Chapter 920: Shock Across the Human Race, Hopes Entrusted (I)

Within the Chaotic Region, in the pitch-black void of space where energy and matter were thin and scattered, a streak of golden-black light tore across the emptiness. Each flicker spanned tens of thousands of kilometers, resembling a curvature-drive[1] battleship speeding through the stars.

This stretch of space spanned more than ten million kilometers, and apart from drifting meteoroids, it was a desolate vacuum. Only the occasional flash of an explosion lit up the darkness. They were remnants of massive meteoroids spanning thousands to tens of thousands of kilometers in diameter, shattered by the Destructive Dragon Emperor’s breath as it passed through.

Since its breakthrough to the ancient titan level, the Dragon Emperor had gained the ability to forcibly control nearby space through principle power, overriding the laws of heaven and earth to perform spatial leaps. As a result, it took the Dragon Emperor only a few hours to cross more than ten million kilometers, arriving at the region where the river of time had once manifested. However, aside from the violent spatial turbulence that stretched for thousands of kilometers, the river had already vanished.

In the pitch-dark void, the Dragon Emperor spread its wings. Its gold-like vertical pupils swept coldly over the surroundings, tinged with faint regret.

Not here anymore.

Last time, the time-based true spirit that had emerged had exerted such overwhelming pressure that even the Dragon Emperor was barely able to muster the slightest resistance. Now that it had broken through to the ancient titan level, the Dragon Emperor was confident that even if it couldn't defeat that creature outright, it could at least escape unscathed using its Law of Speed. It didn’t have the slightest concern for the opponent’s control of time principle; its invulnerability to all laws wasn’t just for show.

Across the Chaotic Region, a swath of space over a hundred million kilometers wide was divided by the destruction zone, with gray currents seething throughout. Along its fringes drifted massive ray-beasts, their wide, flat mouths agape as they filtered the destructive currents for energy-rich matter. The filtered waste gas expelled from behind them became powerful propulsion that kept them moving.

The largest of them was the middle-stage ancient titan Alius, its sixty-kilometer-long form as vast as a mountain range. Its thick, dark-gray scales resembled trenches etched into the land. Suddenly, the ancient ray-beast sharply turned its head toward the outer edge of the gray current zone. Space warped, and there, a grotesque golden-black colossal beast silently appeared.

In an instant, an indescribable aura of pressure swept outward. All of the ray-beasts felt a primal shiver of fear. Even Alius, showed both horror and disbelief in its massive eyes.

King... you’ve become an ancient being!?

It wasn’t unreasonable for the ancient beast to be stunned. It clearly remembered that just half a day-cycle ago, the Dragon Emperor had been at the peak of the titan level while passing through this region. Even if it had reached the threshold of breaking through, the speed was still unimaginable!

When Alius had undergone its own transformation into an ancient titan, it had slumbered for over ten full day-cycles just to temper and reshape its body. Even if the Dragon Emperor were faster, it should’ve needed at least a few day-cycles of sleep, shouldn’t it?

As the ancient ray-beast reeled from the shock, the Dragon Emperor slowly nodded. Its monstrous jaws parted slightly, letting out a deep, rumbling growl.

Mhmm. I’ve already broken through to the ancient titan level.

...As expected of the King. Truly mighty.

The ancient ray-beast bowed its head, incomparably respectful.

Even before its breakthrough, the Dragon Emperor’s terrifying Dark-Red Destruction Form had convinced the ray-beast it stood no chance, and it wisely chose to join the Dragon Palace and follow it.

Now that the Dragon Emperor had become an ancient titan, its power could only be imagined. The ray-beast understood all too well. Perhaps the Dragon Emperor no longer needed to enter that devastating destruction form to crush it in a single blow. The other ray-beasts also became more reverent in the face of the ancient-titan-level Dragon Emperor.

The Dragon Emperor let out a low growl.

Alius, now that I’ve broken through to the ancient titan level, I will begin consolidating all forces and unifying the Chaotic Region. Lead your kin and follow me back to the Dragon Palace.

