MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 232
Chapter 232: The Pandora's Box
The realization struck Jing Yi like a thunderbolt.
The Flame Emperor, along with the entire Flame Clan, had merged with the Source of Dreams. And King Lin's final order had been to contain this entity, to prevent it from interacting with the outside world.
Even the ancestral teachings contained scant details about the Three Kings' Rebellion and the Flame Clan's ultimate demise.
Jing Yi was also unaware of another unsettling fact: to this day, no one had discovered the bodies of the Flame Clan's Ancient Realm experts within the ruins, except for King Lin's.
After the initial shock, Jing Yi took a deep breath, his mind slowly piecing together the fragments of information.
"So, this... thing must be incredibly dangerous?" he asked, his voice hushed.
If it wasn't, King Lin wouldn't have issued such a dire warning.
"Yes," the Crimson Queen confirmed.
"Do I have the authority to command you to unseal it?" Jing Yi inquired, a newfound determination in his eyes.
"You do," the Crimson Queen replied without hesitation.
As the sole surviving member of the Flame Clan, Jing Yi held that authority.
A cold glint flashed in Jing Yi's eyes. "Then open it!"
The Crimson Queen's voice remained calm, but a note of caution entered her tone. "I must remind you that the Source of Dreams may not be under my control. Once released, it might very well target you first."
"Furthermore, according to my calculations, this entity could bring great catastrophe to the outside world."
Jing Yi nodded, seemingly unfazed. "Is that all? If so, then proceed."
This time, his voice was devoid of any hesitation.
Indeed, there wasn't much left for him to lose.
With his life in ruins, death held no terror.
Jing Yi, battered by fate's cruel blows, had reached a point where he no longer clung to existence. When a person feared nothing, not even death, what else could hold power over them?
As for the potential catastrophe awaiting the outside world...
That was precisely what Jing Yi desired.
The Crimson Queen, sensing his unwavering resolve, ceased her attempts at dissuasion.
With a faint hum, the glass encasing the Source of Dreams slid open.
Jing Yi stood before the colossal eyeball, a sense of finality settling over him.
Strangely, he felt no immediate threat from the Source of Dreams.
He had expected to be devoured in an instant, or perhaps obliterated by a deadly beam from its massive eye.
But nothing happened.
The Source of Dreams simply stared at him, its gaze unreadable.
After a long, tense moment, Jing Yi exhaled, his resolve solidifying.
"I'm releasing you," he declared, his voice firm. "I hope you can avenge the Flame Clan... and me."
As soon as the words left his lips, the Source of Dreams stirred.
A powerful mental wave surged forth, penetrating Jing Yi's mind.
You're from the Flame Clan?
Jing Yi, startled by the telepathic communication, nodded slowly.
"I am from the Flame Clan," Jing Yi confirmed, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and sorrow.
"Then, in accordance with the agreement between me and the Flame Emperor, the Pact of Flame's Heart... I shall bestow upon you, Sweet Dreams!"
"Wait, I don't want sweet dreams! I want revenge!" Jing Yi protested, but the Source of Dreams ignored his pleas.
A grayish-black light erupted from the giant eyeball, striking Jing Yi with blinding speed.
His eyes glazed over, a vacant expression settling on his face.
He felt his soul drifting, weightless and free.
A wave of euphoria washed over him, filling his being with unimaginable pleasure.
He was flying... and a luminous doorway appeared before him.
From within, he heard the melodious sounds of birdsong, the sweet fragrance of flowers, and the gentle strains of music.
The sounds drew him closer, promising ultimate bliss.
Without hesitation, he drifted towards the door, his surroundings blurring as he crossed the threshold.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing before the gates of Flame City.
"This is..."
Confusion flickered across his face, then his eyes widened in disbelief.
Inside and outside the city, people bustled about, their faces alight with joy. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were all members of his clan, the Flame Clan.
The women were adorned in elegant dresses, the men exuded youthful vigor.
A voice whispered in his ear.
"The celebration has begun!"
With joyous cheers, the people streamed into the city.
Jing Yi was swept along by the jubilant crowd, entering the unguarded city. He marveled at the festive atmosphere, the streets ablaze with lights and decorations, the air filled with laughter and merriment.
A strange thought surfaced in his mind.
Flame Festival. Today is the annual Flame Festival...
He couldn't explain how he knew about this long-forgotten tradition, but the blissful sensation coursing through his soul left little room for rational thought.
A beautiful girl brushed past him, and as Jing Yi turned to gaze at her, the rest of the world faded into insignificance.
"My name is Yan Tong," she said, her voice like music to his ears. "What's yours?"
"Me? My name is Jing Yi," he replied, mesmerized by her smile.
He pointed towards a nearby skyscraper. "I live over there."
The girl giggled, her laughter like sunshine warming his heart.
Meanwhile, in the real world...
The moment the grayish-black light touched Jing Yi, a blissful smile contorted his face. It was a smile so intense, so unnatural, that it transformed what should have been a joyous expression into something grotesque and unsettling.
Then, in a horrifying spectacle, Jing Yi's body dissolved, melting into a viscous green liquid that pooled on the ground.
The liquid evaporated, leaving behind a faint, ethereal green mist.
A deep, genderless voice echoed from within the Source of Dreams, its origin unknown.
"Crimson."
"I'm here," the Crimson Queen responded, her voice a steady hum in the eerie silence.
"Authority transfer," ?Jing Yi? commanded, his voice echoing through the chamber. "I require the highest level of access within this research institute."
The Crimson Queen hesitated. "According to the basic regulations..."
?Jing Yi? cut her off. "According to the basic regulations, I, as the last surviving bloodline of the Flame Clan, have the right to full control over everything here."
"You're just a monster," the Crimson Queen countered coldly.
"A monster with the bloodline of the Flame Clan," ?Jing Yi? retorted, his voice dripping with a twisted sense of pride.
Silence hung heavy in the air.
Finally, the Crimson Queen spoke again. "Authority transfer complete. I wish you good luck."
Her voice faded, and the vast research institute fell into an unsettling quiet. Then, eerie sounds filled the void – the friction of metal against metal, a low, buzzing hum.
No one outside could know what was happening within.
Meanwhile, at the cave entrance, the members of the Soro Exploration Team had been waiting for hours.
Suddenly, a white light flickered at the cave's mouth.
Soro's heart leaped. Before he could speak, the light gate vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
"What was that?" he asked, bewildered.
The rest of the team exchanged puzzled glances.
They could only assume it was some strange anomaly within the ruins.
But with their limited Physique Realm senses, they couldn't perceive the faint green gas that had escaped through the briefly opened gate, drifting towards them.
With every breath they took, the insidious gas seeped into their bodies, unnoticed and unchallenged.
End of Chapter 232
