The Sacred City roared.
All the chaotic noise was drowned out by the deafening crash of Heaven Collapse and Earth Shatter.
A genuine Heaven Collapse and Earth Shatter.
Deep fissures appeared across the sky, while countless ravines split open across the earth. As the enormous wheel turned, a violent wind swept forth.
The sky, which had only just brightened, was completely swallowed by darkness. Once the false blue heavens vanished, Eternal Paradise's true form was revealed.
A true hell!
At this moment, the power concealed in Eternal Paradise's deepest reaches had awakened. Once more, it dominated everything and controlled all.
Amid the terrified cries of countless souls, it brought down destruction and a restart.
Yet in that instant, a deep crack suddenly appeared upon the turning wheel.
It could advance no farther.
No matter how fiercely the rulers pushed, the wheel that should have restarted could not move forward even the slightest bit...
As though an insignificant little stone had leaped into the intricate, endlessly repeating machinery and lodged itself before the gears.
—It was stuck!
Five minutes earlier, outside a pharmacy in the Lower District, mournful pleas and excited shouts rang out.
"Help! Help!"
A bloodstained face drew close beyond the bars before the window, desperately slamming against them and calling out hoarsely. Unfortunately, the two old men inside merely lowered their heads and calmly drank their tea.
Neither even looked up again.
They continued their conversation.
Only when the footsteps of the pursuers drew near did that pleading face gradually turn vicious. He shot the two men inside a venomous glance, then turned and fled.
"Catch him! Kill that bastard!"
"He can't get far!"
Faint shouts drifted over, accompanied by distant explosions.
Inside, Guo Shouque, seated by the stove, slowly lifted the boiling kettle and poured himself another