Yes, mighty King.

Feeling the faint yet terrifying pressure emanating from the Dragon Emperor, the ancient ray-beast nodded respectfully.

Had the Dragon Emperor not reached the ancient titan level, Alius would have met the order to leave the destruction zone with refusal. This forbidden zone, saturated with destructive currents, wasn’t just their home, it was also their sanctuary. Even ancient titans could only briefly endure the annihilating currents before their strength began to bleed away, and those below the ancient level didn’t even dare to approach.

Now, however, faced with the ancient Dragon Emperor, the ray-beast could feel no desire to resist, only instinctive obedience and reverence.

Boom!

The massive Dragon Emperor plunged into the forbidden destruction zone. Instantly, the gray currents surged from all directions, exploding with a thunderous roar like a sea crashing into mountains.

This forbidden zone, which severed space and time, was itself over ten million kilometers wide. Since it had to wait for the ray-beasts to keep up, the Dragon Emperor had to slow its pace. At their full speed, the ray-beasts would still need two to three days to cross the zone.

Though now nigh-invincible in its strength, the Dragon Emperor knew it couldn’t unify the Chaotic Region and subdue all mythical-level and higher beasts on its own. Only with enough subordinates could it sweep outward in all directions simultaneously.

Under such circumstances, the eight titan-level ray-beasts—each comparable to a heavenly king—were naturally the best shock troops. Each one could lead a great army and command a front.

***

Behind the Expansion Division Thirtieth Legion’s base in human territory, an immense aura descended from the sky. Soon after, all high-ranking figures at the king level and above within the human race received urgent summons to a meeting. One by one, wills descended into the void and coalesced into projections of kings seated upon their respective thrones, including the three supreme powerhouses.

Once all thirty-one kings and six heavenly kings from the mythical world had arrived and taken their seats in the front row, Heavenly King Zhenwu, supporting a black stone stele, said with a grave expression, "Four days ago, the Heavenly Feathered Race and the Purgatory Empire engaged in a decisive battle... and have been annihilated."

Qingqiu Tianyao was dumbfounded. "The Heavenly Feathered Race is gone? That fast? Wasn’t the plan to delay the confrontation by at least two or three day-cycles?"

Even the other kings and heavenly kings looked astonished by the result.

Zhenwu’s response was a faint, bitter smile. "An unexpected turn occurred. When we arrived at the battlefield, the three empires were already launching a full-scale assault. One of the divine kings was severely injured and lost all combat ability. Due to the critical state of the battlefield, we had no choice but to intervene immediately. Our original plan was to have the expeditionary legion reveal only half its strength and help the Heavenly Feathered Race weather this particular wave from the Purgatory Clan. Then, Chen Chu entered the battlefield, and in a short span of time, he killed seventeen demon kings, as well as two late-stage great demon kings. The entire battlefield was shaken."

Gasp!

A collective gasp swept through the gathering. Every king’s face showed utter disbelief. Even the normally stern and composed Hong Zhantian couldn't help blurting out, "That kid... is a total freak!"

Blade King Mu Jun gave a wry smile. "More than a monster. After all these years of battling two Purgatory Empires, we haven’t killed half as many demon kings as he just did in one encounter."

For Hong Zhantian and Mu Jun, the shock was especially deep. Just a few months ago, when Chen Chu first entered the mythical world, he was only at the Eighth Heavenly Realm and had needed their help to fend off two demon kings. Now, in just a matter of months, that same youth had grown strong enough to slaughter mythical-level beings like chickens.

Looking at all the stunned faces, a faint smile flickered in Zhenwu’s eyes, but his tone quickly grew more somber. "Because of our appearance, the three empires sensed an imminent threat and initiated the decisive battle ahead of schedule. In that battle, over ten million transcendent elites from the Heavenly Feathered Race perished. More than thirty mythical-level powerhouses, twelve chief gods, and two divine kings fell. Among them were the Divine King of Light, the strongest peak divine king, and the Eternal Divine Tree."

