The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  Rumble! Wang Yan had barely spoken when his infantry began to withdraw, maintaining discipline and formation as they fell back.

  The consecutive misses of the Burning One’s flames had also attracted the notice of Abu Muslim and Ziyad. Although the Behemoths were not as intelligent as humans, they possessed a terrifying instinct, one comparable to the best martial artists.

  The giant red lizard’s primary attack was its flame spit, which was both extremely fast and accurate. It was absolutely not normal for it to miss twice in a row!

  Both of them deeply frowned.

  But the Behemoth Army was not theirs to command. It was under the direct command of the supreme Caliph of the Arabian Empire, so not even Abu Muslim knew of its secrets. As a result, he had no way of determining what was happening with the Behemoth.

  But there was no one more shocked at this moment than Masil, deep underground atop his centipede monster.

  The impact of Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy was equivalent to a magnitude-twelve earthquake.

  Masil’s body was still immersed in this enormous shock.

  A Psychic Energy expert! A Psychic Energy expert… he’s actually a Psychic Energy expert!!

  Masil’s eyes felt like they were going to pop out of their eye sockets. He had been able to convince himself the first time that there was no way two formidable Psychic Energy experts could appear on the same battlefield, but Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy strike had completely shattered these hopes.

  How could this be? Just how old is that brat, how old! How could he possess such powerful Psychic Energy!

  I don’t believe it! Never!

  Masil mentally roared.

  Just like martial arts, Psychic Energy emphasized ancient lineages and legacies. Perhaps because this was a world of martial arts, the lineages of Psychic Energy were even older and larger than those of martial arts. It was usually the case that those with formidable Psychic Energy were not very young.

  Masil was born extremely talented, and despite his hunched back and grotesque face, his Psychic Energy was practically unequaled in the Arabian Empire, allowing him to raise and control the Behemoth Army. Even the Governor of Iron and Blood, Abu Muslim, would have to admit his inferiority in this aspect.

  It was precisely because of his exceptionally rare talent that Masil was able to obtain the favor of the Caliph in this empire that revered martial strength.

  But now, Masil had encountered another powerful Psychic Energy expert, one who was much younger than him. This went against everything Masil knew about Psychic Energy experts.

  This world can’t possibly have this many powerful Psychic Energy experts! Just me alone is enough. Everyone else must die! Infidel, you will die! No matter what, no matter the price, I will have you leave your body here!! Masil furiously bellowed in his mind.

  Masil had already held murderous intentions to Wang Chong, out of his own selfishness and for the sake of avenging the three Behemoths, but now, his killing intent had reached its maximum. He didn’t even care about killing Gao Xianzhi, Cheng Qianli, or Wang Yan anymore.

  A powerful Psychic Energy expert was an enormous threat, whether it was to him, his Behemoth Army, or the Arabian Empire. Masil would not permit this world to hold another Psychic Energy expert as powerful as him.

  Chapter 977 - Shadow Pierce!

  Chapter 977: Shadow Pierce!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Roooar!

  All of a sudden, the Burning One, the Reaper, the Consecrated, and the last Behemoth all turned their vicious eyes to Wang Chong, standing in a field of corpses upon a large rock.

  Stompstompstomp! The earth shook as the four Behemoths lowered their bodies and began to charge at Wang Chong, at the same time unleashing their attacks upon him. Fwooom!Blistering hot flames brighter than the sun emerged from the Burning One’s throat. This time, however, their target was not Wang Yan, but the blood-speckled Wang Chong.

  “Ah!”

  The surrounding soldiers cried out in surprise, but this time, it was not just the Tang. The horde of Arab cavalry had also noticed this strange sight and now looked at each other in confusion.

  In the air, Abu Muslim and Ziyad glanced at each other, each noticing that the other had a deep frown.

  This wasn’t part of the plan at all!

  The four Behemoths had cast aside their normal military targets. This was definitely not what Abu Muslim had expected.

  What is that bastard Masil doing?! Abu Muslim inwardly fumed.

