Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 722: Chapter 590: Midnight Has Arrived_1

”Are you in trouble?”

Atop the White Horse, Luo Xian smiled.

With Sleeping Beauty as the medium, the princess inheriting the Path of Paradise answered Huai Shi’s summons.

”Uh...”

Huai Shi stood in stupefaction, feeling as though he was hallucinating, unable to believe the scene before him. He even wondered for a moment whether this was an illusion created by the troupe.

But right before his eyes, in this chaotic and fierce Colosseum.

When a massive shadow suddenly loomed and a dark green wyvern spread its wings, descending from the sky breathing dragonfire, she looked up, gazing at the rapidly enlarging shadow.

Smiling, she raised her slender arms.

Her hands came together, fingers interlocked. She somewhat awkwardly formed a seal for a skill she hadn’t practiced in a long time. When strands of Source Fluctuation and unremarkable physical strength congregated, a violent gust erupted from between her clenched palms.

Brilliant thunder roared, exploding into chaos and tearing the eardrums of everyone present.

The devastating power of a collapsing Sky Pillar burst forth as her fists advanced.

Her pale fists and the sharp dragon claws touched for an instant, unleashing a terrifyingly astonishing boom. Amidst the deafening sound, the swooping Giant Dragon suddenly froze in mid-air.

Terrifying heat burst forth from its cracked scales.

Vast destruction surged within its shell. It was like tipping the first domino, triggering a desperate chain reaction. It was as if a Long Nail had been hammered into its chest, ripping apart the dragon’s heart and detonating the Source Substance within.

Gentle death enveloped every part of its shell.

The huge, heavy body turned to ash in the whistling wind and vanished from sight.

Huai Shi’s jaw almost hit the ground.

It was as if a long-missed teaching lesson was replaying before him. That was an advanced Drummer technique he still couldn’t achieve, the Triple-fold ’Thunderbolt’ he could only poorly mimic!

Flawless...

—Heaven Collapse!

”It doesn’t look like a good time to chat, does it?”

Luo Xian looked back, gazing at the astonished Huai Shi. ”Let’s talk later... Oh, and about the child, could you explain that later?”

In that instant, Huai Shi felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

He felt submerged in a sea of death. But soon, the terrifying illusion vanished.

On horseback, Luo Xian smiled playfully. ”Just kidding, don’t be scared...”

”Yeah, yeah, not scared.”

Huai Shi nodded vigorously. He felt his legs thrashing wildly, and cold sweat poured down like rain, rendering him unable to move.

What’s going on? This feeling of almost certainly dying...

And it’s only been a few hours? Has the gossip already spread to the Current Circumstances?

He swallowed hard, finally realizing the grave consequences of his careless boasting... He felt like he was about to black out.

I’m definitely going to die, right?

Luo Xian merely glanced at him a couple of times, and it was as if she could see all the progress and achievements he had made recently. She seemed somewhat vexed.

”Have you been slacking too much in the Ivory Tower? You haven’t made any progress for quite some time, have you?”

No, no, no, I think my progress is quite normal, even fast! Sister Xian, not everyone can level up their Skills so quickly while traveling everywhere like you...

Huai Shi wanted to speak but stopped. The corner of his eye twitched, and he didn’t know how to retort.

”I heard you’ve taken on two students. Remember not to teach the basics incorrectly, okay? Correcting them is very troublesome; cleaning house is actually simpler...”

Luo Xian spoke nonchalantly as the White Horse moved forward at a leisurely pace. It crossed the entire messy Colosseum, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

All enemies were literally blasted to bits by the monster-like teenage girl...

With a casual wave of her hand.

There was no parrying, only what seemed like joking one-shot kills. They weren’t even on the level of techniques, merely instinctual reactions...

A terrifying Source Fluctuation dwelled within her body. It transformed into a long, bright red gown and created a comforting atmosphere that made one want to fall into deep sleep. It even manifested as crystal-clear Crystal Shoes.

Even phantoms of an endless, deep Sea and the magnificent palaces hidden within its depths faintly emerged...

Huai Shi stood petrified, incredulous.

”You’re almost at the Fourth Stage?”

”Still a long way to go.”

Luo Xian casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ”Old Mister Heretic King sent over many precious materials, so my advancement speed is acceptable. However, my cultivation of Sky’s Command is still insufficient. It will probably take a very long time...”

Huai Shi fell silent, feeling his face sting sharply.

He had thought his own advancement speed was already exaggerated enough. Yet, here before him was a despairing example—in less than a year, Luo Xian had progressed from a Sublimator to the Third Stage of the Path of Paradise. She was even leisurely dashing towards the Fourth Stage with astonishing speed...

From the moment Luo Xian appeared, the style of the fight completely diverged from what he had originally expected.

Instead of a duel, it was a one-sided slaughter.

When this monstrous skill was applied to killing, the original Spartacus script instantly collapsed under the terrifying influence of a Mechanical Descent, turning into a joke.

Luo Xian, holding nothing back and going all out, once again exhibited a terrifying demeanor surpassing her past self.

But unlike before, what remained was not a bloody, gruesome scene. Instead, under the guidance of Sleeping Beauty’s Stigma, all things fell into a peaceful slumber.

Welcoming eternal demise.

