The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  According to these legends, long ago, there was a desert here that was inhabited by countless savage sand beasts. Together with their god, the Great Ya Elephant, they guarded this desert.

  It was also said that somewhere in the desert was a passage to the underworld, and that the Underworld Ya Elephant was the controller of death, the god of the underworld. Thus, in earlier times, the nobles of the Western Regions would have statues of the Underworld Ya Elephant as the guardian beasts for their graves.

  (TN: The Ya, , is an ancient beast first described in the ‘Classic of Mountains and Seas’. There are two descriptions of it, one that it has a dragon body and a human face, and the other that it has a dragon head. In both descriptions, it is described as a man-eater.)

  The art being used was derived from this legendary beast. It was one of the three ancient God Arts of the Western Regions, and the most powerful art ever learned by the generations of Protector-Generals who oversaw the Western Regions.

  As Fumeng Lingcha had a poor relationship with Gao Xianzhi, the transmission of this art had come to an end, since Fumeng Lingcha had not taught it to Gao Xianzhi.

  Owwww!

  There was a shrill wail, and the desert behind Fumeng Lingcha suddenly exploded to one hundred times in size, rising up to crush Wang Chong. The Underworld Ya Elephant fiercely swung its dragon tail and then lunged up at Wang Chong, its body seething with pure deathly energy.

  “Die!”

  Fumeng Lingcha’s face had twisted into a savage visage. He had spent every moment of those days and nights in the imperial prison cursing Wang Chong’s name, and it was this hatred and desire for revenge that had hardened Fumeng Lingcha’s resolve, allowing him to finally cultivate that supreme Underworld God energy of the Underworld Ya Elephant Art that he had always failed at.

  This was a terrifying energy that transcended death. No energy could contend against the power of the Underworld God, not even Great Generals!

  Fumeng Lingcha had dared to challenge Wang Chong precisely because of this supreme Underworld God energy.

  Bang! Bang!

  At the precise moment Fumeng Lingcha lunged forward, to his left and right, two of his ‘subordinates’ lunged forward. These men had mixed in with Fumeng Lingcha’s actual subordinates, even tumbling together with the rest when Wang Chong upset their horses.

  But when they attacked, they revealed astonishing levels of cultivation.

  A few moments ago, they had been about the same as the others, but a moment later, their energy soared.

  Clang!

  As these two lunged forward, black energy seethed off their bodies and shockingly coalesced into two thick chains. The chains writhed like pythons as they howled through the air and attempted to wrap around Wang Chong.

  “Who are these people?”

  Cries of alarm came from all around as the Big Dipper Army officers backed away in the face of this pressure. Shock was visible in their eyes as they stared at the two men.

  Fumeng Lingcha was already extremely strong, but to think that he would have such powerful experts among his subordinates…! They didn’t seem much weaker than Fumeng Lingcha, and most astonishing was that completely alien energy, dark and sinister.

  “Hmph, finally made your move?”

  Wang Chong sneered, completely unmoved by this development. His Psychic Energy was five times that of experts of the same level, and even though these two had tried their utmost to conceal their power, Wang Chong had still noticed them the moment they appeared, these ‘weak’ ‘Qixi generals’.

  “Iron Cloak Art!”

  Wang Chong’s dantian trembled, and his Subtle realm golden Stellar Energy immediately compressed into a golden cloak which he tossed at the black chain being thrown by the expert on the left.

  “Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor!”

  Wang Chong also summoned the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor from the Stone of Destiny, and in a flash of light, the noble and resplendent suit of armor stepped onto the stage once more after a long absence. But this time, Wang Chong threw it over at the black chain coming on his right.

  Bang!

  These two dark chains were extremely strange. The Subtle realm ‘Iron Cloak’ almost instantly exploded on impact with the left chain, and the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor began to groan after the chain on the right wrapped around it, a clear mark being left on that nigh invincible suit of armor.

  Such strength made one’s blood run cold!

  “Not good!”

  But surprisingly, those two ‘subordinates’ of Fumeng Lingcha’s were not at all happy to see the Iron Cloak blown to pieces and the Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor squeezed. Rather, their hearts sank like stones while their faces scowled.

