Chapter 384: Stage

“Sound of opera? Where is that coming from?”

The figure in the black headscarf asked, puzzled, “Elder He, did you hear that?”

Elder He, leaning on his staff, shook his head slightly. “No, I didn't.”

“No, really, I did!” The youth, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, gestured wildly. “The sound was so close, it felt right next to my ear... I heard him singing something about 'weapons and banners'? 'Swords and spears surrounding'?”

The headscarved figure frowned deeply, listening intently again, but apart from the whining wind and the sound of falling raindrops, there was nothing else.

“I don't hear the sound you're talking about... you must be hallucinating.”

“But...”

“Something's wrong,” Elder He suddenly said, his eyes fixed on the blank drawing paper.

“What's wrong?”

“Even though he's within the circle, the tracing couldn't pinpoint the location of Heart 6, which means his whereabouts likely aren't in this space... And during the trace, you mentioned hearing opera music...”

Elder He's brows furrowed deeper. Just as he was about to say more, a small dot suddenly appeared on the blank paper.

“Huh? What's this...”

The youth stumbled to his feet, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

The small dot in the center of the paper began to enlarge at a visible rate, as if something was shooting out from it. In a blink, a spear's shadow filled most of the paper, pierced through the surface, and shot out like lightning!

At that moment, Elder He's shout suddenly rang out:

“Watch out!!!”

Swoosh—!!

The spear's shadow violently plunged into the youth's chest, and the terrifying kinetic energy propelled his body into the pouring rain!

“Elder He, save...” The youth's terrified plea for help began, then abruptly ceased.

The spear's shadow had appeared too quickly, and its angle was incredibly precise and bizarre. Even Elder He and the headscarved figure, standing close by, had no time to react. By the time they understood what was happening, the spear's shadow had already vanished into thin air again, taking the youth with it!

Splash—

The rain continued to pour over the ruins as usual. Both the spear's shadow and the youth had vanished without a trace, as if by magic... Moments earlier, three people had been contemplating tracking Chen Ling; now only two stood isolated beneath the bridge.

If not for the remaining bloodstains on the ground, the headscarved figure might have believed it was all an illusion... Even now, he hadn't recovered from the shock of that spear strike.

“El-Elder He... what was that just now...” he stammered, staring blankly in the direction where the youth had disappeared.

Elder He whirled around, his ancient gaze locking onto the drawing paper, his expression grim.

“Damn it...”

“There's more than just Heart 6 in this town??”

Swoosh—!!

Just as Chen Ling and Li Qingshan wondered where Gao Chong's spear had gone, a rushing sound echoed from the stage once more!

The vanished Tiger-Head Spear with Carved Gold shot out from nothingness, returning to Gao Chong's hand. Simultaneously, a body on the spear's tip flew backward due to inertia, rolling several times on the stage floor before tumbling into Wuzhu's formation at the edge of the stage.

Drops of crimson blood trickled from the Tiger-Head Spear. Gao Chong's expression remained entirely unfazed, his white clothes and silver armor fluttering in the wind, as if he had merely casually slain an enemy soldier to boost his army's morale!

Meanwhile, Wuzhu, standing nearby, bristled with fury, his face fierce.

All of this unfolded in such a shocking manner, yet on stage, it felt entirely natural, as if the play was meant to be performed exactly this way... Had Chen Ling not clearly seen that the flying body was a living person, he might have genuinely believed it was all part of the stage design and props.

Both Gao Chong and Wuzhu performed with such effortless naturalness that they didn't even glance at the flung body...

They were still immersed in the play!

“...For a true man,In battle, life holds no joy, death no fear; if you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you catch its cub!Gao Chong dedicates his heart to protecting the nation,Slaughtering enemies, saving his lord, and earning merit!”

As the performance on stage gradually progressed, a great battle commenced. Although there weren't many actors on stage, their incredibly captivating lyrics and perfectly timed sound effects made the performance profoundly compelling.

“Where did that spear go just now... And who was that person?” Chen Ling's attention remained on the figure in the corner as he pondered with a frown.

He was about to turn and say something to Li Qingshan when he noticed Li Qingshan's eyes fixed on the stage, a faint shimmer emanating from his pupils, as if in a trance. Even when Chen Ling tried to call out to him, there was no response.

Chen Ling paused, surprised by Li Qingshan's state. Then, as if sensing something, he suddenly looked up at the sky.

Above the cloud-shrouded firmament, a hint of vermillion seemed to pierce through the clouds, adorning the sky like a gem. A familiar aura lingered in Chen Ling's mind.

“The Path of the Theatrical God...?”

Chen Ling was all too familiar with that star; he had once set foot in its realm in the Aurora Domain.

Could Li Qingshan have earned the favor of the Path of the Theatrical God just by watching a performance? If so, this performance was truly miraculous... Was this an opportunity from the ancient theatrical trove?

Chen Ling, of course, understood that Li Qingshan's inherent talent, accumulated experience, and temperament were the decisive factors for him to embark on this divine path. Otherwise, if someone else sat there and watched it ten or a hundred times, they likely wouldn't gain anything... like Chen Ling himself. So, rather than saying the performance created Li Qingshan's path, it was more like it gently revealed the connection between Li Qingshan and the Path of the Theatrical God, allowing him to receive what he was destined for ahead of time.

Chen Ling cast a complex glance at the entranced Li Qingshan before returning his gaze to the stage. Wuzhu now had several strangely shaped vehicle props in front of him, and the battle between the two sides had reached a fierce climax.

Under the bridge.

“More than Heart 6?!” The figure in the black headscarf exclaimed in alarm. “Elder He, do you mean...”

“We're being watched,” Elder He said grimly. A flock of white cranes circled above him, and the pressure of a seventh-tier master instantly enveloped the land!

“I'd like to see who dares to oppose my Fleeting Life Scroll!” Elder He snatched the pierced drawing paper and tossed it to a nearby white crane. One of the cranes caught it, circled once in the air, and rapidly flew eastward!

“In that direction!”

Flap flap—

The sky full of white cranes seemed to lock onto a certain direction, a hint of crimson seeping into their eyes. They streaked eastward at astonishing speed. Elder He and the headscarved figure each stepped onto a white crane, joining the overwhelming flock as they flew.

The thousand cranes soared wildly, a sight that immediately drew the attention of Willow Town's residents. They emerged from their homes in shock, gazing at the miraculous scene above their heads, and bowed down in worship!

Murderous intent flickered in Elder He's eyes. As he rode the white crane, his gaze sweeping around, the headscarved figure behind him suddenly spoke:

“El-Elder He...”

“What is it?”

“I think... I hear opera singing too?”

Elder He froze. He turned to look, only to see the headscarved figure, just like the tracer before him, gazing around in a daze...

At that moment, in the headscarved figure's gaze, the myriad flying white cranes, Elder He, and himself, standing on the cranes' backs... all seemed to begin twisting and deforming. Their bodies started to develop sharp angles, their skin took on a metallic sheen, and their voices gradually turned into grating squeaks...

Before his disbelieving eyes, everything around him seemed to transform into clumsy, primitive iron carts.