  Orders held as much weight as mountains, and as the commander of the army and the East’s infamous Governor of Iron and Blood, Abu Muslim had always been renowned for his strict discipline, cruel demeanor, and iron fist. Any general under his command, no matter their background or ability, not even his own deputy governor, dared to defy his orders.

  But it was obvious from the current situation that Masil was mobilizing the four Behemoths for his own purposes, which made Abu Muslim instinctively displeased. However, Abu Muslim was not someone who let his temper carry him away, and besides, the Tang defense line was broken, their defeat certain. Given the situation, Abu Muslim would not treat Masil as he did others.

  Is it because of that boy?

  Abu Muslim squinted in the direction the four Behemoths were heading and immediately noticed Wang Chong. In a flash, he understood, but there was no more time to think. With black energy coiling around his body, Abu Muslim once more began to attack Gao Xianzhi with all his power.

  Abu Muslim’s desire to kill Wang Chong was no less than Masil’s, but before this, Abu Muslim had to kill Gao Xianzhi, the heart and soul of the Anxi Protectorate army.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  Shockwaves swept through the air as the two figures clashed like competing lightning bolts, leaving behind afterimages of their fight in the air.

  On the other end, as he watched the four Behemoths approach him, Wang Chong swiftly began to take action.

  Rumble! A majestic stream of Psychic Energy swept forth, simultaneously striking all four Behemoths. In this moment, Wang Chong and Masil clashed once more. Wang Chong’s mind was given a minor jolt, but Masil’s consciousness that was attached to the four Behemoths was instantly pulverized and swept away.

  The four Behemoths stopped, confusion in their red eyes. At a loss, they stood around and took measure of their surroundings.

  Just as expected!

  Wang Chong saw his speculations being instantly confirmed.

  This was the first time in Wang Chong’s life that he was fighting with a powerful Psychic Energy expert. His first attack had been on pure instinct, but now, on this third exchange, Wang Chong was getting a better understanding of how to move around Psychic Energy. As he began to get his grips on this power, he realized that this battle might not yet be decided.

  He sensed that he held something extremely crucial to altering the result of the Battle of Talas.

  “Bastard! I can’t fucking believe this!”

  Deep underground, Masil was on the verge of exploding in rage. As the commander of the Behemoth Army, Masil had never failed to control the Behemoths before, but now, that Tang youth had stopped him three times in a row. Despite his prodigious stores of Psychic Energy, he couldn’t exert any of it.

  It felt like he was being directly countered.

  “Impossible! I can’t lose to a brat who hasn’t even started to grow a beard!”

  The murderous intent in Masil’s heart intensified.

  Boom! His formidable Psychic Energy condensed into a sharp tip that stabbed through the ground toward Wang Chong.

  Shadow Pierce!

  This was a powerful psychic technique that Masil had inherited in his capacity as priest of the Arabian Empire and commander of the Behemoth Army. It was a technique capable of easily destroying someone’s soul, and Masil had used it to kill the generals of many countries. Even Imperial Great Generals would be severely wounded by this kind of attack.<
br />
  In the mental domain, the unsightly Masil fully deserved the title of grandmaster.

  Boom!

  Masil’s Shadow Pierce stabbed into Wang Chong’s mind like a sharp sword, but suddenly, an enormous boom resounded through this mental world. Masil realized that his Shadow Pierce had apparently collided with the sturdiest mental barrier in the world. Upon impact, both of them vanished.

  Most shocking of all to Masil was that he could sense a soul in that youth like none he had ever seen before. This soul was powerful, but there were many other strange things about it.

  In Masil’s view, it appeared like several souls layered over each other, but in a strangely harmonious and complete fashion.

  He had never seen such a complicated soul before.

  “Boy, just what are you?” Masil asked in shock.

  Wang Chong was also a little surprised.

  This Psychic Energy expert in hiding was far more formidable than he had imagined, apparently capable of understanding a little of Wang Chong’s true nature, something that had never happened before. But Wang Chong quickly regained his composure. The Stone of Destiny was a secret that no one would be able to discover. As for Masil’s Psychic Energy attack, Wang Chong was someone who could even endure the burden of death, much less some measly mental assault.

