Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Above the Xiling City, light dragons of five colors swirled and danced in the skies, gradually fusing with the City in the Sky in the Void.
Shi Tianhao, running his own Mantra, communicated with the City in the Sky, continually studying and corroborating the principles within.
Slowly, the City in the Sky even started to give rise to new changes. The immense city, guarded by emerald clouds, started to glimmer with light.
It wasn’t that the city walls were covered with light, or that light was being projected from within the walls. Rather, at this instant, the entire, immense city was transforming into light.
The walls, which used to be solid and sturdy, seemed to gradually become flowing light at this instant – transforming from material to energy.
In mere moments, the entire City in the Sky became a city entirely composed of light, sitting proud atop the clouds.
Upon seeing this, inside Xiling City, Shi Zongtang was slightly surprised. “Shi Tianhao, he can already derive the transformations of the City in the Sky to this extent? But…”
Shi Zongtang’s heart felt heavy. “The City in the Sky in this mode…it is obviously not as well suited for defense as the previous iteration.”
His judgment was not wrong. Although they were still bearing the massive pressure transmitted along the Veins together, the aid from the City in the Sky remains noticeably weakened.
The pressure bore by Shi Tianhao and the Great Qin Empire cultivators, meanwhile, noticeably increased. Xilling City, already bearing the weight only barely, appeared to be tottering on the edge once again.
Right now, the emotions of Shi Zongtang and the other Great Qin Empire masters were somewhat complex.
When one saw hope at the point of desperation, when he was almost going to escape from danger, and then the hope slowly disappeared again. That feeling of losing something after you gained it…many a time, it was even more disappointing than never having had it in the first place.
The massive destructive power transmitted along the Veins was violent, but not enduring. Right now, it was already near the end; if they survive this, then Xiling City and the Great Qin Empire would live another day.
At this point, if Shi Zongtang and the others were determined to retreat, it was no longer an impossible feat.
However, even if they could escape, apart from the highest-level cultivator, Shi Zongtang, it was still a game of luck for the others. Also, Xiling City will be completely destroyed as well.
The core of the accumulation of the Great Qin Empire’s Draconic Energy will collapse completely as well, and for a long time, it would be difficult to rebuild it.
This vacant period would already be enough for the Zhou Emperor, Liang Pan, to attract and gather the Great Qin’s Draconic Energy of All Life with the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai, diverting them to Tianjing City and build the foundation for the Great Zhou to unify the mortal world.
The foundations of the Great Qin Empire, passed down through the generations until now, will be entirely lost.
After experiencing the absolute despair that was just now, this result was still acceptable to the Great Qin cultivators. However, after all, they will not be able to resign themselves to that fate. Especially for the current new Emperor, Shi Zongtang; he would rather choose the satisfaction of dying in battle.
However, very soon, sudden change appeared on the City in the Sky above Xiling City again, giving a boost to Shi Zongtang’s psyche.
The City in the Sky remains, entirely formed from light, gradually separated, transforming back into twelve balls of light, blazing with blinding light.
The twelve balls of light did not materialize as the previous form of the Twelve Divine Generals. Instead, they descended towards the walls of Xiling City.
When these giant light balls landed on the walls of Xiling City, the glow started to condense and solidify. The stray light dissipated; the figures, originally composed entirely of light, began to transform back into solid once more.
The power of Xiling City unified with it; after continual transformations, the twelve figures gradually became twelve sitting human statues.
Twelve statues of giants, glowing with faint golden light and appearing as if they were forged from brass, sat atop the walls of Xiling City.
From them, a powerful, seemingly indomitable power concept flowed. Twelve men of gold, formed up; at this instant, in terms of pure defensive strength, they were even stronger than the City in the Sky just now.
At this moment, the Draconic Energy gathered by the Great Qin Empire and the Xiling City formation was adding to and strengthening the men of gold as well.
In the surrounding world, massive amounts of spiritual energy was congregating and swirling, especially Metal Essence. They were constantly being absorbed by these Twelve Men of Gold, strengthening themselves.
Seeing this, Shi Zongtang had a sudden look of realization as he gasped in admiration mentally. “After the City in the Sky became light, from solid to energy, the Twelve Divine Generals – which used to be energy bodies – are transformed into the solid Twelve Men of Gold now?”
“This sort of transformation…not only is it study of the City in the Sky remains of the ancient Heaven’s Gate, but it is also fusing with the other Great Taos. Is this the profundity of the mantra and the Tao of the Celestial Sect of Wonders? Although it’s but a fleeting glimpse, but still awe-inspiring.”
Once the Twelve Men of Gold materialized, they immediately re-stabilized Xiling City, which was on the verge of shattering. The cracks, which were continually expanding and extending, finally stopped their proliferation.
The strengths of the two, united, resisted the powerful destructive force transmitted along the Veins together.
Finally, the annihilation force, resembling the power of the Apocalypse, started to weaken rapidly after reaching its climax.
Everything, from the beginning to end, was actually merely a short period of time. However, to the new Great Qin Emperor, Shi Zongtang, and the other Great Qin cultivators, it was an ordeal of a thousand years.
After the backblast force transmitted along the Veins finally vanished. Even Shi Zongtang greatly relaxed, mentally.
The other Great Qin Empire cultivators all felt as if they survived a disaster.
Every single Great Qin Empire cultivator, including Shi Zongtang, clasped his or her hands in salute towards the Void above. “Thanks to the Huangtian Supreme Master, the tide was turned. We express our immense gratitude for your aid.”
Shi Tianhao’s voice sounded from the Void. “Friends, you are too polite.”
