jdhmnovel Chapter 1535 - 787: Nameless Ones
Chapter 1535 - 787: Nameless Ones
All phenomena here are self-contained; everything is as it naturally should be.
Including the victories and defeats of the present.
There are no surprises.
Ji Jue raised his hand, a stream of spiritual essence flowed, transforming effortlessly into a sword, lightly dismantling Fernan's counterattack, effortlessly.
Unbound by mere refinement.
As this power exerted itself within the struggle, from Gao Yuan's insight, all consequences and possibilities, transformations and potential possibilities became clear and distinct.
No need to waste energy constantly controlling and grasping everything; just extend a hand at the right time, and gently push...
Thus, all things are natural, all things self-transform.
This simple.
What is meant by all things self-transform, isn't it this natural creation?
As an achievement bestowed by Ember, the existence of all things self-transform can even be seen as a result.
Partly the Heavenly Destiny in me, partly as a matter of course. Partly the craftsman's expertise, partly the creation of heaven.
Even before the furnace is opened, just a glance at the material can determine the quality of the final outcome.
Upon seeing all possibilities and transformations, even chance and mutation are predetermined elements of nature.
"Do we continue, Fernan?"
Ji Jue looked down, gazing at the broken face, without a hint of impatience: "There is enough time; we can try again, and again...
Until you give up."
Fernan said nothing more.
He just silently stared at him, for a long while, the broken expression twitched, a silent sigh amidst calm, releasing his grip.
The Heavenly Artisan fell into dust.
"It's over, Ji Jue."
He raised his head, looking toward the horizon where illusionary light was faintly rising, exhausted, a sigh: "Perhaps, it should have ended long ago."
The struggle beyond one's limits, arrogant presumption, or perhaps, the years of sinking and endurance.
No more need for futile desperate struggle, nor any chance or possibility.
He chose to surrender.
At that instant, a cracking sound erupted, just behind Fernan, the wavering shadow of Heavenly People could no longer sustain, having exhausted through the night, utterly dispersed into ash.
In the Ascension of Seven Cities, comes the fall.
Along with it goes life, soul, obsession, even everything...
"You have won."
Fernan's body gradually hunched, as if weathering.
As cracks spread, that face bathed in the sunlight also gradually blurred.
"Ha, a lifetime of torment, futile rise and fall, still empty. Ascend high only to truly sink... Why, oh Heavenly Destiny, are you so scant for me?"
At the height of his ambition, he recklessly collided with the Plowsmith, at the closest to ascension, encountered a rival like Ji Jue.
Sinking creation, ultimately unfulfilled.
Yet amidst the surge of resentment and hatred, when a thousand words gathered, reaching the lips, only a remorseful sigh remained:
"I failed Elder Anvil..."
Not only the guidance in the path of sinking, but also the nurturing within You Sui, all fell to naught. Now even the century plan of You Sui, among the Western Pillar of thirty-one pillars on the Endless Sea, lost due to himself.
He was already beyond redemption.
At this moment, accompanied by the collapse of the shadow of Heavenly People, the Lighthouse shattered with a roar.
The remaining Flame of Decay spouted forth, vainly soaring, unable to erode and spread. Eventually, it moved, like a living creature, grandly towards the distance...
The whole world seemed to tremble for an instant.
Ji Jue lifted his head, sensing the distant resonance, too blurry to be clear.
What he could sense was the flow of Great Evil's pollution, raging across reality, like a bursting flash flood, sweeping across the entire Endless Sea.
In the satellite imagery's gaze from above, massive gray-black pillars shot up. Following that, the gray-black clouds spread like curtains over the sea.
From a perspective beyond reality, mutations surged like tides, rising and falling.
Amidst the rampage of harmful winds, an unknown number of mutants prepared, erupted forth!
Pollution spread rapidly.
Of the Seven Cities that had long sunk on the Endless Sea, how many were there?
Among the Thousand Islands, how many like Fernan stirred the waves?
At this moment, in the last moments, Fernan who witnessed all this, could not help but let out a relieved smile.
With the grand strategy planned by Elder Anvil, accumulated over a hundred years, how could it be thwarted by the loss of just a city or territory now?
Ascension is merely fortuitous, sinking is the norm.
Now, before Ji Jue, covering the entire reality, the changes finally unveiled a corner...
He fell into silence.
He even ignored the approaching dark clouds on the horizon, and the Destruction-level Disaster Beast·Charybdis that everyone had tossed to the back of their minds!
The wounded disaster beast hid within the thundercloud rainstorm, speeding towards them, ravenous, impatient!
Destruction has never been staved off.
At best, only delayed for a moment.
"The bait to attract it, is in my cane..."
In the dead silence, Fernan's voice sounded, barely surviving: "I placed it in Pu City's council..."
In the very end, he chose to accept reality as a craftsman.
Neither resentment nor evil intent.
Only calm.
Since victory and defeat are already decided, why cling obsessively?
Ji Jue was taken aback for a moment, looked at Fernan, unfortunately, with no sign of anxiety or urgency, not caring at all.
"No need."
