Book 08 Chapter 017: Powerhouses in Conflict
Half a month flew by in a blink.
Xuanyuan City:
Ji Dihong stood at the entrance of his study with his hands behind his back, coldly scanning the distant battlefield.
“Fengbo, Xiong You, Ao Ying, and Limu are finally about to engage in the decisive battle against the Han Imperial Dynasty’s consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators?” he muttered, his tone indifferent.
A group of officials stood behind him.
“Yes, Your Holy Eminence,” Emperor Kong responded, a grin on his face. “The Han Imperial Dynasty had the advantages of time and location but dragged the war out until today, proving weaker than we antic.i.p.ated.”
Ji Dihong shook his head slightly. “This is the pace Mo Yike deliberately set.”
“A deliberately set pace? They’re stalling?” asked a surprised Emperor Kong.
“This is advantageous for us,” Ji Dihong responded, his expression full of certainty. “In this time, we’ve persuaded the Heavenly Demon Holy Land to cooperate with the Huang Nation, and together we will obliterate the Han Imperial Dynasty.”
“Really? The Divine Scorpion Heavenly Demon agreed to cooperate?” Emperor Kong asked, his face lighting up with joy.
On the other hand, a frown tugged at Ji Dihong’s brow as he gazed at the distant battlefield. “However, we keep feeling that something is amiss.”
“Are you worried about the lifespan cultivator, the Unborn Man, Your Holy Eminence? You need not worry about lifespan cultivators. This official can handle him if he tries something,” Cangjie a.s.sured him with a smirk.
Ji Dihong nodded, but the crease in his brow did not ease.
“You are too cautious of Gu Hai, Your Holy Eminence,” Emperor Kong laughed.
“I hope so,” Ji Dihong responded.
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderous report came from the far-off battlefield, signaling the commencement of the first battle between the consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm powerhouses.
------
The Soaring Palace Hall’s entrance, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai was also observing the distant place along with his officials.
He did not utilize the heavenly eye but the golden blessings dragon, which let out a slight golden light from its eyes that provided a clear view over the entire range of the Han Imperial Dynasty.
The territories won in the far distance were now the land of the Han Nation. The frontline battlefield was visible through the golden blessings dragon’s sight.
With a wave of his hand, Gu Hai instructed the golden blessings dragon to show the battlefield’s image to all his officials through the blessings.
“Your Reverence, everything is ready and within our calculations. However, Ji Dihong is at the consummation of spiritual souls and possesses extraordinary strength,” Mo Yike said worriedly.
“Rest a.s.sured, we have a countermeasure,” Gu Hai responded in a deep voice.
“Yes!” Mo Yike nodded.
Although all preparations had been completed, he could not help feeling some worry.
Boom!
Just then, another thunderous report from the battlefield grabbed everyone’s attention.
------
Kong Xuan’s battlefield:
After half a month of continuous battle, the Han Imperial Dynasty had captured fifty more cities. The command platforms of both warring parties’ armies slowly moved until they were right across each other.
The battlefield was a vast desert.
Kong Xuan stood on his platform, his flag bearing the character Kong fluttered vigorously in the wind; behind him were the Han Nation’s formidable soldiers, their ferocious appearance and towering aura daunting.
On the other side, Limu stood on his platform, the Li character flag also fluttering in the wind; behind him were the armies of the Huang Nation and the four factions, their spirits equally high.
“So we finally meet, Kong Xuan. You took your sweet time,” Limu said with a haughty laugh.
“Who kept retreating?” Kong Xuan shot back coldly.
“Enough with the words, Kong Xuan. Let’s see what you’ve got,” Limu sneered.
“I agree,” Kong Xuan responded coldly.
“All soldiers, charge!” Limu bellowed.
“We are invincible with me around. Charge!” Kong Xuan shouted.
As they bellowed, Limu and Kong Xuan rushed towards each other. Barehanded, they engaged in a simple yet powerful fistfight.
When Limu swung his fist, a ferocious black bull image appeared out of nowhere.
Moo!
