Section 78: Sky City
2014-06-18 Author: Gu Zhenren
“Sky City? What does Night Emperor’s capture of Rainbow Island have to do with Sky City?” Everyone was bewildered by the Sleeping Old Man’s words.
“Rainbow Island is connected to Sky City. This passage is the Rainbow Bridge…” The Sleeping Old Man explained slowly, and for a moment, his voice was the only one echoing in the room.
Every year, during a specific month, large numbers of wild Rainbow Demons would migrate in hordes. This would form a Rainbow Bridge, descending from the heavens onto Rainbow Island.
This phenomenon had existed since ancient times, during the reign of the Five Virtue King over the Archipelago. It had remained unchanged to this day, attracting many Beast Masters annually to collect various colored Rainbow Demons.
During the Tang Jin Kingdom era, about thousands of years ago, people were astonished to discover that a vast array of rare treasures were arriving via the Rainbow Bridge. There were Demonic Beast eggs, Demonic Plant seeds, cultivation method Jade Slips, and texts on Pill Refining and Weapon Forging. It was an endless and dazzling variety.
This phenomenon caused a tremendous sensation at the time. Rainbow Island thus became famous throughout Xingzhou, a place of renown.
Every year, when the Rainbow Demons migrated, large numbers of Beast Masters would gather, attempting to subdue the Rainbow Demons while simultaneously seizing the treasures on the Rainbow Bridge.
In fact, Chu Yun had also visited Rainbow Island. It was there that he recruited Huang Xiao, the foremost of the Three Divine Generals, along with colorless Rainbow Demons, and others. It was truly a bountiful harvest.
“Have you ever wondered why so many rare treasures appear on the Rainbow Bridge? What is the root cause of this change?” The Sleeping Old Man paused here, raising a question.
The crowd exchanged glances, no one speaking. Chu Yun and the Wine King, however, had eyes gleaming, having already grasped the truth.
The phenomenon of the Rainbow Bridge had sparked much discussion back then. In fact, even now, countless people in Xingzhou had offered various speculations. However, due to the inability to trace the origin of the Rainbow Bridge or ascend against its flow, none of these hypotheses or guesses could be proven. Therefore, no definitive conclusion had been reached to this day.
“The other end of the Rainbow Bridge is the fallen Sky City, the bloody Azure Blue Battlefield!” The Sleeping Old Man’s voice, concise and powerful, boomed into their ears.
“The Rainbow Demons pass through this battlefield, bringing with them countless rare treasures that trickle down to Rainbow Island via the Rainbow Bridge. Night Emperor’s aim is to use the Rainbow Bridge to ascend against its flow, reach the Azure Blue Battlefield, and gain control of Sky City.”
“Sky City? Is that the flying fortress that is known as the foremost city in Xingzhou?”
“Sky City is immensely powerful, an ultimate weapon of war. Not to mention its own combat capabilities, the over nine thousand Flying Battleships it possesses are a military force capable of dominating Xingzhou and looking down upon the world! If Night Emperor obtains it, he will be like a tiger with wings.”
“That’s not necessarily true. It is said that in the past, when our ancestors piloted Sky City, soaring high in the sky, they provoked the wrath of heaven. They suffered a mysterious strike, and Sky City vanished without a trace, lost in the firmament. Even if Night Emperor obtains Sky City, he may only acquire a ruined city.”
…The crowd began to discuss animatedly.
Chu Yun, however, seemed to have a sudden realization. He finally understood why Night Emperor had pursued him and attempted to conquer the Archipelago back then. Clearly, Rainbow Island and Sky City were major reasons for his actions.
“Night Emperor’s primary objective is not Sky City itself,” the Sleeping Old Man said again. “Night Emperor’s aim is to use Sky City to ascend to the heavens, venture into the Grand Void, and eliminate his Outer Heavenly Demon. The Outer Heavenly Demon is a tribulation within tribulations, the king of all calamities. The Net of Law of Xingzhou is the ultimate method specifically designed to suppress Beast Masters. Night Emperor’s death back then was due to an attack by an Outer Heavenly Demon. Once Night Emperor eliminates the Outer Heavenly Demon, he will have no further concerns, truly revive, and once again reign supreme over Heaven and Earth.”
The Sleeping Old Man’s revelations sparked further discussions among the crowd.
“How complicated, it even involves Outer Heavenly Demons…”
“What is an Outer Heavenly Demon?”
“You don’t even know that? In ancient legends, the Star Saint shot down an Outer Heavenly Demon with the Star Hunting Bow. The Demon’s corpse fell into the sea, forming islands and land.”
“I’ve also heard that the original intention of our ancestors when building Sky City was to ascend above the heavens and eliminate the Outer Heavenly Demon.”
“Rainbow Island, Sky City, Outer Heavenly Demon…” Chu Yun frowned slightly. The situation was indeed complex, but not unfathomable.
Now, Rainbow Island was no longer in their possession. The most crucial element was Sky City. As long as they controlled Sky City, Night Emperor’s plan would utterly fail.
However, even so, the current situation was quite complicated. Not only Night Emperor but also the Dragon Emperor had joined the fray. If it were only Night Emperor, Chu Yun, with the advantage of his Supreme grade Immortal Pouch, would have the confidence to go directly and trouble him. But with the Dragon Emperor present, they had to proceed with caution.
“The conflict between us and Night Emperor is irreconcilable. We absolutely cannot let Night Emperor obtain Sky City. Chu Yun, let us act together this time,” the Wine King suggested after careful consideration.
“Yes, the opening of the Rainbow Bridge is only a day or two away. No wonder Night Emperor was so eager to capture Rainbow Island. However, we must act cautiously and not rashly,” Chu Yun nodded in agreement.
