God Emperor

News of the disaster of the Fire Tribe was spread to the Moon-Worship Demonic Sect’s headquarters. They instantly fell silent.

Everyone thought that the Fire Tribe was too unlucky. If they’d killed Ghost King Shenchu before, something this major wouldn’t have happened.

No one suspected Zhang Ruochen. They all thought that Ghost King Shenchu was the source of this trouble.

That day, Shi Qianjue, Demonic Sect Patriarch, had sent the Mu Family Saint Leader to the Fiery Territory to ask whether they would continue with the wedding next month.

Would they first hold a funeral or the wedding?

The Fire Tribe replied that the wedding date wouldn’t change. On the seventh of the next month, Lord Qiu Yu of the Fire Tribe would definitely go to Peakless Mountain personally and marry the Saintess.

In the Yuan Mansion, Zhang Ruochen met with the Death Zen Elder and Han Qiu again. He asked about their experience in the Fiery Territory.

After listening, Zhang Ruochen’s expression grew more serious. “The Fire Tribe’s abilities are indeed a bit frightening. Five Saint Kings had actually appeared at once. Even the Moon-Worship Demonic Sect might not be at that level.

“Unfortunately, already three have died. They have suffered greatly.”

Han Qiu smiled darkly, feeling quite proud.

But the Death Zen Elder sat on the side without moving, his eyes closed. There was no smile on his face.

“Elder, you seem to have some worries?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“The legendary Fire Lord truly exists,” the Death Zen Elder said. “Sir Zhang, the situation isn’t optimistic at all.”

“The Fire Lord?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

Han Qiu’s expression changed. “Is it that mysterious figure who came out to stop the divine battle corpse in the end?”

The Death Zen Elder nodded. “Around 200 years ago, extremely strong Saintly Way ripples came from the Fiery Territory, sweeping through the entire southern region. All the Saints in the region felt those ripples and were all terrified. Everyone guessed that someone in the Fiery Territory had reached the Supreme Saint Realm.

“After that, there was a mysterious figure behind each major event in the south. Everyone calls him the Fire Lord.”

Zhang Ruochen had heard of the Fire Lord’s legend before, but he always thought it was only a Saint King.

How was it easy to reach the Supreme Saint Realm?

But hearing the Death Zen Elder’s description, Zhang Ruochen also fell silent. A moment later, he finally asked, “Did that Fire Lord reach the Supreme Saint Realm or not?”

The Death Zen Elder shook his head. “One can become an emperor or god at the Supreme Saint Realm. One cannot measure their level without also being at that level.

“No matter how strong one is under the Supreme Saint Realm, you can only take a few hits from a Supreme Saint. Only the tenth emperor Yan Liren from 800 years ago used his strong physical body to fight a long battle with a Supreme Saint without losing. As for winning, it’s impossible.

“According to my guesses, that Fire Lord must have reached the Supreme Saint Realm.”

Zhang Ruochen inhaled sharply. The Fire Tribe actually had a Supreme Saint.

After all, the previous Sacred Central Emperor only had one Supreme Saint—Emperor Ming. But with him in power, no force dared to go against the Sacred Central Empire.

A Supreme Saint’s fury could wipe out an entire sect or race.

Even a Saint could cause immeasurable casualties to a super force, let alone a Supreme Saint.

“Could the divine battle corpse fight with the Fire Lord?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“It is a dead god, after all,” the Death Zen Elder said. “Using a divine battle corpse against regular Saints is naturally very easy, like swatting a fly. But against a Supreme Saint… Ha… Do you think a god’s corpse can defeat Emperor Ming?”

Zhang Ruochen shook his head.

“Of course, with a divine battle corpse’s combat ability, it’s not hard to delay the Fire Lord for two or three hours.”

The Death Zen Elder opened his eyes and continued, “Let’s just say this. I will try my best on the seventh of next month to stop the Fire Lord for four hours. After that, I won’t owe you anymore. As for how to deal with the Moon-Worship Demonic Sect and Shi Qianjue, that’s up to you.”

“Okay,” Zhang Ruochen agreed.

It obviously wasn’t easy to block a Supreme Saint for four hours. The Death Zen Elder immediately left to start helping the divine battle corpse refine Ghost King Shenchu.

Time passed in a blink. It was soon the fourth. There were only three more days before the seventh.

All the forces of Kunlun’s Field sent representatives. They hurried to the Peakless Mountain of the Demonic Sect with their invitations, ready to witness the marriage between the top ancient sect and top ancient race.

The cultivators who were attending the banquet were all top figures. They were clear that the seventh wouldn’t be peaceful.

All the Saints gathered at the Peakless Mountain. It was even livelier than the Heir Banquet or Sword Technique Conference. It also gave everyone the feeling that a storm was coming. The atmosphere was strange.

The names of Zhang Ruochen, Qiu Yu, Mu Lingxi, and even Huang Yanchen were getting spread louder and louder.

