The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

“Heh!”

  Wang Chong chuckled at the Formation Elder’s response.

  “Senior, relax. With such a crucial battle imminent, how could I do anything meaningless? And I will have to trouble Senior with something else after this battle. If the Great Tang wants to win this war, we’ll probably have to rely on you!”

  “Ah!”

  The Formation Elder’s eyes flew open.

  “Is, is… is that true?”

  But after saying this, the Formation Elder knew that he had misspoken. Wang Chong was not the sort of person who would make meaningless plans at a crucial time like this.

  Since that was what he said, he naturally had his reasons.

  The Formation Elder quickly departed. In the hall, Wang Chong took a deep breath and slowly calmed himself down.

  Victory or defeat, we’ll see what happens tomorrow! Wang Chong said to himself. He knew that both the Great Tang and Arabia were using everything they had in this war. This time, the battle would not be so protracted as the Battle of Talas. Both sides were at peak strength and would not permit the battle to drag on for too long. Tomorrow’s battle was bound to be a hellish battle that would come with terrible casualties. Perhaps… both sides would pay an enormous price, but there was no other path!

  “Only one thing left to do!”

  Wang Chong strode out of the hall.

  The northwest was quiet in the darkness. While undercurrents might have been building up power under the surface, everything was calm on the surface.

  Wang Chong stood in the darkness and gazed at the distant and brightly-lit Arab base. Countless figures were shifting around in the darkness, and next to that giant domed fortress, Wang Chong spotted the cauldron.

  Cheng Qianli had been right. The cauldron was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Arab cavalry, and right beneath the cauldron were armored giants holding giant axes and heavy swords that would occasionally bellow into the night in warning.

  As for the bronze cauldron itself… there didn’t seem to be anything strange about it, no emanations of powerful energy. But a moment later…

  Buzz!

  Wang Chong entered the world of energy, and the world before his eyes transformed into one made entirely of energy. Those hundreds of thousands of Arab cavalry disappeared, as did the rolling landscape of the northwest.

  In Wang Chong’s eyes, the Arab cavalry became countless balls of energy linked together into a blazing sea.

  And in this blazing sea, the Arab Governors and Deputy Governors were like dazzling bright moons, with Khatabah and the High Priest standing out most of all.

  Khatabah’s energy was a restless ocean that seemed engulfed in a haze. He was clearly suppressing his energy. The High Priest’s energy was completely different. In the world of energy, he was a lingering black fog that made it impossible for Wang Chong to determine just how strong he was. But Wang Chong knew that the High Priest was not a pure martial artist. His greatest strength was his Psychic Energy, so for him to take this form was not strange.

  Wang Chong quickly turned his attention to the bronze cauldron.

  “Hmph! They used sealing energy?”

  Wang Chong snorted. In his eyes, the massive bronze cauldron was dark and gloomy, completely unlike the Governors and Deputy Governors, making it impossible to see its true power. But upon giving it a closer look, he could still identify web-like slivers of power running across it.

  Wang Chong was no stranger to this power. It was the sealing power of a ritual artifact.

  Bzzz! Wang Chong’s eyes gleamed as he shifted into using his ‘True World’ ability, which was much stronger than seeing through the world of energy.

  As he used this ability, the world again transformed.

  Bang!

  The bronze cauldron instantly became a blazing red pillar of energy that soared out from the center of the cauldron and all the way to the heavens. And Wang Chong saw something else in the domain of the True World that he had not seen before.

  The center of the bronze cauldron contained a frighteningly destructive power, and around the cauldron, the laws of the world showed signs of damage. The energy of the laws were not considered a part of the energy domain, so he had not been able to see this in the world of energy. Without the True World ability, Wang Chong would have never noticed this abnormality.

  Just what is this thing?

  Wang Chong’s pupils constricted, and he grew somewhat wary as his mind began to spin.

  Wang Chong had impressive strength and even greater experience, but not even he had ever seen something as bizarre as this.

  Wang Chong had initially taken that massive cauldron to be some sort of ritual artifact or similar treasure, but it now appeared that he was completely off the mark. The ripples of energy were not coming from the cauldron, but from something inside it.

  Rather than saying that the bronze cauldron was some terrifying ritual tool Arabia had prepared to use against the Great Tang, it would be better to say that it was being used against the thing inside the cauldron.

  The bronze cauldron was a giant cage that shackled the thing within.

  Strangest of all was that if this thing was what Arabia was preparing to use against the Great Tang, it should have been used as quickly as possible, quickly released rather than remaining within that giant cauldron.

  In short, it was all indescribably strange and disconcerting.

