Rise of Humanity

by <unknown>

  “I see.”

  “Father, mother, aren’t you missing me?”

  “Yu’er, you are talking too much again.”

  …

  In the Heaven Breaching Fortress, reinforcements were marching into the fortress continuously. The number had grown so large that they had to build another fortress beside the Heaven Breaching Fortress.

  Zhong Yue stood on the walls of the Heaven Breaching Fortress and looked at the newly-built fortress. It was purple, huge and vast, and wasn’t at all inferior to the Heaven Breaching Fortress. He thought, King Zi Guang has arrived. He is really incredible, in just two years, he has taken care of the races in the base and arrived at the frontline.

  The reinforcements were under King Zi Guang’s command, but they appeared just like amateurs when compared to Zhong Yue’s strong and high-spirited armies. By the looks of it, most of King Zi Guang’s armies would probably be recruited from the surrendered races. Their morale was not as high as Zhong Yue’s armies.

  Jiang Yiqi also ordered the human race’s gods and formed an independent army in the Heaven Breaching Fortress. The human army was under Zhong Yue’s direct command.

  Meanwhile, King Zi Guang and Di Xiuluo also walked up the walls of the Purple City and looked toward the Heaven Breaching Fortress. Di Xiuluo’s face turned solemn and spoke two words out of the blue, “Ferocious. Fiendish!”

  “What?” King Zi Guang was startled, he asked.

  Di Xiuluo waved his hand and King Zi Guang was lightheaded and when he recovered from it, he saw the world differently. The structures and surroundings were still the same, but no life was seen anywhere. Nearly a billion ghost fires filled the place, with each ghost fire representing a dead soul!

  King Zi Guang was shocked, he felt as if he had entered an eerie ghostland!

  “These dead souls were killed by King Yi’s armies, their numbers have reached hundreds of millions now!”

  Di Xiuluo’s face grew incredibly dark, in just a few moments, he had spoken more than he had in the past hundred years. He continued, “The body count here has nurtured his armies into vicious beasts. Whereas for that King Yi, he is definitely an unparalleled king of viciousness! Look at us.”

  King Zi Guang turned his head and looked at their armies, there wasn’t much ghost fire around, only sparsely spreading across the fortress.

  Although in number, the Purple City’s armies were not too behind the Heaven Breaching Fortress’s armies, their morale was nothing compared to the Heaven Breaching Fortress’s armies.

  King Zi Guang sighed, he thought, In terms of waging war and leading armies, I am no match for him. How nice would it be if he was Li Yang…

  “Di Xiuluo, the vicious air locked the dead souls in one place for so long, why haven’t the souls dispersed or returned to the Six Paths Reincarnation?”

  “Vicious King has trapped them.” Di Xiuluo answered as shortly as possible.

  “Vicious King? You mean King Yi?” King Zi Guang was dumbfounded, he asked, “King Yi has trapped the dead souls here, what for? How did he do it?”

  Di Xiuluo kept mum. King Zi Guang who was familiar with him knew that him not answering the question means that he didn’t know the answer.

  “King Yi, it’s getting harder to see through his intentions.”

  King Zi Guang bestirred himself and strode out from the fortress, he said, “Come accompany me as I pay him a visit!”

  …

  In the Heaven Breaching Fortress, Zhong Yue and King Zi Guang was sitting face to face while Di Xiuluo stood behind King Zi Guang without a seat. Behind Zhong Yue was Hundun Yu who had just returned. The seven light wheels were flickering behind him as the young Hundun was filled with pride.

  Zhong Yue observed Di Xiuluo closely and found him a man cold like stone. There was no expression on his face and his reactions were also minimal. Zhong Yue felt odd and he asked, “Senior Martial Brother Zi Guang, this is…?”

  “This is Di Xiuluo, an innate demon god who was once affiliated with the Bi Luo Palace, but has now accepted my invitation to join the Xian Tian Palace.”

  King Zi Guang smiled, “I am an advisor, battle prowess was never my forte. But with Di Xiuluo overlooking my safety, I will be able to survive in the war.”

  “Di Xiuluo is very strong!” Zhong Yue shifted his gaze away from Di Xiuluo. Those who could be praised by him are no ordinary experts. He could pick up the underlying power that was hidden deep in Di Xiuluo’s prowess.

  Furthermore, there was also a faint surge of air coming from him, one that was similar to his and Xuan Ji’s.

  It was the air of the Heavenly Daos.

