Chapter 260: The Magic Capital Turns Mundane

The news of Mount Fuji's volcanic eruption spread worldwide within a night, after all, with so many eyes watching, even if the Divine Illumination State wanted to suppress the information, it couldn't.

Such a massive volcanic eruption caused casualties and losses that could not be estimated; the sky‑high flames were even visible in neighboring countries, with far too many witnesses for the government to silence them all.

Word also spread that three huge creatures had appeared, and the news was buzzing internationally.

It was said that these creatures wreaked havoc in the Divine Illumination State, leaving even the military helpless, and in the end could only watch them escape unscathed.

Many countries sent condolences, but were actually probing for information; moreover, nations hostile to the Divine Illumination State openly mocked it with sarcastic remarks, these messages falling like snowflakes, and it is said that upon seeing them the Emperor fainted on the spot from anger.

Most countries watched with a gloating expression, and some even directly blamed the Divine Illumination State for randomly urinating in the ocean, claiming that caused the creatures to mutate, and that such a situation was what they deserved.

The Divine Illumination State firmly believed these creatures were sent by Greater Xia, but they had no concrete evidence, and Greater Xia outright denied responsibility.

Furthermore, Greater Xia's stance was extremely tough: if the Divine Illumination State thought it was their doing, let them produce evidence; otherwise, stop making baseless accusations here.

Yet those few creatures had long since vanished, leaving the Divine Illumination State with no evidence, and the two sides argued incessantly.

Having suffered such a great loss at the hands of Greater Xia, the Divine Illumination State would absolutely not swallow this insult lightly.

However, due to domestic turmoil and various post‑event tasks, they could not free themselves; otherwise, they would certainly not limit themselves to mere verbal sparring with Greater Xia.

Upon hearing the news, the Greater Xia populace wished they could set off firecrackers on the spot to celebrate.

Zhangyu Xiaowanzi: 【Repost this ignited Mount Fuji—may the New Year be fiery and bring good luck!】

Wo yu zhu jiao guan huan: 【Everyone celebrate together, Mount Fuji finally blew up—hahaha, I've wanted to blow up Mount Fuji for ages; next I'll blow up the Shrine of Pacified Ghosts—any brothers want to join?】

Ai chi tang douhua: 【How could such a good thing leave me out? +1】

Yi zhi xie zou bian tianxia: 【The little devils have done endless evil; finally Mount Fuji exploded, so as the saying goes, man does and heaven sees—wicked deeds shouldn't be done, or retribution will come one day.】

Gun duzi: 【You're still too conservative; I think blowing up Mount Fuji is the wrong move—we should blow up the entire Divine Illumination State instead; any brothers interested in this plan?】

Ni chou wo xiang sha: 【What a fellow, so this is the legendary radical faction, huh?】

Chou yan he jiou tang tou: 【I've heard that a few Godzilla‑like creatures have landed in the Divine Illumination State; I don't know if it's true.】

Zhunbei duo shou le: 【Fake, right? There's no such huge creature; most of those photos and videos online are probably spliced.】

Just as Greater Xia netizens were bustling over the Mount Fuji eruption like it was New Year, the Tsarist State received a special video.

It was exactly the scene of a golden eagle attacking Bird Island City; upon seeing it, they were instantly shocked.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would never believe that such a huge thing actually exists in the world.

Staring at the screen, everyone fell into a dazed stupor.

A huge golden eagle descended from the sky, its fully spread wings almost blotting out the sun, hovering over the city; even through the screen one could feel its terrifying pressure.

Compared to it, humans are utterly insignificant, like ants.

That golden eagle merely flicked its wings lightly, and countless buildings collapsed; those structures were as frail as paper before it, utterly fragile.

Dust flew up amid the crowd's anguished cries, resembling an apocalyptic scene; viewers felt their hearts pound, and those unaware might think a disaster‑monster film was playing.

This was no special‑effects composite but a real, tangible existence; the Tsarist State's people stared, mouths agape.

The Tsarist State also knew of the Everwhite Mountain incident back then, in which thousands perished and only two survived, an event that still caused a considerable stir in society.

According to the survivors' accounts, learning that a gigantic golden eagle could speak human language, the higher‑ups thought those two were just making up excuses because they'd gone mad, and remained half‑believing, half‑doubting.

Now it seems, everything is true!

The Tsarist State immediately sent someone to contact the Divine Illumination State, hoping to ask for more detailed information.

Upon learning that the other side had also suffered a golden eagle attack on Everwhite Mountain, the Divine Illumination State was very willing to share, after all they shared a common enemy.

Greater Xia's high officials likewise saw the video leaked by the Divine Illumination State, and they had long suspected whether it was the work of Longyuan Mountain's monsters.

After seeing that golden giant ape and the golden eagle, they became even more certain.