Even Heavenly King Gabriel wore an expression of deep gravity. That devastation was horrific; the number of high-tier casualties rivaled the entirety of humanity’s upper echelon.

Zhenwu’s voice became even lower. "Right now, only about four million elite members of the Heavenly Feathered Race remain. Three divine kings, twelve chief gods, and forty-five mythical-level experts managed to retreat under cover, but all of them are wounded, and their origin has been heavily depleted."

Heavenly King Jin Long exhaled slowly, visibly relieved. "Thankfully, we’ve only had to face the two weakest empires. Otherwise, I don’t even dare to imagine..."

"Indeed." Qingqiu Tianyao nodded with lingering fear.

If the human race had started off facing those three Purgatory Empires, they would have likely been annihilated by now. There were three beings wielding world-level weapons, each with strength at the peak of the demon god level, accompanied by legions of demon gods several times more numerous than the human race. Who could possibly resist that force?

Just then, Zhenwu shifted the tone once more. "However, while the Heavenly Feathered Race suffered devastating losses... the Purgatory Empires didn’t come out unscathed. The Divine King of Light, Metast, burned his own true form and fused with the Eternal Divine Tree to briefly ascend to the emperor level. He fought seven demon gods alone and suppressed them. The remaining four Heavenly Feathered divine kings besieged two demon gods. One was slain, the other gravely injured. Ultimately, the entire Eternal Divine Region was sacrificed. All elite forces of the three empires—demon kings, great demon kings, and demon gods alike—were dragged into the Dark-Red World. Whether they survive or not, they will be unable to return for some time."

The sudden reversal of information left all the kings momentarily stunned. Then, each one turned to look at Zhenwu with speechless expressions.

Qingqiu Tianyao muttered, "Damn... scared me half to death. Turns out that while the Heavenly Feathered Race got wiped out, the three empires suffered just as badly."

The other heavenly kings were just as speechless, but then laughter slowly spread across the room. Knowing that three of the Purgatory Empires had been crippled lifted an enormous weight off their hearts.

Relaxing a little, Jin Long even raised a middle finger. "Never thought you would start playing games with us, Zhenwu, what with those thick brows and righteous look."

"Yeah! Something this important, and you didn’t say it all at once. You just had to scare the hell out of us."

Zhenwu chuckled faintly. "Wasn’t the atmosphere a bit too tense? I thought I’d help you loosen up first... and take the chance to tell you something even more shocking."

From one of the central seats, the rotating cube said in the Celestial King’s old, hoarse voice, "If it’s enough to shock you, Zhenwu, then it must be serious. I’ve got a feeling this has something to do with that kid, Chen Chu."

He paused. "...Don’t tell me he killed a demon god?"

"...You actually guessed it?" Zhenwu raised his brows, slightly surprised. He’d been planning to drop that bombshell for dramatic effect.

Hong Zhantian was dumbfounded. "Zhenwu, you’re not messing with us, right?"

"Do I look like someone who jokes about this?"

At that, silence fell over the entire meeting. Apart from the three supreme powerhouses, everyone wore stunned, wide-eyed expressions filled with disbelief and astonishment. Zhenwu couldn’t help but let a small smirk curve his lips. He was clearly pleased with the effect.

In truth, for someone as steady as him, he usually wouldn’t drag things out like this. He had no interest in such dramatics. However, even he had been shaken when he first heard the news. If he didn’t let these others feel the same shock, wouldn’t that make him look weak?

1. A curvature drive is a concept in theoretical physics (also called a warp drive in science fiction) describing a potential method of faster-than-light travel. It’s rooted in Einstein’s theory of relativity, which describes gravity as the result of mass and energy creating curvatures in the fabric of space-time. A curvature drive would theoretically function by compressing space-time in front of itself and then expanding that space-time back to its previous condition after passing through, creating a “bubble” of space that is moving around the drive, rather than the drive moving through space. This bubble would be able to move at faster-than-light speeds relative to an outside observer, while maintaining slower-than-light speeds within the bubble itself, allowing it to still operate within the laws of physics. ☜