The Decaying World

Lin Hui had just returned to his courtyard and hadn’t rested for long when he noticed that kid, Gongsun Wuhan, was back again.

Ever since securing his position as City Lord, he had been running over here every other day. He would pay his respects when there was nothing to report and seek guidance when there was, treating Lin Hui entirely as a mentor and constantly asking his opinion on matters of power.

Lin Hui could see that the kid was testing him, probing to see if he was truly indifferent to fame and fortune. However, this kind of test, delivered with such a deferential attitude, wasn’t annoying.

Still, he was growing a bit impatient.

"I will no longer involve myself in the affairs of Black Cloud. From now on, unless it’s a matter of great urgency, don’t come here again," Lin Hui transmitted his voice directly.

Kneeling outside the courtyard, Gongsun Wuhan trembled slightly. Knowing he had achieved his goal, he quickly kowtowed several times, his head hitting the ground hard.

"This junior knows his mistake! Thank you for your clear instructions, Daoist Master."

Lin Hui sighed inwardly. His Heart and Spirit expanded, instantly sweeping over Qingfei Mountain and the vast urban area below.

Millions of people cultivated and lived here, having long since formed a massive, cyclical industrial chain.

This made him, a man who had always preferred peace and quiet, even more impatient.

A thought crossed his mind, and he made a decision. ’Since the weathering is gradually spreading, many people with poor aptitude are no longer suited to be near Qingfei Mountain. Of the millions of so-called disciples, the core is still just the original few.’

He didn’t care about the rest.

"I plan to move Qingfei Mountain to the surrounding sea. In the future, unless it’s important, don’t bother me."

What he wanted was a peaceful life, not this noisy, complicated existence where crowds of people came every day to probe him, curry favor, and scheme for connections.

"Wuhan understands," Gongsun Wuhan said, his heart relaxing.

Although Qingfei Mountain had supported him in stabilizing his authority, no one liked having a supreme emperor constantly looming over their head—especially one who could decide their fate with a single word.

Now that he had used swift and decisive means to win over allies, sow discord, and divide his opponents, his own authority was completely secure. Qingfei Mountain’s presence had become the greatest source of pressure on him.

Now, Qingfei Mountain was taking the initiative to leave, yielding its position and citing the city’s noise as a nuisance. This suited him perfectly.

"Please know, Daoist Master, that this junior and all of Black Cloud, no matter when or where, will obey your command without question!" He kowtowed deeply and earnestly, bowing all the way to the ground.

"Go," Lin Hui said, not bothering to look at him. Compared to how he had gotten along with Xie Chang’an and the others before, these political schemers truly disgusted him.

But the other candidates were even worse. Besides, without such a mind for scheming, one couldn’t hold the position of City Lord securely. He couldn’t be bothered to interfere further.

Now that the effects of Treasure Medicine were greatly diminished in the current environment, Black Cloud’s only use to him had been significantly weakened.

In the future, it would be enough to simply send people on schedule to purchase and take away a batch of medicine.

Qingfei Mountain was also perfectly capable of being self-sufficient most of the time. ’It’s time to retreat behind the scenes.’

Lin Hui had actually had this idea for a while. Qingfei Mountain’s influence was growing ever larger, its momentum swelling. This didn’t suit his personal preferences.

Furthermore, the gathering of so many living beings here had created numerous influences and variables that interfered with his regulation and observation of the earth’s qi. It had greatly slowed his comprehension for cultivating the fourth layer.

He decided on a new location.

Lin Hui left only a single manor behind for observing the earth’s qi. That very night, he activated the grand formation’s concealment effect.

The Nine Heavens Thunderous Sound Formation was temporarily shut down, and the announcement of Qingfei Mountain’s impending relocation was sent out.

The Core Disciples learned of it through their Wind Chimes and quickly made arrangements.

No one dared to defy Lin Hui’s decision. In the Clear Wind Dao, he was the one and only sovereign.

On Qingfei Mountain, only the residences of the Core Disciples remained. Everyone else was driven down to the ground.

With the weathering growing more and more severe, the families of the Core Disciples mostly lived outside anyway, only occasionally returning to the Daoist monastery for gatherings. As such, this relocation didn’t affect them much.

On the contrary, the vast majority of people were secretly delighted and breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, the very existence of Qingfei Mountain was just too oppressive.

A few days after the announcement, large crowds migrated down from Qingfei Mountain. A portion of them were willing to leave with it.

Those willing to follow were mostly resolute ascetics dedicated to arduous cultivation. Those unwilling to leave Black Cloud were people who practiced martial arts merely to make a living and survive, and who couldn’t let go of worldly pleasures, family, and friends.

That night, silently, the massive floating island of Qingfei Mountain completely vanished from everyone’s sight.

No one knew where it had gone.

But from that day forward, the common people of Black Cloud never again saw the miraculous, mysterious mountain gate with its blue tornado that connected heaven and earth.

*

*

*

The Royal Capital, Bique.

The vast Jade Sea had sunk below sea level, exposing a large expanse of black, shallow seabed.

The seabed had turned into black earth, surrounding the Royal City of the former Inner Court. Countless survivors, arriving from all directions seeking shelter, had established a vast new Outer City District around it.

In just a short time, with the great war just ended, the countless refugees seemed to have forgotten their previous suffering. Aided by the increasingly abundant seafood from the Jade Sea, they quickly began to prosper once more.

The ancient, colossal white capital city had now become a central landmark for a much smaller area.

It served as the dividing line between the Inner and Outer Cities of the Bique region.

