The myriad realms had actually been quiet for some time. Over three months had passed, with Su Yu's earlier strike against Marquis Jiantian creating the only real stir.
In reality, three months would have amounted to little more than a quick nap in the past.
Yet now, the myriad races were quite content with it.
Apart from the small races in the eastern war zone suffering miserably, the other races wished for nothing more than an absence of major upheavals. Scores of Eternals had fallen, along with numerous Dao Integration experts. These smaller races dared not meddle in conflicts of such magnitude anymore.
Activity on the Allhead Battlefield had recovered slightly compared to before.
Life, after all, had to go on.
The Allhead Battlefield was rich in origin qi and far more abundant in treasures. Staying holed up in small realms would only lead to sitting idle until their resources ran dry.
Currently, the human race was focusing its assaults on the small realms of the east, having nearly swept the entire eastern region clean!
Amidst the warfare, the east had also grown considerably livelier.
Some smaller races that had chosen to surrender now dared to venture outside. With humanity holding the upper hand across the Allhead Battlefield, it was actually a boon for those who had yielded. As for their upper echelons being suppressed, that was a matter for their leaders to worry about.
On the Plain of Desires.
Figures from various races could once again be seen.
The ancient cities still stood tall.
Though their masters had changed, it made no difference to ordinary onlookers, who could hardly perceive the shift anyway. Strong experts still garrisoned them—they were still Eternals, and the difference of a few stages was meaningless to the weak.
Tianmie Ancient City.
It had always sat on the Plain of Desires, bordering the Sea of Stars.
At this moment, a touch of vitality had returned to the ancient city as well.
There were noticeably more people than before, and it was no longer shrouded in deathly stillness.
Throughout the ancient city, death qi had diminished substantially, mainly because the lords from the dead spirit realm who once blocked the gateways had all vanished.
On the day following Su Yu's secret contact with the various racial experts.
Several figures appeared at the gateway of Tianmie Ancient City.
Three men and one woman, all humanoid.
Tianmie Ancient City was currently overseen by Zhou Polong. In addition, Castellan Tianhe remained within the city, though he rarely managed affairs now. He was aware of Tianmie's departure, and he and Zhou Polong effectively monitored each other so neither would leak word of it.
At the city gate.
A Sun Moon realm general still guarded the entrance—General Tianmen, an acquaintance of Su Yu.
At this moment, General Tianmen swept his gaze over the four newcomers and noticed nothing amiss.
They appeared to be humans.
Nowadays, human experts roved throughout the Allhead Battlefield seeking opportunities, raiding small realms, plundering resources, and exploring the Sea of Stars. Because the ancient city belonged to Su Yu's banner, quite a few humans visited.
Half the residents in the city were human.
The arrival of a few humans was hardly surprising.
All four felt like Shanhai cultivators, their strength quite ordinary.
Upon entering, they avoided the main gateway and passed through the side entrance. General Tianmen merely glanced at them without lingering.
"A bit new..."
Right then, General Tianmen's ear twitched slightly. *A bit new?*
Were they talking about the ancient city?
The ancient city had not changed much; its architecture remained exactly as it had been. Only the core garrison armament had been replaced. Ordinary people had no idea, and even General Tianmen didn't know the exact details, yet after guarding the gate for centuries, he had developed a sixth sense for it.
The current ancient city felt less dangerous and oppressive than before.
It truly felt as though it lacked a bit of seasoned fire!
Of course, that was a conclusion he had drawn only after guarding this post for hundreds of years.
General Tianmen did not pry, nor did he interfere. That was business for the upper echelons, likely connected to Su Yu. He understood well enough not to ask about things beyond his purview.
Among the newcomers who had just entered, one had murmured "a bit new," while the other three remained silent, proceeding into the ancient city as before.
Tianmen glanced sideways at them. The four did not walk briskly. It looked as though it were their first time entering the ancient city, yet at the same time, it didn't. Their demeanor carried an air of reunion after a long absence—unfamiliar, yet knowing what this place had once been like.
Tianmen took a few more looks, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
Frowning slightly, he wondered if he was overthinking things.
It was just an offhand remark.
Even he himself didn't know the exact situation, let alone outsiders.
He turned his head back and stopped paying attention. Yet at that moment, as if sensing something, one of the four glanced back toward Tianmen, said nothing, and promptly looked forward again, continuing onward.
Upon the city wall, General Tianmen frowned slightly. *Were they looking at me just now?*
*How sharp!*
After a brief hesitation, General Tianmen activated his city gate token. Something felt amiss. He couldn't pinpoint what, but something definitely seemed off.
Never mind, he would let the castellan take a look.
He sent a voice transmission to Tianhe and promptly set the matter aside.
