Rise of Humanity

by <unknown>

  Right at the same time, Shui Zian's aura blazed out, and the Sword Cocoons slipped past the legendary beasts toward the Martial Heavenly Master and Zhu Rong magnate!

  An inside and out convergence attack!

  The Martial Heavenly Master was caught off guard, and the Sword Cocoons curled around him. He immediately let out a cry, and the totem patterns around him blasted out and stalled the Sword Cocoons for a split second while his body shrunk from a thousand feet down to three inches to slip right through the Sword Cocoons!

  Meanwhile, Bai Zhenbei cast a skill and struck his head, breaking his skull and sending him crashing down into the city!

  Old Man Ying then waved his hands to send countless skills hurdling into the city ruins.

  The Sword Cocoons then trapped the other Zhu Rong magnate, but he was not a Martial Heavenly Master and so couldn't shrink his body to escape through the gaps. The Zhu Rong magnate's fear mounted as the Sword Cocoons continued to close in around him.

  Right at this time, the other severely wounded Martial Heavenly Master struggled to get up, and he flew to the Zhu Rong magnate and flicked his fingers on the Sword Cocoons, and the snake-like sword silks were then blasted away.

  At the moment that the magnate slipped out from the Sword Cocoons, Old Man Ying and Bai Zhenbei had already struck over to deal him a significant amount of damage, effectively reducing the strength he could use.

  "Retreat!" The two Martial Heavenly Masters then shot up into the sky with the banners in hand while one of them held onto the Zhu Rong magnate's arm. They all then rushed out from the Lesser Void World.

  In the city, Shui Zian suddenly collapsed to the ground and plunged into the dark abyss of unconsciousness.

  He was already at the end of his rope, and just as he felt the arrival of reinforcements, he forcibly surged out the last ounce of his energy to break out from the array formation and escape death by a whisker. But as a result of his final outburst that consumed the last morsel of his energy, he immediately collapsed right after.

  Old Man Ying and Bai Zhenbei then quickly landed in the middle of the city ruins and carried Shui Zian in their arms. The two elderly cultivators then surged their arcane energy into Shui Zian's body to help him suppress the wounds while they quickly rush out.

  "This is not a place to stay for long. If the Zhu Rong Clan and Xia Clan's are paying attention and takes action to counter us, none of us will be able to survive!"

  Bai Zhenbei then shouted, "After we get out, this old brat Shui Zian will be handed over to the Zhong Shan Clan member immediately, and we will leave immediately. I don't know you, and you don't know me, we've never met before at all!"

  Old Man Ying felt the same. The mess that was made was too critical; the Xia Clan and Zhu Rong Clan had taken huge blows. If they were to be linked to such an incident, the Bai Zhe Clan's reputation would plummet, and the Ying Zhao Celestial Race's Old Man Ying and Ying Nu would be torn apart by the Xia Clan and Zhu Rong Clan!

  "Yes. But this Zhong Shan Clan brat, why is he asking the little girl to wave the banner at the entrance?" Old Man Ying and Bai Zhenbei were both puzzled at this.

  In the front of the Lang Ya Board, Jun Sixie was waving the Azure Dragon Marked Banner with the same question lingering in her mind.

  Why is Junior Martial Brother Zhong asking me to wave the banner here instead of using the Divine Wing Saber? If anyone recognizes me, they will surely laugh at the Swords Gate headmaster for waving the banner like an idiot … If he is fooling around with me, I will smash his butt when we get back!

  Just as the thought crossed her mind, three figures rushed out from the Lang Ya Board and were quickly running toward the outside.

  These three were none other than the two Xia Clan Martial Heavenly Masters and the Zhu Rong Clan magnate. The three of them were in a sorry state, and the strength they could use was only a fraction of their peak. Behind their backs were the other three banners.

  Jun Sixie was still waving the Azure Dragon Marked Banner, and all of a sudden, three loud bursts of sound could be heard as the Vermillion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Turtle Banners extricated from the trio's backs and hovered around Jun Sixie!

  The complete Four Symbol Banners!

  These four banners were of the same set. The Zhong Li Celestial Race had once used the other three to summon the Azure Dragon Banner, but if it weren't for Zhong Yue who picked their ripened fruit for his own, they would have all four banners already.

