Heavenly Continent.
A vast ocean stretched beneath the rising and setting sun, ethereal beyond compare.
All the waters beneath heaven flowed into it.
Guixu!
On the boundless water, a small brown boat drifted leisurely. The azure waves of the sea made the mortal world a painting.
On the boat, a woman reclined casually on her side, her mistlike white robes spread across the vessel. Her sleeves trailed in the water, but she paid them no mind.
Her silver hair fell softly loose, and her deep blue eyes were as lofty and serene as the sea, with a lush, profound beauty.
Changying!
Her slender, fair hand held a sandalwood-colored wine gourd, from which a faint scent of wine drifted.
She lowered her head and inhaled deeply, and two blushes rose on her delicate little face.
Drunk before she even drank!
Intoxicated without wine!
"The last gourd of Immortal's Brew. Once I finish it, let me get thoroughly drunk."
Holding the gourd, Changying murmured to herself. She took a sip, and her limpid almond-shaped eyes were already a little hazy.
This girl loved wine.
When she was happy, she drank.
When she was lonely, she drank.
Not only did she drink, she also admired flowers and went boating.
The wine had to be Immortal's Brew, personally made by her master, the Master of Guixu. Its fragrance was delicate, and Spiritual Qi overflowed from it. A single sip could loosen an ordinary cultivator's cultivation bottleneck. Anyone below the Tribulation Transcendence Realm who finished a whole gourd would surely break through!
Slightly tipsy, Changying propped her head on her hand, her hair cascading down like a waterfall. Drunk, she was a little less serene and a little more alluring, a little less proper and a little more free-spirited.
She was like a wine immortal maiden!
"Master accepted Madam Wenqu's invitation to visit Mount Reverse Space. He won't return for three days...
"Thinking back to when the Heavenly Ranking opened that day, Master seemed shaken when he saw the name 'Sushang.' Could there be some connection between Sushang and that old acquaintance he mentioned?
"Master never dwells on the mortal world or lets his feelings stir, yet that day, he showed a rare look of emotion. That old acquaintance must hold a certain place in his heart.
"I have nothing to do right now anyway. Why not go out and see what sort of person this Sushang is on Master's behalf? Someone ranked second on the Aptitude Ranking ought to have an extraordinary bearing!"
Murmuring, Changying rubbed her flushed, warm cheeks. Still lazily propping up her head, her eyes half closed, she actually fell asleep.
As though possessing a spirit of its own, the little boat drifted toward the exit of Guixu.
Eastern Continent.
Devil Beast Forest.
A bloody battle raged until heaven and earth grew dark.
On one side was the supreme beast lord.
On the other was the newly risen ruler of a holy land.
Besides his vast army, Murong Jue also had divine artifacts in hand!
The Devil Beasts were immensely powerful. Although they had lost the initiative, under the Flame Emperor's leadership, they quickly recovered from their panic and gathered large numbers of experts to confront the Heavenly Dusk army!
The only things they needed to fear were those two divine artifacts!
Several Devil Beast elders had already fallen!
The Flame Emperor unleashed the might of the lord of Devil Beasts-Mahayana tenth stage!
Murong Jue was at the Mahayana fourth stage!
The two fought a fierce battle that darkened heaven and earth.
Although the Flame Emperor was strong, with those two divine artifacts in his opponent's hands, he could only wear down their power. Yet the artifacts' power seemed inexhaustible, flowing without end!
If this dragged on, he would be the one worn to death!
"These humans have gone too far!"
"The Eastern Continent was originally Devil Beast territory! They're just bullying us because Devil Beast Forest isn't as powerful as the Azure Luan Clan! Otherwise, why wouldn't they dare settle in the north?"
"We've already been more than good-tempered enough, tolerating their alchemists hunting our kin who haven't evolved into human form, even letting them take their devil cores!"
"You think it's humiliating? So do I!"
"Wasn't it just paying tribute once every ten years? The Heavenly Dusk Dynasty has so many resources!"
The Devil Beasts seethed with indignation.
In this war, there was no right or wrong, only different sides!
