Chapter 1330: Is That Right?
"Maybe... I saw it wrong...?"
The Azure Dragon was silent for a long time before speaking. "Maybe they just used some minor illusion magic that threw me into disarray for a moment... Thankfully, I didn't make a grave mistake."
"It's about time you changed that impatient nature of yours." The Heavenly Dragon looked the Azure Dragon up and down once more before saying, "What's with all these injuries?"
He noticed unhealed wounds on the Azure Dragon's forehead, chest, legs, and even his arms, indicating that the battle just now had been exceptionally brutal.
"It's a long story..." The Azure Dragon reached up to wipe the blood from his forehead. "This rebellion seems different from the ones before. They thoroughly shook my convictions to the point that not even the 'Heaven Path' could heal my wounds."
"You need to rest and recuperate," the Heavenly Dragon said.
"Yes."
"But now is not the time." The Heavenly Dragon turned and walked toward the door that had been shattered by the "Thunderstrike." "You know I don't have much time. For now, come with me to clean up the mess. Along the way, tell me exactly what happened. After that, you'll have ten days to recover."
"Alright..." The Azure Dragon was still shaken, but he agreed nonetheless.
"Dragging it out for this long won't kill you, will it?"
"I... won't die..." The Azure Dragon's expression was evasive as he replied. "But I suspect many of the 'Heavenly levels' have perished. Our work ahead is going to become much more difficult..."
The Heavenly Dragon was silent for a moment before speaking. "You and I both know that the so-called 'Heavenly levels' were nothing but a rabble to begin with. It doesn't matter if they die; we can just select a new batch."
As he spoke, he walked to the door of the room and reached out his hand. The cracks on the door seemed to heal themselves, rapidly restoring it to its original state.
*Creak—*
With a sound, the Heavenly Dragon opened the door completely intact. Inside the room was a round table, and on it sat the head of the Heavenly Boar.
Other than that, the room was empty.
The Azure Dragon was momentarily stunned, but he quickly came to his senses and stepped forward to explain, "Ah... the Heavenly Boar, he was..."
"It doesn't matter." The Heavenly Dragon gave a light laugh. "Azure Dragon, there's no need to explain anything to me. We both know full well what happened."
Hearing this, the Azure Dragon decisively fell silent, swallowing back all the excuses he had already prepared.
Their relationship, one of outward harmony but inward discord, had persisted for many years. Now that such a major event had occurred, it seemed there was no longer any need to pretend.
But since neither could kill the other, all they could do now was try their best to steer the "Peach Blossom Land" back on track.
Seeing no other "Heavenly levels" in the room, the Heavenly Dragon continued walking forward on his own, opening the door on the opposite side of the room.
A corridor in complete disarray now came into the Heavenly Dragon's view.
Looking down the hall, he saw not only "Zodiacs," "Participants," and "Ants," but even what appeared to be "Natives" dressed in tattered rags.
Everyone nearby had stopped what they were doing, turning back to stare at the Heavenly Dragon in shock.
"What a lively scene," the Heavenly Dragon remarked. "When did all these monsters and fiends crawl right up to our faces?"
"Just tonight..." the Azure Dragon said through gritted teeth. "These bugs just wouldn't stay put."
The Heavenly Dragon paid no attention to the scene before him and simply turned to walk down the corridor toward the "Heavenly levels" quarters.
A few "Ants" unfamiliar with the situation, thinking a new target had appeared, lunged toward the Heavenly Dragon and the Azure Dragon. But the Heavenly Dragon never once looked back, and those "Ants" gradually turned to dust mid-air.
The Heavenly Dragon walked to the door of the Heavenly Dog's room and reached out to open it. Finding the room empty, he turned his gaze further down the corridor.
"Are they all dead?" the Heavenly Dragon asked.
"Since the 'Ants' made their move... I imagine not a single one of the 'Heavenly levels' escaped."
"If the Heavenly Serpent is also dead, then quickly recruit a new 'Graft,'" the Heavenly Dragon instructed. "You'll probably have to work hard in the next cycle again."
"Okay." The Azure Dragon nodded.
The Heavenly Dragon no longer bothered to check the other "Heavenly levels" rooms. After a few steps, he returned to the main corridor, where the many "Participants" before him seemed frozen in terror, too frightened to move.
This eerie and overwhelming aura... even without ever seeing the Heavenly Dragon, it was enough to guess the identity of the newcomer.
If they ran now... was there any chance of survival?
Seeing the dumbfounded and terrified expressions on everyone's faces, the Heavenly Dragon stopped at the end of the corridor and spoke softly:
"All 'Participants' aboard the 'Train,' the Finality is at hand."
As soon as he spoke, several "Participants" nearest to him, near the "Cargo Hold," began to turn into powder instantly. In the next second, the "Dissolution" swept forward like a flood of beasts.
Many had just endured the bizarre "Heavenly level Moment" and had little strength left, but they still desperately turned and ran back.
They cried and screamed as the Heavenly Dragon's "Dissolution" scattered them like sand dunes swept away by a violent wind in the desert.
Whether they were "Human levels" who had just taken off their masks, or "Natives" who had just regained some sanity, all were shattered without distinction. Massive amounts of powdered flesh and blood stained the train a bloody red.
Those hiding in rooms, those near the exits, those wearing newspaper crowns, those in white dresses, those in black leather jackets, those already dead, or those barely clinging to life.
Before anyone even realized the Heavenly Dragon had awakened, the breath of "Finality" had already surged through the carriages like ocean waves.
By the time their bodies began to disintegrate, any remedy was far too late.
All they knew was that the plan had been painstakingly advancing, but something seemed to have gone wrong at the final moment, causing everything to fall apart.
Under the Heavenly Dragon's indiscriminate purge, everyone bearing the name "Participant" was eliminated. No one could escape at this moment.
The "Finality" arrived on schedule, just like every cycle.
This overbearing move also sent chills down the spines of the many "Zodiacs" aboard the train.
When the dust settled, the entire "Train" was no longer recognizable as wooden material, only the red of Finality remained.
Every "Zodiac" had their body, face, and masks stained with red mist, feeling particularly sticky.
"Heavenly Dragon... are you alright?" the Azure Dragon asked from the side.
"A mere thousand-odd people. This is just the beginning." The Heavenly Dragon paused before answering. "We need to hurry and clean up the venue, otherwise the 'newcomers' will be arriving soon."
The Azure Dragon dared not delay. He knew that no matter what had happened in the "Peach Blossom Land," carrying out the "Dissolution" of everyone was the top priority.
Otherwise, without the old going, the new coming would plunge the "Peach Blossom Land" into the greatest chaos in its history.
Just as the Heavenly Dragon was about to turn and walk toward the direction of the "Sun," two "Zodiacs" nearby began whispering to each other.
"Is this situation right now correct?"
"I don't know... but is it okay for us to be talking right now?"
Hearing this, the Heavenly Dragon paused slightly, then turned to look.
The speakers were a multicolored Earth Rooster and a plump, middle-aged Earth Monkey.