chsdbacks Chapter 321 Zhuanxu, Fighting the Extraterrestrial Demons Again!
Chapter 321 Zhuanxu, Fighting the Extraterrestrial Demons Again!
A procession of 30,000 people set off from Jambudvipa (Southern Continent) towards Victory Continent (Eastern Continent).
Su Fan walked at the front of the group, followed by Emperor Fuxi, and then 30,000 human warriors.
Their armor was tattered and their weapons were damaged, but everyone's eyes shone with an alarming intensity.
Su Fan had seen this kind of look before. The twelve thousand disciples of the Southern Heavenly Gate also had this kind of look in their eyes.
Fuxi walked beside Su Fan, his aged face showing a hint of weariness.
For three thousand years, he has carried the human race, this last city, and the lives of ten thousand people all by himself. Now, he has finally shared some of the burden on his shoulders.
"Envoy of the Gods," Fuxi spoke, "tell me, after this battle, what will be left of the primordial world?"
Su Fan remained silent for a long time. He looked at the vast land ahead, at the mountains scorched by war, at the dried-up riverbeds and collapsed peaks.
"I don't know. But if we don't fight, we'll lose everything."
Fuxi smiled, a bitter smile. "Yes. If we don't fight, we'll lose everything."
The group continued their journey. Between the Southern Continent and the Eastern Continent lay a vast wasteland.
The wasteland was barren, with only cracked earth and scattered white bones.
Three thousand years ago, this was the most prosperous place in the primordial world. There were cities, villages, markets, and cooking smoke. Now, there is nothing left.
When Su Fan reached the center of the wasteland, he suddenly stopped.
Ahead stood a man. He was dressed in white, holding a whisk, with white hair and beard, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom. It was Laozi, the Supreme Lord of the Dao.
Su Fan was stunned. "Senior, what brings you here?"
Laozi looked at him, then at the 30,000 warriors behind him, a complex expression flashing in his eyes.
"I've come to fetch you. After the battle at Nantianmen, the Daoist sect suffered heavy losses, and its defenses have shrunk by 100,000 li. If you don't know the way, it will take you ten days to walk. I'll take you through a shortcut."
Su Fan felt a warmth in his heart. "Thank you, senior."
Lao Tzu waved his hand, turned around, and led the way. He wasn't walking on the ground, but in the void.
With each step he took, a blue lotus bloomed beneath his feet. The lotus supported his feet, propelling him step by step into the sky.
Su Fan and Fu Xi followed, as did the 30,000 warriors. The 30,000 people walked in the void, with a bottomless abyss beneath their feet and the vast sky above them.
After walking for about an hour, a huge pass appeared ahead. The pass was thousands of feet high, and the city walls were built of ancient divine stones, covered with densely packed runes.
South Heaven Gate.
But it was even more dilapidated than when Su Fan left. Countless cracks appeared on the city walls, and the runes had dimmed considerably.
Su Fan landed on the city wall, looking at the scarred pass, and a strange emotion welled up in his heart.
Three days ago, twelve thousand Daoist disciples rushed out from here, but less than five thousand survived. Their blood still remains on the city walls.
Lao Tzu stood beside him. "The disciples of the Daoist school are already used to it."
Su Fan asked, "What about the demon race? Have Di Jun and the others returned?"
Laozi shook his head: "Dijun has returned to Beiju Luzhou, saying he wants to strengthen the defenses. Donghuang Taiyi is staying with Xihe and can't come for the time being. But Dijun said that if the Heavenly Demons come again, he will arrive immediately."
Su Fan remained silent. The demon race had also suffered losses; of its eight hundred elite troops, only one hundred remained. Anyone in their position would need to take a break.
Fuxi stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance. There lay the battlefield outside the South Heavenly Gate. The traces of the battle from three days prior remained, the ground littered with the remains of demons and the belongings of Daoist disciples.
He remained silent for a long time, then turned to look at the 30,000 soldiers behind him. "Set up camp. Rest. Wait."
Thirty thousand soldiers camped inside the South Heavenly Gate. They had no tents, no rations, and each person carried only three days' worth of dry food. But no one complained.
They sat beneath the city wall, leaning against its crumbling walls, resting with their eyes closed. Some were asleep, while others remained awake, gazing at the sky.
Su Fan sat on the city wall, gazing at the vast, desolate land. His mind was in turmoil.
Five thousand Taoists, one hundred demons, and thirty thousand humans. Thirty-five thousand against one hundred thousand heavenly demons.
No, 100,000 was the amount from last time. Next time, it will only be more.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't want to think about it anymore. Thinking about it was pointless.
The next morning, a Taoist disciple rushed in. "Grandmaster! Someone has arrived outside!"
Lao Tzu stood up. "Who goes there?"
