A Spate of Upheavals

Tiangu truly knew how to grasp the heart of a matter. Or had he simply overestimated Su Yu? Something that couldn't be unsealed for a hundred thousand years—and Tiangu made it sound as though Su Yu could undo the seal right this instant... Well, he actually could; Warden Tianhou was right in his hands! Su Yu swiftly ran the numbers. Unsealing... If the seal were broken, on his side, San Yue, Tianming, and Giant Axe stood a chance of advancing... No, if Yi Yue was still alive and San Yue walked Yi Yue's Great Dao, then San Yue wouldn't be able to advance at all. As for Tianming and Giant Axe, Su Yu hadn't asked whether they walked the Daos of former Rulers of Rules. Fat Ball and Tongtian wouldn't be able to advance; their combat strength was there, but their realm was not. The others who had merged into his own Great Dao had no hope either. Hongmeng, on the other hand, could become a Ruler of Rules if he comprehended the divine mountain and stepped into the realm of Celestial Venerable. Hongmeng's Dao companion had fallen, leaving that Dao unoccupied. So by his tally, his faction could produce at most three or four Rulers of Rules. On the myriad races' side, it was hard to say. As for Hundred Battles, it was equally impossible to tell how many had walked the paths of former Rulers of Rules, or whether those original Rulers were still alive. If they were... the numbers were simply unpredictable. All in all, breaking the seal offered little help to Su Yu. In fact, it would only bolster the strength of other factions! Su Yu sank into contemplation. The seal had to be broken eventually, but not right now. Leaving it sealed meant the myriad realms could produce no new Rulers of Rules, which was undesirable in the long run. But the timing had to be judged by Su Yu alone. "Yueluo, the white-haired elder, and Leibao are all Hundred Battles' people. Yet in this entire battle, Hundred Battles' side hasn't made a single move!" Though Su Yu had locked down the lower realm, he refused to believe Hundred Battles was entirely out of options. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Su Yu looked across the field. Opposite him, Yu Qing and her cohort were watching him as well. Yu Qing seemed to have sensed the voice transmissions between Su Yu and Tiangu. Her brow furrowed faintly, and she said coolly, "Furthermore, if what Su Yu said is true, another formidable power lurks in the shadows, coveting everything. If we fight to the bitter end right now, won't we merely be handing the spoils to someone else?" Her demeanor was entirely different from before. A truce! Whether Su Yu spoke the truth or not, a truce was likely the best choice. A truce would grant her more time and greater preparation. Yu Qing added, "Su Yu, you said yourself that this Zhou Ji is also a Ruler of Rules. If you don't call a truce now, are you certain you want him reaping the benefits?" Her frosty expression melted into a faint, measured smile. "You aren't afraid of me right now because you have many Celestial Venerables. But once a battle begins and several of them die, you will lose your deterrent against a Ruler of Rules!" Su Yu gave a slight nod. "You have a point." At these words, some breathed a secret sigh of relief, while others felt a twinge of regret. It was over! Evidently, Su Yu thought a truce was acceptable. Yet right then, Su Yu asked with a sly grin, "Yu Qing, would you mind playing a little game with me?" Yu Qing looked at him, frowning slightly. "Just a little game," Su Yu said evenly. "Do you dare?" Yu Qing arched an eyebrow. "Speak!" Su Yu said calmly, "I feel that not enough Celestial Venerables have died today! Far too few! It's hardly entertaining. How about this: your side sends out the white-haired elder and Yueluo. The myriad races and I will each send one Celestial Venerable to battle the two of you in a fight to the death! We end this battle with the deaths of two Celestial Venerables. What do you say?" The expressions of everyone present changed drastically. The white-haired elder barked in fury, "Su Yu, you—" "Shut your mouth!" Su Yu barked coldly, his pressure suffocating. "It's not your place to speak!" Su Yu continued indifferently, "This isn't a place for you to lodge objections! Since Yu Qing has emerged, let her decide! On my side, Leibao will fight! As for the myriad races..." Su Yu swept his gaze across the gathering and looked at Tiangu. Tiangu raised an eyebrow; Su Yu hadn't even answered his previous question. Yet now... he seemed to understand Su Yu's intent. Tiangu's eyes flickered, and he suggested, "How about Tianming?" Su Yu smiled. "Not good at all!" Fair enough. Tiangu understood. As expected, Leibao wasn't Su Yu's man, but Tianming definitely was! Su Yu smiled, glanced at the several Celestial Venerables of the myriad races, looked over toward Chaos Dragon, and finally settled on Eight-Winged Tiger. He chuckled. "Why not Eight-Winged Tiger and Leibao against Yueluo and the white-haired