Chapter 852: Rapid Star Ascension, Fame Shakes the Heavens (Combined)

The list retracted and sank into Li Hao’s spiritual sense.

Li Hao soared to an open area nearby, flipping through the Chaotic Prodigy List in his spiritual sense, yet still saw no names of the ghost clan sisters or other prodigies from the Southern Region—indeed, they must be ranked much higher.

“Let’s go.”

Li Hao pulled himself back to reality and said to Shi Miao, “Let’s go see somewhere else.”

“Mm.”

Shi Miao nodded, never expecting Li Hao could actually succeed—this was truly just a single glance.

Her eyes brimmed with joy; with Li Hao’s rate of advancement, the future ahead was no dream.

Yet… this also meant the terrifying scene she had glimpsed would still come to pass—but fortunately, she knew how to break the temporal paradox, shatter the unchanging future. This lifetime, she could make that future diverge, change!

Whoosh!

Enveloped by dimensional power, the two ignored the astonished stares around them and soared out of the cavern, arriving on the surface of the star.

Shi Miao raised her hand, condensing a space-time array in the void, directly selecting a neighboring Chaotic Star and transporting Li Hao there.

This Chaotic Star was the Spear Dao Chaotic Star, centered on the “Spear,” the king of all weapons; its entire surface radiated the primordial essence of Spear Dao, like countless phantom spear beams darting everywhere.

Shi Miao sifted through her memories and quickly located the cavern on this star, leading Li Hao there at high speed.

Inside the cavern, the Chaotic Stone Wall was strikingly visible; over two hundred figures sat in silent meditation before it.

As Li Hao was about to land, his gaze swept across and caught a vaguely familiar face.

Lin Zhe?

Li Hao’s eyes flickered—he recognized the Lin family’s True Dragon Prodigy from the Northern Region, whom he’d seen during the demon combat; though the man had appeared briefly, Li Hao still retained some memory of him.

At this moment, the man sat among the crowd, and above his head, a middle-aged Immortal King sat cross-legged, expression cold and stern—he was Lin Zhe’s guardian.

Li Hao scanned the area and saw no other acquaintances; he had no intention of approaching or greeting him, since he and Lin Zhe were strangers, having met only once before.

He shook his head and walked straight to the side of the Chaotic Stone Wall, standing there to gaze.

On this Chaotic Stone Wall were clearly 138 Dao cracks; Li Hao was startled—this Chaotic Star had shattered at the dawn of chaos, yet its fractures were so evenly distributed?

Or did even shattering follow some hidden law and order?

He didn’t dwell on it, settling in to meditate.

In truth, it wasn’t even meditation; the 138 Dao cracks on the wall, Li Hao glanced at them once—each crack was naive and clear, like a master swordsman watching a child swing a blade.

With just one glance, Li Hao memorized them all, and countless alternative arrangements and pathways surfaced in his mind.

“Try it.”

Li Hao said.

He had landed only minutes ago; Shi Miao had witnessed Li Hao’s speed before, so now she merely sighed in awe and immediately guarded him as he approached the nearby Chaotic Pillar.

No one was challenging here; Li Hao soared directly in and touched each Chaotic Pillar with his palm.

The black Chaotic Pillars instantly lit up; as Li Hao moved, all 138 pillars activated in an instant.

As the cavern trembled, the Chaotic Heavenly List reappeared; Li Hao looked up and saw his rank rise again—up by over thirty thousand places.

“Hm? Are they?”

With his sudden rank leap, Li Hao spotted familiar names: Yue Xi and Gu Yan.

Both were also Chaotic Three-Star Prodigies, listed for 21 years!

Positioned just over four thousand places ahead of him.

“They came to the Chaotic Stars too? Good, good—I wonder which Chaotic Star they’re on…”

Li Hao’s eyes gleamed; seeing acquaintances brought him an inexplicable joy—meeting old friends in a foreign land was no less thrilling than topping the imperial examination list.

Besides Yue Xi and Gu Yan, further down the list, Li Hao also recognized other familiar names: Yin Jingcheng, Meng Huaiyue… she was the direct disciple of the Grand Dream Master Meng Wanning—could she really be here too?

Li Hao was surprised; with their talent, could they even secure a spot among Immortal Juniors?

Or was there some other reason?

