Chapter 54: Is the Task Already Complete?

As he spoke, Qian Siyuan's gaze turned to Cheng Guang.

"Your Highness, it seems this fox demon will struggle a while longer. Why don't you step aside and rest for a bit? Sit back and enjoy the spectacle," Qian Siyuan said, just as two figures suddenly appeared beside Cheng Guang.

"Forgive us, Your Highness," came a voice at his ear, and in the very next moment, Cheng Guang found himself transported to a tall building far from the Emerald Pavilion, overlooking its entire view.

The instant Cheng Guang vanished, a surge of demonic energy, as vast as a river, shot up from within the Emerald Pavilion. In the blink of an eye, it spread like lightning, reaching across the sky above Flower River.

Then—with a deafening roar—thunder exploded overhead. The sky was instantly filled with lightning and peals of thunder, dark clouds pressing down upon the city, turning the heavens pitch-black.

High above the churning clouds, a rift began to tear open. At the same time, thick demon energy swept two figures rapidly upward.

Across the Flower River district, many young lords out seeking pleasure paled at the sight.

"What is going on? Is that demonic energy?"

"That's coming from the direction of the Emerald Pavilion in the Myriad Flowers Tower. Is someone causing trouble there?"

"Impossible, who would dare stir up trouble at the Myriad Flowers Tower?"

"Look—don't those two figures in the sky seem familiar?"

All those who witnessed the scene couldn't help but look up, whispering among themselves.

Those two figures at the center of attention were none other than Bai Shuxuan and Red Candle.

"My lady, leave me behind. Bringing me with you is too dangerous," Red Candle said, pale-faced, as they soared through the sky.

Bai Shuxuan's expression remained unchanged. She did not respond, merely lowering her jade-like face to look down upon Qian Siyuan, who stood in the pavilion below, studying them both with idle curiosity.

"Using a Thunder Mark Stone to break through the barrier? You think escaping back to the Demon Realm will be so easy?" Qian Siyuan's voice rang out.

A pillar of azure energy, carrying a shadowy figure, shot up like a sword piercing the heavens. The sky shuddered violently as if an invisible giant hand lifted the rift higher, echoing with thunderous booms.

Then, the azure pillar split into countless silver serpents, dazzling in all directions, surging toward Bai Shuxuan like a tidal wave.

Bai Shuxuan's demon cloud flashed and collided heavily with the legion of silver serpents, her own thunderclouds crackling around her.

The sky was now completely shrouded in black clouds and demonic mist.

Lightning of every hue burst forth between them.

Compared to Qian Siyuan's effortless style, Bai Shuxuan struggled mightily, relying on some rare treasure for support—yet even so, she was no match for Qian Siyuan's casual attacks.

After a brief exchange, Bai Shuxuan was clearly exhausted and overwhelmed.

Her face turned ashen. She realized she could not delay any longer—already, many eyes in the capital were drawn to the spectacle. If she could not escape back to the Demon Realm, every moment she remained, her chances of survival dwindled.

But facing an opponent like Qian Siyuan, a warrior of the eighth rank King Realm, even exhausting all her means offered little hope of escape.

For a moment, Bai Shuxuan was at a loss, her once elegant and composed demeanor replaced by stark terror.

Thunder rolled endlessly across the heavens.

"Out of tricks already? I thought you had some great demon backing you," Qian Siyuan taunted. "Is this all? You dare come to the capital with nothing more than a few disposable treasures? You even dared to plot against the heir apparent. Who gave you such audacity?"

"You have truly disappointed me."

Qian Siyuan's gentle expression did not change as he stood with hands clasped behind his back, speaking unhurriedly. He reached out again, unleashing a terrifying surge of power from his palm—a white, flowing energy shot out, spreading in all directions.

From below, one could see everything in its path shatter to dust.

In an instant, the sky cleared. The black clouds vanished, mist and fog dispersed, and the moon shone bright and cold.

The two figures in the sky fell helplessly.

Both spat blood at the same time, their faces turning deathly pale.

Qian Siyuan reached out once more, firmly seizing them both.

As he grasped Bai Shuxuan and Red Candle, a strange premonition flickered across his face. He turned southeast, his usually gentle smile faltering for a moment.

"Self-detonation? And by a seventh-rank Spirit-Transcending expert, no less? Driven to desperation just to avoid capture?"

Standing atop the tower, Cheng Guang seemed to sense something as well. He looked toward the direction of Han Pavilion, six miles away.

There, a black sun was rising.

Abruptly, it erupted into a massive pillar of darkness that shot toward the sky.

When the pillar vanished, a wave of violent, shadowy power surged beneath the clouds, rolling toward the capital like a raging tide.

Yet before it could reach the city, it was quietly erased by an unseen force.

Within the capital, all was calm and tranquil.

Even so, countless citizens took notice.

Even within the imperial palace, attention was drawn to the disturbance.

"What happened?"

"What is going on?"

"A seventh-rank Spirit-Transcending expert self-destructed—that's a rare sight."

"I think I sensed Cheng Zhihai's presence there. Seems he intervened."

"Yes, that's about right. Moments ago, a little fox demon was exposed in the capital and suppressed by Qian Siyuan. At the same time, Cheng Zhihai took action near Han Pavilion. What is the Lantern Directorate up to?"

Whispers of speculation abounded in the shadows.

Cheng Guang stood atop the tower, the cold wind stirring his robes and tousling his hair as he gazed southeast.

Though all was calm there now, the lingering sense of terror from the recent surge of power left his heart pounding.

What he had just witnessed was, for Cheng Guang, his first time beholding the true might of this world's greatest warriors.

Just the casual strike of Qian Siyuan, an eighth-rank martial king, was enough to summon a host of celestial phenomena—a display of power beyond compare. Cheng Guang could scarcely imagine what heights those of the ninth rank, or even the Heaven-and-Man Realm, might reach.

Clenching his fists, Cheng Guang felt a surge of longing for such strength.

If he possessed such power, he would no longer need to live in fear, forever cautious and looking over his shoulder.

If he possessed such power, he would not have to serve as a stand-in for that noble heir, always facing the threat of a miserable end.

His mind churned with thoughts.

Just then, a cold voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

[Mission complete.]

Cheng Guang raised an eyebrow at the words—was it really over so soon?

After all, he had not yet exacted vengeance on those assassins lurking in the shadows.

He looked into the distance, where the world itself seemed to tremble with destructive energy after the self-detonation of a powerful warrior. To die in such a way surely was no less agonizing than being carved to pieces.

Perhaps that could be counted as torment enough.

Cheng Guang let out a wry laugh.

In any case, the mission was done—and that was enough for him.

He left the matter of the assassins to Cheng Zhihai, no longer concerned with how they would be dealt with.

...