Chapter 478: Chapter 478: Gu Shentong's Ambition
After delivering the roses, Zhong Shan returned to the camp.
The generals were waiting. In the crowd, Hao Meili's eyes lit up as soon as she saw Zhong Shan.
"Zhong Shan, we owe you big time this time," Hao Meili praised without hesitation. She was in a very good mood after acquiring the Immortal Stele.
"Good thing we got the Immortal Stele, or I can't imagine how much you would have cursed me," Zhong Shan joked with a smile.
"How could I? By the way!" Hao Meili suddenly remembered something.
"What?" Zhong Shan asked, puzzled. Everyone else also turned their attention to Hao Meili.
"There are still two sets of Immortal Steles, one in the Taishou Heavenly Dynasty and the other in the Longevity Realm. When are we going to raid those places?" Hao Meili asked eagerly.
Silence.
The hall fell into a hushed silence. Even Hao Meili's master swallowed hard, unsure of how to advise her.
Zhong Shan looked at Hao Meili in bewilderment. Raid the Taishou Heavenly Dynasty? Raid the Longevity Realm? That's like asking to be killed.
"What's wrong?" Hao Meili asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Well, raiding for Immortal Steles requires long-term planning. Look at this time in Elysium, we only succeeded because three major dynasties were attacking and we took advantage of the situation. The other places need careful planning," Zhong Shan said, a bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"Long-term planning? Alright then, I trust you," Hao Meili said with a smile.
"Yes," Zhong Shan nodded.
"Right, about those dragon pearls like the one last time, there are a few more in the East Sea. I'll get them for you as a token of my gratitude," Hao Meili offered.
"Uh, sure!" Zhong Shan agreed readily. Such a good deal was not to be missed.
"Father, I will return to Daming Temple now. Let the monks pray for Grandmaster Mingtai," Zhong Tian said.
"Alright," Zhong Shan nodded.
With that, Zhong Tian, carrying a heavy heart, gathered the monks from Daming Temple and left quickly.
Zhong Shan waited outside Elysium for another three days. During this time, Hao Meili and the Western Poison Emperor also left, promising to find a way to get the additional dragon pearls for Zhong Shan. The rendezvous point was set on Tianlang Island by Zhong Shan.
Watching the entrance of Elysium, Zhong Shan led his army in vigilance. During this period, some straggling soldiers from the three major dynasties emerged but stayed close to the entrance, determined to kill anyone from Elysium who came out.
Although the outsiders didn't know exactly what was happening inside Elysium, it was clear that the three major dynasties had the upper hand and were methodically eliminating their enemies.
The towering gates of Elysium shook violently, indicating the fierce battles within. It had been seven days. The spectators outside swallowed nervously.
Finally, after one last intense shake of the three gates of Elysium, everything returned to calm.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!"
A person guarding the gates suddenly shouted.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!"
"Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!"
The cheers echoed, continuously proclaiming the victory of the three major dynasties. Elysium had fallen, erased from the annals of history.
The three great heavenly dynasties had indeed annihilated Elysium.
The triumphant cheers from the outsiders were soon matched by the sight of the three dynasties' armies emerging from within, accompanied by the Phoenix and Tiger clans.
Although both the Phoenix and Tiger clans were heavily injured, and many of the soldiers from the three dynasties were also wounded—some even carried out on stretchers—their excited smiles indicated a monumental victory.
The onlookers, though eager to loot Elysium, didn't dare touch the soldiers from the three dynasties, even those barely clinging to life.
The armies split into three groups, slowly retreating from Elysium. Leaders like King Zhengyi, King Daxuan, King Taizong, and King Zhantian also emerged, returning in triumph.
The Zhong Family Army quickly took charge of maintaining order, ensuring the wounded had a safe environment for treatment.
The four crown princes glanced at Zhong Shan, then sat cross-legged to meditate and recover.
Everyone had exited except for the three emperors, the three Feng Shui masters, and Wu Jiutian. What puzzled Zhong Shan was that Ao Chuang, the Dragon King who had entered with him, had not come out. Could he have perished inside?
Zhong Shan patiently waited another day until the three gates of Elysium emitted millions of golden rays, illuminating the outside.
"Boom—!"
Suddenly, the ground shook violently. Everyone swallowed nervously, unsure of what was happening.
"Buzz—!"
After a light hum, people noticed something different.
"The suppression of the Ten Thousand Mountains of Buddha is gone," someone suddenly shouted.
"I feel it too. The energy that was suppressing my strength has disappeared."
"Is it really gone? Did the three great dynasties destroy it?"
Voices of astonishment filled the air. Zhong Shan listened attentively and realized that through the Red Luan Pink Lotus, he could no longer hear the chant "Om Mani Padme Hum."
