Chapter 985: Unbearable Pressure on the City

Mount Mang City.

The city, newly built in the Northern Regions, had originally only been home to the rebels of Mount Mang and wasn’t very large. But now, it had turned into a gathering place for all the evil entities from across the four seas, and the chaos quickly grew out of control.

Fortunately, Chu Yi had given the order just in time. No non-human entities were allowed inside the city. All other evil entities were made to wait outside until the city could be expanded. Only then did the chaos within settle down. Even so, with the unrest outside showing no signs of stopping, there was always a chance that the evil entities could break into the city at any moment.

He ordered Lu Jiangtong to lead a team and deal harshly with anyone who caused trouble. That was the only way to restore a measure of order. Even so, it was clear that as more evil entities and even humans continued to flock to the Northern Regions to follow the Noble Dharma, the chaos would only worsen.

Indeed. Even in such circumstances, there were still many human followers who firmly believed Noble Dharma remained the boundlessly compassionate sage of the past, and that only by following him could they reach the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Yu Dynasty had already spread the news throughout the nine provinces that the Noble Dharma was the Ancient Nameless Buddha, who had fallen into darkness and rebuilt his cultivation with the intent to slaughter all living beings.

However, these devout believers clung to just one part of the message. "What? The Noble Dharma is the Ancient Nameless Buddha? Then there’s no doubt. Following him must be the right path!"

Even when the imperial court went to great lengths to publicize his evil deeds, the believers simply assumed it was all slander, deliberately spread to smear their revered Noble Dharma.

Once people formed their stance, it was difficult to change their minds.

As these faithful believers braved countless hardships in their search for the Noble Dharma, around thirty percent of them were devoured along the way by the swarming evil entities. Yet, those who made it to Mount Mang City never wavered. Instead, they took it as proof that they had overcome a trial of fate and were destined to reach ultimate bliss.

From his place atop the city walls of Mount Mang, Chu Yi could see the Holy Mountain in the Northern Region.

Jiang Guo and the other disciples on the Holy Mountain did not come down to the city, which was rather ironic. They were the true inheritors of the Noble Dharma’s lineage, yet they were not there with Chu Yi. Those disciples now found themselves lost in confusion. The Noble Dharma they saw now was nothing like the holy one who had once preached compassion. They did not know how to follow him anymore.

So, Chu Yi had been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of managing things in the city.

"These evil entities just won’t stop coming. There are more and more of them," Lu Jiangtong said grimly as he walked in. "And their cultivation is getting stronger too. If they band together, our brothers will have a hard time dealing with them."

"It’s fine. Just hold out for a few more days," Chu Yi replied calmly. "We’ll likely get our answer soon."

"What answer?" Lu Jiangtong asked. "The answer to who will be the Hallowed One?"

"Something like that," Chu Yi answered. "The sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten are bound to make a move. Now that they are sure of the Noble Dharma's location, they’ll definitely launch a large-scale attack. This battle will decide almost everything. If the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten win, there may still be some suspense over who will become the Hallowed One. But if the Noble Dharma wins, then he alone will rule the world."

"If the Noble Dharma becomes a god, will he make you emperor?" Lu Jiangtong asked.

𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"That was our agreement," Chu Yi said. "There was a secret manual that recorded the Great Dao of Longevity. It belonged to the imperial family of the previous dynasty, and I gave it to him. In return, he promised to support me as the future ruler of the nine provinces. But that promise was made during a desperate time. I doubt it still means anything now."

Throughout history, imperial families had always been the most devoted in their pursuit of the Great Dao of Longevity. Before the rise of the Yu Dynasty, a secret manual containing the arcane secrets of the Great Dao of Longevity had been passed down through generations of the previous imperial family. But when that dynasty fell, the manual was sealed away along with the treasures they had set aside in hopes of one day restoring their rule.

Later, when Chu Yi was part of the Mount Mang rebels and had nowhere to go, he took a gamble. He guessed that the Noble Dharma was cultivating the Great Dao of Longevity, so he offered up the secret manual in exchange for temporary protection and a promise.

At the time, it had been a major secret shared between the two of them.

All divine arts and powers within the various Great Daos had to be developed and refined over time. Many techniques and spells were built upon knowledge passed down through generations. That was why those who inherited a Great Dao through a lineage were often much stronger. Without the guidance of those who came before, it would take far longer to even grasp its true essence.

It was the same for the Noble Dharma. Chu Yi’s manual on the Great Dao of Longevity had played a key role in deepening his understanding of that path. In return, the protection he gave to the rebels of Mount Mang at the time had been genuine and wholehearted.

