Chapter 87: An Omen

Within the City of Fallen, the Buddha seated atop the blood lotus suddenly radiated a brilliant crimson light from the center of his brow. Sixteen blood-colored prayer beads soared into the air, casting dazzling scarlet rays. Four of the beads positioned themselves at the cardinal points around the Buddha, while the remaining twelve arranged themselves in a circle encircling him.

“What’s happening?”
“Why is the Buddha glowing?”
“Could it be some treasure?”

In an instant, every gaze in the City of Fallen turned toward the Buddha, the crowd murmuring in wonder. Those powerful enough to fly disregarded the city's rules and shot skyward, hovering nearby to observe the spectacle.

Swish, swish, swish…

Three figures appeared mysteriously in midair, each taking their place to the south, west, and north of the Buddha. They exchanged glances, each reading the gravity in the other's eyes.

“The rules of the City of Fallen forbid flight for anyone below the Sanctuary,” the elder dressed in fiery red robes to the south intoned coldly. Instantly, a terrifying pressure descended, freezing the wizards and warriors mid-air and sending them plummeting earthward.

Flashes of magical energy surged as the falling wizards and warriors regained control, landing gently on the ground, their eyes filled with awe as they looked up at the three figures in the sky.

“Was it the former master of the Gate of Evil Fire, the Evil Fire Demon Lord, who just spoke?”
“Look at his red robes—it must be him. The current master hasn’t reached the Sanctuary yet.”
“Then the one in yellow to the north must be the Earth Fiend Demon Lord, the previous master of the Gate of Earth Fiend. The blue-robed figure to the west is surely the Gale Demon Lord from the Gate of Gale!”
“Is it really those three?”
“Hmph…”

The Evil Fire Demon Lord snorted again, silencing the discussions below. No one dared speak openly, only gazing up at him with reverence.

“Do you know what’s going on? Where’s Old Xuan Shui? Something this big happens and he’s nowhere to be found!” the Evil Fire Demon Lord demanded. The Gale Demon Lord withdrew his gaze and looked at the Earth Fiend Demon Lord, who remained silent. After a brief hesitation, the Gale Demon Lord was about to speak when—

Buzz, buzz, buzz…

The blood-colored bead to the east trembled violently, emitting a low hum. The other beads responded, humming in unison with restless energy.

The crimson light from the Buddha’s brow spread, enveloping the sixteen beads, which immediately quieted. Yet in the next moment, the previously trembling bead began to quiver once more, ever more fiercely.

Crack—

A faint sound echoed, and the three demon lords' expressions grew grave as their eyes met, worry flickering between them.

Hiss, roar—

A tortured cry erupted above the City of Fallen. At the same time, a spectral, deep-blue serpent appeared in the sky, writhing violently as if in unbearable pain.

“Let’s go. There’s nothing more to see. We should start preparing,” the Earth Fiend Demon Lord said after another glance at the spectral serpent, then vanished in a flash.

“We should go too!”
“Hmph. If they come, I’ll burn them to ashes!”

At the Evil Fire Demon Lord’s words, the Gale Demon Lord chuckled softly and disappeared, while the Evil Fire Demon Lord cast one last dark look at the phantom serpent, his face grim as he too vanished from the sky.

“What happened?”
“That must be the ninth-tier magical beast, the Deep Blue Serpent!”
“Sanctuary-level power truly is terrifying!”

As Evil Fire vanished, the City of Fallen erupted once more with speculation, all eyes fixed on the serpent rolling and crying out in the sky, its form growing ever more ethereal, as if it might vanish at any moment. Yet none dared take flight again.

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Across the boundless, dim earth, two dark red moons hung in the sky, casting their crimson light straight onto the ruined landscape below.

Roar—

In the shadowy forest, a massive black-furred monkey more than two meters tall let out an angry scream, its blood-red eyes fixed on the strange creature approaching.

Hiss, roar—

Unfazed by the towering monkey, the bizarre creature with sickly green skin and two bull-like horns atop its head issued a beastly challenge and moved closer.

Roar—

A pained howl suddenly rang out from a nearby tree hollow, followed by a shrill, infantile cry.

Hearing this strange wailing, the big monkey’s eyes shone with undisguised excitement, its gaze murderous as it stared at the equally excited creature.

Hiss, roar, hiss—

After a few guttural exchanges, several creatures broke from the group, brandishing bone weapons as they charged at the black monkey, while others lunged toward the tree hollow.

Roar, roar—

Seeing some rush toward the hollow, the black monkey cried out in anxious fury, its attacks growing fiercer, yet unable to break free. It could only watch as the creatures quickly approached the hollow.

Before the strange creatures reached their target, another giant black monkey leaped out, one hand lashing out at the intruders, the other cradling a newborn, blind baby monkey.

Outnumbered, it wasn’t long before a creature drove its bone weapon into the monkey’s belly. The monkey howled in pain, its attacks growing ever more desperate.

Roar, roar, wail—

Sensing danger, the baby monkey began to cry, while the mother shrieked in angry desperation. Taking a blow to her back, the two black monkeys finally reunited.

The creatures pressed their attack, and the already wounded male suffered another mortal blow. The mother, frail from giving birth and now further injured, struggled to protect her child.

Hiss, roar—

The mother, fighting fiercely to shield her baby, heard a painful scream. Glancing back, she saw the male monkey with a bone protruding from his throat, blood bubbling out.

Roar, roar—

The male’s eyes locked on the baby in the mother’s arms, a few strange sounds escaping his lips before his head fell limp, life fading, eyes still fixed on the child.

Roar—

The mother let out a heart-rending cry, tightening her grip on the baby as the creatures’ attacks resumed.

Roar—

Several bone weapons simultaneously pierced her body. With a furious roar, her dark claws sent the creatures flying. She looked down at the baby in her arms, a motherly smile appearing.

Crack—

Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass echoed as a pitch-black fissure appeared in midair, and within the fractured space, a figure bathed in blood-red light sat coiled…

Otherworld Azure Dragon — Chapter Eighty-Seven: Portents. The update is complete!