The black bull let out a bellow, sounding as if its strength could suppress the entire world. With Limu’s punch, s.p.a.ce shattered into countless pieces as the black bull image charged Kong Xuan.
“So, you’re a bull spirit,” Kong Xuan remarked, his face distorted in a ferocious grin.
Coo!
A giant peac.o.c.k image appeared, emanating a malicious aura. With Kong Xuan’s punch, it tore through a vast area of s.p.a.ce.
Their two fierce fists collided close to outer s.p.a.ce.
Boom!
The violent collision shattered countless stars and destroyed a large patch of the galaxy.
Down below, the two armies clashed amid raging roars.
Rumble…!
This marked the beginning of the first army’s confrontation.
------
At the location of the second army, Fengbo and Mao Tianyun led their forces into battle.
“Where’s Long Shenying? To think you’re hiding behind the Han Imperial Dynasty? Mao Tianyun, to think you truly serve the Han Imperial Dynasty?” Fengbo mocked Mao Tianyun amid the battle.
“Meow! Serve? I don’t serve anyone. Aren’t you the reason we’re in this mess, trying to harm Houtu? I’m fighting to get justice for Houtu,” Mao Tianyun retorted angrily.
“Fighting for justice for Houtu? Why doesn’t she come out herself? Why are you that enthusiastic about it? Are you interested in her? But I can’t blame you; Houtu is still quite attractive. Many want to marry her,” Fengbo scoffed.
Baring its fangs, Mao Tianyun retorted, “My business isn’t for you to comment on. Also, no one gets to slander Houtu. Fengbo, you’ve truly angered me! Meow! Aphrodisiac!”
Boom!
Within the large fire emitted by Mao Tianyun was a shade of pink, which surged towards the ma.s.sive windstorm enveloping Fengbo.
------
At the location of the third army, Gu Han pressed his palms together. “Amitāyus!”
With him as the center, a brilliant golden light spread out, revealing Buddha Liansheng and Buddha Zibai flanking him. As the Three Lives Buddhas emerged, their Buddhist chanting traveled millions of kilometers, was.h.i.+ng over the opposing army with an infinite radiance that sapped the enemy’s will to fight.
On the opposite side, Xiong You roared in fury, “How dare you, you brat?!”
He sent a colossal bear paw flying forward, covering the sky and ground.
Gu Han met it with a powerful palm strike. “Gautama Divine Palm!”
Boom!
The third army engaged in battle.
------
The fourth army also started fighting.
Gao Xianzhi stood at the center of the battlefield, protected by a group of powerful experts, while Shangguan Hen and Ao Sheng soared into the sky.
“Roar!”
With a wave of his hand, Ao Ying summoned a colossal azure dragon from behind him. Its white-eyed stare and aura of antiquity sent tremors through the Northern Sea’s dragons and prevented them from moving.
“Is that the Ancestor Dragon? The Azure Dragon’s corpse?” Ao Sheng asked, his face pale.
The corpse, originating from the Corpse Mound World, had been refined into a puppet under Ao Ying’s control. As soon as it appeared, it exuded a monstrous presence.
“This battle will be tricky. Can you handle this, Ao Sheng?” Shangguan Hen asked.
“Don’t worry. While the Ancestor Dragon’s corpse is formidable, it’s dead. I’ll give it a try!” Ao Sheng responded, his expression cold.
With a mighty roar, Ao Sheng transformed into a thirteen-kilometer-long black dragon that, strangely, glowed azure.
“Didn’t you acquire the Northern Sea Dragon Deity, the Western Sea Dragon Deity, and the Southern Sea Dragon Deity? Why is your deity’s light azure?” Ao Ying asked in surprise.
“Roar!”
Ao Sheng roared, and his body, still thirteen kilometers long, was enveloped by a thirty-three-kilometer-long azure dragon image that looked identical to the ancestor dragon’s corpse.
“You possess the ancestor dragon’s dragon pearl?” Ao Ying shrieked in surprise, his eyes glowing with greed.
“Roar!”
Ao Sheng roared and charged forward.