ghost?" He looked back at Yu Qing, beaming. "As the leader of a faction, what's wrong with a little amusement? Yu Qing, if you don't show us your strength, your side is on the brink of destruction anyway—why should we retreat? Let's say, if it ends in a draw with one win and one loss, we declare a truce! If we win both bouts... we continue until we wipe you out! And if we lose... you decide whether to fight on or call a truce!" Yu Qing's expression darkened. What sort of arrangement was this? Su Yu laughed. "Not interested? Sometimes... it's worth taking a gamble. Even if you lose, you might not actually lose anything at all!" Yu Qing recalled Su Yu's earlier words. Yueluo and the white-haired elder were traitors. Was that possible? In that instant, Yu Qing rapidly replayed everything in her mind. Could such a possibility exist? While she was still pondering, Eight-Winged Tiger grumbled reluctantly, "Emperor Yu, why must I fight?" Su Yu laughed. "Because you're weak! Your faction is the weakest! You've been coasting along as bystanders until now. How can you not pull your weight? If a truce is called and we leave you to your own devices, do you really want to fight Yu Qing alone?" Eight-Winged Tiger was left speechless. Damn it! Wasn't it you who ruined our plans in the first place?! Su Yu turned back to Yu Qing with a smile. "Are you playing or not? If you are, hurry up. If not... we'll confer among ourselves on whether to retreat! Yueluo is very strong; she doesn't seem any weaker than Yue Zhan to me. How about... Leibao fights Yueluo, and we see who wins? Leibao isn't particularly strong, just an ordinary Celestial Venerable!" Beside Su Yu, Leibao's eyes flickered. I knew it! I knew I was going to be thrown to the wolves, and here it is. He shot Su Yu a sidelong glance. Aren't you afraid... I'll reveal that you have your own heaven and earth? Su Yu wasn't afraid! To be frank, if it leaked... let it leak! He had intentionally allowed Leibao to see it precisely to intimidate him. If Leibao spread the word, it would intimidate Hundred Battles as well. Besides, if Hundred Battles' son had truly been in the chaos back then, he might already know! Once enough people knew, a secret ceased to be a secret. Right now, Su Yu wanted to force Hundred Battles' faction into the open, or at least make everyone aware of their formidable strength. Otherwise, wouldn't Hundred Battles get off too easily? Even if they didn't show themselves, killing Yueluo and the others would still weaken Hundred Battles' faction, which was fine by him. The myriad races were hesitating, but since Su Yu wasn't making their people fight, they had no reason to reject his proposal as long as it didn't concern them. Whether it was Leibao or Eight-Winged Tiger stepping into the ring, neither belonged to them. Even if both died, it wouldn't alter the broader balance of power. ... Yu Qing looked back at her side. Seven Celestial Venerable experts! She looked at Yueluo, who wore a pitiable, delicate expression, while the white-haired elder appeared filled with righteous indignation. Yu Qing suddenly sent a voice transmission: "Do you have confidence?" "..." Yueluo and the white-haired elder felt their hearts skip a beat. Yu Qing transmitted, "Are you confident you can kill Leibao and Eight-Winged Tiger? Even if you can't... are you confident you can preserve your lives? Yueluo, your strength is not weak. Facing Leibao, you should easily be able to overwhelm or even kill him, correct?" Hesitating for a brief moment, Yueluo quickly transmitted back, "Sovereign, I... I should be able to!" "Yue Xiao, what about you?" The white-haired elder finally had a name. Yue Xiao! Yue Xiao answered hastily, "Sovereign, I... my Hell Gate shattered, and my injuries are severe. Facing Eight-Winged Tiger, I fear... I fear there will be no way out for me!" "Injured?" Seeing his state, Yu Qing nodded slightly. "Your combat power has indeed dropped significantly. No matter; I will bestow some treasures upon you so you can recover most of your strength. Eight-Winged Tiger is strong, but holding him off is entirely within your capability... I can set a time limit with Su Yu. Once the time expires, the battle ends! It doesn't necessarily have to be a fight to the death... Yueluo, how long do you think you need to slay Leibao?" Yueluo's heart twitched. After a pause, she replied, "The time it takes an incense stick to burn!" "Then an incense stick it is! Yue Xiao, you can hold on for that long; Eight-Winged Tiger won't fight to the death! That way, we kill one of their Celestial Venerables—why shouldn't we take the chance?" To Yu Qing, Su Yu's move seemed almost like sending men to their deaths. As for Yue Xiao, if he truly ended up killed... so be it. He was already badly injured; if Su Yu and the others refused to let things go and a full-scale battle broke out, he would likely die anyway. He might as well generate greater value here! Moreover, Yu Qing was still weighing how much truth