Destiny in Cinders

”Don’t think you’ll be able to defeat me just because you reached the Sanctification Realm!” Though the mysterious swordsman had wanted to flee, the void had been thrown into too chaotic a state to be used as an escape route as Ming Guangchen made his breakthrough.

He had no choice but to growl in rage as he used the final trump card that he so loathed to waste. He gripped the jade-like longsword in his hand tight and pointed its tip downward, gathering spirit light of the five phases and unifying them into a bright yet semi-translucent lightning that coated the edges and the tip of the sword.

The divine-armament sword he was armed with was called Firmament Radiance, and he used it to execute a Soaring Realm dao classic, Divine Firmament Clearjade Blitz. This dao classic generated true lightning bolts that were even more threatening than the destructive sword intent from before. As for Firmament Radiance, it was an elite divine armament that was worthy of being wielded by venerateds of the Sanctification Realm.

With a swing of the sword, the mysterious swordsman brought forth divine lightning into the mundane world. Everything from the clouds above, the misty rain, the rivers, mountains, boulders and even the burning trees and grass turned hazy in an instant. Color itself seemed to seep out of the world due to the true lightning of the divine firmament. Everything lost its proper form, reduced to nothing but abstract outlines that lacked any sense of realism. Existence itself started to appear fake and hollow.

The act of creation encompassed the concretization of the abstract, while the act of destruction entailed the abstraction of the concrete. As all five phases fused into one with yin and yang thinning away at one another, shaving away layer after layer until all that remained was unsullied clarity, what resulted was a radiance as clear as jade, the lightning of the divine firmament!

”How can you even wield the full power of a divine armament as a mere sage?” The All-Heaven Myriadform Divine Mirror behind Ming Guangchen was filled with true creation intent, so he didn’t fear the all-obliterating power of the divine-firmament lightning at all. Not to mention, he had just ascended to become a venerated and his grasp over the cosmic intent in the environment was at its strongest.

Right before he blocked the blade of lightning and captured the mysterious swordsman, however, Ming Guangchen’s expression suddenly changed. The mysterious swordsman actually detonated his own sword! Firmament Radiance suddenly glowed brighter mid-slash like the celestial bodies of the nine firmaments.

The aspects of the five phases, yin and yang, and the true intent of celestial lightning combined to form seventeen Pure Yang seals within the divine armament. It only needed the final divine seal of destruction to reach full saturation and become a Pure Yang armament.

Yet, all seventeen of those Pure Yang seals shone unnaturally bright and each fired off a terrifying bolt of divine lightning at Ming Guangchen, containing power that far exceeded the limits of the Sanctification Realm. If even a single bolt struck the ground, it would melt everything within a hundred-li radius and reduce everything to scorched earth! The destructive intent would imprint onto the void itself, leaving the landscape barren and ravaged by nonstop lightning storms for the coming decades or century.

”Why go through all this trouble?” Ming Guangchen simply couldn’t understand that man. He had no choice but to divert all the power of his divine mirror to defense. Though the self-destruction of the divine armament was indeed fearsome, it would spiral out of control if unleashed by someone of a lower realm. The weaker wielder would even suffer backlash.

Predictably, the mysterious swordsman’s body got vaporized in an instant. However, his soul managed to use that burst of power to escape Ming Guangchen’s lock and immediately tried to sneak into the void.

”Forget it!” Ming Guangchen snapped, his body charred. He didn’t care about overusing his ability and drew the lightning into his body. He would stop his enemy from leaving regardless of the hurt he would suffer.

His eyes flashed with divine radiance when he unleashed a pulse of psychic intent slashing toward the swordsman soul! What followed was an agonized cry that made no sound.

During that simple clash of souls, the confident joy Ming Guangchen had felt after reaching the Sanctification Realm evaporated in an instant. He felt as if he had fallen into an icy cavern when he read the thoughts of the mysterious swordsman.

An Jing’s definitely not just any divine-arc bearer! Even the lifearc observer back at Endmost Sky wasn’t able to see through him in the slightest. He must bear an imperial divinity divine arc, or even a celestial arc! The only celestial arc that can manifest in the Northblack Sacrifice Continent is Seven Ruins Tribulation. This goes against the plans of the cult! I must go back and report this no matter the cost! They must mobilize every hidden asset at the north of this continent to exterminate the Seven Ruins Tribulation bearer that we can’t control!

”There’s no way I’ll allow it!” Ming Guangchen had already considered the possibility that An Jing might bear a celestial arc. He just wasn’t sure whether it was Natural-Born Master or Seven Ruins Tribulation, but the mysterious swordsman’s conjecture confirmed it for him.

Are they really trying to control a celestial-arc bearer? Seven Ruinous Tribulations can’t be controlled, so its bearer must be eliminated? There’s no way I’ll let that slide! Ming Guangchen’s body shuddered as yet more light emanated from him. If the mysterious swordsman’s cult really had such plans...

He made up his mind. Once more, the All-Heaven Myriadform Divine Mirror shattered. Ming Guangchen triggered his ability to self-destruct once more, harming his body that had just recovered not long ago. Using the explosion to force away the seventeen bolts of divine firmament true lightning, he charged to the void after the mysterious swordsman’s soul.

