Chapter 88: The Heavens Unshackled

"Confirm learning!"
The voice echoed through the void, and in an instant, countless unknown entities seemed to cast their gaze upon this emptiness.

The system was silent for several seconds before the prompt arrived, slow and hesitant:

[Request to learn "Elemental Codex." Do you consent?]

Ji Huo blinked. What was this? Hadn't he already said he wanted to learn it? Why was consent still needed?

He was about to speak when he suddenly realized—the question wasn't directed at him.

Within the void, light and shadow intertwined, and faintly, he seemed to hear mocking laughter.

After a moment, the system's prompt finally arrived:

[Unanimous approval...]

[Now bestowing "Elemental Codex" upon the Chosen One!]

For some reason, Ji Huo felt that ever since he drew this thing, the system's prompts carried a trace of resentment.

And this time, the information provided was considerable.

[Notice: Cultivation method "Elemental Codex" unlocked.]

[This method has eight tiers. After evaluation, learning the first tier requires 2,000,000 cultivation points!]

[Warning: Insufficient cultivation points! Unable to cultivate!]

"How much?! Why don't you just rob me?"

Ji Huo's eyes widened as he cursed, "This thing needs two million points? My elder brother's method didn't have any prerequisites, and this one doesn't either?"

[Notice: The host possesses sufficient permissions, and due to the host bearing the Mandate, the required cultivation points for this method have been halved.]

Ji Huo: "..."

So originally, it took four million points per tier?

Ji Huo took a breath, stunned. "Since when did cultivation points become so worthless?"

[With demons and evil spirits rampant, it is advised that the host slay more demons and restore clarity to this world...]

Ji Huo looked strangely into the void. He could sense that those prying eyes had long since withdrawn, and now only his system remained in this emptiness.

Yet the system seemed restricted, unable to provide much information, only offering such hints.

The message was clear: "Hurry up and kill monsters! They're valuable! Otherwise, you can't afford to train this method!"

Previously, Ji Huo had slain a wolf demon and indeed earned far more points than from killing humans. Was the system advocating demon slaying all along? Had he simply not noticed because he hadn't killed enough?

But demons rampant?

Ji Huo was somewhat surprised. Wasn't there just one monster in the capital? He hadn't seen any others.

What were evil spirits?

He'd never even heard of them—were they ghosts?

Was this also a hint from the system?

Ji Huo shook his head, dismissing these thoughts. He looked at the 1.3 million cultivation points he'd accumulated recently, then at the points he'd earned from killing enough people for several ten-fold draws. While his luck was still hot, he declared fiercely:

"I want to draw ten times!"

"Ten draws!"

"Ten draws!"

In the void, a roulette appeared, spinning wildly.

[Congratulations! You have drawn: cultivation points +999, cultivation points +98,999, cultivation points +988, cultivation points +3,988, cultivation points +4,988, cultivation points +6,988, cultivation points +9,988, cultivation points +213, cultivation points +50, flowers +1]

...

[Notice: You have mastered the first tier of "Elemental Codex."]

[Grade: Insufficient permissions.]

[Description: Within the elements.]

...

Ji Huo suddenly opened his eyes and sat upright, crossing his legs to channel his energy.

The abrupt movement startled Xia Ningshang, who was about to speak, but seeing Ji Huo's demeanor, she held her tongue.

Ji Huo's eyes were tightly shut, his body radiating an indescribable aura.

Then, Xia Ningshang's pupils contracted sharply.

Ji Huo's chest wound, through which sunlight could be seen, was healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The flesh expelled dark red blood, and the coagulated blood, as soon as it appeared, instantly evaporated. In the haze, faint human faces could be seen writhing in agony.

He expelled the sorcerer's curse simply by channeling his energy... Xia Ningshang was deeply astonished.

Meanwhile, the deep blue sky suddenly erupted in radiant light, as dazzling as the aurora, billowing like a goddess's skirt.

Soon, the skirt fragmented, becoming layers of broken clouds, glowing blood-red under the rising sun.

As red as blood.

...

Sword Saint Manor, the back mountain.

The Sword Saint stared at the sky in astonishment.

"The Heaven Lock... has opened..."

The barrier within his body that had remained unyielding for so long suddenly loosened.

Capital City.

The Grand Preceptor, his expression grave, gazed at the glowing sky. Li Zhi hurried over and asked,

"Father, have you discerned anything from this celestial phenomenon?"

The Grand Preceptor's lips moved. He looked at Li Zhi with eyes full of affection and reluctance, shaking his head.

"I see nothing."

"How can that be? Whenever there is a great change in the world, those gifted with prophecy can usually perceive something, unless..." At this, Li Zhi abruptly fell silent, struck as if by lightning.

The Grand Preceptor laughed freely, waved his long robe, and said calmly,

"Unless the end is near, and one's fate is short."

He gazed at the sky, softly laughing and sighing: "This magnificent future will ultimately elude me."

...

Duke Protector's Mansion.

Mr. Wen rushed over, his face filled with panic. Upon entering the small courtyard, he saw Ji Junhong standing with his hands behind his back, facing the rising sun.

Sunlight bathed him, giving him an aura of golden majesty.

When Ji Junhong turned back with a smile, the golden dragon at the corner of his eye flashed and vanished.

"What is it?"

Mr. Wen snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "The heavens have changed! Changed!"

Ji Junhong smiled. "I know, the shackles have been broken."

Mr. Wen quickly said, "Whoever touched this taboo and broke the shackles of heaven will surely plunge the world into chaos!"

"Well..." Ji Junhong looked at the sky, a strange smile flickering on his face. "For some reason, I feel it was caused by Huozi."

"The second young master?" Mr. Wen glanced at Ji Junhong, inwardly grumbling: Master, I know you have high hopes for your second son, but not every calamity has to be his doing.

Ji Junhong asked, "Any news from Huozi?"

Mr. Wen shook his head. "No word yet."

"Try investigating toward Tianjue Mountain," Ji Junhong said. "The anomaly with the Imperial Sword also happened in that direction."

Mr. Wen sighed. "Tianjue Mountain is too far from the capital. Even if there's news, we can't receive it immediately."

He then asked, "Master, since you can sense the Imperial Sword, why not summon it back?"

Ji Junhong blinked and suddenly smiled lightly. Seeing that smile, Mr. Wen's heart skipped a beat, as Ji Junhong said,

"Because I feel the Imperial Sword is with Huozi; he might need it."

Very well, very well—whatever happens, it's always about the second young master... Mr. Wen muttered helplessly in his heart.

Also in the Duke Protector's Mansion, General Fei Xiong stood by the window, gazing at the sky in silence, his figure slightly stooped.

He knew what this celestial sign meant, yet could no longer sense it.

This General Fei Xiong had finally retreated from that realm of years past.