  Wang Chong’s reaction was too fast!

  Those strange chains were specifically meant to seal Wang Chong’s domineering Subtle realm power, but they had been stopped by Wang Chong’s Iron Cloak and Heavenly Mandate Battle Armor.

  Their original plan had been to take advantage of Fumeng Lingcha’s sudden assault to catch Wang Chong off guard.

  They had never expected Wang Chong to be so sharp. His swift reaction had completely upset their plans.

  “Kill him!”

  The two stomped on the ground and suddenly changed directions, hoping to use this abrupt movement to get another attempt at sealing Wang Chong, but they were too late.

  “Hmph, still want to try? Get out of here!”

  Wang Chong coldly smiled. No one had ever been allowed to change plans right in front of his face or continue attacking after their scheme had been exposed. These two were too naive!

  Bang!

  Wang Chong’s back exploded with golden light as he used the Supreme and Infinite Origin Immortal Art. Rumble! A grandiose pavilion straight out of a fairyland manifested in the air, its resplendence stunning all the Big Dipper soldiers. The backdrop of this pavilion made Wang Chong seem even more powerful and majestic, his body exuding the unstoppable aura of a god looking down from the heavens.

  Rumble! Space trembled, and before Fumeng Lingcha could even react, his terrifying Underworld God energy dissipated like mud in the ocean, devoured by Wang Chong’s Trayastrimsa Heaven. Right after that, Fumeng Lingcha’s two ‘subordinates’ also felt their energy vanishing into the Trayastrimsa Heaven.

  “What?!”

  The three of them all paled in fright.

  But before they could do anything, Wang Chong began his counterattack. Their shocked eyes beheld the golden light behind Wang Chong surging toward them in a great wave.

  “Go, Origin Lance!”

  There was a thunderous explosion as Fumeng Lingcha’s Underworld Ya Elephant God Art exploded back toward him. After being devoured by the Origin Immortal Art and bolstered with Origin Immortal energy, it had come hurtling back together with the Underworld God energy.

  Such was the vastness of this energy heading toward Fumeng Lingcha that he didn’t have the space to dodge.

  “This is impossible!”

  Fumeng Lingcha’s eyes flew open in disbelief as the vast wave of Underworld God energy hurtled toward him, his hard and stubborn face having turned ghastly white long ago.

  At this moment, not even if Geshu Han revived and appeared right in front of his face could he be more shocked.

  Underworld God energy was a supreme energy, and as far as Fumeng Lingcha knew, unbeatable. It should have been impossible for it to be absorbed, much less returned back to the user.

  As these thoughts flew through his mind, boom! Fumeng Lingcha went flying through the air like a ragdoll and crashed to the ground.

  Chapter 1711 - Incident in the Imperial Army!

  Chapter 1711: Incident in the Imperial Army!

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  In a flash of light, two Origin Spears shot to the left and right, shooting toward Fumeng Lingcha’s ‘subordinates’ like bolts of lightning.

  “Not good!”

  The t
wo trembled in fear and instinctively lunged to the right and left in a bid to escape.

  But Wang Chong was immensely powerful, his attacks issued without warning and imbued with all his power. Even the Tianfu Divine Lord had found Wang Chong an extremely difficult opponent who needed to be taken seriously, much less these two.

  Bang! Bang!

  The two had only gotten a few dozen feet when two explosions and two screams rang out, and the pair were nailed to the ground by the Origin Spears.

  Boom!

  Everyone was struck dumb by this sight, even the Big Dipper Army officers rendered speechless. They knew that the King of Foreign Lands would help them, but none of them had expected Wang Chong to actually kill two of Fumeng Lingcha’s subordinates.

  “Lord Protector-General!”

  Cries of alarm could be heard as the former Qixi generals rushed toward a nearby crater where Fumeng Lingcha lay. His face was ghastly pale and his body was motionless. Wang Chong’s blow had knocked him unconscious.

  Fumeng Lingcha was strong, but how could he be stronger than the Subtle-realm Wang Chong?

