The Great Battle Begins

King Zhan arrived. He brought with him the Human Sovereign’s plans and intelligence, along with several requests for coordination between both sides. At that moment, King Zhan felt rather uneasy. Su Yu was smiling far too brightly, not looking in the slightest like someone about to risk his life. Not wanting to drag things out, King Zhan waited as Su Yu studied him for a moment before clearing his throat. "His Majesty’s intention is to first intimidate and startle the myriad races, making them believe we are fierce in appearance but cowardly at heart..." Su Yu nodded slightly. King Zhan continued, "Back then, His Majesty suffered severe damage to both his physical body and his sea of will. Now, His Majesty intends to gamble on a single chance—a chance to wipe out the myriad races by putting everything on the line! Because our human race... has been annihilated in the myriad realms!" Su Yu understood. After a moment of thought, Su Yu asked, "Are you even keeping the human experts in the dark?" "Yes!" King Zhan said in a low, heavy voice, "His Majesty’s meaning is to fight with our backs to the river, burning our bridges! "Our race has perished; our only option left is to fight!" King Zhan's tone grew deeper. "Even Little Sister Xingyue must pretend to be gravely wounded, signaling that... Human Master Su has fallen!" Su Yu nodded slightly. "His Majesty won’t make it too obvious. According to His Majesty’s plan, he will first move to merge with his physical body... but the myriad races will surely notice and try to stop him! The merging of his physical body is precisely the opportunity the myriad races will seize to strike... His Majesty will manufacture this opportunity!" Su Yu nodded once more. "When that time comes, the myriad races will have only two choices. First, press forward with everything they have and engage us in battle! Second, split off a detachment led by a supreme powerhouse to intercept His Majesty’s physical body!" If they chose the first option—pressing forward with all their might and disregarding the physical body—the pressure on the Human Sovereign’s side would be immense. However, King Zhan asserted, "Based on our understanding of the myriad races, they will inevitably divide their forces! No one wants to fight His Majesty once his spirit and flesh are reunited!" In that moment, he carried an air of imperious confidence. No one would dare! Once the Human Sovereign reunited spirit and flesh, even if gravely wounded, a first-rank powerhouse would surely fall by his hand! When that time came, those first-rank experts would definitely divide their forces! Therefore, the Human Sovereign’s side had not even drawn up a contingency plan for the first scenario. Su Yu thought it over and asked, "What if the myriad races choose to hole up like turtles?" That was also a possibility. What if they ignored him and let him reunite spirit and flesh freely? "Then we press forward with everything we have and fight a decisive battle!" King Zhan said gravely, "We will conduct a pre-battle mobilization. The human race is destroyed; our people have perished. With our backs to the river, this will be our final battle. We will not rest until the majority of the myriad races’ experts have fallen! Afterward, our surviving remnants will rout and scatter. When that happens, Human Master Su need only intercept them halfway! His Majesty also said that Human Master Su must not leave the ambush point or come to our rescue. There is no need!" The Human Sovereign’s meaning was crystal clear: do not expose yourselves. Unless the enemy entered the ambush perimeter, even if some of their own people died, they were not to reveal their presence. The moment they were exposed, this ambush would be ruined. Su Yu remained silent for a moment before nodding. "I understand!" King Zhan exhaled. As expected, Su Yu was remarkably sensible. He just couldn't tell whether it was wisdom or cold-bloodedness—though, of course, that was none of his concern. After another brief silence, Su Yu asked, "Once the Human Sovereign merges his spirit and flesh, his injuries will flare up, won't they?" "Yes!" King Zhan nodded. "If it doesn't turn into a protracted struggle, he shouldn't fall... But once drawn into a fierce, prolonged battle, or if things drag on too long on your end, Human Master Su, it will become troublesome. Therefore... my personal request is that if your side can resolve the battle as swiftly as possible... do not delay!" If the fight dragged on, even with spirit and flesh reunited, the Human Sovereign would not be able to hold out for very long. Death would be certain! "Understood!" Su Yu nodded slightly. After considering for a beat, he added, "If the myriad races have any of the Human Sovereign's undercover agents among them, it's best not to herd them toward my side. When that time comes, I will not bother distinguishing them, nor will I stay my hand just because someone claims to be the Human Sovereign's man. "Once the great war breaks out... anyone who trespasses onto my battlefield is an enemy!" Su Yu looked at King Zhan and said sternly, "That includes... your people! I must ask King Zhan to make this clear. Once the battle erupts, none of your people are permitted to step into my battlefield either! If anyone steps in, I will attack indiscriminately!" "What if they come to reinforce you..." "No need!" King Zhan’s teeth ached. *Good grief, what grand airs! What arrogance!* The meaning was unmistakable. *I don't need your reinforcements. I can handle things myself, killing whoever comes.* *On the contrary, I will even guard against you!