  Let me see what kind of trick they’re playing!

  With this thought, Wang Chong stomped forward. The earth trembled as a vast torrent of Psychic Energy surged out of Wang Chong’s mind and poured into the earth. Once it was deep enough, it turned and shot off like a lightning bolt toward the distant bronze cauldron.

  The Arab base was so tightly guarded that one couldn’t even squeeze a needle inside, but there was no way to defend against Psychic Energy.

  Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy was several times greater than those of the same cultivation level. He towered over his peers and had few competitors in this world.

  More importantly, at Wang Chong’s level, a Psychic Energy probe would not be noticed by anyone in the Arab base.

  Buzz!

  The City of Steel was several hundred li from the Arab base. Wang Chong was probably the only person capable of sending out a Psychic Energy probe over such a long distance.

  Boom! Several hundred li went by in the blink of an eye. In the darkness, nobody noticed this immense mental will hurtling through the ground toward the giant cauldron in the Arab base.

  Five thousand feet, three thousand feet, two thousand feet, one thousand feet…

  As it got closer and closer, that existence in the cauldron seemed to sense something, and the energy in the surrounding area subtly shifted.

  A moment later, just when Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy was about to reach the cauldron, boom! A massive torrent of energy shot forward, slamming into Wang Chong’s torrent of Psychic Energy like a steel pillar.

  This Psychic Energy blast was delivered at full strength, and even Wang Chong couldn’t help but shudder, his Psychic Energy seething.

  Chapter 1852 - Enigmatic Phantom!

  Chapter 1852: Enigmatic Phantom!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “Child of Destruction, the time has not yet come. What need is there to be so impatient?”

  The High Priest’s familiar and mysterious voice resounded through Wang Chong’s mental domain.

  Buzz!

  Wang Chong’s face twitched upon hearing ‘Child of Destruction’. He had been heading for the giant bronze cauldron, but at this moment, with a heavy heart, he turned toward the High Priest.

  “‘Child of Destruction’? You’re a member of the Celestial God Organization!”

  Wang Chong’s voice rumbled in the High Priest’s mental domain. At present, the only people who knew the title ‘Child of Destruction’ and associated it with him were the members of the Celestial God Organization, the organization
of the men in black.

  The High Priest had mysterious origins, and not even those in the Arabian Empire knew of his true history. In his memories, Masil had regarded him as a god. Wang Chong had many speculations about who this man was, including that he belonged to the organization of the men in black.

  However, the highest leader of the men in black Wang Chong had interacted with so far was True Lord Yellow Dragon, but True Lord Yellow Dragon and the High Priest resided distantly from each other, one in the east and one in the west. In addition, in terms of appearance, while True Lord Yellow Dragon was powerful, he had the face of an easterner. The Tianfu Divine Lord had also had a typical eastern face.

  With regards to the Celestial God Organization, it only existed in the records of the Book of Paimon. In the west, this organization had vanished without a trace and no longer seemed to exist. Thus, after some thought, Wang Chong had rejected the possibility.

  But to Wang Chong’s surprise, the reality turned out to be completely different.

  “Heh! Yes, but also no.”

  The High Priest’s thoughts came out of the void, the void faint and drifting.

  “Although I know that you are the Child of Destruction, that does not mean that I am a member of the Celestial God Organization, nor does it mean that only members of the Celestial God Organization know your identity!”

  Wang Chong couldn’t help but deeply frown at these words.

  The High Priest spoke in a mysterious tone that made it impossible to extract any useful information from his words. There was just too little known about him. The fact that the High Priest possessed such powerful Psychic Energy but did not excel in martial arts made him completely different from any individual Wang Chong had encountered in the Celestial God Organization.

  “Just who are you?” Wang Chong sternly said. The High Priest was becoming more and more shrouded in fog. If he was not a member of the Celestial God Organization, who was he? Was there a power in the west that was just as powerful as the Celestial God Organization but not a part of it?

  But from the Book of Paimon, it appeared that the Celestial God Organization was an extremely forceful faction. Would one permit another to snore right next to their bed? Would the Celestial God Organization permit an organization to exist in the western world outside of its control?

  After all, the High Priest was strong enough to influence secular authorities!

  Wang Chong found this person far too mysterious!

  “Heh!”

  The High Priest softly chuckled.

  “I will not answer you. Whatever you’re planning, go back. With me here, you cannot succeed. Or perhaps you wish to start the battle early? A major battle will take place soon, but if you want to have the decisive battle now, I will not refuse!”

  Wang Chong deeply frowned. It was practically impossible to tell if the High Priest was telling the truth or speaking lies. He claimed to not mind a match, but that was not necessarily his true intention.