...
Inside the Castellan Manor.
Tianhe had been living quite comfortably lately. With Tianmie gone, the newcomer Zhou Polong was fairly polite to him, lacking Tianmie's tyrannical temper that led to constant scoldings about him being useless.
He was familiar with this new garrison guardian as well; Zhou Polong was an old acquaintance.
However, Zhou Polong had comparatively junior seniority, so Tianhe wasn't particularly afraid of him.
Neither meddled with the other now, which suited him fine.
He sipped tea and read books in his free time. His drive to attain the Dao had even waned considerably. As a quasi-invincible expert cultivating his mind and temper lately, he felt that failing to attain the Dao wasn't the end of the world.
While sipping tea and reading, his deputy castellan token vibrated.
After sensing the message, he cursed softly under his breath, thinking Tianmen was making a fuss over nothing.
Bothering him over such trivialities!
People entered this ancient city all day long; when was there ever a day without visitors?
Just a few Shanhai cultivators!
It wasn't as though several Eternals had arrived!
Even Zhou Polong hadn't said anything, yet you had to create work out of nothing.
Complaints aside, Tianhe's willpower surged instantly and rippled across the city without concealment. As castellan, conducting periodic inspections of the city was standard and expected.
Many experts within the city sensed it as well, completely accustomed to it.
It caused no stir.
Within the ancient city, the walking group of three men and one woman soon sensed it too. Seeing that no one around them showed any reaction, the four paid it no mind either.
They let the willpower sweep past them.
Once the scan receded, one of them sent a voice transmission: "Is this the current castellan of the ancient city?"
"Presumably. Seems to be named Tianhe."
"At the peak of the Sun Moon Realm!"
"These ancient city castellans are rather diligent nowadays, regularly monitoring the entire city like this."
"It must be that Su Yu's arrangement."
"..."
The four exchanged a few quiet thoughts and said no more, casually continuing their stroll through the city.
...
Inside the Castellan Manor.
Tianhe knitted his brows slightly. Nothing seemed wrong at all; what was Tianmen on about?
He had scanned them thoroughly—just a few human Shanhai cultivators. Completely normal. Why report this to him?
"Jumpy bastard!" Tianhe muttered. He initially planned to ignore it, but after a moment's thought, decided he might as well check it out in person.
He had time on his hands anyway!
He suddenly soared out of the Castellan Manor. In the manor's rear courtyard, Zhou Polong opened his eyes, cast a frowning glance, and said nothing. So long as Tianhe didn't leave the city, it was fine.
He couldn't be bothered with what Tianhe did.
Tianhe had ties with Xia Longwu and was familiar with Su Yu, making certain matters awkward to interfere with. Zhou Polong had come here solely to guard the passageway and temper his weapon, paying no mind to anything else.
...
After leaving the Castellan Manor, Tianhe did not head straight for the four, but conducted a routine patrol around the city first.
Whenever he met notable experts, he offered a few words of encouragement before making his way toward the group.
At that moment, the four were being pestered by an ostrich-like creature trying to peddle its wares.
All four looked somewhat annoyed, though they refrained from harsh words, merely impatient with the creature's relentless pitching of treasures in which they had zero interest.
"Good sirs, one look tells me you hail from the great prefectures of the human race! I possess an Earth armament from the human race's ancient era, peerless in might, rivaling modern Heaven armaments! I risked life and limb to obtain it..."
The ostrich creature relentlessly hawked its treasure to them.
Among the four, the female Shanhai cultivator grew slightly impatient, amused yet contemptuous. "An ancient weapon? An Earth armament? Looking at you, you couldn't scrape together an Earth armament to save your life. Back off already—are you trying to pull a scam on us?"
"How would I dare!" The ostrich creature grinned. "It truly is an ancient Earth armament, just slightly damaged, really..."
It produced a charred, blackened piece of wood. "Look, this piece clearly has age to it. After surviving countless ages, it's still preserved this well! In ancient times, it might have even been a Heaven armament or a divine armament..."
The female Shanhai was laughed out of patience. "A divine armament? Do you even know what a divine armament looks like? An ancient divine armament? Why don't you claim it's an ancient Imperial armament while you're at it?"
The ostrich creature gave a dry chuckle. "Could an Imperial armament be stronger than a divine armament? What even is an Imperial armament? Divine armaments are the strongest, so of course I'd say divine armament..."
"Ignorant!" the female cultivator scoffed. The other three glanced at her, and seeing their looks, she held her tongue.
Behind them, Tianhe strolled over, exchanging brief nods with cultivators on either side of the street. Soon, he reached the group and brushed past them. Just after passing, he suddenly turned back and asked, "Which prefecture are you from?"