The golden giant ape had appeared before in the Mount Hua plane‑crash incident, and the golden eagle had taken part in the Everwhite Mountain battle; personnel involved in those two events were not unfamiliar with them.

The combat power displayed by those few creatures in the video had long exceeded their earlier expectations!

Whenever they thought the strength of Longyuan Mountain's monsters was this much, the facts would again refresh their understanding.

When the video finished playing, the conference room fell into silence, with no one speaking.

All present were Greater Xia's top‑level leaders, who had weathered many great storms, yet the scene in the video still shocked them deeply, continually shaking their worldview.

After a long while, a white‑haired old man broke the silence, rubbing his brow, and said, "The monsters of Longyuan Mountain are far stronger than we imagined; it seems we must once again reassess their strength."

Another middle‑aged man in a dark‑blue Zhongshan suit gave a wry smile, saying, "Judging by the combat power they showed in the video, our current technology probably can't assess it at all; earlier we were simply underestimating them."

Merely a few creatures inflicted such massive destruction on the Divine Illumination State, a sheer advance as if through empty territory; judging by the Divine Illumination State's later attitude, those creatures escaped completely unharmed.

If Longyuan Mountain harbored many such creatures, what then should they do?

"We must immediately hold talks to clarify the monsters' attitude and see whether Longyuan Mountain has any movement."

"For now there's no movement; the monsters say their master is busy with a major undertaking lately and has no time to meet us."

At this moment, the Greater Xia leaders didn't know whether to be happy or worried.

The upside is that this monster group has been showing off its prowess in other countries; although we don't know their purpose, it has indirectly struck a blow against the arrogance of the Tsarist State and the Divine Illumination State, which on the side also helps Greater Xia.

The downside is that if this monster gang runs unchecked and causes trouble domestically, just as in the Divine Illumination State, they'd have to prepare in advance.

The atmosphere in the conference room was somewhat oppressive.

Earlier the white‑haired old man offered words of comfort:

"Things haven't reached the worst point yet; everyone, don't over‑worry, after all if the monsters really had any designs, Greater Xia would be the first to bear the brunt, but domestically, aside from those anomalies, there's not much movement."

Compared to what happened in the Divine Illumination State, Greater Xia really is peaceful; looking at it this way, the monsters seem rather friendly toward them, showing no hostility.

The old man's words made some sense; if the monster ancestor wanted to stir trouble, it would have done so long ago, not wait until now.

"We still need to rush into talks with the monsters of Longyuan Mountain!"

……

In the distant Longyuan Mountain, towering blue peaks rose continuously into the clouds, mist swirling around the summits, enigmatic and shrouded, growing ever more mysterious.

Ye Qin was unaware of the Greater Xia high officials' unease; at this moment he prepared to set out for the Magic Capital to undergo his tribulation!

After returning to Longyuan Mountain, he had not left the mountains for years, staying in seclusion to cultivate, and also had begun arranging matters concerning the resurrection of ancients and the blessed cave‑heaven lands.

Now, stepping out of Longyuan Mountain again and entering this vast mortal world, there is a feeling as if separated by an age.

Ye Qin can now merge himself into heaven and earth, and his speed is so great that neither satellites monitoring space twenty‑four hours a day nor nearby passersby can detect his presence; he is like a wisp of clear wind, like fleeting clouds, impossible to grasp, completely one with heaven and earth.

Only those with keen senses can faintly perceive it, yet they only catch a fleeting green shadow, thinking their eyes are playing tricks.

All things have spirit; only after Ye Qin walks by does the ground gradually sprout tender shoots, and above the sky dark clouds seem to boil and surge.

Nearby animals seem to sense something; as Ye Qin passes, they involuntarily turn their bodies and kowtow in the direction he leaves.

The moment Ye Qin steps out of Longyuan Mountain, lacking abundant spiritual qi around him, he feels an endless wave pressing down from above, the flowing thunderous power within almost shaking heaven and earth.

He slightly raises his head; the originally cloudless bright sky has, unknown when, gained a few shades of gloom, and those shadows shift continually with his movement.

The verdant serpent's pupils gradually gain a touch of solemnity and reverence.

Even though Ye Qin has previously endured the heavenly tribulation, anyone facing this aura inevitably feels a stirring in the heart, a palpitation that can reach the soul.

The heavenly tribulation grows stronger as his cultivation increases, so it must not be underestimated; though not yet formed, faint signs already appear.

Now the aura around Ye Qin begins to continually gather, like a silent volcano madly storing power, appearing calm, yet once formed, endless lava will surge and boil, awaiting the day of eruption.

These thunderclouds are like a sword hanging over one's head, ready to fall at any moment, carrying a force that destroys the withered and rotten, reducing all things to ashes.

