nycdaug Chapter 394 Mental Calamity (Page 12)
Chapter 394 Mental Calamity (Page 12)
The blade of the Soul-Severing Blade left a dark trail in the air, as if even light had been severed by this strike.
The moment the blade made contact with the oracle, the wandering blood-red patterns suddenly shone brightly, emitting an eerie red light.
The red-robed oracle's body stiffened abruptly. The burning eyes beneath the mask suddenly dimmed, and an expression of disbelief appeared in the golden pupils.
He slowly lowered his head, looking at the thin, hair-like knife wound on his chest—no blood flowed out, but his entire body seemed to have been drained of all life.
"This...is impossible..."
His voice trembled for the first time, and the flame patterns on his red robe began to fade rapidly.
The wide sleeves hung limply, and the raging flames around him were extinguished with a hiss, as if doused with cold water.
"boom!"
The red-robed oracle fell heavily to his knees, his knees shattering the charred pavement.
His body leaned forward, and the crimson mask snapped in two, revealing a pale, paper-white face behind it.
Finally, he collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut, raising a cloud of ashes.
Shen Qingzhu let out a long sigh, his hand gripping the knife trembling slightly. He looked down at the gradually cooling body on the ground, a weary smile tugging at the corner of his mouth:
"Finally, we killed him!"
His voice carried a sense of relief, but his eyes still scanned his surroundings warily.
The blood-red patterns on the Soul-Severing Blade gradually faded, transforming it back into the seemingly ordinary black blade.
However, just as Shen Qingzhu lowered her guard, the red-robed oracle's corpse on the ground, which should have been lifeless, suddenly flashed a strange red light in its left eye.
The light, like the eye of a demon peering from the abyss, was particularly dazzling in the gradually brightening morning light.
"Number 4 has lost its soul connection. The 'Yujin' system has taken over. Counterattack!"
A cold, emotionless voice emanated from inside the corpse, its flat tone sending chills down your spine.
Before the words were finished, the oracle's corpse suddenly began to twitch strangely, its limbs twisting into unnatural angles.
The flame patterns that had been extinguished lit up again, this time with a sickly purplish-red glow.
"boom!"
A raging inferno, several times more intense than before, suddenly exploded, with pillars of fire shooting straight into the sky, turning it blood red.
The scorching heatwave instantly vaporized the rubble and debris within a radius of 100 meters, and even the ground began to melt into molten lava.
Shen Qingzhu's pupils contracted sharply, and she instinctively wanted to back away, but found that her legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.
He watched helplessly as the destructive fireball hurtled towards him; the scorching air currents had already singed the ends of his hair, and his skin felt an intense burning pain.
At this critical moment——
"Shh!"
A dark figure appeared out of thin air as if tearing through space; Zhang Yun, dressed in black, thus broke through the void and arrived.
His black robe remained motionless in the raging heat, not even a ripple appeared at the hem.
That tall, straight back stood like an unchanging mountain, firmly blocking Shen Qingzhu's path.
"Old Shen, what's wrong with you looking so disheveled!" Zhang Yun said without turning his head, his tone carrying a familiar teasing tone, as if the world-destroying scene before him was nothing more than a fireworks display.
Shen Qingzhu opened her mouth, but her throat was burning from the heat. Before she could speak, she saw Zhang Yun's lips curl into a calm smile:
"Just flames!"
He slowly raised his right hand, which had distinct knuckles, and gently pressed his palm down.
This seemingly casual action seemed to contain the ultimate truth of the universe, and the restless air around them suddenly froze.
The raging fire, powerful enough to destroy the entire block, seemed to have its lifeline seized by an invisible hand, abruptly stopping less than a meter from the two people, the flames twisting and struggling unwillingly.
"Destroy."
With a single, casual word from Zhang Yun, the raging flames collapsed to the ground like a tamed beast, then dissipated into wisps of smoke.
Not a trace of burning was left on the ground, as if the earth-shattering explosion had never happened.
Only the lingering smell of burning in the air proved that the terrifying scene just now was not an illusion.
...
A gentle night breeze carried a hint of coolness.
Xiao Jin held Yurina's slightly cool little hand as they walked through the hazy mist on the streets of Osaka.
The streetlights cast a dim, yellowish glow in the mist, stretching the two people's shadows long.
Yurina's fingertips trembled slightly as she pushed open that familiar door.
The door hinges creaked familiarly, and what came into view was a scene of utter chaos.
Glass shards were scattered all over the ground, gleaming coldly in the moonlight;
The sandalwood tables and chairs were overturned and some were already broken.
The decorative paintings she had personally hung on the wall are now reduced to charred frames.
Little Jin's golden eyes darted around in the dimly lit room, like two tiny full moons.
He gently released Yurina's hand and slowly walked to the center of the hall.
Moonlight streamed through the broken stained glass window, casting dappled shadows on him.
There were no incantations or exaggerated spellcasting movements.
Xiao Jin simply stood there quietly, her eyes shimmering like ripples on water.
The light spread out gently, and wherever it passed, time seemed to flow backward—
Glass shards flew into the air, returning to the window frame like birds returning to their nests, the cracks as if smoothed out by an invisible hand.