lay in Su Yu's claims. If it was true, losing both Yueluo and Yue Xiao wouldn't be a loss at all! Spies! Yu Qing hardly dared to follow that thought to its conclusion. Two Celestial Venerables—if both had been turned, how terrifying was that? They were part of her inner circle! The core strength of the Sacred Race! Especially with the fall of Shijian and his companions and the death of Yue Hao, the status and importance of Yueluo and Yue Xiao would only grow. If there was a problem with them, disaster would follow. These two held countless core secrets of the Sacred Race; the very thought was chilling. ... Su Yu watched with narrowed eyes, transmitting to Leibao, "Will you sacrifice your life to let Yueluo win? Or do you think Hundred Battles' people will come rescue you right now?" Leibao remained silent. Su Yu added, "Do you think Yu Qing will agree? She doesn't have many Celestial Venerables left; she might decline!" Su Yu chuckled and spoke aloud: "Yu Qing, if you're willing to play... my rule is that two Celestial Venerables must die for it to end! Don't give me any mutual injuries or draws. That's boring! Life and death must be decided!" Yu Qing raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain?" Su Yu smiled. "Of course! Two Celestial Venerables dying—don't you think that's far more interesting?" "Su Yu!" Yu Qing said coldly. "Aren't you worried that acting like this will breed resentment in Leibao and Eight-Winged Tiger?" Su Yu laughed. "How could it? Besides... let them resent me if they want! What, if a lord commands a subject to die, would they dare resist?" He added indifferently, "Or do you have no control over this Sinful Race of yours? In that case, you've become a Ruler of Rules for nothing!" Su Yu's words were always unpredictable. At this moment, he actually wanted to determine the course of the war in such a fashion. Would Leibao resist? Would Yueluo? Would Eight-Winged Tiger? Su Yu laughed. "Or perhaps... Leibao doesn't have to fight Yueluo. That wouldn't be thrilling enough. How about Eight-Winged Tiger fights Yueluo, and Leibao takes on the white-haired ghost? That would make for far better viewing!" Eight-Winged Tiger nearly cursed Su Yu's entire lineage! Su Yu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "This way, life and death will truly hang in the balance, and both sides could lose two Celestial Venerables. Wouldn't that be even more fun? If the fighting gets fierce enough for someone to self-detonate, maybe all four Celestial Venerables will perish... putting a splendid end to this clash!" Yu Qing deliberated for a moment, then nodded firmly. "Fine! Su Yu, if you want to play, I will indulge you! But if we win, this battle ends in a truce!" "Naturally!" Su Yu replied with a smile. "And if we win... your side will likely lack the power to resist anyway!" He glanced toward Tiangu and the others, smiling. "If we win, everyone, let us wipe out the Sinful Race together to spare ourselves future anxieties. What say you?" Tiangu fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "The Immortal race has no objection!" The God Imperial Consort's eyes flickered. "The God race has no objection either!" The three Celestial Venerables of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Underworld races naturally had no objections either. Besides, objecting would be useless. Sparing themselves a life-and-death struggle was actually quite welcome. "Leibao, Eight-Winged Tiger... step forward!" Su Yu's formidable aura bore down to pressure them, while the experts of the myriad races watched in silence. Leibao's expression shifted erratically. Eight-Winged Tiger looked reluctant and glanced toward Su Yu. Su Yu smiled and said, "Originally, you were meant to fight a Ruler of Rules. Now you only have to fight Yueluo, which carries far less danger... I promise that once you kill Yueluo, I will lead our forces back into battle and leave Yu Qing to us. Once she is dead, I will bestow her chaotic will upon you! To gain, you must give; at least this demands far less than what you were prepared to sacrifice before!" Eight-Winged Tiger's interest was piqued. "Then... Emperor Yu... will you keep your word?" Su Yu said calmly, "At this stage, I wouldn't break my word over a mere wisp of chaotic will! If you don't believe me, forget it. Were you expecting me to offer you a blood oath?" Gritting his teeth, Eight-Winged Tiger bounded forward. "Fine, I'll fight! If I kill Yueluo... I hope Emperor Yu honors his word. I trust that with your status, you wouldn't break faith over such a matter!" What status? Not that of Human Lord! Rather, that of a World Opener. With such an identity, breaking his word over a bit of chaotic will would bring utter humiliation upon him, causing the myriad races and his subordinates to look down on him. Su Yu smiled! "Of course!" With Eight-Winged Tiger pacified, Leibao looked at Su Yu, opening his mouth several times as if to speak... He wanted to say that Hundred Battles