Among the four, a slightly older-looking man stepped forward and said with a smile, "Replying to the Castellan, we hail from the Dayong Prefecture of the Human Realm."
"Not from the Great Xia Prefecture?"
Tianhe raised an eyebrow slightly, then said, "Never mind. Seeing how vigorous your blood qi was, I thought you were from Great Xia! That grandson Xia Longwu hasn't dared visit me lately, still withholding the lucky chance he owes me!"
After muttering for a moment, Tianhe said gruffly, "If you run into people from the Great Xia Prefecture, pass word along to him: Xia Longwu had better repay what he owes me soon! Don't let him think he's all that just because he became the Northern Expedition General. This castellan is an elder statesman who followed Emperor Yu from the start; I'm not afraid of him!"
"We will certainly pass the message along!" The middle-aged man chuckled, clasping his hands politely.
"Good!"
Tianhe took a few steps, then suddenly turned to the ostrich creature, scolding, "Quit trying to hoodwink humans! What bold nerve—aren't you afraid of losing your head?"
The ostrich looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Castellan, I wasn't hoodwinking them. I just couldn't tell whether it was an ancient treasure either."
"Forget it. Don't let it happen again!"
With that, he looked at the four and said, "Be careful when buying things here. Getting cheated just means your judgment is poor. No violence is permitted within the ancient city!"
"Many thanks for the reminder, Castellan."
Tianhe nodded slightly and glanced at the three behind the middle-aged man. All three offered faint smiles and bowed slightly. Tianhe nodded. "It's a good thing the human race is producing more promising youths. Reach the Sun Moon Realm early, attain the Eternal Realm, and if you run into trouble, you can seek me out at the Castellan Manor!"
"We appreciate your trouble, Castellan!" the middle-aged man thanked him once more.
Tianhe said no more, turning and walking away to continue scanning both sides of the street. Behind him, the four watched Tianhe for a moment, said nothing, and continued strolling through the city.
...
Soon, Tianhe finished his circuit and returned to the Castellan Manor.
He headed straight for the rear courtyard.
In the courtyard, Zhou Polong opened his eyes.
Tianhe cut straight to the chase: "Your Zhou family knows a great deal. Let me ask you: do you know what an ancient Imperial armament is?"
"An Imperial armament?"
Zhou Polong was slightly taken aback. After a long pause, he said uncertainly, "In ancient times, there were divine armaments. Human Kings generally wielded divine armaments. Imperial armaments... there seem to be faint records of them, wielded by the Four Pole Human Kings and the Human Sovereign, perhaps?"
He wasn't entirely certain. With his profound family heritage, he knew quite a lot.
Tianhe looked thoughtful and asked, "Among your human race, are there many who know of the term 'Imperial armament'?"
"Definitely not many,"
Zhou Polong said with a smile. "Even I only have a superficial understanding of it. I've merely heard bits and read some ancient texts to retain a vague memory. Under normal circumstances, unless someone is a top-tier figure, they wouldn't pay any attention to it. Without even possessing a divine armament, why bother focusing on that?"
"Then let me ask another thing: are the people of Dayong Prefecture that idle? Can four Shanhai cultivators just wander around at will?"
Shanhai was neither weak nor exceptionally strong, admittedly not particularly conspicuous, but that depended on where they came from.
Zhou Polong pondered and said, "Not likely. Dayong Prefecture's overall strength is average. Even now, their Shanhai and Sun Moon experts mostly serve in the military. Those outside the military are still capable of overseeing local regions. Four of them is hardly a small number..."
He looked at Tianhe. Tianhe stroked his chin and continued, "Under normal circumstances, if I called Xia Longwu a grandson right to the faces of humans who aren't from Great Xia, how would they react?"
Zhou Polong smiled. "It depends on their stance. Previously, each prefecture had its own alignment. If you cursed him in front of people from the Great Zhou Prefecture, they'd probably chuckle secretly, thinking he had it coming! If from the Great Ming Prefecture, they'd think, *What's it got to do with me? Curse all you like.* If from the Great Qin Prefecture, they'd be furious, since Xia Longwu is a God of War..."
"What about Dayong Prefecture?"
"Dayong Prefecture... their strength is modest and they act cautiously. In all likelihood, they would avoid getting involved, dare not reply, and act meekly."
Tianhe stroked his chin again. "And if I told them to pass word to that grandson Xia Longwu to return what he owes me, how should they react?"
Zhou Polong frowned. "No reaction. They would offer an awkward smile. How could they casually agree to deliver such words?"
Xia Longwu was a premier expert and a God of War, currently part of Su Yu's direct faction. Naturally, one couldn't casually take up such a request, even if Tianhe was also allied with Su Yu.
