The manor spanned a considerable area, its architecture steeped in antiquity and charm. Within its grounds stood ornamental rocks and tranquil ponds—features full of southern flair. Hanging above the entrance was a plaque, upon which four ancient seal script characters gleamed: Righteous Manor (正气山庄).
Around the manor, men clad in tight-fitting outfits stood vigil at key positions. Their eyes shone with cold precision as they gripped swords and sabers, the air around them exuding a chilling aura of danger. Every one of them was a formidable cultivator, evidently not to be trifled with. These were top-tier experts.
Suddenly—
Screech! Screech! Screech!
Shrill cries echoed through the night sky as massive vultures swooped down from the heavens, launching a direct assault on the manor.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Before the vultures could draw near, warriors stationed across rooftops and walls swiftly responded. Crossbows in hand, they loosed bolts glowing with divine light. Each arrow shimmered with runes and carried a strange, anti-demonic force. They flew like lightning, striking with unerring precision.
The giant vultures, however, were not ordinary beasts. They had clearly experienced this before. With angry shrieks, they released bursts of grey spiritual light, summoning sharp feathered projectiles like arrows to intercept the bolts. Though the arrows were numerous, the vultures' feathered darts far outmatched them in quantity and surged toward the manor like a torrential rain.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The manor's defenders didn't falter. Swords and sabers danced in unison, slicing feather darts into shimmering fragments that dissipated into the night. A few buildings were pierced straight through by the attack, but overall, the manor held fast.
Still, the sheer number of vultures in the air was staggering. Each one possessed tremendous strength, and their feather attacks turned the sky into a deadly storm of arrows.
Swish—!
It was clear the manor had faced this kind of assault before. As the scale of the attack became apparent, a golden umbrella-shaped treasure suddenly unfurled from within the manor. Glowing with a divine yellow radiance, it cast a shimmering dome of light over the entire estate.
Feather darts bombarded the barrier, sending ripples across its surface, but none could breach it. The golden umbrella spun slowly in the air, calmly deflecting all attacks.
In the inner courtyard of the manor—
Under a pavilion, a slender, pale-faced young man dressed in white robes sat quietly, exuding an air of scholarly refinement. He sipped tea as he gazed at the sky. Before him sat a treasure box, slightly ajar, revealing nine tiny swords gleaming with cold light. Though they were miniature—no longer than chopsticks—each radiated a unique divine aura.
As he watched the vultures rain attacks upon his manor, the pale young man shook his head and sighed.
"Ah, this world... so dreadfully empty. A flock of filthy birds dares to attack myRighteous Manor time and again? Before, I didn't bother since I was recovering my cultivation. But now... though not fully restored, I can at least exercise a bit, perhaps ease the emptiness in my chest."
He glanced at the nine swords and casually muttered:
"Heaven-Slaying Sword, God-Slaying Sword, Buddha-Breaking Sword, Demon-Subduing Sword, Monster-Vanquishing Sword, Saint-Slaying Sword, Soul-Chasing Sword, Spirit-Stealing Sword, Army-Breaking Sword... Hmm, I'll use the Army-Breaking Sword today."
With a melancholic look, the white-faced nobleman flicked his finger, sending the tiny sword marked with ancient "Army-Breaking" script into the air.
Whoosh!
The miniature sword grew mid-flight, transforming into a full-sized battle blade, radiant with divine light. The characters for "Army-Breaking" glowed brilliantly as a fearsome killing aura surged forth.
The Army-Breaking Sword pierced through the manor's barrier, soaring directly into the vulture swarm. Like a sword controlled by an invisible hand, it danced and slashed freely—each swing a cold arc of death. Vultures cried out in fury, their hardened feathers colliding with the divine blade. Some feathers shattered, others were sliced clean through.
The sword moved with unstoppable force, decapitating and impaling vultures in an instant. Blood rained down as corpses fell toward the manor below.
Screech! Screech!
Then, as if in protest, the remaining vultures released a torrent of bird droppings, falling like a storm of hail. Though the golden umbrella shielded the manor, even blocking the feces, the vile stench still crept through the air.
The white-faced noble wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"How utterly uncultured. Failing to breach the manor, and now resorting to such filth? Disgraceful beasts."
With a flick of his sleeve, he cast off the soiled energy shield and tossed the golden umbrella aside.
A maid swiftly caught it.
"Lychee, clean that properly. Don't show it to me again unless it's been scrubbed nine times—with flower petals."
"Yes, Young Master," the maid replied promptly.
As she took the umbrella away, the young man began wiping his hands with a towel, his expression one of pure revulsion—as if suffering from a deep case of OCD.
Just then, a guard approached.
"Young Master, there's light spotted in the southwest. Seems like a human settlement."
"Oh?" The nobleman raised an eyebrow. "Let me take a look."
With a graceful step, he floated onto the rooftop and gazed into the distance. Far away, a dazzling light bloomed in the darkness—clear and vivid even from the manor.
"That is light... likely a human settlement. Wonderful. Remember that direction."
"Finally, a sign of other people. For a while, I thought humanity was extinct. That would have made the world... far too empty."
He gave a satisfied nod.
A light that bright had to come from a significant place—perhaps a large town or city. The manor was too isolated; it was time to reconnect with the world. After all, how could he spread the renown of Righteous Manor, or of himself, if there was no one to witness it?
"A world without humans... truly, how desolate."
And Righteous Manor wasn't the only one to notice. Across the surrounding lands, countless settlements and forces had observed the same thing: the light of the Beacon of Enlightenment erected in Xuanhuang Town.
For those wandering this eternal continent, trying to communicate had always been near impossible. It was as though humanity had been reduced to scattered, isolated pockets. Seeing that light felt like finding a long-lost family.
The night was long, but Xuanhuang Town remained bustling.
With the Beacon of Enlightenment shining, every corner was brightly lit, as if it were day. The darkness posed no threat. Laughter and chatter filled the streets. Men and women bonded, hearts were shared, and chefs cooked delicious meals for everyone to enjoy. Skilled performers drew cheers from the gathered crowds.
Meanwhile, the light drew waves of refugees from beyond the surrounding valleys. Each arrived with indescribable emotions, warmed by hot soup and rice. Many had not even come from Lushan City, their origins unclear. And yet, by some miracle, they had survived until now—drawn to Xuanhuang Town by that brilliant light.
The beacon never dimmed, and people continued to pour in through the night.
"We should've built that lighthouse sooner," murmured Huang Chengyan, moved by the sight. "If only we'd had it earlier, how many more could we have saved?"
Of course, it wasn't a real complaint. Back then, the Beacon of Enlightenment didn't exist. He was simply mourning the countless innocent lives lost in the wilds.
"Indeed," said Master Lu, stroking his beard. "With the beacon lit, people will come here daily. Our population will steadily rise—at least for a while."
From day to night, Xuanhuang Town's population had grown by thousands. It was nearing ten thousand now—an astonishing surge.
The entire night was filled with excitement and energy.
Naturally, this wouldn't last forever. As the nearby humans were drawn in, the influx would slow. But even so, it marked a massive leap forward for the town.