by Feng Yue
Dies Irae, Dies Irae, Dies Irae.
The phrase seemed to have some particular magical power; a magic that represented fear, suffering, destruction, and doom…
The group of abyss sages had all lost their cool when faced with the phrase, all their large brains filled with the wisdom of the abyss now full of rage, alarm, confusion, and… fear!
“All of you, shut up!” The incomplete head roared in extreme anger. “How is the situation there right now? Haven’t you all set up a surveillance array? The White Knight is already close to total completion! How can the eternal ruler left by my master be afraid of a mixed-race b*stard!”
Immediately, a flustered large head activated the eyes of the abyss hidden in the battlefield. Soon, under the power of the movement of revelation, the scene taking place in the center of the battlefield was quickly projected. But before the projected image unfolded, in the sensing of music theory, a weak ray of electricity flew out of the illusory projection, falling on the large head presenting the array.
The next moment, as if fire had spread to the firewood, the electricity surged madly. Drawing its power from the music theory of the abyss, it began to proliferate wildly. The large head screamed, and in a flash, horrifying flares shot out of the facial features, and terrifying electricity emerged from every single pore, making their way towards the people around like living creatures.
Out of carelessness, two abyss sages were similarly swallowed up by the electricity on the spot, and soon became the next sources of infection source. The short buffer provided the abyss sages time to save themselves.
The electricity went out not long after.
Everyone’s expression was distorted.
The handful of abyss sages originally swallowed up by electricity had disappeared without a trace, leaving only a few eccentric grayish-white statues in their place, which faithfully showed their faces twitching fearfully before death.
A gust of wind blew, and raindrops fell. The statues quickly collapsed and dissolved…
Grayish-white crumbs floated to the feet of the sages.
Someone braced himself, reached out, touched it, then looked up, his face pale. “It’s salt… They have all been turned into salt… It’s really the punishment of God!”
Like the city in the Bible that turned into ruins under the wrath of God, all the fallen who had betrayed justice had completely turned into salt pillars.
Presently, the same end awaited them.
683 We Meet Again
It was a joke. As the Originator of intelligence of the abyss, this group of sages were actually panicking over a pinch of salt.
“What exactly is Paganini thinking!” Someone screamed, “Why would such a huge mistake occur? Did he purposely leave behind such a dangerous fellow in our plans?”
“I can’t believe we have been keeping something dangerous so closely by our sides!”
“I knew we couldn’t trust humans! The plan hasn’t even succeeded and Paganini is already trying to abandon us?”
Someone suggested softly, “It’s still not too late for us to withdraw now…”
“We can still do that, as long as we return the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
The head stared coldly at the person who gave the suggestion. “Are you feeling afraid now? If you are going to panic at the first sign of trouble, what do we need you for?” Before he could finish, there was a change in the expression of the person who gave the suggestion. In the next instant, his brain exploded and turned into dust. The other abyss sages pretended not to notice what had just happened. Someone as dumb as him deserved to die anyway.
Their extraordinary statuses were the last appointments made by Hyakume, so they were closely tied to the future of the abyss. To withdraw at such crucial juncture, not only would the Sacred City take the opportunity to hunt them down, the other dark ministers would probably hack them all to death too.
“There’s no need to worry. We still possess the power of the black knight.” The head muttered, “Light up the soul-returning incense! Ring the white-snake bell! Summon all the dark ministers! Everyone, very soon, the last core will be born in the Ultimate. The new catastrophe will descend upon us to guide us into the future. The abyss is destined to be part of the physical world and nothing is going to change that.”
As the bell rang, the other dark ministers began to praise in one voice, “Finally, the sacred days are nigh!”
…
At the same time, at the highest point of the stronghold on the sea, the old musician, who had been observing the Ultimate with his scepter lenses, let out a sigh. He had just witnessed the incredible merging between Ye Qingxuan and ‘Day of God’s Fury’ and its amazing power. Even the old musician, who spent half his life working for Asgard, could not help but be taken back in awe. But at the same time, he also felt troubled as well as a sense of pity.
He was too anxious.
In silence, he lowered his eyes as he kept thinking about what had just happened. Eventually, he began to regret making the trade. The element of ‘Day of God’s Fury’ required purifying music theory as its foundation in order for its true powers to be fully unleashed. He already knew this. But what he did not know was that Ye Qingxuan’s Staff of Fate was the key. It was an artifact that was given to the Chief Inquisitor by the Holy Caldron. He did not expect it to be filled with such terrifying powers after merging with ‘Day of God’s Fury.’ This was the reason why he was starting to regret his decision.
He might have averted a crisis but at the same time, he also lost a trump card that he could have used against Ye Qingxuan in future. At this moment, he could not tell if he had won or lost the transaction, but there was a deep sense of fear that he might have just handed a very important weapon to an opponent, who was already very powerful, to begin with. He did not if he had made the right decision.