* *Lest you disrupt my plans!* As for this tone... to be frank, it was quite reminiscent of the Human Sovereign. King Zhan chuckled. "All right then! By the way, on your side, besides me, do you need His Majesty to provide any further support?" *Without me, you guys won't be able to pull it off!* Su Yu smiled and said, "No need. If King Zhan feels things are tight over there, heading back to support them is completely fine too." "..." King Zhan felt Su Yu’s arrogance was getting a bit out of hand. *Without me, you won't be able to hold off a first-rank expert!* *Don't mess around!* Fearing that Su Yu might become stubborn if provoked, he stopped pressing the matter. Otherwise, if Su Yu really dug his heels in and refused all reinforcements, the moment they encountered a first-rank powerhouse, even teaming up with the Martial Emperor and the others wouldn't be enough to match them! Before long, King Zhan said, "That's the gist of it! If... the myriad races don't split their forces according to plan and don't pursue this far, Human Master Su, just remain hidden in ambush!" Su Yu nodded slightly. King Zhan added, "Does Human Master Su have any message to pass along to His Majesty?" Su Yu thought for a moment and smiled. "Tell him not to rush off to his death. If he dies too quickly, the pressure on me will only be greater. If he truly wants to die, he should wait until I reach the first rank." "..." Those words sounded exceedingly bizarre. Yet King Zhan still nodded and said, "I won't come over right at the start. I will only head here once the enemy approaches. Human Master Su has no objection to that, do you?" "None at all. Suit yourself!" King Zhan felt a bit displeased. The way Su Yu put it made it sound as though he were utterly inconsequential. *Forget it, no point squabbling with a youngster.* Soon, King Zhan took his leave. …… Once King Zhan was gone, Su Yu exhaled softly and looked at Xingyue not far away. "How is the channeling coming along?" Xingyue nodded. "Almost there. I can radiate a portion of the world's power over here, using my Dao of Life to transmit it." "That's good!" Su Yu had already sensed it. At this moment, the river rippled faintly; right behind him, the power of his world was extending outward. It wasn't particularly strong! As far as suppressing the myriad races went, it probably wouldn't suffice, but it was enough to place all his subordinates within the world's domain, allowing them to exert the full strength they possessed inside his world. Suppressing opponents also consumed the world's power, and with so many enemies, it would have been difficult to suppress them anyway. Su Yu then looked at Tongtian. Marquis Tongtian wore a look of immense tension; the pressure on him was enormous. Seeing Su Yu glance over, he forced a strained smile. Su Yu smiled as well. "Open a gate. Let everyone head inside to rest, and while they're at it, take a tour to see if your gate conceals a world of its own." Marquis Tongtian smiled wryly. "Your Majesty overestimates me!" By then, everyone was quite curious. Su Yu paid them no further mind, instead turning to the Martial Emperor with a smile. "You and I should prepare as well! We won't go in, lest we burst Tongtian to death!" The Martial Emperor was thoroughly sullen. He knew what he had to prepare for: impersonating King Wu! *Damn it!* *Unbelievable!* *What is there to impersonate about King Wu?* *Can I, the Martial Emperor, not suppress the world myself?* *Fine, I really can't!* "Fine!" The Martial Emperor gave a perfunctory reply. If he had to pretend, then so be it. This time, playing King Wu, he would make it a grand show—maybe portray King Wu as getting pinned to the ground and beaten to a pulp? *Forget it, the one getting beaten would still be me.* "Xingyue doesn't need to join the battle. Just maintain the extension of the world's power!" Xingyue grew somewhat indignant. "I can fight too! I'm not weak; I'm practically approaching the second rank!" It was only because Su Yu's world could not yet support a second-rank existence. Otherwise, she would be a top-tier expert as well. Su Yu shook his head. "Cut the nonsense. What do you know? You're a healer, understand? You're meant to tend to our injuries after the battle so people don't perish or lose the ability to fight on! You must preserve your strength and focus on maintaining the extension of our world's power... To be blunt, if something happens to you and the power fails to reach this place, all of us could die!" Su Yu turned grave. "In this battle, you and Tongtian are the most vital! If either of you makes a mistake... our side will surely suffer catastrophic losses! Throughout all my campaigns, my losses have always been minimal. I don't want to lose face in our very first battle under the Human Sovereign's gaze! "Zero casualties, or wounded without fatalities! That is my goal!" Everyone fell silent. Wounded without fatalities! One had to realize just how many formidable foes they would be facing this time. Su Yu said calmly, "Do your utmost. Follow me, and I will do everything I can to keep everyone alive. However... I do not want anyone cherishing their own life in the heat of battle! If you fight without holding back, I will exert every ounce of my strength to heal the survivors afterward! But if you hold back out of self-preservation and cause the battle lines to collapse... even if the enemy doesn't kill you, I will strike you down myself! "Everyone, this is not the first time you have fought alongside me. However... none of us have ever experienced a large-scale battle