Tianhe nodded. Not being human himself, he wasn't intimately familiar with the inner dynamics of the various prefectures.
Hearing this, he let out a breath. "I almost missed it. That fellow Tianmen's vigilance is actually quite sharp!"
"What happened?"
"Four human Shanhai cultivators entered the city claiming to be from Dayong Prefecture. The exact situation was just as I described—you can deduce the rest yourself."
Zhou Polong frowned. "Human Shanhai? You mean they're disguised?"
"Quite possible. Moreover, their discernment is remarkably keen. Right after entering the city gate, one of them remarked that it felt 'pretty new.'"
"Pretty new?"
Zhou Polong felt a jolt in his heart. "He didn't mishear?"
"No."
"This... the replacement of the garrison guardian is a strict secret. Unless an Eternal personally steps into the ancient city, it's impossible to perceive. Which myriad race Eternal would dare step foot in an ancient city without cause?"
Tianhe nodded. "That's why Tianmen sensed something amiss and informed me. I went to look, but with my quasi-invincible cultivation, I couldn't see through anything!"
Zhou Polong's expression grew solemn. "Face-to-face, even you couldn't see through them?"
"Right."
Zhou Polong inhaled deeply, his eyes flickering. Tianhe said in a low voice, "What's the situation? Are your humans being impersonated? Scouts from the myriad races? If they concealed their strength, could they be Eternals? Have the myriad races started sending Eternals as scouts? Did they discover something and come to investigate whether Lord Tianmie is still here?"
Zhou Polong remained silent.
Tianhe raised an eyebrow. "Or is it something else?"
With that, he chuckled. "Never mind, I won't pry. Handle it as you see fit, Guardian!"
Though he claimed he wouldn't pry, his thoughts churned. Soon, his deputy castellan token vibrated faintly as he transmitted the message directly to Tianmie, and even to Su Yu himself, since Su Yu held a castellan token.
Zhou Polong glanced at him. Tianhe said with a chuckle, "Routine report, don't misunderstand. I'll take my leave. You'd better not scrutinize them, or they might trace your identity back to you, which would cause trouble!"
"I don't need your reminder!"
"Suit yourself then!"
Tianhe sauntered away, contemplating the matter. *What's going on?*
It was rather baffling.
Were they non-humans?
Would the myriad races truly spare experts of such caliber just to scout an ancient city?
If they were humans... that felt odd as well.
Thoroughly bizarre!
*Whatever. I've reported it anyway. How to handle it isn't my concern.*
...
In the Human Realm.
Su Yu had just finished his tasks and was preparing to head to King Wen's former residence to look for the buried treasure Xingyue had mentioned.
Just as he was about to set off, a castellan token trembled faintly.
With Su Yu's current power bridging life and death, the coverage of the castellan token was far greater than before.
There was no need for intermediaries.
He checked it shortly. The message came from Tianhe, who rarely sent him transmissions. Su Yu read it, equally puzzled. What did this mean?
A few humans who seemed suspicious...
Shanhai realm, or disguised?
"Scouts?"
Su Yu wondered. Scouts were normal; was it worth notifying him over such a minor thing?
Still, if they were Eternals scouting the garrison situation, it truly warranted attention. He couldn't afford to have his plans disrupted.
As Su Yu pondered whom to send to investigate, King Dazhou flew over swiftly. Upon seeing Su Yu, he took a deep breath. "Emperor Yu, there might be a slight issue!"
"What is it?"
Su Yu checked the time. "Walk and talk. I need to make a trip to Fat Ball's place."
Without wasting words, King Dazhou promptly stepped into the air alongside Su Yu.
As they flew toward Starfall Mountain, King Dazhou said, "Polong just sent me a message. Four people appeared in the ancient city."
"Oh? What about them?"
King Dazhou hesitated, then said rapidly, "I'm not entirely sure! Those individuals know of ancient Imperial armaments!"
"What's that?"
Indeed, Su Yu had no idea.
He had never paid attention to such things.
King Dazhou explained, "Strictly speaking, there was only one ancient Imperial armament: the Human Sovereign Seal."
"Oh? And?"
Unsure whether Su Yu was genuinely ignorant or merely feigning it, King Dazhou explained, "Unless one belonged to the upper echelons of the ancient era, they wouldn't have heard of the term 'Imperial armament' at all!"
"How do you know it then?"
"I... Fire Spreaders know of Imperial armaments."
Su Yu nodded. "And what does that signify?"
"It means these four either learned of it from ancient records, are surviving experts from the ancient era, or inherit the lineage of ancient experts without any break in transmission!"
Su Yu smiled. "There are plenty of ancient texts and no shortage of ruins. Knowing a single term doesn't prove anything."
