He Li’s figure flickered, and he stepped beyond the heavens. He glanced at the murderous Divine Race army and then at the four Demon Kings of the Demon Race, led by Hu Li Da Ming Wang.
Hu Li Da Ming Wang, Jin Wu, Jia Zhi, Ya Yu,
He Li nodded gently at Hu Li Da Ming Wang.
Hu Li Da Ming Wang looked at He Li with a complex gaze. After a moment of hesitation, he finally nodded lightly, signifying his willingness to fight for He Li, a form of self-reconciliation for his previous resistance.
"Screech!"
Suddenly, a piercing shriek echoed. Chong Ming ascended from the Divine Race camp, revealing his thousand-zhang true form in mid-air. After soaring beyond the heavens, he circled behind He Li, like a divine bird totem on a throne.
He Li, clad in a flowing crimson robe, had his left hand resting on his saber hilt. His calm eyes, however, held no tranquility, as if containing ten thousand thunders and monstrous waves.
He Li gripped his saber hilt tightly, let out a silent shout, and leaped forward. The space before him rippled like a mirror lake, stirring a thousand waves. Then, he drew his saber with his left hand, slashing diagonally. A rift tore through space, the saber’s momentum undiminished, cutting through the spatial tear horizontally with unstoppable force.
A massive, cross-shaped spatial rift appeared before the gods.
He Li slowly sheathed his saber, lifted his foot, and stepped into the spatial rift. The Divine Race army followed without hesitation, filing into the rift after He Li’s retreating figure. They hailed from the southern battlefield and had fought alongside He Li there for years, ever since He Li had gathered the scattered Divine Race forces. While not entirely loyal, they deeply identified with him.
Jin Wu, Jia Zhi, and Ya Yu looked at Hu Li Da Ming Wang, then at Chong Ming, seemingly deliberating whose command to follow.
The Demon Race needed a leader, a new supreme being to command them.
Hu Li Da Ming Wang, with his half-step supreme strength, and Chong Ming, with his responsibility and capability, were both their choices. However, there could not be two supreme beings; they needed only one voice, no divisions.
Hu Li Da Ming Wang and Chong Ming were both stunned. They clearly understood this. Chong Ming looked at Hu Li Da Ming Wang, believing that in the Demon Race, strength was paramount, making the half-step supreme Hu Li Da Ming Wang the best choice.
Chong Ming was about to acknowledge Hu Li Da Ming Wang’s supreme status.
What happened next shocked the demon kings, including Chong Ming.
Hu Li Da Ming Wang knelt before Chong Ming, lowering his proud head. His voice and tone were unprecedentedly respectful.
"Hu Li pays respects to Supreme Chong Ming."
"Hu Li Da Ming Wang..." Chong Ming stammered, unable to speak.
Following him,
Jin Wu, Jia Zhi, and Ya Yu also knelt before Chong Ming, following Hu Li Da Ming Wang’s lead, bowing their heads.
"Jia Zhi... Ya Yu... Jin Wu... pay respects to Supreme Chong Ming."
At this moment,
Chong Ming seemed to witness the resurgence of the Demon Race. His demonic fire blazed even hotter.
If in times of great hardship, a figure must stand atop the mountain peak, then he, without a doubt, would be that figure!
Chong Ming felt that this was the best of times, not because of this so-called supreme title, but because the unruly demon kings believed he could revitalize the Demon Race. His heart burned like a raging inferno. He recalled the awe-inspiring scene of Supreme Long and Senior Bi Xi dragging the Golden Gate of Guixu together, and Senior Yu Er’s unrestrained power in stirring the waters of Guixu. Thirteen Heavens, the Demon Race would not perish…
He flapped his massive wings, spreading them wide in the air. He issued his first command as the supreme of the Demon Race, the first command to revitalize the Demon Race. He proclaimed loudly:
"Advance!"
Chong Ming led the four demon kings into the cross-shaped spatial rift.
In a desolate universe, the starry sky was adorned with a very monotonous earthy yellow. This color was not beautiful; in a sense, it was defined as barren, desolate, and dead.
He Li walked slowly through the void, his eyes fixed on the dead, silent starry sky. Hundreds of Divine Race soldiers lined up behind him, like white lines against the sea and sky, advancing with He Li’s steps.
Above the Divine Race army, the five demon kings revealed their true forms, each with a distinct posture and extraordinary might.
Suddenly,
He Li stopped, facing southwest. He smiled slightly, raised his hand, and opened his palm. A small spatial cube spun in his palm, and then he forcefully pushed it out.
The small spatial cube exploded in the southwest direction, shattering the dead space. The space, like glass, fragmented and fell. Behind it, the Barbarian Race army appeared, swarming out. Countless Barbarian beasts roared in the sky, charging towards the Divine Race army and He Li.
