The next morning!
The dragon carriage emerged from the palace. Di Xin sat atop it like a crouching tiger and coiling dragon, surveying the world with majestic authority!
Three thousand iron cavalry rode ahead to clear the way, while eight hundred imperial guards followed behind. King Wucheng Huang Feihu rode his mount, the Five-Colored Divine Ox, alongside the carriage as an escort. The civil and military officials stood on either side, accompanying him in worship!
When the Human King traveled, his procession was naturally extraordinary!
When the dragon carriage reached within thirty miles of Nuwa Palace, Di Xin raised a hand, and the procession immediately came to a halt.
"Great King? Is there something else?"
Shang Rong recalled what had happened in court the previous day and shuddered. Afraid that Di Xin was about to cause more trouble, he hurried forward to ask.
"Hahaha..."
Han Chen had organized Di Xin's general memories yesterday and carefully studied his manner of speaking. By now, he had imitated it quite convincingly and would not reveal too obvious a flaw.
"Old Prime Minister, don't be anxious. I'm fine. We're going to Nuwa Palace to offer incense to the Holy Mother. Although I am the Human King, before the Holy Mother, I am still like her child. What son would pay respects to his mother while riding in a carriage? Naturally, I must get down and walk!"
Shang Rong had not expected Di Xin to say something like that. It was as though a reckless youth had suddenly grown up. All the sorrow in his heart vanished at once, and he became so moved that tears streamed down his face. With a thump, he dropped to his knees:
"The Great King is wise and benevolent!"
"Old Prime Minister, what are you doing? You flatter me far too much. Please, rise at once!"
What the hell? Why did the old man react so strongly?
Before Di Xin could help Shang Rong up, the civil and military officials had already dropped to their knees in a great clamour. Even King Wucheng Huang Feihu dismounted from his ox and knelt in worship, shouting together:
"The Great King is wise and benevolent!"
Their voices were immense, rolling like furious thunder straight into the heavens!
Di Xin stood before the dragon carriage. The totemic Black Bird suddenly appeared, stretching its neck and crying out in a clear, piercing voice. With a thunderous flap of its wings, it soared through the heavens and earth, absorbing the destiny of the assembled officials. Its size increased by a full circle!
"Everyone, rise!"
Di Xin circulated the divine power within his body and opened his mouth. His voice roared like an enraged lion, booming through the entire procession!
"All soldiers, dismount! Walk with me to Nuwa Palace to offer incense!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
"Hahahaha!"
Di Xin threw back his head and laughed. He led the way alone, followed by the officials, while the mighty soldiers marched behind them. United in purpose and acting as one, they possessed an imposing presence that seemed utterly natural and immensely solemn!
—Creak!
Di Xin personally pushed open the doors of Nuwa Palace. Inside, the halls were splendidly decorated with gold and jade, auspicious radiance filled the air, jeweled curtains swayed gently, and five-colored light shimmered everywhere. It was incomparably magnificent!
Di Xin stepped into the palace, keeping his eyes straight ahead and holding his breath as he focused his mind. He did so to prevent himself from entertaining wild thoughts and revealing the abnormal state of his soul to whoever was behind the scenes.
Just as Di Xin came to a stop, a fierce wind suddenly rose outside the hall and swept inward. It chilled everyone to the bone, leaving them trembling.
Di Xin jolted violently. When he looked up at Nuwa's statue again, it was no longer made of jade and stone. Instead, it had become a beautiful girl of sixteen, clad in gauze, every movement filled with seduction. Her aura was ethereal, her beauty astonishing, and her allure boundless!
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Just as Di Xin's mind began to sway and his soul grew dazed, nine heaven-shaking dragon roars suddenly rang out in his mind, calming his soul, stabilizing his spirit, and steadying his mind!
"This is bad!"
Behind Nuwa's statue, a Daoist in plain robes let out a strange cry and tried to escape!
But Di Xin had already regained consciousness. A golden light burst from above his head, and nine golden divine dragons emerged from it, surrounding a Black Bird!
The Black Bird cried out, stirring the destiny of the civil and military officials. The golden dragons roared, drawing the destiny together. Along with the Black Bird, it plunged into a great seal within the head of the leading golden dragon!