between Rulers of Rules, myself included. We lack experience in this regard... but that doesn't matter. In essence, it is all the same; it's simply that the power wielded through the Daos is stronger! "This time, let the myriad races see, and let the old seniors like the Human Sovereign see, just how formidable we are in battle!" Su Yu declared loudly, "They think the rear was utterly peaceful, that we were merely playing petty games back there... They are dead wrong! In the rear, the grand battles we experienced far outnumber theirs! We have taken part in clashes involving legions of millions, even tens of millions—battles the Human Sovereign and his peers have long lacked the opportunity to witness! "We may very well have killed more people than they have in their entire lifetimes! "From my youth to adulthood, I grew up watching Mansion Master Xia Longwu sever heads... I imagine few of them could ever have had such an experience!" In the crowd, Xia Longwu finally cracked a faint smile. Those words... were not false! Su Yu was young. More than ten years ago, Xia Longwu had begun publicly broadcasting his beheadings of enemies. Back then, Su Yu had just reached the age of memory, so he truly had grown up watching him lop off heads. Some of the others, unaware of this history, looked quite surprised. *Xia Longwu... this quiet fellow, was really that ferocious?* *Letting people watch him chop off heads every day?* Su Yu continued, "One more thing: aside from my direct orders, Tongtian will direct the movements in this battle! Every one of you has been marked with his gate imprint. When he teleports you, do not resist! Even if you see a comrade on the verge of death, do not rush to rescue them without authorization! Have you all heard clearly?" Everyone exchanged glances before barking in unison, "Understood!" Tongtian would direct this battle! The moment those words fell, beads of sweat dripped from Marquis Tongtian's brow. He was genuinely terrified. *I'm just a gatekeeper. To direct a clash involving dozens of Rulers of Rules—how could I not be nervous?* He swallowed hard and hurriedly said, "In this battle, Tianming and Destiny Emperor will observe fortunes while I handle the transportation. The three of us will judge the overall situation together while His Majesty oversees the entire board! I will certainly do my utmost; everyone, just cooperate with me!" Beside him, Tianming and Destiny Emperor were equally nervous, keeping their mouths shut. Su Yu chuckled and reassured him, "What is there to be nervous about? The more nervous you are, the easier it is to make a mistake! If things reach a critical juncture, I will take over. There's no need to worry!" Only then did Marquis Tongtian feel slightly relieved. Su Yu added, "Furthermore, I will appear in the guise of King Wen. Remember this well: when we show ourselves, address me as King Wen... Don't slip up! Strike at their hearts first and awe the myriad races!" Understanding his intent, everyone nodded in agreement. "That will be all! Everyone, head inside!" Tongtian opened his portal, and the group filed in without delay. Su Yu then looked at Marquis Tongtian. "You will lie in ambush right here, sinking into the river waters. Remember, do not make the slightest movement, do not probe, and do not listen. Only when the Martial Emperor and I show ourselves and awe the enemy... will you emerge. Everyone will focus their strikes on one or two Rulers of Rules! Ten against one, ensure their absolute destruction! Do not be greedy!" Tongtian nodded vigorously! He burned Su Yu's instructions into his mind and promptly submerged himself into the riverbed. Tongtian's true form was unique. Ordinary people plunging to the riverbed would be battered by the currents; even Human Mountain, where the Human Sovereign's physical body rested, suffered wear from the river's scouring. Yet Tongtian remained completely unharmed. The Human Sovereign and his followers currently dwelled atop their continent, which was actually quite unusual—a floating bridge forged from a special rule power. Under normal circumstances, nobody would venture deep into the river currents. The peril was simply too immense! Yet Tongtian was unaffected, a trait Su Yu had previously tested. Sure enough, as Marquis Tongtian sank into the depths, he suffered no ill effects. Su Yu harbored a vague suspicion that these portal-type beings might be connected to the Master of Time—perhaps these gates were born directly of the River of Time itself! A manifestation of a unique rule! Perhaps they had originally been one and the same. Su Yu then turned to Xingyue, who had remained outside, and said solemnly, "Fall back to the rear and maintain the extension of the world's power. Keep your distance from us!" Xingyue said gravely, "Perhaps I should still join the fight; I can heal everyone on the spot..." "Healing in the middle of a massive battle? Are you looking to die?" Su Yu shook his head. "Wait until after the fight. Go!" "I..." "Obey orders!" Su Yu's expression turned stern. Xingyue was somewhat disgruntled, but she obediently turned and walked backward, muttering as she went, "You're supposed to be my subordinate, yet you dare order me around..." Even as she complained, she complied dutifully. Su Yu's temper was terrifying when provoked. Watching her retreat, Su Yu shook his head. *I was merely indulging you back then, and you took it seriously!