Chapter 898: Chapter 895 · [Chapter 2 · Penglai Immortals Selection (Part 2)]
"Swish, swish, swish!"
In an instant, everyone around drew their weapons.
Under the night sky, countless flashes of cold light flickered in the air, the dazzling white light blinding people’s eyes.
The blood-red, hideously tentacled creature in the mirror starkly revealed the mirror’s "alien species" identity to those outside. Such hideous tentacles bore no resemblance to the handsome black-haired youth outside the mirror. But people knew this was likely the youth’s true form.
Su Ming’an looked up, and the martial artists’ expressions had already changed drastically, their faces full of fear.
"Is it really an alien species?" exclaimed Zhou Chengtian from the Flying Talisman Sect in shock.
"What? Is my imperial brother really an alien species?" Surprisingly, the most shocked were those of the royal family. The Second Prince clambered up from his seat in a daze, rubbing his eyes.
"Impossible! The Eldest Prince has done nothing harmful for more than a decade. If he were a violent, bloodthirsty alien species, how could he have hidden it until today?" a senior eunuch immediately spoke up for Su Ming’an.
"The evidence is right in front of us. This mirror hasn’t been tampered with, and Ye Yihong of the righteous path has already confirmed the result is accurate. Eldest Prince, what do you have to say!" The Qingyang Sword Sect group, dedicated to slaying demons, stepped forward and pointed their weapons at Su Ming’an on the stage.
The moment people saw the result in the mirror, their attitudes completely changed. Even the people who initially held trust showed fear.
—It was an "alien species"! The most terrifying creature in the world. An "alien species" that didn’t hesitate to slaughter cities and villages, killing without blinking an eye!
"I..." Su Ming’an began.
"Enough nonsense, just slay the demon and defend the path!"
Someone suddenly shouted before Su Ming’an could speak, and several flying swords slashed toward him. Before Su Ming’an could act, Mo Yan raised his hand, and a sword qi like a long rainbow slashed out with a "swish, swish, swish," severing the incoming sword qi.
"This is a misunderstanding! That mirror must have been tampered with!" Mo Yan shouted, staunchly standing by Su Ming’an’s side: "Think about it carefully, how much the Eldest Prince has done for the people over the years! Before being replaced by Xiao Jingsan’s double, he was always working for the people’s welfare. How could he be an ’alien species’! It must be Xiao Jingsan trying to frame my brother!"
The common people were already so scared they couldn’t even run and sat paralyzed on the ground.
However, the martial artists, with "righteousness" in mind, wanted to slay demons and defend the path without distinguishing between right and wrong upon seeing the mirror’s result.
At this time, Ye Yihong stepped forward.
"Young Master Xiao Jingsan, can the mirror be re-examined?" Ye Yihong glanced at Su Ming’an, recalling the Eldest Prince’s past good deeds and decided to still speak for him.
"Ah, I almost forgot to mention." Xiao Jingsan tilted his head, seemingly anticipating this scene: "I actually have enough blood to activate the mirror twice. If you suspect the mirror is faulty, why not let someone else take a look?"
The Qingyang Sword Sect’s vice headmaster shook his head and said, "Against an ’alien species’ such as this evil heretic, why delay, just kill it."
An old granny from the Silver Frost Academy, leaning on a phoenix-headed cane, stepped forward and said coldly, "Indeed. In any case, eliminating alien species is our duty. With the mirror’s result, there’s nothing left to argue."
Zou Yuqing listened and sneered, "Old man, old woman, what if it’s an alien species, what if it’s not? Can’t an alien species have a heart for the common people? Must an alien species be eliminated? Even if the Eldest Prince is an alien species and the mirror isn’t wrong, is his behavior over the years all a façade? Just because of one identity, you want to put him to death? Don’t you consider the slightest possibility of cooperation? It’s rare to have an alien species that thinks of humanity, yet you refuse to communicate?"
Zou Yuqing’s words seemed reasonable, but to the older generation, they were akin to heretical nonsense. A few old men rebuked, "No wonder you’re a demon sect enchantress; your words are absurd! We don’t need your input here; stand down!"
Zou Yuqing spat, "No wonder you humans are destined for extinction! When there’s a turning point, your first thought isn’t communication, but annihilation!"
Su Ming’an calmly watched as these people argued back and forth. When two groups start lashing out, no matter how much they want to persuade each other, there will be no result, making each side think the other is foolish.
Zou Yuqing approached Su Ming’an and leaned in to whisper:
"...Eldest Prince. I believe in you. At least, I’ve never seen an alien species like you that isn’t bloodthirsty. Maybe you can truly be the breakthrough to change humanity’s fate."