He started laughing, "I have reinforcements."
In the distance, the sound of thunder erupted.
Amid the storm clouds, without any warning, a large hole appeared.
Then, under the light of the sky, the shattered giant beast howled, slowly collapsed, and fell onto the sea surface, filthy blood spreading, rolling and expanding.
A moment of futile struggle, yet unable to break the chains wrapped around its body.
In the end, it died.
And just in front of the shattered Disaster Beast, an unremarkable ship emerged from the blood sea and headed towards Seven Cities, speeding fast.
Once again, everything fell silent, but the world seemed to be in constant turmoil, giant noises resounding endlessly.
In the satellite imagery's view, those towering gray-black lights unexpectedly started shaking one by one, breaking at a speed visible to the naked eye!
In an instant, half of the light beams had been wholly annihilated, making the remaining ones dim and on the verge of collapsing.
Fernan's eyes widened, he gasped, but couldn't utter a sound.
Until Ji Jue raised his hand and in front of him took a mask out of his pocket and placed it on his face.
"You already know I'm from the Association..."
He curiously asked, "Do I really look so unlike I'm in the Punishment Team?"
As a chosen one of Ember, pillar of the Association, exemplar for craftsmen and a rising star and hope of the new generation, destined future master, what else could the first reaction be upon encountering You Sui?
Of course, report the details, for heaven's sake!
In this world, power is everything, history is everything!
Which craftsman, when in trouble, would foolishly roll up their sleeves and draw blades? Do you think I'm one of those uncultured Legion folks!
Even Ji Jue knows not to monopolize a kill when encountering a wolf, let alone with such significant changes across Seven Cities, not contacting Jiang Tongguang would be brainless!
Even if Fernan's background wasn't clear, the mere presence of Rotten Ape was enough for Ji Jue to relentlessly explode the phone lines.
Hu Jian's calls were completed, why would he neglect Yellow Beard? And there's no way he would neglect his own master!
As soon as the call was made, his message was conveyed through Jiang Tongguang to the Taiyi Ring Council.
The Association isn't blind.
Through Dust Workshop, Ji Jue could see You Sui's research on Disaster Beasts, and the intelligence channels of the council and masters were broader, they saw more, upon gathering intelligence, they could certainly deduce the conclusion that You Sui was up to something during the wind of harm!
The rest, there was no need to hesitate any longer.
For heaven's sake, Punishment Team deploy deploy deploy, deploy completely!!!
Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!
At this moment, on the Endless Sea, apart from Ji Jue, there were at least over twenty forcibly drafted masters, more than six large workshops were using lists provided by the Association and permits issued by the Federation Empire's upper echelons, conducting a massacre!
No matter what You Sui intends to do.
Just kill, that's it!
After extended concealment, once agents like Fernan from You Sui emerge, they are met with ruthless execution.
If not for Ji Jue's contributions in reporting, he wouldn't have had the chance to monopolize Seven Cities!
Even so, there is still support on its way providing him a backup.
That unremarkable fishing boat made its way from the sea to the shore, breezing through mud and iron stones as if they were water.
It stopped in front of Ji Jue.
On the ship's hull, a layer of viscous blood had not yet dried, and deeper below it, the already hardened blood was about to form a thick crust.
Including the craftsman who walked out of the cabin, his beard and hair bore traces of fire burns, blood stains not yet dry.
"Sorry for the delay, encountered a few nasty obstacles on the way."
The 'Captain' with a pipe in his mouth dragged a heavy boat hook from the deck and looked at him: "Need help with the cleanup?"
"No need, you've troubled yourselves to come out, it's all settled."
Thus, the blood-stained craftsman nodded, exhaled a puff of smoke, turned to look at Fernan, and examined with indifference, "Who is this?"
"Him?"
Ji Jue turned back, looking at the nearly annihilated remnants on the ground.
Those hollow eyes trembled, also looking at him, filled with a hint of pleading and request.
Already unable to speak.
Yet in the very end, what could he be fearing?
What could he be afraid of?
A defeated foe, what qualifications do they have to demand anything?
Ji Jue coldly withdrew his gaze.
"Just a nobody."
He said, "Not worth mentioning."
In the silence, the remaining light in those pupils disappeared completely, leaving no sound.
The last moment's tremor, who could tell if it was hatred or relief.
Or perhaps, gratitude.
Abandoning his former name, forsaking the honor bestowed by You Sui, even his last ambition completely dissipated.
In a few years, no one will even remember the name Fernan.
What's the point of Heavenly Destiny?
He had long fallen.
Thus, the nobody perished.
Never to be seen again.
On the satellite imagery, the spread of pollution and diffusion of mutants hadn't stalled. Amidst the Association's pursuit and targeted clearing, You Sui's counterattack had just begun.
No one knows what will happen next.
"Elder Anvil..."
Amid the gradually rising sound of tides, Ji Jue looked up at the dark sky.
He merely wanted to know, now with the world as the furnace, suffering as the flame, after orchestrating flawless extractions amidst the wind of harm... ultimately, what in this sea of human suffering will be brought forth?