  While Wang Chong also hoped to force out his true strength and explore the depths of his power, he quickly ruled the idea out. The High Priest might have been trying to intentionally provoke him.

  Moreover, he could fight with the High Priest at any other time. There was no need to rush it. As the commander of the army, he had the role of presiding over the center and obtaining victory in tomorrow’s battle.

  But retreating was also not Wang Chong’s style!

  “Since that’s the case, I’ll give you what you want!”

  There was a loud laugh, and before the High Priest could react, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy gathered into a massive sun, radiating immense heat as it hurtled at the High Priest’s Psychic Energy.

  Supreme Art, Blazing Sun!

  Wang Chong used the technique he had once used against Masil. Psychic Energy was formless energy that belonged to the dark and gloomy side, but Wang Chong’s Blazing Sun was bold and upright, completely different from the energy of other Psychic Energy practitioners, and almost all of them would have to fear this technique.

  It was why Masil had been so afraid of Wang Chong back then.

  Boom!

  The two Psychic Energies clashed, and when they did, even the High Priest was forced to grimace. He thought that Wang Chong would be somewhat more restrained in order to be ready for tomorrow’s battle. Instead, he had unreasonably chosen to fight.

  Buzz!

  As the High Priest was momentarily distracted, Wang Chong split off a part of his Psychic Energy and sent it streaking toward the cauldron.

  “Not good!”

  The High Priest hadn’t expected this to be a diversion. Boom! His Psychic Energy instantly obliterated that wayward streak of Psychic Energy, but he had been just a little too slow. At that final moment, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy had been able to reach the cauldron.

  Boom!

  At the moment his Psychic Energy touched the cauldron, Wang Chong was finally able to see the thing within. His world suddenly went dark, and in this dark world, Wang Chong saw a phantom that was even larger and fiercer than a Behemoth, bursting with brutality, insanity, and destructive energy. It seemed to desire the annihilation of all things.

  So great was the chaos and destruction in this energy that Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy was afflicted upon contact, infected with this terrifying darkness and ultimately burned to nothing.

  What in the world was that?!

  Wang Chong was greatly shaken, his mind in turmoil. That massive phantom and the dark world disappeared so quickly that he almost thought it was an illusion, but the impression made in that brief second was far too deep.

  “Child of Destruction, withdraw! You will not have another chance!” the High Priest warned, his Psychic Energy seeping into the bronze cauldron and sealing it. No more energy leaked out, and not even Wang Chong’s True World could see what was within.

  Wang Chong now realized that the seal on the cauldron had been left by the High Priest. It was the only way he could explain the High Priest being capable of controlling the cauldron.

  “Hahaha, High Priest, I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow!”

  With these words, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy receded like the tide. He had gotten enough from this probe. The rest could wait until tomorrow.

  Buzz!

  The darkness fell silent, except for the sound of gusts of wind. The High Priest stood in the base and did not pursue. Meanwhile, Wang Chong quickly returned to the City of Steel.

  Unbeknownst to even Wang Chong, as he was returning to the City of Steel, the Nightmare Beast core that he had obtained from the Origin Immortal Treasury trembled in his bosom as if resonating with the distant cauldron. But a moment later, the Nightmare Beast core went still as if nothing had happened.

  ……

  As the front line in the northwest was fraught with tension, so was the Central Plains behind it. Countless people were keeping a close eye on this battle that would decide the destiny of the Great Tang.

  In the capital, this mood was so thick that many places were still lit in anticipation of an update from the northwest.

  Whoosh!

  At daybreak, a messenger bird finally came from the northwest with the latest news.

  “What? We won the first battle?! Hurry! Hurry! Post this news all over the capital! I’ll pay for the printing expenses!”

  In a large restaurant in the northwest part of the capital, the owner had waited the entire night for news. He was extremely sleepy, with deep bags under his eyes, but this news flooded him with excitement that swept away his fatigue.

  A few moments later, this news was spread throughout the capital.

  Numerous residents of the capital had been waiting throughout the night. The war in the northwest was no longer just a matter for the Bureau of Military Personnel, but for all the people of the realm.

  One hour later, large crowds had gathered in front of the posters, and two hours later, before the markets had even opened, the streets were packed with
people.

  Many of them had black bags under their eyes. It was clear that they had spent many restless nights tossing and turning in their beds.

  These people could not take part in the battle, but all of them had been waiting and supporting in their own ways. The restaurants and tea houses were already open and were treating these early-risers and sleepless citizens at no charge.

  “Won? We won!”