  However, as Jun Sixie was waving the Azure Dragon Banner, the four banners linked together, and they naturally came together to form a set.

  The three Zhong Li Celestials were severely wounded, and in their current state of weakness, none of them could have protected the banners as Jun Sixie effortlessly took away.

  The three celestials were stunned, and even Jun Sixie was shocked. All of a sudden, she recalled her thoughts and swung the banner in her hands, the Azure Dragon emerged and swept the three celestials away, adding more wounds to the already injured celestials.

  Jun Sixie then grabbed onto the four banners, and at this moment, Old Man Ying and Bai Zhenbei had rushed out of the Lang Ya Board and hastily handed Shui Zian over to her before leaving immediately after, "Leave!"

  The two old codgers and Jun Sixie rushed out from the Lesser Void World. They then looked around and found the Fiery Capital ruined beneath them; buildings were collapsed, and a deep fissure had cut across the earth – even the statue of Lord Xia was destroyed.

  "No one saw me here!"

  Bai Zhenbei transmitted a message the other two before shooting out like a nocked arrow let loose!

  A freezing chill was sent down Old Man Ying's spine, and he also blasted away like Bai Zhenbei.

  Jun Sixie then also turned and left in thought, Junior Martial Brother Zhong has caused such commotion? The Zhong Li Celestial Race is definitely going to burst this time….

  …

  A hundred miles away, Zhong Yue kept the saber and tossed it back into the copper lamp.

  He then kept the copper lamp in his Yuan Shen secret realms and bowed at the eleven celestials, "Thank you, seniors, for the help! The tokens will be sent back to your homes! Please, leave right now!"

  The eleven magnates landed on the ground, exchanged looks and immediately turned and left while saying, "We have never met before!"

  "That's right. We have never met!"

  Soon, everyone was gone, left and Zhong Yue was left alone on the spot.

  “Run!”

  Zhong Yue's figure was then flitting across the ground, he did not rush toward Swords Gate, but headed east for the Eastern Sea.

  Meanwhile, he changed his appearance to resemble a young demon, and he flew close to the ground for hundreds of miles before plunging underground to move beneath the soil.

  After another few hundred miles, Zhong Yue surfaced from the ground as Long Yue and continued to slowly move toward the Eastern Sea.

  The Zhong Li Celestial Race knows that it's me, and it is impossible for them to let me walk out of the South Barren alive. However … all of this isn't related to Long Yue at all.

  Zhong Yue smiled and thought, While I am Long Yue. There is no need to fake my identity or anything else. Even if the Zhong Li Celestial Race inspects me now, they wouldn't even realize a thing at all.

  …

  Fiery Capital.

  Clan Master Xia, Zhurong Yanqin, and the others were covered in blood; the attack of the Divine Wing Saber was a strong one that even they had a hard time withstanding. As one of the few that stood at the summit of this world, Clan Master Xia and Zhurong Yanqin could have left the attack radius in time, but in order to protect their clansmen, they have no choice but to bear the attack, which was why their wounds were so severe.

  Clan Master Xia was looking at the crumbled Lord Xia statue, and his eyes were vacant and blank. He then turned and gazed at the destroyed Martial Divine Master's body – his eyes were resembled that of a dead man.

  "Clan m
aster! Shui Zian has been saved!"

  The two Martial Heavenly Masters carried the Zhu Rong magnate as they flew over while blood was still trickling down their mouths. The three severely wounded Zhong Li Celestials then couldn't hold exert themselves up anymore and crashed down from the sky, one of them shouted feebly, "The banners, three masked men robbed them of from us…."

  Puff——

  A mouthful of blood spurted out like a fountain from Clan Master Xia's mouth. It felt like as if he had suddenly aged tens of years. Moments later, a low and deep voice that was as cold as if it came from the deepest level of hell then reverberated through the sky, "My orders to each and every cultivator at or above Heavenly Dharma is to find the boy from the Zhong Shan Clan and bring him to me! Yanqin, we will move as well."

  Zhurong Yanqin nodded, and Clan Master Xia's eyes turned colder than ever. He gazed at Xia Zhongjin and said, "Zhongjin, leave for the Heavenly Lord Palace, and wake the grand ancestor's saint weapon!"

