Food System in Cultivation World-Chapter 511 - 464: Easily Scattered by Upper Realm Gale
July 29th, Jade Capital.
When the Twelve-Layered Tower first gave off faint tremors, in truth, no one was able to immediately grasp what exactly was happening.
Even outside on the plaza before the Twelve-Layered Tower, many people were still arguing over whose enlightenment was greater and whose immortal fate was stronger between Xie Mingyi and Chen Xu.
Chen Xu had written the unprecedented "Treatise on Subduing the Locust Demon," and he had carried out the awe-inspiring feat of diverting southern waters to the north.
His strength and accomplishments were beyond question.
Yet there was also a group with unique opinions, insisting:
"Immortal fate, immortal fate—it’s called ’fate’ for a reason, so naturally it comes down to chance and destiny.
This is not a competition of strength; it is not to say that whoever has more merit, greater fame, or stronger power, must automatically have greater immortal fate.
If immortal fate were truly earned through strength, then why aren’t the Great Scholars of our time the ones climbing to the twelfth floor of the Twelve-Layered Tower to obtain immortal fate?"
These words, oddly enough, sounded quite reasonable.
Those supporting Chen Xu still couldn’t help but rebut:
"But surely your logic isn’t that the stronger one’s power, the weaker one’s immortal fate becomes? Now that would truly make no sense."
But the contrarian smugly retorted, "Exactly, which is why strength and immortal fate are unrelated.
It’s possible Mr. Chen has greater immortal fate, or perhaps Master Xie does.
In short, so long as Mr. Chen has not yet come to the Twelve-Layered Tower, all our arguments are but empty words.
Yet you’re so quick to conclude that as soon as Mr. Chen visits the tower, he’ll surely surpass Master Xie—that’s hardly reasonable either, is it?"
After this volley of debate, everyone fell silent.
Many were left dizzy by this logic, unable to utter a word, and their minds were thrown into turmoil.
Until someone pointed at the Twelve-Layered Tower and cried out in alarm:
"No, no—look... what is that?"
What was it?
Bzzzz—
A strange humming sound was the first thing to arrive.
Immediately after came a subtle trembling, as if it were an earthquake—or as if some celestial drumbeat was beating from above, thumping and shaking the mortal world.
On the plaza, someone couldn’t help stumbling at their feet, shouting, "The ground is shaking! Run!"
Panic erupted as some turned and bolted.
Others called out loudly:
"Don’t run, don’t! This isn’t an earthquake—running will only make it more dangerous... ah!"
The shouter failed to stop the panicked crowd, and instead was knocked to the ground by someone charging through.
It seemed a stampede was about to happen—when, all at once, the sky suddenly darkened.
Yes, the sky had darkened.
It was clearly broad daylight, the sun shining overhead.
A moment before, the sun had just risen high, its light dazzling the entire world, but in the next instant, that bright celestial light was abruptly snuffed out.
As if a pitch-black curtain had fallen from the heavens, sealing off the entire firmament!
The sun vanished; heaven and earth were plunged into utter darkness.
In the thick darkness, people could not see those beside them, nor could they see themselves.
Only the sounds of confusion filtered into their ears, until at a certain moment, like oil poured on dry tinder, chaos erupted—with a deafening roar.
"The Celestial Dog is devouring the sun! Wuwuwu..."
"Have mercy, Heaven! Spare a wretch like me—I won’t gossip again, I swear!"
"Save us! The Celestial Dog has swallowed the sun—immortals, save us, please..."
"Who will save me? I don’t want to die! My eighty-year-old mother still needs me, my wife and children depend on me... I don’t want to die, I can’t die, wuwuwu!"
In that moment, who knows how many people dropped to a squat, clutching their heads and weeping in terror.
A stampede, which seemed certain to happen, instead dissipated unseen in the heavy darkness.
Panic clenched the hearts of countless people—even among those possessing cultivation, few could remain calm.
In that moment, even the passing of a single breath seemed to stretch into eternity.
Who knew how much time had passed—perhaps only a few heartbeats.
Suddenly, a sorrowful voice bursting with power echoed throughout the crowd.
"The Celestial Dog devours the sun—surely it is because the ruler has lost his virtue, the court has decayed, and so Heaven sends disaster to punish the world.
But O Heaven—you see all from above! Though the ruler lacks virtue, what sin have the common people committed? 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
If there is sickness in the world, why not punish only the guilty, instead of visiting catastrophe upon the innocent? Alas—"
That anguished voice pointed heavenward in accusation, questioning the heavens while cursing the ruler.
Every word was blame, every sentence struck home.
The mighty lament swept through the darkness like a storm, engulfing all.
Many, moved despite themselves, began to reflect inwardly in the dark.
The Celestial Dog devours the sun—such an ominous sign. Is it truly because the ruler has no virtue?
It seemed so.
Surely Heaven would not choose to target the common folk?
When did ordinary people ever matter enough for Heaven to set its sights on them?
If the people were blameless, guilt must rest with the ruler.
And the ruler’s guilt, too, bore signs long before.
The northern drought not long ago was one; the great flood in the southern provinces a decade prior, another.
Aside from these two momentous disasters known throughout the land, lesser calamities had also never ceased.
Not to mention the distant past—events too far for the common folk to know—
Just last winter, the snow disaster in the capital region alone left the people of Jade Capital with unforgettable scars and lingering fear.
Even now, it’s only half a year since the snows melted; bodies buried beneath have yet to completely turn to dry bones—those who froze, starved, or died from cold still lie beneath.
And apart from natural disasters, there are moreover the terrors wrought by men.
Some man-made calamities do not cut straight and quick, but bleed you with the dull knife of this mortal world.
