After walking for some distance, the figure of a black-haired woman, seated on a stone slab and playing a guqin, came into my view. ‘This… this silhouette… could it be the legendary expert of the guqin?’
“Sigh—” A soft sigh drifted into my ears. The woman, clad in an intricate and magnificent cyan gown, slowly turned to face me.
Her exquisite face remained devoid of any expression, yet her voice carried a hint of helplessness and regret. “Why did it have to be you who came?”
‘What did she mean by that? ‘It had to be me’?’
“What a pity,” a petite black figure remarked, materializing beside the woman in the cyan gown. “Your prophecy seems to have had a slight miscalculation.”
Despite her diminutive stature, the figure’s voice was surprisingly mature. “What prophecy?” I questioned, my left hand slowly reaching for the guqin strapped to my back.
This entire scene struck me as incredibly, profoundly eerie.
The woman in the cyan gown merely continued to play, her expression unwavering. Even to my untrained ears, the discord woven into her melody was painfully obvious.
The petite figure turned her gaze to me, letting out a series of light chuckles. “Little sister, this beautiful elder sister playing the zither is, in fact, the founder of your Divine Realm’s Illusion God linguistic system.”
I stared at the zither-playing woman in astonishment, her true identity now all but revealed.
“That’s right,” the petite figure affirmed. “She is none other than the Heavenly Capital Empress, though this is merely a clone.”
“Six hundred million years ago, she heartlessly imprisoned me in this terrifying place. She then made a prophecy that, six hundred million years later, the Son of Holy Radiance would appear here and slay me.”
“She even deliberately left the zither strings as a key. How unfortunate that it was you who entered. What a twist of fate!”
I quickly grasped the general situation. This black figure had been sealed here by the Heavenly Capital Empress, who had prophesied the Son of Holy Radiance’s arrival in this space after six hundred million years.
But… the Son of Holy Radiance…
My mind conjured the image of Ryan Micheus, with his golden hair that always seemed to shimmer. ‘Could it possibly be him? He was always the one carrying the zither before. Could the pivotal turning point of fate lie with… that furry ball?’
The petite Black Shadow sidled closer to the Heavenly Capital Empress’s clone. “Tell me, you and Lotus played such an enormous game of chess. Is it all about to collapse in an instant?”
The Heavenly Capital Empress’s clone remained impassive, her thin lips parting slightly. “And so? Do you believe you can overcome my challenge?”
With her mature, languid tone, the petite Black Shadow replied, “No, no, passing your challenge alone is naturally impossible. However, this girl’s life and death…”
Beneath the mist-shrouded face, a cruel smile twisted her lips.
“Do you wish to test me?” The Heavenly Capital Empress’s expression turned sharp, a sliver of killing intent seeping into her voice.
****
*Whoosh—* Without another word, the Black Shadow instantly transformed into a streak of light, rocketing directly towards me.
“Hmph!” A cold snort escaped the Empress’s lips.
*Buzz—* Immediately, the resonant twang of a guqin filled the air. Countless Chains of Order erupted, engulfing the space and piercing directly towards the Black Shadow.
The Black Shadow instantly reversed direction, narrowly evading the devastating onslaught of the Chains of Order, yet continued her fierce trajectory towards me.
After a moment of stunned disbelief, I quickly regained my composure. I knew my rudimentary divine arts would be utterly useless in this situation.
Abandoning the idea of using the guqin as a weapon, I frantically retrieved a tome from my independent space, clutching it tightly. ‘Given my abilities, a physical attack is surely my only effective recourse.’
*Clang—* The guqin’s melody shifted. The previously overwhelming Chains of Order abruptly dissipated, replaced by a multitude of gleaming sharp blades.
These blades carved elegant, deadly arcs through the air, effectively sealing off every possible escape route for the Black Shadow.
“Tsk…” The Black Shadow clicked her tongue, gritting her teeth. She forcibly squeezed through a relatively open spot, enduring the pain.
*Puff, puff, puff…* Jets of blood mist splattered into the air. Witnessing this, the Heavenly Capital Empress showed no trace of joy.
Instead, her pupils sharply contracted. She had never anticipated that, even at the cost of severe injury, this creature would forcefully break through her sword array.
I watched the Black Shadow rapidly approaching, then forcefully swung the tome in my hand, hoping to intercept her frantic charge.
The Black Shadow let out a soft, weak chuckle, yet the profound mockery within it was unmistakable. “Too naive~”
With a graceful twist of her waist, the Black Shadow effortlessly bypassed my attack, her hand closing around my neck. She then turned to face the Heavenly Capital Empress, speaking softly.
“Heh, checkmate.”
*Whoosh—* Just at that moment, a sharp blade pierced through her chest. She gazed down at the blade protruding from her, her eyes wide with disbelief. “I never imagined that you… you would also…”
*Whoosh—* Another blade followed. It became glaringly obvious that the Empress had laid this trap long ago.
“Return,” the Heavenly Capital Empress stated, her face serene as she watched the Black Shadow’s chest bubble with blood. “Quietly await the day of your liberation.”
The Black Shadow laughed. “While I don’t believe I’ll be truly vanquished, you expect me to remain in this place? I refuse! I absolutely refuse this place!”
The Black Shadow’s voice grew agitated, almost bordering on hysteria. To be confined to such a desolate place for six hundred million years would surely drive anyone to madness.
And so, the Black Shadow once more transformed into a streak of light, hurtling directly towards me.