The disciple swallowed hard: "A Buddhist."
Su Fan was taken aback and quickly walked to the city wall. Outside the South Heavenly Gate stood an old monk.
The old monk was dressed in a gray kasaya, thin and bony, and leaned on a bamboo staff.
Laozi looked at the old monk, and his eyes suddenly reddened. "Medicine Buddha..."
Su Fan was stunned. The Medicine Buddha? Wasn't he in Xiniu Hezhou? How did he get here?
The Medicine Buddha, leaning on his bamboo staff, climbed the city wall step by step. With each step, he had to catch his breath. Three thousand years of fighting had exhausted his life force. Now, even walking was difficult for him.
Laozi rushed over and helped him up. "Why are you here? Where is Xiniu Hezhou?"
The Medicine Buddha smiled. "West Niu He Zhou, gone."
Su Fan's expression changed drastically. "What?!"
The Medicine Buddha looked at him, his eyes filled with exhaustion. "While you were fighting at the Southern Heavenly Gate, the Heavenly Demons also attacked Xiniu Hezhou. They sent two hundred thousand, all at least Great Luo Golden Immortals. The Buddhist disciples fought desperately, but they couldn't stop them."
Su Fan's heart sank to the bottom. "Then... how many people survived?"
The Medicine Buddha remained silent for a long time. "Three thousand."
Su Fan was stunned. Xiniu Hezhou, a Buddhist center, once boasted a million disciples. Now, only three thousand remained. The Medicine Buddha looked at Su Fan.
"I have not come to complain. I have come to tell you that the main force of the Heavenly Demons is gathering. The next attack will not be far off."
Lao Tzu asked, "How long?"
The Medicine Buddha held up three fingers. "Three days."
A deathly silence fell over the South Heavenly Gate. Three days passed. Three days later, the Heavenly Demons would attack again.
Last time it was 100,000, how about 150,000? 200,000?
Five thousand Taoists, three thousand Buddhists, one hundred demons, and thirty thousand humans. Thirty-eight thousand against two hundred thousand Heavenly Demons. How can they possibly win?
Su Fan stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance. Only one thought occupied his mind—he had to find a way.
He turned to look at Laozi. "Senior, does the Daoist sect still possess any hidden power? Can those dormant great beings be awakened?"
Laozi shook his head. "Yuanshi and Tongtian are both asleep and won't wake up. Even if they do, they'll need time to recover."
Su Fan looked at the Medicine Buddha. "What about Buddhism? Besides you, who else is alive?"
The Medicine Buddha said, "There are still a few Bodhisattvas and a few Arhats who are recuperating from their injuries and cannot fight for the time being."
Su Fan looked at Fuxi. "What about the human race? Of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, are you truly the only one left?"
Fuxi remained silent for a long time. "There's one more. Zhuanxu."
Su Fan was taken aback. "Zhuanxu? He's still alive?"
Fuxi nodded. "He's alive. But he's trapped in one place and can't get out."
Su Fan asked, "Where?"
Fuxi looked into the distance. "Mount Buzhou."
Mount Buzhou. The primordial pillar of heaven. In the past, Gonggong angrily struck Mount Buzhou, causing the pillar of heaven to break, the sky to collapse, and the earth to cave in.
Nuwa mended the sky with five-colored stones, thus saving the world from chaos. From then on, Mount Buzhou became a ruin, and no one dared to go there.
Laozi's expression changed. "Mount Buzhou? How could Zhuanxu be there?"
Fuxi sighed. "In that great battle back then, Zhuanxu was seriously injured. He feared that after his death, his body would be used by the Heavenly Demons, so he went to Buzhou Mountain and used his power to suppress the cracks there."
Su Fan asked, "A crack?"
Fuxi nodded.
"Mount Buzhou was the pillar of heaven. After the pillar broke, a crack appeared there. The crack connected to chaos, and the chaotic energy within the chaos would seep out from the crack. Zhuanxu used his own body to seal that crack."
Su Fan fell silent. To use his own body to seal the crack for three thousand years. What kind of perseverance was that?
He took a deep breath. "I'll go to Buzhou Mountain and rescue Zhuanxu."
Fuxi looked at him. "Mount Buzhou is very dangerous. Those below the Dao Realm who enter there will be corroded into bones by the chaotic energy there."
Su Fan smiled. "I have the Pangu Armor. The chaotic energy cannot harm me."
Laozi frowned. "Even if you reach Buzhou Mountain, how can you save Zhuanxu? He used his own body to seal the crack; if you touch him, the crack will break open. At that time, the chaotic energy will surge out, and the surrounding area will become a dead zone."
Su Fan remained silent. After thinking for a moment, he took out the Eastern Emperor Bell from his pocket.
