Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
As Chiyou consumed the Fire Toad Heavenly Demon, the eighty-one giants consumed the Electric Eel Heavenly Demon, devouring every part of its body, from flesh to bones, and even the blood, leaving nothing behind.
In an instant, two consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators were devoured entirely.
Chiyou turned his gaze towards the three remaining adversaries: Xiong You, Ao Ying, and Fengbo, causing a shiver to run down their spines.
“Let’s go!” Fengbo shouted urgently.
Xiong You and Ao Ying wasted no time, swiftly turning around and flying towards safety.
“Running? Very well. Shall we proceed to Xuanyuan City?” Chiyou turned his head to look at everyone.
“We shall follow the orders of the Nine Li Imperial Emperor!” Shangguan Hen, Gu Han, Xingtian, and Hou Yi responded in unison.
“Then let’s go!” Chiyou stepped forward, chasing the fleeing trio.
The four formidable experts followed close behind, fueled by their unwavering resolve.
Although the eighty-one giants yearned to join the pursuit, their cultivation fell short, and thus they remained in Chiyou City, guarding their territory.
------
Great Desolation City, Yan Heavenly Dynasty:
Ba stood at the Divine Flame Hall’s entrance, wearing fiery red imperial robes as she observed the battle in Chiyou City with a cold and calculating gaze.
“Elder Sister, shouldn’t you go and lend a hand?” Jingwei asked with some concern.
“It is not yet time,” Ba replied calmly.
“But…,” Jingwei said anxiously, her worry palpable.
However, Ba had made up her mind, and once her decision was set, nothing could sway her.
------
Soaring Palace Hall’s plaza, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
As Gu Hai observed the distant battle, his brows furrowed in contemplation.
“Jiang Lianshan’s faction was truly massive!” Gu Hai murmured with a trace of awe.
“Jiang Gautama, Heavenly Gautama, Mortal Gautama, Ba, Hou Yi, Xingtian, Chiyou, Fengbo, Ji Dihong, Xiong You, Ao Ying…along with Jiang Lianshan himself? Just from what we know, Jiang Lianshan already had twelve consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators. He truly hid his strength deeply!” Vairocana nodded in agreement.
“However, he ultimately perished eight hundred thousand years in the past. Hah! What a pity! How lamentable!” Gu Hai said ruefully.
Vairocana nodded.
“Husband, should you go and assist them?” Chen Xianer inquired.
“The time has not come yet!” Gu Hai shook his head solemnly.
“Why is that?” Chen Xianer asked, wanting to understand his reasoning.
“First Brother’s current objective in attacking Xuanyuan City is to force out the trump cards of the mighty Huang Heavenly Dynasty. Until those cards are revealed, we cannot go all out! Both of us—Ba and ourself—are like sharp blades, ready to plunge in without hesitation once the Huang Heavenly Dynasty’s secrets are exposed. However, if the Huang Heavenly Dynasty’s secrets remain hidden and we attack in full force, that would be like exposing our vulnerable underbelly to Ji Dihong once there are obstructions; we would face his merciless strikes!” Gu Hai explained earnestly.
“Hmm? I’m still a bit puzzled.” Chen Xianer furrowed her brows in confusion.
“The Huang Heavenly Dynasty is no ordinary dynasty; it is a heavenly dynasty. Moreover, during the struggle for the Divine Dao Shaman Canon in the past, even Jiang Gautama couldn’t surpass Ji Dihong. This suggests that Ji Dihong is even more powerful than Jiang Gautama and has greater hidden strength. As a sovereign, how could he not keep some cards hidden? I dare say that Ji Dihong possesses more trump cards than Jiang Gautama did. To gain in advance, you must first give something. First Brother’s assault on Xuanyuan City is a perfect opportunity to expose Ji Dihong’s true capabilities!” Gu Hai elaborated.
“Oh? I see!” Chen Xianer nodded, grasping the situation more clearly.
------
Chiyou and his group coursed through the sky, relentlessly pursuing Fengbo and the others.
