Chapter 36: The Duel of Two Realms, Prologue

Zhong Yuanhua stared in disbelief at the three figures sent flying by Ye Jiuyao's strike. He was well aware of the power of the Spirit Gathering Formation, but only in the case of it self-destructing. Yet Ye Jiuyao wielded it as easily as if it were an extension of his own body. Could it be that this Spirit Gathering Formation was not just the legendary artifact of old, but also something that could be controlled by a person?

Had Ye Jiuyao known what Zhong Yuanhua was thinking, he would have likely scoffed at such wild imaginings, finding his flights of fancy almost impressive.

"Enough. The Wan Yuan Mountain is yours now. If you want revenge, come find me anytime—I’d be more than happy." Without even sparing them a glance, Ye Jiuyao strode into the Eight Directions Pavilion.

As the onlookers’ gaze lost sight of Ye Jiuyao, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. His vital energy churned violently within, as if something inside him was about to burst forth.

He spat, and a lump of blood, dark as liver, landed on the ground. Blood continued to trickle from the corner of his mouth, and his aura rapidly diminished.

"Kid, didn't I warn you my power wasn't something you could just borrow at will? There's a gap between us, after all..." Sun Qigang's voice echoed, but before Ye Jiuyao could respond, he collapsed, unconscious and oblivious to the world.

What followed was Zhong Yuanhua’s reign of dominance. With all pretenses torn away, there was no point in feigning civility. He set about cleansing the Great Zhou without mercy.

Within the borders of the Four Realms, anyone with ties to the ruling powers was ruthlessly purged by Zhong Yuanhua’s supreme strength. He did not hesitate to declare his presence, seating himself within the Imperial Sovereign’s Hall of the Great Zhou dynasty.

Such bold actions naturally stirred outrage among the other three realms. The lesser factions, cowed by Zhong Yuanhua’s overwhelming power, fled the lands of Great Zhou in disarray.

Only Xidan You of the Western Desert dared voice his protest; the other three realm lords chose silence, for the might of Ye Jiuyao was something they had witnessed firsthand. Now, with him grievously wounded, none dared leap recklessly into the fray. They would rather watch and wait, observing the coming storm. In the blink of an eye, the newborn world was gripped by unease.

Perhaps this was merely the calm before the tempest.

...

"Zhong Yuanhua has gone too far! Without his backing, how could a mere Great Zhou dare act with such impunity?" Xidan You sat regally in the grand master’s chair, flanked by many peak Aura Fusion cultivators, all leaders of the premier factions of the Western Desert.

"Lord, let us go to war. The Central Heaven Realm no longer needs to exist. Let us unite with the other realm lords!"

"Heh, Qi Duanzi, is it your place to speak? If the other three realm lords wished to unite, would we have anything to fear from Zhong Yuanhua? No wonder your Qi family has fallen so low!" Xidan You made no effort to conceal his contempt, snapping at Qi Duanzi. Had it not been for him, the situation between the two realms would not be so tense, and he himself would not be so caught between a rock and a hard place, his dignity in tatters.

"Qi Duanzi, I’ll give you a chance. In half a month, I want your entire clan to assemble, with the other sects in support, to annihilate the Central Heaven Realm!"

"No matter how strong Zhong Yuanhua is, he is but one man. He may be able to fight a hundred, but can he best a thousand? Ten thousand?" Xidan You mused, a smile creeping onto his face.

Qi Duanzi, still lost in the grief of his son’s death, did not give it much thought and agreed at once. The other factions kept silent, but as soon as they caught Xidan You’s gaze, they hastily voiced their assent. They knew that any further hesitation would see them killed by their own realm lord before Zhong Yuanhua ever arrived.

...

Meanwhile, in the other three realms, the realm lords also convened their own councils. Their attitude was one of calculated silence, tacitly agreeing not to take sides.

However, they could not restrain their subordinate factions. Each realm might have only a handful of major powers, but there were countless lesser ones. Some of these minor factions decided to take advantage of the chaos, hoping to profit from the coming war, only to overestimate their own abilities. Many were destroyed in the ensuing conflict between the two realms.

...

"Lord, what of Jiuyao?"

"Strangely, there are several different forces within his body, each one destroying his vitality, yet simultaneously replenishing it. Perhaps this is some kind of opportunity..."

"Was the boy kicked in the head by a donkey as a child?"

"Why do you say that, my lord?"

"How else to explain his stubbornness? Daring to challenge all four realm lords single-handedly! I was bold in my youth, but never so reckless. Even now, with strength far beyond theirs, I wouldn’t dare. But him... Well, you tell me—was he not kicked in the head by a donkey?"

Zhong Yuanhua analyzed Ye Jiuyao’s hardheadedness with utmost seriousness, and Ye Hanzhou found himself unconsciously nodding in agreement, hardly able to believe his own son’s actions.

Yet, Ye Hanzhou could not deny the logic. If not for a donkey’s kick, how else could he be so daring? Confidence was one thing, but this was sheer folly. If he pushed too far and lost his life, all would be for naught.

As the days passed, Ye Jiuyao showed no sign of waking from his slumber. Ye Hanzhou and the others grew more anxious, and even the ministers of Great Zhou languished in gloom, unable to focus on their cultivation.

Soon, the armies of the Western Desert pressed to the very borders.

...

"My lord, they have arrived."

"Do not panic. If they want a fight, we shall give them one. If they seek death, we will oblige them."

Ye Hanzhou looked at Zhong Yuanhua, now seated in the spot where Ye Jiuyao once sat. There was no trace of fear on his face, only concern.

"That boy still hasn’t awakened? It’s been fifteen days. By rights, he should have come around by now..." Zhong Yuanhua muttered under his breath, while Ye Hanzhou sighed and went out to rally the people.

"I have no idea how the Realm Lord is faring. He told me to purge the traitors, but how am I supposed to know who’s colluding with the Thousand Emperor Realm..."

"The Thousand Emperor Realm is just a pure cultivation world—no restrictions, might makes right. It’s far better than here..."

Zhong Yuanhua wore a look of frustration. He had been to the Thousand Emperor Realm himself; it was a place where strength truly ruled. Here, the Enlightenment and Entry Realms were but the beginning, mere child’s play compared to that world.

The new realm of the mundane world borrowed scraps of wisdom for its cultivation, believing that reaching the Entry Realm was the pinnacle. Little did they know, it was only the start.

With a sigh, Zhong Yuanhua left the Imperial Sovereign’s Hall, rising slowly into the air above the heart of Great Zhou, gazing down on all below.

"People of the Central Heaven Realm! Today, the Western Desert marches upon our lands, intent on our destruction. Will you merely wait to be slaughtered?"

His voice rang out like a great bell—though not brimming with the spirit of do-or-die valor, it carried a chilling resolve.

"Fight!"

The powers of the Central Heaven Realm had long foreseen this day, though not so soon. It had only been half a month since Ye Jiuyao slew Qi Jiangyou and subdued the realm lords, and already the armies were at their gates.

Yet there was no fear among them. True strength is forged in battle—only by struggling through blood and fire can one grow mightier. Flowers raised in greenhouses will never become towering trees.

Thus, this battle would be their crucible.