From his high position, Pant Delong stared in astonishment at everything happening before him. He finally snapped out of his daze, unable to hold back his anger any longer.

”Huai Shi, are you going to hide behind a woman?”

”To be fair, look at me. Would my conscience allow me not to live off a woman?”

Huai Shi calmly hid behind Luo Xian, fully embracing his role as a sycophantic lackey. ”Not only am I going to hide behind a woman, I’m also going to cheer her on!”

”—Sister Xian, get him!”

”Alright.”

Luo Xian nodded, raising her hand.

She did not take the weapon Huai Shi offered, remaining bare-handed.

She took a deep breath. From a distance of fully two kilometers, she aimed at Pant Delong’s mask, slowly clenched her five fingers, and gently thrust forward.

POP!

The sound of a bursting bubble echoed in the air.

Pant Delong’s body stiffened. He staggered backward as gruesome cracks appeared on his mask. Blood spurted out, then vanished into the air.

When he reappeared, he looked much weaker and even hid behind layers of defenses, no longer showing his face.

Once the performance in the Golden Palace began and the actors stepped onto the stage, they became characters in the story, unable to exempt themselves from attacks and persecution by other characters.

Even though they could revive through the power of the Troupe’s Stigmata, they still felt pain and weakness.

But no matter how one looked at it... killing Pant Delong, who was by no means a naive fool, with a single punch from two kilometers away was simply too preposterous.

It was as if the vast distance had been eliminated.

Luo Xian’s power traveled unhindered to the enemy, arriving calmly to impose brutality and destruction.

Every technique and the way her muscles moved were within the realm of Huai Shi’s knowledge. Yet, once combined, they quickly surpassed what he could comprehend.

It was an almost miraculous blow, as if she had merged with the entire Colosseum, becoming a part of it to deliver destruction from afar, reaching anywhere.

”What... what principle is this?” Huai Shi felt as if his eyes were about to pop out. It was incomprehensible.

”It’s a trick I’ve figured out recently.”

Luo Xian answered, ”If I were to name it in my father’s style, it could be called ’Endless’.”

”The inspiration came from my last duel with the Heretic King. I was beaten quite badly, which made me realize that techniques, after all, have their limits.

You see, if you can’t reach the enemy, no matter how sophisticated your technique, it’s useless. So, I thought for a long time before coming up with this method.

It involves using a medium to transmit my power.

If I had to describe the feeling, it’s like catching the air unawares... As long as the attrition is reduced sufficiently, distance is no longer a problem.”

At this point, Luo Xian sighed, a hint of a headache in her tone. ”In theory, it’s achievable. But this kind of messy thing... I’m afraid you won’t be able to learn it, right?”

She should be more confident; she can drop the ’right?’ at the end.

Huai Shi shook his head and smiled wryly. ”In this world, besides you, Sister Xian, I doubt anyone else could replicate such a thing, right?”

”Hmm?” Luo Xian looked back at him. ”Are you complimenting me?”

”Yes,” Huai Shi said earnestly. ”It’s incredible. I’m completely outmatched.”

”I’m so happy to be praised by the person I like.”

Luo Xian smiled joyfully, not hiding her feelings in the slightest.

Though she usually acted like a mature older sister, when she was happy, she seemed like a child. It felt as though complimenting her on a pretty dress would make her happy all morning.

”I really wish I could chat with you longer.”

She sighed regretfully. ”But you’re in a hurry, aren’t you?”

Huai Shi nodded silently.

”Then let’s cleanly and decisively overturn this shoddy stage.”

Astride the White Horse, Luo Xian held the reins. She looked up at the Colosseum, still immersed in turmoil, and whispered softly, ”This messy farce should end now. Because a truly beautiful story is just beginning—”

”The time of parting has arrived!”

She raised her voice, proclaiming to all around, ”The ball is about to end! There should be a bell!”

And so, in an unexpected midnight, the mighty tolling of distant bells rang out.

A splendid and beautiful Pumpkin Carriage emerged from the White Horse’s gallop. A kind and gentle figure appeared atop the carriage; the projection of the Fairy Godmother descended there, reaching out her hand to Luo Xian.

The time to return has come, Your Highness. The miracle is about to end.

Luo Xian gracefully leaped from the horse’s back, reached out, and took the hand extended by Fate.

”Could you close your eyes, Huai Shi?”

Clear words rang in Huai Shi’s ear: ”Although there’s not much to hide, the one thing I don’t want you to see is my ugliest form...”

Huai Shi was stunned for a moment. Then, as she asked, he bowed his head and closed his eyes.

Luo Xian smiled, then turned and walked into the Pumpkin Carriage.

At that instant, the White Horse neighed and reared. A fierce and ferocious aura surged from within the Pumpkin Carriage—midnight had arrived, and the miracle’s magic had lost its effect.

Everything would revert to its original form.

In the deepest darkness, the fierce Demon Dragon lifted its eyes. It cast an indifferent glance at the mortal world, opened its mouth, and roared mightily.

A tangible silhouette emerged from atop the Pumpkin Carriage.

The miracle reversed. The Disaster, unmasked, appeared before the troupe—an ugly and furious phantom, the epitome of all the world’s monstrous ferocity.

Now, the Demon Dragon lifted its eyes, opened its mouth, and before the dream cast in Gold, it spewed a consuming light of destruction.

The time of destruction was at hand!