My Lady Always Lacks Ambition

Chapter 1291 - 1213: The Collapse of Humanity

The snow was swirling heavily.

About a hundred miles away from Shengjing, in Ancheng, there was an arena built exclusively for the amusement of nobles and aristocrats. It was lavish and grand. In the past, this place only facilitated beast fights, but at some point, the beasts turned into humans—slaves purchased from traffickers, or refugees who sold themselves to survive disasters.

Many playboys from Shengjing came here to enjoy themselves, because ever since the Saint suffered an earthquake during last year’s heavenly rituals, he has been paralyzed on the dragon bed. After half a year of recuperation, he could finally sit up with support, but walking was impossible, and even prolonged sitting caused excruciating pain in his waist.

Though he seemed hopeful, the Saint had never stood up, and it was learned through unofficial whispers that the Saint didn’t believe in superstition. He attempted to stand and walk, but barely managed a step before nearly falling flat on his face, even with someone supporting him.

Embarrassed deeply, the Saint flew into a rage and executed two Imperial Physicians. As for the palace maids and little eunuchs serving before the Saint, their numbers had been replaced numerous times.

Throughout this entire year, to ease the minds of ministers and the people, the Saint occasionally appeared on the court, but the occasions were so few they could be counted on one hand, and he only sat slightly inclined for less than a quarter of an hour before retiring.

Given the Saint’s dragon body ailments, despite the Imperial Hospital continually changing prescriptions and acupuncture treatments, and finding numerous famous physicians for palace treatment, it was all in vain against his cruel reality of advancing age and weakening dragon body.

As a result, the Saint’s temper grew increasingly irritable. Every day, the Imperial Physicians in the Imperial Hospital felt their lives hung by a thread, and palace maids and eunuchs serving in the sleeping chamber faced daily deaths. On the court, officials were frequently exiled and properties seized, even if the charges were baseless.

The Saint’s temperament became more erratic, especially since appointing the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince became a thorn in the Saint’s eyes, particularly seeing his robust physique and spirited demeanor, which was nothing short of an eyesore. His attitude toward the Crown Prince was filled with suspicion rather than trust. Even if officials mingled more, it would incite the Saint’s suspicion of forming cliques and conspiracies, wondering if they were secretly hoping for his demise.

In summary, whether high-ranking or insignificant, everyone acted cautiously, fearing becoming a soul under the blade. The powerful people in the capital also restrained their offspring, as the Saint now exhibited signs of delirium, exiling officials for amusement. Getting caught would spell disaster for families.

With such restraints, Shengjing’s entertainment venues, known for extravagant spending, declined significantly. On the one hand, continuous disasters over the past two years left people’s wallets stretched thin, especially with the national treasury empty, frequent border wars demanding military supplies and provisions. The Ministry of Revenue was struggling to find funding. Spending lavishly in entertainment venues only offered the chance to criticize the lack of restraint.

To avoid providing the Ministry of Revenue opportunities to criticize and intervene, families harshly cut off their playboy sons’ expenses. Without silver, they couldn’t go. Wasn’t that just common sense?

But once people are accustomed to debauchery, especially those playful playboys, how could they endure being well-behaved at home? If playing openly in Shengjing wasn’t possible, couldn’t nearby towns serve the purpose?

Thus, Ancheng’s arena caught their eye, and the more interesting fact was that while the arena used to host beast fights, it now staged human fights, which were far more entertaining than beasts, right?

As for human lives, mere cheap commoners, they were nothing but air to them.

In chaotic times, the least valuable thing was human life.

The snow drifted down softly.

Qin Liuxi looked at the various-aged children in the cages below. They resembled fledgling beasts learning to forage, viciously baring their fangs and bearing their techniques, continually attacking their peers.

Their eyes held nothing but numb ferocity, attacking based on instinct, not daring to pause for even a moment, as stopping would mean falling, dragged away like a dead dog to the burial ground, becoming food for wild beasts.

They wanted to live, and to live, they had to be ruthless.

Qin Liuxi closed her eyes slightly. In her ears, the wailing of ghosts continued, resentful souls drifted everywhere, yet none dared come near her, all kept a distance.

Indeed, unseen by mortals, the arena teemed with countless resentful souls, including some new child ghosts. The yin energy was overwhelming, the blood evil spirit was so vivid it seemed to drip blood.

But the playboys dressed luxuriously seemed utterly unaware. Wrapped in thick cloaks, they clenched their fists, their crimson eyes fixed on the arena, excitedly shouting as their human beast attacked, punched, and bit.

They were utterly unaware of the resentful souls accompanying them.

Flesh flew, human hearts crumbled.

Watching one child after another losing their humanity, the gamblers loudly cheering felt it was insufficient; hoarse shouts erupted from their throats, wishing they could enter the arena to fight like the trapped beast they favored. Even worse, some lost their sanity, even cursed and punched those around them.

Qin Liuxi’s eyes chilled as she looked at the dark red Stone Beast in the arena. The evil spirit’s seductive and violent energy continuously emanated outward, the arena’s resentful souls followed suit, becoming ferocious, some even strangled living humans nearby.

The blood-red evil spirit swirled snowflakes, everyone like lunatics, shouting, screaming, violent.

Her figure flashed, she soon appeared before the Stone Beast, the blood demon with a human body and beast head, formed by the blood energy, charged at her.

Buzz.

The Divine Weapon descended from the sky, emitting a deafening sword hum, slashing at the blood demon. The mighty Divine Power turned into golden light, enveloping it, devouring it bit by bit.

The Stone Beast reduced to dust under Qin Liuxi’s hand.

Chaos erupted within the arena.

The playboys who were clamoring for fights suddenly screamed, fell to their knees, begging for mercy, their expressions hysterical.

Qin Liuxi held the Divine Weapon that absorbed all the blood evil spirit, looked at its golden-red blade, her eyes carried some disdain.

The Mieluo Sword felt wronged, it was meant for this, now facing disdain?

Qin Liuxi held it, imbued Spiritual Power mid-air, drew talismans with the Sword Spirit, Spiritual Energy infused the talismans, mixed with boundless mighty Divine Power. Blinding golden light surged throughout the arena, inducing wailing from yin evil spirits and resentful souls as they dissolved into starlight in the golden light.

The arena quieted, some people regained clarity, their faces confused.

Qin Liuxi cleaved the central cage; inside, the children sat vacantly, seeming soulless. She formed a skill with her hands, cast it on them.

Quickly, some children jumped off the platform and fled outside.

A child of about four or five almost fell off the platform, Qin Liuxi caught him, looking down at the dirty, blood-stained face, those eyes were black and bright.

Qin Liuxi pinched his hand, spoke a word, then gracefully left.

The child watched her vanish before lowering his head, biting his lip, quickly fleeing.

To survive, head northwest.

That Immortal-like person said so.