The clash between the divine sword and the ability sent countless ripples through the void as Ming Guangchen entered it. At the same time, he used Mirror Me to form an arcane corpus of light. It separated from his main body and zipped toward Keensight.

Ming Guangchen urgently phased through the void after his target. However, his body was simply not as fast as a lone soul. He wouldn’t be able to catch up at all.

”I will never allow you to make it back!” Even then, he didn’t hesitate and used a void arcanum from Endmost Sky.

The soul of the mysterious swordsman sensed the cosmic intent around him distorting, making it harder and harder to head toward his destination. Random twists and turns appeared along his charted course, causing him to scream in disbelief. ”Are you crazy?! If you use Endmost Sky’s void arcanum right now, you’d drive us out of Void Embrace! We’d never be able to return!”

”So what?!” Ming Guangchen’s gaze was dark, but his heart and mind were as radiant as ever. ”Hahahaha! If my disciple truly bears a celestial arc and can endure being the center of karmic tribulation, I trust that he will eventually locate me! If not for him, I would’ve died by your sword. The least I can do for him is to get rid of you before you become a problem for him, no matter the cost.”

The next instant, a massive distortion appeared in the pitch-black void channel and swallowed up the mysterious swordsman’s soul and Ming Guangchen.

***

Far away at the bottom of a deep, quiet abyss on the Southsavage Flood Continent laid the remains of feral beasts and feys. Countless twisted aberrations and apparitions hovered about, threatening to devour any lifeform that came near.

Despite the hazardous environment, a massive beast with a white head could be seen. It was shaped like a bull, had only one eye and had a snake for a tail. It reeked of a sinister and ancient ferocity, filled with primal, ensouled blood. The Fei of Mount Tai opened its sole eye in shock. The link with the Endmost Walker contractor deep within its soul had suddenly vanished. Even though that didn’t mean he was dead, he was lost to the chaotic tides, never to be seen again. It was no different from death.

”Noooo! Miiiiing!” It let out a guttural roar like never before.

***

On the central continent at Ancestral Dragon Hall, Jin Yanhua hugged You Ruhui tightly with a blissful expression on her face; the girl had fainted from overtaxing herself. All of a sudden, the dragon lady’s body trembled.

She closed her eyes, causing a welled up tear to fall onto the girl’s hair.

***

Meanwhile, An Jing was gleefully collecting the spoils that Fu Zhengan and Bo Zongshan left behind when he suddenly saw a ray of Setting Sun. The light turned into Ming Guangchen’s arcane corpus.

As An Jing was prepared to greet him, the arcane corpus merely patted him on the shoulder without saying a word. Then, it dissipated, leaving something behind. An Jing picked up an odd sword fragment that contained a lightning intent and a trace of Ming Guangchen’s psychic will.

What’s going on? Why didn’t he say anything? He turned to look in the direction where Ming Guangchen had undergone sacred manifestation before reading into the trace of psychic will within the shard. Then, his expression immediately shifted.

”An Jing, leave Keensight immediately!” Ming Guangchen’s words of warning entered his mind. ”The Endmost Walker that was targeting me is a core successor of the Greater Ebony Cult, a dao progeny of Divine Firmament Peak! He has discovered that you bear a celestial arc and is rushing back to make his report. As your master, I had no choice but to destabilize the void to drag him down into it with me. Now that I’m at the Sanctification Realm, my life is not in any danger. It’ll just be really difficult for me to find my way back, so you have to be careful!

”The shard you hold is a remnant of the divine armament, Firmament Radiance. It’s the only shard that remains of the sword. I’ve destroyed every other part with my ability. So, nobody knows the identity of the mysterious swordsman. Take it back to the Brightmirror Sect! Master and Grand Elder Rising Light will surely understand.

”Leave Keensight and this forsaken land immediately. Go to the northern frontier as soon as possible. You no longer have to hide your identity. As long as you’re the center of everyone’s attention, no faction will dare make a move on you. But whatever you do, don’t remain in Keensight. There are far too many people hiding there in the dark. Don’t worry about me.”

As if wanting to prove that he still had some semblance of power, Ming Guangchen made a final joke. ”To be honest, I’m running away from you because I think you’re scary. Can you believe it? It hasn’t even been that long, yet I no longer have anything to teach you! Your grandmaster, Shrouded Dust, is a much better teacher and mentor figure. You should ask him to take you in as his disciple instead.”

”No way! Even after all I did to get things perfect, it still spiraled out of my control!” An Jing gritted his teeth, horrified with worry and anger. He was greatly concerned about his master’s current predicament, but he knew that the only thing he could do now was to follow his master’s instructions. ”Such a stingy master... How can there be nothing left for you to teach me after a few short days? At least stay for a bit longer!”

He pocketed the divine sword’s shard and collected the rest of the spoils before heading to the void altar swiftly. When he activated it, it shone silver and green. Then, a snowscape appeared on the other side of the void.

An Jing exhaled deeply and turned around. He looked behind him at the empty city where so many incidents had happened in quick succession within a few short months. After taking his final look, he stepped into the northern frontier without hesitation. Right after he crossed the void, the altar rumbled and vanished into the void itself, disappearing from the corporeal realm.