Witnessing the Dawn of an Era

In the shadows of the players' tunnel, Yun Jingheng's steps did not falter.

The clamor of 300,000 people surged behind him like a tide, only to be left behind again.

He glanced down at his right hand.

My fingers were still trembling slightly; it wasn't from fear, but from exhaustion.

The Full Moon Slash consumed nearly half of his Soul Power, while the referee, the old man with gray hair, caught his sword energy with just one hand.

Although his palm was cut, the old man only took three steps back.

Three steps.

He silently calculated the chasm in his mind, then took a deep breath and suppressed his distracting thoughts.

Now is not the time to think about these things.

"Jing Heng!"

Xie Xie's voice came from ahead.

Yun Jingheng looked up and saw Xie Xie and the others standing at the corner of the passage, each with a different expression on their face.

Xie Xie was shocked, Tang Wulin was solemn, Xu Xiaoyan was worried, and Yuanen Yehe remained calm as always.

"You almost killed him."

Xie Xie's voice was very low, but he couldn't suppress the trembling inside.

Yun Jingheng did not deny it and walked past Xie Xie.

"I only dared to hit him like that after he signed a waiver of liability," he said.

Xie Xie was speechless after hearing that.

He only dared to hit me like that because I signed a death waiver—meaning if I hadn't signed it, he might not have used such force?

What kind of logic is that?

Tang Wulin didn't speak, but just looked into Yun Jingheng's eyes.

There must be a reason why I went so hard today.

"Could this be Teacher Cai's idea?"

Yun Jingheng glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Tang Wulin's lips twitched. "It really is?"

He looked around, then leaned close to Yun Jingheng and whispered, "Why?"

Yun Jingheng looked at the group of people who had gathered around, took a deep breath, and replied in a low voice, "'Since they call themselves Monster Academy, let them see what monsters are like. Anyone from the Monster Academy should be beaten to death!' These Aunt Cai's exact words."

Xie Xie's mouth opened into an "O" shape and remained open for a long time.

Tang Wulin's expression changed from solemn to astonished, and then from astonished to an indescribable complexity.

It's like finally solving a puzzle, only to find that the answer is even more perplexing than the puzzle itself.

"Teacher Cai... what she said exactly?"

Xu Xiaoyan's voice was slightly unsteady, "'Beat them to death,' did Teacher Cai really say those words?"

Yun Jingheng nodded.

"I'm starting to question the meaning of life," Xie Xie murmured.

Tang Wulin took a deep breath and went over the scene in his mind again.

"So you didn't intend to use excessive force from the beginning."

Yun Jingheng's lips twitched slightly, as if anticipating something.

Xu Xiaoyan gasped. "Was that sword strike premeditated?"

"It wasn't premeditated."

Yun Jingheng finally spoke, his tone indifferent, "It was a spur-of-the-moment idea. When he revealed his Soul Bone, I wanted to test just how far a full-force attack could go."

"And then what happened?"

Yuanen Yehe suddenly spoke up and asked a very practical question.

Yun Jingheng remained silent for a moment.

"That referee," he said, "Only took three steps back."

"Brother, their account was banned, and you pushed it back three steps!"

Yuanen Yehui glared at him.

"What would satisfy you? Do you think you should chop the referee down with your sword too?"

"... I didn't think that way."

"That's what you were thinking, judging from your expression."

Yuanen Yehui withdrew his hand and turned to look at the others. "You be the judge. When he said 'I only took three steps back,' did he look like he thought he was a noob?"

Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Tang Wulin exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

Yun Jingheng's lips twitched.

"Alright."

Tang Wulin stepped in to smooth things over, "Regardless, today's match is over. Jing Heng won, and won..."

He carefully considered his words, "The victory was very impactful. What's next?"

"What's next?"

Yun Jingheng stretched. "I don't have any matches today, and the doubles match with Xing Lan is tomorrow."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the people present.

"By the way, Xing Lan and Wu Siduo still competing?"

Xie Xie shrugged. "Xing Lan just went up. Wu Siduo seems to have another show, I forget if it's the next one or the one after that."

"We don't have any matches now, but I'm planning to go to the Blacksmith Association," Tang Wulin replied, scratching his head.

