Ch. 1393 - Fall of Mu Zhuo, Defeat of Qingyun

When Chaos’s deep voice echoed across the heavens, the entire Mu household was thrown into panic. Countless servants scattered like headless ants, and even the sleeping residents of Fire Bane City were startled awake.

“Could it be another Water Beast attack?”

“What’s going on? Who would dare provoke the Mu Imperial Clan?”

“It’s a demon beast, look at the sky! What kind of creature is that?”

The citizens whispered among themselves in fear.

Meanwhile, in the direction of the Black Crow Dao Court, Bian Wenzhou stood in his courtyard, drinking wine beneath the moonlight. He, too, sensed the presence of Chaos and gazed quietly toward that distant direction.

“Lord Patriarch,” several of the Black Raven elders hurriedly arrived, bowing before him.

Any disturbance in the city caught their attention, though matters concerning the manor were not theirs to decide, so they had come directly to Bian Wenzhou.

“Why the panic?” Bian Wenzhou asked calmly.

“There’s a demon beast attacking the city!” the Second Elder said first.

“A demon beast attack? Then why do I not sense the city itself under siege?” Bian Wenzhou countered. “That beast seems to be heading toward the Mu Imperial Clan, doesn’t it?”

“The Mu Imperial Clan is still part of Fire Bane City,” another elder said hurriedly. “If something happens to them and we, the Black Crow Dao Court, stand idle, people will question our honor.”

“Yes,” another added. “The Water Beasts have been rampant lately. Losing the Mu Imperial Clan would weaken the city’s defenses, it would harm us all.”

Listening to their chatter, Bian Wenzhou finally replied, “Very well. You may go and observe. But don’t act rashly. If that demon beast intends to destroy the entire Mu Imperial Clan, then intervene. But if it seeks only one man, stay out of it.”

At those words, even the slowest among them realized something was off. The Patriarch seemed to know more than he was letting on. But since he had spoken, they dared not argue and quickly departed.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Bian Wenzhou called after them. “No matter what happens, under no circumstances are you to harm that beast.”

After everyone left, a maid entered from outside the courtyard.

“Patriarch,” she said, “the young lady asked me to remind you, whatever that person intends to do, let him. If we interfere, disaster will fall upon the Black Crow Dao Court as well.”

Repeating Bian Shishi’s words, she added softly, “Against that man, the Black Crow Dao Court isn’t even enough to fill the gap between his teeth.”

“I understand,” Bian Wenzhou waved her off. Then he sighed. “Still, I’d better see it for myself. If one of those old fools loses his temper, the blame will fall on us.”

These were troubled times, Water Beasts ravaged the lands outside, and within the Fire God Race, power struggles over the Ancestral Grounds raged constantly.

At the Mu estate, Chaos’s thunderous voice rolled through every corner.

“What trouble has that unfilial son Mu Zhuo caused now?” snorted Mu Fanhai, the patriarch of the Mu Imperial Clan.

He stepped out of his chamber and summoned all the family elders.

“Where is Mu Zhuo?” he demanded, sweeping his gaze across the hall.

But there was no sign of him.

“The second young master is asleep, sir. He told us not to disturb him,” a trembling servant replied.

“He can still sleep at a time like this?” Mu Fanhai said coldly. “First Elder, go and drag that unfilial brat here yourself.”

Then turning toward the composed figure standing beside him, he said, “Qingyun, go calm that beast. See if there’s any chance to resolve this peacefully.”

“Yes, Father,” Mu Qingyun replied, bowing slightly.

Dressed in white robes, he stepped out into the night wind.

Above the Mu estate, dense infernal energy blanketed the heavens, darker than the night itself. Mu Qingyun looked up, sensing the overwhelming power that filled the sky, but still he rose into the air toward the source of it.

“Senior, to what do we owe your visit?” he called out steadily. “If my Mu Imperial Clan has somehow offended you, please tell us, so we may make amends.”

“I’m not here for you,” Chaos’s deep, resonant voice replied. “Bring out Mu Zhuo.”

Its massive body remained hidden within the dark clouds, its voice alone was enough to shake the heavens.

“If my younger brother has offended you in some way, our family is willing to apologize,” Mu Qingyun said. “State your condition, anything within our power, we will do.”

“This is my lord’s decree,” Chaos said impatiently. “Once my lord commands, his death is certain. No condition can change that. I have come only to kill Mu Zhuo. Hand him over, or your whole clan will perish. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“In that case,” Mu Qingyun said solemnly, drawing his silver-white sword, “allow me to test Senior’s might.”

“You’re not strong enough,” Chaos said. “You may have reached the peak of the God Meridian Realm and stand but a step from becoming a Grand Emperor, but a step short is still short.”

“Even so,” Mu Qingyun said earnestly, “please grant me the chance to try.”

As his words fell, the demonic clouds above began to twist and recede, as though swallowed by an unseen force. Slowly, the vast form of Chaos emerged from the darkness.

It was even larger than before, its entire body black as the void, a red-violet vortex swirling in its abdomen, absorbing endless power.

Its colossal wings spread wide, blotting out the moon itself. All across Fire Bane City, people looked up and saw the silhouette in the heavens, brighter and more terrifying than the moon.

“Young one,” Chaos said arrogantly, “I’ll give you one move. Don’t say I didn’t let you strike first.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Mu Qingyun bowed deeply.

The silver-white sword in his hand glowed faintly, but from it radiated a burning heat.

As a scion of the Fire God Race, his body surged with fiery power. White flames rose all around him, half white and cold as frost, half red and blazing as magma. Two opposing natures bound together in perfect balance.

“Eternal Yin-Yang Slash!” Mu Qingyun shouted, each word heavy with power.

All his energy poured into that single strike. The void split in two, half frozen by ice, half scorched by fire.

Chaos tilted its head slightly. “The Fire God Race’s strength lies in heat, yet your flames have mutated. But that mutation… has made you stronger.”

Watching the twin flames surge toward it, Chaos’s vortex pulsed. Within it, destructive power gathered like the birth of a new world.

Lightning spread. Space shattered.

A crimson-violet torrent burst forth from its core, colliding head-on with the fiery blade.

The resulting explosion consumed the heavens themselves.

“Look!” someone cried from the edge of the blast.

A figure in white plummeted from the sky, Mu Qingyun.

“I’m still not strong enough,” he said bitterly.

“Senior, please spare Qingyun’s life! I’ve brought you Mu Zhuo!” a voice shouted from within the Mu estate.

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