Volume One: Turmoil Over Yan and Yun Chapter 111: The Final Act (Part Two)
The battle above Wuyang was exceedingly strange. It was neither fierce like Dou Xiaotong and Hun Wuxing nor swift like the Wind God Guards and Zi Sang Bumu. There was none of the urgency typical of those at the Great Dao stage.
All that could be seen was the Divine Emperor standing atop the Underworld Emperor’s Bell, with no surge of vital energy, no storm, and no dimming of heaven and earth—no thunder or lightning. The only change was that the faint green pillar of light twisted slightly, like sunlight reflecting on a lake’s surface.
This was a battle of souls.
On the path of cultivation, one first tempers the body, then refines the primordial energy, followed by enlightenment, then draws brilliance, and finally enters the Dao.
Tempering the body strengthens flesh and bones. Refining primordial energy absorbs the essence of heaven and earth. Breaking through the Yuan Mansion forms the Sea of Consciousness, leading to enlightenment, and thus the emergence of divine perception. This divine perception then draws upon the brilliance of sun, moon, and stars—the Triad Radiance—to temper itself; this is the stage of drawing brilliance. Only when the Triad Radiance converges can one glimpse the path of heaven.
Only then can one speak of the soul.
Though the soul battle lacks the support of spells or combat skills, it is far more perilous than conventional combat. A single misstep can mean death and the extinguishing of one’s Dao. Thus, few choose to fight solely with their souls—except in the Underworld.
The Underworld excels in soul combat. Their legendary artifacts, the Underworld Emperor’s Bell and Cauldron, are deadly tools crafted specifically for soul battles—one to seek the enemy, the other to fix the battlefield’s domain, both unstoppable.
Only souls can intervene directly in soul battles, but within Wuyang City, few possess such soul power. Watching the battle in the sky, their expressions were tense.
Tangmen’s deputy leader, a master of mechanical arts, silently shook his head.
The Grand Commander of the Forbidden Army was like a taut arrow but never made a move.
The Deputy Leader of the White Elephant Sect, the Five Poisons Cult leader, the Divine Blade Sect master, and other Void Path practitioners tried and withdrew repeatedly.
Noticing the external disturbance, Mr. Dianmo in the Star Observation Pavilion opened his eyes, heavy with fatigue.
He had sensed the Dragon Soaring Array’s damage and suffered backlash from the formation, which later broke, further stirring his Sea of Consciousness and nearly causing him to lose his mind.
He looked up at the nearby pillar of light, clenching and unclenching his fists, fingers repeatedly lifting and placing his hand on the jade plate—three times in total—yet he did not act.
Farther away, Feng Changkong successfully repelled the cult’s invasion. Frowning at the Divine Emperor in the sky, he angrily said, “How can a sovereign dare to personally enter such a dangerous place!”
Chen Chi responded with a bitter smile, “But His Majesty is the strongest in Wuyang City. If he stood by idly, he would surely be criticized.”
Feng Changkong’s anger did not subside. “What of the National Guardian Beast? The whole nation has nurtured it for centuries. How can it remain inactive in such a crisis?”
Chen Chi thought to himself, How could I know such things?
As Feng Changkong was about to press further, someone said, “Marshal, do not be hasty. His Majesty is always cautious and has long planned with the storyteller. He must have confidence in this.”
Without hesitation, Feng Changkong replied, “A gentleman never stands beneath a collapsing wall; that is common knowledge. Had I known of this plan, I would never have agreed to it!”
Turning away, he saw it was the Divine Sword Guard.
“Why are you alone?”
The Divine Sword Guard said, “Dao was injured and is still recuperating; Yin has gone in pursuit.”
Feng Changkong said coldly, “So be it. If they can kill the Pavilion Lord of Fate, no matter how the Azure Robe Tower recovers, it will be a heavy blow.”
The Divine Sword Guard laughed wryly. “Marshal, don’t joke. If the Pavilion Lord of Fate were that easy to kill, the Empress Dowager would have done so long ago.”
Feng Changkong was enraged. “If you knew that, why did you pursue him?”
The Divine Sword Guard faltered, thinking this old man had been snapping at someone all day.
Then he recalled he was at least two centuries older than Feng Changkong, which only annoyed him further. Just as he was about to retort, the battle around the Divine Emperor suddenly changed.
The Divine Emperor began to emit faint starlight, his form becoming increasingly blurred. By contrast, the Underworld Emperor’s Bell remained solid. Footsteps echoed through heaven and earth—light but each step pressing heavily upon everyone’s heart.
A figure appeared, hands behind his back, walking steadily upward as if invisible steps stretched through the void to the clouds.
“Perhaps the Underworld race can no longer contend with the demons, but in terms of souls, even the Demon Lord himself would fall to me. Who do you think you are?” The Underworld Emperor spread his hands and spoke seriously, “Summoned at long last, now that I have appeared, what can you do?”
The Divine Emperor’s expression was unreadable, his gaze upon him like one beholding a simpleton.
The Underworld Emperor was displeased.
Then the bell’s toll grew more urgent and majestic.
With each toll falling on the Divine Emperor, a thin layer of dragon aura shimmered over his body.
But this was still insufficient. How could the Underworld’s supreme relics be stopped by mere dragon aura?
The Purple Sky Palace’s rooftop shattered under bombardment, countless streams of imperial dragon aura raced toward the Divine Emperor.
Someone stepped upon the imperial dragon aura and landed right beside the Divine Emperor.