“I’ve been searching for the dragon pearl. It’s mine, not yours!” Ao Ying laughed ecstatically.
“Roar!”
The corpse of the ancestor dragon roared and lunged at Ao Sheng.
Ao Ying joined in the attack to s.n.a.t.c.h the ancestor dragon’s dragon pearl but was met by a golden fist. Ao Ying’s eyes widened as he counterpunched.
Boom!
A vast area of s.p.a.ce shattered.
Ao Ying paused and locked eyes with Shangguan Hen.
“Now, you’re facing me,” Shangguan Hen sneered.
As Shangguan Hen smiled coldly, he charged forward ferociously.
Rumble…!
The battles between the commanders of the four armies broke out on land and in the sky, all under the watchful eyes of the world.
Eight consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators fought each other head-on, not using any schemes or plots, merely strength. They fought ferociously as the world looked on.
Gu Hai and Ji Dihong watched the battles from afar.
The first full-scale war between the Han Imperial Dynasty and the Huang Heavenly Dynasty raged on. This war was meant to display their strength and prestige to the world, not simply about their personal strength, determining who would be seen as the superior dynasty in the hearts of the people.
------
As the chaotic battle took place, hidden trouble brewed.
The Great Light Sect, one of the four factions controlled by the Huang Heavenly Dynasty, was rapidly losing ground. After two months of war, the Great Light Sect controlled less than a quarter of its original cities, and its blessings were diminis.h.i.+ng at a visible rate. It now did not have enough blessings to compare with a royal dynasty, much less an imperial dynasty.
At this moment, the Great Light Sect’s elders felt incredibly anxious.
On a mountain outside the Great Light Sect stood ten individuals—the Mosquito Daoist, Long Shenying, Vairocana, Lady Houtu, and the six marquises who used to be the six faction leaders. The former faction leaders were powerful experts, all in the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm’s ninth layer.
The group came to launch a surprise attack on the Great Light Sect, which was missing most of its blessings. This would be an overwhelming win.
“His Reverence is being overly cautious,” the Mosquito Daoist chuckled. “Do we even need to sneak up on the Great Light Sect? With their troops dispatched elsewhere, their headquarters must be almost empty. Isn’t this a bit too extravagant?”
However, Long Shenying shook his head. “Mosquito Daoist, I’ve noticed that you’ve become less cautious than you used to be.”
“Oh?”
“You were always prepared for anything in the past!”
“Hahaha! Well, that was when I was alone and had to be careful. Now, with His Reverence as my backer, what’s there to worry about?”
“However, have you ever wondered why Your Reverence a.s.signed us to follow you? Even sending two consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators?”
“Huh?” The Mosquito Daoist was taken aback, his face changing.
The Mosquito Daoist was not a fool; his c.o.c.kiness was only momentary. As soon as Long Shenying hinted at something, his face sank. “Are you saying Ji Dihong is also wary of us, and there might be an ambush?”
“Ji Dihong has his own advisers; anything we can think of, he certainly can too. Both His Reverence and Ji Dihong seem to have used their own tactics, but in reality, they are still fighting openly without any tricks,” Long Shenying stated gravely.
“Ah?”
“If His Reverence can think of the overt forces, Ji Dihong can too. And vice versa. Therefore, any hidden traps set up are often obvious to both of them. They’re simply competing with their strength. Just like now, Ji Dihong has long been ready for an ambush here, and Your Reverence is aware of it, which is why he sent us to accompany you. Do you understand?” Long Shenying explained.
The Mosquito Daoist managed a wry smile. “Alright, the foolish get outsmarted by the clever, and the clever have no secrets from each other. What else is there besides a show of strength?”
“There are hidden tactics each side has up their sleeves, unknown trump cards, which can catch the other off-guard!” Long Shenying explained.
The Mosquito Daoist nodded.
“Alright, let’s hurry,” Lady Houtu urged.
“Okay, let’s go!” the Mosquito Daoist agreed, his face serious.
The group of ten, led by the Mosquito Daoist, stepped towards the Great Light Sect.