"Okay, go ahead. I'll ask for leave for you. There seems to be an auction tonight, remember to come?"

"I might not be able to come, but I'll try my best."

"Good."

Star Luo City, Treasure Pavilion Auction House, the largest auction house in the Star Luo Empire.

The steps in front of the door were covered with a dark red carpet, and uniformed waiters stood on both sides. Every guest entering was required to show an invitation.

Those who can sit here are either rich or powerful.

As Su Qian got out of the car, the evening breeze blew the stray hairs across her forehead.

She wore a dark blue evening gown with an ankle-length skirt, and a silver brooch at the neckline that shimmered under the lights.

She raised her hand to push up her black-rimmed glasses, her gaze sweeping over the bustling crowd at the entrance of the auction house.

"Sister Qian, hurry up!"

A rough voice came from behind.

Yi Tiezhu was wearing an ill-fitting black suit with a crooked tie, making him look like a bear dressed in a suit.

He strode up the steps in two quick steps, turned back to look at Su Qian, and wore an impatient expression on his face.

"What's the rush?" Su Qian walked up the steps unhurriedly.

Upon seeing the two, the waiter immediately became more respectful, bowing and gesturing for them to enter. "Miss Su, Mr. Yi, the private room is on the second floor, east wing. Please follow me."

The two followed the waiter through the lobby on the first floor.

Although the auction didn't start until the evening, there were still quite a few people who came to make friends and chat.

The hall was already quite crowded, with people chatting in small groups, the air thick with the scents of perfume, cigars, and money.

Su Qian walked past without looking to the side, while Yi Tiezhu looked around, his gaze sweeping over the jewel-adorned guests.

"Stop looking, you're like someone who's never seen the world before," Su Qian said without turning her head.

"I really haven't seen it," Yi Tiezhu said matter-of-factly.

Su Qian ignored him.

The second floor east section consists of semi-open private rooms. Each room is separated by partitions, but the front is open, offering a panoramic view of the entire auction stage.

The waiter led them to a private room at the back, pulled back the beaded curtain, and stepped aside.

There were already two people seated in the private room.

A young man leaned back on the sofa, legs crossed, holding a glass of red wine in his hand.

He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his muscular forearms. He looked languid, but his narrow eyes revealed a shrewdness.

Zhao Yu'an.

On the other side is Chen Jingcheng, who is looking in the mirror and braiding her hair.

"They've arrived?"

Zhao Yu'an raised his wine glass as a greeting.

Su Qian sat down on the sofa opposite him, and Yi Tiezhu plopped down in the very edge, the sofa groaning under his weight.

"You've arrived quite early," Su Qian said.

"Just arrived."

Zhao Yu'an placed his wine glass on the coffee table, leaned forward, and asked, "Did you watch the game today?"

There was a moment of silence in the private room.

Su Qian took off her glasses and slowly wiped the lenses with the corner of her clothes.

Chen Jingcheng paused for a moment.

Yi Tiezhu's eyes lit up, like two light bulbs.

"I saw it."

Su Qian put her glasses back on. "Stage number eight, match four. Against Dai Yueyan."

Zhao Yu'an leaned back on the sofa, a slight smile playing on his lips, "How was it?"

Su Qian did not answer immediately.

She took a small soul-guided projector out of her bag, placed it on the coffee table, and pressed the switch.

A video was projected onto the wall on the side of the box; it was footage of today's match.

Dai Yueyan impacted the gravitational field, Yun Jingheng flicked his finger to push him away.

Then Dai Yueyan revealed his Soul Bone, Yun Jingheng's third Soul Ring flashed, he used New Moon Assault to dodge to the side, and after landing, he charged up his First Soul Ring and Full Moon Slash.

The image freezes on that circular sword aura.

"Four black and one red."

Chen Jingcheng finally spoke, his voice low, "Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"Chengbao, this isn't just about Soul Ring."

Su Qian stood up, walked to the projection, and touched the three beams of light on the surface of the sword energy with her finger.

"Look here, frost, spirit, true wounds, this is the Full Moon."

Zhao Yu'an continued, "He's much stronger than we imagined."