held no deep grudge against him, so why push things this far? Yet... he couldn't bring himself to utter the words. Leibao's gaze was conflicted. A truce only after two Celestial Venerables died. Who would die? No matter who died, Su Yu wouldn't be affected in the slightest! Nor would the myriad races. As for the Prison King lineage, Yu Qing's agreement meant she harbored suspicions of her own. Of the four Celestial Venerables, three belonged to Hundred Battles, and one was an ancient beast of the chaos. Even if all of them died, it wouldn't affect the onlookers. The one suffering the greatest loss would be Hundred Battles. Was this considered fratricide? Yueluo and Yue Xiao had lain dormant for countless years. Before they could accomplish anything, Su Yu had stirred up trouble once again. At this moment, thousands of thoughts raced through Yueluo and Yue Xiao's minds as well. What should they do? Fight? Yu Qing was watching, and everyone else was watching. If they refused to step forward now... Yueluo sent a frail-sounding voice transmission to Yue Zhan: "Ancestor, our side already has fewer Celestial Venerables than they do. If something happens to Yue Xiao and me... we might as well make a desperate stand right now!" She then transmitted to Yu Qing: "Sovereign, Su Yu harbors malicious intent. He is deliberately trying to whittle away our strength. I am no match for Eight-Winged Tiger, and the injured Yue Xiao might not be able to rival Leibao. Once we both fall, Su Yu will certainly launch a general offensive! When that happens, our situation will be even more dire... I know the Sovereign might be influenced by Su Yu's earlier words, but Yue Xiao and I are direct descendants of the Ancestor... How could we possibly betray the Sacred Race? Su Yu is clearly driving a wedge between us!" She did not want to fight! "Sovereign, once we die, things will only become harder for us..." Yu Qing's expression remained tranquil as she looked at them. Suddenly, she transmitted, "If you truly fall... consider it a sacrifice for the Sacred Race! Even in death, you must self-detonate to drag them down with you... Do not forget, a crack has formed in the Hell Gate! Since I could emerge, then... others can emerge as well!" At these words, Yue Zhan and the others felt their hearts jolt! Yu Qing transmitted with absolute calm, "The more Celestial Venerables die, the sooner we can summon another expert forth. Whether an ancient beast or a member of our Sacred Race, our strength will not diminish! Yueluo, Yue Xiao, for the Sacred Race, winning is best; if you lose... consider it giving your lives for the cause!" In short, even if they died, the Sacred Race wouldn't lose out! Therefore, live or die, they had to fight. In that moment, Yueluo fully understood Yu Qing's meaning. If they died, their deaths—the power of their demise—would be used to summon another powerhouse back. If they killed their opponents, even better; that would amass power to summon reinforcements all the same! Yueluo's heart trembled. The Hell Gate... could summon another powerhouse! Having reached this point and heard such words, there was nowhere left to retreat! After a brief silence, Yueluo nodded, looked at Yue Xiao, and walked forward with him. Since it had come to this... there was no other choice! ... At the same time, Su Yu suddenly transmitted to Yu Qing: "Be careful they don't run! In a moment, you might witness something very interesting. Of course, the possibility of them sacrificing themselves isn't ruled out... Hahaha!" Yu Qing didn't reply. At that moment, all four combatants stepped out. Eight-Winged Tiger was still muttering, "Am I really fighting Yueluo? If I beat her to death, Yu Qing won't interfere, right?" He pointedly glanced at Yu Qing, then looked at Su Yu. "Emperor Yu, what if I kill Yueluo and this woman steps in?" "Kill!" Su Yu replied calmly. "If she interferes, she breaks the rules. If she proves untrustworthy, would the myriad races believe she won't pick them off one by one later? Therefore, we would have no choice but to fight. If Yu Qing makes such a choice, it spares us any further hesitation—a good thing!" Fair enough! The crucial point was that you aren't the one on the battlefield! Eight-Winged Tiger cursed inwardly! Su Yu was truly wicked. Rotten to the core! At that moment, the four powerhouses reached the front. Su Yu's voice rang out once more, laced with playful amusement: "Fight to the death! If life and death aren't settled once the time is up—after one hour—we will step in and settle it for you!" None of the combatants spoke. If Leibao and Eight-Winged Tiger were his own people, playing like this would be terribly disheartening. Except... they weren't! Since that was the case, Su Yu had no qualms about playing the villain. Neither side said anything further. Leibao and Yue Xiao walked to one side, while Yueluo looked toward Eight-Winged Tiger, her face no longer carrying a smile, but darkened with gloom. Su Yu! You beast! There