  It was one thing if Wang Chong wasn’t serious, but once he used his true power, Fumeng Lingcha was no match.

  “Wang Chong, you dare?!”

  “We will definitely report this matter to the Imperial Court!”

  Fumeng Lingcha’s subordinates glared at Wang Chong and bellowed, their eyes red.

  “Hmph, do you have the right to speak on this matter?” Wang Chong asked icily.

  He vanished like a ghost, reappearing a moment later only half a foot away from these subordinates.

  “In addition, don’t forget that until he formally assumes his post, you don’t even count as soldiers. With this insubordinate conduct you’re showing, I could kill you and the Imperial Court wouldn’t blame me!”

  “You!”

  The subordinates shivered in terror.

  Wang Chong was right. Fumeng Lingcha had not officially taken his post, and until he did, they were just ordinary people, not even generals, while Wang Chong was the Minister of War.

  These people would never be able to escape if Wang Chong wanted to deal with them.

  “Hmph, understand now?”

  Wang Chong coldly snorted. He raised a hand, and a moment later, the vision of Fumeng Lingcha’s subordinates went dark, and they dropped unconscious to the ground without even a groan.

  All was silent, and even the Big Dipper Army soldiers could only stare in speechless shock.

  Fumeng Lingcha had been the newly appointed ‘Big Dipper Great General’, and while they had all been furious at him, no one had expected Wang Chong to knock him and all his subordinates unconscious before he had even taken his post, even killing two of them.

  “Someone, come and take them away!”

  After easily suppressing Fumeng Lingcha, Wang Chong waved his sleeve and turned to the Big Dipper Army officers.

  The Big Dipper Army generals felt like they were waking from a dream, and they quickly ordered some soldiers to take Fumeng Lingcha and his subordinates away.

  “Your Highness, thank you for this!”

  As the unconscious Fumeng Lingcha was taken away to the prison, the Big Dipper Army generals came forward and respectfully bowed in gratitude. Everyone understood that Wang Chong could have just walked away and ignored the Big Dipper Army’s plight.

  “But due to your help, the Imperial Court might…”

  All of them felt ashamed about the problems this would cause in the future. While Fumeng Lingcha had been arrested, this was only the beginning.

  Wang Chong waved his hand and assuringly said, “Relax. The Imperial Court can’t do anything to me about Fumeng Lingcha. I have my own plans, and there’s no need to worry.”

  Fumeng Lingcha truly did present a problem, but this was not someone that Wang Chong needed to worry about. That man was still far away in the capital.

  The tempest had temporarily been calmed, and Fumeng Lingcha was jailed in a cell for the time being until Geshu Han’s funeral was over. With Wang Chong’s assistance, the soldiers of Big Dipper City quickly calmed the people of Longxi, and Wang Chong was able to get some time alone in the spirit hall with Geshu Han.

  The surroundings were serene and quiet, the smell of candles and incense drifting in the air. Wang Chong stared with a profound gaze at the body in the coffin.

  Wang Chong had his conjectures, but there was one final step needed to verify them.

  I hope that it’s not what I think!

  Wang Chong took in a deep breath and stepped up to the side of the coffin.

  “General Geshu, forgive me!”

  Whoosh!

  Wang Chong suddenly thrust out his palm, stopping three feet above the body. Bzzz! There was a flash of light, and Wang Chong’s palm began to exert a pull that was neither weak nor strong.

  There was no reaction at first, but a few moments later…

  Hiss!

  With a soft hiss, an extremely faint wisp of black vapor seeped out from the chinks in Geshu Han’s armor and coiled up above his chest. It was very weak at the start, but as time went on, it became thicker and thicker. As Wang Chong moved his palm from the chest down to his abdomen, more and more black smoke seeped out.

  Wang Chong scowled at this drifting black smoke.

  This bizarre energy might have puzzled others, but Wang Chong was far too familiar with it.

  “Bastard!”

  Wang Chong’s heart exploded with rage.

