Chapter 356

On the huge circular screen, split into countless small panels, it monitored every corner of Tianmian City.

But right now, Mu Lingxiao's attention was focused entirely on one panel.

It was a shot taken from a distance: on the cliff at the edge of Tianmian City, in the pitch‑black night, a faint blue point of light was growing brighter and brighter.

The image was magnified, then magnified again.

A massive cannon platform appeared on the screen, its black barrel, flowing Runes, and energy gathering—

and the direction its muzzle was aimed at.

The energy at the muzzle had condensed to a blinding degree; the azure light almost spilled out of the screen.

Beside the base of that cannon, a Ying Guang Lu figure was busy at work.

His hand tapped something in the air, and Ying Guang Lu energy lines shot from his fingertips into the Cannon Barrel as he disassembled another cannon.

Mu Lingxiao fell silent, and the screen's image began to show snow‑like noise, the result of excessive energy interference.

She watched the cannon charging up, watched the flowing Rune circuit, watched the unique heat‑dissipation structure and energy‑storage conversion method.

That Cannon was……

She had once seen similar schematics in the Church's forbidden library.

That book lay dust‑sealed in the deepest chamber of the Pale White Throne cathedral, accessible only to successive popes; when she got hold of it, the pages were yellowed and brittle, the writing blurred.

According to the record, those weapon schematics should have been lost in the river of time long ago, impossible to survive to the present.

But at this very moment, those two Cannons stood there on the screen.

One was charging, its muzzle aimed at Tianmian City.

The other was being dismantled, a Ying Guang Lu extending its tendrils inside to take it apart.

Although its outward appearance resembled some kind of "castrated version," its barrel structure, Rune circuit, and energy‑flow path——

could not be wrong.

Mu Lingxiao's fingers clenched the armrests of her chair.

"That…… is the Flame City Cannon." she whispered, as if confirming something to herself.

She didn't fully believe her suspicions about Chi Jin An either; it was just that Ying Duo had far too many suspicious points, which led her to order her subordinates to treat Ying Duo and the other cultists alike.

Although there had been speculation before, having it confirmed still inevitably came as a shock.

What else could one expect from Co-Absorption? They're all a bunch of lunatics.

The Jian Kong Shi was too quiet; all the Church personnel were waiting for her to speak, so everyone heard those words.

The surrounding Church staff all froze in surprise.

Flame City Cannon?

The Flame City Cannon that blew up the entire Black Stone Mountain Range?

The Flame City Cannon that detonated the Air Train, triggered Mutations inside Tianmian City, and left the Church and the Supervision Bureau scrambling?

Everyone's gaze instinctively followed the Holy Maiden to the screen, focusing on that Ying Guang Lu figure and on the two Cannons that ought not to exist in this era.

Then they saw that the Ying Guang Lu figure was still intently engaged in disassembly.

He was completely unaware, or rather, he simply didn't care that he was being watched.

Mu Lingxiao drew a deep breath.

She knew this was no time for shock.

That Cannon was charging.

She didn't know how much power that Cannon still retained, but having read the forbidden book, she knew what devastation the original version of that Cannon could cause—

Even a crippled version would be enough to inflict heavy damage on Tianmian City.

She rose to her feet, her silvery short hair fluttering slightly among her deep‑blue long hair.

"All personnel, listen to the order."

Her voice was not loud, yet it reached each person's ears clearly.

"Immediately mobilize all available forces, proceed to the cliff at the edge of Tianmian City, target: eliminate that Ying Guang Lu and prevent that Cannon from firing successfully."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the Ying Guang Lu silhouette on the screen, and added another sentence.

"That Ying Guang Lu is the Flame City Cannon."

The Jian Kong Shi was silent for only a second.

"Yes!"

Countless voices sounded at once.

Footsteps, communications, commands, alarms……

The entire Jian Kong Shi instantly became busy, Mu Lingxiao's eyes lingered on the screen for a moment before turning to the communications officer beside him.

"Also notify Mitra Academy over there."

The communications officer was startled for a moment, "Saint, do you mean......"

"Have them send personnel to assist as well." Her voice was calm, leaving no room for doubt.

"Ying Duo is their student; they ought to account for this matter, and sending people to support is reasonable."

Not far behind her, on the staircase leading upward, Mu Linyuan stood there quietly the whole time.

Here, the one actually commanding the whole situation was the Saint who had retreated behind the scenes due to "ill health," while the lofty Pope watched like an outsider, observing Mu Lingxiao run the operation and watching her issue decisive orders.

His gaze was fixed only on the aiming point of that Cannon.

"So it was here, huh."

No wonder he couldn't find it.

——————————————

Li Ya was sitting by the window, staring blankly at the night outside.

The infirmary was unusually quiet; normally there are all kinds of students coming and going—those with bruises, sprains, exhausted from overtraining, and even those feigning illness to skip class.

She had long become accustomed to that bustle, to handling all kinds of sudden situations amid the chaos.

But today, the silence felt almost unreal.

Her gaze fell on the empty bed opposite, the spot where Luo Jinyou had previously lain; the sheets had been changed, the bedding neatly stacked.

She remembered Professor Luo De'an's pallid face as he left, those eyes rimmed with blood vessels.

She recalled the old man standing beside the sleeping youth, holding his hand, yet unable to utter a single word.

And now—

Li Ya didn't know whether Luo Jinyou was dead or alive now.

She only knew that after Professor Luo De'an left, he never appeared in the Academy again.

"Sigh..."

She let out a soft sigh, withdrew her gaze, and looked out the window.

The night view of Tianmian City remained as dazzling as ever; neon lights painted the sky with a false brilliance, and in the distance, the pure‑white spire of the "Pale Throne" Grand Cathedral stood silently against the night.

She was just about to stand and brew herself a cup of tea—

The communicator on the table suddenly rang, its sound harsh in the quiet infirmary.

Li Ya froze for a moment, then walked over to pick up the communicator.

"Hello?"

"Teacher Li Ya," Su Jingchuan's voice came from the other side, sounding especially solemn and formal, "The principal has ordered you to prepare immediately and go to the cliff at the edge of Tianmian City to support the Supervision Bureau."

Li Ya was stunned.

"What? Me? Support the Supervision Bureau?"

"Yes, the situation is urgent."

"Wait," Li Ya instantly sensed something was off, "What's the situation? Why do I have to go? What happened there?"

There was a one‑second silence on the other side.

Then Su Jingchuan's voice sounded again, this time with a rather complex tone:

"Ying Duo is the Flame City Cannon."