Chapter 50: City's End
Xia Feng didn't just think about grabbing Infinite Stones—he acted.
So many just lying around? What a waste!
He crouched, coiled his muscles, then launched skyward using air-step techniques. At altitude, the apocalyptic panorama unveiled itself:
A colossal vertical fissure—like a slit-pupiled eye—dominated the horizon. From its maw, a shadowy leviathan writhed free: the [Sky-Swallowing Evil Beast], a mindless, sluggish behemoth whose cavernous belly could blot out cities.
Clink.
A faint chime of colliding stones. Xia Feng's head snapped toward the sound—two black-gold pebbles bounced apart midair.
"Two grams. Not bad." He snatched them, grinning.
By imperial decree, all Infinite Stones belonged to the Empire. As a loyal citizen, he'd humbly assist in their recovery—lest they fall into enemy hands.
Would he turn them in?
Of course!
...After the Empire rewarded him for his patriotic service, naturally.
Very efficient. Very lawful.
His self-congratulation ended abruptly. Ten minutes of frantic searching yielded only 4g total.
"Random scavenging won't cut it."
Xia Feng's gaze swept the roiling evil mist. Compared to the Evil Dragon's domain, this was dilute—barely stronger than the dragon forest's "Light Disaster Zone."
An idea struck.
"If the stones are hidden in the evil..."
He inhaled—hard.
Whoosh!
A hundred-meter radius of mist vaporized into his lungs.
[Activity +48.09 seconds]
Clatter. A 0.5g stone tumbled to the ground.
"Bingo."
Xia Feng eyed the endless sea of corruption.
"Buffet's open."
Meanwhile—King's Landing's Last Stand
Lightning clawed the heavens. Rain fell in punishing sheets.
On rooftops, hundreds of Holy Ministry agents stood vigil—white windbreakers snapping like war banners. Their blades remained sheathed; their eyes tracked the sky-cleft disgorging another kilometer-long [Sky-Swallower].
"Commander," whispered Li Sheng. "The Hydrangea Monarch approaches."
The wheelchair-bound elder—Xuanwu—didn't turn. His fox-fur blanket repelled the downpour as if by will alone.
A man in crimson tails joined him. Wrinkles framed his smile, but his eyes were winter lakes.
"Can you handle this, Lord Xuanwu?" asked the Monarch.
Xuanwu's voice was gravel. "The Divine Evil Society? Trivial. The Bone-Mask Disaster behind them? That's the problem."
No Venerable meant no victory against a Disaster-class entity.
The Monarch's brow creased. "No disciples have arrived?"
Li Sheng stepped forward. "Eighth Disciple was ambushed en route. Seventh remains trapped in the Gray Realm."
Xuanwu's smirk was razor-thin. "Who'd have thought? The heart of District 51, fallen in a day."
Conquering the entire district was impossible—but King's Landing's resources would fuel the Society for years.
History repeated: collapsed Infinite Realms often birthed such catastrophes. But this scale? Unprecedented. The initial theft must've been staggering to destabilize the realm so swiftly.
"Alternatives?" pressed the Monarch.
"None." Xuanwu watched the expanding evil tide. "This is checkmate."
A cane-tap signaled retreat. Then—
"Where are Freya and Chen Xingdao?"
Li Sheng hesitated. "They... went to rescue students in Bloodnight Street."
BOOM!
The sky split.
Thunderbolts birthed a second sun as the evil sea condensed into rain.
...
Bloodnight Street - Bridge of Despair
Car horns shrieked. A gridlock of vehicles choked the bridge—until the first drops of corruption fell.
Screams erupted.
Doors flew open. People stampeded over roofs, between cars—some leaping into the churning river below.
Then—
CRACK!
Lightning illuminated the nightmare:
A mountain of living shadow unfurled from the storm. Its maw yawned over skyscrapers, swallowing them whole. It swallowed up the continuous high-rise buildings without mercy and spread rapidly.
Amidst thunder and lightning, the whole city seemed to have completely surrendered to these terrifying evil beasts.
(End of Chapter)