Chapter 375 Before the Celestial Heavely Store, every power must bow.
The morning after the deadly battle, Dongping City was eerily silent, a stark contrast to the chaos that had erupted just hours before.
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a pale, golden light over the city, but it could not dispel the heavy sense of death lingering in the air.
The streets were littered with the aftermath of the slaughter. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and torn banners lay scattered among the pools of drying blood.
The bodies of the fallen—warriors from various clans, Necoris soldiers, and the city guards—lay in twisted positions, eyes glazed in death, as though frozen in their final moments of terror and pain.
Citizens, those few who dared to leave their homes, walked with careful steps, eyes wide and haunted. They moved like shadows, gathering in small groups to whisper about the horrors of the night.
Mothers pulled their children close, shielding their eyes from the carnage. As for the Celestial Heavenly Store, it stood eerily intact, its walls unmarred despite the destruction that had unfolded around it.
As the sun rose higher, rumors spread quickly through the streets. Some whispered of the overwhelming power of the knights, who had slaughtered their enemies with inhuman precision.
Others spoke of the two old men who had unleashed terrifying abilities, only to be swallowed by a sea of energy.
The legend of the Celestial Heavenly Store grew, transforming it from a mere business into an untouchable fortress in the minds of the people.
While the eerie tension hung in the air, slowly, adventurers who survived the battle appeared, entering the Celestial Heavenly Store with a pride that belied their survival of such a deadly encounter.
With the appearance of the adventurers, the quiet street began to stir, bustling into life.
As for the dead bodies sprawled on the cold, hard ground, people began to clean them, shock marring their faces as they took in the horror-stricken expressions of the dead.
After waiting for a couple of hours, Zimo appeared in the lobby and looked at the few remaining adventurers.
"Congratulations to you all for surviving the battle," Zimo's voice trembled slightly, his eyes sweeping over the weary faces before him.
His tone was calm, but the weight of sorrow clung to each word. "As for those who fell during this battle," he paused, his throat tightening, "their deaths will be remembered."
All the adventurers had either lost a friend or two during the battle. Their pain and grief could not be described with mere words.
The weight of their loss was evident in their hollow eyes and slumped shoulders as they stood amidst the remnants of a city that had once been their home.
Zimo knew this well. He could feel their sorrow, a shared burden that wrapped itself around each soul.
His voice softened, laden with understanding and empathy, as he continued, "You all have proven your loyalty, and the store will not forget your sacrifice."
He paused, giving them a moment to process his words, his tone heavy with both respect and sorrow.
"The store has decided to reward your courage with the second and third stages of the superior technique. And as a token of appreciation for your bravery, you may each choose two martial techniques of your own."
A quiet murmur rippled through the crowd, but it was muted by the overwhelming grief that clung to them.
Zimo's eyes swept over the survivors, their expressions a mix of gratitude and sadness.
The rewards would not fill the void left by those who had perished, but they were a small glimmer of hope—a sign that their sacrifices were not in vain.
"Take these gifts, not just as rewards," Zimo added, his voice growing softer, "but as tools to honor those who fell today. Their memory lives on through your strength, your resilience."n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
He sighed deeply, looking outside at the cloudy sky. "May their souls find peace."
With that, he left the lobby, allowing them to grieve their fallen comrades. While the adventurers mourned, the various clans and the City Lord were on edge, laden with fear.
With such an overwhelming victory, they thought the store would soon bare its fangs, but to their dismay, the terrifying knights never came.
Filled with confusion, their nervousness and panic rose another degree. With such terrifying power, they all knew it was only a matter of time before the store came demanding blood.
The Sun Clan and Fang Clan even considered fleeing the city. But the mere thought of invoking the wrath of the Celestial Heavenly Store made them abandon such ideas.
For the City Lord, time had been cruel. His face, once sharp and domineering, had long withered away. His hair, now streaked with white, told the tale of sleepless nights and mounting fears.
Seated behind his wooden table, the City Lord looked at his butler, eyes hollow and defeated.
"What should we do?" he asked, though it sounded more like a plea than a question. His voice was weary, drained not just physically, but in a way that made his very soul seem exhausted.
His gaze flickered with uncertainty as he searched the butler's face for any sign of hope, for some semblance of an answer that could ease the suffocating anxiety he felt pressing against his chest.
The butler, usually composed, hesitated for a moment before responding. That brief pause alone sent a shiver down the City Lord's spine.
If even his most trusted man had no immediate solution, then perhaps they were truly lost.
"I... I don't know, my lord," the butler finally admitted, bowing his head in defeat.
The City Lord's heart sank. He leaned back in his chair, the wooden legs creaking under the sudden shift.
His hand ran through his hair, fingers gripping at the strands as if to pull himself back to some sense of control, but the gesture was weak, desperate.
Suddenly, rapid footsteps came from outside the room. Both the City Lord and the butler turned their heads toward the entrance.
Creak!
A guard rushed in and bowed deeply in respect. "My lord, we've detected movement from the four clans." He paused, his eyes darting nervously between the butler and the City Lord before continuing.
"The four clan leaders are heading toward the Celestial Heavenly Store."
"What!?"
The City Lord leapt from his seat, his gaunt, exhausted face suddenly alive with urgency. "Did you say they're heading to the Celestial Heavenly Store?" he asked loudly.
"Yes, my lord."
Without hesitation, the City Lord turned to his butler, his eyes burning with a glimmer of hope. "Prepare my carriage—we're going to the Celestial Heavenly Store."