Li Hao didn’t dwell on it; he wasn’t close to either of them and held no particular impression of them.

“Didn’t see the ghost clan sisters, nor Bo Ya Xuejian, Chu Tianhuang… With their talent, if Yin Jingcheng and the others made it, they should’ve been here too—probably ranked much higher… too bad I can only see ten thousand places ahead, though I can see all the way to the bottom.”

Li Hao thought to himself.

He pulled his gaze back, no longer lingering: “Let’s go, next one.”

“Alright.”

Shi Miao nodded.

The two arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly; yet the entire activation of the Chaotic Pillars shook the cavern, startling many prodigies meditating inside, who noticed Li Hao—his face was unfamiliar.

But their minds were fixed on meditation; they didn’t know Li Hao and didn’t think much of it—only slightly spurred, they redoubled their focus and earnestness.

Yet among the crowd, the cold-faced middle-aged man seated above Lin Zhe glanced over during the cavern’s tremor; when he saw Li Hao’s face, he froze, stunned.

That boy?

He came here too?

His expression turned wary; then he noticed—the Chaotic Pillars activated were Li Hao’s, meaning he had comprehended this Chaotic Star.

How is that possible?!

His eyes widened in shock.

Then he noticed Shi Miao—and nearly fell from his seat, face pale with horror.

Miss Su? Su Muqing?!

Immortal King? This—this—this, how is this possible?!

He was dazed, utterly unable to comprehend the situation before him.

When Shi Miao had revived from Su Muqing’s body and left the Su family with Li Hao, the outside world only knew Li Hao had departed the Su family—Shi Miao’s fate was sealed by the Su family’s silence.

Thus, as a clan elder of the Lin family, this middle-aged man knew nothing of Shi Miao’s whereabouts; yet that face—he could never mistake it.

And the aura was nearly identical; the control over space-time felt even more refined, deeper—and most crucially, she was an Immortal King!

But he’d seen Miss Su just recently—she’d still been at the peak of Immortal Junior.

How could she have broken through so quickly?!

From Immortal Junior peak to Immortal King, it usually took a century, sometimes tens of thousands of years—many got stuck there.

Though someone like Su Muqing wouldn’t likely be stuck that long, she’d still need at least a century of meditation and refinement to break through—how could it be so effortless?

And now she was with that boy… his head felt ready to explode.

As he felt his scalp prickle, Li Hao and Shi Miao had already clasped hands and soared out of the cavern, vanishing in an instant.

The cold-faced middle-aged man stared at the direction they’d left, dazed.

Beneath him, Lin Zhe remained seated in deep meditation, oblivious to the cavern’s tremor—he was immersed in profound insight, touching a bottleneck, his entire body radiating waves of Spear Dao primordial energy.

Around him, spear intent was so intense it formed a barrier-like domain.

Spear…

In Lin Zhe’s spiritual sense, the 138 Dao cracks wove together like flying dragons, yet he could never find a fitting gap—until suddenly, the cavern trembled from Li Hao’s activation of the pillars, causing the Chaotic Star to shudder; amid a low-frequency, peculiar hum, a force from the star’s core seeped out.

This force seeped into Lin Zhe’s spiritual sense, as if transforming into a flash of enlightenment.

The elusive gap Lin Zhe had been weaving and contemplating suddenly appeared.

Lin Zhe’s eyes flashed bright with excitement.

So that’s how it is!

He suddenly understood; instantly, all 138 Dao cracks wove together, and his body radiated a dominant spear momentum, along with waves of Chaotic energy.

He had attained sudden enlightenment!

On a Chaotic Star, when someone activates all Chaotic Pillars and comprehends the star, the star emits denser Chaotic energy and a special resonance to inspire others.

But only those in deep meditation can perceive that fleeting, nearly imperceptible flash of enlightenment—whether they catch it depends entirely on their innate Wuxing .

Lin Zhe had unquestionably caught it; he was already on the verge of comprehension, and Li Hao’s tremor had instantly triggered his breakthrough—he had comprehended this Chaotic Star!

He abruptly opened his eyes; twin beams of spear-like cold lightning shot from his gaze, his entire body radiating an extraordinary aura!

“Hm?”

The cold-faced middle-aged man, still lost in the haze of watching Li Hao and Shi Miao depart, suddenly felt the surging Chaotic energy beneath him—he snapped back to awareness, looked down, and his eyes lit up with delight.

