Chapter 1194: An Empyrean King Falls (III)

The other powerhouses on the scene were quiet at Zheng Hongyuan’s words. Having yet to reach Empyrean King, they could not understand his feelings. Perhaps they might think the same way after they set foot into Empyrean King and neared exalted emperor.

Some failings of the system had indeed become apparent in the late stages of New Martial. Certain people suffered from a severed path.

“Stop coming up with these self-righteous excuses, Zheng Hongyuan!” Capsize Sea suddenly snorted. “You were just afraid of death! They might not know, but you would absolutely know that the Human King gave orders that anyone wishing to rise to exalted emperor only needed to pass a test to ascend...”

“That’s just giving us a scrap of hope!” Zheng Hongyuan laughed.

“You think that way because you can’t pass the test,” sneered the golden cow. “It also means that you’re not qualified to be an exalted emperor!”

“No no no, you don’t understand!” Zheng Hongyuan was in no hurry to start the fight. “Someone tried that test, but they were completely obliterated! The Human King combined the Jade Record of Creation with the thunder tribulation that the Divine Forge Emperor utilized to create a test for life...

“What a joke! There were no exalted emperor tribulations in the early days of New Martial or even Initial Martial! But here it is, sitting fine and pretty, in the age of the Human King. They became exalted emperors, but created the tribulation that annihilates would-be imperial personages. Isn’t that just to kill those that might threaten their rule?”

“That’s because the Human King felt that those who came later would lack the suitable temperament! They lacked tempering through the early days of New Martial wars. Having an easy stroll down a smooth road was already a boon. You naturally needed to undergo testing if you wished to become an exalted emperor.

“Were we to let anyone who wished to be an exalted emperor reach those heights? Then that would be true chaos in New Martial!”

There were still opportunities available to those who reached their peaks later. They simply needed to undergo the tribulation!

Those who reached exalted emperor in the early days of New Martial could endure the tribulation all the same if they started over. The tribulation wasn’t targeted at newcomers, but created because everyone improved too quickly in the later stage of New Martial. Their cultivation levels were not rooted in firm foundations due to a lack of a strong enemy.

Modern day Saints were not of the same level as Saints who participated in the wars of the early days. That would hold true even if they had core origin to draw on. Therefore, the tribulation of exalted emperor was a test of all powerhouses in the later days of New Martial.

Zheng Hongyuan in front of them had plainly realized what was at stake after he set foot into the Empyrean King cultivation level. He didn’t have a hopeful outlook of weathering the tribulation, so he chose another road instead. Perhaps he thought this fork in the road brought greater opportunities!

“Those are just excuses for your incompetence!” Capsize Sea snorted. “You thought that you won’t survive the tribulation, that death and dispersal of your dao was the only outcome. Hence, you chose insurrection and collusion with Red Moon. But as it turned out, that resulted in the closure of the Star Gate and severing of core origin dao instead. It caused you to be sealed away for many years, unable to leave the ruins!

“You fathomed even less that the methods you prepared to ensure revitalization would be ruined again and again. It’s been one hundred thousand years, you piece of trash! You are so incompetent that it cannot be defined. How are you worthy of grasping the dao universe, Silver Moon world, and becoming an exalted emperor?!”

The golden cow wielded an exceedingly vicious tongue. It presented a simple and honest front, but it was anything but when it spoke.

“You’ve been probing the dao universe all this time, have you found anything?” it jeered. “Have you acclimated to this space? You’re not making a move because you haven’t gotten used to this area yet—guess why

we

haven’t?”

Zheng Hongyuan’s expression flickered. He hadn’t made a move yet because he was indeed investigating the surroundings. Therefore, he was in no hurry and rather preferred some more conversation with these people.

Then... why wasn’t Li Hao and the rest attacking? What were they waiting for?

The void shook as the question repeated in his mind and a great dao came down around them. Dozens of plant spirits materialized, alongside a great formation.

There were tens of thousands of Battle Heaven soldiers on the outside perimeter, led by a powerhouse in orange armor.

“In response to the two guardians.” The Orange Armor’s presence was a bit weak, but his voice reverberated through the area. “The plant spirit army and Battle Heaven Army have sealed off the premises. Zheng Hongyuan won’t be getting away!”

A light sparkled in Zheng Hongyuan’s eyes, was that Wu Peng? Was it Wu Peng inside the armor? He wasn’t quite certain.

Li Hao’s figure also materialized at this time. He lifted his eyes for a look. Zheng Hongyuan couldn’t see it, but he could see to the inner depths of their arrangements. The formation was not meant to kill the man!

It was for protection!

Its goal was to defend them against the thunderbolts outside—the tribulation of great dao. Li Hao wanted to collect the thunder tribulation!

There was incredibly dense Red Moon power in Zheng Hongyuan; it looked like he’d had quite a number of dealings with those of the Red Moon universe. He was deeply infected, but no thunderbolts had descended as of yet because Li Hao was blocking them all.

One thunderbolt wouldn’t inflict much damage to an Empyrean King. But if they accumulated due to being blocked and were released at a critical moment... There might be a qualitative difference to their blow. Just one strike alone might result in heavy injuries to the target!

Zheng Hongyuan thought that Li Hao wanted to trap him with the formation and kill him through it—that was a misunderstanding. The young man knew that there wasn’t much hope in that.