The sky was dim, and a light rain was falling.

On the outskirts of the city, at the Jade Sea docks, a massive ocean-faring cargo ship slowly approached and dropped its anchor.

Immediately, several soft rope ladders were lowered. The passengers on the ship all used their Body Techniques, tapping their feet on the ladders as they leaped to the ground one after another.

None of the passengers on an ocean-faring ship could possibly be ordinary people.

Even the weakest among them had some skills to their name.

As groups of passengers disembarked, they organized their luggage, met with the people waiting for them, and began to talk.

The Elephant People in charge of moving cargo also approached. They hoisted up the barrels rolling off the ship, tied them with thick leather ropes, and hung them on the antlers of giant sika deer that stood over ten meters tall.

Once loaded down, the giant deer began to haggle with the disembarking merchants, and only after a price was set would they turn and head to their destination.

"This place... it’s really different from Black Cloud."

Just then, two tall figures leaped gracefully from the deck.

One was a man in blue robes, his black hair tied back. His features were perfectly harmonious, and he wore two slender swords at his waist.

The other had a rugged face and wore coarse hemp clothes. He carried a black Longsword on his back and had a casual air about him, no different from a lazy, middle-aged loafer picking his nose on the side of the road.

The one who had spoken was the man in blue, walking slightly ahead.

"The Royal Capital’s Royal City is like this. All sorts of races from all over gather here. This is just the Outer City; that tall white wall marks the Inner City. And inside the Inner City, there’s another section, the Imperial City. That used to be the royal family’s residence, but it was later converted into the Federation’s council hall. But now the councilors and speakers have all left or scattered, so it’s probably quiet there," the loafer-like man behind him said lazily.

The two were none other than Lin Hui and Pang Jiu, who had traveled all the way from Black Cloud.

They had flown at full speed for ninety-nine percent of the journey, then intercepted a large freighter halfway, paid a temporary fee to board, and followed the ship to enter the Royal City as tourists to avoid any potential trouble.

They didn’t use the name of Black Cloud City in order to avoid the increasingly tense situation between the various city districts.

"Master, is there anywhere you’d like to go? We can head straight for our destination. To be honest, I’m a little rusty on this place. I remember the Outer City District here wasn’t this big..." Pang Jiu said, stroking his chin as he surveyed the endless white cityscape before them.

"Do you know about the Super Adaptables?" Lin Hui asked.

"Are you looking for Miss Han? I know about that. The Super Adaptables have a dedicated residence in the Royal City called the Seven Absolutes Court. It’s where the Super Adaptables were created and also the Royal City’s largest research institute. It’s in the Inner City, though, so we’ll have to pass through this district first," Pang Jiu replied.

"Besides, getting to the Seven Absolutes Court used to require permission from the First Prince’s forces, but now... who knows where the First Prince even died... We’ll have to gather new information on everything."

"Let’s go."

Lin Hui nodded.

He had just habitually released his Heart and Spirit when he suddenly felt an extremely vast, oppressive, and viscous spiritual presence permeating the air.

The presence was strong—though far weaker than his own—but it was omnipresent and widely distributed. If he were to extend his Heart and Spirit, he would inevitably be detected by it.

"You noticed it too? Tsk tsk, that spiritual presence covers the entire Royal Capital. It’s not the work of a single person, but the product of a unique surveillance formation they have here. You’re not allowed to freely release your Heart and Spirit for scanning," Pang Jiu explained.

Lin Hui nodded and followed the direction of the other disembarking passengers, walking into the vast, white Outer City.

From a distance, standing on a high platform at the docks, one could see about half of the Outer City’s landscape.

But only after actually entering it did Lin Hui truly comprehend the scale of this Outer City District, which was far larger than Black Cloud’s.

They passed through one town-like district after another, where streets were densely packed and the flow of people was like a woven cloth.

Just when they thought they were getting close, another endless expanse of the white city would appear before them.

At first, the two were in the mood to observe the changing environment, but when they realized how far they still had to go, they couldn’t help but pick up the pace.

It was nearly evening before the two finally arrived at the foot of the Inner City’s massive white wall.

They found a tavern, went inside, and ordered some food. Sitting by a window, they gazed at the entrance gate at the base of the giant wall.

From time to time, they could hear the casual chatter of other patrons, as well as a songstress with a pipa softly singing a festive tune.

A few drunken Sparrow People were leaning lecherously toward the songstress’s chest, not caring that they weren’t even as tall as her knees.

"...So Guo Shengyu won again?"

"Yeah, nine consecutive victories, killing nine people in a row. He directly avenged his parents, who were devoured by the Hong family’s Blood Ancestor. It’s truly satisfying!"

Several patrons at a nearby table were casually discussing recent major events in the Royal City.

It wasn’t just them. In fact, Lin Hui and Pang Jiu had already heard talk about Guo Shengyu single-handedly killing Blood Ancestors no less than a dozen times on their way here.

Lin Hui picked up the wine that had just been served and took a light sip. He listened to the conversation at the next table as if it were a storyteller’s gossip.

"That Guo Shengyu must be worthy of the title ’Martial Saint’ by now, right? He broke through the Palace Master Realm, integrated countless techniques into one, created his own Heaven-Splitting Secret Art, and has been invincible on his path of slaughter... This is truly unprecedented..."

"Just about. The few Blood Ancestors in the Inner City are scared to death of him now... The man’s talent is terrifying... To think he actually created a special secret art that counters the Blood Ancestors’ revival. I heard he might have a significant connection to the old royal bloodline..."

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