In the shadowed city of Xiaguang, where black clouds swirled and a chilling wind howled.
The stains, spread like a vast net across the sky, clinging to the high walls of buildings and burrowing into the earth, began to tremble segment by segment as if alive.
Swelling, contracting.
Like pipes transporting energy.
Some stains cracked and fell, like scabs peeling from human skin. Yet, as the stains diminished, the sorrow, despair, and bleakness that shrouded people's hearts intensified.
A thick melancholy permeated the world, and the claws of shadows under the dark clouds writhed, ensnaring the Awakened and mythical beings.
Cold as serpents.
Loneliness pierced the soul.
Within the inner ring of Xiaguang City, at the point where the stains first appeared, the clawing shadows transformed into a tragic yet bizarre petal. It was as desolate as a dead thing, yet it fluttered as if alive.
At the center of this shadow petal, dozens of meters long, lay a jewel entwined with biting wind, grief, and death.
—The Source of Calamity!
With the complete eradication of all stain nodes, the Source of Calamity finally revealed its true form!
"So different from the calamity tumor deep within the Sea of Filth, is this the varying influence brought by different evil gods?"
Fang You gazed from afar.
The Source of Calamity was not large.
At least, compared to the incomparably massive, sky-obscuring seven-star level sinister beings, this black, flower-shaped source of calamity appeared minuscule.
Physically, it was small.
Spiritually, however, it was infinitely vast, enshrouding the sky and land of Xiaguang City, casting endless shadows.
"Shatter!"
A mythical being, who had been waiting in the vicinity, gritted his teeth and broke free from the incessantly clinging seven-star sinister being.
He drew a special weapon designed for the Source of Calamity, and cyan and red flames erupted around him, transforming into a pair of magnificent wings over ten meters long.
He flapped his wings, and streams of cyan and red light streaked across the sky, scattering sparks.
Raising his spear, he unleashed a strike to save Xiaguang City, to pierce through all calamities.
Mythical beings turned their gazes towards him.
Their eyes held tension, excitement, and anticipation.
Time seemed to stand still as the cyan and red mythical being, who had flown to the Source of Calamity, hovered motionlessly, his spear raised high.
"Pfft—"
Sharp tentacles pierced through the mythical being's body.
His dead eyes gradually cleared, ripples of struggle appearing in his pupils, but he quickly calmed down, his grip loosening. The spear slipped from his grasp and fell from the sky.
His body was also consumed by the climbing shadows.
But before his death, this mythical being exerted his last ounce of strength, transmitting a crucial piece of intelligence.
—Approaching this Source of Calamity will have a profound impact on the mind; even seven-覺 mythical beings cannot withstand it, unless they possess secret treasures or techniques specifically for soul protection!
Immediately, the remaining mythical beings, who wore specialized weapons, dared not advance.
They did not fear death… If there was a chance through a desperate struggle, they would willingly risk it. But if such a suicidal act was futile, the mythical beings felt…
Despair!
This was true for the mythical beings, one after another.
Before, under the shroud of stains, Xiaguang City had offered them a chance to abandon ordinary people and escape on their own. But now, under the gaze of a high-level existence, they had almost no possibility of escape.
Moreover, as the gray mist re-enveloped them, countless sinister beings emerged from the surroundings.
Seven-star level, eight-star level.
They had just endured a fierce battle, and almost everyone was injured. At this point, they might perish in the tide of sinister beings even without the 'Lord of Shadows' personally intervening.
The situation at Sunshine Orphanage was similar.
People's emotions were incredibly low and filled with despair.
This was partly due to the influence of the stains, but more so from the assessment of reality.
"It's over, it's really over this time."
Instructor Old Li muttered, his face pale.
The young man wielding a sword, Liu Feng, clenched his fists, but could not muster any strength.
Chi Yan, on all fours, her hair standing on end, bared her teeth in a ferocious expression.
"ROAR!!!"
She was about to rush forward for a desperate fight when Fang You held her back.
No matter how strong Chi Yan was, she was an ant before a ninth-tier existence, utterly insignificant.
Everyone present was.
Even semi-gods, who could reveal world-shattering semi-divine visages, were merely slightly stronger ants before a high-level existence.
Seven-觉 mythical beings could still cause trouble for eight-觉 semi-gods. However, the gap between an eight-觉 semi-god and a ninth-tier existence was enormous!
