The Human Emperor

Chapter 2364: The Final Opportunity!

The fate of the entire capital and all of the inhabitants of the world had come to hinge on this conversation between Heaven and Wang Chong. If Wang Chong gave the nod, even Master Guangcheng would be powerless to stop him.

In this frighteningly quiet atmosphere, Wang Chong lowered his head, his face shifting between countless expressions. He seemed to be seriously considering Heaven’s pledge.

A faint smile appeared on Heaven’s lips.

With regards to these Children of Destruction, these transmigrators from another world, he understood them far more than might be expected. By taking a step back, one could become a supreme god that stood above all mortals, but if one chose to resist, no one would leave. With past precedent serving as an example for the future, Heaven trusted that Wang Chong would make the wiser choice.

“Hahaha!”

A loud laugh broke Heaven’s train of thought. Wang Chong raised his head and looked up at Heaven.

“I refuse!”

The words were spoken with firm resolve, containing zero hesitation, and Heaven grimaced.

“Heaven, it doesn’t matter how eloquent your tongue or how alluring your offer is. Firmament Supreme and Genesis Supreme were devotedly loyal to you, but you can give up on them whenever you please, not even holding the slightest desire to avenge them. Essence Supreme should be your trusted subordinate, right? He currently serves as the deputy leader of the Celestial God Organization. Did you ever ask him about having me join the Celestial God Organization and taking his place? Does he know about this?”

Wang Chong stared at Heaven, his face brimming with derision.

Heaven grimaced. It was clear that Essence Supreme knew nothing of this matter. After a few moments of silence, Heaven said, “Essence Supreme will have no objections.”

“Haha, of course he won’t have an objection, because whether it’s the twelve Supremes or the so-called deputy leader, all of them are just tools to be used by you, just like with Senior Guangcheng. Their lives mean nothing to you, and so long as you wish it, you can sacrifice them, or switch them out. Doesn’t the fact that so many people have betrayed you explain everything?” Wang Chong jeered.

While others might have been drawn by Heaven’s proposal, for Wang Chong, it was about as meaningful as an illusory bubble.

And Wang Chong was no longer the Wang Chong of the past. The countless denizens of this world were no longer just numbers, but living people. They had followed him onto the bloody battlefield, given up their lives for him, and argued on his behalf in the militarist-Confucian conflict. Whether they were his comrades in battle, his neighbors, his relatives, his friends, teachers, or brothers, they had been willing to trust and follow him. There were his loyal subordinates, and also the simple and innocent people of the Great Tang.

Even if Heaven really did as he pledged, letting his parents and brothers live, returning the Demonic Emperor Old Man, the Wushang Village Chief, and Su Zhengchen, Wang Chong still wouldn’t be able to just watch as he butchered everyone else and turned the world into a sea of fire.

Most importantly, Wang Chong didn’t trust Heaven.

“Impudent!”

Heaven exploded in rage at Wang Chong’s words, shaking the entire Celestial Palace and throwing the sea of energy into turmoil.

“Do you think that you really have the right to contend against Us? We tried to persuade you with good intentions, but do you really think We can do nothing to you? We are simply offering you one final opportunity! It does not matter if you agree or not, because We will eventually get it all! One, two, three… We killed Xuanyuan, defeated Ying Zheng, took several Stones of Destiny from that Emperor Wu, and We can kill you as well!

“You think you can stop Us? Over so many years, We let in those people again and again, having them scout the way for Us. While these people failed, in the end, We have succeeded. The moment you stepped into the Celestial Emperor Palace, Our plan succeeded. The Yellow Emperor’s strength is already beginning to subside, and soon, it will completely vanish from the Celestial Emperor Palace. Then, We will once more have control of the entire Celestial Palace.

“So long as We have the Celestial Palace, no one can hope to stop us. Master Guangcheng, you couldn’t stop anything one thousand years ago, and you can’t stop anything now!

“Since you have all chosen to oppose Us, be annihilated together with this world!”

Heaven’s expression was callous, and as he spoke, an immense energy erupted from his body. Rumble! The Celestial Palace shuddered even more severely than before.

Everyone in the hall grimaced, particularly Wang Chong, who was deeply shaken.

This was the first time Heaven had professed to killing the Qin First Emperor and Emperor Wu of Han. This also meant that Heaven had obtained at least two Stone of Destiny fragments.

And Heaven’s words had also enlightened Wang Chong.

Heaven was far shrewder than imagined. Now that he thought about it, Heaven had had many chances to attack them while they were in the Heaven-Reaching Path. At the very least, they should not have been able to reach the center of the Celestial Palace so smoothly.

It wasn’t that Heaven was incapable. He had done it on purpose!

