Chapter 44: Finally Here

"Renhuang Shennong?"

Ji Ning, among the immortals and demons nearby, was startled. Back when Nüwa created humans and the human race multiplied, in ancient times, the newly multiplied humans were still very weak. Among the ten thousand races, humans were only at the bottom. Yet from this weak human race emerged three brilliant figures: Suiren, Fuxi, and Shennong.

They led the human race to grow stronger and rise. Goddess Nüwa also valued them greatly, and their achievements... ultimately shook the entire Three Realms.

On Nüwa's side, the recognized supreme beings were undoubtedly the leaders of the Daoist and Buddhist schools.

And the Three Human Sovereigns were comparable to those two leaders!

After them came figures like Old Man Yuan, Patriarch Bodhi, and others. But were Old Man Yuan and Patriarch Bodhi necessarily weaker than the Three Human Sovereigns? That was hard to say. After all, with long years of cultivation, they might have made breakthroughs and reached the same level. Without a life-and-death battle, everything was uncertain.

Yet the means the Three Human Sovereigns had displayed to the outside world had already earned them recognized strength.

It was because of the Three Sovereigns that the human race became the masters of the Three Realms!

Although the ancient royal families had successive emperors, only the Three Sovereigns... were the emperors recognized by the Three Realms. Even the great cultivators had to bow their heads before them. There was no choice; the Three Sovereigns were simply too powerful.

"One of the Three Sovereigns, Shennong, has made a move. This is truly an emperor-like existence in the Three Realms," Ji Ning marveled inwardly. "I wonder what methods the Three Sovereigns will use."

...

Hearing the Daoist-robed youth before him say he came on the orders of Renhuang Shennong, Redbright Dao Ancestor was also delighted. He deeply trusted and respected Shennong, but still asked doubtfully, "Does Renhuang know of the predicament my Redbright Domain now faces? In the army led by Ink Bamboo Dao Ancestor, there is now an additional Dao Ancestor puppet."

"Renhuang is aware," said the Daoist-robed youth.

"Can we win?" Redbright Dao Ancestor grew excited as well.

This battle was fought with extreme ferocity by both sides.

Ancestor Chi Ming also yearned to win.

"I am confident," the Daoist-robed youth nodded. "But careful planning is still needed. I must speak with the Ancestor alone. For now, it would be best for all immortals and demons to withdraw."

Ancestor Chi Ming nodded, then swept his gaze and said with a smile, "You may all withdraw for now."

"Yes, Ancestor."

Ji Ning and the others all responded respectfully in unison, then each departed.

...

Once outside the main hall, the immortals and demons immediately burst into clamor.

"Shennong has intervened—but he is one of the Three Sovereigns of humanity!"

"We are sure to win."

"I wonder what means Shennong will use to deal with that Ancestor puppet?" They all discussed eagerly, filled with anticipation.

Ji Ning walked together with the seven, including Red Snow Celestial.

"Senior Red Snow, do you think we can win?" Ji Ning asked.

"Probably, but there is no absolute certainty," Red Snow Celestial mused. "Shennong, as one of the Three Sovereigns, is far more powerful than my former master. Since he has sent someone, he must have some confidence. However, our opponent is the Wujian Gate camp. There are also terrifying existences in the Wujian Gate camp... This is, after all, a contest of wits between the two sides. It is hard to say who will win."

Red Snow Celestial knew well, because of the ancient war of destruction back then...

It had been a close call.

Even Goddess Nüwa had been finished; countless on our side were dead or wounded, and the Daoist San Shou had fallen in that battle. It was only thanks to Nüwa's breakthrough to the Pangu God realm that she managed to turn the tide. Even so, the King of the Non-actions Sect had saved his life by merging with the Heavenly Dao, and the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons had escaped—even Nüwa could not kill him.

"Let's just watch them duel," said the Celestial Hongxue. "This war has escalated even more wildly than I expected."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

It was indeed crazy.

Several realm wars had already occurred in the Three Realms, all in relatively weak 'realms.' The Chiming Realm was also considered weak, after all, the Dao Ancestor Chiming was not among the top-tier great powers of the Three Realms. Yet none of the previous realm wars had been as insane as this one in the Chiming Realm.

"We can only follow orders. In this great calamity, that's all we can do." Ji Ning thought of his newly born daughter, that adorable yet mischievous child, which stirred a fierce desire in him to grow stronger. "I must become stronger, to have a better chance of protecting Mingyue and protecting Senior Sister in this calamity."

Ji Ning did not know...

The escalation of this war was largely due to Ji Ning. First, the Elder Source had taught Ji Ning the Heart Sutra, and Ji Ning's command of the Punishment God was extraordinary, making the King see him as a major threat to be eliminated early. Second, the Celestial Immortal Wuxiao wanted revenge for Zicao. And on top of that, Ji Ning himself had summoned the Seven Luminaries Gods, so the war naturally kept intensifying.

Of course, if the seven great gods had not intervened, the Chiming Realm side would have lost long ago.

...

An endless, vast, dark world.

At the center of the world, on a ten-thousand-foot throne suspended in the sky, the King sat, his right hand resting on the armrest, tapping lightly.

Thump, thump, thump...

The tapping echoed through the world.

"Shennong has also intervened," said the King, lightning flickering in his black-mist eyes. "He's really willing to sacrifice. It seems our Non-actions Sect has pushed too hard, angering the Three Sovereigns. They want to use this realm war to intimidate our Non-actions Sect."

"What to do?"

"What exactly should I do?"

The King grew anxious.

"What are that True Immortal Yunchen and Dao Ancestor Chiming plotting? What is their plan? And what means did Shennong arrange by sending just one Pure Yang True Immortal?" The King was frantic—these were things he had not uncovered.

"Master."

The King looked up at the dark sky, his voice low. "What exactly is Shennong's plan? What does the Chiming Realm intend to do? Please help me."

The Heavenly Dao operates everywhere.

Where the Heavenly Dao exists, nothing can be hidden from the King.

"Hum~~~"

A powerful yet profoundly mysterious fluctuation descended directly upon the King.

The King paused briefly, then showed joy, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Master."

In that battle at the end of the ancient era, the King was gravely wounded. Nüwa pursued relentlessly, forcing the King to merge with the Heavenly Dao. Even so, the King's main consciousness fell into slumber. But because the King was also part of the Heavenly Dao, he retained the most basic awareness and could still maintain some contact with the Non-actions Sect.

"It seems that to win this time, the turning point for our Non-actions Sect lies with that Yu Wei." The King nodded slightly.

Immediately, the King summoned Yu Wei.

Soon.

A white-clad woman appeared on the vast dark land—it was Yu Wei. Her temperament had changed somewhat, resembling that of the former Yuchi Xue, with a hint of maternal grace. Upon arrival, she immediately knelt respectfully: "Greetings, King."