  Chapter 396: Copper Pillars and The Sealed South Barren |

  "Clan master, other than the Zhong Shan Clan member, there still remains the Swords Gate human Qi Practitioners, what about them?" Xia Zhongjin hesitated for a split second before asking.

  “The others?”

  Clan Master Xia's face was ashen, and his cold voice was filled in killing intent as he ordered, "Catch and kill!"

  “This….”

  Zhurong Yanqin hesitated before saying, "It may not be wise to do so. It was Zhong Yue that struck us in the dark, and there is no clear evidence to prove his guilt. Furthermore, it was the Zhong Li Celestial that ambushed Shui Zian first – justice is not on our side. If we then kill the other humans, I'm afraid that the Zhong Li Celestial Race's reputation will…."

  However, Clan Master Xia replied coldly, "Then what? I don't care! We Zhong Li Celestial Race have stood on the South Barren for many years and when have we ever tolerated such humiliation? Find those human Qi Practitioners and kill them all!"

  He then said, "Find those who helped Zhong Yue power the Divine Wing Saber. Find them and kill all of them, including their people!"

  …

  “Hall Master Zuo, Junior Martial Sister Qiu.”

  Zuo Xiangsheng, Tian Yanzhong, and the others were powering a Shui Tu Clan ship that flew them toward the Great Wilderness at a speed no slower than magnates. However, before they could reach Swords Gate, a booming voice came into their ears. They looked over and saw a lady's figure alighting down on the deck of the ship – it was Jun Sixie!

  They were then all shocked, they thought, Why is headmaster here?

  Rays flashed across Jun Sixie's eyes, and she removed Shui Zian from the Yuan Shen secret realms and placed him on the deck. She then said solemnly, "No time to explain. I'll drive the ship. We must leave South Barren now!"

  Krong——

  A loud boom sounded out, and the ship blasted away at a breakneck speed. Jun Sixie powered the ship and cast out a totem pillar to establish a connection to Swords Gate and give her order as headmaster, "Senior Martial Brother Fang, take the divine sword with you. The other elders will wield the Ten Malefic Weapons and the other two divine weapons. Meet us at the border of Great Wilderness!"

  Tian Yanzhong and Zuo Xiangsheng's hearts stiffened up; even the divine weapons and Ten malefic weapons were coming out, had the situation truly turned so serious?

  They were oblivious to what happened, and they could all feel the sudden burst of divine aura that came from the Fiery Capital – something big must have happened there.

  However, Qiu Jin'er knew of the plan, and her heart twisted with anxiety, "Headmaster, where is my senior martial brother?"

  “I can’t find him.”

  Jun Sixie's eyes flashed as she replied quickly, "I went to get him right after Elder Shui was saved, but by the time I reached where he was, he was already long done. Don't worry. Your senior martial brother is a sly and cunning one. Even the whole Zhong Li Celestial Race might not be able to catch him!"

  Even with those reassurances, Qiu Jin'er was still worried. All of a sudden, an appalling divine aura emanated from the Heavenly Lord Palace far in the South; the ancient saint weapon was awakened, and its aura pressed down onto the whole South Barren. It brought about sudden typhoons and thunderclouds, it raised the ocean waves sky-high and sent them crashing into the coastlines. The sound of the crashing waves was as if the world were screaming in pain.

  Lord Xia's saint weapon – the Eight Dragons Heaven Suppression Cauldron– has awakened!

  A saint weapon that could compete with the Coiling Dragon Sword and Divine Wing Saber; A hidden power that was concealed away from the world for ages until now. It's return sent tremors through the whole South Barren as if announcing to the world that it had returned!

  Jun Sixie was shocked, and she turned her head back at the direction of the Heavenly Lord Palace, but it was too far for her to see what form the saint weapon was forged in.

  The Zhong Li Celestial Race is enraged, even the saint weapon was taken out. This is not looking good….

  Jun Sixie gritted her teeth and felt the situation turn knotty. The Zhong Li Celestial Race had been dealt a significant blow; even the three divine banners were robbed from them. Although they could not pinpoint who the actual culprit was, it was still not hard for them to realize that the deed was committed by someone from the Swords Gate. If they could not find Zhong Yue, then they would direct their unmitigated wrath towards Swords Gate instead.