The Underworld Emperor frowned.
He could not be mistaken.
That was the Divine Emperor.
Yet this newcomer also radiated imperial dragon aura—he too was a Divine Emperor!
How could this be?
Only three emperors bore the Dugu name so far. Dugu Changsi, before his death, had come to see him, confirming that Dugu Changsi had long since passed.
Was this Dugu Feiyun?
No, Dugu Feiyun had ascended long ago! Even in the Underworld, his overwhelming aura was unmistakable!
Then who could this be?
“The Cauldron is formidable, but if you think a mere remnant cauldron can stop me, that is wishful thinking,” the newcomer said hoarsely.
The Divine Emperor nodded at him.
His expression softened, a note of relief and release. “Dugu Xiu, after this, I will no longer owe the human race anything.”
Dugu Xiu?
Who dared to call the Divine Emperor by name?
Even the Sword Sovereign or the Dao Saint would address him with the utmost respect as “Your Majesty.”
Who was this man?
The Divine Emperor spoke calmly, “Unlike you, I never felt you owed the human race anything. If that were not so, how could I dare to enact this plan?”
The newcomer laughed. “Indeed, compared to the previous two Dugu emperors, you are more fit to be emperor.”
Pausing, he added, “But I am about to die. What use is it to recruit me now?”
Only then did the Underworld Emperor realize the newcomer’s identity. In disbelief, he shouted, “Li Ye! You hide within the Dugu royal family? Aren’t you afraid your ancestors will skin you alive from the afterlife?”
At the sound of the name Li Ye, most were stunned.
One by one, they recalled—the last emperor of the Tang Dynasty was apparently Li Ye.
First, there was murmuring among a few, then the entire city buzzed with astonishment. When this battle ended, it would surely cause a nationwide upheaval.
Why would the last emperor of the Tang appear here?
Those acquainted with the royal triad Dao rumor gazed at him in shock, thinking: How dare you do this—do you not fear being torn apart alive by Emperor Taizong and others in the afterlife?
Sensing the scrutinizing eyes from all directions, Li Ye smiled indifferently.
He cared not even for the title of fallen monarch, let alone a mere self-cleansing.
He looked at the Divine Emperor and shouted, “Come!”
......
In a certain small village in Yundian.
Hundreds of villagers kneeled facing Wuyang City. Many were strikingly beautiful, and the men possessed considerable strength.
A child, puzzled, turned to his mother. “Mother, what are the village leaders doing?”
His mother bit her lip until faint blood appeared.
“Child, kneel quickly. Let us together respectfully send off our ancestors.”
The child knelt, confused, watching the distant golden pillar of light blazing like the sun, wondering how two Divine Emperors could exist in the world.
An elderly man, trembling and supported by a cane, passed by with a heavy aura of decay.
He approached the village leader and took a plain token from him, which trembled slightly as stone grime and rust flaked away.
Suddenly, a golden light burst forth.
The old man slowly knelt, holding the token high above his head. “Emperor Zhaozong reigns above. I, Yuan Tiangang, by Your Majesty’s command, guard the royal bloodline, never daring to falter for a thousand years. Today, I come to report!”
His voice was hoarse and strained.
Tears streamed down his face.
Many others knelt as well.
At the sealed Buddhist monastery, several young monks whispered outside the precepts hall, wondering why the white-haired abbot knelt so sincerely—could the Buddha himself be present?
Outside Wuyang, on a small hill, the current Fengge elder chanted the Rebirth Sutra softly, his hand striking the wooden fish growing slower until it ceased entirely.
In Yanbei, Li Jinxing lifted his robe and slowly knelt facing Wuyang.
Dou Xiaotong lifted her long robe and knelt beside him.
They exchanged a glance, then subtly averted their eyes.
“I always thought you didn’t like Emperor Zhaozong much.”
“Because I was exiled by him?”
“If not for him, you wouldn’t have to hide now. Given your achievements, you might have ranked among the top three in Lingyan Pavilion.”
“So what? Since I dared defy the world, I do not fear the flood behind me.”
“Tsk tsk tsk... You really do not follow the usual path.”
“What about you? Why do you kneel?”
“Strictly speaking, how many Great Dao masters now have not lived through Emperor Zhaozong’s era? I once took pride in being summoned by him.”
“Alas, it was all for naught.”
“Regret it?”
“There is no ‘regret’ or ‘not regret.’ The Tang had run out of strength—even I could not save it.”
“You lack confidence?”
“I think you show disrespect toward Dugu Changsi.”
“I have no issue with the Founding Ancestor... Only great faith in you.”
Li Jinxing hummed and turned to Dou Xiaotong. “Why?”
Dou Xiaotong said, “Because I have confidence in myself, I believe in you.”
Li Jinxing scoffed. “Daydreaming.”
Dou Xiaotong scoffed back. “If we can just hold on until Dugu Changsi’s death, Dugu Feiyun and his brothers will finish off the Dugu family themselves.”
Li Jinxing was silent for a long time before saying, “It is all things that never happened. Thinking too much is pointless.”
Dou Xiaotong said no more.
If it were truly pointless, why dwell so long?
You once struck the world like a thunderclap. Now, participating in this fight that nearly wiped out Yanbei—do you not hate the guardians’ failure back then, perhaps even their involvement in the chaos?
Truly fascinating.
Dugu Feiyun, you ascended so early, yet never witnessed these scenes.
Truly dull.