158: Chapter 158 The First Emperor's Proclamation - Slaughtering Saints to Prove His Dao

After the great war in the East back then, Jiang Chen appointed the six Lords of the Reincarnation Paths. Nuwa was precisely the Lord of the Human Path, wielding a portion of the Earthly Dao's source power!

Standing in the void with a cold expression, her gaze swept across the Sages like a blade. "As Sages, you actually joined forces to bully a junior of my Human Race. Have you no shame?"

The East Sea Dragon King stared at the dragon slaying halberd in her hand, greed surging in his eyes as he shouted sharply, "Nuwa! Hand over the dragon slaying halberd! This is a supreme treasure of my Dragon Clan; how can you keep it for yourself!"

Nuwa didn't bother with nonsense and simply raised her hand for a horizontal sweep of the halberd—

Roar—!

A giant dragon condensed from purple qi roared out, its tail swinging like a heavenly pillar, tearing through the void as it blasted straight ahead!

The East Sea Dragon King never expected Nuwa to strike so suddenly. By the time he realized it, it was already too late.

Boom—!

A massive shadow crashed down ruthlessly from the high heavens like a falling star hitting the ground, crushing billions of mountains below into powder and causing the entire Great Wilderness to tremble.

Pfft!

The East Sea Dragon King lay paralyzed in a deep pit, coughing up blood frantically with a collapsed chest, looking utterly wretched.

"Nuwa, you—"

The pupils of Haotian and the others constricted, their hearts filled with a mix of shock and fear. They were shocked that she dared to strike first, and terrified that her strength was so horrific—with a single blow, a dignified Sage had nearly fallen!

"What? You want to fight?"

Houtu parted her red lips, her voice cold as frost. Behind her, a purple lotus quietly bloomed as the Earthly Dao's pressure swept across the eight directions, causing heaven and earth to change color.

"If we're going to do this, let's make it quick!" Di Jiang grinned, twisting his neck as his joints popped like thunder. "I haven't moved my bones for five hundred million years; this is a perfect warm-up!"

Tongtian took a step forward, the qingping sword unsheathed. Sword qi soared into the sky, nearly splitting the firmament.

In an instant, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, the Three Pure Ones, and King Qin Guang all released their auras. The vast pressure surged like a tide, actually suppressing the Heavenly Dao pressure of the Sages!

The expressions of the Sages shifted slightly.

Kunpeng's gaze was gloomy. "Do you really want to break the rules of the Heavenly Dao? This is an iron law set by the Samsara Emperor Venerable!"

Nuwa sneered with utter disdain. "So what if we break them? Who moved against the Human Race first? Do you not know the truth in your own hearts?"

"Stop dreaming," she said, her gaze sweeping over them with a bone-chilling coldness. "Do you think we fear you?"

"Over a hundred Sages?" Minghe sneered, the killing intent from his twin swords, Yuantu and avici, reaching the heavens as blood-red light pierced the sky. "Did we slaughter too few back then?"

Laozi stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent yet sharp. "To fight or not to fight? Give us a word."

Feeling that blatant battle intent, the Sages were fuming with rage.

"Then let's fight! Do you think I'm made of clay!" Kong Xuan let out a long cry toward the sky as his Five-Colored Divine Light erupted, dyeing the heavens like a rainbow piercing the sun.

Haotian summoned the Nine Dragon Imperial Seal, his imperial majesty covering the land. He said coldly, "Things are different now! We have one hundred and twenty-one Sages; surrounding and killing you will be as easy as turning a palm!"

"Oh?" King Qin Guang curled his lips into a sneer. "Why don't... we try it and see?"

"Why waste words with them!" Dong Wanggong stood proudly, battle intent rising in his eyes. "With so many Sages on our side, are we still afraid they'll flip the heavens?"

Just as the great war was about to break out, a cold voice suddenly descended from the depths of Chaos—

"Withdraw!"

The expressions of the Sages changed drastically.

That was—the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun!

"Teacher, it was clearly them—" Haotian spoke up hurriedly, but was ruthlessly interrupted.

"Shut up! All of you, retreat back to Chaos! Do not fail me!" Hongjun's voice was like a decree from the Heavenly Dao, brooking no disobedience.

The Sages gritted their teeth, their faces full of resentment. They didn't dare disobey the command, so they could only glare hatefully at Nuwa and the others before turning to fly toward the depths of Chaos.

But just as they were about to leave, the long-silent Shi Huang finally spoke.

His voice was calm, yet it felt like ice piercing to the bone, striking straight into the heart.

"In one eon, I shall slay a Saint to attain the Dao."

