Chapter 451: The Safest Place on Earth
In just half a day, all the elite guards of Celestial Imperial City had been equipped with weapons that contained the power of law.
Once ordinary Reclassers put on this Law-based gear, their combat power doubled instantly.
In a very short time, the overall military strength of Celestial Imperial City had grown so terrifying that it could rival an entire empire.
When the news spread, the whole world was shaken.
Spies from nearby nations such as the Great Shaw Empire, the Azurecloud Empire, and the Ironwall Federation were all horrified when they learned about it.
They were envious of Celestial Imperial City’s strength, but they were also deeply afraid of Aiden’s ability to "mass-produce Law equipment."
This method was practically breaking the balance of the world!
Inside the inner city, at the top of the Tower of Laws.
Aiden stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at Celestial Imperial City, which was glowing with radiant treasure light. A deep, unreadable light flashed in his eyes.
The success of mass-producing equipment made his ambition swell wildly at that moment.
"If the Transmutation Altar, together with the 10,000x critical hit, can mass-produce even Law equipment..."
Aiden’s lips curved into a faint smile as he muttered to himself.
"Then... can it also mass-produce divine powerhouses?"
...
Aiden pulled back his thoughts and shifted his gaze away from the Transmutation Altar.
Mass-producing gods was certainly a crazy idea, but it was not completely impossible.
However, he had to take things one step at a time. Right now, the most important thing was to fully strengthen the foundation of Celestial Imperial City.
"Your Highness, the fusion of the citywide ward and the Tower of Laws has been completed!"
Brock of the Red Dwarves ran excitedly to the top of the tower. He pointed his thick finger at the energy shield below.
Buzz!
A nine-colored barrier, almost solid in form, appeared like a giant bowl of divine light turned upside down. It firmly covered the entire Celestial Imperial City, which was floating ten thousand meters high in the sky.
"How strong is it?"
Aiden asked calmly, his hands behind his back. His white robe fluttered in the wind.
"Strong! Ridiculously strong!"
Brock’s face turned red with excitement. His eyes were filled with passion and awe.
"I tested it with the best energy-measuring device of the Red Dwarves Clan. With the Law power from the Transmutation Altar, this Divine Light Aegis can block a full-power strike from a Greater God!"
"A Greater God?!"
Cheryl, who was standing nearby, could not help covering her mouth. Her beautiful eyes were full of shock.
On today’s Earth, a Greater God was equal to the ancestor-level figure of a hidden family—a terrifying powerhouse standing at the very top.
"In other words, unless a Heavenly Demon Emperor from the highest level of the Abyss attacks in person, no one can break through this place!"
Aiden nodded slightly, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
This was his confidence.
Celestial Imperial City had already become the safest place on Earth.
Without a doubt.
As the defensive divine light of Celestial Imperial City shot straight into the clouds, the news spread across the whole Earth like it had wings.
"A Floating City that can block a god’s attack?!"
"My God, doesn’t that make it even safer than the Sovereign Cities of the great empires?!"
"Hurry! Pack your things! We’re going to Celestial Imperial City!"
Countless civilians, independent cultivators, and even Reclassers from major forces, all terrified by the threat of the Abyss, began rushing toward Celestial Imperial City.
In just a few days, the area outside the city was packed with people. The number of people entering the city grew at an unbelievable speed.
And when there were too many people, conflicts were bound to happen.
"Private fighting is forbidden inside Celestial Imperial City!"
A cold, emotionless voice spread across the entire city through the Tower of Laws.
"Anyone who uses force inside the city, no matter their status or background, will have their power crippled, be expelled from the city, and be banned from entering forever!"
This was an iron law created by Aiden himself.
Celestial Imperial City needed people, but it did not need troublemakers.
However, there were always people who refused to believe the rules applied to them.
"Get out of my way! I’m a Silver Rank Reclasser from the Azurecloud Empire! Why should I line up with these lowly commoners?!"
In the outer city square, a burly man with a fierce face kicked a civilian in front of him to the ground. His expression was arrogant and full of disdain.
The guards who were keeping order were about to step forward, but suddenly, a black-and-red crack tore open in the air.
Boom!
A savage pressure descended with a crash. It was so terrifying that the bones of thousands of people present began to creak, and they all fell to their knees at once.
"Who gave you the courage to cause trouble in Celestial Imperial City?"
Luke slowly walked out of the void. A chilling grin hung on his aged face.
"You... you’re Luke the Tyrant?!"
The burly man’s face turned pale, and his whole body began to shake violently.
"Since you know my name, then die."
Luke did not waste another word. He pressed his right hand down into the air.
A black phantom of an evil Buddha flashed briefly in the void.
In the next instant, a terrifying force of gravity crushed the burly man into a puddle of flesh and blood.
"Hiss—!"
Gasps rang out across the square.
"Is there anyone else who wants to test the rules of Celestial Imperial City?"
Luke looked around. Black-red divine light flickered in his eyes, and his killing intent was overwhelming.