* Su Yu then led the Martial Emperor toward the rear. As they walked, Su Yu's appearance began to shift—truly shifting. His facial features blurred; he hadn't asked what King Wen looked like, for there was no need. Powerhouses were recognized by their presence! Su Yu reached out and grasped the air, conjuring a brush into his hand. It was the power of the Brush Dao. Even though he had relinquished that Dao, it was currently controlled by his own people, and his world also contained traces of it, making it easy enough to draw upon a portion of its power. Holding the brush like a spear, he carried it casually at his side. Meanwhile, the Martial Emperor grudgingly changed his appearance as well, altering his attire. His golden armor vanished, leaving his upper torso bare, complete with a thick thicket of chest hair sprouting across his chest... The Martial Emperor's facial features shifted slightly as well. In terms of aura... there wasn't a massive change, though he appeared considerably more ferocious. With one impersonating King Wen and the other King Wu, the resemblance was uncanny! A long spear materialized in the Martial Emperor's grip. Baring his teeth in a savage, chilling grin, he glared fiercely at Su Yu. Su Yu glanced back at him. The Martial Emperor sneered, "That bastard Taishan is just like this—scowling and fierce all day long!" Su Yu chuckled. Was that so? Fair enough! The Martial Emperor was indeed intimately familiar with King Wu, having nursed a grudge against him for countless years. The two were quite similar in temperament, making the disguise exceptionally convincing. His aura stood at the second rank, which King Wu had also been back in the day—though King Wu was certainly far stronger now. Still, being newly entered into the second rank, he was comparatively on the weaker side. Su Yu instructed, "There's no need to deliberately expose your aura to look as though you're on the verge of death. Just reveal a second-rank aura. We have just fought our way out of the Heavenly Gate, understand? Put some blood on yourself..." Under Su Yu's guidance, bloody gashes soon surfaced across the Martial Emperor's body, dripping with gore to give him a somewhat weakened appearance. Su Yu, on the other hand, made no changes to himself. A man like King Wen would never show weariness even if grievously wounded; his white robes would remain pristine as snow. That was an absolute certainty. Scholars were all the same—none would allow outsiders to look upon them as a laughingstock. A scholar's dignity! Having reached this point, Su Yu's preparations were complete. All that remained was luck—a gamble on fortune! There must not be too many first-rank powerhouses. If only one came, Su Yu was confident. By borrowing Gui's strength and combining it with the radiation of his world, Su Yu could barely wield the might of a first-rank expert. He alone could deal with one first-rank opponent; even if he couldn't kill them, he could hold them off. With the Martial Emperor, King Zhan, and the others present, they could also hold back several second-rank experts, especially given King Zhan's considerable strength. As for the others, once bolstered by the world, there were plenty of third-rank combatants among them. The real fear... was that more than one first-rank expert would come! That would mean immense trouble! For that part, everything depended on the Human Sovereign's side. Could the Human Sovereign hold off the bulk of their first-rank powerhouses? Su Yu looked forward. In the distance, he seemed to glimpse that towering projection. *Human Sovereign, are you ready?* …… The Human Continent. The Human Sovereign's phantom looked back toward the rear as well. Behind him stood a assembly of powerful experts. Each bore a solemn expression. The Human Sovereign had gathered everyone, even recalling the scouts on patrol. Was war truly about to break out? At this moment, the Human Sovereign spoke, his voice calm: "The battle is upon us!" Everyone's expressions hardened! No one spoke, waiting for his next words. The Human Sovereign continued, "Xingyue left earlier; do you all know?" Some nodded. "She was injured!" The Human Sovereign remained impassive. "Disaster has struck the myriad realms. Su Yu appears to have fallen. Our human race... is likely annihilated!" The moment those words fell, the crowd's auras roiled violently! *How could this be?!* Yet still, no one interrupted. The Human Sovereign went on, "Now, there is only one path before us... take the offensive, crush the myriad races, and fight our way back to reinforce the myriad realms! Otherwise, the moment we depart, those bastards will encircle us from behind. If trouble strikes the myriad realms... we will be besieged on both fronts!" At this point, someone spoke up. A female general of terrifying ferocity stepped forward. With crimson hair, a savage aura, and a massive cleaver in hand, she said in a gruff voice, "Your Majesty, is this battle... the decisive one?" "Yes!" The Human Sovereign looked at the formidable woman and smiled faintly. "King Zhenwu, I... may not have the chance to take you to find Taishan after all." King Zhenwu was not among the original Thirty-Six Kings. She had only been conferred the title in recent years. She was King Wu's chief companion, a supreme powerhouse of the first rank. In this realm, her status was exceedingly exalted, second only to the Human Sovereign, King Ming, and a few others. That fierce woman exuded an unbridled aura. While not uncomely, her physique was extraordinarily burly. Hearing this, she snorted, "It doesn't matter; I'll just treat him as dead! Since Your Majesty wishes to fight... then with that deadbeat absent, we shall take the field in his stead. Our King Wu's Manor committed a grave transgression