  “Hail the Great Tang!”

  “Hail the King of Foreign Lands!”

  With the night past, the news of victory in the first battle in the northwest began to spread to the common people, and the capital exploded in cheers.

  An army of 3.8 million was a force that the Great Tang had never fought before. The empire was in a precarious situation that left everyone nervous and sleepless. The people were in dire need of a victory like this to raise their confidence.

  Although it was only the first battle, it allowed many people to relax.

  Chapter 1853 - The Opening of the Deciding Battle!

  Chapter 1853: The Opening of the Deciding Battle!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  “It’s too early to relax. The Arabs only lost two hundred thousand soldiers. They still have 3.6 million men. This is barely anything to them. Things still aren’t looking good for the King of Foreign Lands and the Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian.”A few people in the crowd managed to remain rational.“What?! You’re saying that the King of Foreign Lands and the others are still in danger?”“The enemy in the northwest has yet to be eliminated, and the Arab Hierophant Khatabah is still presiding over their army. There’s nothing to relax about! The outcome in the northwest and the Great Tang’s survival all depend on the King of Foreign Lands and the others.”“But that’s as it should be! I believe in the King of Foreign Lands! He could defeat the Mengshe–Ü-Tsang army in the southwest, and kill nearly one million Tibetan, Western Turkic, and Arab soldiers at Talas. In this second war, he’s definitely capable of defeating Arabia again. No matter what, I believe in him!”“That’s right! I also believe in the King of Foreign Lands! Since he was able to defeat the Arab cavalry on the first day, he could wipe out the rest of them. And besides, he has the Crown Prince’s Junior Guardian, the Tiger of the Empire, and also the Beiting Protector-General at his side.”“Regardless, the Arabs are no ordinary foe. What I wouldn’t give to be a powerful warrior so that I could rush to the northwest to join the King of Foreign Lands and fight for the Great Tang!”……In the taverns, restaurants, streets, and alleys of the capital, there were the optimistic and the worried. The war in the northwest had everyone’s attention.At the same time, the Inner Court of the Imperial Palace was also brightly lit, and just as fraught with tension as outside, if not more so.Seventy percent of the Imperial Army had been sent to the northwest, an unprecedented situation for the capital. Most of the Imperial Army now guarding the Imperial Palace consisted of reserve soldiers.“Grand Marshal Bai, Grand Marshal Li, Marshal Zhao, Marshal Wang… almost all the upper echelons of the Imperial Army were sent to the northwest. I wonder how they’re doing? I just hope that they can win in a single battle and the northwest can be settled.”At a high point in the palace, the Imperial Army officers stood side by side and worriedly looked toward the northwest.Unease and fear permeated the Imperial Palace. No one knew what path this unprecedented war would take. They could only wait and believe.At the highest point of the Imperial Palace, at the cold jade steps in front of Taiji Palace, two figures stood, their robes blown about in the wind. As the master of the empire and its most supreme existence, the Sage Emperor had also not slept tonight.“The sun’s coming up.” The Sage Emperor suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.“Yes. The decisive battle will soon begin,” Gao Lishi said, immediately understanding the Sage Emperor’s meaning.Arabia had come with all its power, and the Great Tang had also committed all its resources. This battle would not drag on for very long. Both of them understood that today would be the day when the Great Tang and Arabia decided who was the better.There was a hint of tension in Gao Lishi’s voice.“Gao Lishi, Khatabah is a not an ordinary person,” the Sage Emperor said.“Yes, but neither is the King of Foreign Lands. He is the Supreme Marshal favored by Your Majesty!” Gao Lishi immediately replied.“Heh, you really haven’t changed.”The Sage Emperor smiled.Master and servant, sovereign and subject, had worked together for several decades, and their hearts were practically linked. Gao Lishi was always able to tell what he was thinking.Wang Chong truly was someone he had taken a liking to. The southwest, the northwest, the Rebellion of the Three Princes—Wang Chong had exhibited his strength and passed all his trials.This was the successor he had selected for the Great Tang. Over the last decades, perhaps even the last centuries, there had been no better successor than Wang Chong.“What a pity that he was born several decades late! Otherwise, We would have truly been able to live a life without regrets!”The Sage Emperor gave a deep sigh.Gao Lishi fell silent for a moment, a gloomy light in his eyes.“Your Majesty, the heavens assist the worthy. No matter what you desire, you can personally realize it. This is how it was in the past and present, and so it will be in the future. There is no need to use another,” Gao Lishi said.“Heh!”The Sage Emperor chuckled and shook his head. He understood his situation more than anyone else. Gao Lishi was just trying to comfort him.