Chapter 201: Fragile Human World!
Chapter 201: Fragile Human World!
These self-motivated demons from the Demon Continent had no organization, no discipline. Even under the emotional sway of their beastly nature, the Gu Emperor found it hard to keep them in check. Causing trouble was in their nature, but restraint? Hardly.
"In such a spectacle, it seems Tian Lu is absent. Probably out of the picture," said the Gu Emperor from his lofty seat, surveying the sea of beings.
To avoid conflicts, the spectator area was divided. On the left were millions of demons, the 108 Demon Saints, and the three Demon Emperors! On the right were the people from the Divine Continent, officials from the Immortal Empires, and the six Emperors of the Divine Continent!
Ignoring the Violet Sky Immortal Empire, the sides were evenly matched. This precarious balance in the Heavenly Realm, on the eve of a storm, created a delicate equilibrium. Though enemies, there was a superficial politeness.
"Pity." Red Lotus nodded slightly, the blood in her eyes forming a lotus pattern. Her gaze shifted to the black-clad youth at the edge, the Eclipse Demon Emperor, with a hint of worry.
His eyes, devoid of whites, were pitch-black, signaling extreme danger, like a raging hound.
"The Forbidden Fate Demon Emperor has news. The Demon Continent's army is ready, plus the surprise from the Endless Netherworld... We just need to stay calm until the Demon Continent's army arrives," the Gu Emperor said, a subtle reminder to the impetuous Eclipse Demon Emperor. He knew this hot-headed pup often threw caution to the wind, losing sight of the bigger picture.
Given the choice, the Gu Emperor would rather see those three resentful demons in trouble than anything happen to the sister of the moon and son of Red Lotus.
"Just our current forces in the Heavenly Realm are a hard pill for Divine Dawn to swallow. When our main forces arrive, this human realm will crumble at the slightest touch!" The Gu Emperor, perched on his high seat, gripping the armrest, looked fierce. After his declaration, his gaze shifted to the highest throne in the center. There sat a young girl in a dragon robe and a crown!
"Her sitting there as Divine Dawn means she's aware her identity is no secret anymore. No more Chen Xi charades. But why does she have such faith in Yun Xiao?" To let him replace her as Divine Dawn, facing off against Violet Sky and the Demon Continent? Did he really have the chops for it?
The Gu Emperor didn't mean to underestimate. He knew well enough that Divine Dawn's provocation must have a rationale. That's why he endured the jeers of the mob, insisting on not joining the fray.
He didn't even want to be here! But alas, managing millions of savage, unruly demons was tricky. A slight provocation and they'd explode, swarming this place early on.
If the Gu Emperor didn't show up to keep things under control, he feared a brawl would break out even before the Forbidden Fate Demon Emperor arrived.
"Demons and humans... there's a difference in nature and behavior!"
This was something the Gu Emperor couldn't change. Though he had shed his primal demonic ways, excelling in lying low, most demons were still in their bloodthirsty bones! Not just the ordinary demons, but even the Demon Princes and Princesses!
In this final hour, their temperaments were wildly unpredictable. Each of them harbored a volcano in their chest, their eyes a blazing crimson, agitated by some unknown provocation.
The code of conduct for demons, akin to that of Sword Cultivators, scarcely comprehended the concept of restraint.
None of them feared death!
Under such a premise, the Gu Emperor realized upon his arrival that the grand melee finale of the War of Immortals was a powder keg waiting to explode.
"Forbidden Fate, you better hurry! If not, we might have to start the brawl ourselves! This battleground is in their human turf. Even if it's a fight to the death, we won't be at a loss!" Red Lotus said, eyeing the myriad human spectators.
"Mhm." The Gu Emperor nodded gravely.
Shadows loomed over the entire battlefield.
At this moment, the Divine Dawn Empress turned to the three Demon Emperors, speaking solemnly, "I've heard of the calamity that befell the Demon Continent. We deeply mourn your loss. Please, my Demon Continent brethren, accept my condolences."
"It's appreciated," the Gu Emperor replied.
The Divine Dawn Empress nodded, then continued, "As for the rebellion led by Ye Qingtian and You Fengya, it's embarrassing that our esteemed guests had to witness such a farce. During a nation's grand event, traitors emerge, harming the people. Thankfully, Yun Xiao upheld the will of our ancestors and quelled the rebellion. Without his efforts, this War of Immortals might not have been possible. My apologies."
Nearby, an elder in an orange-yellow dragon robe, the Emperor of the Spirit Treasure Immortal Empire, spoke up, "Your Majesty Divine Dawn, do not blame yourself. Ye Qingtian's fall was his own doing. His clan's demise is celebrated by the people of the Heavenly Realm, a scourge removed. I believe that after this ordeal, Divine Dawn's realm will cut off a national cancer and usher in a new golden age!"
"Thank you for your auspicious words," the Divine Dawn Empress replied, looking towards the three Demon Emperors, "In the future, We will need the support of both the Divine and Demon Continents to foster prosperity and growth!"
"Indeed!" All the human and Demon Emperors nodded slightly. A seemingly harmonious scene, yet each person, each nation, harbored their own schemes.
Though Ye Qingtian was a dog of the Demon Continent, officially a high official of the Heavenly Realm, his clan's downfall, now valueless, meant the Demon Continent had long since kicked him out of the game.