"I am the Human King, Di Xin! Today, I shall use the destiny of my Human Race to summon our Human Race's supreme treasure! Kongtong Seal! Appear!"
Di Xin was now burning with fury, having completely entered the role of the Human King!
You dare provoke my Human Race? Even if you are a Saint, I will drag you down from your throne!
"What vile Daoist dares to bewitch the Human King? You deserve death!"
As Di Xin urged it into action, the Kongtong Seal shone with dazzling spiritual light, and figures emerged one after another from its surface!
The first was seated before a table with a zither. It was none other than Emperor Fuxi:
"Those who provoke my Human Race deserve death!"
The next held a jade cauldron. Earth Emperor Shen Nong said, "You deserve death!"
The third figure radiated surging vitality and wielded a divine sword that cleaved the firmament. Human Emperor Xuanyuan roared, "You deserve death!"
Blazing divine fire—the Sui Ren Shi!
Sturdy houses—the You Chao Shi!
The light of civilization surrounding him—the Cang Jie Shi!
The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, along with many other sages, once more manifested in the human world. They glared furiously and pointed in anger, their fierce spirit undiminished!
This was the wrath of the Human Race!
Within the Kongtong Seal, the destiny of the Human Race transformed into a destiny dragon. Carrying the rage of the Human Race, it burst through the void. Following the cause and effect, it appeared behind the Daoist in plain robes in the blink of an eye!
"Who dares scheme against me!"
Seeing the destiny dragon charging ferociously from behind, Zhunti, despite being a Saint, did not dare burden himself with such a tremendous karmic consequence!
The karmic consequence of Hong Yun's attainment of Sainthood, together with the forty-eight great vows he had made upon becoming a Saint, had already made it difficult for Zhunti to advance along the Saintly path. If he became entangled in the karma of the Human Race as well, he might truly be dragged down from his Saintly throne!
Zhunti did not dare gamble. Gritting his teeth, he flipped out the Seven Treasures Divine Tree and swung it fiercely at the charging destiny dragon!
"Roar!"
A seven-colored radiance swept across the air. The destiny dragon was instantly knocked back, revealing the Kongtong Seal within. It fell back into Di Xin's hand inside Nuwa Palace.
"What a Human King! What a Di Xin! You actually dared attack a Saint. You deserve death!"
Zhunti's gaze toward Nuwa Palace carried a trace of venom. Karma continued to coil around the Seven Treasures Divine Tree in his hand, rapidly eroding its spirituality!
A supreme treasure of a Saint had thus been reduced to an ordinary object. How could Zhunti not be enraged? How could he not be furious?
Just as Zhunti was about to strike again, a clear and ethereal voice came from beside him. Startled, he turned and fled!
"Junior Brother Zhunti, don't leave so soon. Could you wait for your senior sister?"
Nuwa's face was icy, her beautiful eyes filled with killing intent. She held a Red Embroidered Ball and lightly tossed it toward Zhunti's back!
She had gone to Huoyun Cave to visit Fu Xi and had been told by him that something had happened here. By the time she hurried over, she had naturally witnessed everything!
"Zhunti, I don't care if you want to use a dynastic change to advance the calamity! I don't care if you want to wreak havoc across the world and plunge it into slaughter! But of all the things you could have done, you should never have humiliated my Human Race!
"The Human King here addresses me as the Holy Mother, so he is naturally considered my child! You made a child insult his mother with such obscenity, disrupting the order of heaven and earth and violating the proper rites toward our teacher!
"Today, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of our master and let you know what may be done and what must not be done!"
Nuwa struck in fury. The supreme treasure, the Map of Mountains and Rivers, had already sealed the surrounding space. The Red Embroidered Ball appeared to drift lightly, yet its blow was as heavy as a falling star!
"Senior Sister Nuwa, I was only joking! Ow!"
Seeing the Red Embroidered Ball flying toward him, Zhunti knew he was in the wrong and did not wish to argue with Nuwa. He tried to dodge, but the Map of Mountains and Rivers had already sealed the area. The surrounding space had become incredibly rigid, delaying him for an instant!
And in that instant, the Red Embroidered Ball crashed down, striking Zhunti squarely on the right shoulder and knocking him head over heels!
Before you continue