The special environment of the Ten Thousand Mountains of Buddha, which had been suppressing cultivation, had completely vanished. It was broken?
As Zhong Shan pondered this, several figures emerged from the golden entrance.
Gu Shentong, Nie Fancheng, Ying, Tianlao, Dishi, Guigu, Wu Jiutian, and Dragon King Ao Chuang stepped out.
Ao Chuang stood behind Ying, showing a willingness to submit.
Numerous dragons and snakes followed from within, joining the Great Qin Dynasty's forces. Ao Chuang quickly descended to the Great Qin army.
"Gu Shentong, we have fully activated Houtu as requested. Now it's up to you," Ying said suddenly.
"Thank you all for your support," Gu Shentong said calmly.
Everyone turned to look at Gu Shentong.
Houtu? What was Houtu?
Suddenly, Gu Shentong waved his hand.
"Boom—!"
The ground shook once more, almost causing those nearby to fall.
"Rise—!" Gu Shentong's shout was like a thunderclap, shaking everyone's spirits. But the most surprising thing was what happened next. The enormous gates of Elysium shrank rapidly and, with a wave of Gu Shentong's hand, were absorbed into his sleeve.
Gu Shentong had collected the gates of Elysium?
No, that's not right! In the distance, Zhong Shan's heart skipped a beat as he finally realized what "Houtu" was. What could make the three great emperors so fixated, even causing Maitreya Buddha to react with anger when Bai Ye mentioned it during the Great Annihilation event?
Houtu. Houtu wasn't some ordinary object; it was Elysium itself. The small world they had entered within Elysium was called Houtu. Only something like this could stir such desire in the hearts of Celestial Realm experts.
Houtu, the vast Elysium, was actually just an internal space of Houtu.
This is Houtu? There exists such a miraculous thing in this world?
Zhong Shan's eyes flashed with astonishment. Of course, many others, like Zhong Shan, also guessed what it was and looked at Gu Shentong's sleeve. They had hoped to scavenge Elysium after the three great heavenly dynasties left, but now it seemed like a foolish dream. Gu Shentong had taken all of Elysium.
Houtu, the small world that housed Elysium, was merely part of Houtu's space.
Everyone took a deep breath, shocked by this revelation. Why were Nie Fancheng and Ying so generous? Such a treasure would make even immortals covet it, yet they allowed Gu Shentong to have it without any intention of fighting for it?
Why was this happening?
Nobody understood why Nie Fancheng and Ying were being so magnanimous.
Jealousy was natural; everyone wanted such a powerful thing. But to think of seizing it? No one dared. Who would dare challenge the top figures of the world? Not only them but also their formidable forces were enough to make anyone tremble.
"Anyone who disturbs the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty within a hundred years will be an enemy of the Great Qin Heavenly Dynasty," Ying suddenly declared.
"Anyone who disturbs the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty within a hundred years will be an enemy of the Great Li Heavenly Dynasty," Nie Fancheng also declared.
Disturbing the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty meant being enemies with the other two heavenly dynasties? Everyone's jaws dropped. What did this mean? Had the three heavenly dynasties formed an alliance?
An alliance again? What were they planning? Were they targeting another holy land?
No, it was clear they were protecting the Da Luo Heavenly Dynasty. But why declare this after giving Houtu to Gu Shentong?
Gu Shentong?
Everyone looked at Gu Shentong, puzzled about what had happened inside Elysium.
Zhong Shan also looked on gravely. He knew one thing: Gu Shentong's lifespan was nearly over, with at most a hundred years left. Within that time, he had to ascend to immortality, facing the Heavenly Tribulation.
Ascending to immortality invited envy. Other Celestial Realm experts wouldn't let it happen easily, constantly obstructing him. Even if they didn't, they wouldn't help. But now, what was this? Nie Fancheng and Ying were clearly protecting Gu Shentong.
Gu Shentong frowned at the two but said nothing.
Everyone focused on the strongest figures in the sky.
"Well, that's it for now. Lastly, I wish you success in your creation," Ying said to Gu Shentong with a smile before turning to leave with the Great Qin army.
"Success in your creation!" Nie Fancheng also said to Gu Shentong before leaving with the Great Li army.
Creation? Countless people outside were filled with confusion. What creation?
At that moment, Zhong Shan noticed Mr. Corpse beside him suddenly widening his eyes in disbelief, staring at Gu Shentong.
"Creation? Creating a world? Gu Shentong is going to create a world? This, this is impossible," Mr. Corpse muttered in astonishment.
"Hiss—"
After speaking, Mr. Corpse couldn't help but take a deep breath.
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