Three days later, Rainbow Island.
Night Emperor’s four King level avatars gazed upwards. A fiery red, long rainbow streaked from the depths of the clouds, vast and powerful, and landed above Rainbow Island.
Ju Ye King’s face lit up with joy: “The Rainbow Bridge has finally appeared.”
Cold Sword King scanned the surroundings of the island, his killing intent palpable.
At this moment, a sea battle was raging in the waters around Rainbow Island. Fleets of ships weaved and tangled, enveloped in intense warfare, with distant shouts of battle faintly audible.
“Hmph, the Dragon Emperor is attacking again. This time, after eliminating the Outer Heavenly Demon and truly reviving, he will be the first I get rid of!” Ghost King said sinisterly. He harbored deep resentment towards the Dragon Emperor, believing that if not for the Dragon Emperor’s sudden appearance disrupting things, Night Emperor would have already conquered the world.
“Hmm? The Archipel has also dispatched a fleet?” Yin Yang King raised an eyebrow, observing a fleet charging from the west with surprise.
“Ignore them. The priority is to reach the Azure Blue Battlefield, let’s go!” Cold Sword King shouted, and four Flying Battleships ascended into the sky. Night Emperor’s four King level avatars each commanded one battleship. These ships were accumulated through various means over the years.
“Look quickly, Night Emperor is departing!” From within the ship, the Wine King pointed to the sky, the first to notice Night Emperor’s movements.
“That Flying Battleship…” Chu Yun squinted, recognizing the lead battleship. “This was the Flying Battleship I encountered on Rainbow Island. Tie Ao obtained it later, but after I seized it, it mysteriously disappeared during a trial voyage. So, it was Night Emperor’s doing.”
“Night Emperor is very well-prepared. These battleships must have fallen to Xingzhou after crashing from high in the sky. He actually collected four of them. Hmm? The Dragon Emperor is also moving!”
Everyone looked up and saw the Dragon Emperor, standing on a Red Lotus Flame Dragon, chasing after Night Emperor’s four Flying Battleships against the flow of the red rainbow.
In a short while, both parties vanished into the horizon.
“The wisdom of an Emperor level being is far deeper than that of a King level. It seems that even if the Dragon Emperor doesn’t know Night Emperor’s main objective, he has now realized something is amiss, and this journey is to directly disrupt Night Emperor’s plan. Let’s depart as well,” the Wine King sighed softly.
“My son, be extremely careful,” Shu Tianhao patted Chu Yun’s shoulder before they left. “If things get too difficult, don’t push yourself. At worst, we’ll leave the Archipelago, ride a Land Whale, and wander the deep seas.”
“Don’t worry, Father, I know what I’m doing. Let’s go!” Chu Yun tapped his Immortal Pouch, and the Blissful Joy Ship flew out. The Blissful Joy Ship was originally a peak Spirit Monster combined weapon. Although it had not yet broken through to the Tribulation Demon level in cultivation, it had already ascended to the innate state, making it vastly superior to a Flying Battleship.
Carrying Chu Yun and the Wine King, the Blissful Joy Ship soared into the sky, also ascending against the flow of the red rainbow. Its speed was incredibly fast, disappearing from sight within a few breaths.
However, the civil and military officials of the Archipel gazed at the sky for a long time before withdrawing their sight.
Shu Tianhao’s voice rang out: “Alright! With Shuangyan Capital absent, this is the perfect opportunity to conquer Rainbow Island. Let them see the might of our Archipel!”
“As you command!!” The civil and military officials responded in unison, their morale soaring to the highest degree.
Over the past three days, Chu Yun had infused innate energy into each of them. Not only had their injuries completely healed, but their cultivation had also surged rapidly. Now, the vast majority were Jun level powerhouses.
Currently, a strand of innate energy circulated within their meridians. The Innate Primordial Essence Qi continuously consumed itself, transforming their physiques and further enhancing their bodies, souls, and spirits.
However, they did not possess the Innate Body. Strictly speaking, they could only be considered semi-innate. Once this strand of innate energy within them was depleted and dissipated, they would revert to their post-natal state.
This was because they had not personally participated in the Blissful Joy Wheel Turning Grand Array. Therefore, they couldn’t achieve a fundamental transformation like Chu Yun and truly ascend to the Innate Body.
Concurrently, because the human body was not as robust as that of demonic creatures, the amount of innate energy it could store was extremely limited. It could only store a single strand; any more would cause an explosion.
*Splash, splash, splash…* It sounded like a ship sailing rapidly on the sea, the sound of incoming waves being shattered.
In reality, the conditions of the Blissful Joy Ship sailing on the red rainbow were far more dangerous than ordinary voyages.
This was because “Red Rainbow Bridge” was merely a colloquial term. It was actually a peculiar natural phenomenon formed by countless Red Rainbow Demons acting in unison.
The ship sailing around the Red Rainbow Bridge was effectively moving against countless Red Rainbow Demons. Fortunately, the Blissful Joy Ship was an innate demon weapon, and its aura made the Rainbow Demons feel suppressed and suffocated. Wherever the ship passed, the Rainbow Demons would frantically dodge to the sides.
However, because one party was descending and the other was ascending, their relative speed was extremely high, and many Rainbow Demons could not avoid colliding with the Blissful Joy Ship.
Fortunately, Rainbow Demons were not physically attacking creatures. Even if they shattered into fine, shimmering fragments, they could instantly reconstitute themselves. For the Blissful Joy Ship, these collisions did not inflict much damage.
However, Fairy Xingyu did not intend to let these Rainbow Demons go: “Young Master Chu Yun, quickly use your Supreme grade Immortal Pouch to collect these Rainbow Demons. They will be of great use when fighting the Great Emperors in the future.”
(To be continued)