back then; today, we sisters will march in his place and surely sever the enemy chieftains' heads!" Murderous intent surged! Having fought her way from those ancient days to the first rank, King Zhenwu possessed a bloodlust heavier than many of the Human Kings present. Back then, King Wu had committed a massive blunder by exposing King Wen's departure, triggering upheavals across the myriad realms. To atone for King Wu's sin, the female warriors of King Wu's Manor had fought ceaselessly over the years. All eighteen of King Wu's companions had chosen to follow the Human Sovereign into war! By now, half of them had fallen in battle! Those who remained were all Rulers of Rules, supreme existences. Out of the fifty-two Rulers of Rules, King Wu's Manor accounted for a staggering nine! The Human Sovereign laughed! "King Zhenwu, a heroine among women, yielding nothing to any man!" The Human Sovereign chuckled. "A pity that fellow Taishan isn't here. Otherwise... today I would certainly make him apologize to you sisters-in-law. To rescue that second Wen brother, he abandoned his own wives without a second thought... is he even human?" The crowd suddenly burst into laughter! The Human Sovereign smiled as well. "Prepare yourselves and await the return of my physical body! My body has been wounded for countless years... today, it is time for us to become one. Today, we shall turn heaven and earth upside down!" "Kill!" The crowd barked in unison, their morale soaring to the skies! With the Human Sovereign present, there was no fear! Even against countless formidable enemies, they remained undaunted. As long as the Human Sovereign stood, they were invincible. No matter how many foes there were! …… Meanwhile. On the Myriad Races' Continent, several experts suddenly felt a twinge of dread. "The murderous aura opposite us... is terrifyingly heavy!" "Are they truly going to fight?" "Have they gone mad? Their numbers are less than half of ours—are they trying to bluff us?" "..." Despite their bewilderment, the experts assembled swiftly. At that moment, the Immortal Emperor of the Immortal race stepped forward—a figure of transcendent grace, with snow-white hair yet an exceedingly handsome countenance. Looking at the assembly, then toward the opposite side, he furrowed his brows slightly. In his eyes, the sun and moon seemed to revolve, and the world overturned. His ethereal voice rang out: "The enemy is poised for battle, weapons drawn. Whether it is mere posturing or something else, everyone must be prepared! "Lest we be caught off guard by a surprise attack!" With the Immortal Emperor speaking, everyone nodded. The Immortal Emperor enjoyed immense prestige here. He specialized in the Dao of Longevity and had healed many Rulers of Rules in this place. Without him, the myriad races would never have produced so many Rulers of Rules; everyone held him in deep respect. Beside the Immortal Emperor stood a profoundly sacred middle-aged man with sharp, arched eyebrows and an icy gaze. Looking at the assembly, he said in a heavy voice, "I know that none of you wish to fight to the death at this moment... But should the human race take the initiative to attack, everyone, please cast everything aside and focus entirely on the enemy!" Had it not been for some fearing death, they would have taken the initiative to attack the humans years ago. Everyone preferred passive defense! However, if the human race initiated the war, they had no choice but to fight! Being powerhouses, everyone understood this principle. Soon, someone laughed, "As long as the humans dare move, we will strike them down! Rest assured, God Emperor; we merely hoped to plot further after returning to the myriad realms, seeing as they are on the verge of merging... But if the humans seek death, we will gladly grant it to them!" The God Emperor nodded slightly. "The old rules apply. Once the war erupts, the Immortal Emperor, the Demon Emperor, and I will join forces to contain the Human Sovereign! The rest of you... find your own opponents!" In the past, during smaller skirmishes, this had always been the arrangement. The three strongest would team up against the Human Sovereign. Of course, most of the time it was merely a standoff; the Human Sovereign's projection rarely took action, yet his mere presence was enough to deter the three great powerhouses! No one had any objections. Even if those three didn't directly kill him, agreeing to shoulder the burden of the Human Sovereign was enough... It was the Human Sovereign everyone feared; as for the other human Rulers of Rules, even King Ming did not inspire much dread. At this moment, the three supreme experts exchanged glances. The Demon Emperor's voice was laced with savagery: "What in the world is the Human Sovereign planning?" None of them could deduce it. Just then, within the ranks, a Ruler of Rules twitched his ears, seemingly listening intently, before suddenly speaking up: "Fellow Daoists, I seem to hear something..." Everyone turned to look at him. A clairaudient! The man possessed enormous ears, from which concentric ripples of sound seemed to emanate continuously. Listening with rapt attention, he said gravely, "Over by the river... yes, further behind in the River of Time, something seems to be rushing this way... The fluctuations are intensely powerful!" Ordinary disturbances were thoroughly suppressed by the Human Sovereign, making them undetectable from this distance. Yet this time, the disturbance was immense. As he listened closely, a piercing laugh suddenly rang out from the opposite side: "Big-Eared Thief, what are you eavesdropping on?!" The sound was shrill beyond measure! *Boom!