“Zhe, you’ve comprehended?!”

Hearing his clan uncle’s delighted cry, Lin Zhe’s aura surged then retracted, flowing entirely back into his body—he now looked like a spear driven firmly into the ground.

“Mm.”

Lin Zhe’s expression remained calm, unruffled—but inside, he was burning with excitement.

“I’ve been here less than three years, right?”

Lin Zhe asked, controlling his excitement.

The cold-faced man nodded eagerly: “Just two years and three months!”

“Good.”

Lin Zhe couldn’t help but take a deep breath; his heart burned hot.

Two years and three months… he was from the Lin family, the top clan of the Northern Region, here to study under an Immortal Emperor—he knew full well what his achievement meant!

He had surpassed many of his senior classmates!

In under three years, comprehending a Chaotic Star—even in this place overflowing with prodigies—placed him among the absolute elite!

“Uncle, I’ll go try to enter the list!”

Lin Zhe rose and said.

He believed he would be the first among the Northern Region’s contingent to make the list!

When others entered, they would all look up to his name.

“Good.”

The stern middle-aged man nodded happily, his face filled with anticipation.

Soon, Lin Zhe arrived beside the nearby Chaotic Pillar, where others sat in meditation; Lin Zhe heard murmurs from nearby:

“Who was that just now?”

“So fast—no mistakes at all, yet he’s a complete stranger.”

“I don’t know him.”

These voices reached his ears, but Lin Zhe automatically ignored them, treating them as irrelevant.

He took a deep breath and leapt into the region of the Chaotic Pillars.

Whoosh!

His figure darted swiftly, power coalescing in his palm; the Faze cracks he had comprehended gathered in his palm, then slammed hard against the Chaotic Pillar.

The pillar trembled slightly, then brilliant light surged across its dark surface; the silent Faze cracks on its body writhed like awakened dragons, spiraling and twisting outward, radiating dazzling radiance.

One, two… Lin Zhe darted rapidly, his palm striking again and again, releasing all he had comprehended—feeling a thrilling, exhilarating rush.

Watching one Chaotic Pillar after another ignite, his eyes grew ever brighter.

Ten, thirty, fifty… the number of activated pillars rose steadily, with zero errors—a hundred percent accuracy!

This display triggered waves of stunned exclamations from outside.

One just left, and now another?

Two people comprehending this Chaotic Star in a single day?!

Hearing the exclamations outside, Lin Zhe felt his blood ignite.

Though he had entered the Primordial True Realm late and started behind, he could still chase and surpass those ahead—he could still shine with his own light.

He would make his name echo across the entire Primordial Realm, within this vast Primordial True Realm!

And now, this was merely his first step!

Hum!

All 138 Chaotic Pillars had been activated; the exclamations outside erupted into a frenzy.

The entire cavern trembled, and even the Chaotic Star itself seemed to hum with joyful resonance.

Lin Zhe stood between two Chaotic Pillars, feeling the array’s power coalesce around him; his expression remained calm, yet his heart surged, his eyes blazing.

He looked up, gazing at the point where the Chaotic Array had condensed—and there, slowly unfolding above his head, was the Chaotic Dao Scroll he had longed for.

This scroll, inscribed with the names of all prodigies of this era, had finally welcomed him!

As his shadow merged into it, he saw his rank: over one million two hundred thousand.

He had just entered, at the very bottom—a normal position. Lin Zhe paid it no mind; what startled him was the sheer number of names on the list.

Yet when he first joined his sect, he had learned: this was the accumulated tally of prodigies across one era, including many Chaotic Ancient Clans of the Primordial True Realm.

“Even if I’m at the bottom… soon, very soon, I’ll surpass them all, climbing upward until I reach the very peak!”

Lin Zhe thought to himself, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented confidence.

He had comprehended this first Chaotic Star in just two years and three months—though he had mastered the Spear Dao, which suited him, it was still astonishing speed!

Sensing the murmurs around him, he remained calm, did not linger, and turned away from the Chaotic Pillars.

“Time to go—to the next Chaotic Star.”

Lin Zhe landed, sensing many eyes upon him, but he paid them no mind.

Since childhood, he had been a true dragon among men, a peerless prodigy—once revered by countless prodigies in the Northern Region; here, he would soon be the center of attention.

