his eyes, taking a slow breath—as if he understood Qi Xia’s meaning, or as if he had made some grim resolution.

When he opened them again, he asked, “Qi Xia, ‘Dissociation’ is already mine. What good will Han Yimo do you?”

“Now *that’s* the right question…” Qi Xia grinned. “But if you have ‘Dissociation,’ why *can’t* I take Han Yimo?”

“I see…” Realization dawned on Chu Tianqiu’s face. “You’re not after his ‘Seven Black Swords’—you want ‘Calamity.’ A bold move.”

Qi Xia shrugged ambiguously, then gestured for the Earth Dragon to open the door.