Chapter 493: Spreading
Chapter 493: Spreading
Over a thousand years ago, the Arcane civilization suffered devastating blows. The three surviving Ancient Ones kept silent about the incident. Countless later generations of strong individuals tried uncovering that era’s secrets, exhausting endless efforts yet finding no answers—only reaching a speculation-level conclusion.
The Arcane civilization had an ultimate enemy.
Aks’s subsequent madness proved this, but only when Zuo Meng arrived in this era did he understand why Aks went mad. The pinnacle Arcane civilization was destroyed by ‘ink.’ The idea of ink destroying civilization sounded ridiculous, yet it was true!
None knew the ink’s origin.
Zuo Meng stepped forward and grabbed a clump of ink. This supposedly touch-fatal substance rested harmlessly in his palm. An unnamed Sir Sage fell from the sky—this nearly hopeless elder witnessed this scene in his dying moments.
Grasping calamity?
To Arcane Masters, ink meant calamity. Civilization-overturning power where contact meant instant death! Neither people nor objects could resist it. Arcane attacks got assimilated instantly. Swords, weapons, walls—all useless. Yet this supposedly unstoppable force was caught bare-handed. This proved the power wasn’t invincible—their defeat stemmed from weakness.
Insufficient perception guarantees defeat!
“This…is hope!!”
The old Arcane Master’s eyes flashed. With his last breath, he transmitted Zuo Meng’s ink-grasping image to all living Arcane Masters.
This single image transformed Floating City’s atmosphere. Despairing Arcane Masters rekindled hope.
Humans could resist calamity after all!
Their failure didn’t mean others couldn’t succeed.
“Hmm?”
While analyzing ink, Zuo Meng noticed the old man’s act. At his current rank, none in the sheepskin book world could hide from his awareness. Like mythic evil gods sensing their name’s utterance, anything involving him triggered his perception.
Names caused reactions—how much more an actual image?
“Seeking death?”
Zuo Meng stared at the smiling corpse, expression twisting.
He handled ink because his rank surpassed this world’s, countering it with true Origin Rules. For locals, ink meant unavoidable doom—their only option was hiding until calamity passed.
But Arcane Masters refused!
Their pride rejected ant-like submission. Long-invincible, they believed no power was absolute. So the elder spread Zuo Meng’s image to inspire hope—proof calamity could be conquered.
Good intentions, but fatal oversight—
Calamity spreads.
Contamination.
All higher-dimensional forces inherently pollute. Like radioactivity, it persists regardless of awareness.
Insufficient resistance meant death.
Watching meant exposure—even through memories.
“Reached all apprentice+ Arcane Masters?”
Zuo Meng instantly traced the image’s path. Sir Sage-level power topped the sheepskin book world—they could broadcast thoughts citywide.
“The thousand-year disaster’s cause…was me?”
Now he understood. Calamity was just the spark.
The true disaster was himself! His ink-holding image’s dissemination caused the spread. The elder’s hopeful act magnified calamity infinitely across the Arcane community.
“Who’s this?”
In some corner, a confused Arcane Master stared at the mental image. Beside him, apprentice Odolan puzzled over his teacher’s distraction during critical experiments.
Calamity spread gradually. Floating City’s core fell first, outskirts still intact. The sudden strike left no preparation time. The dying Sir Sage’s premature broadcast left ignorant Arcane Masters bewildered.
“Almost! One more inner demon’s eye for my promotion potion.”
Elsewhere, Baigu battled in Floating City’s training grounds.
Floating City!
A metropolis dwarfing dimensional worlds, reducing individuals to insignificance. Future pillars Odolan and Baigu remained lowly apprentices, thus immune to Zuo Meng’s calamity image.
The broadcast ended.
Blackened skies shifted as incomprehensible power spread through memories.
“Ah!!!”
Screams erupted. Sir Sages, Grand Arcane Masters, Arcane Masters died sequentially. Apprentices watched horrified as mentors’ heads exploded, ink splattering everywhere. Strangely, sub-Arcane apprentices survived unharmed—no Sir Sages remained to witness this, most already dead.
Snow Wolf Empire realm.
Founding ancestor Sword Saint Aige died.
Friend Aks rushed over, baffled by an Arcane Master’s simple death. Remembering their pact, he spent three months building Aige’s tomb.
Completion day came.
As Aige returned to Floating City, an image flashed in his mind—a familiar face clutching black ink. The person was his friend: Aige.