was nothing Su Yu didn't dare to do. The four powerhouses unleashed their auras. Four Celestial Venerables, each formidable in their own right. The battle was poised to erupt at any moment. In the next instant, Yueluo let out a low cry. A piercing sound rippled through heaven and earth at a peculiar frequency. Many felt their eardrums vibrate violently, seized by a bout of dizziness. "Go!" With a low bark, Yueluo and Yue Xiao tore through the void in an instant, fleeing at maximum speed! Indeed, Yueluo chose to run. At this moment, she cast aside all pretense. Su Yu was too vicious! If they truly fought Eight-Winged Tiger and the others to the bitter end, Su Yu likely had other schemes waiting for them. Even if she managed to kill Eight-Winged Tiger, no good end awaited her. In that case, while her strength was still intact, fleeing was the best course! Yue Xiao was equally swift, vanishing into the distance in the blink of an eye. Leibao was about to flee as well, but his eyes flickered, and he abruptly halted his steps. He couldn't leave! If he fled, the giant race in the upper realm would be doomed. Besides, with Yueluo and Yue Xiao running, his own danger was vastly reduced. What did it matter if the myriad races knew he was with Hundred Battles? Su Yu had known all along! He was different from Yueluo and Yue Xiao; they were traitors, while he was not. The giant race was an independent race, beholden to no one. If Tiangu and the others could choose to cooperate with Su Yu, his own cooperation with Hundred Battles was hardly unacceptable. Thus, at that decisive moment, Leibao chose to stay. He did not belong to the Prison King lineage! Therefore, he could remain. Meanwhile, Yueluo and Yue Xiao moved with astonishing speed, tearing through space and hurtling straight into the depths of the chaos. Yu Qing's expression changed, and she moved to act! They fled! They actually fled! Damn it! Though Su Yu had warned her earlier, she had remained skeptical about Yueluo and Yue Xiao serving Hundred Battles. Was it true? Now, reality had delivered the answer: it was true! Yu Qing looked thoroughly grim, while Su Yu broke into a grin. In the next instant, he shouted, "Kill those two bastards!" With that roar, he led his followers and charged in pursuit! Tiangu and his cohort stood stunned for a moment. Although Tiangu had harbored suspicions, he hadn't anticipated Yueluo and Yue Xiao would flee so decisively. In an instant, the entire host surged in pursuit! Yu Qing's expression shifted before she swiftly followed suit. Whether to kill Yueluo and Yue Xiao was a question for later, but she had to keep up. Myriad thoughts raced through her mind—trouble had arrived! Yueluo and Yue Xiao had actually fled! Just like that, her side had lost two Celestial Venerables. ... At the same time. Su Yu swiftly transmitted: "Pursuing them is just a pretext to draw Yu Qing and the others away. We cannot kill anyone back there; more deaths might summon another expert from behind the Hell Gate! Once we are far from that place, we will join forces against Yu Qing's group! Even if we can't kill Yu Qing, we can slaughter those Celestial Venerables. No matter how strong Yu Qing is alone, she won't be able to handle all of us!" Tiangu cursed under his breath. What a sinister bastard! Su Yu never had good intentions. Yet right now, Su Yu was in high spirits. Running was good; running was the best outcome! If they hadn't run, that would have been the real headache. Now that they had fled... and straight into the depths of the chaos, it meant someone might truly be there to receive them—namely, Zhou Ji! He led his forces in hot pursuit, putting on the appearance of being resolved to kill them at all costs. He bellowed, "They must be heading to rendezvous with Zhou Ji! Zhou Ji is in the depths of the chaos; on no account must we let them meet... Hundred Battles' faction is already too strong. Adding two more Celestial Venerables will only make them stronger. We must kill them no matter what!" Su Yu continued to disrupt the field, roaring, "Yu Qing, those are your traitors! You're a Ruler of Rules—can't you even catch up to them?" Behind them, Yu Qing trailed along with her people, keeping her speed moderate. Hearing this, she furrowed her brow without answering. If she truly gave chase, she could certainly catch them. Yet she felt a faint apprehension. She was even tempted to turn back immediately and defend the Sacred Race's territory. However, if she didn't pursue, and Yueluo and Yue Xiao met up with this Zhou Ji, and Su Yu's group reached some sort of agreement with them... holing up in her territory would prove disastrous. "Perhaps... I can use this opportunity to negotiate a cooperation!" Having reached this point, Yu Qing understood that Yueluo's betrayal spelled immense trouble. If that Zhou Ji truly possessed the strength of a Ruler of Rules... an alliance might be possible! First stabilize her own side, then take it from there! The host