A simple sentence, yet it exploded like a thunderclap, spreading to every corner of the Primordial world.

Countless living beings were stunned, their breathing coming to a halt. Some looked at Shi Huang as if they were looking at a madman.

This man was simply arrogant beyond measure! Not only did he provoke the Sages, but he also wanted to slay a Saint with a mortal body to attain the supreme Dao!

But when they looked up, they saw Shi Huang's expression was indifferent, his gaze as deep as an abyss, without a single ripple.

In that instant, many people's hearts suddenly jolted.

This wasn't arrogance.

It was confidence!

The bodies of Haotian and the others stiffened, their eyes spitting fire, their killing intent almost solidifying.

If not for Hongjun's order, they would have already struck to suppress and kill him a thousand times over!

A Saint must not be insulted! Moreover, he had publicly declared he would slay a Saint to attain the Dao? This had completely trampled over the bottom line of the Sages!

"Hmph! Let's go!" Haotian coldly flicked his sleeve and stayed no longer, turning into a streak of light to escape into Chaos.

The Sages' faces were ashen, and in their hearts, they had already marked Shi Huang as someone who must be killed.

After they left, Nuwa and the others cast gazes of approval toward him.

Slaying a Saint to attain the Dao? What courage!

"This little fellow has my style from back then! Hahaha—" Zhu Rong laughed loudly and slapped Shi Huang's shoulder, his voice shaking the surroundings.

Gong Gong sneered, "You say that as if you've actually slain a Saint before."

"Are you looking for a beating, kid?" Zhu Rong's face immediately fell as his bell-like eyes glared over.

Shi Huang smiled slightly and bowed solemnly to Nuwa and the others. "Zheng thanks all the seniors for your assistance."

Fusu and the others also bowed in unison.

"No need for such formality." Yuanshi said with a smile, "The Human Race was created by the Clan Leader; you are essentially brothers with my Pangu lineage."

"My Nine Nether Underworld Clan is the same."

"The Underworld shares the same source."

Shi Huang's gaze flickered, a hint of confusion passing through his eyes.

His understanding of the Primordial world was nearly a blank slate, pieced together only from scattered records in the ancient history of the Human Race—but those fragmented chapters couldn't possibly reconstruct the complete truth of heaven and earth.

While his mind was wavering, Nuwa lightly tapped her finger, and a wisp of green light like a spirit snake darted into Shi Huang's body. In an instant, the cracks all over him healed as they were, and his aura returned to perfection. Following that, a massive amount of information flooded his mind like a tide—the veins of the Primordial world, the distribution of the myriad clans, and the rules of the Great Dao were all imprinted in his sea of consciousness.

"The Primordial world is boundless, with myriad clans standing tall." Nuwa's voice was cold. "Except for my Human Race, the Pangu lineage, the Nine Nether Underworld Clan, the Underworld, and the Undead Race, all others are collectively known as—the Primordial Myriad Clans."

Shi Huang closed his eyes for a moment, then slowly opened them. "Zheng understands."

"But in this eon, the Human Race is bound by the Heavenly Dao and must not interfere in the struggles of the Primordial world." Nuwa's expression was grave.

"Must not interfere?!"

Shi Huang's brow furrowed. He had originally planned to expand his territory and fight for a sliver of providence for the Human Race once the foundation of the Great Qin Immortal Court was stable. Who would have thought he would have to lie low for an entire eon!

Just as his thoughts were churning, the void suddenly split open, and a voice as indifferent as frost and snow drifted down:

"In this eon, the Human Race only needs to accumulate strength. When the time is right, it will naturally be the day for you all to emerge."

Before the voice had even faded, Jiang Chen appeared stepping through the air. He was without light or form, yet he made all things bow down.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches, the Three Pure Ones, the Ten Yama Kings... all knelt in unison, their voices shaking the firmament:

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

"Greetings, Holy Father!"

"Greetings, Emperor Venerable!"

"Greetings, Master!"

Shi Huang, Fusu, and the others also did not dare to be slow, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Holy Father!"

Jiang Chen raised his hands slightly, and an invisible, majestic force descended. Everyone rose involuntarily, as if even heaven and earth were responding to his will.

Nuwa floated forward with a smile on her lips. "You've come out of seclusion."

"I just came out to take a look." Jiang Chen shook his head. "In a moment, I will return to seclusion."

"Oh." Nuwa's smile faltered slightly, a trace of gloom passing through her eyes.

Below, Houtu looked up at that figure, her gaze as deep as the sea, hiding a thousand words, which in the end only turned into a touch of loneliness.