  “Haha, don’t speak about these meaningless things. I’ve already found your position. After controlling the Behemoths to kill so many of my men, do you think you can escape?” Wang Chong sneered back.

  Masil should not have used this kind of mental attack with a form. Previously, Wang Chong only knew that Masil was underground, and had no means of determining the exact position. But when Masil attacked Wang Chong, he had also allowed Wang Chong to grasp his trail and trace the attack back to Masil’s exact position.

  “What!”

  Deep beneath the ground, Masil was stunned by these words. But before he had time to ponder these words, he sensed an enormous bolt of Psychic Energy shooting toward him. His face turned ghastly white as he realized that this Psychic Energy was morphing in transit, transforming into a sharp point.

  It bore the exact same appearance as Masil’s Shadow Pierce!

  Boom!

  Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy assault exploded into Masil’s mind with the force of ten thousand jun. There was a silent explosion as both minds were given a fierce jolt. Above ground, Wang Chong clearly swayed.

  Masil was faring little better down below, two streams of blood flowing down his nostrils.

  In a clash of only mental energies, someone of Masil’s abilities had no need to fear Wang Chong, but while Wang Chong was a Saint Martial Tier 8 expert, Masil had a far weaker body. This single mental clash had left his aura in turmoil and his body heavily wounded.

  How could this be possible! Just how did he manage to learn my technique so quickly!

  Masil’s body trembled as his heart chilled. His injuries were secondary compared to the fact that Wang Chong had used his own technique against him, which was simply unacceptable.

  Wang Chong had clearly not already known how to use the Shadow Pierce, or else his attack just now wouldn’t have been implemented through such a primitive method. But a person who could almost immediately comprehend and put into practice the mental techniques of another possessed a talent that surpassed the bounds of Masil’s imagination.

  In Masil’s understanding of the world, such a thing was simply impossible. Not even someone as talented as him was capable of such a feat.

  “Kill! Kill! Kill! Boy, I’ll definitely kill you!”

  Masil’s mind at this time was a little disordered. His pride and conceit had been dealt a heavy blow by Wang Chong’s existence. Without the slightest hesitation, he began to condense his Psychic Energy into dozens of thorns that shot toward Wang Chong like cannonballs.

  “Hmph, a good move!”

  Above ground, Wang Chong stood on the large rock with a fearless expression. This Psychic Energy expert was truly powerful, but no Psychic Energy attack could compare to the immense pressure Wang Chong had already endured from the World Constraint.

  Psychic Energy as vast as the sea burst from the center of Wang Chong’s brow, surging through the earth toward Masil in an assault far more ferocious than Masil’s.

  This had been the first large-scale defeat Wang Chong had experienced in this life, and the pungent smell of blood and the numerous corpses covering the ground created a sharp pain in his heart. And there was no question that today’s defeat was entirely because of the four Behemoths and that mysterious Psychic Energy expert hiding deep underground.

  Abu Muslim and his two hundred thousand Arab cavalry didn’t even come close to this level of strength!

  Masil wanted to kill Wang Chong and delight in his death, but Wang Chong was just as anxious to do the same to him.

  Chapter 978 - Behemoth Fusion Art!

  Chapter 978: Behemoth Fusion Art!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Boomboomboom!

  Deep underground, thirty zhang from the surface, two formidable Psychic Energies were ramming against each other like enraged dragons. These were Psychic Energies of completely different natures, one sinister while the other was staunch and unyielding. Although the earth was not being torn apart by any clashes of Stellar Energy, this fight was no less dangerous.

  A battle of Psychic Energies of this level was enough to make even Imperial Great Generals pale.

  As their minds clashed again and again, the Psychic Energies of both Wang Chong and Masil were battered and bruised. Wang Chong stood unmoving on the boulder, but his face had long ago turned the color of paper.