This is why Ye Qin does not allow monsters to accompany him; the heavenly tribulation of his realm is incomparably powerful, and if caught in its aftermath, severe cases result in annihilation, lighter ones still cause grave injury and damage to one's foundation.

Facing such a threat, Ye Qin remains composed; what is destined to come will eventually arrive, and cannot be avoided.

Fortune and misfortune depend on each other; although the heavenly tribulation is fierce, passing it brings many benefits.

Gazing at the dark clouds above, Ye Qin pondered, and a thought gradually formed in his mind: "The Great Dao is fifty, Heavenly Derivation forty‑nine; leaving one thread of life is both constant and variable."

"I was born into mediocrity and should return to mediocrity; only by walking my own path can I safely pass this tribulation."

Ye Qin slowly closed his jade‑green eyes, sensing the vast aura above, without intent to forcibly oppose, instead adopting an attitude of listening and yielding.

The pressure and spiritual power on his body gradually dissipated; Ye Qin used a divine ability to conceal all his aura, and in a moment, his once flourishing and formidable spiritual power vanished completely.

Even Ye Qin's dragon form transformed into that of a small green snake, appearing no different from an ordinary serpent; at this moment he has returned to mundanity.

No matter who sees Ye Qin's current appearance, they cannot associate it with the demon ancestor of Longyuan Mountain who commands wind and rain, the master of myriad monsters.

Strangely, as Ye Qin's cultivation is concealed, the dark clouds that were gradually forming in the sky also begin to disperse, eventually leaving only a small patch.

Although the aura of the heavenly tribulation can still be felt, its target can no longer be located.

Ye Qin gave a faint smile, "Indeed it works."

This method of shielding the heavenly tribulation, though not lasting, will eventually see the tribulation fall; yet in this process he can assume a mortal form to seek his own path through tribulation.

Otherwise, wherever he goes, a large mass of dark clouds would drift in the sky, making him overly conspicuous; if noticed by someone with intent, it would inevitably cause trouble.

At this moment Ye Qin is like the small green snake he was before cultivation: a heavy sword without edge, a great rot without craft, his body bearing no sharpness, yet he still feels something lacking.

"What exactly is still missing?"

After Ye Qin pondered for a moment, a green light flashed, and a graceful figure appeared beside him; her visage formed of ice and snow, truly a nation‑toppling beauty, transcending vulgarity—this is his Nascent Soul avatar, indistinguishable from Longling.

Facing the ancient heavenly tribulation, he must walk his own path, perceiving the myriad aspects of heaven, earth, and all beings; the best insight is not to be a fleeting passerby but to participate within it, though his true form is not suited to appear in the world.

Ye Qin nodded satisfactorily, "Very well, then you shall walk this mortal world together with me."

The two figures set off in different directions, yet their destination is both the Demon Capital.

Along the way Ye Qin uses his Nascent Soul avatar, with his divine sense shuttling back and forth; it is extremely convenient, perceiving heaven and earth through both human and serpent forms, the effect can be said to be remarkably good.

Regardless of the perspective, each offers a unique view, also constituting distinct training for each.

If he were to use spiritual power, Ye Qin could reach the Demon Capital in an instant, but he does not do so.

For better perception, Ye Qin mostly uses the human perspective, resting by the roadside when tired; though it is wind‑eating and dew‑lodging, it also has its own flavor.

However, Longling's appearance is truly striking; in a deserted place it would be fine, but upon entering the Demon Capital it draws many gazes.

Among those looks there are astonishment and surprise, with little malice.

The woman before them is truly not of the mundane world; like a celestial maiden descending from the Nine Heavens, her features and visage actually surpass even today's top internet celebrity in beauty.

Thus the surroundings even formed a peculiar sightline, with everyone gazing at Ye Qin, as if the world had been paused.

Ye Qin's aloof, otherworldly demeanor made many who wished to approach feel ashamed, as if speaking a few extra words would be an offense; by the time they came to their senses, he had already walked away.

"Heavens, was that person just now a celebrity? He's simply too handsome! I swear I've never seen anyone this good‑looking in my life."

"No, not a celebrity; I've never seen him before, he must be an ordinary person."

"It feels like an immortal descending to the mundane; even his aura is quite special, not to mention he looks far better than those female internet celebrities and flower‑dan actresses."

"Could someone really look like this? Could it be plastic surgery? If so, it's too natural—there's no trace of artificial work."

"How could those internet‑celebrity faces compare to this? Don't be ridiculous; I'm sure it's absolutely pure natural—why is the difference between people so great?"

"Is Nüwa present? I feel like crying over my own ugliness; I really want to change my face."

After Ye Qin arrived in the Demon Capital, he set up a stall under the great bridge, ready to tell fortunes.

