[Vol. 6] Chapter 220: The Prophecy of Destruction
“Your Holiness…!”
Mu Ze began to speak but fell silent again when Shangguan Qiuyue raised his hand to stop him. The Saint’s scrutinizing gaze remained locked on the black-haired girl before him, unwavering.
“Miss Vi, you’re smart and perceptive. You’ve likely already realized that I’ve been testing and observing you. Once during the literary competition selection, and through that person named Meng Rui. These actions may have annoyed you, but as the ruler of this nation, I have my responsibilities. I can’t simply let potential threats go unchecked.”
“This incident may have been unexpected, but it has also created the opportunity for this meeting. I believe that doing nothing would have been worse. What do you think?”
He paused, carefully watching the expressions of the two girls in front of him, searching for any hint of weakness or reaction he could exploit.
But his efforts were in vain.
Violet’s face remained the same as ever. Calm, composed, with an enigmatic smile that seemed to hint at amusement. Behind her, the cat-eared girl, Xiao Kong, briefly showed surprise when she heard the name “Meng Rui,” but it was fleeting and quickly disappeared.
Neither showed any signs of guilt, fear, or even subtle tells that might reveal a hidden agenda. This left Shangguan Qiuyue feeling both satisfied and uneasy.
These two "individuals" were completely beyond his control. And for a ruler who had governed Eastern Kingdom for over two centuries, unpredictability was the thing he despised the most, just like the unexpected events of today.
Yet, when weighing the risks, the two mysterious girls in front of him offered far more potential for cooperation than the chaotic forces lurking in the shadows.
After a moment of silence, the black-haired girl finally spoke, her voice calm yet laced with subtle warning.
“Let’s clarify something first. Meng Rui, she’s unharmed, right? I don’t care if you used her to test me, but let me make one thing clear, old man. I have my limits. I hope you haven’t done anything foolish. And don’t keep calling me Miss Vi, I have a full name.”
The moment those words left her mouth, cold sweat immediately broke out on Mu Ze’s brow, as well as on Shangguan Hong, who was standing to the side. Neither dared to breathe too loudly.
Oddly, the youngest among them, Yanzi, remained calm and composed, as if she was not worried about any potential conflict breaking out.
As expected, despite the subtle threat in Violet’s tone, Shangguan Qiuyue showed no anger. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, seeming slightly more at ease before responding directly.
“She’s fine. I haven’t done anything to her. That [Music Fairy] ship captain is clever enough, but she’s still a bit too inexperienced. She assumed I was unaware of your connection and even tried to fish for information from me at times.”
“Is that so…”
Violet nodded as if satisfied, though internally, her thoughts were dumbfounded.
*What the heck? This old man is ridiculous! He actually called Meng Rui just to observe the competition on purpose, using it as a chance to test us?*
*If that’s the case, does that mean inviting Meng Rui to Xingyuan City to perform was just a cover too? What's wrong with this old man? Didn't he have anything better to do?!*
To be fair, Violet had vaguely considered this possibility before. After all, the timing of Meng Rui’s invitation and their contact with the [Shocking God Sect] had been unusually coincidental. If the purpose were really to perform at the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], they should’ve been invited much earlier to allow time for preparation.
But honestly, it had only been a suspicion until now. Shangguan Qiuyue mentioning Meng Rui outright had startled her, and she had deliberately phrased her response to test and confirm her theory.
On the surface, she appeared calm and composed as if everything was going according to plan. In truth, her deity race made emotional fluctuations less apparent, and Violet had consciously maintained an air of confidence to conceal her surprise.
Still, their side had a slight advantage in terms of strength. As long as they were careful, they shouldn’t end up as pawns in his schemes.
After a brief moment of thought, Violet finally addressed the Saint’s original question directly.
“To be honest, I’m neither your friend nor your enemy. I’m just a passerby. Ideally, I’d prefer to stay out of everything, smoothly pass through the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony], reach Spirit Veil Immortal Island, achieve my goal, and leave.”
"But in reality, we both know that's impossible. When the nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact. If the [Ancient Spirit Realm] were truly united, Spirit Veil Immortal Island wouldn’t remain unaffected, and that’s not a result I wish to see."
“So, for now, our positions align. If helping you furthers my own goals, I won’t hesitate to lend a hand.”
“Is that so…”
This time, Shangguan Qiuyue repeated the same words back to her.
For the first time, a faint curve appeared on his usually stern and authoritative face, and he nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied.
“A simple, mutually beneficial transaction is often more trustworthy than baseless goodwill or help. Very well, Miss Violet. While this isn’t the answer I most hoped to hear, perhaps even a bit unexpected. I must admit, you’ve convinced me.”
“The specifics of our cooperation can be discussed later. For now, take a look at this.”
The Saint raised his hand casually, prompting Shangguan Hong, who stood behind him, to pull out a round orb from his robes. Holding it with both hands, Shangguan Hong presented it to the Saint, who received it and passed it directly to Violet.
“A [Memory Stone]. Do you need me to explain how it works?”
Violet shook her head and quickly located the activation button. With a simple press, the stone projected the stored footage for all to see.
As the light emerged, it formed a mysterious figure cloaked in a hood and robe, their body fully hidden, with only part of their face visible. The figure began to move and to speak.
Their voice was low and processed, with a neutral, mechanical tone. Though it wasn’t pleasant to hear, it carried an eerie power that unsettled anyone listening.
“Good afternoon, everyone. The [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony] matches are quite thrilling, aren’t they? I’m sure you’ve all been enjoying them immensely.”
“My apologies for this sudden interruption. I regret disturbing your excitement. However, there’s an important matter that I must inform you about.”
The figure suddenly raised its arms like a fervent worshipper offering praise to a deity, its tone abruptly rising to a fanatical pitch.
“The Prophet brings the prophecy of [Destruction]! Praise be to the gospel of [Their] blessing!”
“When blood-red rain falls from the sky, when the silver staff bursts forth from the earth, the blessing of [Destruction] will once again descend upon this decaying world, bringing forth Their messengers!”
“The laughable high walls will crumble under the feet of great beasts. The deceitful island will also shatter to pieces. This is the fate of the Ancient Spirit Realm,[Their] will!”
“Praise it! Praise everything in this world! Praise it through trembling and agony, through despair and wailing, for that is the sincerest hymn to [Destruction]!”
The figure lifted its head slightly, revealing four eerie, glowing eyes brimming with malice. Its hand extended forward, as though mocking the onlookers.
“And you have no right to refuse~.”
*Snap.*
The recording abruptly stopped.
Violet stared at the empty space where the projection had been, silently processing the bizarre message for a moment. Then, she shifted her gaze toward the Saint.
“So, what’s this supposed to be? Some cryptic riddle?”
Shangguan Qiuyue’s expression remained stoic.
“Shortly after the explosion in the western part of the city, all the screens used to broadcast the tournament were hijacked and forcibly played this recording.”
“The finals of the tournament had garnered massive attention, meaning at least a million viewers witnessed this footage in some form. The message has already caused an uproar and is spreading rapidly. It’s no longer possible to contain it.”
After a brief pause, the Saint continued.
“Moreover, if my guess is correct, this isn’t something isolated to the Eastern Kingdom. This [prophecy] will likely spread across the entire [Ancient Spirit Realm] in no time.”