Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1428 - 28: The Last Resort
The center of the imperial city is the white palace, and a straight avenue lies before it. This road has been repaired several times over two thousand years; it has carried the ministers’ carriages, borne the nobles’ grand sedan chairs, and accommodated the luxury cars of visiting foreign guests. Today, a pair of cloth shoes stepped onto the road leading to the palace, belonging to a burly red-haired man. The man let his coarse, red hair flow casually behind his head, wearing jeans and athletic wear, with a black windbreaker draped over him, appearing like a tourist here to admire the imperial palace.
At the end of the avenue, two other men descended the long steps leading to the palace. The young black-haired man wore a military uniform with hands behind him, while the elder with floating beard carried the Purple and Blue Double Swords ahead. The Hidden Law Master’s gaze swept over the two, first looking at the youthful-looking one.
"Duke Wu Qin An, protector of the nation for four hundred years, having slain two Creator Realm Mages, transcended the ’leakage’ through long grinding," the Hidden Law Master said, "but ultimately failed to comprehend eternal truth, both talent and strength inferior to your descendants—an ordinary man."
"The children are all very promising," Qin An nodded in agreement. The Hidden Law Master then looked at the elder.
"General Zhenwu Zhang Hongzheng, since the Yong Guang Calendar year 524, has journeyed through time and space six times, the real-world prototype of Emperor Zhenwu’s meme. Mastered the Heavenly Return Skill, achieved Martial Arts eternal truth, the Impermanence Skill also bears Desolate Form Creation Realm—both scholarly and martial talents." The Hidden Law Master shook his head, "You have mastered two eternal truths yet lack the means to harmonize them. Attaining the Dao too early makes advancement impossible for life. Born in today’s era, you would stand shoulder to shoulder with Yan Qi and Qin Ming at the pinnacle, but knowledge from fifteen hundred years ago only allows you to become a mediocre existence. What a pity."
"Not a pity," Zhang Hongzheng said, "Always someone must stumble for others to know the way to go, whether it’s me or my disciple, it’s the same."
The Hidden Law Master nodded, with a trace of melancholy in his eyes.
"All outdated relics have already fallen behind the times. Does the imperial city plan to rely on two exhausted old men to stop me?"
"We two juniors cannot bear your term ’old’," Qin An stood firmly, "You spoke of our origins earlier, yet unsure how we should address you? ’Central Spirit Residue’... or Hidden Law Master and Controller Nucleus?"
"It doesn’t matter, after all, I am the one to defeat you, no need to care about titles," the Hidden Law Master said lightly, "All pillars of the empire, I offer you a choice. I already possess the power of the Five Realms; now let me take out the Time-Space Dragon under the palace. Once the Six Realms unite, I can fully control the real world, guarding eternal brightness for the empire."
"Thank you," Qin An nodded, "Choice made."
As he spoke, Qin An leaped forward like a swift eagle, the fluttering military coat blocking the sunlight before the Hidden Law Master. Qin An, his back to the sun, punched with one hand, the fierce and firm punch force resembling another grand sun descending upon the earth, its heat burning mountains and rivers.
Qin Secret Skill · Star Fall.
This was once a nation-destroying strike; two hundred years ago, Qin An single-handedly stormed the enemy lines, using this punch to kill the Creation Realm Mage who tried to divide the land. Unaware of the truth, the historian recorded that fierce winds tore the flags on the day of battle, the meteor fell from beyond the sky, crushing the rebel leader to dust, and under the blessing of destiny, the empire’s general won complete victory. This fierce punch was once the key to determining the battle, but now it was merely Qin An’s cover.
The real killer move was under the scorching sun, as the elder shot forward like an arrow, the clashing Purple and Blue Double Swords emitting a clear, bright sword light twisted by True Qi into a strand, straight at the Hidden Law Master’s chest.
Still direct confrontation, still righteous sword routes, martial artists’ ultimate techniques are always open and honest attacks. The storm-breaking meteor before this sword could only be an accompaniment; it is the indomitable spirit of protecting the nation, the True Martial Demon-clearing Sword refined through Zhang Hongzheng’s lifetime!