And so, at this moment, there was a superficial harmony on the scene, as if the three Demon Emperors and six human sovereigns were the best of friends. It was like two sides of a war separated by a thin sheet of paper! Before it's pierced, all seems peaceful.
The Divine Dawn Empress didn't mention a word about the Demon Continent's withdrawal, showing no signs of provocation.
Then, she stood up, replacing You Fengya to personally oversee the grand melee! A so-called grand melee, yet there was only one person on the field... This was indeed a first in the history of the Heavenly Realm.
BOOM! A massive, hemispherical golden and red formation rose up, marking the battlefield for the melee.
"At the stroke of midnight, the War of Immortals battlefield will officially close. There's still time to enter!" Leaving these intriguing words, the Divine Dawn Empress sat back down.
THUMP THUMP THUMP! The crowd watched the lone figure in white standing on the battlefield. Even the humans were thinking, "Hurry! Why isn't anyone else entering?"
"No fight, and we already have our top Immortal? What's there to watch?" Many humans had placed their bets on the Demon Princes and Princesses of the Demon Continent! In this world of high stakes, urgency was mounting.
"At least three thousand people have the tokens to join the battle! Not one dares to enter?"
"What if Yun Xiao is pulling a bluff? Wouldn't that be a loss?"
"Are the geniuses of the Divine and Demon Continents really that timid?"
In reality, the public was mistaken. Anyone with a token, at that moment, struggled to resist the urge to fight for glory. But their elders had strictly forbidden it! So, these millions of expectant humans and demons could only watch Yun Xiao alone. Not just watch, but for a whole hour! It was frustratingly boring!
"Go in!" Countless humans and demons began to shout.
This scene made the Gu Emperor frown deeply, as he emphasized, "Don't act rashly."
"I, the resentful demon Angry Cauldron may die, but I will not be humiliated!" the resentful demon growled lowly. It was a bizarre thing, a magic treasure turned demon, steeped in the resentful spirits and anger of the countless corpses it had held.
"If you speak out of turn again, you'll be the first I silence!" the Gu Emperor coldly warned. But his words couldn't quell the fury of the Demon Continent! Even Red Lotus and the Eclipse Demon Emperor remained silent.
Just as the Gu Emperor finished speaking, a youthful voice echoed from the direction of the first battlefield.
"All these people, and not one brave soul among you?"
A chill ran through the crowd as they turned to look.
Indeed, it was Yun Xiao speaking.
"Is he not satisfied with being given the title of humanity's top Immortal for now? Now, he dares to provoke us too?" The Gu Emperor's eyes grew colder. "All the more reason not to fall for this trick!"
"Boring!" Yun Xiao yawned. He suddenly laughed, then spun around to face the Eclipse Demon Emperor. "You know, I happened to step out today and found a dog's head. Don't know whose mongrel lost it. Anyone care to claim it?"
As he spoke, Yun Xiao produced a black dog's head, waving it in his hand. The dog's head, with its dark fur and a blood-red crescent on its brow, had eyes wide in shock, dead and astonished.
The appearance of this dog's head turned the previously noisy surroundings dead silent in an instant. Humans and demons alike stared dumbfounded at the sight of the head.
"Sister of the Moon, son of the lotus… cross either and meet your end..." That moment, a phrase echoed in countless minds.
SWOOSH! Millions of eyes simultaneously lifted to gaze at the Eclipse Demon Emperor atop the Ascension Gate.
"Trouble's brewing!!" Hearts pounded, and demons found it hard to breathe! They had searched long and hard, and now the sister of the Moon had finally appeared in such a dramatic fashion...
BOOM! A surge of pitch-black smoke suddenly billowed from the Ascension Gate! The smoke, ten yards thick and filled with ferocious bloody energy, was a sight to behold. With a roar that could rip the sky asunder, a beastly fury shook the Heavenly Realm! The pitch-black smoke surged instantly towards the battlefield.
BOOM BOOM BOOM! The battlefield shook violently, its golden-red dragons shimmering to life. The formation held firm, but the ground around it shattered into a web of cracks! Within the fog, a crimson beast's face appeared, baring dagger-like fangs, snapping its jaws onto the formation!
"Terrifying..." The humans, witnessing this, were struck with horror, scrambling backwards instinctively.
"Kill him!" The pent-up rage of millions of demons ignited at the sight of that dog's head. Baring their teeth and howling wildly, their fury quickly overshadowed the humans!
It showed that while demons might be impulsive and violent, they had one advantage on the battlefield—their fearlessness in the face of death, fighting ferociously!
Humans, on the other hand, often overthought, prone to panic and fear.
To kill Yun Xiao, the demons had to breach the battlefield first! But even the repeated assaults of the Eclipse Demon Emperor failed to rip through the formation, a testament to the ancient wisdom of the human race.
"Divine Dawn!" The Gu Emperor and Red Lotus stood up abruptly, their green and blood-red demonic lights locking onto the source of the voice, their menacing aura sweeping in.
"He killed a talent of our Demon Continent outside the battlefield and used her corpse to provoke us. How do you explain this?" From the Gu Emperor's coarse pores, countless tiny green eyes emerged.
"Divine Dawn, are you looking to shatter the peace between our lands, declaring war on the Demon Continent, and become a historical villain of the world?" Red Lotus spoke, her voice cold and haunting.