Chapter 184 - 183: Widespread Chaos, I Have One Sword to Quell the Turmoil

"Thank you, Master!! You’re so good to me!"

Li Qinghe clutched the Array Map, her fingers tracing the arcane lines as her heart blossomed with joy.

’The first time!’

’It’s the first time Master has ever given me a gift!’

’And a Fifth Level Array Map, no less!’

’Looks like all my sucking up these past few days wasn’t for nothing.’

Li Qinghe’s alluring eyes narrowed as she watched the slacking Qin Yang, feeling quite satisfied. She was already planning her next flattery session.

’A Fifth Level Array Map...’

Beside them, Li Zixuan stared at the Array Map, sighing inwardly. ’What a generous gift.’

’Senior Brother is being far too generous.’

After all, Fifth Level Arrays were incredibly precious.

Even for someone like Hall Master Li Daoming, laying one out would take several days and involve a tedious process of ritual bathing and burning incense.

And yet, here was her senior brother, just giving one away!

’If I didn’t specialize in the Sword Dao, I’d want to dabble in it too...’

"Alright, you two should get going. I’m about to start lying down... bah, I mean cultivating."

Qin Yang released his Spiritual Power to probe Li Qinghe’s meridians. Once he saw everything was in order, he stood up and shooed the two women away.

After all, he couldn’t handle having two great beauties standing right beside him, their eyes fixed on him.

’My slacker life must not be disrupted!’

"Alright then, Master. If you need anything later, just come find your disciple next door..."

"I’m heading back to the academy, Senior Brother. Call me if you need anything."

Li Zixuan and Li Qinghe reluctantly looked at Qin Yang one last time, then went their separate ways.

"They’re finally gone."

Qin Yang sat back on his slacker bench and, with a flip of his hand, took out an ancient book.

A yellowed cover engraved with small seal script, pages like dried leaves—it was none other than the *Heaven and Earth’s Longevity* he had gotten from Li Qinghe.

’Sigh, might as well use this to kill some time.’

Among the bookshelves, Qin Yang brewed a cup of hot tea, placed the book on his lap, and scanned the contents. The Enlightenment Space began to hum, deepening his comprehension of the Secret Scripture.

*Heaven and Earth’s Longevity*

A Dharma Gate for self-detonation.

It uses one’s Star Force as a foundation to throw their True Essence into chaos, creating a collision of yin and yang. Upon use, all the meridians in the practitioner’s body shatter. Being at the epicenter of the blast, they are instantly annihilated, turned to dust and ash.

In a way...

Being blown to ashes...

’I guess you could call that achieving longevity with heaven and earth?’

’Still, taking someone down with me... that’s not a bad option.’

Qin Yang rested his chin on his hand, his eyes slowly scanning the page. He seemed to have thought of something, and the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile...

...

...

Time passed like flowing water.

Quitting time.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled into the library as a soft closing bell chimed. Hearing the sound, patrons filed out, leaving their seats one by one.

The interior fell quiet.

The security team entered, their heavy footsteps echoing as they checked the corners of the library.

"Fewer and fewer people in the library these days."

Qin Yang remarked, dangling his employee ID from his finger as he expertly clocked out.

"Let’s go, Master!! Time to go home!"

Xiaobai trotted alongside him, fawning. "This Fairy will reward you handsomely tonight! You have to help me grow my fur later!"

"Of course... When have I ever lied to you?"

Qin Yang stepped out of the library and strolled into the sunset, taking in the cityscape. The streets were nearly empty.

It was as if Jianghai had fallen into ruin overnight.

The once-bustling roads now had sparse traffic. Beneath a gray sky, the intersection’s traffic light blinked, but there were hardly any people on the sidewalks.

As Qin Yang and Xiaobai walked down the street, they finally spotted a taxi driver and a customer with a large suitcase arguing heatedly after a few hundred meters.

"Five hundred to the goddamn airport? Driver, you might as well just rob me!"

"Get lost, then! If you don’t want to pay, find another car."

"Can’t you go a little lower, driver? It’s not like there are any other options..."

"Nope. That’s the price. The Beast Tide is almost here, I’m risking my life driving you!!"

"Alright, alright! I’ll pay! Here’s your five hundred."

"Not enough. It’s six hundred now!"

"..."

SLAM! The door shut, and the taxi sped off, kicking up a cloud of dust as it carried its passenger away.

"Utter chaos throughout the city."

Qin Yang sighed, watching the taxi disappear into the distance.

Now, with the Beast Tide imminent, some couldn’t bear to leave their hometown, willing to stay and share Jianghai’s fate. But most citizens chose to flee.

A mass migration.

The moment the official announcement was made, it was like a signal for the coming winter.

Pessimism was rampant online as well.

Fewer and fewer of his colleagues at the library remained; they were all leaving for safer cities. The emptiness of the place left him with a strange sense of melancholy.

"Master, this Fairy will always be with you~"

Xiaobai’s eyes narrowed. As master and Beast Slave, their hearts and minds were connected. She suddenly looked up and sent him a telepathic message.

Her gentle words resonated in his mind.

Qin Yang froze for a moment, genuinely touched. He looked down at the little White Fox by his feet, then crouched and stroked her head. She obediently tilted her head up, her bald tail wagging.

"When we get home, Master, you have to reward this Fairy properly!"

’Hehe.’

Xiaobai watched Qin Yang’s subtle reaction, her foxy eyes narrowing in delight.

’Bullseye!’

’Hmph, this Fairy’s flattery skills are getting more and more amazing!’

’Hehe, my wicked master won’t be able to live without me!’

But just as the thought crossed her mind...

Suddenly!

CRASH!

The sound of shattering glass rang out!

The quiet moment was instantly shattered.

"Hmm?"

Hearing the noise, Qin Yang slowly rose to his feet and looked toward the source of the sound.

In front of a clothing store...

Several figures with black stocking masks had smashed the glass. Carrying two shopping bags, they expertly stuffed them with clothes from the racks until they were bulging.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!

In the blink of an eye, they were in their car, starting the engine to reverse. The whole sequence was as smooth as flowing water!

’Zero-dollar shopping?!’

Qin Yang frowned, staring at the robbers. He glanced at the empty store. The owner was gone, likely having already fled the city.

But...

Looting in broad daylight?

’Has Jianghai really descended into this much chaos?!’

’I’m afraid this is just the beginning!’

Qin Yang looked at both sides of the street.

As far as the eye could see, more than half the shops were vacant, and the few that remained had "Closed" signs hanging. With the Beast Tide approaching, these stores would become "resource spawn points" in the eyes of criminals.

With rampant looting and the Star Martial Police Bureau stretched thin dealing with the Beast Tide, there was no spare manpower to be allocated here.

"The whole edifice is crumbling."

Qin Yang watched as the criminals’ car reversed, then swerved sharply and sped past him. Their brazen laughter echoed in his ears. He casually flicked his fingers.

The next moment.

A wisp of Sword Qi split into four strands, which shot from his fingertips. They chased down the speeding car and plunged into its thick tires.

POP POP POP POP!

All four tires exploded in near-perfect unison!

The out-of-control vehicle slammed into a concrete wall. The airbags deployed, pinning the front passengers, while a robber in the back was thrown forward, blood gushing as he was knocked unconscious on impact.

WEE-WOO—WEE-WOO—

Police sirens grew closer, their wail mingling with the blare of the crashed car’s stuck horn.

"Beast God Sect... bring it on..."

Qin Yang murmured, gazing at the absurd scene.

Chaos reigned, and humanity was lost.

As if sensing its master’s killing intent, Ziwei let out a sharp, clear hum that echoed through the vast world...