To avoid his appearance being too striking, he specially found a pair of sunglasses, blocking most of Longling's avatar's face; even so, the aura emanating from him remains out of place with the surroundings.

The reason he chose divination is to listen to the myriad experiences of all beings, to sense heaven and earth in the unseen, facilitating Ye Qin's better experience of the mortal world.

Those wisps of heaven that overflow can also be observed as divination signs; it is not considered leaking heavenly secrets, and Ye Qin had done the same before on Penglai Island.

First time raw, second time familiar.

At the start the stall attracted hardly anyone, for Longling's avatar looked too young; although his face was covered by sunglasses, his fine features were still discernible, worlds apart from the usual image of a fortune‑teller.

Yet Longling's avatar's demeanor is truly otherworldly, giving the impression of an immortal‑like being, untouched by the mortal world, looking down on secular life; moreover the price is not high and the divinations are accurate.

After a few divinations, word spread—ten to a hundred—soon many locals knew there was an accurate fortune‑teller under the bridge.

From the beginning when the door could catch sparrows, business gradually picked up, becoming decent; although earnings aren't large, a month brings in roughly a few thousand.

Mainly Ye Qin set up this stall not to make money.

Beside him is a youth selling roasted sweet potatoes, cold‑faced but warm‑hearted, and also a big‑mouth; he usually looks after Ye Qin, and having once seen his true appearance, was instantly astonished.

Every time he sees Ye Qin setting up the stall to tell fortunes, he keeps shaking his head and sighing.

"You tell me, with that face of yours, what couldn't you do? Having to set up a stall here is simply a waste."

Go join some talent show, like those 'Great Xia Good Voice' ones—you just casually debut, and then you'll be counting money till your hands cramp; even if you do nothing but stand there, people will throw money at you.

The young man chattered on endlessly, making Ye Qin truly helpless; although he was a big mouth, he wasn't bad, and often brought him roasted sweet potatoes.

Wait until I earn more money here, then go back and open a small business; I can also enjoy my old age without being so tired. In Magic City, besides low wages, everything else is high.

Most of the time, the young man talked to himself, while Ye Qin occasionally nodded to show he was listening; surprisingly, it also seemed oddly harmonious.

But sometimes unexpected situations arise, like city management officers; at that moment the young man would gather his things, not forgetting to help Ye Qin, and bring him along to run.

Sometimes Ye Qin couldn't escape and would be caught by the city management officers; these officers also knew their life wasn't easy, so they didn't make things too hard—usually just giving a verbal warning before letting Ye Qin go.

Magic City is a vast metropolis; its cold buildings, constructed from steel-and-concrete forests, gain a touch of human warmth because of the existence of these little people.

Ye Qin had no cultivation at all, continuing this life, yet his understanding of heaven and earth grew ever deeper and more thorough—small accumulations become great, like water dripping through stone.

Seemingly trivial small matters often bring him extraordinary feelings and insights.

As time passed, faint glimmers of light gradually appeared on his body, like a halo surrounding him, though this light cannot be seen by the human eye.

During this period, dark clouds continually loomed over Magic City, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Although Ye Qin used special means to restrain his aura, the dark clouds couldn't pinpoint his exact location, but they could sense that he was somewhere within Magic City.

Many residents gazed at the overcast sky and light rain, their expressions somewhat confused and puzzled.

"Didn't the weather forecast say these days would be all clear skies? How come it's been overcast and rainy for days straight—what kind of forecast is this, basically a misreport."

"You really shouldn't say that—lately it's been raining quite frequently; by rights the rainy season should be over, so this shouldn't be happening."

"Although it's raining, it doesn't have the former muggy, stuffy feeling; instead, the air feels much fresher."

"Looking at it from another angle, it's also a good thing—the rain purifies Magic City's dust, making the street sprinklers seem less clean by comparison."

The rain fell drizzling, like broken pearls, continually washing over the buildings and streets.

The rain wasn't heavy, and it hardly affected people's travel; enveloped by the rain, the folks in Magic City didn't feel muggy or irritable—instead they felt increasingly refreshed, as if their whole bodies were being cleansed to a state of spotless purity.

Moreover, some old fishermen discovered that, accompanying this rain, large schools of fish would always come to the sea surface outside Magic City.

Although fishing in such weather is somewhat risky, they always reap a bountiful harvest, returning fully loaded, as if some unseen force were blessing them.

"I really wish there were more weather like this—even though it's raining, the sea surface is surprisingly calm."

"Who says otherwise? Thank the Heavenly Father for providing food; this must be the Sea God protecting us."

"Hurry and seize this chance—go back and scoop up a few more bags; today's haul is already almost matching what I caught over the past few days."

The fishermen grinned so wide they couldn't close their mouths, discussing the weather while setting out to sea again. (End of chapter)