flew swiftly toward the depths of the chaos. Ahead, Yueluo and Yue Xiao fled at desperate speed, heedless of anything else. Yueluo's face was dark with hatred. Su Yu! She would remember this! They should have killed Su Yu long ago. Hundred Battles had insisted that he couldn't be killed—at least not yet. The result was that Hundred Battles exercised restraint, while Su Yu had no scruples whatsoever. "Faster!" Yueluo swept up Yue Xiao with her energy. Yue Xiao had been injured previously, and his speed was flagging, which alarmed Yueluo. She could only drag him along, fleeing frantically into the depths! ... Behind them. Su Yu led his followers in pursuit. Yet he rapidly transmitted to all factions: "Tiangu, God Imperial Consort, we will handle Yu Qing! With so many of you, take on Yue Zhan and the others—counting the Demons, there are only five of them! If you don't slaughter them all, the ones facing trouble next won't be me! Chaos Dragon and Eight-Winged Tiger will handle Yue Zhan; the myriad races will handle the Demons and the twins. If you still can't kill them... you might as well go die! The situation is growing more perilous by the second, and the danger isn't mine!" None of them replied. In the next instant, Su Yu wheeled around and smashed a colossal hammer forward, roaring, "Kill!" Boom! Yu Qing thrust her spear forward. With a tremendous blast, she shattered Su Yu's hammer. Her brow furrowed. "As expected! Su Yu, you are a fool. Doing this will only benefit others. Knowing Hundred Battles' faction is so formidable, unless you are willing to bow your head and submit... you and I are the ones who should join forces right now!" "Heh, I couldn't care less about that!" In an instant, the six powerhouses on Su Yu's side surged forward. Leibao had already fallen to the rear, abstaining from the fight. Now, the six swiftly joined forces and assaulted Yu Qing. Yu Qing's expression changed. Were these lunatics truly going to hand the advantage to someone else? She believed that with Hundred Battles' forces surfacing, Su Yu shouldn't be attacking her anymore. What was this idiot thinking? Yet she also recognized the crisis before her! They were down two Celestial Venerables! Damn it! "Retreat!" Yu Qing fell back swiftly. She was fast, but the others were not. In an instant, they were overtaken. Chaos Dragon showed no hesitation this time, tearing through the void in a flash! A colossal tail whipped viciously toward Yue Zhan! Eight-Winged Tiger let out a mighty roar as well. They cared little for either side; all of them were enemies, and none of their deaths were to be pitied. Every dead enemy was one fewer threat. Only by whittling down Yu Qing's experts would the two beasts have a chance. These two ancient beasts had initially prepared to take on a Ruler of Rules; their combat power was far greater than expected. Chaos Dragon alone, with a single lash of his tail, sent Yue Zhan staggering back several paces. Only now did Chaos Dragon reveal his full might, roaring, "Kill!" Eight-Winged Tiger flapped his wings and materialized beside Yue Zhan in a flash. Yue Zhan's expression shifted drastically. He was exceptionally powerful—previously, even when Rimian and the God Imperial Consort joined forces, they had only managed to fight him to a draw. Yet now, Chaos Dragon alone was locked in an intense struggle against him, not to mention the presence of Eight-Winged Tiger. Yue Zhan roared in fury, "You madmen! If Hundred Battles' side could make Yueluo and Yue Xiao betray us, their strength is surely beyond imagination—" "Kill!" Boom! A massive battle erupted in an instant! At this moment, Tiangu took a deep breath. Regardless of the broader picture, killing enemies was never wrong. Those foes were all human powerhouses; the myriad races were the weakest party in this war. One fewer enemy meant one less threat! Tiangu barked, "Give it your all! All Heavenly Kings and Dao Integrators, attack!" From the rear, over a hundred Dao Integrators struck in unison! The myriad races still possessed more than a dozen Heavenly Kings! Two or three Heavenly Kings combined could match a Celestial Venerable! Figures like Rimian and Marquis Sheng were exceedingly powerful. Right now, their opponents numbered only four: two Demons and the twin Celestial Venerables. With Yu Qing and Yue Zhan tied down, if they couldn't even finish off these four, they truly would be utterly useless. "Kill!" Rumble! The clash erupted with earth-shattering fury! ... As for Yu Qing, she could have fled, but once Yue Zhan and the others were pinned down, she could not leave. She halted her retreat, and Su Yu's group instantly encircled her. Yu Qing's face was icy cold! "Su Yu, your choice is utterly foolish! Even if you kill them, what of it? The Hell Gate is already open! The powerhouses of the Sacred Race will continue to pour forth in an endless stream. You are merely cutting off your own path of retreat!" Su Yu smiled. "Is that so? To be honest, I just want to