"Why?" Lu Jiangtong couldn’t understand Chu Yi’s pessimism. "He’s definitely going to destroy the Yu Dynasty. Once that happens, he’ll need to build a new regime to rule the nine provinces. Who else is more qualified than you?"

Chu Yi gazed toward the distant sky, and a bitter smile crossed his youthful face. It was the kind of smile that carried the weight of someone who had seen through all the sorrows of life.

While he gazed at the sky, he muttered, "The nine provinces? I don't even know if this world of mortals will still exist."

Far off in the distance, a streak of sunset light flashed across the sky.

...

In and around Mount Mang City, people swarmed like ants, and demons clustered like insects.

From a distance, it looked like a vast, dark tide pressing in from all sides.

A cloud filled with flickering multicolored light swept across the sky, blanketing Mount Mang City in an instant. At the very front of that dazzling mist stood Qi Yingxuan, the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner.

Qi Yingxuan might not have been the strongest among the righteous ones, but the Imperial Supervisory Bureau had always been responsible for coordinating with the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten. They were the ones who had always united the strength of the immortal sects, so it was only natural for him to lead this expedition.

The leaders of the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten stood in a line behind the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner. Each one of them radiated an extraordinary presence. Among them, the youngest was Yang Shenlong of the Penglai Supreme Sect.

Although Yang Shenlong was currently in charge of the New Penglai Sect, its true leader was the celestial beast Azure Dragon. However, after losing the East Sea Chrono Wheel to the Noble Dharma, the Azure Dragon was too ashamed to face the other sects. Since he had always hoped for Yang Shenlong to lead Penglai, he chose to step back and support him in taking a place among the leaders of the immortal sects.

The Penglai Supreme Sect had fallen from its position as the top righteous sect and then lost its legendary artifact as well. Its current plight resembled that of the Mount Shu Sect in the past.

It was clear that Yang Shenlong now faced challenges more daunting than any he had encountered before. But regardless of all that, the most difficult battle still lay ahead.

If they failed to overcome this calamity, the sects of the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten would have no future to worry about at all.

Among them, Enlightened Wulou had the bloodiest red eyes. He was normally calm and mild-mannered, not someone who looked eager for battle. However, after the Noble Dharma destroyed the Celestial Pivot Pavilion, the two had become mortal enemies.

Before setting out, Enlightened Wulou had used heaven-observing techniques multiple times to predict the outcome of this battle, yet the results remained unclear.

Within the crowd stood Ye Yongxing, the sole surviving disciple of the Celestial Pivot Pavilion. When he looked up at the sky, all he saw was the stench of blood hanging in the air, thick and heavy like a boundless sea of carnage.

If they failed to survive this calamity, the mortal realm could be turned into a living hell in an instant.

Boooooom!

Just as the multicolored cloud neared the towering giant tree, a mass of dark clouds suddenly formed out of nowhere and pushed back the radiant light.

From within the swirling chaos, Grand Ancestor Wuchao emerged. His voice was calm as he said, "The Noble Dharma is now unstoppable. Even we demons know to submit and follow him. Why do you humans of the sects in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten remain so blind and stubborn?"

The Imperial Supervisory Commissioner spoke loudly, each word ringing clear. "It is precisely because you are a demon, a being that cannot distinguish between good and evil, that you are seen as an evil entity. Back then, even the Demon God was suppressed by us righteous humans. So what hope does the Noble Dharma have, when he has not even reached the ninth realm?

"I advise you to abandon your misguided ways while you still have a chance to survive. If you remain stubborn, then when the armies of justice descend, death and annihilation will be your only fate."

As a mass of fire shot into the sky, a burst of laughter rang out, "Hahaha!"

The Divine Phoenix King of the West Sea appeared and shouted, "As expected, you sure have a way with words, Imperial Supervisory Commissioner. But I wonder if you'll still be that arrogant later on."

This time, it was Wenren Yue, leader of the Celestial King Sect, who scolded loudly, "How dare a stray dog bark so wildly?"

After the Divine Phoenix King failed to come ashore with the other demons during the West Sea incursion, the Celestial King Sect launched a sweeping counterattack on the region. As a result, the Divine Phoenix King no longer dared to return home.

Now, faced with Wenren Yue’s scolding, he kept silent and did not dare to talk back.

At this moment, the skies above the Northern Regions split in two. One half glowed with iridescent clouds, while the other was stained in shades of red and black. Thunderous winds howled across the land, flattening grass and trees. The air was thick with killing intent.

Just then, a sudden shout rang out from the sky.

"Enough noise!"