"No, the term 'Imperial armament'..."
King Dazhou said gravely, "Even if recorded, instances are extremely rare. Most would definitely record it as the Human Sovereign Seal rather than an Imperial armament! The Zhou family knows a bit only because of texts I wrote. By all logic, almost no one among current humans should ever mention the term 'Imperial armament.'"
"So they're fake humans?"
"Not necessarily!"
Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "Just spit it out directly instead of probing back and forth. If it bothers you, go capture them yourself. Why all the chatter?"
King Dazhou fell silent for a moment. "I suspect they are Fire Spreaders!"
"What?"
"I suspect they are Fire Spreaders!"
King Dazhou said in a low voice, "Perhaps Fire Spreaders who descended from the upper realm! Or Fire Spreaders leading others down."
Su Yu was startled. "Descended from above?"
King Dazhou said grimly, "The Fire Spreaders actually hold a passage connecting the upper and lower realms."
"Hmm?"
A sharp glint suddenly flared in Su Yu's eyes as he stared at him. King Dazhou kept his head bowed, saying gravely, "It wasn't that I withheld it intentionally, but that this passage was abandoned! It has been abandoned for many years! The passage in the Destiny Realm is the safest and most direct! The passage held by the Fire Spreaders is far too perilous. Countless died back then just to open it, and during subsequent transmissions, fewer than one in ten survived! Thus, by the Third Tide, that passage was abandoned!"
King Dazhou said heavily, "After that, it was never opened again!"
Su Yu frowned. "Then why do you suspect they came down from the upper realm?"
King Dazhou exhaled. "The mention of Imperial armaments is one reason. Fire Spreaders prefer using the term Imperial armament—the weapon of an emperor! Outsiders, when referring to it, would only say the Human Sovereign Seal. Furthermore, their appearance at Tianmie Ancient City is telling, as Tianmie Ancient City is closest to the human race. If humans came from the upper realm, they wouldn't immediately enter the Human Realm; they would observe from the nearest point outside. Moreover, if they were scouts from the myriad races investigating the ancient cities, they wouldn't choose Tianmie Ancient City first. They would pick an ancient city closer to their own domains. Tianmie Ancient City belongs to the eastern war zone, where stationed scouts would easily be discovered..."
Su Yu narrowed his eyes. "So you suspect Fire Spreaders descended?"
"Yes."
"Why don't you think they were in the lower realm all along?"
"If they had been here all along, nine times out of ten they would be within the Human Realm, not outside it."
Su Yu didn't dwell on that and asked, "Where is that passage?"
"Emperor Yu, that passage is far too dangerous. I don't know how they managed to come down. If my guess is correct, their descent must have cost them dearly..."
"Where is it?"
Su Yu fixed him with a stare. King Dazhou hesitated, but seeing the cold sharpness in Su Yu's eyes, he had no choice but to say, "In the Endless Void! But I speak no lie: if one seeks to sneak into the upper realm through it, one must be prepared to lose more than half their forces before even arriving! I didn't mention it simply because that passage has been abandoned for so many years; I never imagined it would be opened again."
He said in a heavy voice, "Moreover, those who knew of it should be nearly all dead! To my knowledge, even if there are surviving Fire Spreaders, no more than three people know of it."
"And now four have appeared!"
Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "Second- or third-generation Fire Spreaders?"
"That I do not know."
Su Yu pondered for a moment. "Leave them be for now. Just keep general tabs on them; serious business comes first! All sorts of characters are crawling out of the woodwork now... I'll arrange for people to watch them. You don't need to concern yourself!"
King Dazhou whispered, "If they truly are Fire Spreaders risking their lives to descend, they might carry a vital mission. Perhaps they've come seeking reinforcements!"
*Seeking reinforcements?*
Su Yu paused slightly, a thought striking him. "You mean the upper realm is in peril, and certain Fire Spreaders couldn't wait any longer, so they sent people down to seek help and have us stir up some commotion in the lower realm?"
To divert the attention of the myriad races in the upper realm.
King Dazhou nodded. "That is my only conjecture. Otherwise, with that passage being perilously treacherous, they wouldn't recklessly send people down! Emperor Yu, those few may not be villains, nor do they necessarily harbor malice. They might simply wish to observe and see if they can obtain support from the lower realm. Please... do not rashly execute them."
He genuinely feared Su Yu would do just that.
Killing them outright without a second word.
Su Yu stroked his chin and chuckled. "Fine! If they truly are from the upper realm, I will certainly entertain them well."
King Dazhou's expression changed.
Su Yu said exasperatedly, "What's that look for? I mean genuinely entertain them. I know far too little about the upper realm, and what you know is outdated ancient history. Naturally, I want to host visitors from the upper realm properly. So long as they treat me with courtesy and share intelligence, I will treat them as honored guests! Did you think I kill everyone on sight? Slay anyone from the upper realm immediately? Am I insane?"