* Ripples of Dao resonance surged forth like a tempest. The large-eared expert's face shifted slightly. The next instant, the Demon Emperor threw a punch—*boom!* A deafening explosion rang out! A wave of Dao resonance shattered! The Demon Emperor barked coldly, "Seeking death! King Yin, you dare take the initiative to attack!" One of the Thirty-Six Human Kings! A veteran Human King! Words aside, strange looks crossed everyone's eyes. The enemy was trying to conceal something. In the depths of the river behind them, something was rushing toward this place with tremendous fluctuations. What could it be? A powerhouse? Reinforcements had arrived for the human race? Even the Human Sovereign couldn't suppress the commotion. If it was a powerhouse, it would be terrifying! If not a powerhouse, what else could it be? For a time, anxiety rippled through the ranks. The God Emperor said in a deep voice, "Ju'er, keep listening! Bamu, look and see if you can spot anything!" Within the crowd, a figure abruptly opened his eyes—eight eyes in total! Divine radiance erupted from all eight eyes, piercing forward through heaven and earth, cutting across the Great Dao River. He gazed deep into the distance. After a moment, he caught a vague glimpse of something. Just as he tried to look closer, a figure on the opposite side revealed a single vertical eye hovering on his forehead, flashing with golden radiance. With a thunderous boom, the eight eyes clashed with the golden beam, and both figures took a step back. On the human side, a handsome youth sneered, "Bamu, what are you trying to see? How about I show you?" Savagery instantly flashed across Bamu's eight eyes. "King Tong, this emperor would truly like to test your Three-Eyed Golden Pupil to see whether your solitary eye is superior, or my Eight-Eyed Divine Pupil!" "You'll find out soon enough. Didn't you already test it several times before?" The handsome youth sneered, utterly fearless. Having fought for countless years, he had no reason to fear Bamu. Ignoring him, Bamu turned back and said with extreme gravity, "Everyone, something is amiss. I faintly saw... a mountain!" A mountain? The crowd froze. What mountain? Bamu explained hurriedly, "It looked like a mountain advancing in this direction, radiating dazzling golden light! I only caught a brief glimpse, yet it felt utterly terrifying!" Everyone's hearts tightened. Though Bamu was not among the very strongest, he still possessed the strength of a third-rank Ruler of Rules. Yet even a fleeting glimpse had felt terrifying to him. Meanwhile, the opposite side had been frantically concealing it. While covering their tracks was ordinary behavior, today it seemed extraordinarily abnormal! In truth, Bamu had seen more than just the mountain; he had vaguely caught sight of two figures as well. But the vision had been too blurry for him to determine whether they truly existed. After some thought, he chose not to mention them for now. He wanted to confirm it first. Otherwise, if false information triggered a full-scale war and led to the fall of a Ruler of Rules, the blame would be too immense to shoulder! On the other side, the large-eared expert said heavily, "A mountain? Why does it sound to me... like a person on the march?" A mountain, a person... In that instant, the God Emperor and the others exchanged glances. A moment later, the God Emperor's expression shifted slightly as he murmured, "A mountain... a person... everyone... what do you think it is?" The Immortal Emperor's eyes flickered as his fingers twitched in divination. Suddenly, his expression altered drastically: "Could it be... his true body is arriving?" "What?!" The powerhouses grew instantly solemn, understanding what he meant. *It couldn't be!* The Human Sovereign's true body had been missing for countless years. Everyone surmised that he had suffered grave injuries and gone into hiding to recuperate, concealed either beneath the continent or deep within the river. Yet now, hearing the Immortal Emperor's words, everyone became profoundly grave. Ever since the Human Sovereign's true body disappeared, battles had occurred, but they were predominantly small-scale skirmishes. Total war was exceedingly rare, and few Rulers of Rules had fallen in recent years. What in the world... was the human race planning? "If his true body is coming... this will be a bloodbath!" The Demon Emperor turned grave as well. "Was the human race truly wiped out?" At that thought, he spun around abruptly and barked, "Observe the human race's fortune!" Within the crowd, another sovereign swiftly channeled the power of his Dao. A pale white sheen coated his eyes as he abruptly gazed toward the human side. At a single glance, he froze, momentarily losing his composure, before his pupils suddenly ruptured with a burst of blood! From the opposite side came a frigid shout: "Courting death?!" Meanwhile, the expert with ruptured pupils cried out in disbelief, "Wrong... something is terribly wrong... The human race's fortune... seems to have... lost its roots!" *Boom!