545: The trouble with the North Sea, the road to the gods, the biggest enemy of the Chu State

“A fork in the road?”

Chu Jiang looked puzzled.

King Guang of Qin nodded slightly and continued, “Eight hundred years ago, after the failed campaign against the Ancestral Demon Realm, and with the Demon King's Army from the Demon Ancient Road constantly threatening the survival of Great Chu.”

“My Imperial Father, from an ancient Imperial Dynasty, accidentally obtained a Sacrifice Luck Ascending Immortal Art. He sacrificed the current and future eight hundred years of Great Chu’s Luck, elevating his own Realm to an unprecedented level. With his own strength, he once again campaigned against the Ancestral Demon Realm, pacified the Demon Kings, and stabilized the North Sea.”

“The cost was the collapse of Great Chu’s entire Luck. Within the next thousand years, it would be impossible for any Spiritual Qi to be born, impossible for any strong individuals above the Transcendent Realm to emerge, and all strong individuals above the Transcendent Realm would be forced to return to the North Sea Ruins, unable to exist.”

“The entire Great Chu would fall into a desperate situation.”

Chu Jiang frowned and asked, “What is the success rate of this Sacrifice Luck Ascending Immortal Art?”

King Guang of Qin said in a deep voice, “If this Ascending Immortal Art could truly create an invincible individual, it wouldn't be entirely unfeasible. Unfortunately, it only has a fifty percent success rate!”

If the Chu Emperor had truly succeeded, given the foresight of the Great Chu Dynasty’s Old Ancestors, they might not have disagreed. They were all forced into self-sealing, living in perpetual darkness, only continuing to survive for the continuation of Great Chu. If it could secure a chance for Great Chu, they likely wouldn't have obstructed him.

However, with only a fifty percent success rate, the risk was too great.

If it succeeded, it would be fine; he could pacify the world with unparalleled martial might.

If it failed, not only would Great Chu’s high-end forces gradually wither away in a short period, but it would also be unable to produce strong individuals above the Transcendent Realm, effectively burying any chance for Great Chu to turn the tide.

Great Chu would be carved up by the surrounding powerful nations. The Barbarian Race, Sun Moon Country, Ten Thousand Great Mountains, and others would all come to claim a share, and there would be no possibility of resistance.

Within the Dynasty, various Demon forces, marquises, and Sects of the Eight Great Families would certainly descend into internal strife, leaving the common people in misery, with warlords carving up territories and becoming spokespersons for enemy forces, their land gradually being eroded away.

Chu Jiang mused, “So, the Great Chu Dynasty’s Old Ancestors were unwilling to take the risk and stopped the Chu Emperor…”

King Guang of Qin nodded and continued, “The Imperial Old Ancestors preferred stability, believing there would be time to adapt in the future. For this, we also owe much to Yuan Siming of your Demon Suppression Division.”

“He is truly a heaven-gifted genius. In the five thousand years since Great Chu was founded, his talent is enough to be called astonishing and his combat power incredible. He alone stopped my Imperial Father’s Crazy Crazy act.”

“And he predicted that eight hundred years later, there would still be a chance, and at that time, the fourth expedition would definitely succeed.”

“My Imperial Father listened to Yuan Siming’s advice, temporarily abandoned the Ascending Immortal Art, and waited for the situation to change.”

Chu Jiang couldn't help but sigh, this Yuan Shouyi was truly a Divine Being. In the Demon Suppression Division’s trial tower, he had even predicted his arrival.

His talent and combat power were already unparalleled, and his Celestial Mystery deduction art had also reached its peak. Even the Celestial Mystery Old Ancestor, who was reputed to be the best at deduction in the current era, probably couldn't compare to him.

“Actually, my Imperial Father’s madness was also out of necessity. Great Chu indeed faces many crises that must be resolved quickly.”

King Guang of Qin sighed slightly, then continued, “On the surface, Great Chu faces Demon chaos, and among the Zhengmo Ten Sects and Eight Great Families, there are not a few with ulterior motives.”

“In the long term, there are three major crises that urgently need to be resolved.”

“First, the Ancestral Demon Realm. This is fundamental; without restoring the ancestral pulse, and opening the upper limit, everyone will be suppressed.”

“Second, the Demon King's Army on the Demon Ancient Road. Although we have disrupted them several times over the past few centuries, the Demon Kings on the ancient road are becoming more cunning, and their methods more sophisticated. It’s only a matter of time before they enter this Realm, at the latest two and a half years, at the earliest one year.”

“Third, the North Sea. Its threat is the greatest, tying up nearly seventy percent of Great Chu’s military and high-level strong individuals.”

Chu Jiang raised an eyebrow and asked, “What exactly is in the North Sea that warrants such extensive efforts from Great Chu? Are there also Demons there?”

