by Feng Yue
Layers of huge ripples visible to the naked eye spread out of nowhere. Some kind of invisible pressure came down from the sky, tearing the burning red iron curtain. It was falling down.
Just in a second, the vast sea of light was chiseled, exposing a huge hole. Behind the hole was the universe’s original darkness.
There was something descending from heaven!
The stars were falling!
387 Pull
When the blazing object fell, it created a thunderous dragon-like roar. It shook the entire temple. The ground trembled, the walls vibrated, and the air seemed to solidify. Clashes sounded like giant stones rubbing against each other, setting off the acrid smell of something burnt.
“What is that?!” Paganini’s head shot up. His eyes narrowed, trying to distinguish the thing that had fallen before him.
The darkness around him swelled. Layers of music scores emerged; strange melodies overlapped into a grating cacophony. But there was still an odd rhythm and completeness.
It was as if the beast in the darkness had revealed a scale or claw—shocking but unable to see the entirety.
“Haha haha!” Wolf Flute danced, pointing at Paganini excitedly and yelling, “Die, f*cker! You’re dead now!”
Paganini’s face darkened. The surrounding darkness thundered. The falling object was approaching.
From the distance, he could feel the sudden sharpness. It was terrifying. The object tore through the air, causing gales of wind and thunder. It was closer, closer, and closer! And then…under everyone’s dumbfounded gazes, it cut a beautiful arc and fell somewhere on the edge of the city.
Boom! Something exploded in the distance. And then silence.
It missed the target? It f*cking missed?!
Wolf Flute’s smile stiffened.
The silence dragged on.
Paganini looked down at the two with a mocking yet sad smile. “Seems like your savior got lost. And what did you just call me?”
“I-I…” Scratching his head, Wolf Flute chuckled awkwardly. “What did I just say? Maybe you heard incorrectly. I didn’t say anything. Mr. Paganini, you look so nice and merciful. What if you let us go?
“We will do anything to repay your kindness. If others hear of this, it’ll be a great story and reputation for you as well. What do you think?”
Ye Qingxuan almost cried. “This is the help you’re talking about? Bro, where’s your dignity? Can you not just surrender like this?”
Paganini laughed heartily. He gazed at Wolf Flute in satisfaction. “Well said.” He slammed his hand down and darkness surged. “But sadly, it’s meaningless!”
In that moment, there was light.
-
Hundreds of miles away, moonlight illuminated the crater in the barren land. The giant ditch was shocking. The gravel moved and a hand reached out.
“My…old bones…” A raspy voice sighed helplessly. A hand reached out of the dirt but nothing else could be seen. There was only a wrinkled hand covered in age spots moving around, picking out his broken body.
Finally, the dirt was wiped away, revealing half a burnt face. It slowly recovered and regenerated. Looking at the moonlight, he sighed.
“Business trips are seriously difficult. If I knew…I would’ve stayed in the underground palace…watching the door… Getting the principal to say the truth is harder than persuading the natural catastrophes to be good people.”
Trembling, he pieced his body back together. Finally, he was back to normal. There was a rag stuck on his body and a rock embedded into his head. He looked pathetic as if he had just climbed out of his grave.
It was Dominic.
“Seriously old now.” Bending down to look, he coughed violently as he talked to himself. “Sent the package to the wrong place, got too excited and almost crashed when I saw those familiar faces. But how come Paganini still looks like that after all these years? He doesn’t even get some surgery…”
As he rambled, he finally dug a hole in the ditch and used all his energy to drag something out of it. The narrow steel case clanged onto the ground. It buzzed as if something was struggling furiously inside.
“Thankfully the case’s quality is pretty good.” Dominic checked it over and sighed. “If the thing is broken, I’ll probably get tossed into the Queen’s boiler to take a bath.”
With that, he picked up a rock and slammed it down. The lock cracked.
The sleep case shook and was pushed open from the inside. Radiant light shot into the sky like a reversed meteorite. The flash illuminated his withered face.
