Chapter 484: Action

This information broker saw things clearer than ordinary people. Rioters causing trouble, Arcane Masters getting killed—these meant nothing to the Floating City. If the Floating City collapsed, everyone living there would perish.

How did the Floating City dominate countless planes for millennia?

Arcane Masters had slaughtered countless lives over the ages. Many victims became lab specimens through horrific experiments. Years of accumulated atrocities meant that without forceful suppression, the oppressed masses would tear the Floating City apart. Those people wouldn’t distinguish between upper or lower classes—to them, the Floating City was one entity. Nobody would escape unscathed.

“We’ll leave before the second outbreak hits. But first, I need to find two people.”

Zuo Meng packed his belongings and left. After lying low for so long, it was time to move. His life depended on completing this mission.

As the Floating City kept descending amidst ongoing riots, Zuo Meng ‘borrowed’ countless books from libraries—including those of the council and academic institutions. With weaker Arcane Masters now vulnerable to ordinary people and stronger ones busy maintaining the city core, he faced no real obstacles. Even when spotted, nobody could track him.

The materials proved useless. Finding clues about the ‘lost Arcane civilization’ here was impossible—let alone completing his task.

Time to ask directly.

Only three knew the truth from those days: Elder Odolan of academic institutions, Speaker Baigu of the council, and the vanished madman Aks. With Aks missing, Zuo Meng would question the other two.

Grand Arcane Masters must be weakened now too. Previously, a Morning Star level martial arts master like him wouldn’t dare face them. In the Arcane-dominated past, their defenses rendered other energy users helpless.

“Who’re we finding?”

Owl Jones had grown used to following Zuo Meng lately, having no plans to leave soon.

“Odolan and Baigu.”

“Who?!”

To Floating City residents, these were legendary figures. Ordinary folks never saw them—even council and academic matters were handled by subordinates while the big shots stayed in their laboratories.

Zuo Meng ignored Jones’ reaction. He understood the owl’s shock—like a peasant claiming to visit the Snow Wolf Empire’s ancestor Aige. No explanation would work until they actually met.

“Goodbye! Actually—never see you again!”

The opportunistic owl immediately tried fleeing. Who’d stick with a madman wanting to barge into restricted areas uninvited?

But Zuo Meng grabbed his neck mid-escape.

“Need you to find them.” No free rides—this freeloader wasn’t escaping that easily.

“You need directions? I’ve got headaches! Find someone else!” The scheming merchant tried dodging danger while clinging to benefits.

“The city’s falling anyway. What’s there to fear?”

Zuo Meng kept his grip. With chaos everywhere, he couldn’t waste time searching alone.

Yes!

The Floating City was doomed; what was there left to fear?

Owl Jones suddenly snapped back to reality. He cleared his throat awkwardly and declared with exaggerated solemnity, “Though I know this is perilous, how could I abandon friends? Everyone knows Jones stands by his comrades – consider this matter handled!” Once the bragging started, the silly owl completely shed any pretense of modesty. A simple favor became a life-risking ordeal through his theatrics.

Zuo Meng had long grown accustomed to this charade, mentally filtering out the empty boasts. Thankfully, the owl eventually remembered their actual mission.

With Jones’s guidance, Zuo Meng soon located the Floating City’s core entrance. The city’s mightiest Arcane Masters had all converged at the central hub in desperate attempts to halt the city’s descent. Though ordinary people regularly saw this area in holographic projections, finding its physical location proved far trickier. Jones’s assistance saved valuable time.

“Descend here.”

Half a day later, they stood before the pulsating core entrance.

“Identify yourselves!”

Guards materialized instantly – elite defenders maintaining vigilance despite the citywide chaos. Few dared approach this restricted zone.

Buzz.

Pale energy rippled from Zuo Meng’s body, silencing and immobilizing the guards before they could react.

The Morning Star application of Martial Arts power.

Years of refinement had transformed basic cultivation methods into something greater. Zuo Meng had developed numerous unconventional techniques – this effortless suppression of lesser opponents being just one example.

Crackle…

Protective magic circles flared to life as Zuo Meng advanced. Though greatly weakened from their original lethal potency, the defensive formations still posed risks. Brute force entry would trigger containment traps – an unnecessary delay.

“Time to prove your worth.”

“Press your palm against the third rune on the left.”

Owl Jones gestured with his wing. The Owl Clan’s secret knowledge proved crucial – the Arcane’s decline had created vulnerabilities in previously impregnable formations.

Zuo Meng complied without hesitation. Even faulty information couldn’t endanger someone of his caliber, though Jones unexpectedly delivered results this time. The formation parted with mechanical clicks, revealing a yawning black passageway…