The war began instantly, without hesitation, without pause. The moment the two sides met, their fate was sealed in life and death.
Facing the charging Barbarian Race army, facing the roars of countless Barbarian beasts,
Neither the hundreds of Divine Race soldiers nor the five demon kings moved. Instead, they watched the back of the young man with his hand on his saber hilt, clad in a crimson robe.
The young man gently raised his right hand.
At this moment, countless eyes on the battlefield were fixed on that rough, powerful hand.
He Li’s fingers moved slightly, and his index finger pointed forward.
Instantly,
Vast divine might, immense and cleansing, spread across half the desolate interstellar space.
"Kill!"
The lined-up Divine Race soldiers roared in unison and charged forward.
"Roar!"
The five demon kings roared in unison, displaying the might of the Demon Race. The long-declining Demon Race reappeared on the battlefield. What fear could the dignified demon kings have?
Below, the Divine and Barbarian races clashed. Above, the five demon kings blocked the impact of countless Barbarian beasts, forming an unbreakable barrier, guarding the king who watched them fight.
He Li gazed at the gradually healing shattered space. A slender black figure appeared – it was Xi Ling Huang Zhu. Similarly, Xi Ling Huang Zhu was also looking at He Li, her expression unreadable, a mix of shock, surprise, confusion, and excitement. In short, it was fascinating.
He Li looked at Xi Ling Huang Zhu, his demeanor calm and collected.
"You've advanced... to the He Yu realm? Achieved the position of Divine Lord?" Xi Ling Huang Zhu saw clearly. She sensed He Li’s current realm but still found it hard to believe.
He Li nodded slightly, replying simply with two words: "Yes."
"I never expected it, truly never expected it. You managed to escape, and you’ve even advanced to the He Yu realm. The heavens are unfair; your talent is too great, you are bound to be envied by heaven," Xi Ling said, sighing after her initial shock.
"Bound to be envied by heaven? Heh heh…"
He Li let out a dismissive chuckle and uttered a cryptic sentence:
"I am merely a shell. Even if heaven envies me, what of it?"
Then,
He Li tilted his head slightly, gazing at the desolate sky and universe, and sneered, "If I shatter this heaven, won't it stop envying me then?"
In a moment of distraction,
Xi Ling Huang Zhu had already arrived before He Li, her short blade sweeping horizontally, aimed directly at He Li’s neck.
Instantly,
He Li raised his hand, his fingers pinching the edge of Xi Ling’s blade. His gaze shifted downwards, landing on Xi Ling’s face, and he smiled, "Must you be so impatient?"
Xi Ling looked into He Li’s eyes and said coldly, "A warrior on the battlefield will eventually die, sooner or later, it makes no difference."
"You are right!"
He Li nodded. "Sooner or later, we will all die!"
As He Li’s words fell, his left hand instantly drew his saber and, from bottom to top, fiercely slashed at Xi Ling’s shoulder socket.
Clang!
Bone spurs grew from Xi Ling’s arm, forcefully blocking He Li’s saber strike, but she was still sent flying a hundred zhang away.
At the same time,
On the western battlefield,
Yu Qiang Shen Zhu, who intended to support He Li, was intercepted by a frail old Barbarian Race Huang Zhu.
Yu Qiang Shen Zhu looked at the old Barbarian Huang Zhu, who stood alone before him, leaning on a decaying wooden staff, and frowned, "Xi Yin, you intend to block me?"
Xi Yin Huang Zhu coughed a few times, panting, "I apologize. I didn't intend to come, but my clan’s Huang Wang personally ordered me to block Yu Qiang Shen Zhu. I cannot disobey the Huang Wang’s command. I only hope Yu Qiang Shen Zhu will be gentle; I am old, my limbs are not as nimble, and I cannot endure overly fierce combat."
Xia Min Ao stepped forward, standing behind Yu Qiang Shen Zhu, and asked, "Shen Zhu, can he block you?"
Yu Qiang Shen Zhu sighed slightly, "You all retreat first. If I'm not careful, I might be killed by him."
Xia Min Ao was shocked. How could this be? He had witnessed Yu Qiang Shen Zhu’s combat prowess. Back then, he had killed the Huang Zhu guarding the western battlefield with just one punch. Now, facing this old Barbarian Huang Zhu, he was so solemn.
Xia Min Ao cast a deep glance at Xi Yin Huang Zhu, waved his hand, signaling the Divine Race army to retreat, and then stood beside Yu Qiang Shen Zhu, saying gravely, "Yu Qiang Shen Zhu, I have one request for you."
Yu Qiang Shen Zhu nodded and said directly, "I will create an opportunity for you. You must seize the gap, there will only be a fleeting moment. Whether you can support He Li depends on whether you can grasp this moment."
Xia Min Ao grinned with satisfaction, spread his hands, and a pair of silver-white hammers appeared in his hands.
"A moment is enough."
...