Of Great Chu’s seven Great First-Rank Marquises, four were in the north, and there was also a Marquis Zhentian, who was as famous as Yuan Shouyi and the Chu Emperor.

He had not found any records about the North Sea in the Demon Suppression Division’s database.

The Demon Suppression Division had ten Great Demon Suppression Golden Guards, each a strong individual who had comprehended a Law Domain. Zu Cang was once one of them, yet eight of them were stationed in the North Sea.

King Guang of Qin shook his head: “Do you know how our Great Chu was founded, how it swept across all the feudal lords, quelled internal strife, and suppressed the Demons?”

Chu Jiang’s eyes flickered, and he pointed out the key: “The Seven Divine Humans!”

Both “Demon Suppression Division: Five Thousand Years” and “The Fall of the Dynasty” recorded the achievements of the Seven Divine Humans.

“Indeed, it was the Seven Divine Humans.”

“Our Great Chu’s foundation is no stronger than Great Qin’s. Great Qin couldn’t suppress the Demons, so how could our Great Chu be an exception?”

“After failing to get help from the Three Great Immortal Sects, our Great Chu’s seven strongest ancestors entered the place where ancient gods fell—the Divine Tomb.”

“The Divine Tomb?”

A strange look flashed in Chu Jiang’s eyes.

“It seems you know quite a lot. You should have a Divine Jade on you, right?”

King Guang of Qin said.

Chu Jiang nodded slightly, and a sealed iron box appeared before him.

“I also have a piece of Divine Jade, but it’s not on me. This thing has been cursed; only you would dare to carry it.”

King Guang of Qin said with a faint smile.

Chu Jiang didn't care. He now possessed a Celestial Human body, and the power of curses should not affect him.

“After the seven great ancestors gathered the Eight Great Divine Jades and entered the Divine Tomb, they obtained the power of the Divine Beings inside. Their Realm instantly surpassed the Reaching Heaven Realm, becoming Divine Beings. To be precise, they reached the Path to Godhood level, also known as demigods or pseudo-gods.”

“Path to Godhood? A Realm above Tongtian?” Chu Jiang asked.

King Guang of Qin nodded and said, “Above the Reaching Heaven Realm is the God Realm, but to enter the God Realm, one must step onto the Path to Godhood.”

“As for the specific divisions of the Path to Godhood, I’m not entirely clear.”

Chu Jiang nodded slightly, signaling King Guang of Qin to continue.

“As for why?”

“This is because the Divine Tomb has been corrupted. The Divine Being power obtained by the ancestors was incomplete and had significant side effects.”

“After helping Great Chu pacify the world and suppress the Demons, the seven great ancestors were unable to suppress the ominous Qi within their bodies and even lost their sanity.”

“To prevent self-demonization and chaos in the world, the seven great ancestors sealed themselves in the Bei Hai Gui Xu Forbidden Ground, suppressed by an eighth-grade Divine Array and restrained by Divine Artifacts.”

“As for these Divine Jades, because they were tainted with the aura of the Seven Divine Humans, they spawned curse power. They were sealed by them and scattered to various places, their whereabouts unknown, to prevent anyone in later generations from entering the Divine Tomb again and causing disaster.”

“For five thousand years, the North Sea Ruins has become a Forbidden Land of life. The Seven Divine Humans have completely lost their sanity and degenerated into evil demons. Evil demons occasionally break out of the North Sea Ruins.”

“Therefore, this place requires heavy guarding and has always been the deepest secret of the Dynasty, known to very few people.”

“On the surface, it’s to guard against the North Sea Yao Race, but in reality, it’s to guard the Bei Hai Gui Xu Forbidden Ground, maintain the eighth-grade Divine Array, and the suppression of the Divine Artifacts.”

“To prevent the invasion of overflowing evil demons.”

In reality, the threat of the North Sea Yao Race was far less than that of the Seven Divine Humans.

After all, their highest Realm was only Demon Commander.

However, the Seven Divine Humans of the North Sea Ruins were Path to Godhood level, surpassing Tongtian.

Chu Jiang had already sorted out the sequence of events. It turned out that Great Chu’s greatest enemies were themselves, the Seven Divine Humans who had established unparalleled achievements for the Dynasty.

They pacified the world and suppressed all demons.

Unexpectedly, they themselves became the greatest hidden danger.

However, the Great Chu of five thousand years had no other choice.

The Three Great Immortal Sects ignored them.

Who could save the world?

If there was no savior, then they would be one.

They probably fought with all their might in desperation, and no one had anticipated such an outcome.

Without entering the Divine Tomb, perhaps this world would have long ceased to exist, and humanity would have been enslaved by demons for five thousand years. These seven ancestors of Great Chu still secured several thousand years of peace.

Chu Jiang calmed his emotions, looked at King Guang of Qin, and thoughtfully said, “You wanted to see me, it shouldn’t be just to tell me these secrets of heaven and earth, right?”