They all unleashed their auras as they flew, stirring up massive black clouds and storms.
Xingtian scowled, then shouted, “Hou Yi, where are your arrows?”
Despite the trio’s escape, Hou Yi could shoot them down with his arrows. Xingtian could not understand why Hou Yi had not unleashed his formidable archery skills.
Sympathetic to their past camaraderie, Chiyou refrained from pressing the matter, but Xingtian could not hold back any longer.
Hou Yi replied with a slight frown, “They were once our comrades. If they don’t make a move, I can’t bring myself to shoot.”
“Not make a move? What do you mean?” Xingtian’s scowl deepened.
“I won’t show mercy to anyone except them, but if they do attack, I won’t hold back,” Hou Yi sighed with resignation.
Chiyou glanced at Hou Yi and smiled. “Hou Yi, now we understand why Jiang Gautama, Ji Dihong, and Long Zhanguo all sought to win your loyalty. Your affections and sense of righteousness run deep.”
“Nine Li Imperial Emperor, I…” Hou Yi’s brow furrowed.
“No need for words. We understand. Rest assured. You once fought by our side on the battlefield. You are our brother-in-arms, and we won’t force you into anything. Just follow your heart!” Chiyou said.
“Thank you, Nine Li Imperial Emperor!” Hou Yi smiled wryly.
As they continued their pursuit, their overwhelming presence attracted the attention of many experts.
The aura startled many sovereigns and sect masters. They wanted to see who was so audacious. However, the group’s fierce demeanor instantly intimidated them; the words they had planned to utter died in their throats.
Consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm? Furthermore, there were eight of them. Who would dare get in their way?
------
The emperor’s study, Xuanyuan City:
Ji Dihong and his companions watched as Chiyou and his group pursued Fengbo. Their faces darkened with concern.
“What should we do now, Your Holy Eminence?” Emperor Kong asked, worry writ large on his face.
Someone among the officials stepped forward. “Your Holy Eminence, this official can lead—”
Ji Dihong waved his hand, immediately silencing that person.
Mister Starless watched intently from the side.
That man was called Dahong. He looked like an ordinary civil official; hence, his calm demeanor and confidence surprised Mister Starless. Mister Starless could not help but wonder where his self-assurance came from. To think he dared to volunteer for battle? To lead an army? Does the Huang Heavenly Dynasty possess a force formidable enough to withstand the combined might of Chiyou and his companions?
[TL Note: Dahong was one of the four generals of the legendary Yellow Emperor. His name translates to “great crane.” However, he is not as well-known as the other generals, and there is no English entry for him in Wikipedia.]
Ji Dihong had forestalled Dahong, evidently unwilling to expose Dahong at the moment.
“Bing Ji!” Ji Dihong suddenly called out.
Whoosh!
A nearby door in the palace suddenly opened.
A woman clad in flowing white garments emerged from that door. It was Bing Ji, the Han Imperial Dynasty’s Third Corps commander.
“Your Holy Eminence!” Bing Ji approached, bowing respectfully.
------
In the distant Borderless Heavenly Capital, Gu Hai’s eyelids twitched as he laid eyes on Bing Ji.
“So, that’s Bing Ji? Indeed, a striking beauty. She is the daughter of the past Supreme Ascendant and Ji Dihong’s granddaughter?” Chen Xianer remarked with a smile.
Gu Hai nodded. His eyes held deep worry.
“Don’t worry, Husband. She is ultimately Ji Dihong’s granddaughter. Perhaps Ji Dihong intends to use her against you, so they are unlikely to harm Younger Sister Bing Ji for now,” Chen Xianer reassured him.
“Indeed.” Gu Hai nodded again.
“However, Bing Ji’s expression seems rather aloof. Do you have a penchant for such icy beauties, Husband?” Chen Xianer teased, smiling.
Gu Hai forced a weak smile but remained silent.
------
Meanwhile, in the distance, Bing Ji bowed respectfully to Ji Dihong.
“Bing Ji, take command of the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array and intercept the incoming enemies!” Ji Dihong commanded in a calm tone.