The Hidden Law Master simultaneously pushed out his hands, the back of the left hand blocking Qin An’s punch, the palm of the right hand against Zhang Hongzheng’s sword. A smudge of red appeared at his palm, as Zhang Hongzheng’s sword pierced his skin, drawing a drop of blood.
"Well done," the Hidden Law Master said, "You have reason to be proud."
He sunk his waist, exerted force, the signature strength of Red Emperor Martial Arts transforming into strands of red electric light, the wild power like ten thousand snakes dancing madly, surging out!
"Heavenly Return Power, final realm. Red Emperor Star Suppressing Palm."
Meteor shatters, dual swords break, Qin An and Zhang Hongzheng flew backward, the surging force within them causing them to spit blood. Victory and defeat were determined in this instant; they were heroes who broke armies to protect the nation, but that man was a powerhouse who suppressed stars!
·
"Your Highness, step aside."
At the front of the Imperial Study Room, Qin Qianbai silently removed the hairpin from her hair. Blocking the doorway was Chi Zijing, flipping through an old notebook, not only refused to retreat upon hearing, but instead blocked even more firmly.
"Qin Qianbai, you may not fight," he said calmly, "There are still formidable enemies yet to reveal themselves, and you are currently the strongest force in the imperial city. If the strategy errs, we can only rely on you. If you fail, everything will be over; hence you cannot act now, wait until we have the odds before launching."
Qin Qianbai transformed the hairpin into a long knife: "They were never opponents of those three to begin with."
"They should go fight, regardless of life or death, wins or losses," Chi Zijing said.
Qin Qianbai looked at the crown prince at the door, as if recognizing this man for the first time. Chi Zijing’s face was devoid of sorrow or joy; he was even reading that notebook at the moment, cold as a machine.
"Hiding behind elders, relying on their sacrificing lives to barely survive—this is unequivocally cowardly behavior. But now I am the Imperial Crown Prince, you are a Wanhua Martial Artist, both of us must consider the ’big picture’. If the ’big picture’ requires delay, requires intelligence gathering, I do not mind being a coward."
"Qin Qianbai, I have no authority to command you, so I implore you to watch with me," he closed the notebook in his hand, "Watch them fight... and watch them fall."
"I am a Heavenly Return Mage," Qin Qianbai said, "My big picture is to fight first."
The long knife of Wanhua swung down, as Qin Qianbai had made a decision. She would rather offend the Crown Prince than stand by; however, Chi Zijing clasped the blade in his hands, with blood seeping from them, and his eyes calm as the abyss. The outcome was uncertain, but he had resolved to stall this willful martial artist; he had thought of a way.
"I told you not to act, and now I must stop you," Chi Zijing said, "If you forcibly enter the battle, I’ll do my utmost to delay Shiyu Ling from assisting. I also don’t hesitate to help Hadrian and the Hidden Law Master. If you leave the palace... it will be a dead end."
With a somber blackness in his eyes, Qin Qianbai knew this man wasn’t joking. He was serious, saying that he wouldn’t leave, even if he saw his mentors and friends die, he wouldn’t take a step out of the palace.
In a trance, Qin Qianbai recalled the night of Yan Qi’s wrath, and after thirteen years, she felt Yan Qi’s past agony.
What use is unparalleled power? How does reaching the ultimate realm help? You cannot change others’ wills nor alter the external grand scheme. You appear to have many choices, but in truth, the viable options are few. You’re caught in a dilemma, trapped like you are in a cage.
·
Outside the city gates, Agent Will fell into floods of death.
In the suburbs of Divine Capital, Liu Zhongwu had lost consciousness.
Before the palace hall, the elderly men attacking jointly were effortlessly knocked away by the Hidden Law Master.
Amidst the clash of floods and heavenly fire, the ancient capital teetered on the brink, with the rumble and groans intermingling with the people’s cries of despair. It was as hopeless as the prophecy of doom depicted in mythological murals, as if prosperity and stability were just illusions before the eyes, with destruction and decay being the predestined end.
