Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1495 - 933: Onset of the Chaotic Tide (Part 2)

Among the Hundred Immortal Sects, the Wandao Immortal Alliance stands at the forefront, continually dispatching countless spies to Shifang City each year with the intention of pilfering its technological secrets.

Recent intelligence suggests that Shifang City's advanced mechanical techniques have been compromised by outside entities over the past few years.

Even Li Qiuxing, one of the esteemed Seven Deans of Shifang City, was discovered to have been secretly corrupted by external powers.

During the construction of mechanical puppets, he subtly manipulated the spiritual pattern circuitry within the core components for an entire decade.

Just a year prior, when the City Lord finally apprehended him, Li Qiuxing, facing entrapment, resorted to a desperate measure: he unleashed the core's power through forbidden spiritual methods, triggering a chaotic rampage among twenty thousand elite puppet troops within Shifang City.

The situation has escalated alarmingly over the last year, and more disturbingly, Li Qiuxing occupied a pivotal role, overseeing the very core technologies responsible for puppet creation.

Within Shifang City, he was revered as a figure of immense standing, possessing a century's worth of specialized knowledge.

His profound expertise in mechanical arts, however, masked a dark secret: prior to his arrival in Shifang City, he was a notorious Evil Cultivator, deeply immersed in the forbidden arts of witchcraft.

Even after adopting a new identity and establishing himself in Shifang City, his addiction to researching witchcraft remained unshaken.

Recognizing Shifang City's strict regulations, he refrained from conducting experiments on living beings. Instead, he turned his attention to applying witchcraft worms to mechanical puppets.

Over the years, he succeeded in developing a peculiar form of witch plague specifically targeting puppets. Coupled with the existing menace of the rogue puppet army, the burgeoning crisis became virtually insatiable.

This insidious toxin would not infect humans but would spread rampantly among puppets. Within a few days, worm eggs nestled in a puppet's core would hatch and mature, subsequently disrupting the spiritual pattern circuitry and plunging the city into disarray.

Baili An’s heart grew heavy with the implications.

The organization known as One Drop of Blood has experienced explosive growth in recent times, and its leader, Jun He, has proven to be exceptionally cunning and resourceful.

His Demon Alliance, particularly in its intelligence-gathering capabilities, could rival even the formidable Dark City.

Although Shifang City is not among the legendary Three Sects of Heavenly Dao, it stands as the second most prominent city after Xianling City where Immortals choose to reside, its immense wealth exerting influence across the Six Realms.

Such a catastrophic event unfolding within the city's confines, yet no outward sign of distress has reached the outside world.

Remarkably, an important auction is still scheduled to proceed as planned in just three months.

If the witch plague possesses the terrifying infectiousness described, it is highly probable that a significant portion of Shifang City's mechanical puppet forces have already descended into uncontrolled rampages. Venturing into Shifang City now would undoubtedly court immense peril.

Puppets possess a critical difference from sentient beings—they are incapable of feeling pain or fearing death. Furthermore, Shifang City boasts an annual output of vast quantities of mechanical armies.

These lifeless mechanical puppets can be conveniently stored within Qiankun Bags. Despite Shifang City's relatively modest terrestrial size, every inhabitant possesses a Qiankun Bag capable of holding hundreds, if not thousands, of these mechanized units, not to mention those that have already infiltrated areas beyond the city walls.

Should the witch plague erupt and propagate uncontrollably, it would precipitate a disaster of truly cosmic proportions.

Humanity has grown overwhelmingly dependent on the manipulation of puppets and the formidable power they represent.

If these constructs were to turn against their creators, the numerous Hundred Immortal Sects and the myriad nations of the Four Seas would find themselves utterly unprepared.

Should this brewing disaster fail to be contained swiftly, it would undoubtedly spread like an uncontrollable inferno, engulfing battlefields across the globe.

Baili An inquired, his voice laced with concern, "What is the current state of affairs within Shifang City?"

Qingzhi responded, "Under the command of City Lord Fang You, decisive action has been taken against Li Qiuxing. In conjunction with the other six deans, all puppets afflicted by the witch plague have been eradicated."

It is understandable that Shifang City, with its thousand-year legacy, would possess its own unique methods for resolving such crises.

However, given that various factions have harbored ambitions towards Shifang City’s abundant resources and wealth for years, it would be foolish to assume they would passively observe this opportunity pass them by.

Indeed, Qingzhi continued, "Among the infected mechanical puppets, those possessing combat power equivalent to the Chengling Realm were eliminated, amounting to three thousand. The number of Sea Expansion Realm battle forces was beyond count, and tragically, even five puppets comparable to the fearsome Tribulation Realm mech warriors were lost."

These formidable units were originally intended for the Ancient Fang of the Upper Pure Immortal Realm this very year. Now, Shifang City finds itself under immense strain."

Baili An grasped the severity of the situation, understanding that the true cost of these losses likely ran far deeper than mere numbers. Within Shifang City, every cultivator primarily functions as a talisman specialist, not as a dedicated combatant.

With such a vast number of powerful mechanical puppets at their disposal, how could the human populace possibly hope to withstand such a threat? Furthermore, the very act of utilizing mechanical puppets to combat the infected ones carried substantial inherent risks.

Any failure to completely neutralize the infected puppets could lead to further contamination, potentially escalating the disaster into an uncontrollable catastrophe.

