Chapter 787
Chapter 787
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 787
>Chapter Title: Edict
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“Hahahaha!!”
The man-faced, beast-bodied creature writhing in the blood ignored everyone, thrashing its limbs as it burst into manic laughter.
“Hahaha! The sun sets and the moon sets! At noon Mount Taihua sinks into Yangming! Dusk seeks descent, dawn seeks ascent—Nine Calamity Heavenly Dragon, Star of Yinghuo! Crimson Palace falls, White Jade dims, Heavenly Fiend Great Governor of Radiance, Flowing Gold! Hahaha!!”
After finishing its crazed proclamation, the creature—with a human head and the featherless body of a vulture—suddenly went limp and collapsed, no longer moving at all.
It had all happened too fast—so fast that everyone present stood frozen in shock.
After a long moment, the woman with her abdomen torn open, barely clinging to life, threw herself over the creature’s body and wailed in despair.
“My son—ah!!!”
At her cry, the surroundings exploded into motion.
“Protect His Majesty! Protect His Majesty!!” Gao Zhijian was instantly surrounded by layers of guards.
Meanwhile, Li Huowang staggered slightly, his face turning extremely grim.
He recognized this thing of prophetic calamity. It was called Yu. It had appeared once before in Great Qi. Not long after its appearance, Great Qi had fallen.
And now such an ominous harbinger had appeared here. What it signified needed no explanation.
This was truly disastrous.
Gao Zhijian didn’t recognize it, but clearly someone beside him did. Soon, an elderly eunuch with copper-coin tattoos around his eyes and a golden fly-whisk in hand whispered urgently into his ear.
As Gao Zhijian’s eyes widened in disbelief at the blood-soaked creature, Li Huowang spoke heavily:
“He’s right. We’re facing a great calamity.”
Shocked, Gao Zhijian waved his hand urgently. “Quick! Return to the palace!”
Finding the procession too slow, he leapt down, mounted a horse, and galloped away.
Li Huowang bent down, tore the dead Yu from the woman’s arms, and hurried after him.
As Emperor of Great Liang, Gao Zhijian issued orders summoning civil and military officials, commanding all military forces to prepare for immediate mobilization.
The city’s atmosphere instantly grew oppressive. The common people seemed to instinctively sense something dreadful. In broad daylight, the streets fell eerily empty; those forced outside hurried along the walls, heads lowered.
Soon, the upper echelons of the allied forces gathered.
They stared at the dead Yu on the ground. After hearing Gao Zhijian’s account, none spoke.
After two cups of tea’s time, a young eunuch entered.
“Your Majesty, I’ve just received word. This ill omen has not only appeared in the Four Qi regions, but also in Qingqiu, in Later Shu, and even in all six circuits of Great Liang…”
Those words shattered the final shred of hope in everyone’s hearts.
This was no fabrication of the Law Faction.
A true world-ending calamity was coming.
“Your Majesty!” A scar-faced military general stepped forward and knelt on one knee. “Allow this old servant to go to war! I swear upon my life to take the head of the Law Faction’s leader and shatter this false prophecy!”
His declaration triggered a chain reaction. Others followed, requesting to lead the charge. The appearance of Yu had set everyone’s hearts aflame—they did not wish to wait even a moment longer.
Even the civil officials of the Celestial Surveillance Bureau could not restrain themselves.
Standing in the corner, Li Huowang observed carefully.
Their fierce reactions stemmed from fear.
They feared the world might truly end.
And how could Li Huowang not fear it as well?
When Great Qi fell, they fled to Great Liang. But what if Great Liang also fell?
He dared not imagine such an outcome.
“General, be at ease. Roads must be walked step by step; meals eaten bite by bite. The Law Faction’s fortune is nearly spent. Do not act rashly and fall into their trap.”
Under Gao Zhijian’s steadying voice, the hall gradually calmed.
He began assigning duties methodically, reorganizing forces. The scattered morale slowly reconsolidated.
It seemed Gao Zhijian had learned much from the dragon vein—how to stabilize hearts amidst great peril and search for opportunity.
When the others withdrew, Gao Zhijian turned to Li Huowang.
“Senior Brother Li, what do you intend to do next?”
With Yu now appearing, Li Huowang’s resolve only hardened.
“I will complete the Dragon-Slaying Immortal-Execution Array. If Yu appears in the mortal realm, then something far worse must be happening above. I must see what is happening up there.”
“Senior Brother Li, must you truly do this?”
“Yes.”
Gao Zhijian sat gravely upon the dragon throne.
“Senior Brother Li, do you remember the choice I mentioned earlier?”
“I do.”
“Then I advise against it. Master Xuanpin once said this array could sever the Law Faction’s path entirely and cause their collapse. I risked myself as the array core because of his certainty. But look at what happened—everyone died, and now ill omens have appeared. This method does not work.”
“I have another plan against the Law Faction. I hope you will assist me.”
Li Huowang shook his head.
“No. The method still works. Whatever that Siming is, if it gave me seven secrets, it must want me to set the array. The Simings still need my help.”
Gao Zhijian gripped the dragon-head armrest tightly.
“What is a Siming? You don’t even know what it is, yet you dare trust it? Can you be sure it won’t use you as humans do? Xuanpin may have died because he was deceived by a Siming!”
“A person’s fate must rest in their own hands, not in external powers!” Li Huowang could hear the deep distrust in Gao Zhijian’s voice.
“Senior Brother Li, your abilities are vast. You should remain where you are most needed. With Xuanpin gone, we need you to hold the line against the Law Faction.”
Frustration burned within Li Huowang.
“Do you think we’re only fighting the Law Faction? If we defeat them, will everything return to how it was? What if it can’t?”
Gao Zhijian gestured lightly. A eunuch brought brush and golden imperial edict scroll.
He wrote swiftly, then placed the edict on the tray.
Moments later, it was carried before Li Huowang.
“Li Huowang, receive the decree.”
Li Huowang did not move.