Very soon, he no longer lingered on that decision. Instead, he shifted his focus onto the other end of the Ultimate. Elements rose from the battlefield like a cluster of stars. Abundance, predestination, soul, intelligence, miracle, pleasure, frost, reward… 24 elements appeared from the burning left eye socket of the Second Prince. They rose all the way up into the sky until there was nothing left in the Second Prince’s left eye. But it seemed that this emptiness was the key. The final element was divinity.
The 25th element merged completely with the Second Prince and in the resulting roar, the illusions of the Nine Great Worlds were created and the Tree of World was summoned. The gigantic object, which had been rooted in the depths of the realm of aether, penetrated through nine layers of aether waves. It created layers of music theories and terrible power in the physical world and instantaneously shredded the environment that Ye Qingxuan had left behind.
As for Paganini, there was an expression of shock on his face. He did not expect that within such a short time, Ye Qingxuan would be able to withdraw himself and attack Paganini along with the Second Prince!
The unique attribute of Changing Music Theory allowed him to wade through this terrible attack. He would not be forced to his limits but neither would he be able to escape the Nine Great Worlds. However, what he feared the most was not the Second Prince, but Chopin, who had appeared out of nowhere.
With tattered and torn robes, and wrists that were full of wounds and scars, the illusion of the saint’s scepter appeared and seemed to be focusing on his Changing Music Theory. Without a doubt, the moment Paganini revealed any signs of weakness, the saint would not hesitate to strike him with a lethal blow.
Too many things were happening in an instant. Many people had no idea what was going on, and under such circumstances, the fleets of various countries retreated again and again. There was chaos everywhere, yet in the middle of the battlefield, there was an eerie silence. Any sound would be devoured by the chaotic turbulence.
Only pillars of salt stood tall, before gradually breaking down and collapsing from the rain. Grains of white salt were everywhere and one could just about see bl
ack fog rising from these salts. They seemed to be crying in despair as they curled up the stakes to become new fuel for the flame.
At the core of the battlefield, countless stakes were mounted like tombstones. Some of them had already finished burning and had collapsed, while others still stood tall while burning the music theory of the abyss. The light produced from the flames would suppress the aura of the white knight.
This was the first time that Ye Qingxuan was using his own music theory and movement to fight against a catastrophe. His enemies were the four knights created in the abyss, eternal rulers of the world of darkness on behalf of Hyakume.
“You are empty, a coward and a traitor…” The white knight looked down from his war horse. His dry lips parted and he spoke in a deep voice, “What right do you have to stand in front of me?” That voice seemed to be the product of several voices stacked together and sounded very familiar.
“You can actually speak?” Ye Qingxuan lingered around as he tried to dodge the shadow of the Elemental Arrow. He did not expect that the white knight was capable of speaking, which would mean that the white knight possessed intelligence and thought. A catastrophe, who was incapable of thought, would have been much easier to deal with than a smart and intelligent one.
Clearly, under the pressure of the Sickle of God’s Wrath, this fellow began to smell more and more like a human. Suddenly, Ye Qingxuan’s heart jumped as an incredible thought crossed his mind. He stared coldly. “Who are you!”
The white knight laughed coldly but did not answer and only arched his bow. The Elemental Arrow on the bowstring was gathering pure elemental projections, which were of a terribly high temperature now. The expression on Ye Qingxuan’s face changed.
The sun. He saw the sun aiming directly at him. Where had he felt this before…
When he looked at the white knight, he could not help but laugh. “After we departed, I never expected you to be revived from the consciousness of a catastrophe. This is unbelievable. You can’t be the only one here! We meet again, Your Majesty!”
The white knight’s face changed and revealed a face mildly simmering with rage while staring coldly at Ye Qingxuan.
King of the Sun!
684 I Look Forward to Your Triumphant Return
Seeing that still stunned face, Ye Qingxuan laughed until he could not breathe.
“Not long ago, you said that I couldn’t handle great responsibility, that I wasn’t suited to power, but look who has fallen now, Your Majesties?” Ye Qingxuan laughed until his sides split. “How does it feel to become part of the White Knight? You’ve once again become the kings of the earth, forever and ever! Hahahahaha!”
Even though they were being ridiculed by Ye Qingxuan, their faces did not betray the least bit of shame. The former kings had been buried in the Ultimate. Their bones had been interred in the island, and their consciousness had been melded into the arrays, becoming the iron rules that governed the Ultimate. After the White Knight had devoured their bones and consciousnesses, he used the masters of the earth that Hyakume had created to make the kings a part of him.
The former kings of the earth and the present kings of the earth had been melded into one. Their bones had been molded into a crown and placed upon the White Knight’s head, and all their music theory and elements had been integrated into his body.
The former kings who had ushered in the age of humanity had become a stepping stone for the ancient darkness.
Could there be any mockery crueler than this?
The Sickle of God’s Wrath fell, and the sun’s glow was torn in two. Ye Qingxuan’s smile became even more mocking, and he opened his mouth to say something even more cutting, but before he could a chill rose up from under his feet, distracting him from what he was saying. The man who was skilled enough to make all the thieves in the world shed tears of painful defeat was forced to roll several meters away for safety.
A roar burst forth.
Broken stone went flying. Some of it smashed into his face painfully.