War was a struggle!
A struggle for resources! For status! For dignity!
An army numbering in the millions poured in. To survive, the Devil Beasts rose to fight desperately. Blood rained down, staining both heaven and earth crimson!
"My lord, we can't hold out much longer!"
"My lord, leave first!"
"We swear to pave a bloody path for you with our bodies!"
Sensing the tide turning against them, the Devil Beast elders shouted to the Flame Emperor!
They would sacrifice their lives for their cause!
As long as their beast lord remained, the soul of the beasts would never perish!
"This emperor will not retreat."
The Flame Emperor spoke only those calm words, then turned to fight again!
There was no heated tone...
No excess emotion...
Yet his words shook their hearts!
Murong Jue sneered. "Unless reinforcements fall from heaven for you-but no reinforcements can save you!
"Do you see the million-strong army behind me? Do you see my divine artifacts? After fifty years of swallowing humiliation and bearing the burden, today is the day the Heavenly Dusk Dynasty turns its fortunes around!
"Are you afraid? The human capacity for forbearance is far beyond anything you Devil Beasts can imagine. That is why I will win!"
At those words, the Flame Emperor gave a cold smile. He was covered in blood and badly wounded, yet his spine remained straight, proud as a god!
He said, "This emperor was naive."
"Devil Beasts have always had well-developed brains and simple limbs! Besides, you're the one who brought Devil Beast Forest to the brink of destruction! You should have stayed obediently in the forest instead of coveting human resources!"
"We need to live too."
"Then find your own way to survive!"
"So we chose to plunder. It was instinct, and also a show of force. This emperor reflected on it. Such violence was indeed unfair, so when you humans came into the forest to hunt for devil cores, this emperor never troubled a single one of you."
"Showing weakness on the brink of death? Even if you, the lord of Devil Beasts, knelt and begged me today, I wouldn't spare a single Devil Beast! Since ancient times, humans and Devil Beasts have never been able to coexist!"
Murong Jue laughed coldly and arrogantly.
The Flame Emperor was finally enraged. Lowering his head to look at the bloodstained spear in his hand, he said coldly, "Then we fight! Until your million troops are wiped out and my hundred thousand Devil Beasts perish! If I don't fight to my death, I am no lord of Devil Beasts!"
Boom!
His spear lashed out in fury, gouging an abyss into the earth!
Countless Heavenly Dusk soldiers fell to their deaths!
Suddenly!
Spatial power rippled!
"Oh my, what a brutal war! Slow down a little, wait for us!"
Along with that unrestrained, laughing voice, two figures approached from the horizon, treading upon the flames of war, standing tall in the world!
One wore billowing white robes, a smile at his lips.
Yan Fei!
The other, black-robed and black-haired, stood silently with his hands behind his back.
Chu Shanjun!
Their arrival stirred fresh waves across the battlefield!
"Isn't that the Setting Sun Sect's Holy Son, Chu Shanjun?"
"Why is he here?"
"Is the Setting Sun Sect openly opposing our Heavenly Dusk Dynasty?"
"Could a sect that represents a pillar of the righteous path actually be siding with Devil Beasts?!"
Everyone from the Heavenly Dusk Dynasty broke into discussion!
Murong Jue's expression changed instantly. His narrow eyes narrowed slightly as he asked warily, "Holy Son Chu, what is the meaning of this?"
With both hands behind his back, Chu Shanjun stood silently amid the wind and clouds, offering no answer.
He could not be bothered to speak...
Since he was here to help the Flame Emperor, why waste words?
Just draw his sword!
Yan Fei complained to the Flame Emperor, "Something this big, and you didn't even call your buddy? That's really not loyal of you. If the grand elder hadn't told me, I'm afraid I'd have gone to sleep and found you gone tomorrow!"
The Flame Emperor was moved. "Yan Fei..."
Yan Fei waved a hand. "Oh, don't cry from gratitude. It's nothing worth mentioning! What matters now is slaughtering all these little trash fish, along with this big one!"
"Destroy them!"
His gaze dark, Murong Jue coldly gave the order!