Chapter 60 – The Threshold of the Holy City
Back in the Slaughter City, the air in the throne room felt even colder than usual. The Carrion Douluo knelt before the Slaughter King, his body still bearing the invisible burns of the psychic resonance he had encountered in the canyon.
"A fire phoenix?" the Slaughter King rumbled, his voice like grinding stones. "You said you found the boy, but then a melody, a music, stopped you?"
"It was no mortal music, my King," the Carrion Douluo whispered. "It was as if the laws of the world were being rewritten. It neutralized our blood domains instantly. It came from the direction of Martial Soul City."
The Slaughter King tightened his grip on the arms of his throne, the obsidian cracking under his strength. Asura's command echoed in his mind. If the Fire Phoenix (Ma Hongjun) was in that convoy, then the Source of the heavenly disturbance was likely already waiting in the Holy City.
"If the Phoenix and this Song are both in Wuhun City, then the Slaughter City shall attend the festivities," the King declared, his blood-red cape swirling as he stood. "Prepare my shroud. I will go as a traveler. If the Hall thinks they can hoard the secrets of the gods, they will find that even the sun can be eclipsed by the abyss."
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Little did the Slaughter King know, he wasn't walking into a city of lambs, but a fortress guarded by a Level 99 Bibi Dong and the silent sentinel of the heavens, Qian Daoliu.
The caravan finally crested the hill overlooking Wuhun City. The white stone walls and the towering Palace of the Supreme Pontiff glittered under the midday sun. But for the Shrek Academy, the view was anything but majestic.
As the carriages rolled toward the gates, the atmosphere was thick with hostility. The students of Godwind Academy and Blazing Academy had already spread the word of what happened in the canyon.
"Thank you again, Elder Yue Guan," Feng Xiaotian called out loudly as he helped his injured teammate, the one Tang San had accidentally poisoned, out of the carriage. "If it weren't for the Martial Soul Hall's protection and your 'Overdrive' petals, we'd all be husks right now."
Huo Wu from Blazing Academy cast a look of pure loathing toward the Shrek carriage. "Some Geniuses are only good at shooting their allies in the back when things get scary. Maybe you should stick to making toys, Tang San. Fighting is for men."
Tang San sat inside, his jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. He looked at the Torrential Pear Blossom Needle in his lap. He had wanted to be the hero; instead, he was the pariah. His hypocrisy flared, he blamed the chaos of the mist and Yue Guan's interference rather than his own untested design.
At the main gates of Wuhun City, the Imperial Knights snapped to attention. There were no carriages or palanquins waiting for the Holy Son.
Lakan stood alone in the center of the road.
At 14 years old, he has reached a height that rivaled most adults. His white and gold robes flowed around him, yet they didn't flap in the wind, they seemed to exist in a pocket of stillness. This was the result of his constant Void-Motion, he is literally vibrating at a frequency that separated him from the friction of the world.
Beside him, Shui Bing'er stood with her hands crossed, her eyes lighting up as she saw the Tianshui carriage.
As the Shrek carriage stopped, Lakan walked forward with a relaxed, almost playful gait. He looked like a certain anime character from his Previous life, observing a group of particularly uninteresting ants.
"Welcome, welcome!" Lakan chirped, his voice carrying that infuriatingly light tone. "I heard you had a little bit of trouble on the road. A few uninvited guests from the Slaughter City? How exciting!"
Tang San stepped out of the carriage, his eyes meeting Lakan's silver ones. The pressure coming off Lakan wasn't heavy, it is empty, which was is more terrifying.
Lakan tilted his head, his eyes falling on the metallic device tucked into Tang San's belt. A smirk played on his lips. "Oh? What's this? I heard from Yue Guan that you were practicing Acupuncture on the Godwind students? That's very kind of you, Tang San. A bit messy, but hey, everyone needs a hobby when their Martial Soul keeps getting burned to a crisp, right?"
"It was a malfunction," Tang San hissed, his face flushing with rage. "The Evil Soul Masters were—"
"Malfunction? Ah, so the Greatest Genius makes mistakes too?" Lakan chuckled, patting Tang San on the shoulder as he walked past him, a move so fast Tang San didn't even see the hand move. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure your 'shabby' needles will be very entertaining in the arena. Just try not to hit the referee, okay? It's bad for the score."
Tang San swung around, his hand reaching for a hidden dart, but he stopped. Lakan wasn't even looking at him anymore. He was greeting Shui Yue'er and the rest of the Tianshui team.
"Yue'er, you did well," Lakan said, his tone shifting to one of genuine warmth. "The Gunting counter was beautiful. You've earned a rest."
Inside the city, the political gears are turning.
The Five Elements Academies–Blazing, Godwind, and Tianshui–had begun secret talks. Seeing the overwhelming power of the Sovereign Team (Lakan, Bing'er, Zhuqing), they realized they had no chance individually.
Huo Wu, Feng Xiaotian, Shui Yue'er, and Xue Wu began discussing a Combined Team. They wanted to show the Hall that the Empire's academies could still fight back. Yue'er and Xue Wu joined not out of spite, but to provide the ultimate challenge.
Meanwhile, a tall, hooded figure entered the city through the merchant gates. His presence was a void of killing intent, masked only by a heavy leaden cloak. The Slaughter King had arrived. He looked toward the Supreme Pontiff's Palace, his eyes narrowing as he sensed two auras that made even him feel a twinge of caution: the solar brilliance of Qian Daoliu and the cold, sharpened divine presence of Bibi Dong.
"A Level 99... and a half-god," the King whispered. "This tournament will be a feast of souls."
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As the sun set over the city, Lakan stood on the balcony of his private chambers, overlooking the stadium. He was currently at Rank 69. He could feel the threshold of Level 70 humming in his meridians, but he held it back.
He was waiting for the perfect moment–the moment when the Sovereign would officially ascend in front of the whole world. As he has this big plan that he wants to do. If he succeed, then it's good and the true power of the Phoenix God will shine with him.
"The needles are ready, the hammer is desperate, and the bat has entered the belfry," Lakan said to the empty air.
He looked toward the Supreme Pontiff's chambers, where he knew Bibi Dong is preparing for her grand appearance the next morning. The Mommy of the Hall was about to show the world that her corruption was gone, replaced by a clarity that was far more dangerous.
"Let the show begin."