“Hmm.”

The stern middle-aged man, seeing Lin Zhe had truly succeeded, beamed with joy—he knew full well how terrifying that speed was. No wonder he’s our Lin family’s true dragon!

He unleashed his Domain power to shield Lin Zhe, then soared toward the cavern’s exit.

Suddenly, near the exit, the stern middle-aged man recalled the earlier boy and girl, his eyes flickering with doubt.

“What is it, Clan Uncle?”

Lin Zhe noticed his unusual expression and asked, slightly puzzled.

The stern middle-aged man frowned, hesitating: “Maybe it was an illusion… I thought I saw that boy named Hao Tian.”

“Hao Tian?”

Hearing those two characters, Lin Zhe’s heart skipped a beat.

He remembered that name—and that boy—too vividly.

He had revealed the Dao Source Immortal Seal in the Northern Region, crushing a host of demonic prodigies at the Immortal Lord Second Layer, boosting morale along the Northern Frontier.

“He’s here too?”

Lin Zhe’s eyes flashed, his voice tightening; the joy he had just felt suddenly cooled.

“But maybe it was an illusion—or someone who just looks alike…”

The stern middle-aged man sighed; as an Immortal King, he now doubted his own eyes: “He just came here for trial, activated all the Chaotic Pillars, and…”

“And what?”

Lin Zhe felt his heart jolt violently—could this man also have activated all the pillars? And also made the list?

“And Su Miss was beside him, acting as his guardian—but Su Miss… shouldn’t have reached Immortal King so quickly.”

The stern middle-aged man said.

Lin Zhe felt as if his blood had frozen—whether from icy dread or searing rage, he couldn’t tell; instantly, his mind filled with the image of Su Muqing leaning close to that boy, his face darkening.

“You’re saying Muqing became an Immortal King? Impossible.”

Lin Zhe shook his head firmly, yet even as he spoke, his certainty wavered.

He abruptly halted, his expression shifting; suddenly, he recalled something and sent his spirit sense into his mind sea, opening the Chaotic Dao Scroll.

He could scroll back ten thousand ranks; his spiritual sense swept rapidly—but he saw no name: Li Hao.

He exhaled inwardly with relief.

Even if he had made the list, he’d be ranked above me; when we first arrived, we confirmed there was no such person as Hao Tian in the Primordial True Realm—unless he was an obscure cultivator hiding somewhere, training in secret.

“I’ll ask Muqing directly.”

Lin Zhe pulled out a jade pendant and immediately sent a spiritual message.

In a certain Chaotic Star, Su Muqing, seated in meditation, suddenly received the message; she frowned slightly, then recognized it as Lin Zhe.

She wrinkled her brow but still linked her spirit sense to the pendant:

“What is it?”

“Nothing. Just wondering what realm you’re in and where you are.”

Hearing her cold tone, Lin Zhe’s face darkened; since that boy left the Northern Region, Su Muqing’s attitude toward him had remained indifferent, leaving him uneasy and irritable—he felt something precious between them, something forged since childhood, was slowly slipping away.

“Didn’t you already know? Immortal Lord Peak. Do you really think I could break into Immortal King so quickly?”

Su Muqing frowned—was this trivial question worth interrupting her cultivation?

As for where she was, she didn’t even bother to answer.

“Still Immortal Lord?” Lin Zhe exhaled inwardly; he too found it implausible—Su Muqing had only reached Immortal Lord Peak a few years ago; how could she suddenly awaken to Immortal King?

Besides, coming to the Primordial True Realm was for comprehending Chaotic Laws—if she had reached Immortal King, what was the point? She’d waste this precious opportunity.

“...”

Su Muqing remained silent, as if to say: Isn’t that obvious?

Seeing her silence, Lin Zhe’s slightly improved mood soured again; he said: “I just asked—no other meaning. We’re here to comprehend Chaotic Laws; even if you awaken to Immortal King, don’t ascend until you’ve fully mastered the Chaotic Laws.”

“I don’t need you to tell me,” Su Muqing replied coldly. “If there’s nothing else, don’t send me messages casually—I’m cultivating.”

Lin Zhe paused at her tone, but held his tongue; his voice calm, he said:

“I just finished comprehending one Chaotic Star—I’ve made the list.”