He looked up and saw the White Knight’s longbow slowly transform into a primitive spear. Arrays were shining upon the spear, and lightning curled around it.
The White Knight sped up. He galloped towards Ye Qingxuan on his warhorse with a spear in hand and stabbed at the place where he had just been, cracking the stones. Everywhere he passed everything turned to ash. His face had transformed into that of the Master of the Golden Palace.
“D*mn it!” Ye Qingxuan gaped at him. He finally remembered, when the White Knight had devoured the former kings, he had not just obtained their memories and their elements, but also their terrible martial power that was strong enough to found a new epoch.
He looked down at the sickle he was holding, then looked up at the lightning gun that the White Knight had. He felt like he was screwed. He had to fight in close combat with seven or eight of the best warriors in the world, the knights who had founded a new epoch?
You’ve got to be kidding me. He once again remembered the time he had been strung up and beaten by the Witch Hammer’s instructors.
After he had crammed for it for so long, his martial arts were still bad enough to make people cry and not bear to look. Maybe if Lancelot was here he could go a few rounds with these emperors, but if Ye Qingxuan went up against them, he’d be dead meat!
And who was the Master of the Golden Palace?
A monster who, by himself, with only a single horse and gun, could assume the forms of all the warriors of all the tribes of Asgard!
For the former kings, defeating a dime-a-dozen fighter like him would be a matter of only a couple of shots. They might not even want to get their hands dirty killing a weakling like him.
“Wait!” Ye Qingxuan raised his hand and shouted, “Didn’t you say we were going to have a fair and upright fight as musicians?”
Bang! The lightning gun roared, piercing through the void and crashing into the Sickle of God’s Wrath. Ye Qingxuan flew several dozen meters. Before he had stopped, the lightning gun began to shake and reformed into a longbow, and an elemental arrow came whistling over towards him.
Ye Qingxuan was beset from all sides, with wolves nipping at his legs. For some reason, he felt wronged.
What was this? His just deserts?
Fair and upright? How can you even freaking say that, Ye Qingxuan? Have you ever, at any time in your career, been a fair and upright musician?
When it comes to your ability to throw a sack over someone’s head and beat them or other dirty tricks the Musician’s Association had to take your name off the list!
And you still expect others to fight you fairly?
In your dreams!
That was not even the worst part.
The worst part was that the White Knight on his warhorse reached out and grabbed the broken Stone Plate. He held the core of a catastrophe, and using this as an interface, extracted unlimited power from the Ultimate.
With this massive infusion of aether, the shadows of the kings appeared behind him.
There was a crisp snapping sound as bones began to grow. Two pairs of skeletal arms quickly grew out of his split open back, holding a bow and arrows, a long knife and an epee. Under his crown, new features slowly emerged on the two sides of the White Knights head.
Ye Qingxuan’s hair stood up at the thought that he would have to face this six armed, three-headed monster. He gazed resolutely at the core of the catastrophe, gritted his teeth and firmly planted his feet. He had made up his mind.
If you won’t be benevolent, I won’t be righteous.
You’ll watch me die, but I’m going to call someone!
“Don’t play dead, elder!” shouted Ye Qingxuan. “You’re the one who wants to sit on the mountain and watch the world burn, right? Even when I’m doomed, you still won’t deign to help? Or are you prepared to fight this d*mn battle for 300 rounds?”
All was silent. There was no answer.
The White Knight’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
/> But what happened next stunned everyone watching.
There was a sudden burst of cold light in the steel of a piece of the broken Ultimate. A sword as sonorous and powerful as Solomon’s Seal flashed down, ringing out continuously. The movement-like ringing of the sword transformed into a dragon’s roar.
A freezing cold sword burst out of what had originally been nothing grew closer and closer. That length of steel was like a tightrope held by an invisible swordsman, wobbling up and down. In a flash is snapped back and forth 19 times, and the sound of rupturing pierced everyone’s ears without end.
The Dragon-form Sword that should have already disappeared coalesced once again. After experiencing annihilation it became even more precise, murderous and restrained, not revealing anything.
In an instant of violence, it pierced, slashed and cut 19 times in a heavenly display of swordsmanship. It pierced through eyes, cut throats, broke arms, cut through sternums, smashed hearts, severed limbs…
The chilling sword technique evolved into a scene straight out of a horror story, cutting the White Knight to pieces in a flash.
Even Chopin was dumbstruck.
…He could freaking do that?
Not only had he not died while under attack from the elemental arrows; he had feigned death in order to escape, had slunk away avoiding the catastrophes’ eyes and ears, and had hidden close by.
Although it was only a blow and the White Knight was difficult to kill, the fact that there was such a frightening sword technique in the world was enough to keep even the greatest up at night.
Other people had not been able to see the moment that the White Knight had freed the elemental arrow, but Ye Qingxuan had relied on the perception granted to him by the blood of the Deva to see it clearly.
At the moment before he was about to be pierced, the Dragon-form Sword had turned back and destroyed itself, killing its own projection first!
Dead things can’t kill again.