King Dazhou felt embarrassed. *I truly did think that.*
Because Su Yu had consistently shown little regard for the upper realm's experts.
Su Yu laughed softly. "Don't overthink it. I bear no hostility toward those human experts in the upper realm. I only despise two kinds of people: first, traitors! Second, those who demand I obey them while refusing to obey me!"
"As long as they aren't traitors and don't foolishly insist on ordering me around, they are friends!"
Su Yu smiled. "King Dazhou, isn't my attitude obvious enough? It's plain as day: so long as they fall in line, we're on the same side. What are you actually worried about?"
King Dazhou felt deflated and helpless. "I merely..."
"I used to think you calculated every single move without fail. Lately, why have you become like an old woman, endlessly nagging and obsessing over these matters..."
King Dazhou gave a bitter smile. "Care breeds confusion. I fear you might kill the Hundred Battles King."
"Hmm?"
Throwing caution to the wind, King Dazhou sighed. "The Hundred Battles King isn't dead! He should be in the upper realm! He might be suppressed, but his survival is a fact! This is actually the hope of some of us old-timers. His survival is a blessing. When I spoke of delaying for several decades before, I was secretly hoping the Hundred Battles King could make a comeback! After all, his strength approaches that of a Rule Master!"
King Dazhou laid it all bare today, stating bluntly, "Thus, the hopes of people like us were pinned on him! He lost the final battle, yes, but if he learns his lesson, with his strength, there remains hope of turning the tables! The reason we never fell into total despair was that he was still alive!"
King Dazhou looked toward Su Yu. "Emperor Yu, perhaps you cannot understand! Yet he truly was the final life-saving straw for us old-timers! Before your rise, tell me: could the human race have turned the tables?"
Su Yu thought for a moment and shook his head. "Unlikely!"
"Exactly!"
King Dazhou nodded. "We all knew how difficult it was! That's why, after the defeat in that final battle, we didn't flee immediately. Instead, we communicated through special methods, waiting for an opportunity, waiting for the Hundred Battles King to return! Only he was our hope... after all, his might was boundless! It wasn't that we were foolish, but... there truly was no other hope!"
King Dazhou sighed. "I also wondered whether this tide could produce an expert of his caliber. But in the preceding centuries, as you saw, neither King Daqin nor the others saw any such hope. In fact, because the Hundred Battles King was still alive, achieving Dao Integration was impossible! I had no choice but to suppress all thoughts and wait for his return!"
As he spoke, his tone grew increasingly bitter. "So, when Emperor Yu suddenly rose to prominence after I had placed my hopes on the Hundred Battles King for thousands, even ten thousand years, I truly couldn't... shift that reliance all at once."
"Not just me—those few in the upper realm who know he's alive likely feel the same way. Because we previously saw no hope whatsoever, he was our sole life-saving straw!"
Su Yu listened quietly. After a long while, he nodded. "Putting it that way, I can understand you somewhat! Having treated the Hundred Battles King as your hope for countless ages, only for an unpredictable factor to suddenly pop up at the final hour—it's indeed hard to accept all at once."
King Dazhou breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that you understand. It isn't that we insist on being stubborn, but rather that thousands of years of sentiment truly cannot be shifted overnight."
Having pinned one's hopes on the Hundred Battles King for thousands, even ten thousand years, suddenly pivoting was indeed difficult.
Su Yu smiled. "So is he injured, sealed, or in hiding?"
"Sealed!"
King Dazhou explained, "Though I didn't witness the specifics, he was indeed sealed! Where he's sealed, we don't know, but Marquis Minshan said back then that even if sealed, when the upper realm opens next and the Great Dao trembles, several seals will loosen! Every upheaval of heaven and earth is the optimal time for unsealing!"
Su Yu pondered and nodded. "True enough. The Martial Emperor also intends to unseal himself at that time! It seems the opening of the upper realm on the Allhead Battlefield is prime timing for breaking seals. If the Hundred Battles King unseals during that period, there is indeed hope for a reversal. That's what you were all thinking, right?"
"Yes."
Su Yu smiled. "Then did none of you consider that whoever was able to seal him back then wouldn't know he might break out this tide?"
"We can only gamble on the chance!"
King Dazhou said gravely, "We had no other choice!"
"Alright. Looks like his unsealing is practically a foregone conclusion, but once unsealed, things might get even messier! Whatever!"