In the Imperial Palace, Shi Zongtang gazed at the ball of light above the Great Hall silently before waving his hand. Immediately, the ball of light dissipated; Xiling City stopped gathering Draconic Energy, and with that, the Veins link with Mount Baiyun and the Imperial Palace of Emperor Tai was severed.
It was only at this point that Shi Zongtang had the time to sense and observe the surroundings closely. The results caused his heart to feel heavy yet again.
After this battle, the Great Qin Empire Immortal Soul cultivators defending Xiling City suffered enormous losses. Every single person had some form of injury, including Shi Zongtang himself.
Before Shi Tianhao’s arrival, the initial moment when Xiling City was impacted was also the moment of greatest pressure. The Xiling City formation was on the verge of collapse, and human casualty was the most severe.
The Virtual Entities of some Cultivation of Virtual Entity-level Great Qin cultivators were shattered, causing them to immediately fall back to Cultivation of Avatar-level. There was even a Cultivation of Virtual Avatar-level Great Qin cultivator who was killed by the shockwave on the spot.
Amidst this crisis, the Great Qin Empire, already tottering on the brink, was showing obvious signs of collapse now.
Although in the end, Xiling City and the defensive formation were not penetrated, but they suffered enormous damage as well. The buildings and streets within the City were reduced completely to rubble.
The only somewhat intact building was the Great Qin Imperial Palace; however, at this moment, it also appeared like a dilapidated ruin.
Apart from the feeling of survival, all of the Great Qin Empire cultivators felt heaviness in their hearts as well. After taking mortal blows repeatedly, it seemed inevitable that the Great Qin Empire was headed towards decline.
Its former days of glory were still fresh in people’s minds; however, in the blink of an eye, they have been shattered like fragile bubbles.
Now, the storm has finally calmed for now. The Great Qin Empire cultivators returned to the Hall of the Imperial Palace, swallowed elixirs and started to meditate, in order to begin to mitigate their injuries.
The new Emperor of the Great Qin, Shi Zongtang, sat straight in the throne in the Great Hall. He did not speak for a long time, and neither did the other high-ranking masters of the Great Qin Empire. The scene fell into a dead silence.
After a long while, Shi Zongtang opened his mouth and broke the silence. “Contact Prince Gunyang.”
One of the Great Qin Empire cultivators replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
With a flick of his finger, he sent out a streak of light – the shattering of a Voice-Projecting Crystal. The other side of the link was none other than Prince Gunyang of the Great Qin, Shi Zongmao, who was previously ordered, by Imperial decree, to head for the Kunlun Mountains and do not return to Xiling City.
“The Heavens bless the Great Qin. Long live the Emperor.” Shi Zongmao’s gravel-like voice sounded, with quite a bit of thankfulness mixed in. If Shi Zongtang and co. have the time to send a message, it meant that in the end, the Great Qin survived this calamity.
The Great Qin cultivator immediately reported the events to Shi Zongmao. Hearing his words, Shi Zongmao fell into a short silence as well.
After a long while, he said slowly, “Your Majesty, although the Great Qin passed this tribulation, but great change has occurred in the situation yet again. As for the course the Great Qin should take in the aftermath, the decision should be made fast.”
Shi Zongtang’s gaze was affixed on the ceiling of the Great Hall as he nodded slowly. “I thought the same, and so I asked to contact you, my Imperial brother.”
“How is the Huangtian Supreme Master now?” Shi Zongmao asked.
“Although he was injured as well, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. His mind is still immersed in the City in the Sky remains and the Twelve Divine Generals; it seems that apart from studying the profundity within, he is also corroborating it with his own cultivation and knowledge and vice versa,” Shi Zongtang said quietly. “For now, he should still be staying here, at Xiling City.”
Shi Zongtao knocked lightly on the Imperial table in front of him. “Previously, I communicated with him via Awareness, briefly. His Master, the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, has already returned to the Divine Lands formally – and descended at Mount Baiyun, meeting the attack of the Hades Tribe!”
Hearing this, whether it was Shi Zongmao at the other end of the Voice Projection, or the other Great Qin Empire cultivators present, all of their hearts relaxed somewhat. “That is good.”
As the Great Qin Empire cleaned up the battered Xiling City, simultaneously, it held another Imperial meeting. For the Great Qin, at this moment, they were treading on thin ice. Any one decision might bring about huge, far-reaching effects.
Meanwhile, on the walls of Xiling City, the twelve statues of the Men of Gold sat cross-legged, as if they were suppressing the Heavens. Silent, and solemn.
Shi Tianhao’s figure reappeared, before changing to human form. Sitting cross-legged in the Void, his eyes were closed as his hands formed an arcane gesture together, his mind immersed in meditation on the mantras.
At this instant, the Way of the Two Elements of Creation has became clear and visible in front of him.
This path, at the same time, indistinctly matched the principles and Concept of his newly obtained City in the Sky remains, such that they can be used to corroborate and study each other. Right now, as Shi Tianhao meditated on his own mantras, he was also strengthening his understanding and control of the City in the Sky remains.
At this moment, the Lu Yuan Grand Sage has also approached Xiling City. Gazing at the close-eyed, cross-legged Shi Tianhao, his heart was on a roller-coaster ride. “Those of the Celestial Sect of Wonders…indeed, they cannot be surmised with conventional logic!”
As he was thinking, Shi Tianhao’s body trembled slightly, and he opened his eyes.
The Lu Yuan Grand Sage was taken aback slightly before a thought surfaced in his mind as well, and he gazed towards the West, towards the horizon.