For Shifang City, renowned for its intricate mechanical arts, dealing with the very puppets it crafts could potentially spell its own demise.

This conflict unfolded without a sound, as Baili An held the firm conviction that his courageous deeds were not meant for public acclaim.

The damage inflicted upon the Mechanical Puppets was undoubtedly a loss, yet it also signified immense dormant wealth.

However, should these Mechanical Puppets be dismantled, their recreation is feasible within the span of a year.

Conversely, if the elite talisman masters responsible for their creation were to fall in this conflict, it would represent a profound blow to their very foundation.

Qingzhi contemplated, “I cannot fathom why Shifang City would proceed with an auction as if it were a normal day.

Now that Shifang City has sustained considerable damage, those harboring malevolent intentions will undoubtedly prove formidable to fend off. It would be far more prudent to seal the city and dedicate all efforts towards recovery, aiming to completely eradicate the Witch Plague menace.

With the city gates now wide open and welcoming visitors from all corners, if even a single one of the circulated Mechanical Puppets carries the Witch Plague, an even more devastating calamity could erupt.

Should this contagion fully manifest, the Mortal World would face ruin, and even the esteemed lord of Zhonghua Immortal Estate, Chu Liang himself, would be powerless to shield Shifang City.”

Baili An listened intently, his silence stretching, his gaze inscrutable and unrevealed. After a considerable pause, he eventually inquired, “Is there any information regarding the third daughter of Shifang City, Fang Geyu?”

Qingzhi paused momentarily before responding, “Since the Third Lady Fang was unsuccessful in securing the position of City Lord in Xianling City and subsequently returned to Shifang City, she entered the Thousand Blade Snow Tower. She emerged only six months ago, and details about her experiences are scarce.”

Baili An gave a slight nod. “Regardless of the specifics, I must make a journey to Shifang City. There is no need for further discussion.”

Qingzhi ceased his dissuasion. “The fox spirit residing in your chambers appears to harbor ill intentions. Shall I attend to her as well?”

That voluptuous fox spirit does not possess the backing of a Golden Immortal.

“There is no necessity to eliminate this minor spirit.”

Although she presented an appearance of maturity and experience, closer interaction revealed her to be a nascent spirit, untainted by the world’s harsh realities.

Her mind, occupied with thoughts of poultry legs and romantic entanglements, likely stemmed from an excessive consumption of romance novels before her transformation.

Her current form was fashioned after the alluring demeanor of mature women depicted in those very tales, with an ongoing preoccupation with matters of Dual Cultivation.

This is in stark contrast to the malevolent three-tailed demon fox.

Throughout her journey thus far, apart from her uninhibited spending habits, she has not indulged in any actions detrimental to others.

Observing her guileless disposition, it seems improbable that she possesses the capacity for murder and robbery.

Upon careful reflection, this fox spirit, aside from being somewhat slow-witted, gluttonous, and prone to lust, presents few other significant flaws.

To seek her demise with a sword merely because she harbored an attraction to his physique seems profoundly unreasonable.

...

...

Shu Ci possessed a remarkably magnanimous spirit, generously bestowing ample freedom upon the ‘sustenance’ she craved.

While Baili An was occupied with ordering tea, she surreptitiously pilfered a chicken drumstick from the table and retreated into the small adjoining kitchen.

The kitchen was a humid space, permeated by a palpable warmth and the subtle aroma of soapwort.

Shu Ci’s gaze fell upon the comely woman seated in a cross-legged posture, immersed in meditation beside the woodpile.

At some indeterminate point, she had changed into a diaphanous gauze gown adorned with a lotus pattern in a lake-blue hue. The Jade Crown was absent from her head, her hair loosely gathered into a simple bun, secured at the nape of her neck by a jade hairpin.

A faint, lingering pallor on her face still betrayed hints of a sickly flush.

Stirred by the sound of the opening door, Li Bansheng’s eyebrows flickered noticeably. Her eyes snapped open, emanating a cold, piercing stare directed at the woman standing at the threshold, a chicken drumstick in hand.

Her expression remained impassive, yet her teeth clenched as she uttered, “In this critical juncture, I am profoundly indebted to your timely intervention, which averted a potential catastrophe.

However, ultimately, righteousness and malevolence are irreconcilable forces. Today, I shall feign ignorance of your presence and refrain from exposing your clandestine activities for personal gain.

Nevertheless, this does not grant you license to repeatedly appear before me, thereby testing the boundaries of my forbearance.”

Shu Ci displayed no interest in her lengthy exposition on the virtues of righteousness and the evils of vice.

Lifting the hem of her skirt, she approached Li Bansheng and gently placed the chicken drumstick upon her lap, her gesture conveying a mix of deference and inquiry.

“Indeed, your esteemed Righteous Immortal Sect possesses considerable expertise. I have retained that piece of ‘meat’ by my side for an extended period, yet it remained as unyielding as stone, rendering it utterly inedible.

Upon your arrival, you demonstrated an uncanny ability to draw forth the karmic barrier from his being, providing me with a moment of genuine exhilaration.

Your guidance last night was most instructive. Though my current form imposes limitations upon my intellect, rendering me a slow study, I confess my forgetfulness today. Might you be willing to impart your wisdom once more?”