“For this northwest campaign, they’ll have to rely on themselves. We are unable to personally join the campaign and cannot help them.”The Sage Emperor looked toward the northwest, his words spoken with great regret.Gao Lishi appeared greatly concerned by these words.He also had a keen understanding of the Sage Emperor’s condition. In the Rebellion of the Three Princes, True Lord Yellow Dragon’s arrival had forced the Sage Emperor to unleash that sword. While it was a majestic and radiant sword that made everyone, friend and foe, tremble in awe, it was like an avalanche atop a blizzard for the Sage Emperor, placing an even greater burden on his body.The Sage Emperor no longer had the ability to use that attack again.Moreover, the Sage Emperor needed to remain in the capital so that he could soothe the people. As long as the sovereign remained, so would the will of the people, and the millions of denizens of the Nine Provinces would continue to attend to their duties.If the Sage Emperor departed to personally preside over the battle, the ill effects of the news on the invasion would be maximized. The people of the realm would grow uneasy and begin to fall prey to their darker side, and banditry would begin to rise. The people would panic and the country would crumble without even a battle.This was why, even when the country was at peace, the realm stable, and the armies powerful and flourishing, even the most ambitious of sovereigns would remain and preside over their courts. This was because the moment a sovereign had a desire to personally lead a campaign, the ministers would barrage him with memorials.“Your Majesty, there is no need for concern. The King of Foreign Lands is the man Your Majesty personally chose. This old slave is confident that he will not disappoint Your Majesty!”As Gao Lishi spoke, he took in a deep breath and deferentially bowed to the Sage Emperor.The Sage Emperor faintly smiled. He turned his eyes to the northwest and said no more.……The northwest.As the eastern skies brightened, the night came to a close. In the light of the dawn, the entire region tensed. The time for battle had come.Rumble! The earth quaked and dust churned as the millions of Arab cavalry once more swept over the land, their massive crescent moon banner snapping in the air and exuding immense energy.On the Great Tang side, hundreds of thousands of steel walls gleamed like innumerable fish scales, reflecting the white light of the sun. Behind those walls, countless soldiers stood ready and waiting, muscles tensed as they staunchly stared at their foes.The same was true for the Arab cavalry.After one night of rest, both the Great Tang and Arabia were stronger and better than before!Khatabah, the High Priest, Abu Muslim, Saleh, Wang Chong, Wang Zhongsi, Zhangchou Jianqiong… the top commanders of both sides clashed with their eyes across the vast distance.The air was saturated with tension!All of this was a
sign that a most fierce and bitter battle was about to begin!“The time to decide victory and defeat has come!”In the middle of his army, Wang Chong, mounted atop the White-hoofed Shadow, stared determinedly at the massive elephant Behemoth.Today was the day in which the Great Tang and Arabia would decide who was the victor and who the loser. But the closer the crucial moment was, the calmer Wang Chong became.“Tang, you got lucky last time.” A resounding voice spoke, and the vast sea of Arab soldiers parted, allowing Khatabah to come through atop his massive elephant Behemoth.“You won’t be so lucky this time! I will carry out my promise and make you Tang slaves for all eternity!”“Heh, Hierophant, that’s what I was going to say.” Wang Chong had his horse trot forward as he declared, “After this battle, there will be no more wars between us. Arabia will become a full vassal of the Great Tang. There will be no second chances. I will lead my army all the way to Baghdad and conquer the western world. Arabia will forever be under the rule of the Great Tang!”The two clashed with their words as all the soldiers watched on, neither side backing down.“It seems that we have nothing to talk about. Let us start the battle, then!” Khatabah coldly said.Bwoooom!A horn blared from the rear of the Arab army as Wang Chong turned his horse around.“Prepare for battle!” Wang Chong sternly said.The drums began to thunder, and amidst a somber air, soldiers grabbed their shields and weapons and tensed their muscles.But the start of the battle came much faster than any of them had expected.Roooar!A thunderous roar heralded the beginning of this unprecedented battle.Boom! Boom! The Behemoths charged out with astonishing speed from the Arab side.Dust shot straight up into the heavens. There was no probe this time. As the Behemoths moved out, the hundreds upon thousands of Arab cavalry moved up behind them.The earth groaned as the entire world paled under this grandiose power.“Ready!”On the Great Tang side, Wang Chong raised his right arm. Shields were set on the ground, and gears creaked and groaned. Bolts were placed on their strings, their sharp points all aimed in the same direction.The six hundred thousand soldiers of the Great Tang focused, their energies fusing together into an immense whole as sturdy as a mountain.