“Huh?”

Su Muqing froze.

Made the list? So fast?

She knew what making the list meant—and how short a time had passed since they arrived.

In the past, she would have cheered, clapped, cried: “Zhe Xuan brother is amazing!” “Congratulations, Zhe Xuan brother!” “No wonder he’s my Zhe Xuan brother!”—but now, she couldn’t say a word. The joy was gone. The awe she once felt looking up to him was gone.

For a moment, silence fell between them again.

Lin Zhe frowned slightly, murmuring: “Are you still there?”

Su Muqing snapped back to reality; a certain figure flashed in her mind. She bit her lip lightly, her expression turning calm:

“I’m here. Congratulations.”

Lin Zhe fell silent. Her flat reaction was nothing like before.

He thought of that figure—he knew why.

Dao Source Immortal Seal… he didn’t have it. He clenched his fist—but now, he could comprehend Chaotic Laws! If he mastered them to the extreme, that gap from the Dao Source Immortal Seal could be easily erased!

After all, the gap in foundational depth grows even wider at higher realms!

“You work hard too.”

He replied flatly, then ended the spiritual communication.

“Looks like you were mistaken.”

Lin Zhe said to the clan elder.

The stern middle-aged man, having overheard their exchange, felt confused—could an Immortal King be wrong? Impossible. Yet what he saw was truly unbelievable.

Besides, Su Miss had no reason to ascend to Immortal King—wouldn’t that make their journey to the Primordial True Realm pointless?

“Maybe.” He smiled bitterly.

On another side, Su Muqing ended her spiritual transmission, frowning slightly—Lin Zhe had climbed the list so quickly, beyond her expectations.

Yet, he had been a prodigy since childhood, demonstrating superior talent here, so it wasn’t surprising.

Even he took only two years and three months; if it were him… Su Muqing couldn’t help but picture that boy’s figure, her fingers tightening involuntarily, a sharp pain piercing her heart.

She shook her head, trying to cast off these distractions, preparing to focus on her cultivation.

But suddenly, her expression froze, her face turning pale and uneasy.

Lin Zhe wouldn’t contact her without reason, especially after asking about her realm and location… Knowing his nature, if he wanted to boast about making the list, he’d say it plainly right away, no preamble, no circling.

So his earlier words weren’t just small talk… Why had he asked like that?

Could it be… he’d seen her somewhere else?

Su Muqing felt her blood seem to contract, a trembling sensation in her chest.

The time-reversal vision she’d witnessed in Minghuang Palace remained unforgettable, even after so long.

If the woman who looked exactly like her had come here, did that mean… he had come too?

Su Muqing trembled all over, her thoughts instantly tangled beyond unraveling; she sat motionless, staring blankly.

When she realized she couldn’t calm her mind, she clenched her teeth slightly and told the Su family elder guarding her that she wished to return to her sect.

She wanted to visit her master and ask about his condition.

The Su family elder was puzzled but didn’t stop her; he only guarded Su Muqing, never interfering in her actions—after all, a prodigy’s choices, success or failure, were their own, and a trial for their Dao heart; Su Muqing had long passed the stage needing guidance.

…

On another side, Li Hao followed Shi Miao to the fourth chaotic star.

This chaotic star was dominated by the primordial source of thunder.

Li Hao entered the cavern, glanced around, saw no familiar faces, then began contemplating the chaotic stone wall.

Once he fully comprehended it, he moved aside to test himself.

Soon, the fourth chaotic star was fully activated, and Li Hao’s rank rose again—this time by over twenty thousand places.

As his rank climbed, Li Hao finally spotted the ghost-sister duo, Jian Xin, Ming Yue, and many southern realm prodigies, including the young god-tribe boy and Bo Ya Xuejian.

“It seems most of the southern realm’s prodigies are three- or four-star.”

Li Hao thought to himself.

He gazed ahead—and immediately spotted another familiar figure: Di Linchen.

He had already comprehended the fourth chaotic star, with an entry time of twenty-one years.

Compared to others, he was a full chaotic star ahead.

“Indeed, the Di clan’s prodigies still have deep roots.” Li Hao sighed inwardly.

He didn’t linger, continuing with Shi Miao toward the next chaotic star.