test how strong a Ruler of Rules—a true Ruler of Rules—actually is! Yu Qing, do you walk the myriad Daos, or the Chaos Dao?" Yu Qing frowned. "You will know soon enough!" With those words, her spear struck out! Chaos! Su Yu instantly understood: Yu Qing walked the Chaos Dao! With this thrust, heaven and earth seemed to revert to primordial chaos—mighty, invincible, terrifying beyond measure. It was a difference in fundamental tier! As the spear shot forth, chaotic power swept outward like a tidal wave. Su Yu slashed his saber forward; the blade shattered, yet the spear pressed on undeterred! In the next instant, San Yue and the others struck together! Six great powerhouses unleashed their might simultaneously. Giant Axe's axe phantom was shattered instantly, and San Yue's giant bamboo was pulverized by the spear tip! Tongtian Marquis displaced the spear's force, Fat Ball devoured the chaotic power, and Tianming pointed a finger forward, deflecting the spear's trajectory slightly. Fat Ball stomped down hard with the boot, finally dissipating the spear projection! All six felt their hearts clench! She was too strong! Su Yu and Fat Ball were formidable combatants, yet even with all six combining their might, they had only managed to break a single spear strike! Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "A Ruler of Rules... truly is stronger than I imagined!" "Die!" The spear surged forward with even more intense killing intent, stabbing straight toward Su Yu. Su Yu's aura erupted instantly as the myriad Daos integrated into his flesh, his physique expanding. Gripping his great saber, he cleaved downward! Boom! This time, Su Yu's blade did not shatter so easily! The fierce battle raged on. Yu Qing had no desire for an extended fight. Trading blows with Su Yu's group, she urgently transmitted, "Fall back! Retreat! Do not engage in a war of attrition..." They wanted to retreat! Yet how could they? There was no way out! There were simply too many enemies! Not only were there twice as many Celestial Venerables, but a swarm of Heavenly Kings and Dao Integrators had joined the fray. Only now did they truly understand what it meant for a horde of ants to gnaw an elephant to death! The twin Celestial Venerables roared furiously, but they were besieged by two supreme beings, Rimian and Marquis Sheng, while Celestial Venerable Ming and Heavenly Venerable Feng struck with full force beside them. Four powerhouses, supplemented by over a dozen Heavenly Kings, battered the twins until their defenses teetered on the verge of collapse! Despair engulfed the twins! They had never imagined that even after Sovereign Yu Qing emerged, the situation would still deteriorate to this! Suddenly realizing something, the two let out synchronized roars. Connected in mind and spirit, completely crazed, they burned everything they possessed and hurtled back toward the Prison King lineage's territory. The myriad races' powerhouses pursued in hot haste. Su Yu moved to intercept them, but after a glance, he frowned slightly and held back! The Prison King lineage wanted to summon another powerhouse! He could see right through it! Still, let them die if they wished; let another emerge if it must. If things were going to be chaotic, they might as well become even more chaotic. Just as the thought crossed his mind—Boom! Two massive explosions reverberated through heaven and earth! The moment the twins drew close to the Prison King territory, they self-detonated simultaneously. The blast instantly annihilated multiple Heavenly Kings and Dao Integrators nearby, sending a terrifying shockwave sweeping across the firmament! A torrent of immense power erupted, only to seep rapidly into the void and vanish. Deep within the Prison King territory, the previously quiet Hell Gate shuddered faintly. Behind the gate, the voice of an ancient entity rumbled: "I want out! Su Yu has killed me twice; I will tear him to pieces!" "Polong... aren't you afraid your true body will perish as well?" "Humph!" The Polong Beast paid no heed. This time, he was getting out! He would emerge and butcher those bastards! Of course, the power gathered was not yet sufficient, but the crack in the Hell Gate had widened once more. If a few more died, he would be able to break through! ... The twins had self-detonated! In an instant, two Celestial Venerables had fallen. However, the pursuing powerhouses of the myriad races suffered heavy casualties as well: a batch of Heavenly Kings and Dao Integrators perished, while Celestial Venerables Ming and Feng were left severely wounded by the blast! Fortunately, Rimian and Marquis Sheng had stepped in to absorb part of the shockwave; otherwise, a Celestial Venerable on their side might have fallen right then and there! On the other flank, the two Demon Celestial Venerables were besieged by Dao Celestial Venerable, Marquis Yuansheng, Dragon Celestial Venerable, Tiangu, and the God Imperial Consort. Celestial Venerable Mo sighed, his voice laden with