King Dazhou felt a headache coming on. "Um, if Emperor Yu assists in unsealing him, perhaps... perhaps the Hundred Battles King could assist Emperor Yu. His strength remains exceedingly formidable! Some of the myriad races' old fossils in the upper realm are tremendously powerful! During the Ninth Tide, some of those old fossils never even descended."
"We'll see!"
Su Yu didn't wish to say more. Soon, he arrived at Starfall Mountain. Seeing King Dazhou still lingering, he smiled. "Alright, I understand the situation! If it really comes down to it, take your people, join up with those from the upper realm, and rescue him yourselves! Then you can live your own lives together! I'm not an unreasonable person. So long as you don't make trouble for me, I couldn't care less! But however much benefit the people you take have received from me, just return it in full!"
Su Yu said with a smile, "King Dazhou, until he's unsealed, you'd better keep your feet planted firmly on the ground and stop letting your mind wander all day! The myriad races haven't even been dealt with, yet I have to worry about your affairs day in and day out. Irritate me further, and I'll deal with you first!"
Su Yu wore a smile. "The matter of the Hundred Battles King ends here! Once he's actually unsealed, do as you please! I don't wish to hear his name brought up again, nor do I count on his help. Do whatever suits you! As for those four people, don't worry about them; I'll have them watched! Also, perform your duties properly. While you remain King Dazhou, act as King Dazhou should!"
"Tomorrow, I make my move, and so do you. Enough said!"
King Dazhou nodded. "I will not cause trouble for Emperor Yu!"
"That's for the best!"
Su Yu chuckled. "Alright, head back! The Hundred Battles King is a minor concern! He couldn't even defeat the myriad races; does he think he can compete with me? If you truly meet him, remind him yourself. Otherwise... I strike without mercy! That's all. I'm going to see Fat Ball. Go do what you need to do!"
King Dazhou smiled wryly, having no choice but to take his leave.
Just before departing, he hesitated and said, "If... if I said I believe in you more, what... would you think?"
"No need!"
Su Yu replied nonchalantly, "Believe what you want. Do you think I'll be touched just because an old man believes I can win? Give me a break! I, Su Yu, built everything from scratch. My subordinates were gathered and nurtured by my own hands. To be frank, I don't particularly care for people like you."
"..."
Left speechless, King Dazhou gave a bitter smile, finally saying, "Even if the Hundred Battles King is unsealed, I will stand with the human race, with the common people. I will not side with him unprincipledly just because he was our hope! Moreover, even if I leave, Zhou Tianqi promises that I will go alone. I will take no one with me! Even my son will fight for Emperor Yu!"
"Your son is too weak. Do as you like!"
Shot down once more!
King Dazhou sighed helplessly. "Then... I take my leave!"
King Dazhou departed.
Su Yu chuckled. The old fellow. He actually understood King Dazhou's mindset somewhat: the man likely felt Su Yu was better and more suitable, yet some old fossils in the upper realm might favor the Hundred Battles King.
King Dazhou wanted to serve as a bridge... Su Yu couldn't be bothered with him.
It was a normal reaction; they weren't familiar with each other after all.
Meeting a twenty-one-year-old youth, how could those old fossils feel at ease?
Su Yu couldn't care less!
King Dazhou probably understood that Su Yu didn't care, yet worried Su Yu might actually slaughter those old fossils, leaving him desperately trying to neutralize the conflict.
"Good intentions, but unfortunately, neither side is bound to appreciate them! Asking for trouble, trapped between a rock and a hard place."
Su Yu rendered his verdict.
Casting it aside, he swiftly stepped into King Wen's former residence.
What treasure had Xingyue buried here after all?
...
At this moment, Su Yu was curious, Fat Ball was curious, and the little fur ball took the opportunity to slip away from the big tree, perching atop Su Yu's head. It was curious too—though perhaps only feigning curiosity just to escape studying.
In the backyard.
Su Yu spotted three blue flowers.
Fat Ball looked bewildered. "Is there a treasure? I have no idea. I've always watered the flowers, but never dug them up. Who buried it? If there really is something, it must have been before I gained awareness. So long ago!"
Su Yu wasn't sure either. "I don't know what it is, or if there's truly anything here. But seeing these three blue flowers means they've remained identical across countless ages, so there might really be something!"
He looked at Fat Ball. "Pull the flowers?"
"..."
Fat Ball looked torn. *I don't want to!*
These three flowers were very pretty.
"Can we not pull them?"
Su Yu smiled. "Pulling them won't necessarily kill them. We'll pull them, search, and if there's no treasure, bury them back!"
"Well..."
After agonizing for a moment, Fat Ball flopped onto the ground, looking mournful. "Fine, fine, just don't let them die! Honestly, why bury something beneath flowers? How pointless!"
*Go ask Xingyue.*
Su Yu was speechless too; how was he supposed to know why Xingyue buried things here?