Meanwhile, in the previous chaotic sword star, the ghost-sister duo were exchanging insights when suddenly, the chaotic heavenly dao list embedded in their spiritual sense trembled faintly—so subtly it was nearly imperceptible.

They knew this sensation: it was the reminder that someone had surpassed them.

Instantly, the shadow of the one who surpassed them appeared in their minds; when they saw the shadow and its aura, their conversation fell silent.

“Is it… him?”

They stared at each other, eyes wide.

She urgently scrolled through the chaotic prodigy list and saw the shadow now hovering above them—at the extreme edge of the top ten thousand, nearly out of sight!

“It’s him, it really is him!”

“Chaos four-star?”

Seeing Li Hao’s result, both froze, faces filled with shock.

When they saw his entry time—just one day—they felt their minds explode; there was no doubt, this shadow was Li Hao.

He had just left here not long ago, and now he’d reached chaos four-star?

Comprehending four stars in succession?!

Nearby, Jian Xin and Ming Yue, also in meditation, received the same alert.

Usually, they’d glance at it briefly and ignore it—even if someone surpassed them, if they didn’t know the person, it meant nothing.

Some had been on the list for centuries, then suddenly broke through and surpassed them; that was normal.

At this moment, they merely glanced out of habit, intending to dismiss the sensation—but when they looked, both froze.

Instantly, they abandoned cultivation and frantically checked the chaotic heavenly dao list—there, at position six thousand and something, the shadow stood unmistakably.

“C, chaos four-star?”

Ming Yue stared, eyes wide, repeatedly checking the shadow—every detail, face, aura, and the glaring “entry: one day” confirmed it was him!

“Four-star… comprehending four chaotic stars in one day? How is that possible?!”

Ming Yue was dazed, unable to comprehend, feeling as if she’d seen a ghost.

Jian Xin was also stunned, his spirit shaken, bewildered.

Could the chaotic heavenly dao list be wrong? Unlikely… but comprehending four chaotic stars in one day made no sense at all.

“There must be some kind of error.”

After a moment, Jian Xin frowned, concentrating.

Ming Yue agreed deeply.

Before they could think of another explanation, the shadow on the chaotic heavenly dao list suddenly vanished.

“He’s gone.”

Ming Yue gasped, relief flashing across her face.

Jian Xin noticed too, puzzled—had the chaotic heavenly dao list malfunctioned?

But soon, he realized their ranks hadn’t reverted to their previous positions—they remained one spot lower than before.

That meant someone had surpassed them, now occupying the space above them.

And now… they couldn’t see him—did that mean he’d climbed even higher?

Jian Xin’s eyes widened in alarm; even with his extraordinary Dao heart, he could no longer sit still. He stood, face grim: “This is too strange. I’m going to ask my master.”

“I’m coming too.” Ming Yue rose quickly—she had no more interest in continuing her contemplation here.

On the other side, the ghost-sister duo also rose at once; they too wanted to return and find answers about Li Hao’s appearance and bizarre ranking, or they couldn’t calm their minds.

Meanwhile, Li Hao’s figure flickered again, arriving at another chaotic star.

In no time, he fully activated all the chaotic pillars of this star.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Their figures darted continuously, flashing between chaotic stars.

Soon after Li Hao entered each chaotic star, it would tremble and hum faintly, then their figures would depart—like two bees flitting through a vast forest gathering nectar.

And Li Hao’s rank on the chaotic heavenly dao list soared relentlessly; by the time he activated the ninth chaotic star, he had climbed into the top ninety thousand.

“Keep going, keep going.”

Li Hao intended to comprehend all these chaotic stars first, then arrange them, to see how to piece together the chaotic laws.

He spent more time traveling than comprehending.

As his figure darted across stars, his comprehended chaotic stars surged—twelve, fifteen… his rank climbed rapidly!

As Li Hao’s rank rocketed upward, many cultivators in meditation sensed it—the chaotic heavenly dao list sent subtle ripples, alerting them their ranks had been surpassed.

Many noticed: an unfamiliar shadow had overtaken them.

Especially after entering the top hundred thousand, he was already known in the Original True Realm—after all, comprehending four or five chaotic stars greatly increased the chance of condensing chaotic laws, catapulting one to greatness!

Yet, they had never seen this surpassing shadow before.

When some noticed the entry time behind this surpassing figure, many chaotic stars suddenly erupted in chaos.