The ninth-tier could be called a god!
Many ancient gods and gods of faith were only ninth-tier!
"Perhaps, this is fate."
"In the unseen currents, countless threads of destiny converge at a single point, leading to a choice."
Fang You slowly put on a glove.
It was a silver-white glove, a little chipped.
He then looked at the people around him, "Later, no matter what happens, do not pay attention. Flee with all your might, the Dragon of Protection will keep you safe."
"Dean, are you…?"
Instructor Old Li and the other instructors were astonished.
They had all harbored suspicions; the Director Fang who created so many impossibilities could not be an ordinary person, nor an ordinary mythical being.
However, for over two years, they had never seen the Director truly act.
The Director's swordplay, blade techniques, and sorcery were all incredibly exquisite, like perfect art, yet his power level had always remained modest, never exhibiting mythical-level strength.
They dared not ask, but couldn't help but speculate.
The Director might be a very, very, very high existence, who had suffered an incurable severe injury, hence coming to Xiaguang City and deigning to take on the position of orphanage director.
Could it be…
Some felt a surge of joy, but Old Li keenly caught the Director's words, and combined with his own speculation, his expression gradually became grave.
"Teacher…"
Liu Feng opened his mouth, the words stuck in his throat.
He was very intelligent, perhaps too intelligent, which led to a lack of focus.
However, this was only in comparison to Chi Yan and Zhou Bao.
Fang You took out a book and handed it to Liu Feng.
"Keep this book. Later, as needed, tear off a page for your younger brothers and sisters who are preparing to break through to mythical status, it will protect them."
He then looked at Old Li and the others, "After this, the reconstruction of Sunshine Orphanage will be entrusted to all of you."
He had made some preparations.
Inside the God-Slaying Weapon, the Lord of the Realm's Hand, a vast amount of world power was stored, enough for him to unleash a desperate blow. Of course, without Blue Star, he was far from able to exert the power he had when confronting the Lord of the Blood Lake that day.
However, all he needed to do was to hold on for some time.
This was the Kandela Empire.
Escaping the spatial anomaly that was Xiaguang City offered a chance of survival.
Furthermore…
With the gradual amplification of world power, Fang You keenly noticed that the Lord of Shadows' state was not right. What had come here seemed not to be his true body, and far less substantial than the Lord of the Blood Lake that day.
Regardless of whether it was real or not, it had to be done.
He stepped forward.
His trouser leg was pulled.
He looked down to see Chi Yan gripping his pant leg, her lips pursed, letting out a low whimper.
Perhaps sensing something, some clenched their fists, others let out sobs.
Zhou Bao, the youngest, his three-meter-tall frame trembling, his eyes tearful, cried like a child weighing a thousand jin.
Fang You patted his head.
"This parting is not a farewell forever."
"Live well. If there's a chance, we might meet again in the future."
Fang You himself felt a pang of sadness.
He scanned his surroundings, memorizing each familiar face, imprinting them deep within his soul.
He would not die.
None of them would die.
But whether they would meet again…
Wearing the glove, holding the scepter, Fang You, clad in a white robe, ascended step by step.
Space and time began to ripple around him.
He took a few steps out, standing above the heavens, his palm slowly lifting, supporting the world that was about to collapse.
The belief of burning fire, ignite!
World power, arise!
A giant tree materialized behind him, its majestic shadow piercing the oppressive dark clouds, and brilliant white flames dispelled the endless gray mist, causing time and space to seem to recede before him.
Fang You gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, golden energy surging within him. He pushed his palm forward.
As if pushing the entire world forward!
He fiercely pierced through the giant face formed by the converging dark clouds, which only had time to utter a hint of astonishment!
It even seemed to pierce through space and time.
The river of time and space surged, waves splashing and falling, bringing a pressure heavier than the world.
Fang You looked back.
His final gaze swept over the orphanage, where he had lived for over two years and left countless precious memories, and the adorable children within.
The figure in white robes shattered, dissolving into specks of golden light that scattered with the wind.
The dark clouds also dispersed.
The earth was once again bathed in golden radiance.
People looked up, facing the warm sunlight, chasing the drifting golden particles.
Beneath the azure sky, there seemed to be a face.
A gentle and radiant smile.