He truly was curious and could hardly wait.
Soon, he uprooted the three flowers and began digging briskly. The soil here was extraordinary, but Su Yu didn't dwell on it, digging straight down.
After digging several meters deep, almost reaching the River of Time, Su Yu's eyes lit up!
Both the fur ball and Fat Ball craned their necks to peer downward.
Su Yu hastily picked up a buried box, saying excitedly, "There really is something! Xingyue truly buried a treasure here! Fat Ball, do you think it could be a supreme artifact?"
Fat Ball said dryly, "Would a supreme artifact be buried here?"
It didn't quite believe it!
"Maybe shoes?" Fat Ball guessed. "Or a hairpin? A shuttlecock? A hair tie?"
"Even that would be a treasure!" Su Yu grinned. "Surviving from ancient times until now without rotting makes it a treasure for sure! Just this box alone looks extraordinary! It counts as a treasure."
Holding the box, he climbed up and quickly began refilling the earth, chuckling, "Let's open it and see. Maybe medicinal pills?"
The box was sealed.
Filled with curiosity, Su Yu walked to the front courtyard with Fat Ball and the others, placing the box upon the stone table. At this moment, even the massive wooden tree nearby manifested a face, appearing intensely curious as well!
What treasure could it be?
The next instant, unable to contain his anticipation, Su Yu swiftly opened the box!
There was no radiant glow, no earth-shattering tremor, nothing at all. Complete stillness. Inside the box lay a small stone, resting quietly.
Su Yu, Fat Ball, and the others froze.
*What does this mean?*
*Just a small stone?*
*Are you kidding us?!*
Su Yu looked at Fat Ball, and Fat Ball looked back, shaking its head. "Don't look at me. It's just a stone; I didn't know either. You dug it up yourself—I didn't swap it!"
The corner of Su Yu's mouth twitched. *Xingyue... are you messing with me?!*
*Damn it!*
He picked up the stone. It wasn't light, but looking it over from left to right, it was just a rock!
Speechless!
Su Yu weighed it in his hand, pinched it, and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Huh, it's quite hard. Couldn't crush it. Fat Ball, give it a squeeze!"
Fat Ball extended a paw and scraped its claw across it, leaving not a single mark on the small stone.
Fat Ball was also startled. "So sturdy!"
Su Yu was surprised. Could it really be a treasure?
Regardless, if even Fat Ball couldn't leave a mark, it was definitely not ordinary—it could serve as a Heaven armament at the very least!
Su Yu examined it closely once more, tinkering with it for a while, but nothing changed. He had no choice but to say, "Never mind. I'll ask Xingyue later. I'm taking off first."
"Okay!" Fat Ball called out. "Call me if you need help!"
"Will do!"
Su Yu took the box and left King Wen's residence with the stone. The little fur ball tried to sneak along, but Su Yu tossed it back to Fat Ball. "Learn more first. Seems like you've been making good progress lately! Don't run around!"
The fur ball looked utterly aggrieved, but Su Yu ignored it, departing briskly with the item.
He had business tomorrow and couldn't linger long.
As for that stone, whatever it was, he would treat it as a rock for now.
...
Not long after Su Yu left, King Wen's residence...
suddenly shuddered violently!
Fat Ball swiftly unleashed a surge of formidable blood qi to suppress the upheaval, while the massive tree stretched out countless branches!
Stabilizing the grounds of the residence!
Only after a while did things barely settle. Fat Ball blinked, looking slightly dazed. After a long pause, its canine face crumpled into distress. "Oh no... that... that seemed to be the foundation stabilizing the house!"
It had always believed this place remained stable across countless ages because King Wen's house was simply that powerful.
Yet now that the item had been dug up, the residence had actually been thrown into turmoil!
This meant the stone Su Yu took was more important than the entire residence of King Wen!
Fat Ball cried mournfully. *It's over, it's over! Can I even get it back now?*
*That thing was actually a treasure that stabilizes the River of Time!*
Fat Ball wore a look of utter misery. Now that it was in Su Yu's hands, could it ever be retrieved?
It suddenly turned to the little fur ball, baring its teeth. "You're not allowed to tell! Next time I see him, I'll ask for it back, claiming it's useless and telling him to return it..."
The fur ball blinked and nodded.
*As if!*
*I'm definitely going to secretly tell Fragrant that he picked up a tremendous treasure!*
It seemed that stone was more important than all the treasures in King Wen's residence combined—an absolute windfall!
Once it told Fragrant, he would definitely take it along.
Meanwhile, Fat Ball's canine face was steeped in despair. *It's over, it's over. I failed at house-sitting and inadvertently lost the most precious treasure in the house!*
Chapter 692