  Among the innate gods of the Bi Luo Palace, other than Mister Bi Luo, I have never met anyone who had the air of Heavenly Daos. Who is this Di Xiuluo?

  Zhong Yue couldn’t help but keep looking at Di Xiuluo as he thought. All of a sudden, a smile spread across Di Xiuluo’s stone-cold face, it was extremely unnatural and somewhat eerie.

  Zhong Yue thought, he smiled, “Di Xiuluo, please, take a seat.”

  “No.” Di Xiuluo’s expression returned normal as he replied.

  King Zi Guang was helpless, “That’s just how he speaks normally. Even to me, he usually only says two words. I can count the number of times he has spoken more than ten words with just one hand. King Yi, what do you think of the war?”

  Zhong Yue’s smile faded away and his face turned cold. He sneered and questioned, “Senior martial brother, are you really asking me this? I am tasked to handle the frontline and you to secure our backs. Now, I’ve handled the external affairs, conquered the lands right to the doorstep of the Imperial Star! But what exactly is going on at the back? Senior Martial Brother Zi Guang, look at what kind of trouble you have brought us! Imperial Emperor sent you to the frontline and you really came? If an army was raised right at the heart of our homebase and starts conquering our races and lands—yours and mine, and our soldiers’, what will happen by then? If even our own people are in danger, who would still be willing to serve us?”

  King Zi Guang frowned, “It’s the Imperial Emperor’s order…”

  “Won’t you advise against it?” Zhong Yue’s face turned darker, “You should be able to see what I see! Not just that, I ask you, where is Imperial Emperor’s celestial true body? Why did you allow Imperial Emperor to put him in house imprisonment?”

  King Zi Guang sighed, “Imperial Emperor has turned a deaf ear on my advice, there is nothing I can do. What happened has happened, there is nothing you can do to change it either. I am here asking if you have the confidence to take down the Heaven Court?”

  “None!” Zhong Yue replied firmly, “The opponent is Mo Yin and he has been waiting for me to make a mistake. If I don’t wage war, I will not make a mistake, but waging war is a wrong move to begin with! In order to take down the Heaven Court, our backs must be secured. If I wage war with Mo Yin now, war will also rise in our homebase. The undying monarchs in the Imperial Star will definitely seize the opportunity to plunder our homebase. My hands and legs are fully tied, no movement can be made. Senior Martial Brother Zi Guang, my armies are invincible, nothing can stop our march because I had a wise lord and a wiser advisor who seized peace for our homebase. This allowed me and my soldiers to fight in peace of mind knowing our people are safe! But now…”

  He shook and sighed.

  King Zi Guang smiled, “Imperial Emperor is still the same Imperial Emperor, it’s only his demonic personality that is in charge now. King Yi, if the Zi Wei Imperial Star is to plunge into chaos first and was too occupied to bring trouble to our homebase, can you take down the Heaven Court?”

  Zhong Yue looked an eye at him and smiled, “Senior Martial Brother Zi Guang, I hand you my armies, can you take down the Heaven Court?”

  King Zi Guang shook, “No.”

  Zhong Yue said, “Forcibly taking the Heaven Court will cost the lives of more than 70 percent of my soldiers. It’s not worth it. The remaining 30 percent will never be enoug
h to handle more wars, especially if the wars were waged in our homebase. Their morale would sink to the bottom and the armies may as well be disbanded. But if I just remain here, constantly posing a threat to the Heaven Court and Imperial Star, there will be more and more gods swarming in to join forces with me. Every day the Heaven Court doesn’t get rid of me is another day it will suffer a loss in its reputation, and with it comes the drop in its fate. On the other hand, my reputation and fate will rise one day after another, even Mo Yin will not be able to lower my ever-rising fate.”

  “You are saying that we can’t attack now?” King Zi Guang asked.

  Zhong Yue nodded with a smile, “No attacks for 30 years. Let’s reduce its fate and reputation for 30 years and after that, our positions will take a turn. We will be stronger and they will be weaker. Only then can we wage war with confidence!”

  King Zi Guang frowned, “I’m afraid Imperial Emperor will not have that kind of patience. What if Mo Yin attacks first. What will you do?”

  “You will defend it.” An expression that looked like a smile crept onto Zhong Yue’s face as he said, “Senior martial brother, I will give you 30 years to train your armies. In these 30 years, you may be able to train you soldiers into armies of beasts. As for the Imperial Emperor, you will do the explanation.”