The square, filled with tens of thousands of people, fell into complete silence. It was so quiet that even a falling needle could be heard.
The name "Tyrant" was well deserved!
With Luke, the level 79 "Tyrant," personally enforcing the law, every troublemaker had no choice but to keep their head down.
The strong stance of Celestial Imperial City made every nation on Earth uneasy.
The Azurecloud Empire, the Ironwall Federation, the Elephant Empire... Diplomatic groups from countless countries arrived with mountains of rare treasures, lining up to request an audience.
"The Azurecloud Empire offers ten boxes of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow and requests an audience with His Highness the Supreme God!"
"The Ironwall Federation offers fifty new magic energy cannons and requests an audience with His Highness the Supreme God!"
Some of these envoys came with true goodwill. Some came to gather information in secret. Others wanted to test Aiden’s limits.
However, Aiden did not meet any of them.
"Tell them that Celestial Imperial City keeps its gates open to friends," Aiden said calmly to Victor in the inner city.
"But if anyone dares to play tricks in the dark, the Godslayer Blade of the Great Shaw Empire can fall on their necks at any time."
This was the confidence of the National Martial Guardian of the Great Shaw Empire, a first-rank guardian Supreme God!
He would stay calm and respond to all changes with strength. In the face of absolute power, any scheme was nothing but a joke.
Just as Celestial Imperial City was settling into order, an unexpected guest arrived in the city.
"Aiden!"
With a clear, cheerful cry, a small figure flew into Aiden’s arms like a butterfly.
It was Kelsey.
In the end, Empress Eira was still worried about her daughter’s strange illness. She had specially sent people to bring Kelsey to Aiden, hoping that the power of law in Celestial Imperial City could help keep it under control.
"Kelsey, why are you here?"
Aiden gently rubbed her head, a soft look appearing in his eyes.
"The sky here is so beautiful! It’s even higher than the Sovereign City!"
Kelsey held Aiden’s hand and hopped around near the edge of the Tower of Laws, giggling happily.
Aiden watched her with a smile.
But after a while, his brows slowly furrowed.
He noticed that although Kelsey was smiling, her eyes would sometimes drift past the protective barrier of Celestial Imperial City, looking toward the distant passage to the Abyss.
That look was deep, cold, and ancient.
It did not belong to a little girl only a few years old.
"Kelsey?"
Aiden called her softly.
Kelsey’s small body trembled. The deep look in her eyes vanished at once, and she became innocent and cheerful again.
"Aiden, what’s wrong?"
"No... nothing."
Aiden pushed down the unease in his heart and shook his head.
That night,
the sky above Celestial Imperial City was filled with bright stars. The nine-colored law barrier shone in the darkness like something from a dream.
Aiden stood on the balcony, silently using his soul strength to sense everything around him.
Suddenly, from the room behind him, he heard a painful groan.
"Ah—!"
Aiden’s expression changed, and his body vanished from where he stood.
When he appeared again, he was already beside Kelsey’s bed.
Kelsey, who had been sleeping peacefully, was now curled up in pain. A dark, unsettling aura was spreading from her body.
"Kelsey!"
Aiden stepped forward, trying to calm her with his soul strength.
But the moment he got close, Kelsey suddenly opened her eyes.
Aiden’s pupils shrank sharply.
Those were not human eyes!
There was no white in Kelsey’s eyes at all. They were completely black, so dark it seemed they could swallow all light.
She slowly sat up from the bed, her movements stiff like a puppet.
Under Aiden’s shocked gaze, Kelsey slowly raised her right hand. Her thin finger pointed straight into the distance.
It was pointing exactly toward the passage to the Abyss.
"It... is coming..."
A hoarse, ancient voice with no emotion forced its way out of Kelsey’s throat.
That voice seemed to pass through endless space and time. It carried a terrifying pressure that could make even gods tremble.
Rumble!
Almost at the same time, the earth far below Celestial Imperial City shook violently.
Aiden stared fixedly at Kelsey. A drop of cold sweat slowly slid down his forehead.
He could clearly feel it.
Some unimaginable, terrifying being seemed to be slowly waking up in the deepest part of Earth.
Rumble—!
Ten thousand meters below Celestial Imperial City, the land that carried the hopes of countless humans was now letting out deep, thunder-like roars.
The divine defensive light around the entire Floating City flashed violently. Waves of terrifying ripples spread across the nine-colored barrier.
"Aiden... it’s coming... from over there..."
Kelsey stood stiffly on the bed. Her once bright, lively eyes were now completely black and lifeless, like two bottomless holes.
Her small, trembling hand pointed toward the passage to the Abyss. Her voice was hoarse, like two pieces of rusty iron scraping hard against each other.
"Kelsey!"
The door was suddenly pushed open. Cheryl rushed in, her pretty face pale, her eyes full of fear.
Seeing Kelsey in such a strange state, Cheryl did not hesitate at all. The soul power of her Starlight Rank burst out from her body in an instant.
"Law of Frost—Absolute Zero, seal!"