Chapter 482: The Arcane Civilization Nears Its Twilight!

Crack!!

Lightning tore through the sky, grazing Aks’ face before striking the world below.

An invisible force spread outward.

The creatures of this world couldn’t understand this power – they couldn’t even detect it. Only Aks, standing at the world’s peak, sensed something odd. The world seemed different, yet being part of it, he couldn’t see beyond the veil.

Such was the limitation of worldly beings.

Standing before you, yet remaining unseen.

How pitiful!

This night knew no rest.

After his frenzied aerial rampage, the mad Aks disappeared. None discovered his whereabouts as peace returned to the Floating City. The incident became mere dinner-table gossip before fading from memory.

Life trudged onward.

The council and academic institutions deliberately ignored the matter. Having labeled Aks as ‘insane’ themselves, how could they acknowledge this madman’s advancement beyond their achievements? Collective silence became their shield.

No mentions. No questions. No records.

The fervor gradually died.

Amid this atmosphere, Zuo Meng established himself in the Floating City. Through ‘generous contributions’ from local ruffians, he secured living funds and began studying the Arcane system. While his mission to find the lost Arcane civilization remained stalled, growing stronger never hurt.

Six months later.

Sloka Street, Floating City.

Kaboom!!

An Arcane flying vehicle plummeted from the sky, casualties littering the crash site.

“Damn it! Another accident!”

“I’ll sue those manufacturers! They’ll pay for these deaths!!”

The arriving sheriff spat in rage.

“Where are the academic institution fools?”

“Did these death-traps even pass inspections?!”

After chaotic bickering, academic researchers finally appeared.

“Skip inspection. Haul it away. Save whoever’s left.” They barely glanced at the wreck before walking off.

This marked the third Arcane malfunction this month. Previous inspections showed flawless core engravings – no logical cause for crashes. Yet perfect vehicles kept failing. Only Floating City’s elite few understood the truth.

Arcane energy was decaying!

The world itself was rejecting this energy at its core. For civilization built on Arcane power, the impact proved catastrophic.

“Damn them all!”

The sheriff cursed as the researchers departed without explanation.

These are human lives!

Do these researchers have no regard for life?

The sheriff knew nothing about the upper echelons’ changes. His duty was simply to handle what he could see.

“These bastards belong in hell!”

Chaos simmered.

The early tremors went unnoticed by those dwelling in society’s depths.

Zuo Meng closed the final Arcane tome in his courtyard.

Combining these texts with his Martial Arts foundation, he’d pieced together fundamental concepts. One line from the Arcane primer resonated deeply: Arcane isn’t power itself, but knowledge’s offspring.

Historical records showed no Arcane system existed in the world’s infancy. Sir Sage discovered truth among desert sands, using wisdom as lever to move half the world’s power. This pioneer became history’s first Arcane Master. Later generations expanded his framework into today’s system.

“Basics mastered at last…”

Zuo Meng strode to the swordsmanship yard.

Having seized resources, he’d claimed the finest. His stolen castle once housed a Floating City duke whose title spanned three centuries, granted by the council Speaker himself. This revealed the government’s twisted nature – progress tangled with archaic traditions. Social contradictions persisted only through Arcane Masters’ overwhelming might. Remove that power, and civilization would crumble overnight.

“Truth cuts like steel.”

Zuo Meng faced the training dummy. He channeled Martial Arts power, attempting to mimic Arcane energy.

Nothing happened.

The martial energy circled his meridians before dissipating.

“Energy incompatibility?”

After multiple failed attempts, he switched approaches. Lacking innate Arcane talent, he’d forced Morning Star-level might to store trace energies – six months’ labor yielding mere apprentice-level capacity.

BOOM!

This time Arcane worked. Spectral blades shredded the dummy, scanners flashing damage readings.

“Matches a novice Sword Saint’s strike.”

Zuo Meng shook his head. No wonder Arcane Masters dominated planes. Their beginners matched lifetime martial experts. How could anyone compete?

“But this energy…”

He flexed his hand, frowning.

“…fading?”

Ordinary apprentices wouldn’t notice, but Zuo Meng’s dual mastery granted unique perception. Morning Star martial senses detected subtle decay.

“Not just Arcane. All Transcendent forces weaken.”

Minutes passed before he lowered his hand, face grim. Without extraordinary systems, his lifespan would cap at two centuries. Death’s clock ticked louder.

“Aks’ so-called ‘enemy’?”

Understanding dawned. This invisible foe eroded foundations silently. How fight what you can’t perceive? The existential dread choked him.

“Buy time. Find answers before the collapse.”

His new purpose crystallized.

Zuo Meng wasn’t alone. Council leaders and academic institutions scrambled. Some scoured Floating City’s sub-planes for sanctuaries. Others followed Aks into madness, vanishing without trace.

The rot spread downward.

First the elite, then commoners, finally the subjugated planes – all would feel the tremors.

Arcane civilization’s sunset glowed crimson on the horizon.

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