Chapter 120: The World Revealed in Light

"Sir, I am somewhat puzzled. Even if it were a tortoise-shell binding, you shouldn't have been unable to break free," Li Zhi asked curiously.

Mr. Wen gave a bitter smile. "That rope was soaked in filth-tainted blood; it is the natural nemesis of sorcerers."

Li Zhi nodded, which explained everything.

As the two emerged from the woodshed, Mr. Wen immediately recognized the seven or eight living dead corpses lying in the courtyard. Every one of them was dismembered, the handiwork behind it exceptionally ruthless.

Before Mr. Wen could speak, a dozen living dead wandering the streets had already spotted them and charged over.

Mr. Wen raised his right hand, about to cast a spell, but to his surprise, Li Zhi had already charged forward without the slightest hesitation.

He pulled a massive broadsword from behind his back and, facing the howling, rushing living dead, he didn't say a word before swinging it in a wide, sweeping strike.

In an instant, several heads flew into the air, and clotted blood sprayed out like a fountain.

Following this, Li Zhi charged deep into the ranks of the living dead, his blade rising and falling in rhythm. With every strike, another fell; he was cutting through them as easily as chopping vegetables, his eyes not even blinking.

In the blink of an eye, these living dead had been cleanly and ruthlessly wiped out by Li Zhi.

Mr. Wen asked hesitantly, "Are you... not a sorcerer?"

Li Zhi offered a shy smile, lifting his blood-stained broadsword with one hand, and explained, "Actually, I prefer a more wild style of combat."

Mr. Wen’s face went numb. He said blankly, "But isn't your father the Grand Preceptor? A master sorcerer."

"That he is," Li Zhi nodded, looking innocent. "If my father weren't a master sorcerer whom I couldn't defeat, I would have signed up for the Flying Bear Army long ago."

Mr. Wen: "..."

Li Zhi shook the blood off his blade, his refined face filled with excitement. "Sir, this thing is far more useful than sorcery. Would you like to try it?"

Mr. Wen’s mouth parted slightly; he felt as though he had heard similar words somewhere before. He wanted to argue, but in the end, he said nothing, only shaking his head and whispering, "My path is lonely indeed!"

Li Zhi gave an awkward laugh and asked, "Mr. Wen, what should we do now?"

Mr. Wen looked up at the night sky, where thunder roared, lightning flashed, and dark clouds gathered, accompanied by the constant clamor of chaos.

He muttered to himself, "If it were the Master, he would certainly have chosen to head to the Imperial Palace to slay that great demon. He knocked me unconscious earlier because he feared I would be controlled and turned against him... So, in all likelihood, the Master is currently on his way to the palace."

"That great demon must already be aware of the Master's presence. The living dead in the capital will surely converge in the Master's direction. By then, the Master will be isolated and without reinforcements..."

He frowned deeply. "No, there are many skilled martial artists in the capital, but they are all fighting in isolation. We need to gather them all to resist the living dead together."

Mr. Wen looked at Li Zhi. "Did the Grand Preceptor leave anything behind before he left?"

Li Zhi reached into his robes and produced a bronze chime, handing it over. "This is what my father wanted me to give to Master Ji Huo. Sir, do you know what this is?"

Mr. Wen took the bronze chime, his brow furrowing as he said uncertainly, "I cannot recognize the markings upon it, but..."

Suddenly, his brow smoothed, and he smiled. "This object carries the scent of ages and of humanity; it is just the thing needed to solve the problem at hand. The Grand Preceptor has inadvertently done us a great service."

Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Li Zhi’s face, his eyes tinged with a faint, nostalgic sorrow. "If it can be resolved, that is for the best. If my father’s spirit could see this, I imagine he would be very pleased."

Mr. Wen chuckled and patted Li Zhi on the shoulder, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Lad, do you want to play something exciting with me?"

Li Zhi was stunned, then his expression turned serious as he cupped his hands in a bow. "Please, Mr. Wen, just give the order!"

Mr. Wen traced a series of symbols in the air onto the bronze chime. As the final stroke landed, the surface of the bronze began to glow with light.

Mr. Wen held the chime aloft with both hands and bowed respectfully. "I, Wen, invite a glimmer of the light of human inheritance to descend and illuminate the path for mankind!"

No sooner had the words left his lips than the radiance from the bronze chime expanded rapidly. In an instant, a pillar of light shot into the sky, piercing straight through the thick, dark clouds.

This beam of light was brilliant and dazzling; the entire capital could see it. Even the Flying Bear Army, engaged in battle at the city gates, witnessed that light.

The moment they saw the glow, it was as if the blood in their veins had been ignited. Each of them roared and fought with even greater ferocity.

Martial artists scattered in every corner of the capital looked up, gazing at the sudden apparition of light.

They had been exhausted in body and spirit, weary from the endless struggle against the tide of the living dead in the darkness. They had felt like isolated islands in a violent storm, unsure of when they would be swallowed whole.

But when they saw that light, a sudden impulse surged within their hearts—they had to go there; they belonged there.

It was the only light in the darkness.

It was a call from their very blood.

With almost no hesitation, the humans struggling in every corner of the capital raised their weapons, fighting their way through the fray to converge toward that brilliant, radiant place.

"What is that?"

Xia Ningchang gazed at the light, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "Why do I feel an urge to protect that light?"

Ji Huo also stared at the pillar of light, a sudden realization dawning on him. He said solemnly, "That is the Spark—the light of the human Spark."

"The Spark? Is it something from your Central Plains?" Xia Ningchang asked, puzzled. "Why would someone from my Dragon Kingdom feel its resonance?"

Ji Huo shook his head with a smile, sighing, "It does not belong to any one country or region; it is the human Spark."

"Human..." Xia Ningchang repeated the word, a trace of bewilderment in her eyes.

Ji Huo smiled. "The human Spark is passed down from generation to generation, and it never extinguishes. No matter how distant the place, as long as one is human, they can be guided by the Spark."

Xia Ningchang stared blankly at the light, remaining silent.

...

Mr. Wen looked in astonishment at the blinding pillar of light in his hands. He knew that the older the artifact and the more it carried the essence of humanity, the more intense the light it would emit.

But this was the first time he had seen light so bright it seemed to illuminate the very heavens.

At this moment, as if sensing the light, many of the living dead began charging toward the two of them—or rather, toward the light.

"Lad, hold the light high! This is our hope!"

Mr. Wen stuffed the shimmering bronze chime into Li Zhi's hands. He then plucked a leaf and blew upon it with force; the leaf transformed into something over two meters long, hovering half an inch above the ground.

He pulled Li Zhi onto the leaf, waved his sleeve, and said solemnly, "Grant me a gentle breeze!"

A gust of wind arrived, lifting the leaf and flying rapidly toward the Imperial Palace.

Li Zhi held the bronze chime high, feeling the light in his hands to be incredibly heavy. The pressure was immense; he had to hold it with both hands, leaving him unable to make any other moves.

"Mr. Wen, perhaps you should carry the light? Otherwise, if an enemy appears, I won't be able to defend myself," Li Zhi said urgently.

"Hahahaha! No matter! You just hold the Spark! Leave the rest to me!"

Seemingly invigorated by the Grand Preceptor’s feat of challenging the heavens with his own life, Mr. Wen’s face was flushed with excitement. He steered the leaf as it wove rapidly through the ranks of the living dead.

"Lad! Hold steady! Today, I, too, shall have a taste of a hot-blooded battle!"

Many of the living dead had not even reacted before a blur streaked past them, the dust and gale force in its wake knocking them flat onto the ground.