All Heavenly destiny reduced to ashes-Chapter 1497 - 269: Countdown

"Leave, or die."

"There’s no third choice."

At this moment, Shenjing fell silent.

"Ten."

As the countdown began, not everyone was engulfed in panic. Streams of light shot up from various parts of Shenjing, signaling scouts from different forces who had already sensed something was amiss, or those warriors who reacted the fastest.

Without hesitation, they used various escape skills, fleeing outward from Shenjing without looking back.

"Nine."

The anomaly of the first second spurred fear in the second, and seeing people leading the escape, more awoke from their dreams.

Screams rose one after another, and Shenjing’s martial artists, or families possessing magic weapons and artifacts, fled without hesitation, while wealthy families activated their private flying shuttles, scattering like countless mosquito-like points of light in panic through the sky above Shenjing, akin to roadside lamps at night.

They might still be hesitating, but undeniably, they wished to live rather than ponder.

"Eight."

Some wanted to flee, but even in Shenjing, there were families with little wealth or those who didn’t know how to leave or find an escape route in a short time.

They were bewildered, stepping out intending to go left, only to find the way out of Shenjing was on the right, but as they moved right, the way was blocked, forcing them left again, where ruins, wreckage, earth cracks already sealed the path. This despair-induced bewilderment led them to hopelessness.

However, above the heavenly dome, the gigantic blue sword lotus glittered, beams of light falling, enveloping those who genuinely wanted to escape but couldn’t leave, and as the waves of the Great Void circulated, their figures disappeared.

"Seven."

With the departure of the most resolute, those eager to live yet unable to find a path, the wave of escape in Shenjing faced a brief halt.

"Imperial Heaven, Earth, why are we so cursed!"

Some people stopped, stubbornly guarding their doorsteps or mansions.

One splendidly dressed wealthy family, after a brief struggle, returned crying to embrace the stone Pixiu in front of their door: "This is a family heirloom; real estate prices in Shenjing are sky-high. How could we, unworthy descendants, abandon this easily?!"

"I spent fifty years paying off loans for this house; better to let me die than destroy it!"

Some held even stronger beliefs: "Nonsense! Under the emperor’s feet, is the Divine Capital Array just for show? If the Forbidden Army fails, the Imperial Court will protect us!"

"Six."

Seeing the sword lotus in the sky shining ever brighter, its shadows enveloping the city, angry curses arose, hysterical: "Damn it, I’m not leaving!"

"I refuse to believe you can kill everyone in Shenjing!"

"An Jing! Damn you! What grievance does Da Chen have with you? Why must you attack Shenjing!"

"Aren’t you the Mountain Master of Heavenly Sword? The court rewarded you, why must you harm us!"

"Your actions against us are no different from the Heavenly Demon!"

Faced with these curses and insults, the martial artist remained unfazed: "Five. Four."

Apart from those lost to fear, indecision, and conflict; those who became irrational and started to shout and curse crazily, many were still struggling internally.

Undoubtedly, their reason understood they had to escape, even if An Jing would be crushed by Da Chen’s power later, his resistance and assault would be enough to destroy half of Shenjing.

This is why various great forces balance each other because if a single Manifesting Holy were to go mad, it could cause irreparable destruction in border areas, and if a Pure Yang were to rage, even Shenjing would not be spared, and if it were Lingxiao... the entire continent faced calamity.

An Jing’s strength, though not as potent as Lingxiao’s, was undoubtedly much stronger than an ordinary Manifesting Holy. Staying in Shenjing was a death wish!

Yet the swirling thoughts in their minds kept them from moving their steps.

"Leaving now, will I be seen as a traitor?"

"If the court settles accounts later, will I still hold my position?"

"If I flee, what will my colleagues think? Will they say I am cowardly, afraid of death and lacking courage?"

"What if... what if this is merely an empty show of force? Leaving now would mean forsaking my household registration and properties in Shenjing for nothing?"

The martial artist understood these thoughts thoroughly but continued to count down calmly: "Three. Two."

"One."

Amidst all hesitation, fortune seeking, fear, and greed, a deep-rooted emotion dominated the hearts of most who chose to stay.

It was a... trust in Da Chen.

A nearly ignorant faith, ingrained in their bones.

"It’s going to be okay." A senior holding his grandchild murmured, "This is Shenjing, the land sheltered by the Holy Ancestor. Da Chen has existed for thirty thousand years, what storms haven’t we faced? A mere madman cannot overturn heaven!"

"Yes, Da Chen will protect us! The Imperial Court will not stand idly by!"

—If it’s Da Chen, if it’s Da Chen, they can surely protect us!

In that moment, everyone, all who chose to remain, simultaneously looked up, projecting all their gazes, prayers, hopes, urgency, and pleas toward the Wenwu officials at the location of the Divine Beheading Platform!

The countdown ended.