The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 227: Accident

Accident . . .

As a fine drizzle permeated the atmosphere of the world, an inconspicuous wisp of white mist shot upward into the heavens with such swiftness that it eluded human perception. Simultaneously, a torrent of black smoke, like a malevolent specter, pursued the white vapor with relentless intent.

Wherever these enigmatic entities traversed through the drizzling landscape, the very fabric of space itself crumbled in their wake. Sudden ruptures in the sky gave birth to ephemeral black holes, materializing and vanishing in rapid succession. Such unparalleled power defied mortal comprehension.

In a matter of seconds, these imperceptible forms ascended beyond the realm of clouds, their ultimate destination a mystery. Then came a resounding explosion—BOOM!

Although the sound appeared deceptively soft, its repercussions rippled through the entire Land of Han-Yang, shaking the very foundations of the world. The sheer might behind it was profound, causing the very heavens and earth to quiver.

The ensuing thunderclaps manifested in rapid succession, a relentless barrage of sonic assaults that reverberated across the land. The world itself seemed to tremble in awe, with skies weeping and the earth moaning in sorrow.

Mountains and hills quaked in response to this unprecedented occurrence, dislodging rocks that tumbled from their summits to the valleys below.

The peals of thunder grew increasingly frequent, their intensity amplifying with each passing moment. Sheets of torrential rain extended their dominion, shrouding the entire Land of Han-Yang beneath their relentless deluge.

In the firmament above, lightning streaked across the heavens, resembling the bared teeth of celestial hounds locked in a ferocious clash. These bolts of electricity manifested in a breathtaking array of colors—red, white, yellow, purple, and blue—painting the sky with their vibrant hues.

An intricate dance unfolded amidst the clouds as the vivid and peculiar lightning bolts intersected, crafting a mesmerizing tableau against the heavens. The rolling thunder crescendoed, each subsequent clap of thunder joining the cacophonous chorus.

For the denizens of this world, it felt as though they had been jolted from their very dreams. The incessant thunderclaps led them to speculate, their imaginations running wild, suggesting the possibility of two ancient thunder deities locked in a titanic battle, unleashing their full might upon the canvas of the sky.

Their relentless battle showed no sign of abating; it was a contest that would only conclude with one of them meeting death. Unbeknownst to onlookers, this grim prediction held true, albeit with an unexpected twist. Instead of two thunder deities, it was two magnificent, alluring women locked in celestial combat.

High above, amidst the tumultuous skies, their fervent desire was to extinguish each other's existence. Every strike, whether delivered as a palm thrust or a sword's sweep, ignited a spectacle of lightning that illuminated the heavens. In a matter of seconds, they had exchanged a staggering three thousand blows, each refusing to yield an inch.

The relentless rain poured without respite, failing to disperse the thick shroud of clouds and mist that cloaked the battleground. Thunderclaps, resembling the furious roars of titanic beings, resounded, echoing through the world as though they would persist until the sea ran dry and the rocks melted. The relentless downpour seemed poised to endure until the very end of days.

An entire night had come and gone, yet as the noon of the following day arrived, the confrontation showed no signs of waning. The tumultuous exchange continued unabated, as fierce and unyielding as before.

During the heated clash, the water vapor generated by their battle surged into Cha-Eun Xiao's hidden spatial realms. Oblivious to the ongoing celestial conflict, Cha-Eun Xiao remained in a deep coma, her consciousness adrift.

Within his unconscious state, the East-rising Purple Qi, an enigmatic force within him, churned relentlessly, repeatedly colliding with the obstructed meridians within his body. The struggle continued throughout the day, until finally, as evening approached, the East-rising Purple Qi, fortified by the potent water vapor, achieved a momentous breakthrough. With a resounding boom, it shattered the blockages within Cha-Eun Xiao's meridians.

In that tumultuous moment, Cha-Eun Xiao's eyes snapped open, startled by the deafening peal of thunder. "What the hell! What's going on? Why is the rain so torrential, and the thunder so deafening?!"

In the throes of awakening, fragments of his memory resurfaced. "A cloaked figure entered my room," he muttered, his brows furrowing as he attempted to make sense of the perplexing events of the previous night. "That person looked at me with such complexity in their eyes, and then... I lost consciousness."

Perplexity clouded his thoughts as he grappled with the unexplained strangeness that surrounded him.

Cha-Eun Xiao's eyes snapped open, and he immediately noticed an unusual chill enveloping his chest. Glancing downward, he realized that his clothing had been inexplicably undone, exposing his bare chest. A sense of bewilderment washed over him.

"What in the world..." He murmured, scrutinizing his chest, his brows knitted in confusion. "Why on earth would the person in black undress me after rendering me unconscious?" Panic overtook him as his mind raced to unsettling conclusions. "I... I wasn't violated, was I?"

In a frenzied rush, Cha-Eun Xiao began to inspect his body, searching for any signs of violation. To his immense relief, he found nothing amiss. He proceeded to employ his martial arts skills to examine his pure Yang energy, discovering it remained unaltered, without any depletion. A sense of perplexity gripped him.

"What on earth occurred here? She's clearly an adept cultivator; after incapacitating me, she could have easily done something nefarious," he muttered, his hand absentmindedly rubbing his temple as he grappled with the enigma. "But it seems she left without causing any harm. I can't fathom why."

In both of his lives, he had never encountered such a perplexing situation, one in which a potential wrongdoer had abstained from harm. Puzzlement gave way to speculation. "Could it have been... Bing Xin-Yue? I didn't have a chance to properly identify her last night, as our encounter lasted mere seconds. Yet something about her aura felt remarkably similar to Wen-Ren Chu-Chu's."

He pondered, "It must have been Bing Xin-Yue. But why did she depart? Does her departure imply that she already discerned my true identity? If so, why would she engage in such an act in the first place?"

The inexplicable puzzle left him deeply perplexed. Cha-Eun Xiao was drawn from his contemplation by a thunderous uproar that shattered the silence, commanding his immediate attention.

He hastily donned his clothing and rushed to the window. Gazing skyward, his eyes widened in astonishment as he beheld the awe-inspiring spectacle unfolding above. The heavens were ablaze with a dazzling display of lightning, and the resounding thunderclaps reverberated through the very core of his being.

While others might attribute such an electrifying tempest to the whims of the gods or natural phenomena, Cha-Eun Xiao knew better. He understood that this tumultuous phenomenon was not a product of divine intervention or meteorological whimsy—it was the consequence of human actions.

"There must be a fierce battle between two super grandmaster cultivators in the sky," he mused, his gaze fixated on the breathtaking display. "A battle to the death."

His thoughts raced as he contemplated the implications of such an unprecedented confrontation. "These two combatants must be incredibly powerful, far surpassing anyone I've ever known in both of my lifetimes. Their might eclipses even that of the Xiao Monarch from my previous life."

Cha-Eun Xiao was in awe of the unimaginable forces at play, dwarfing any previous encounters he had experienced. The question that gnawed at his mind persisted: "Who could these formidable adversaries be?"