"Use this. The Eastern Emperor Bell can suppress heaven and earth, and it can also suppress cracks."
Laozi looked at the Eastern Emperor Bell and remained silent for a long time.
"It's worth a try."
Su Fan turned to leave. Fu Xi called out to him, "Wait."
Su Fan turned around.
Fuxi took out a jade talisman from his bosom.
"This is a token of Emperor Zhuanxu. When you arrive at Buzhou Mountain, show him the jade token, and he will know that you are one of his own."
Su Fan took the jade talisman and turned to leave.
Mount Buzhou. The end of the primordial world. The place where the pillar of heaven broke.
When Su Fan flew to the foot of Buzhou Mountain, all he saw was ruins.
The broken mountain pillars lay scattered on the ground, each one thousands of feet thick and tens of thousands of miles long.
The mountain pillars are covered with ancient runes, but most of them are now blurred and indistinct.
In the center of the ruins, there is a huge crack.
The crack was hundreds of feet wide, its length unfathomable, and its depth unfathomable. From within the crack, black mist surged forth.
The mist carried an aura of decay and chaos. Anyone below the Dao Realm who touched it would instantly turn to bones.
Su Fan took a deep breath and stepped into the crevice. The Pangu Armor glowed with golden light, blocking the chaotic energy.
He descended step by step. The crevice was deep, and after half an hour, he still hadn't reached the bottom. All around was pitch black, except for the golden light emanating from the Eastern Emperor Bell, which illuminated the path beneath his feet.
After walking for another half hour, they finally reached the bottom. At the bottom of the crevice was a flat stone platform. On the platform lay a person.
The man wore imperial robes and a crown, his face resolute. But half of his body had already turned to stone. Zhuanxu.
Su Fan walked over and squatted down. Zhuanxu had his eyes closed, as if he were asleep. But his chest was still rising and falling slightly; he was still alive.
Su Fan took out the jade talisman given to him by Fuxi and placed it in Zhuanxu's palm. The jade talisman lit up with a soft light.
Zhuanxu's fingers twitched. Then, he opened his eyes. His eyes were cloudy, as if veiled by a layer of mist.
But the moment they saw the jade talisman, the fog dissipated.
"Fuxi..." His voice was very weak.
Su Fan said, "Senior, I am Su Fan. Emperor Fuxi sent me to save you."
Zhuanxu looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
"Save me? How? The moment I leave, the rift will open. Then, chaotic energy will surge forth, and everything within a radius of ten thousand miles will become a dead zone."
Su Fan took out the Eastern Emperor Bell. "Use this."
Zhuanxu's eyes widened suddenly when he saw the Eastern Emperor Bell. "The Eastern Emperor Bell? A supreme treasure of the demon race?"
Su Fan nodded. "Yes. It can suppress the heavens and earth, and it can also suppress cracks."
Zhuanxu remained silent. He looked at Donghuang Zhong, then at Su Fan, and then smiled. "Alright. Let's give it a try."
Su Fan placed the Eastern Emperor Bell in the center of the crack. The bell shone with golden light, which grew brighter and stronger.
The crack began to tremble, and the surging chaotic energy was forced back by the golden light. The edges of the crack began to slowly close.
Zhuanxu's body also began to change. The parts that had turned to stone gradually regained their flesh and blood.
He stood up and stretched his limbs. For the first time in three thousand years, he had stood up.
He looked at Su Fan. "Thank you, Envoy of the Gods."
Su Fan waved his hand. "No need to thank me. Senior, come back with me. The Heavenly Demon is coming."
Zhuanxu's expression changed. "How long?"
Su Fan said, "Two days."
Zhuanxu turned and walked towards the outside of the crevice. "Let's go."
The two left Buzhou Mountain and flew towards the South Heavenly Gate.
South Heaven Gate.
When Su Fan returned, it was already evening of the next day. Zhuanxu followed behind him, weak but still possessing a powerful aura. Fifth level of the Dao Realm.
On the city wall, everyone was watching Zhuanxu. Fuxi rushed up and hugged him tightly.
"Three thousand years...three thousand years..."
Zhuanxu patted him on the back. "I'm back."
Laozi looked at Zhuanxu, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "Good. Very good. Of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the human race, one has finally returned."
The Medicine Buddha clasped his hands together. "Amitabha. Emperor Zhuanxu, how have you been?"
Zhuanxu nodded. "Medicine Buddha, you are still alive, that's good."
The Medicine Buddha smiled. "I almost died. Thanks to the Investiture of the Gods."
Su Fan stood aside, watching these bigwigs exchange pleasantries, but he felt anything but relaxed. Zhuanxu had returned, but only by himself.