* The auras of the surrounding experts erupted to their peaks in an instant. What? Lost its roots? "It has... it has lost its roots... like rootless duckweed... The human race... has been wiped out!" In that moment, even the expert who uttered those words was filled with terror. The human race... was actually destroyed! Those clansmen back in the myriad realms were far too ruthless. With the human race exterminated, the humans here would certainly sense it. This was... forcing the human race into a fight to the death! In an instant, the expressions of every expert warped completely. The human race was gone! Panic seized everyone. The expert observing their fortune had indeed seen correctly. There was no other explanation: the human race's fortune—or rather, the fortune of the ancient human race—had indeed been severed. The moment the Warden of Heaven was integrated into Su Yu's world, it had been cut off. As for the humans of today, they only recognized Su Yu; who among them knew the Human Sovereign? The fortune of the human race was currently congregating within Su Yu's world! Thus, the Human Sovereign and his followers had truly become rootless duckweed! All at once, the Immortal Emperor's face drained of color, turning unimaginably grim. "Prepare for battle! Decisive battle! A fight to the death!" The human race had been wiped out! Everyone was struck with sheer horror. No wonder the opposite side was acting so strangely. Several new Rulers of Rules had recently emerged among the myriad races—could it be that they had slaughtered all the humans during this period? Several powerhouses couldn't help but curse under their breath! Slaughtering the entire human race... wasn't that driving the Human Sovereign and his people utterly insane? "It is his true body coming!" The Immortal Emperor abandoned all remaining hope, stating with absolute gravity, "Separation of spirit and flesh... I understand now. He intends to reunite his spirit and flesh! His injuries may not be healed, but... he wants to fight us to the death!" Those words sent a chill through the entire assembly! The God Emperor's face shifted as well. "He wants to merge his spirit and flesh. What is coming is his physical body..." He looked toward the others, his eyes hardening. This battle could no longer be avoided! Because their kin in the myriad realms had been too ruthless, exterminating the human race! Fearing attacks on both fronts and having lost his people, the Human Sovereign had likely gone mad. Therefore... The God Emperor and the others reached a consensus in an instant: "The three of us will besiege and kill the Human Sovereign! The Dragon Emperor and Phoenix Emperor will surround and slay King Ming! Nether Emperor, lead a force... thrust through their lines and intercept the Human Sovereign's physical body before they can merge!" In that breath, the leaders reached complete unanimity! They had to strike proactively and prevent him from reuniting spirit and flesh! Under normal circumstances, the Human Sovereign would not take the initiative to attack. But today, having learned that the human race was truly destroyed, this battle was inevitable! "Kill!" With a furious roar, the experts across the continent surged forth in unison! Knowing that battle was unavoidable, the myriad races chose to strike first! At the very same moment, the Human Sovereign's side could conceal it no longer! In the depths of the river behind them, an immense, colossal mountain suddenly manifested. The mountain began to fissure, and brilliant golden light illuminated the entire River of Time! Within that colossal peak, a powerhouse draped in golden robes abruptly emerged. The moment this physical body appeared, the river's flow ground to a halt! Yet upon that body were countless wounds that had failed to heal even after endless eras. At this moment, the Human Sovereign's voice resounded across the expanse, brimming with majesty, fury, and murderous intent, shaking heaven and earth! "The myriad races have wiped out my human race! This battle is a fight to the finish! "Everyone, follow me into battle!" *Boom!* Waves of terrifying auras erupted to their absolute limits in an instant! The great war had broken out! Yet the Human Sovereign's phantom did not charge forward; instead, he flew rapidly toward the rear, intent on merging his spirit and flesh. King Ming's thunderous roar echoed through the void: "Hold off the myriad races! Allow His Majesty to reunite spirit and flesh and slaughter the enemy!" "Understood!" Furious bellows shook the skies as the human powerhouses erupted with sky-shattering bloodlust and soaring battle intent! Hold them off! Hold them off! Let the Human Sovereign merge spirit and flesh; once the Sovereign returned, victory would be theirs! "Stop him!" The God Emperor's voice erupted instantly, demanding the Human Sovereign be intercepted! *Wanting to merge? Wishful thinking!* *Previously, we didn't know the state of your true body, but today everyone sees it clearly: completely unconscious, the physical form terribly ravaged. Even so, we cannot allow you to merge!* "The Human Sovereign is grievously wounded; he will surely die in this battle!" The Immortal Emperor shouted, and the morale of the myriad races surged violently! The Human Sovereign was indeed heavily injured! As powerhouses, they could all sense it! "Kill! Slaughter the humans and return to the myriad realms!" "Kill!" "..." Between the two continents, powerhouses clashed in an instant. The power of Great Daos crisscrossed, and the river roiled violently. In this moment, the entire River of Time seemed to tremble! The great war had erupted! …… At this very moment, in the Upper Realm. Sensing that faint tremor, King Dazhou, who sat cross-legged before the Hell Gate, suffered a change of expression. The great war... had begun! The Human Sovereign had truly gone mad alongside Su Yu. King Dazhou wore a half-smile that wasn't quite a smile. "Is madness contagious? Even His Majesty was influenced by that fellow... or has His Majesty... truly decided to let him lead the human race?" A sigh escaped him. *Your Majesty, have you truly made your decision?