Su Ming’an glanced at her. Her eyes were exceptionally clear. Despite being someone of the demon sect, labeled as a "enchantress," she stood clearly on his side at this moment.
Next to Su Ming’an stood three supporters—Zou Yuqing, Yi Zhongyu, and Mo Yan, the last three winners on the stage. Everyone else had distanced themselves, looking at Su Ming’an as if seeing a ghost, even the previously confident emperor, who had retreated three zhang, taking guards with him.
"How could I...how could I have given birth to an alien species..." A woman in a phoenix robe murmured in a trembling voice, clutching Xiao Jingsan’s robe tightly.
Xiao Jingsan gently moved her hand away: "Since Chief Ye has said so, I’ll activate the Past Mirror once more to test the mirror’s authenticity."
Xiao Jingsan activated the Past Mirror again. This time, it pointed to Ye Yihong.
The mirror surface swirled with mist, and Ye Yihong’s image appeared—a complete human form without any tentacles.
"Chief Ye, you are human," Xiao Jingsan smiled slightly.
"...It seems the mirror is indeed fine," Ye Yihong nodded: "To be safe, why don’t you take a look at yourself also."
Xiao Jingsan turned the mirror towards himself.
Everyone watched intently. The head of the Flying Talisman Sect, the swordsmen of the Red Sword Sect, the martial artists of the Dragon Tiger Palace, the heroes of the Qingyang Sword Sect, the talisman masters of the Silver Frost Academy, royal family members, and the general public... all nervously observed this scene.
Su Ming’an gripped his sword hilt tighter. Mo Yan was nervous, standing by his side, shielding him in a guardian’s stance.
In the distant forest shadows, a black-haired, green-eyed girl silently stood by a tree trunk, hidden from view, summoning a sword as radiant as a glassy glaze, concealed behind her back.
The sky seemed to grow even darker, laden clouds slowly drifted across the horizon as if a chasm were about to swallow it whole. The weapons drawn by people glinted with bright silver, the candles in the lanterns flickering slightly.
Amidst the fleeting mist, Xiao Jingsan’s image materialized in the mirror, devoid of any tentacles.
"It seems I am also human," Xiao Jingsan looked at Su Ming’an: "The mirror isn’t faulty—alien prince."
"Swish, swish, swish!"
The clashing of swords and lances echoed around, piercing and shrill.
Upon hearing the final verdict, people’s eyes gleamed with frenzy for "slaying demons and defending the path." No matter who Su Ming’an was, as long as he bore the "alien species" label, people were filled with fervor for killing the enemy.
"Hey, why the rush to kill, calm down—" Mo Yan shouted.
A cold wind blew through the night with a "whoosh," extinguishing the candles people held, and the surroundings seemed to plunge into a brief darkness.
Su Ming’an tightened his grip on the sword, chuckling softly. He had long known that no matter how much he argued, it would ultimately lead to a battle.
In the next instant—
Flying swords, energy waves, talismans, hidden weapons, arrays, arrows, flames... countless beams of dazzling attacks surged up from below the stage, all mercilessly aimed at Su Ming’an, like rainbows suddenly engulfing him.
"Exorcise demons and uphold the Dao! Kill the Exotic Species!" The senior sister of the Flying Talisman Sect took the lead.
"Everyone, follow me!" shouted a white-bearded elder loudly.
"Eliminate evils for the people, it’s our undeniable duty. Exotic Species! Your brethren have killed countless humans, today is the day you pay with your life!" Followed by the voices of several girls from the Taoist Sect.
"Return the lives of my senior brothers and sisters to me! Return the lives of my family to me!"
"Die! Die! Die!"
Countless overlapping voices, countless overlapping lights.
The sound was piercing, flickering.
The talismans burned, the flying swords clanged and hummed, flames danced wildly, various lights like a galaxy falling from the nine heavens, brilliant and dazzling.
The people from the Red Sword Sect wielded flaming long swords, with a rainbow halo, resembling vivid flames rushing to the stage. The people from Dragon Tiger Palace used fists as weapons, with tiger roars and dragon chants sounding behind them. The Heavenly Net Sect wielded crossbows, poisoned steel needles silently hidden in the air, striking toward Su Ming’an like venomous snakes. The people from Silver Frost Academy wore plain clothes, drawing blood talismans, the scent of burning yellow paper wafting.
In their eyes, the young man with black hair in white ink-patterned robes was no longer the Eldest Prince who cared for the people, all he did before was in vain, as if whatever he did now was just wrong.