  "Cough, cough, cough…."

  Shui Zian started coughing in the cabin, and the disciples then immediately swarmed to his side. He struggled to get up, and the feeble old man swung his sleeve. Piles of tokens were then placed on the table, and Shui Zian then coughed, "Headmaster, use these tokens, this might be the key to resolving the Swords Gate's incoming danger."

  Jun Sixie was hesitant in her answer, "Rest assured, Elder Shui. With the Four Symbol Banners altogether, I can maybe compete with Lord Xia's saint weapon. If I can fully unleash the banners' power … then I will protect Swords Gate with my life."

  Shui Zian's coughed soon became desperate gasps for air as he said, "You can do South, but you can't do East and West."

  Jun Sixie's heart twitched in pain. She knew what he meant, if the Zhong Li Celestial Race had really marched an army toward Swords Gate, then the West Barren celestial and East Barren monsters would not let such a golden opportunity slip through their fingers.

  "Swords Gate is the only reason for these tokens to exist, I've collected them for all my life, and it is now time for them serve their purpose," Shui Zian's pallid face showed a faint smile as he said.

  Jun Sixie gazed at the grand elder and nodded heavily.

  …

  With the headmaster powering the ship, not even magnates could catch up to their speed.

  The night soon fell, and the border that separated the South Barren and the Great Wilderness was in sight. The many humans stood on the deck and watched as the torches lit up the whole mountain ridge; it looked as if a fire dragon was soaring through the darkness.

  At the center of the mountain ridge was a fortress, one that was built not long ago by the Zhong Li Celestial Race.

  The decision to build the fortress came as the human race started to show signs of a resurgence and talent began to bloom from generation to generation. There were the old codgers like Shui Zian; the innate spirit bodies like Jun Sixie, Fang Jiange, and Qiu Jin'er; younger talents like Zuo Xiangsheng, Tian Yanzhong, in addition to the two West Barren human tribes that joined them lately. All this made the South Barren begin to raise their guard against the human race.

  The spirit of the border fortress was summoned, and it stood tall at the center of the fortress as its divine aura filled the air. This fortress's spirit was 1000 feet tall, and many glowing totem patterns wrapped around it like chains.

  In the dark, they could see the South Barren Zhong Li Celestials swarming all over the place, some of them were nailing so
me copper pillars in the ground while others were vigilantly standing guard. These copper pillars were planted from one end of the border to the other and formed a line along the Great Wilderness-South Barren border.

  Ding! Ding! Dang! Dang!——

  The Zhong Li Celestials were nailing the copper pillars into the ground; their muscular arms could be seen quivering as they struck the pillars. The scene gave out a natural barbaric feeling that caused the human disciples' hearts to tighten.

  “The copper pillars, what are they?”

  Shui Zian heard the voices and tottered to the side of the deck to watch. His feeble voice then sounded out, "To seal the underground. These copper pillars can put up a seal barrier beneath the ground to prevent anyone from escaping underground. The whole of the South Barren has been awakened, and sealing the underground along the borderline is just the first step. Soon, every path into the Great Wilderness will be sealed and guarded…."

  The humans were stunned – these nail-like copper pillars were each 100 miles apart, and the Great Wilderness-South Barren border was over 100, 000 miles long. That added up to nearly a million copper pillars!

  These copper pillars were essentially totem pillars specially designed to spread the totem patterns underground and seal off the exit paths underground. These totem patterns could reach as deep as 100,000 feet deep from the surface, fortifying the soils into metal-like barriers to prevent any underground skill or art from working.

  Not only that, but these totem pillars could also alert the Zhong Li Celestial experts on the ground if anyone came into contact with the totem patterns.

  As such, trying to leave underground was now out of the question.

  "This is not meant for us, and neither can it stop us. They only have one target, and that is Junior Martial Brother Zhong … They are trying to trap him and eliminate every chance and possibility for him to escape the South Barren."

  Jun Sixie mumbled, "The Zhong Li Celestial Race really has spared no effort in capturing him…."

  Suddenly, she felt a sudden sense of foreboding and quickly turned back. The beautiful lady's face then saw a drastic change.