Yi Tiezhu, who had been holding back for a while, finally couldn't help but say, "Whether he's strong or not isn't important. I just want to know, if the referee hadn't stopped his sword strike, would Dai Yueyan really be dead?"

No one answered him. But the silence itself was the answer.

Su Qian walked back to the sofa, sat down, and turned off the projector.

The private room was silent for a few seconds, then Zhao Yu'an chuckled softly.

"What do you think will happen to him in the future?" he asked.

"Titled Douluo?" Yi Tiezhu guessed tentatively.

Zhao Yu'an shook his head.

"Limit Douluo?" Chen Jingcheng unusually uttered two extra words.

Zhao Yu'an shook his head again.

He picked up his glass and watched the dark red liquid swirl in the light.

"Have you ever considered," he said, "That we might be witnessing the beginning of an era?"

Su Qian looked up at him.

"God."

Yi Tiezhu sat up abruptly, the sofa groaning under the weight.

Chen Jingcheng's hand, which was braiding hair, stopped completely; a strand of hair was tangled around her fingertip and she forgot to let go.

Su Qian's glasses slipped down to the tip of her nose, and she even forgot to push them back up.

"God?"

Her voice was a little tense, "Zhao Yu'an, do you know what you're saying?"

Zhao Yu'an raised his head, "This world needs him, it needs a real moon, it needs a real god, as long as we..."

"Wait—wait!"

Yi Tiezhu interrupted him, his rough voice sounding somewhat abrupt in the private room, "What you're saying sends chills down my spine. Isn't it too early? Has his Martial Soul Origin been fully restored?"

Zhao Yu'an finally turned around and looked at Yi Tiezhu.

There was a thin glint in those narrow eyes, not from the alcohol, but from something deeper.

"Our time is really running out, at least..."

His voice was calm, "Martial Soul... I can confirm it's complete."

The private room was so quiet that you could hear the footsteps of the waiters moving around in the lobby downstairs.

Su Qian slowly pushed her glasses back into place, the movement very slow, as if she were using this action to calm her racing heart.

"Zhao Yu'an, how much did you drink today?"

"One cup. I haven't finished it yet."

"And what you've said—"

"Chen Weitao has already taken action."

Zhao Yu'an paused for a moment, then said, "Tian Gu is trying to make things difficult for him, so we don't have much time."

Chen Jingcheng finally put down the comb in her hand.

She tossed her braided hair behind her head, raised her head, and for the first time, a look of solemnity appeared on her usually expressionless face.

What is Chen Weitao planning to do?

"The specific details are unclear."

Zhao Yu'an paused for a moment, his hand holding the wine glass still.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead placed his wine glass on the coffee table, leaned forward, and clasped his hands in front of his knees.

The lights in the private room shone on his face, outlining his features with distinct lines of light and shadow.

"But you all know his true purpose."

"Can we... really do it?" Su Qian stood up, looking at the bustling traffic outside the window.

Chen Jingcheng walked up behind her and gently hugged her. "We must do it. This is the legacy of our teachers and friends."

Zhao Yu'an lowered his head, his expression unreadable.

Yi Tiezhu picked up the teacup, but couldn't bring himself to drink it.

At that moment, the door opened.

All four people turned their heads at the same time.

Wang Tiangu. He glanced around, walked in, picked up his teacup, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.

Wang Tiangu put down his teacup, the bottom of which tapped softly on the coffee table.

He glanced at the four people in the private room— Su Qian was standing by the window, with Chen Jingcheng hugging her from behind, their figures overlapping under the light; Zhao Yu'an had her head down, her hands clasped in front of her knees, her expression unreadable; Yi Tiezhu held a teacup, the tea had gone cold, but he couldn't bring himself to drink it.

"Chen Weitao's first target."

Wang Tiangu pulled out a palm-sized notebook from his pocket, but didn't open it. He just held it in his hand and weighed it in his hand. "It's not Yun Jingheng himself, it's someone from Yun Jingheng's side."

Su Qian turned around abruptly, and Chen Jingcheng's hand slid off her waist.

Yi Tiezhu put down his teacup, the bottom of which hit the coffee table with a dull thud.

"What did you say?" Su Qian's voice was a little tense.