“Yes!” Bing Ji nodded in acknowledgment.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
With a powerful sweep of her sleeves, Bing Ji released ten enormous golden crows into the sky. As they took flight, their wings radiated scorching heat that instantly evaporated bodies of water and ignited the surrounding vegetation, producing towering flames.
The ten golden crows grew larger and larger, becoming ten kilometers tall within moments.
Flap!
They soared into the sky, shining like ten blazing suns and looking like meteors as they shot into the distance.
Ji Dihong waved, and a 3D map materialized before him, displaying the positions of the incoming enemies and the golden crows for Bing Ji to see.
Whoosh!
The ten golden crows streaked across the sky, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The earth below them scorched, and a raging inferno engulfed everything in their path.
“These golden crows…seem even more formidable than the Eastern Monarch, Supreme Singularity!” Mister Starless exclaimed in astonishment.
“That’s because these ten are actually the Supreme Singularity!” Ji Dihong stated confidently.
“Ah?” the officials exclaimed in surprise.
“This is not the Supreme Singularity from the past few decades. That Supreme Singularity was just a fake puppet. This is the Supreme Singularity from eight hundred thousand years ago,” Ji Dihong explained calmly.
“Eight hundred thousand years ago?” everyone exclaimed.
“Yes, when Jiang Lianshan and we traveled back eight hundred thousand years, our first order of business was capturing the Supreme Singularity. We then created an exact replica of him and allowed the replica to roam freely during that time. As for the original Supreme Singularity, Jiang Lianshan and ourself refined his spiritual souls and physical souls into ferocious spirits,” Ji Dihong explained.
The crowd was astonished. “So, the Supreme Singularity for the past eight hundred thousand years ago was a fake?”
“Yes, while he retained the Supreme Singularity’s memories, he lacked the ferocity of the original. That’s why he failed to reach the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. If he was the original, why couldn’t he make a breakthrough in eight hundred thousand years?” Ji Dihong sneered.
Ji Dihong gazed coldly into the distance.
Unknown to Ji Dihong, the Supreme Singularity he swapped back then was also substituted by Gu Hai eight hundred thousand years ago.
“How is Princess Bing Ji involved in all of this?” Emperor Kong asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Although the Supreme Singularity in the Solar Divine Palace is a fake, the Six Paths Immortal gave the crow deity heart to him. Bing Ji’s purpose was to retrieve the crow deity heart and rule all crows in the world. She has succeeded, enabling her to control the Supreme Singularity ferocious spirits. By merging them with the fragmented souls of countless wicked individuals and subsequently separating them, this Supreme Singularity multiplied from one to ten, and from ten, it can become a hundred,” Ji Dihong explained.
“Then what about their strength?”
“Each has reached the peak of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm’s ninth layer. When united in the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array, their combined might rivals that of those who have reached the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm,” Ji Dihong declared confidently.
Emperor Kong’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “So, the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array possesses the strength of a consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator?”
The entire assembly gazed into the distance in awe.
The ten blazing suns were already approaching Fengbo, Xiong You, and Ao Ying.
“His Holy Eminence has sent reinforcements! Haha! This is the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array. If I were trapped in it, even I couldn’t escape!” Fengbo exclaimed joyfully.
“The blazing suns, merging as one, a convergence of primordial energy, becoming like the sun in the sky!” Xiong You remarked, a smile gracing his face, as he recognized the might of the Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array.
The ten suns intertwined, forming a grand ritual array, their blazing presence creating an energy halo that enveloped the suns, generating a barrier from the colossal inferno.
In the distance, Chiyou and his comrades saw the approaching Ten Rising Suns Ritual Array.
“Golden crow suns? Humph! You want to stop us with just ten feathered beasts?” Chiyou scoffed coldly.
“Nine Li Imperial Emperor, let me handle the ten golden crows!” Hou Yi extended his hand, holding his enormous bow.
He pulled out a purple arrow from his quiver and nocked it onto his bow, then drew his bow until it took a circular shape.
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