“Open up, delivery’s here!” He grinned. “Who’ll sign for it?”
-
The light flashed soundlessly. Paganini’s laughter cut off. A few seconds later, the boom exploded belatedly. The terrifying speed that overpowered the air created wild wind pressure. It felt solid and swept in all direction, leaving ghastly cracks on the stone tiles. The temple’s door shattered. The Garment’s enchantment shattered as well.
With a thud, something fell onto the ground. It was a hand…
Paganini looked down dumbly and saw his stub of a wrist. Then he looked ahead at the thing that was sticking out of the floor. It had cut off his hand. Now, it poked out of the tiles, waiting silently as if it had sprouted roots.
Ye Qingxuan gaped at it. He could only hear his heavy breathing. He walked forward involuntarily. His blood had become calm after moonlight was added but now it bubbled. His blood screamed with an indescribably urge. He studied the seemingly familiar thing. Realizing what it was, his eyes almost rolled out of their sockets.
“Why are you…here?” he murmured. He seemed to hear it speak in his ears, “Pull me! Hurry and pull me! Come pull me!”
Wolf Flute laughed, shattering the silence. He literally rolled on the floor laughing. Before coming, Wolf Flute had gotten a seemingly average whistle from the principal. He had fallen silent.
“Mr. Principal, is this truly useful?”
“Yes.” Maxwell had smiled. “You have to know that his blood isn’t just Deva’s blood. Half of it comes from Lancelot and…his mother’s identity is very special.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Lancelot family has always been a pillar of the kingdom with unwavering loyalty to the royalty. The royal family does not stop at rewarding them and pulling them closer either. For example, the simplest way…marriage.”
Maxwell’s smile grew mysterious. “Few people know that his mother’s mother—his grandmother—is the sister of the previous Anglo king. Do you know what this means, Wolf Flute? One-eighth of his blood is royal blood. That means that he is qualified to be the thirty-seventh successor of the throne!
“That is why he has the rights to represent the School of Royalty. That is also why he could be chosen by ‘it’ for his accomplishments in Anglo and have the right to control its power.”
In that moment, understanding flashed past Paganini’s eyes. He finally recognized the thing that had only appeared in legends and fairytales. “Wait!” he roared.
A hand reached out of the crack and pressed down, weaving wild melodies. He wanted to destroy that youth and burn him to dust.
But at the same time, Ye Qingxuan reached out and applied pressure. He pulled out the dusty, average-looking, rusted, and chipped…
Sword in the Stone!
388 Sword in the Stone
It was as if a sun was stuffed into his body. He burned! His blood boiled. If cold moonlight did not pour into the crazed veins to take away some heat and frenzy, Ye Qingxuan would probably be on fire now.
The ancient sword lit up in his hands. The rust flaked off, the chips were filled in, and it radiated. The vibrations were like a dragon’s roar!
Under the mind-shattering roar, Ye Qingxuan’s chest thrummed. The sub-originator that had replaced the Avalonian enchantment was activated, creating unimaginable changes. Countless melodies were born from the disordered theories and connected to the inside of the Sword. A vast cycle wa
s created.
Ye Qingxuan could feel the aether density of his blood rising rapidly. Ten times higher, one hundred times, one thousand times… The immense power was unleashed from the Sword. It turned the blood into flashes of light until Ye Qingxuan could no longer perceive how much his strength had increased.
He no longer felt pain or discomfort. In an instant, he had become one with the Sword in the Stone. He was no longer out of control. It was just what Maxwell had told Wolf Flute—no one was more qualified to wield this sword than Ye Qingxuan. It was not only due to his bloodline, his certified accomplished, and his recognized merits… There was also the sub-originator in him.
Ever since Arthur built his kingdom hundreds of years ago, the Avalonian enchantment had existed as the Sword’s sheath. Now, hundreds of years later, they became one again because of Ye Qingxuan.
It was as if he had suddenly transformed into a Holy Spirit. Ye Qingxuan felt an explosion of power within him like celestial movements.