"Quick, quickly kill my son! I didn’t expect him to be an Exotic Species..."
"An Exotic Species has infiltrated the human royal family. If this menace is not eliminated, humanity is in peril!"
"Sorry, Shaoqing. I didn’t expect you to be an Exotic Species, you should just die..."
"Shaoqing, do you see? Those who are not of our race, their hearts must be different. People will not understand your great love, nor will they understand your kindness. They will only think— you have transcended them, you will rule them. Your power, your salvation, will make them believe— from now on, you will decide their life and death. This is the public, this is the ’audience’."
"Kill, kill—kill him!!"
Not only martial artists, but even the general public took out rotten leaves, smelly eggs, sickles, and hoes, throwing them toward the stage, eager to kill this Exotic Species quickly.
Su Ming’an, in this instant, faced everyone’s hateful, angry, accusatory, and condemning gazes, faced with merciless killing moves from thousands of people.
He suddenly recalled the words in the Eldest Prince’s diary —
...
[Favorable weather, a prosperous nation with peaceful people, is my wish. I do not wish to be a passive ruler, nor an unmeritorious general. Winter practice in harsh cold, summer practice in scorching heat, reading and writing, not slackening for a day. If I cannot personally fight, inheriting the great unity, being a ruler of cultural governance, is also acceptable.]
[If I could go to Penglai Fairy Island, to glimpse immortality—]
[—I am willing to devote my entire life, to expel the Exotic Species, for the peace of the people.]
...
["Sister, I want to create a Great Harmony Prosperous Era... "]
...
Su Ming’an gripped the sword hilt tightly, the Sword of Yarman slashed towards everything in front of him—
The blade was sharp, with one slash— separating flames, cutting talismans, splitting flying swords into two halves of scrap metal. The sword wind of the Sword of Yarman obliterated everything, as if also wiping away all malicious voices, leaving only the sound of long hair fluttering by his ears.
...Because he is an "Eligible," all his aspirations and wisdom were completely restrained, only to be imprisoned in the tower to have his blood drawn daily, allowing the royal family to enjoy longevity.
...Because he is an "Exotic Species," everything he did before to relieve disasters, all the good reputation spread among the people, would carry a stigma, even rebuttal is not allowed, even survival is not permitted.
...Because she is a "Palace Maid," all the bravery and wisdom she possesses are seen as seductive skills, and she is drowned in a well by jealous concubines.
...Because he is "born in a small town," the dream of a grand villa can never be realized, and a painstakingly cherished small family can be destroyed at any moment.
A fledgling could not spread its wings, a butterfly had not yet broken out of its cocoon. Those who hold justice in their hearts die from the justice of Jianghu, and those who hold peace die because of the peaceful hearts of others.
Destiny seemed to be written from the moment of birth.
You are an "Eligible," so saving humanity is your fate, having your blood drawn is also predestined. You are an "Exotic Species," being hated and even annihilated by humanity is your fate, no matter what they will not listen to your words. You are a "Palace Maid," so no matter how hard you try, in the end, you are only confined beneath palace walls. Like a butterfly caught in a net, struggling with all its might won’t change the situation.
—"Destiny"?
Su Ming’an, at this moment, seemed to understand the meaningful smile the Deity gave him under the stained glass of the church.
...
[You can use any method, any means, pay any price, any sacrifice—to try to defy destiny, resist destiny, kill destiny.]
[Wensheng.]
[Destiny cannot be killed at all.]
...
—Unless there is someone outside the situation, to tear apart this "already connected loop"?
An inspiration flashed through Su Ming’an’s mind but could not be grasped.
At the moment he slashed toward the crowd—he felt his physical body detached from his control.
His limbs moved on their own. Like a character in a computer game exceeding the control of the mouse. He seemed to have entered a specific cinematic stage of the game, unable to control himself, just like in [Chapter One - White Lotus Doomsday].
Su Ming’an felt himself raise his hand, and a Word Spirit was uttered from his mouth:
"Matrix Orders—Stillness."
In the next moment, all the swords and flames approaching Su Ming’an... were halted at this moment. The anger, shock, and murderous intent on people’s faces... were frozen like a ridiculous performance at this moment.
Even Yi Zhongyu, about to draw his sword to help from behind, the Dream Patrol Family members preparing to act below the stage, and Mo Yan beside him... were all halted by this Matrix Order.
"Tap, tap, tap."
Footsteps hit the ground, the young man with black hair and a high ponytail walked forward slowly, in an ink-and-water-style white robe, fluttering in the night wind with a "rustle" sound.