159: Chapter 156 Heading to the Zetian Sect

The Demonic Qi and bloodlust from the north seemed to condense into substance, transforming into an invisible dark cloud that shrouded the entire Great Xuan Dynasty.

Within the capital, the clamor and excitement that had just arisen from the "War God" title were completely extinguished at this moment, replaced by a bone-chilling cold and panic.

Chen Zhiwen stood in the courtyard, the terrifying energy that had leaked out due to shock and anger slowly retracting into his body.

Yet his eyes remained like a ten-thousand-foot cold abyss, bottomless.

The northern border fortress had fallen, and millions of troops had been wiped out...

Every word weighed as heavy as a mountain, crashing into his heart.

"Your Highness, His Majesty urgently summons you to the palace!"

Outside the courtyard, another figure landed—it was Chief Eunuch, his expression extremely anxious, his voice even trembling.

Chen Zhiwen did not speak, only nodding slightly.

He took a step forward, and his figure vanished from where he stood; when he reappeared, he was already outside the Forbidden City of the imperial palace.

Inside the Golden Throne Hall, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Emperor of Great Xuan, Chen Chaochu, no longer had any of his previous high spirits. He sat on the dragon throne with a pale face, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins and anxiety.

Beside him, an aged figure stood quietly—it was the Old Ancestor, Chen Heng.

Seeing Chen Zhiwen appear, Chen Chaochu seemed to have found his backbone and hurriedly stood up.

"Zhiwen, you've arrived!"

Chen Heng also turned around, his gaze toward Chen Zhiwen carrying a hint of solemnity and a touch of gratification.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, greetings, Old Ancestor."

Chen Zhiwen bowed slightly, his gaze sweeping across the great hall, and he already understood in his heart.

Chen Heng sighed, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness.

"No need for formalities. You must already know the situation."

He paused and handed over a Jade Slip shimmering with a faint green light.

"Just a moment ago, Sect Master of the Zetian Sect, Wang Ming, personally sent a message."

Chen Zhiwen took the Jade Slip and extended his Divine Thought into it.

The information inside the Jade Slip was simple, only a few words, yet it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

"The Yao Race is knocking at the gates, the Human Race is in peril. I request the Great Xuan War God and Fellow Daoist Chen Heng to quickly come to the Zetian Sect to discuss the great plan to resist the Yao Race!"

"Zetian Sect..."

Chen Zhiwen withdrew his Divine Thought, softly reciting the name.

As the number one Sect in the Wilderness Province and the anchor of the Human Race, it had finally spoken.

Chen Heng looked at him, a touch of determination appearing on his aged face.

"There is no time to lose, I will go with you."

Chen Zhiwen looked at Chen Heng, his brows furrowing imperceptibly.

He knew that the Old Ancestor's Lifespan was running low.

However, at this moment, there was no fear of death in Chen Heng's eyes, only the sense of responsibility as a Great Grandmaster and as the protector of the Great Xuan Dynasty.

"Very well."

Chen Zhiwen did not try to persuade him otherwise.

He understood that this was the Old Ancestor's Dao, and also his choice.

The two did not speak further. With a flicker of their figures, they transformed into two streams of light, shot into the sky, tore through the clouds, and sped toward the location of the Zetian Sect.

...

Gales howled, and the sea of clouds churned beneath their feet.

Chen Zhiwen and Chen Heng traveled side by side, their speed reaching the extreme. The capital city behind them soon became a tiny black dot.

Chen Zhiwen's gaze inadvertently fell upon Chen Heng.

The Old Ancestor's figure was still upright, but the frost at his temples, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and the faint aura of twilight about him all seemed to silently recount the ruthlessness of time.

Since the last time he fought three Great Grandmasters alone for his sake, the Old Ancestor's already limited Lifespan had melted away like ice under the scorching sun.

The original year of life now likely did not exceed three months.

This should have been the final, peaceful period of his life, yet it had to encounter such a heaven-shaking catastrophe.

Seemingly sensing Chen Zhiwen's gaze, Chen Heng turned his head; in his cloudy eyes, there was a trace of detachment that had seen through worldly affairs.

He smiled, a light smile that seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jin.

"Why, are you feeling sorry for this old man?"

Chen Zhiwen was silent, saying nothing.

Chen Heng seemed to see through his thoughts and spoke to himself.

"I have lived for so many years, seen the mountains and seas, walked across the stars; I have seen what I should see and experienced what I should experience. I have long had no regrets."

His gaze looked toward the distant north, where blood energy soared to the sky and demonic clouds were dense.

"To be able to burn this old body one last time for the Human Race and for the future generations when my Lifespan is coming to an end, and to shed the last drop of blood..."

"I, am satisfied."

The plain words contained a will called "Protection," making Chen Zhiwen's spirit tremble.

He looked at the old man beside him, and the last trace of complex emotion in his heart dissipated.

He nodded heavily.

"Old Ancestor, we... will win."

"Haha, that is only natural."

Chen Heng laughed loudly, the aura of twilight vanishing, and heroic spirit burst forth.

The two did not speak again, and their speed surged once more, turning into two rainbow lights that tore through the firmament and disappeared at the edge of the sky.

The Zetian Sect was located in the center of the Wilderness Province, before Qinghua Mountain.

When the figures of Chen Zhiwen and Chen Heng appeared at the Zetian Sect, an Elder of the Zetian Sect was already waiting there.

"Welcome, Senior Chen Heng, welcome, Your Highness War God."

The Elder bowed respectfully, leading the two toward the mountaintop.

Passing through layers of clouds and the mountain-protecting formation, a magnificent and ancient palace, like a heavenly palace, appeared before them.

This palace was the first divine palace of the Zetian Sect, only opened at important moments.

In the plaza before the hall, the ground was paved with white jade, and purple Qi rose.

At this moment, several figures were already standing on the plaza.

Each figure emitted a terrifying aura, like a deep pool or a towering mountain, enough to stir up the winds and clouds.

They were the existence of the Human Race in this Wilderness Province who truly stood at the top of the pyramid!

Old Ancestor of the Great Chu Dynasty, Chu Chaosheng!

Old Ancestor of the Great Yan Dynasty, Fang Tao!

Old Ancestor of the Tianluo Sect!

Although Xuan Yin Valley and Wan Fa Sect did not send a Great Grandmaster, they had sent their Sect Master to represent the Sect's will.

Together with the Old Ancestors of several other Sects, almost the entire high-end combat power of the Human Race in the Wilderness Province was gathered here!

Everyone's gaze, at the moment Chen Zhiwen and Chen Heng appeared, converged upon them in unison.

In those gazes, there was solemnity, wariness, scrutiny, and even a bit of indescribable complexity.

Especially Chu Chaosheng and Fang Tao; when they saw Chen Zhiwen, a trace of imperceptible coldness flashed deep in their eyes.

Chen Zhiwen's expression was calm, turning a blind eye to these gazes, and together with Chen Heng, he walked into the Zetian Hall.

Inside the hall, it was vast and majestic.

Sitting at the very top was an old man wearing a black Daoist robe with a simple, ancient face.

He just sat there quietly, yet it seemed as if he had merged with this world.

His aura was restrained to the extreme, as deep as the sea and as vast as the starry sky, making it impossible for anyone to fathom its depth.

He was the number one powerhouse in the Wilderness Province, Old Ancestor of the Zetian Sect, Wang Ming!