For the past half month, Zhang Ruochen was even busier. He hurried around every day, leading the old followers of the Sacred Ming into the Universe World.

Today, Zhang Ruochen went to the library of the Linjian Mansion.

The entire library had close to one million old followers gathered there. Some were cultivators and martial artists. Some were regular civilians who didn’t even cultivate.

“Hurry, hurry, why are you so slow? The Crown Prince has something big to do later. His time is very precious. How can you waste it?”

“If you don’t go, I’ll tie you up and drag you out.”

…

A burly man in the Fish-Dragon Realm rode on a savage beast. He was yelling at the slowest commoners of the group.

These commoners were mostly relatives of the Sacred’s old followers. They kept looking back, unwilling to leave the home they’d lived in since childhood.

The Fish-Dragon Realm man jumped off of the back. He hit the back of a white-haired elder. “What are you looking at?” he roared. “The Universe World is 100 times better than here. What can you miss?”

“I won’t go no matter how good it is. Just let an old man like me die here. Don’t keep forcing me.”

“If I leave, I’ll never be able to come back. My son’s body is buried in the mountain. Who’ll go burn incense and sweep his tomb every year?”

“These are the mountains and rivers I’m familiar with. I won’t leave even if the imperial court finds and kills me.”

…

The lives of regular people were different from cultivators. They didn’t keep chasing stronger power. Instead, they lived the simplest lives. They had special feelings toward their homes and people and were unwilling to part with them.

“You failures who don’t know what’s good for you! You’re just dead weight! Why should I keep you?”

The Fish-Dragon Realm man pulled out a four-foot-long sword and went to cut down on them.

During the past few weeks, Zhang Ruochen had been cultivating with all his might when he wasn’t hurrying around. Today, he finally saw this scene. He realized that not everyone was willing to leave their home and go to an unfamiliar world.

This scene moved him greatly, like he’d suddenly sensed something.

Whoosh!

Seeing the Fish-Dragon Realm man brandish his sword, Zhang Ruochen flashed and appeared before the group of commoners in the next moment.

The Fish-Dragon Realm man hurriedly put his sword away. His legs weakened in fear and he knelt onto the ground. “Gr…Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Greetings, Your Majesty.”

The surrounding commoners were even more terrified and in panic. They fell down in masses.

“No need to bow. Hurry and rise.”

At the same time, Zhang Ruochen hurriedly went to help the old woman closest to him. “Elder, why aren’t you willing to go to the Universe World?”

Tears streamed down the old woman’s face. She knelt down again. “Your Majesty, please let an old hag like me go. My son was killed by the imperial court and buried in the mountain. If I leave, he’ll become a lonely ghost!”

Another old woman nearby knelt before Zhang Ruochen too. “Crown Prince,” she begged. “We all know that you’re doing this for us, wanting us to live somewhere safer and richer. But this is our home. We have our land, familiar people, and the memories of when we were young.”

“Your Majesty, just let us die here. We don’t want to leave.”

…

Right now, Zhang Ruochen felt very troubled.

He could wave his sword fearlessly before any strong enemy. But faced with the pleading of a group of weak commoners, he had to ask himself if he’d done something wrong.

He thought that he was doing this to help them.

But had he asked if they were willing?

Were there differences between forcing his own wishes onto them and imprisoning, enslaving, and torturing them?

“Your Majesty,” the Fish-Dragon Realm man said in fear. “I was just scaring them. I wouldn’t really hurt them. There are honestly too many people like them. If I don’t scare them, they won’t leave at all. How can the imperial court let them live if they stay in Kunlun’s Field?”

Zhang Ruochen was a bit dispirited. Half a beat later, he finally said, “Ask for their opinion. If they’re unwilling to leave, don’t force them. I’ll think of another way to protect them.”

Hearing his words, all the commoners started cheering.

The white-haired elder prostrated himself on the ground. Staring at Zhang Ruochen’s back, he asked, “Crown prince, will you still return to Kunlun’s Field in the future?”

Even an idiot could tell that the Crown Prince would leave Kunlun’s Field soon and may never return.

After all, the Empress had become a goddess. Who dared to go straight against a deity?

Zhang Ruochen’s entire body shook. Stopping, he smiled and said, “Yes. I will. As long as you’re still living on this land, I will come back to see you. Kunlun’s Field doesn’t belong to that Empress. It belongs to all of us.”

Leaving was involuntary.

If one could choose, who would be willing to leave their home? Who was willing to leave the place that had given birth to and nurtured them, and go to a completely unfamiliar world?

It was true that it was difficult to leave home.

Humans, after all, weren’t cold-blooded animals. They weren’t rocks or plants either. They had feelings, thoughts, and memories.

Zhang Ruochen thought of his mother, Concubine Lin. He kept her by his side but very rarely accompanied her. Now, she was taken to yet another unfamiliar place. Did she truly feel happy?