A group of plant spirits without a Saint and some tens of thousands of Battle Heaven soldiers against an Empyrean King... That was an impossible feat that didn’t bear thinking. Casualties would be off the charts if such a battle did take place.

Although he didn’t want more Silver Moon people to die and didn’t care if those of New Martial died, he wouldn’t purposefully send them to their deaths either. These plant spirits and soldiers were preparations for the accumulated thunder tribulation to come.

There wasn’t much use for the armored Wu Peng. He was just there to break the formation and draw the thunderbolts. It would be an unexpected surprise if Zheng Hongyuan trusted him, but it didn’t matter if the man didn’t. That would only lead to a slightly diminished effect.

“So you guys are all waiting for me?” Zheng Hongyuan smiled. “It looks like Battle Heaven has entered this location as well. The Battle Heaven Army... an army of plant spirits... formations... Do you want to trap and kill me? Is this all of your trump cards?”

He laughed!

He’d waited so long for the full reveal of Li Hao’s aces. Not bad! Several dozen plant spirits, tens of thousands of Battle Heaven soldiers, and a couple of Saints made for a formidable force. It might be the most that they could scrounge up for the moment, and it even exceeded his imagination!

But... it wasn’t enough.

“You guys... don’t understand what an Empyrean King is,” Zheng Hongyuan’s laugh deepened.

“Pfft, you dumbass,” Capsize Sea spat. “You’re just a stronger Saint without core origin dao! I’ve seen a bunch of exalted emperors, what right do you have to laugh at anyone?”

The golden cow couldn’t stand Zheng Hongyuan’s smugness. Did he think everyone was as ignorant as him? Apart from Li Hao, who else among them was unfamiliar with powerhouses?

My granddaddy is an exalted emperor, my ancestor is an exalted emperor, my ancestor’s friend the Southern Emperor is an exalted emperor. He’s also very strong among the exalted emperors! You talk like you’re the only one who knows anything about the world!

You can say that to anyone else but me. You have no right to look down on me!

Zheng Hongyuan’s face darkened and he vanished on the spot.

You talk too much!

Water Strength’s cow lineage had benefited from first mover advantage. Water Strength and Unbounded Strength were two ordinary old cows, but they’d been able to reach exalted emperor! The heavens were blind!

Meanwhile, his Zheng family abounded with talent. Whether it was he himself, his eldest son, or his third son—all of them brimmed with potential. But the Human King had set up some bogus exalted emperor tribulation and severed their hope of ascending!

Zheng Hongyuan flew into a rage when he heard the slander from Capsize Sea. A hum rang through the air!

BOOM!

Capsize Sea transformed into an indomitable golden cow and kicked through the void with its hooves!

At the same time, the formation exerted pressure on the man—it was negligible to an Empyrean King. He didn’t care about any of this and couldn’t be bothered with the plant spirits.

Li Hao and the rest made their moves at the same time. Two large swords ran through the world!

The two sides clashed—Zheng Hongyuan smiled as soon as he weathered the blows from his enemy. If this was all they amounted to, then not only would he be able to eliminate these obstacles today, but even the dao universe and Battle Heaven would be his!

Bam!

A long whip arced through the air, snapping Li Daozong’s sword intent to pieces. The Nine Segment Whip of the Zhengs was famed throughout the world and there was no need for Zheng Hongyuan to hide anything anymore.

A powerful presence unfurled and he vanished on the spot, striking with an overwhelming blow when he returned. The void shattered in his grasp and he closed his hand around a thick branch. Zheng Hongyuan crushed it to pieces with a firm tightening of his hand!

General Pagoda grunted; the others paused for a second. This person had clearly walked the path of the Empyrean King for a while. Zheng Hongyuan was not an initial Empyrean King.

Even though he was a bit weakened after fighting five Saint level desolate beasts, he was still inexplicably strong upon encountering them. The five desolate beasts hadn’t caused him to expend too much of his resources or inflicted noticeable damage!

Astounding!

“Hahaha!!” Zheng Hongyuan threw his head back with laughter, releasing many years of grievances on this day! “Do you think that five savage animals can wear me down through attrition? I depleted only one-fifth of the energy within my body to kill them. The remaining is more than enough to take you out!”

One-fifth!

“You are... late Empyrean King??” The old turtle was stunned. How else could the Zheng patriarch be so strong?

How could he deplete so little of his resources after killing five Saints without being fortified by core origin dao? Didn’t that mean it’d take at least a dozen Saints to kill him?

“Hahaha!” Zheng Hongyuan punched instead of responding. The void shook, forcing out Li Hao hidden in the shadows.

The young man raised a brow; their opponent was indeed very strong!

The six powerhouses continued to exchange blows, overlapping each other with their moves!

The old turtle focused on defense, the other four on offense. The void shook continuously from the action, but the joint force was the one that came off worse for the wear. One of Capsize Sea’s golden horns snapped after an explosive roar!

“MOO!” screamed Capsize Sea as it was wracked with pain!

They were truly paying an enormous price as no one had anticipated their opponent would be so strong. An Empyrean King in this age was just a Saint back in the day. They were all Saints and knew what level of strength that cultivation consisted of. But this guy was plainly much stronger than having just set foot into Empyrean King.

This was causing the group to be caught on the back foot. Zheng Hongyuan was at least mid Empyrean King!