  He had left the capital deeply perplexed. Geshu Han was no ordinary man, but a peak Saint Martial Great General, his cultivation on par with Gao Xianzhi’s. He was a richly experienced commander who had led vast armies. Just who in the world could kill him?

  And it had been done without a sound, with many of the top-class generals of the Big Dipper Army being killed with him. Just who could have successfully pulled off this silent massacre?

  This was not a feat a normal person was capable of!

  And now, he had his answer.

  The men in black, the Celestial God Organization!

  It really was them!

  Wang Chong’s eyes turned red.

  In all of the world, only those unfathomable men in black were capable of silently killing a Great General. Geshu Han was a member of the Imperial Court, and in normal circumstances, he would never come into conflict with the men in black. There was only one man who could have these men in black abandon their pride and kill a mere mortal that they usually had no regard for!

  A baneful aura erupted from Wang Chong’s body, causing the air for several dozen feet to turn hazy and indistinct. After a long while, Wang Chong took a deep breath and finally calmed down.

  Wang Chong stared at the coffin and thought, General Geshu, be at ease! No matter what, I will seek justice for you! The perpetrator will pay the price, and that day will not be far off in the future!

  With this unspoken promise, Wang Chong turned around and walked out of the spirit hall.

  Wang Chong did not wait for the actual burial. He was soon mounted on the White-hoofed Shadow and leaving Big Dipper City. Behind him, on the metal bridge, the officers of the Big Dipper Army gathered to send him off.

  “Your Highness, are you really leaving already?”

  A Big Dipper Army officer stepped forward, hoping to get him to stay.

  They knew that Wang Chong, as Minister of War, was undoubtedly busy, but Wang Chong still seemed unusually rushed. It hadn’t even been two hours since his arrival at Big Dipper City.

  “Mm!”

  Wang Chong nodded from his horse, a solemn look on his face.

  “I have seen General Geshu, so it is time for me to leave. If I don’t leave now, I worry that something else will happen in the capital!”

  The generals fell silent. Wang Chong recalled Fumeng Lingcha’s attitude from a while ago. Their fight had seemed like a continuation of their grudge from Qixi at first glance, while the Big Dipper Army officers believed that
Wang Chong was fighting with Fumeng Lingcha for their sake, causing them to feel extremely grateful.

  But Wang Chong found Fumeng Lingcha’s attitude rather suspicious.

  The First Prince had released Fumeng Lingcha as a means of seeking benediction for the Sage Emperor, and Fumeng Lingcha had been appointed to the western border to guard against the Tibetans. The Imperial Court had passed these measures, and not even Wang Chong could change their decision.

  But if it was just about controlling the Big Dipper Army, then whether he needed to change out the generals or anything, Fumeng Lingcha could have just waited until Wang Chong was gone to secretly make his arrangements. Yet Fumeng Lingcha had chosen to appear right in front of him and even intentionally provoke him.

  Wang Chong didn’t believe that Fumeng Lingcha had no idea what sort of reaction he would provoke!

  This was all too deliberate!

  It seemed as if Fumeng Lingcha was trying to entangle him and make him stay in Big Dipper City!

  I hope it’s not what I think!

  Wang Chong urged his horse into a gallop and rode off for the capital. Despite his conjectures, events developed far more quickly than he had imagined.

  Whoosh!

  Half a day after he set out from Big Dipper City, a large rock eagle flapped its wings and descended. Wang Chong removed the letter from its left leg, glanced at it, and instantly narrowed his eyes.

  Unexpectedly, Zhao Fengchen had sent the letter, and there was only one line.

  ‘Incident in the Imperial Army; return quickly!’

  The words were hastily scrawled, as if they had been written in a very short amount of time.

  “Hyah!”

  Putting the letter away, Wang Chong urged his horse to hasten its pace toward the capital.

  Chapter 1712 - Meeting Again with Zhao Fengchen

  Chapter 1712: Meeting Again with Zhao Fengchen

  Translated by: Hypersheep325

  Edited by: Michyrr

  Dark clouds hung low over the tense capital, and within an out-of-the-way restaurant, Wang Chong finally met with Imperial Army Marshal Zhao Fengchen.