He looked up. Blinding light shot from his eyes. A burning halo appeared above his head. He faced the tide of darkness head on. Stepping forward, he hoisted the sword and stabbed the ground.
For a moment, darkness swallowed him. There was a harsh clang of sword against stone in the darkness. Clang!
Blazing light shot into the sky! It was light emitted by the Sword in the Stone. Power from Avalon’s enchantment had fused into it. Thus, the light cut through all obstacles like a sword and rose. Under the illumination, Paganini’s tacky body shuddered and bubbled. He quickly shrank into the darkness under the Garment of Original Sin.
The light illuminated everything. The abyss music theory that had seeped into the temple now evaporated and fell apart. It was replaced by the music theory of Avalon’s enchantment. Its expansion did not stop until it ran into the Garment. Now, half of the temple was in control of the enchantment.
“I see…” Ye Qingxuan had expected this. He looked down at the sword in his hands. The blade was covered in countless interwoven and beautiful music scores. He could make out the ancient carved runes.
It said that the wielder of the sword was the king!
Everything in the Sword’s path became part of Anglo. Both earth and heaven were covered by Avalon’s enchantment. The sub-originator connected and became one with the Sword. The music theory changed instantly, creating dozens of music scores equal to a symphony of predestination. They joined and created the scepter of Heaven on Earth!
“The Sword in the Stone…I see…” Under the Garment, Paganini suddenly laughed. It started gently but lost control until the laugher was grating. “I see… I did not expect it! Fate is as such… If Ye Lanzhou knew, he would probably be rolling in his grave! His son actually…actually…haha…actually teamed up with his killer… This is so ironic!”
“You think I’ll believe you?” Ye Qingxuan glanced at him and walked forward. “Let’s change the topic and end this meaningless talk.”
Under the Garment, a ball of sticky blackness moved. Paganini looked up amidst his crazed laughter. Seeing the youth’s serious face, his eyes changed imperceptibly.
“You’re much more confident now, young man. Is it because there’s hope in defeating me?” He sighed. “But you must know that, even though I came about after Arthur, he would not become one of Hyakume’s dark followers even if he fell into the abyss. What makes you think that a dead man’s broken thing can…beat me?!” He waved his hands and a black violin appeared. The Garment transformed into a bow. Placing it on the violin, a chilling melody burst from the instrument.
When he grasped the violin bow, the sinister menace disappeared from his face. He looked calm and peaceful. His eyes were solemn, full of respect and genuineness as if looking at the truth. His loyalty and desire toward music theory was why his power did not decrease after falling into the abyss. Instead, his power became more pure and more…outrageous!
The Garment instantly began fighting back. It was not even a true music score—it was improvisation! It was like a hearty splash of wine, filled with romance, warmth, and genuine feelings. It was like an honest friend walking towards you and murmuring his secrets in your ear. Under the mournful and gentle melody, the Garment fluttered. The abyss’s power was instantly there.
Modifications, Choir, Mind, Illusion…music theories from all seven schools were combined into one cadenza. It crashed like a tide. Each wave was higher than the last; each time was more powerful than the last. It seemed endless.
It was unbelievable!
The territory of Heaven on Earth passively endured the charges. The shaking traveled down the sub-originator. Each attack rattled Ye Qingxuan until he was pale and unable to continue.
It was so hard to imagine how a casual and improvised performance could shake the Sword and shake the scepter until it was about to fall apart into twelve symphonies of predestination.
No wonder he was Paganini!
Ye Qingxuan coughed out blood and put his all in stabilizing the territory. Thankfully, he had specialized in the ‘way of the territory’ of Abstinence. Using the sturdy principles from the School of Stone Heart, he had the movement Holy from the Requiem and Haydn’s Genesis as reference… He was knowledgeable in composing music theory and territory structures. Otherwise, he could only watch as Heaven on Earth fell apart before his eyes.