  King Zi Guang suddenly felt lightheaded. Whether it be defending against Mo Yin’s attacks or advising Imperial Emperor Xian Tian, none of it was an easy job to do. However, he knew that Zhong Yue was right. They wouldn’t be able to gain anything out from it if they launched the attack now, it’s better that they wait for another 30 years.

  “King Yi, what if the Imperial Emperor ignores my advice?” King Zi Guang asked.

  Zhong Yue sighed and answered sadly, “Then senior martial brother will be in charge of my Heaven Suppressing Prefecture’s armies. I will resign from the commander’s position and enjoy my retirement with my wives. The battle of Heaven Court will be in your hands.”

  King Zi Guang laughed, he stood up and promised, “Don’t you worry, I will make Imperial Emperor wait for these 30 years, no matter what it takes!”

  Chapter 1090: Retire and Return Home |

  King Zi Guang and Di Xiuluo walked out of the Heaven Breaching Fortress and returned to the Purple City. He turned around and sure enough, there were many messengers that traveled into the fortress. They were from the races in the Imperial Star, here to visit Zhong Yue.

  Zhong Yue’s armies were unstoppable, they had conquered half of Heaven Court’s land, killing more than hundreds of millions of gods, built the Heaven Breaching Fortress and set up their base right in front of the Imperial Star, and organized the General Assembly of Future Monarchs in the Heaven Breaching Fortress. All these merits had earned him great renown across the universe, even the races in the Imperial Star couldn’t resist but start planning for their future.

  That way, if Zhong Yue really took down the Heaven Court and Mu Xiantian became the Heavenly Monarch, they would still have their places and power secured in the new regime.

  In the Imperial Star, the many races were standing on the sidelines, their confidence in the Heaven Court faltering. Thus, the Heaven Court’s fate was falling back at a great speed, even Mo Yin with his Almanac of Fate could not stop the Heaven Court’s falling fate.

  On the other hand, Zhong Yue’s fate was on the rise. And as long as he didn’t make a mistake, it would continue to do so. No matter how much Mo Yin reduces his fate, it would still grow day by day. Even Mo Yin’s uncanny ability was powerless against the whims of the universe.

  “Di Xiuluo, Mister Yi is a formidable foe, isn’t he?” Zi Guang murmured.

  Di Xiuluo didn’t answer while King Zi Guang continued as if he was only talking to himself, “It’s a good move to not move. To be able to bring the war to the Imperial Star’s doorstep, his ability is beyond reproach. If only he were Li Yang, how nice would that be…”

  Months later, Zhong Yue and King Zi Guang both received Mu Xiantian’s order to attack the Heaven Court. Zhong Yue and King Zi Guang both replied and advised against the order.

  Soon after, Mu Xiantian gave the same order which Zhong Yue ignored. Whereas King Zi Guang had personally gone to meet Mu Xiantian to explain the situation, “Imperial Emperor…”

  Mu Xiantian laughed as he interrupted, “Zi Guang, still calling me Imperial Emperor? I am a monarch now, you should address me as Your Majesty!”

  King Zi Guang shook, “Imperial Emperor, don’t you forget that your other half true body has yet to cultivate into the monarch level. Even if you did, as long as you are not the Heavenly Monarch, you are not His Majesty.”

  Mu Xiantian was unpleasant, he smiled, “King Yi has long addressed me as His Majesty, only you always stayed so stubborn to change. Fine, I will announce to the universe tomorrow that I am to be my own monarch. Now, you can address me as Your Majesty?”

  King Zi Guang’s face changed drastically, he quickly said, “No, you mustn’t! Imperial Emperor, during the Heavenly Monarch’s birthday celebration, seven monarchs had divided his fate. Other than Heavenly Monarch Di Ming and you, there are still five other monarchs. If you make yourself the Heavenly Monarch now, they will use this as an excuse of treason against Heaven and work together to eliminate us first!”

  Mu Xiantian laughed, “I can refrain from making myself the Heavenly Monarch now, but you two have to launch the attacks.”

  King Zi Guang was feeling helpless, he asked, “Imperial Emperor, if I address you as Your Majesty now, can Your Majesty not make yourself the Heavenly Monarch nor insist on launching the attacks, and wait for 30 years?”