Five thousand Taoists, three thousand Buddhists, one hundred demons, and thirty thousand humans. Adding Zhuanxu, that makes thirty-eight thousand and one. Against two hundred thousand Heavenly Demons.
Laozi saw through his thoughts. "Su Fan, don't overthink it. We'll deal with whatever comes our way."
Su Fan nodded, walked to the city wall, and looked into the distance. Dark clouds began to gather again on the horizon.
The next morning, dark clouds pressed down over the South Heavenly Gate. They were larger, thicker, and denser than before. Within the clouds, countless figures writhed. At least two hundred thousand.
The demonic dragon emerged from the dark clouds. Its wounds hadn't healed; bandages still wrapped around its chest. But its eyes were even more crazed than before. It looked at the Southern Heavenly Gate, at Su Fan on the city wall, and laughed.
"Envoy of the Gods, I have arrived once again."
Su Fan looked at him. "You're lucky I didn't kill you last time."
The demonic dragon laughed loudly. "Kill me? You think you can? I was careless last time. This time, I won't give you the chance."
With a wave of its hand, two hundred thousand celestial demons roared simultaneously. The sound waves shook the heavens, even causing the walls of the South Heavenly Gate to tremble.
Su Fan took a deep breath. He raised the Immortal Execution Sword. "Everyone, today, either the Heavenly Demon dies, or we perish."
Behind him, 38,000 men simultaneously raised their weapons. "Kill!"
Su Fan was the first to rush out. With a slash of the Immortal Execution Sword, the head of a first-level Dao Realm Heavenly Demon flew into the air. Two more slashes, and two Saint Realm Heavenly Demons fell simultaneously. Three more slashes, and he forced back three Primordial Chaos Realm Heavenly Demons.
He didn't seek out the powerful Heavenly Demons. His opponents were those below the Dao Realm. Saints were taken down with a single sword strike. Primordial Chaos Realm, three sword strikes each. Dao Realm Level 1, ten sword strikes each. He was like a sharp blade, rampaging through the Heavenly Demons' ranks, reaping life after life.
Behind them, Taoist disciples, Buddhist disciples, human warriors, and elite demons attacked simultaneously. Thirty-eight thousand men against two hundred thousand demons. It was a bloody battle. Every second someone fell, every second a demon died.
On the battlefield, blood flowed like rivers and corpses littered the ground.
Su Fan didn't know how many demons he had killed. His sword became dull, so he replaced it. It became dull again, so he replaced it again. His arm ached and he could no longer feel it. His eyes turned red and he could no longer see clearly. But he kept killing.
Suddenly, a Heavenly Demon at the second level of the Dao Realm noticed him. The Heavenly Demon looked at him and sneered.
"Mid-stage Primordial Chaos Realm, having a good time killing?" It slammed down with its claws, the claw shadows like mountains, covering the sky and the earth.
Su Fan tried to dodge, but he couldn't. The Dao Realm Second Level expert was a whole major realm higher than him. Too fast.
Just then, a figure blocked his way. It was Zhuanxu. He struck out with his palm, the palm print as large as the sky, slamming into the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon screamed and flew backward.
Zhuanxu turned to look at Su Fan. "Envoy of the Gods, your opponent is not it. Go find those at the Saint Realm. Leave these Dao Realm cultivators to me."
Su Fan nodded, turned, and rushed towards the other side of the battlefield. There, dozens of Saint-level Heavenly Demons were besieging a group of Daoist disciples. He charged in, killing them one by one with his sword, scattering the Heavenly Demons in all directions.
The battle lasted for three days and three nights.
For three days and three nights, no one retreated, no one surrendered. When the Taoist disciples died, the Buddhist disciples took their place. When the Buddhist disciples died, the human warriors took their place. When the human warriors died, the elite demon warriors took their place. When the elite demon warriors died, Su Fan took their place.
At dawn on the third day, fewer than ten thousand men remained standing on the battlefield. The Heavenly Demons also had fewer than fifty thousand left. The Demon Dragon was covered in wounds, and so was Emperor Jun. The two fought to a standstill, neither able to gain the upper hand.
Su Fan stood amidst a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, his entire body covered in blood. His sword was broken, and his armor was shattered.
The dragon stared at him, its eyes filled with shock. "You...you're still alive?"
Su Fan laughed. "I told you, I'm tough."
The dragon gritted its teeth, turned, and ran. "Retreat!"
The remaining demons turned and fled. The dark clouds dispersed, and the demon army once again fled in disarray.
The battlefield was deathly silent. Then, a deafening cheer erupted. But this cheer was much quieter than the last, because there were far too few people standing to cheer.
Su Fan stood amidst the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, looking at the cheering crowd, and smiled. Then, everything went black, and he collapsed.
This time, he didn't faint. He was just too tired. So tired that he couldn't even lift his eyelids.