  But Wang Chong was still a Saint Martial Tier 8 expert, so his injuries were a little less severe than Masil’s. Blood was pouring out from Masil’s nose, eyes, and ears, and even his hunched back was bleeding.

  “Bastard!!

  “I don’t care how it is! I will kill you!”

  Masil was flailing about, his body in a frenzied rage. Masil had a revered status, with all the nobles, governors, and generals showing him respect. In all the empire, no one except the Caliph could order him around. Indeed, he only followed Abu Muslim’s orders because the Caliph had ordered him to do so.

  If not for the Caliph, Masil would have already turned and left. Not even the Governor of the East could think about ordering him around!

  But now, Masil felt utterly humiliated by the fact that some heathen from the east had beaten him into such a state!

  Buzz!

  His eyes spitting flame, Masil took control of the centipede monster and burrowed even deeper into the earth.

  “Mm?”

  Wang Chong’s pupils constricted, his brows rising in surprise at Masil’s actions. But he quickly understood what was going on. Psychic Energy did not have unlimited range. The farther one was, the weaker the attacks would be.

  It was obvious that Masil had come off worse in their contest and now wanted to pull back and get out of range of Wang Chong’s attacks.

  But Wang Chong did not pursue. The underground had always been a forbidden zone for martial artists. Without special techniques, it was very difficult to travel through the earth and do anything substantive against this sort of strange opponent. This was obviously one of the things his opponent had thought about beforehand. The vast majority of Psychic Energy experts had weak bodies and would not go onto the front lines unless they had ways of guaranteeing their safety.

  The urgent task at hand is to deal with these four Behemoths!

  Wang Chong stood on the boulder, his hair and clothes blown here and there by the fierce winds. Though his heart was fraught with concern, he did not allow a single speck of it to show on his face. The army could not be in a more perilous state, with both Abu Muslim and Ziyad having entered the fray.

  The threat of these two alone was oppressive enough, much less together with those four apocalyptic beasts.

  With this th
ought, Wang Chong quickly turned his focus to the Behemoths.

  “Hmph, I didn’t want to use this art! Brat, you forced me to do this!”

  Masil’s voice suddenly came from the ground, ringing in Wang Chong’s mind. At that moment, a surge of Psychic Energy more powerful and vast than any Wang Chong had seen before shot out of the ground. Its target was not Wang Chong, but… the giant ape. Bzzz! In a flash, the Psychic Energy had disappeared into the ape’s body.

  This is—

  So abrupt was the event that Wang Chong’s mind was still in a daze. He was under the impression that his opponent wanted to avoid battle, but it was evident that he was wrong.

  And in a flash, the battle between Wang Chong and Masil became one of a completely different nature. Rooooar! Several dozen zhang behind Wang Chong, the enormous ape known as the Consecrated opened its bloody mouth, all the hairs on its body standing on end and quivering like flames. Its body exploded with energy, a might that could swallow up the heavens.

  “Foul brat, you’re doomed! I’ll swallow you whole!”

  Masil’s voice emerged from the ground one last time before he fell silent. Deep underground, Masil vomited blood, his face shriveling and turning both older and uglier.

  The Behemoth Fusion Art!

  This was a psychic technique recorded on the papyrus containing the method to raise Behemoths. It needed to be used with the Behemoths, and it could only be used by an Arab priest endowed with prodigious Psychic Energy. Even with the Behemoths, that extremely well-developed ancient civilization still had to deal with some incredibly powerful foes.

  The Behemoth Fusion Art was meant to crush such foes.

  And not only was the chance of success in using this psychic art very low, failure would result in severe backlash, even death. Even success required paying a heavy price. The soul would be torn at, one’s Psychic Energy would greatly weaken, and one’s life would also be decreased. Thus, all the Arab priests were very cautious in their use of this technique.

  However, Wang Chong had displayed far too powerful a Psychic Energy, and Masil would not suffer another Psychic Energy expert of this level sharing this world with him. If his position had not been so threatened, he would have never used the Behemoth Fusion Art.