Chapter 658: 畸形世界

Chen Ling suddenly turned to look at Plum Blossom Eight.

"What's your Chief's name?"

Plum Blossom Eight paused. "That... I don't know. Ever since Floating Life Painting was established, everyone has just called him 'Chief'."

"Then what's his relationship with Lord Hongchen? Are they siblings?"

"...Huh??"

Plum Blossom Eight looked utterly confused. It seemed he hadn't lied to Chen Ling before; people's knowledge of this Chief was extremely limited. However, Chen Ling already had an answer in his heart.

From before the Great Cataclysm, protecting Lord Hongchen, and his divine path connected to embroidered diagrams... who else could it be but Yao Qing? Yet, Chen Ling still couldn't imagine that the only ordinary person in the museum back then, the boy who had once been angry at his own weakness, had become the leader of the Azure Divine Path in this era. How did he survive the Great Cataclysm? How did he live until now? What had he experienced in those three hundred-plus years? Question after question flashed through Chen Ling's mind. He lowered his gaze to the embroidered diagram in his hand, his emotions deeply unsettled.

"Will your Chief participate in this Realm War?"

"If Lord Wuji is involved, the Second Hall will most likely awaken him," Plum Blossom Eight mused. "However, I've heard the Chief's state is somewhat special; awakening takes time... I'm not sure if there will be enough time."

Chen Ling fell silent.

The members of the Twilight Society followed behind Plum Blossom Eight, continuing along the path towards Willow Town. At first, town residents carrying bags occasionally hurried past them on the road, likely refugees heading to Hongchen Main City. But as time passed, fewer and fewer people were seen on the road, until eventually, there were almost only empty towns standing silently in the mist and rain.

Faint sounds of battle continuously echoed from a distance, sweeping across the empty towns. As they walked through these deserted streets, all they saw was desolation and bleakness.

Heart Nine walked confidently at the front, hands in his pockets, and casually plucked a small flower from the roadside to hold in his mouth.

"How much further are we from Willow Town?"

"At this pace, a few more hours," Plum Blossom Eight replied. "Of course, if we went at full speed, we'd get there quickly."

"That would be too conspicuous. At a time like this, we should keep a low profile, otherwise they might mistake us for personnel from the opposing realm... Anyway, the war won't reach us, so a slow walk is fine."

No sooner had Heart Nine finished speaking than his expression suddenly turned strange. He licked his lips, then spat out the flower he was holding with a "Pah!"

"That's weird... why does this flower taste sour?"

"Sour?"

"Yeah, sour and astringent. Don't believe me? Try it."

"Forget it, I'm not as bored as you are," Jian Changsheng shrugged.

On the other hand, Chu Muyun, upon hearing this, also plucked a flower from the roadside and held the broken stem in his mouth for a moment, his brows furrowing more and more deeply. He spat out the stem, his tongue tip stained green. He stared intently at the root for a while, muttering, "Indeed... this taste is strange."

Heart Nine was about to say something when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the ground. The small flower he had just held in his mouth suddenly shifted, as if by magic, transforming into a bare, soft, dark yellow leaf. Heart Nine froze for a moment, then immediately turned to look at Plum Blossom, who was walking at the very back, and began to grumble:

"Oh, you sly dog! With your thick eyebrows and big eyes, playing tricks on me like this!"

Plum Blossom glanced at the leaf on the ground, frowned, and shook his head. "It wasn't me."

"Not you?"

Heart Nine then looked at Chen Ling. "Aha, it was you, kid!"

"...It wasn't me either."

At this moment, Chen Ling was still deep in thought about Yao Qing, so it was naturally impossible for him to be playing such a mischievous trick. However, now he was also somewhat puzzled: if it wasn't him or Plum Blossom, who else could have done this?

"If it wasn't you two, then who was it?" Heart Nine's eyes widened.

Just then, Bai Ye's voice suddenly broke the silence: "...Something's not right."

At that moment, everyone followed Bai Ye's gaze. Not only had the flower Heart Nine pulled out on the ground transformed, but the entire patch of roadside flowers they had just passed by subtly shifted, turning into the same dark yellow leaves, soft and wilted, collapsing onto the ground. There was no spiritual energy fluctuation, no warning whatsoever. It was as if everyone had just blinked, and the world had changed. Those dark yellow leaves were unlike any plant Chen Ling knew; they resembled deformed mutations, incredibly hideous.

The willow trees along the bank visibly withered, transforming into bare, decaying wood twisted along both sides of the river. The water plants in the shallows spread out like ink stains, dyeing the water a dark green as it flowed silently forward. Even a flock of swallows flying in the mist and rain suddenly stiffened and plummeted downwards, one after another, hitting the hard ground and turning into puddles of viscous, mixed-colored liquid. This bizarre transformation originated from behind them, sweeping past their faces like a gust of wind, and extending continuously into the distance. It was as if an invisible hand had swept through, stripping away all life and color. The white-walled, tiled-roof houses that had once nestled among flowers, grasses, and willow groves suddenly found themselves amidst withered, grotesque vegetation. The small town of Hongchen, which had been hazy with mist and rain and vibrant with spring, suddenly became a desolate, silent ruin.

"This... what is this..."

"Is it a domain?"

Bai Ye, Plum Blossom, Diamond Ten... almost everyone's expressions subtly changed. Their domains simultaneously unleashed, and their gazes warily swept their surroundings! The bizarre transformation before them was clearly not a natural phenomenon. The only thing they could think of was the power of a "domain." Yet, even Bai Ye and Plum Blossom, who had the highest ranks, hadn't detected any spiritual energy fluctuations from an enemy, sending shivers down their spines.

Chu Muyun's expression was grave as he scanned the surroundings. He finally crouched down and dipped a finger into the viscous liquid left by a fallen bird. A faint blue light spread from his pupils, seemingly analyzing the substance's components. His brows furrowed even tighter.

"No, this is..."

"Don't be so tense," Plum Blossom Eight suddenly spoke from behind the group. "This isn't an enemy attack."

Everyone turned to look, seeing the young man standing quietly, his eyes fixed on the bizarre, ugly, dark yellow leaves and the withered, decaying wood, his expression profoundly complex.

"Plum Blossom Eight, what's going on?" Bai Ye asked in a deep voice.

Plum Blossom Eight was silent for a long time, then finally seemed to make up his mind, letting out a long sigh...

"This isn't a domain, nor is it some kind of trick..."

Plum Blossom Eight raised his hand and pointed to the lifeless, empty town.

"This is the true appearance of the Hongchen Realm."

Everyone froze simultaneously.