Wang Tiangu walked to the sofa and sat down, placing his notebook on his lap.

His small eyes narrowed into slits, but the light shining through those slits was as sharp as a knife.

Chen Weitao knew very well that directly attacking Yun Jingheng was unrealistic. With Cai Yue'er and Zhuo Shi protecting him, Yun Ming and Long Yeyue ready to strike at any moment, and Yun Jingheng's own strength—he couldn't touch him. But he didn't need to touch Yun Jingheng.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"He only needs to make everyone around Yun Jingheng disappear one by one. Friends, partners, teachers—tear down these pillars of support one by one, and Yun Jingheng will naturally be left isolated and helpless."

"At that point, he won't be able to continue on his path."

Yi Tiezhu slammed his fist on the coffee table, causing the teacup to jump and spill tea all over the table.

"He's gone mad! He's really gone mad!"

"He's not crazy."

Zhao Yu'an's voice was calm, eerily calm, "He's simply taken a different path. In his logic, it's the most effective method."

"The best outcome would be to stop him from going any further without harming Yun Jingheng himself."

"The best outcome?"

Yi Tiezhu's voice rose eight octaves, "You say this is the best outcome?"

Zhao Yu'an looked up at him, his narrow eyes showing no anger or excitement, only a cold, clear-headed clarity.

"I'm referring to Chen Weitao's logic, not mine."

Yi Tiezhu opened his mouth, but swallowed the rest of his words.

He sat down again, his large fingers tapping rhythmically on his knees.

The door was pushed open once again.

The newcomer was very young, and looked to be about the same age as Yun Jingheng.

He wore a moon-white robe with silver cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar, and a black leather belt around his waist with an old jade pendant hanging from it.

His hair was long, tied back with a silver ribbon, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead, making his face appear pale and handsome.

"Xian Hua can't come, otherwise there would be no one to keep an eye on Chen Weitao."

Zhao Yu'an raised his head, his gaze lingering on the wooden box in his hand for a long time.

"Farewell, Chen," Zhao Yu'an said.

Yun Biechen did not respond.

He entered the private room and sat down on the sofa opposite Zhao Yu'an.

He sat upright with his back straight, his hands resting flat on his knees, his fingers lightly touching the edge of the lid.

He didn't look at Zhao Yu'an, he didn't look at Su Qian, he didn't look at anyone.

He simply lowered his head, looking at the wooden box on his lap, as if it were something very valuable, or as if he were looking at an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time.

The air in the private room became heavy.

It's not the kind of heaviness that comes from anger or tension, but a more essential, more physical heaviness.

It's like someone moving a huge rock into a room; everyone can feel the oppressive atmosphere, but no one can pinpoint exactly where the rock is.

Wang Tiangu was the first to break the silence.

He reached out and pointed to the wooden box on Yun Biechen's lap, his small eyes narrowing into slits.

"This is?"

Yun Biechen did not answer.

Zhao Yu'an spoke for him, "Qiu Ye?"

The temperature in the private room suddenly dropped by five degrees.

Yi Tiezhu clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, but he felt no pain.

Wang Tiangu opened his notebook, turned to a certain page, paused his finger on a line of text, and then closed the notebook.

He moved quickly, but everyone in the private room saw the tremor in his fingertips for a fleeting moment.

"When did this happen?" Zhao Yu'an asked.

Yun Biechen finally raised his head.

Those dark eyes looked at Zhao Yu'an, their gaze as calm as a stagnant pool.

Three days ago.

"How did he die?"

Yun Biechen did not answer the question immediately.

He looked down at the wooden box on his lap, his fingers gently stroking the edge of the lid, then looked up at the night sky outside the window.

The night sky over Star Luo City is devoid of stars, save for the city lights and the distant silhouette of the Star Luo Grand Stadium.

But he wasn't looking in the direction of the Star Luo Grand Stadium; he was looking further away, to the north.

"He... stole all the fragments from Chen Weitao's possession. Don't let them find out, so as not to expose Xian Hua..."

Yun Biechen suppressed his emotions, his voice trembling, "Qiu Ye... Qiu Ye made Xian Hua kill him with his own hands..."