Those able to influence the battle were not in Divine Capital.
Those capable of taking a stand couldn’t join the fight.
The man who should have been the first to rush onto the battlefield was caught in the cage of indecision thirteen years ago. Before him lay tens of millions of apathetic citizens, behind him were hundreds of millions of defenseless innocents. With his increasingly tenuous life reduced to a few breaths, he had to make a decision in those breaths—the only correct decision.
The various scenes outside the blue light screen streamed into Gongsun Ce’s eyes. Mr. Lan crushed the light screen in his hand, and for the first time, sympathy appeared in his eyes. The laughter of tens of millions echoed around Gongsun Ce, with frantic thoughts nearly tearing his soul apart. His hands had become near transparent, clutching his chest tightly, bending like a patient about to vomit.
Cannot do.
No choice.
Gongsun Ce couldn’t solve the problem.
This was a tailor-made hopeless situation for him; he couldn’t find a way out no matter what. Gongsun Ce was not an omnipotent god, he couldn’t always think of a perfect solution. Reality was an inescapable cage, where humanity had no choice but to lament, compromise, and ultimately make only one choice—only one choice—
The intangible hand fell from his chest, in the last moment Gongsun Ce suddenly straightened, like a flag unwilling to bend. His roar swept through the crowd of numb souls, storming through the desperate imperial capital under dark night.
"——Stop watching, Situ Yi!!"
Thus, the laughter in Divine Capital City stopped.
So, people’s faces showed expressions other than smiles.
Those expressions were anger, sadness, excitement, worry, the gloating of the petty, the heroism of fulfilled ambition. Melodious tinkles from the deep alleyways emerged, bronze gongs and suonas stirring the resounding herald of commencement, as people whose demeanor had transformed in the haunting melody sang out in a bright opera tune:
"Once schoolmates, ten years later, turned adversaries, laden with hatred, swallowed grudges as they meet; clever and resourceful, unable to predict future changes; brave and strong, unable to ensure current prowess. Yesterday the city was ablaze with splendor, tonight snow covers palace walls with barren bones. We lament others trapped in a cage, unaware of our own chains at feet!"
Gray-white threads fell like rain, the ground in reality flipped like a mechanism, wooden houses, stone towers, mansions, and palaces all sank into the ground, replaced by shoddy backdrops made from cardboard and iron frames. Stacks of old brown wood rose, between two black pillars, red curtains manipulated by threads descended, forming a square stage.
The pillars on both sides of the stage were carved with couplets, the upper couplet reads "Whether a gentleman or a villain, or a talented scholar or a beautiful lady, reveals as they appear," the lower couplet says "Sometimes calm and peaceful, sometimes earth-shattering, all disappears in an instant." The blood-red curtains slowly opened, a tall and thin actor stood facing the masses at the center, with the citizens of Divine Capital below cheering and applauding. The actor wore a tall hat and a white robe, like a capricious wandering soul or ghost, he flicked his long sleeves, his voice resonant:
"Fate is like dust, life is like ants, destiny ends, calamity inevitable. When fortune smiles blissfully, calamity strikes anew. Endless world unpredictable, affection and sorrow, the way of impermanence. Mortal world is like a play, you sing your part, next I appear!"
The surreal world conjured by the stage drama rapidly expanded, its music enveloping Divine Capital City. The erasing attacks of obscure laws vanished at this moment, a new force transcended the mechanisms of the imperial capital’s dark side, with the control over emotions and thoughts immediately handed over to another person’s control!
Situ Yi chuckled as he turned, his wide sleeves brushing past his face, revealing snake-like, slender eyes. He bowed deeply to the audience, hands merged into his sleeves, smiling amiably at Gongsun Ce. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
"Spiritual Image · Creation Realm. Chaos Director’s Play Mortal Theater," Situ Yi said, "In times of adversity for classmates, duty calls without hesitation. What commands does Gongsun have?"