Paganini was just using the enchantment to force him down. Improvising did not mean he slighted Ye Qingxuan. In fact, all saints who inherited the title of Paganini were the most talented performers and musicians. They had practiced more etudes than one could count to receive this title.
He specialized in improvisation. Based on the conditions, he could jump past traditional restrictions and create something targeted specifically at the enemy. He used almost godly talent to defeat his enemies.
All saints had composed a total of twenty-four caprices until Paganini became a dark musician. They were all masterpieces composed from the inspiration when facing a powerful enemy.
Ye Qingxuan should count himself lucky for Paganini to use his true talents on him. But now, he really did not have time to wonder about his talent at self-mockery. He could barely hold on anymore.
389 Back-up Plan
If Heaven on Earth could fight back, and he could use all twenty-four Chapters of Golden Victory, Ye Qingxuan would not be so powerless. But he just could not do anything!
This was the scepter left behind by King Arthur! Combining all twenty-four Chapters, aided by Avalon’s enchantment, the Heaven on Earth from the golden age was created. When activated, the entirety of Anglo was needed to activate Avalon’s enchantment and supply energy for Heaven on Earth. The Royal Musician Division was needed to help with the music theory changes.
This was undoubtedly a supersized war machine.
He did not have a higher level of resonance, the strength to move the aether sea or any other aid… As a mere official musician, it was already a miracle for Ye Qingxuan to cast a miniature Heaven on Earth with help from Avalon’s enchantment’s music theory. But it was okay. He could resonate now!
Despair flashed past his eyes and he tossed Heaven on Earth to the side. Moonlight threads extended from Jiu Xiao Huan Pei to the Sword. Coherence began! As if riding a wild wind onto the instrument, his mind broke through the shackles of reality and rushed into the aether world.
This time, he used the Sword’s power to find the source.
He instantly jumped past the once-long path and forged along his musician road deep into the aether world. He moved past the strong temptation of Avalon’s Shadow, brushed past the attraction of the abyss, left the radiance of the holy city, avoided the wall of the East, and moved in deeper.
He moved toward the scepter that the Ye family had left behind in the aether world. In a moment, the silent world was before his eyes. Ye Qingxuan was alone with a light amongst the countless tombstones.
“You’re here!” Laughing, he urged the Sword and rushed into it. With the Sword’s help, he already s
ensed that this was the source he needed to anchor in!
A whimsical dot swam in the nine levels of the aether sea created by countless music theories. To describe it, it was not a solid object but a gap… It was a gap that kept moving, created by the changing music theories.
It was just like how a tiny gap would appear as the countless gears of a complex machine spun; there was always a small dim spot as the stars turned… It was part of the whole yet also separate from the whole.
The Ye family’s scepter relied on that spot. Generations of Ye musicians had put in everything to create this hereditary scepter and captured that source. It was like a giant star pulling a meteorite to become its satellite.
After that, the source dot began to revolve around the scepter and exchange radiance with it. It was only complete if both were combined. Without either part, it could not be whole.
The moment Ye Qingxuan found the spot, he heard Paganini’s furious huff.
Under the Garment of Original Sin, how could Paganini not sense what Ye Qingxuan was doing? When he used his music theory’s fragmented feedback to discover the kid neglected Heaven on Earth to forcefully enter resonance, he burst into anger.
In a duel, a desperate attempt at a breakthrough was hope for the weaker side. But to the enemy, it was pure humiliation!
“You want to enter the Resonance level before me?” Paganini raised his dark eyes. “Where did you get that confidence?!”
The melody instantly rose and screamed from the Garment. Behind him, the abyss’s shadow rose as well while its coordinate in the aether world sank. The huge attractive pull created a vortex in the aether sea.
Pounding streams covered hundreds of thousands of miles in an instant. The equilibrium of the aether sea’s music theory was shattered, transforming into furious waves.
Paganini had used one action to adjust the abyss’s territory, forcefully stirring the aether sea into turbidity. Gales of wind blew, blocking any paths.