The tilted tables and chairs automatically straightened, the broken mortise and tenon joints rejoined, and the sandalwood grain gleamed with a warm luster under the moonlight.
The scorch marks on the wall disappeared like the receding tide, revealing the beige wallpaper that Yurina was familiar with.
Even the pothos plant in the corner that she had never taken good care of was now stretching out its tender green leaves, with glistening water droplets hanging on them.
Yurina unconsciously held her breath.
She saw her favorite teacup, which had been smashed to pieces, now sitting perfectly intact on the coffee table, the black tea inside still steaming.
"That's good." Xiao Jin turned around, the moonlight outlining a soft silhouette behind him.
He gave Yurina a gentle smile, his eyes curving slightly, like the first cherry blossom blooming in early spring.
Yurina's eyes suddenly felt hot.
She strode forward, her fingertips lightly tracing the pristine surface of the table, not even a speck of dust in sight.
The familiar black sycamore tree has returned.
And at the same time.
The yellow-robed oracle, known as "Heart Calamity," walked slowly down the empty street, his robes fluttering slightly in the night breeze, the ancient runes embroidered with gold thread gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
His bronze mask concealed his face, revealing only a pair of golden pupils that shone like two burning stars in the darkness.
"Mitong and that little girl should be around here..."
His voice was deep, with a hint of cold certainty.
As an oracle, he was used to being in control of everything, but the unexpected events tonight made him feel a strange unease.
He walked slowly along the street, his eyes scanning every corner, trying to catch any clue.
At the end of the street, where the black sycamore tree should have been, he now saw only a desolate empty space.
Overgrown with weeds and scattered with pebbles, it was as if no buildings had ever stood here.
The yellow-robed oracle frowned slightly, his eyes narrowing beneath the mask as he carefully examined the open space.
"strangeness……"
He muttered to himself, his fingertips gently tracing the runes on his sleeve, as if checking whether his senses were being disturbed.
However, no matter how he looked around, all he saw was desolation.
"Could it be that I made a mistake?"
He hesitated for a moment, then turned to leave.
at this time--
He suddenly caught a faint whisper in his ear.
"Sigh! I wonder when Brother Qiye and the others will be back..."
It was a girl's voice, carrying a hint of worry and anticipation, clearly coming from the empty "open space".
The yellow-robed oracle suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The corners of his mouth slowly turned up from under the mask, revealing a sinister smile.
"It was just an illusion, deceiving my eyes, but it couldn't hide the voice of my heart!"
He slowly turned around, his golden pupils fixed on the "open space," the light in his eyes growing increasingly intense.
"Found you."
The second floor of the Black Sycamore Tree
Yurina was sitting on a chair by the window, resting her chin on her hands, staring blankly at the night view outside.
"Xiao Jin, do you think Brother Qi Ye and the others might be in danger?" she asked softly, her tone tinged with unease.
Xiao Jin stood beside her, his golden eyes flickering slightly, and gently comforted her, "Don't worry, they are very strong."
Yurina nodded, but the worry between her brows remained.
Unbeknownst to her, her thoughts had just been picked up by the yellow-robed oracle outside.
Suddenly, Xiao Jin's eyes narrowed.
He abruptly turned his head to look out the window, his pupils contracted, and his expression instantly turned serious.
"not good!"
Yurina was startled by his sudden reaction. Before she could ask him anything, Xiao Jin grabbed her wrist and whispered, "Hide!"
"What's wrong?" Yurina asked, bewildered.
"Someone's coming." Xiao Jin's voice carried a rare hint of urgency. "A very dangerous guy."
Yurina's heart tightened, and she subconsciously looked out the window—
On the street, the yellow-robed oracle slowly raised his hand, golden light emanating from his fingertips, before suddenly waving it!
"break!"
An invisible wave spread out instantly, and the illusion surrounding the Black Phoenix Tree crumbled inch by inch, like a torn curtain!
On the once empty street, the true face of the black sycamore tree was finally revealed—
The dilapidated wooden door hung crookedly on the door frame. Inside the hall, there were only a few broken tables and chairs. The paint on the walls had long since peeled off, revealing mottled bricks.
Several empty wine bottles were piled up in the corner, and broken teacups were scattered on the ground.
This is not the cozy black sycamore tree that Yurina saw, but an almost abandoned old building!
Yurina stared wide-eyed at everything in disbelief.
"What...what's going on?"
Xiao Jin didn't answer; his gaze was fixed on the doorway.
The yellow-robed oracle had already stepped in, his long robe brushing against the threshold with a soft rustling sound.
His gaze swept across the dilapidated room and finally landed on Xiao Jin.
"I see……"
He chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"You must be the sword spirit of the Bewitching Eyes?"
Xiao Jin didn't answer, but simply turned slightly to protect Yurina behind her.
His eyes were cold, and a sharp light shone in his golden pupils as he stared at the yellow-robed oracle.
The air seemed to freeze at this moment.
The yellow-robed oracle slowly raised his hand, the golden light at his fingertips growing ever more intense.
"Just surrender?"
His voice remained calm, yet carried an irresistible sense of pressure.
Xiao Jin remained silent, but his body was already slightly tense, ready to make a move at any moment.