Chapter 483: Chaos

The changes came faster than Zuo Meng had expected.

Three years!

In merely three years, the Arcane civilization suffered unprecedented collapse. Countless Arcane devices stopped working. Those flying Arcane vehicles common three years ago now lay as scrap metal in streets. Imaging equipment became useless junk thrown on roadsides.

But the real terror came from

the sinking Floating City!

This crowning achievement of Arcane civilization began descending. Once visible only through specific frequencies, the legendary city now appeared across multiple planes under its rule. On that day, countless rulers sent their strong individuals to investigate.

They didn’t realize the Arcane civilization was already dying. The decline had been gradual at first, but now Arcane Masters weakened at visible speed. Even Floating City’s strongest couldn’t stop the fall –

only slow it.

This worsened everything. With all power focused on maintaining the city, lawlessness spread outside. The true chaos began three days earlier with shocking news:

‘A stable hand killed Arcane Master Green at Green Manor.’

Ordinary people killing Arcane Masters!

This thunderclap shattered thousand-year-old perceptions. Invincible Arcane Masters could be beaten to death with shovels! First case sparked others – four Masters dead within days, one corpse never found.

This unprecedented event ignited long-suppressed conflicts. Though not fully fallen yet, Floating City descended into chaos. Rebel servants organized anti-Arcanist mobs. Even lowly citizens here possessed knowledge – their ancestors had been Arcane Masters. Why should descendants remain slaves? Fear vanished with their masters’ deaths.

“Strange new energy.”

Zuo Meng’s castle faced attacks too, but rioters left after discovering he wasn’t Arcane Master. Not from reason – they’d seen him crush door-breakers into fleshy spheres and throw them out.

Morning Star level!

Though not understanding his methods, they feared power. His castle became forbidden territory. Outside raged chaos; inside kept calm.

Zuo Meng’s research finally progressed. Using materials bought from Owl Jones, he’d reached advanced Arcane understanding in three years – time when ordinary apprentices might still study basics. For him, learning felt like cheating.

Each new subject brought déjà vu, daily improvements making him full-fledged Arcane Master theoretically, except for top-secret knowledge.

Recent Arcane energy decline revealed strange new force. Zuo Meng extracted undocumented energy particles through Arcane means.

“The real culprit?” Owl Jones wondered.

With outside chaos making money useless, he stayed put – better than being killed by mobs.

“Perhaps.”

Zuo Meng carefully contained the particles.

“Academic institutions must know.”

These elusive particles enlightened him. Single particles did nothing, but clusters devoured Arcane energy, converting it into inert form unusable by Arcane – removing Masters’ leverage.

Their system became obsolete.

Earlier undetected due to minimal presence, the energy grew by consuming Arcane particles until reaching detectable levels.

“Can we destroy or convert it?”

Jones examined ordinary-looking particles ending an era.

“No. Structure’s incomprehensible.”

Zuo Meng’s failed attempts showed particles expanding during tests – true expansion phase hadn’t even begun.

“Two weeks until next explosion…”

Zuo Meng left the thought hanging.

Though rioters rampaged, council and academic institutions focused on Floating City’s maintenance. Their power remained overwhelming to ordinary people despite overall decline.

“More explosions?”

Jones’ feathers bristled.

“Another would finish Floating City completely.”