563 A Shift That Should Not Be (1/2)

Before the voice could even echo in the air, a trail of black cloud split from the massive mass of ink like a snake. It formed aspear of black lightning and slithered towards Yun Xiaoyao aggressively. Everywhere the beam of black clouds passed, smoke rose in the air. It meant that the gas cloud was moving at a terrifyingly high speed.

Yun Xiaoyao was fearless. He had been long prepared, he pulled his sword, that was at its peak of countering force, out of the scabbard and brought it up to block the attack.

Boom!

The thin wisp of black clouds collided against the long sword in Yun Xiaoyao's hand fiercely with the sound of a mountain cracking in half. Yun Xiaoyao felt himself being pushed by an immense force; his feet lifted from the ground and he was flung away like a broken kite.

With a loud crash, he smashed into the palace wall several hundred feet away behind him.

Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth as he emitted a low grunt. Lowering his head to look at the sword he held, the beloved sword that had served him for so many years was adorned with tiny cracks, not unlike a spider web. The center of the blade was dented; the sword had almost broken in half!

Yun Xiaoyao could not help sucking in a cold breath. It was only a tiny wisp from the big ball of clouds, but it contained such power! If the entire mass of black clouds had dropped down, could it have leveled the entire Yutang palace?

The jaws of those who witnessed the scene dropped.

With Yun Xiaoyao's current cultivation base level that was the eighth level of the heaven realm, he could be considered the top expert in Yutang. Aside from those in the other empires, it was possible that no one else could be compared to him. After all, cultivators who reached such a level would have long stayed away from the political conflicts of the imperial court in pursuit of personal gains.

Nonetheless, it was such an expert who was unable to block the ambush of this tiny trail of clouds. It wasn't hard to imagine how powerful that cloud had to be for this to happen. With that in mind, one would shudder to ponder upon the cultivation base of the person hidden within the clouds.

With the crisis at hand, the entire entourage was facing certain death, no matter how powerful this person was. Still, other than being slightly startled by the display, they did not feel much fear.

They did not anticipate that the black clouds would rise swiftly and drift away without pausing after the mass of ink had leveled that single blow. Within the clouds, a sepulchral voice resounded, ”One strike won't kill you. Think of it as a punishment… Commit another offense in the future and you shall be beheaded.”

The black clouds then spread out.

When everyone's eyes followed the grasping motion, they were surprised to note that there was clearly an extended tentacle at the far end of the inky mass of clouds that seemed to have come to a realization, speeding away with a purposeful direction.

It was only until the entire mass of clouds had left the space above the palace that the emperor and his entourage finally breathed in relief. At the same time, they thought that it was ridiculous.

What had actually happened? It had come appeared with such fanfare yet had left in an instant. Furthermore, it had done nothing to anyone present.

The emperor was befuddled as well. He had thought that the black clouds had an ulterior motive and had come especially for him, but that was clearly not the case. What was it here for then if not for him? This was the palace, but that person had confessed that he had gotten the wrong location. With how powerful and unrestrained the person was, how could it get the wrong place and target?

The entire case was unexplainable.

”Xiaoyao, how do you fare?” It was only now that His Majesty managed to turn around and ask the man.

”I'm fine, I'm alright, don't you worry.” Yun Xiaoyao pushed himself up with some effort, his gaze still alarmed. ”It was a cultivator who was hidden in the clouds. The impressive power that drives the black clouds, while masterly, is a part of mystical Qi!”

”Mystical Qi?”

Everyone grew more astounded when they heard the announcement.

How could such a natural phenomenon, driven by a God and resembling the end of the world, actually be formed from mystical Qi? Not only was it frightening, it was unimaginable; even the effort of trying to figure it out gave birth to fear. What sort of level could such a person be at then?