melancholy. The progression of this war had defied all their expectations! Marquis Ziyun had been slain the moment she arrived; Yueluo and Yue Xiao had betrayed them; Yue Hao had been dispatched in a flash... One unexpected turn after another had caused numerous Celestial Venerables to fall for nothing! Had this not happened, the alliance of the Demons and the Prison King lineage wouldn't necessarily have feared Su Yu and the rest! Yet now... there was no time left for regrets. Motian transmitted, "Mo, go! Hurry to Human Mountain and lead our people in retreat..." "You—" "My death is better than both of us dying! It is all for the Demon race! Perhaps we should never have placed our faith in those who have yet to return, including the Demon Emperor! The newcomers from the lower realm are quite capable; find them and nurture them well... We... are truly too old!" Motian's words carried a bitter resignation. The moment his transmission ended, a violent, berserk aura erupted without warning! Tiangu and the others fell back in alarm. A terrifyingly immense aura detonated—Boom! Another deafening roar shook the cosmos! Taking advantage of the blast, Celestial Venerable Mo tore through the void and fled. Some moved to pursue, but halted immediately: Motian's self-detonation had left Yuansheng critically wounded on the brink of death! Seeing this, Tiangu bellowed, "Do not pursue!" Yuansheng had shielded him from a massive portion of the blast wave; otherwise, Marquis Yuansheng wouldn't have been injured so gravely! In the span of mere breaths, three Celestial Venerables had fallen! Celestial Venerable Mo had escaped! Meanwhile, Yue Zhan roared furiously, sending Chaos Dragon flying with a punch, and bellowed, "Senior Sister, retreat!" Over on the other side, Yu Qing flicked her spear to knock San Yue aside, then swept her weapon to force Su Yu back. Breaking through their encirclement in an instant, she grabbed Yue Zhan, glared coldly at Su Yu and his companions, and sped toward the Hell Gate. Her voice was harsh and chilling: "If you wish to die, come!" The Hell Gate shuddered once more! A mighty aura began to rise. Polong's voice echoed through the void: "Su Yu... just wait until I emerge!" He was nearly out! Motian's self-detonation had also slain several Dao Integrators, and most of Motian's own rule power had been drawn into the gate. The fall of three Celestial Venerables, combined with several Heavenly Kings and numerous Dao Integrators, meant this entity was on the verge of breaking through! Su Yu raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Tiangu and his followers. The myriad races had suffered heavy casualties. Among the Celestial Venerables, Yuansheng, Ming, Feng, Yue, and Dragon were all carrying injuries, and Heavenly Venerable Yue had yet to reconstruct his physical body. Several Heavenly Kings and numerous Dao Integrators had perished. Before Su Yu could speak, Tiangu barked, "Retreat! Return to Myriad Races Mountain and seal the mountain!" With those words, the group withdrew at maximum speed! Su Yu's expression shifted. "Tiangu..." Tiangu didn't even turn his head. "From this day forth, the myriad races seal their mountains! If any faction wishes to fight, we are ready at any time! From this day forth, the myriad races will not initiate war. Anyone who wants a battle... pay for it with your lives!" In the blink of an eye, over a hundred powerhouses departed. Tiangu radiated an imposing aura, showing no intention of negotiating further with Su Yu. Having weakened the Prison King lineage and forced Yu Qing back to the Hell Gate, he refused to fight any longer. He needed to return, construct the defenses around Human Mountain, and hold it securely! These humans were far too deceitful. That bastard Su Yu hadn't even agreed to break the seal, so Tiangu had no reason to cooperate with him further. Taking advantage of the fact that no Celestial Venerable on their side had fallen yet, swiftly healing their wounds, reorganizing their forces, and uniting the different factions was the only way forward for the myriad races! Su Yu couldn't help but curse under his breath! Damn it all! Why run so fast? There was a real chance of joining forces to kill Yu Qing and the others! What a waste! Not far off, Chaos Dragon and Eight-Winged Tiger exchanged glances, then fled swiftly toward the depths of the chaos. Run! They had to beware of Su Yu turning on them! Watching them scatter, Su Yu's expression shifted repeatedly. They had all fled. "Retreat!" Su Yu gave the low order. If they didn't leave now, and Yu Qing and Yue Zhan mounted a counterattack, it would be his turn to suffer. The myriad races and the chaotic ancient beasts were both far too cunning. Now that everyone had scattered, how on earth was he supposed to kill with a borrowed knife? Su Yu let out a sigh. Why did these people have to have brains? Isn't being my tools good enough for you? If you kept me happy, I might not even have turned on you! Honestly!