Wang Chong also recalled how the Celestial Palace would shake whenever they got close to a barrier, and how Heaven’s energy would rapidly approach. This was all part of Heaven’s trap. He was driving him and Li Xuantu deeper and deeper into the Celestial Palace so that they would eventually reach the Celestial Emperor Palace in which Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan was located.

Wang Chong even suspected that Heaven had long ago noticed his ‘furtive’ movements in the Western Mausoleum and simply turned a blind eye.

On the other end, Li Xuantu also understood what was going on and scowled. In the end, they had been used by Heaven.

“Hmph, the Stones of Destiny resonate with each other. When Xuanyuan seated himself here and fused himself with this place, devoting all his energy to creating this domain and occupying the center of Our Celestial Palace, We knew that he wanted to pass on his Stone of Destiny and all his energy to another Child of Destruction. Everything was as We anticipated. We would like to see how you manage to keep Us out,” Heaven sneered.

“Is that so? Then you’re celebrating too early.”

A voice rang out, and a golden torrent of Stellar Energy formed into a massive fist and slammed into Heaven.

Heaven’s projection disappeared like a ghost, next appearing several dozen feet away.

“The negotiations are over. Truly a pity. Child of Destruction, We truly hoped that you would join Us, but since you seek death, We will fulfill your wish. At the moment We fully take control over the Celestial Palace, you will die with him!”

Heaven stood at the door to the palace, and as he spoke, he coldly glanced at the body of Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan.

Buzz!

Heaven’s projection disappeared, his aura vanishing from the Celestial Emperor Palace.

“Cherish your last moments!” Heaven’s voice boomed, its echoes continuing to linger as his energy vanished from their perception.

At the same time, the Celestial Palace shuddered as vast torrents of energy converged from all sides, battering at the barrier that the Yellow Emperor and his subordinates had created around this world.

The barrage of attacks made the world’s energy flicker, and it seemed like it would collapse at any moment.

They could also sense that the world’s energy was rapidly weakening. Heaven was correct. The moment they had entered this place, the world that Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan had established here had begun to recede, and the region was slowly returning to Heaven’s control.

The mood in the hall was tense, and everyone looked at Wang Chong.

Master Guangcheng stepped forward and solemnly said, “Wang Chong, I have some bad news for you. When Heaven opened a path through the barrier, I was able to get in touch with my original body. There are some things that you need to see.”

Buzz!

Master Guangcheng extended a finger, and a halo erupted from the tip. A moment later, a giant projection appeared in the air.

Rumble!

With a groan of thunder, the group saw a giant golden sphere.

“It’s the Celestial Palace!”

Wang Chong’s eyes flew open, immediately recognizing what he was seeing.

Compared to what he had seen at first, the Celestial Palace was clearly much stronger, exuberant golden light erupting from its depths and making the Celestial Palace appear even more awe-inspiring.

Heaven was right. As Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan’s strength receded, Heaven was taking back control over the core region and restoring its former power.

“This is the real problem.”

As Master Guangcheng spoke, the projection shifted to beneath the Celestial Palace. Light converged into a projection of the capital: the Imperial Palace, Vermillion Bird Street, Taibai Pavilion, the city guard barracks, the tea houses and taverns, the slaughtering grounds, the hostels… Wang Chong was familiar with all these sights.

Countless people wandered the streets: peddlers, laborers, good-for-nothing scions, rich ladies with umbrellas… At first glance, Wang Chong didn’t notice anything, but upon closer inspection, he saw that these people had unfocused gazes, many of them even just standing around like they were wooden puppets. Wang Chong instantly paled as he realized what was happening.

“The Celestial Palace is reawakening, and Heaven’s power is being restored. Hundreds of thousands of people in the capital are now under control of the Celestial Palace, completely deprived of their consciousness, and the remaining twenty percent will be taken over soon.”

As Master Guangcheng spoke once more, he waved his hand, shifting the scene back to the Celestial Palace. Blazing golden torrents of light gushed out of the Celestial Palace and poured over the capital.

Wang Chong could clearly make out thin tendrils of golden light coiling around the people like the roots of a tree. The millions of people in the capital were strung together like fruit on a vine, and no one was spared.

Wang Chong understood that Master Guangcheng was sharing his vision with them.

“There’s not much time left. In three days at most, Heaven’s operation in the capital will be complete, but the actual time will probably be even shorter. Heaven is already beginning to extract the souls and energy from the people under his control so that he can more quickly take control of the Celestial Palace. Once he’s done, none of the three million people in the capital will survive. All of them will be sacrificed, and Heaven will take back control over the Celestial Palace, after which no one in the world will be able to oppose him,” Master Guangcheng gravely said.