  Mu Xiantian shook, “Zi Guang, you’ve long aided me in my quest. So I will not hide it from you. Di Ming and Queen Goddess used me to almost help them in opening their seventh secret realm. Although King Yi saw through their plan, it was too late. They are only a fine line from opening the seventh secret realm. Now, I can still defeat them both, but I will not be able to anymore if they have also opened the seventh secret realm. That is why I am rushing the both of you to launch the attacks.”

  King Zi Guang frowned, he sighed, “Your Majesty, you should’ve listened to me.”

  “What is done is done. Only by pushing forward the final battle with Di Ming and Queen Goddess can I exterminate them and reap the fruit of victory!”

  Mu Xiantian said, “It’s harder than I imagined for my celestial true body to cultivate into the monarch level. It will take at least a thousand years. If Di Ming and Queen Goddess manage to open their seventh secret realm, they will not allow the war to be dragged on so long and will do all it takes to take me down!”

  King Zi Guang shook, “Your Majesty, don’t forget one of King Yi’s father-in-laws is Celestial Monarch Jin Wu. With Celestial Monarch Jin Wu’s help, are you still afraid of Di Ming and Queen Goddess? Please wait patiently for 30 years more, Your Majesty.”

  Divine brilliance filled Mu Xiantian’s eyes, he smirked, “I have no trust in Celestial Monarch Jin Wu, and also King Yi!”

  King Zi Guang could feel his scalps tingled and he asked carefully, “Why is Your Majesty suspicious toward King Yi?”

  “I trust nobody.” Mu Xiantian laughed, “I only trust Zi Guang.”

  King Zi Guang kept quiet, moments later, he said, “Your Majesty, your full trust in King Yi is required at this time, you shouldn’t doubt and… Your Majesty, be at ease, I will launch the attacks as ordered.”

  Then, King Zi Guang returned to Purple City and ordered an attack on the Heaven Court’s military camps on the Heavenly River. But King Zi Guang’s attacks were only a show. He only sent small batches of soldiers to harass the enemies and avoided large-scale battles with the Heaven Court’s armies.

  Even when Mo Yin wanted to march the armies out to exterminate the Purple City’s armies, he was unable to as Zhong Yue’s Heaven Breaching Fortress was just right beside.

  The harassment lasted for months before Mu Xiantian gave his order again. He scolded Zhong
Yue and Zi Guang and ordered them to launch the attacks and take down Heaven Court.

  Zhong Yue received the order with consternation and quickly sent small batches of soldiers to harass the Heaven Court’s armies. A show they put up to ease Mu Xiantian’s heart.

  But Mu Xiantian was instead angered by this. He personally went to the Heaven Breaching Fortress and summoned them both. He scolded the two commanders and ordered them to launch a full out attack on the Heaven Court on the spot.

  “Your Majesty, I’ve grown old.” Zhong Yue bowed and said, “Time has taken a toll on my health, I am afraid that I can no longer command another war. Now, all I ask for is to resign from my position and enjoy my retirement life with my wives. Please, Your Majesty, allow me to retire and appoint a new commander to replace me. This is the commander’s seal. I recommend King Zi Guang to take my place!”

  King Zi Guang’s face grew pallid while Mu Xiantian stared deeply at Zhong Yue. After a long time, he sneered, “You think without you, my Xian Tian Palace will not be able to take down Heaven Court? You think I can’t replace you? But I will! Pack your stuff and return to your Heaven Suppressing Prefecture! I’ll show you how I defeat the Heaven Court without you!”

  King Zi Guang’s face changed drastically and he quickly said, “Your Majesty, no, you mustn’t!”

  Mu Xiantian raised his hand, he sneered coldly, “Yes, I will! Zi Guang, take his place, you will command the Heaven Breaching Fortress and Purple City, and an additional force from me! Yi Feng, stay in your Heaven Suppressing Fortress and watch as I take down Heaven Court. Shame on you!”

  Zhong Yue surrendered the commander’s seal and left the Heaven Breaching Fortress with Yin Fanxuan, Jin Hexi, Yi Wanjun, Shi Yinji, and Moon God. Mu Xiantian frowned. He saw Zhong Yue bring the Evolve Create Mystical Gate while the Hundun Clan’s Hundun Yu followed him away with the Fusang Divine Tree.

  Jin Hexi brought away the Jinwu Clan’s forces, and the Yinkang Clan’s naval fleet brought their Heavenly River Suppression Cauldron and left with Yin Fanxuan, the ancient universe’s humans also packed their items and followed behind Zhong Yue.