* *So be it, so be it!* *Even the first rank... cannot turn the tides of the overall situation!* *Even if I become a first-rank expert, I cannot change anything.* "Su Yu... you... truly are insane!" King Dazhou began to laugh. A genuine madman. Utterly unhinged! Not long after arriving, he had driven the Human Sovereign to burn his bridges. If he wasn't a madman, what was he? *The spark of the human race... relying on me alone, how could I pass it down?* *I... have no way.* At that moment, he smiled, took a step forward, and stepped directly into Su Yu's world. Chuckling, ten Great Daos manifested around his body—two connected to Su Yu's world, and eight anchored to the River of Time. "What a pity... I... truly can't bear to let them go!" A long sigh carried boundless sorrow. "Su Yu, you bastard turtle, targeting me constantly—did it feel good? "Heh! "Were it not for me, would you even be here today? "Heh! "This old man has guarded the human race for a hundred thousand years. How could an arrogant junior like you understand?! "If I hadn't been cautious and had exposed everything recklessly early on, your ancestors would have died long ago! What right do you have to target me?!" King Dazhou laughed. With a loud *bang*, he severed his Daos, the boundless Dao power instantly integrating into Su Yu's world. In the distance, Lan Tian wore a mischievous grin, busily recording the scene. Just as he began recording, a figure suddenly appeared before him. While severing his Daos, King Dazhou reached out and seized Lan Tian. Lan Tian was just about to mock him—boasting of his countless clones—when King Dazhou swept his hand out. Innumerable great nets manifested, ensnaring countless Lan Tian clones all at once! "You will never understand just how strong I am. With Su Yu absent, you little bastard dare provoke me?" King Dazhou sneered, landing a punch that left one of Lan Tian's clones battered black and blue. The very next instant, every single clone ended up bruised and swollen! Lan Tian's mouth fell open! "This is called the Dao of Thousand Strands—one body transmits to a thousand bodies... Idiot, did you really think you were invincible?" While continuing to sever his Daos, King Dazhou rained savage blows upon Lan Tian! *I'll teach you to sicken me, you little bastard!* *I'll teach you to record images of me cursing Su Yu!* *I'll beat you to death, you bastard!* *While my strength is still formidable, I'll beat you senseless!* *Rumble!* A series of explosive blasts rang out as Su Yu's world expanded rapidly. Meanwhile, over a thousand of Lan Tian's clones appeared, but whenever one was thrashed, all of them suffered, scurrying about with their heads in their hands! It hurt so much! *Holy crap!* *It hurts too damn much!* King Dazhou sneered, "Let me give you something fun—the Dao of Pain, multiplying your sensation of pain a hundredfold! "And a little extra spice, something entertaining... the Dao of Puppetry!" In an instant, all the Lan Tians stood petrified like wooden dolls. The next moment, they cried out in unison, "Grandpa, spare my life!" Complete manipulation! King Dazhou felt utterly refreshed and exhilarated. Pure delight! *I'll teach you to be so arrogant!* *Usually, with Su Yu around, I didn't hit you. Did you really think I had no way to thrash you?* *Heh!* Just as he was reveling in his satisfaction, the next moment, all thousand Lan Tians suddenly transformed into women, kneeling on the ground and pleading tearfully, "Daddy, please stop hitting me! It hurts so much, your humble servant doesn't dare anymore..." "..." King Dazhou's face turned green! *Fuck you!* In that instant, countless onlookers turned to look, only to see King Dazhou holding a whip that had suddenly appeared in his hand, thrashing over a thousand women! The crowd stared with eyes wide. *Holy crap, how scandalous!* King Dazhou's face was livid. He glared at Lan Tian, only to see a glint of mockery in Lan Tian's eyes. "I'm a pervert... but you're an even bigger pervert! Daddy, stop hitting me! If you hit me again, I'm going to take off my clothes!" King Dazhou was struck utterly speechless! In an instant, he severed his remaining Daos and vanished on the spot. He was thoroughly defeated. Su Yu was a lunatic, and not a single person under him was sane! Meanwhile, Lan Tian patted down his clothes, stood up, and chuckled. Looking into the distance at the crowd, he giggled coquettishly, "Stop staring! I was just playing with King Dazhou. King Dazhou is so adorable; I like him... even more than I like Tian Sheng. Look, he even got shy..." A collective shudder ran through the crowd. In an instant, they scattered in all directions. It was simply too terrifying! Yet that scene they had just witnessed was far too explosive! Good heavens, in the blink of an eye, every powerhouse in the entire world was buzzing with gossip, having completely lost interest in the world's expansion. How could that compare to the scandalous spectacle of King Dazhou and Lan Tian playing perverse games in broad daylight?! In the distance, having severed his final Dao, King Dazhou suddenly felt an overwhelming melancholy. He had grown so powerful, yet he had still been disgusted by Lan Tian. Life... was simply unlivable! "Your Majesty... you must achieve victory!" King Dazhou felt an immense surge of sorrow. Catching sight of Lan Tian pursuing him from afar, his whole body shuddered. He fled in an instant. He couldn't kill the fellow, and he had no desire to be disgusted to death, so running away was his only choice!