Chapter 2535: Conflict

The sound possessed an inexplicable majesty. At that moment, all living beings across the world heard it, and an irresistible urge to prostrate themselves in worship overcame them.

The ordinary Pangu Tribe companions had already given in, immediately kneeling and bowing. Kuafu, however, strained to resist, but his body creaked, every muscle trembled, and his bones groaned, clearly indicating immense effort. Xingtian, meanwhile, gazed intently at the sky, his body brimming with fighting spirit, a clear sign that his strength far surpassed Kuafu's.

Zu'an too was on the verge of collapsing, but then a seven-colored divine light suddenly emanated from him, instantly easing the pressure. He quickly pulled the tottering Mermaid Queen to his side. Seeing Yu Menbeiqing standing calmly nearby, he paused in surprise, but still reached out, pulled her closer, and shielded her with the divine light. As for the Wushan Goddess, she simply stood still, seemingly unaffected in the slightest.

From the palpable sense of oppression, Zu'an knew instantly that the speaker had to be the legendary Heavenly Emperor. Furthermore, for reasons unknown, this aura felt strangely familiar; it seemed to be the same energy that had granted him the Sun-Shooting Bow during his last visit to the secret realm.

“Where is that place?” Zu'an asked, looking at the Wushan Goddess beside him.

The Wushan Goddess had subtly moved to his side. A hint of surprise flickered in her serene eyes, seemingly curious about the seven-colored divine light emanating from him. “That is Mount Zhong,” she replied. “Gu lives there.”

Xingtian couldn’t help but interject, “Mount Zhong belongs to the Ancestor Witch Zhulong, and Gu is Zhulong’s son. The Heavenly Emperor’s actions are perhaps too extreme.”

Zhulong is widely regarded as the most powerful among the Ancestor Witches, with numerous legends surrounding him, such as his eyes opening to create day and closing to bring night.

As expected, a terrifying aura suddenly emanated from Mount Zhong, as if some ancient being had awakened. While the Heavenly Emperor’s voice had carried an inexplicable majesty and solemnity, this new aura was wild and terrifying, surprisingly not yielding in the slightest to the Emperor’s divine presence. The two auras confronted each other, with neither gaining an advantage. Cheers erupted from within the Spirit Mountain range; evidently, many bystanders, being of the Pangu Tribe, felt a shared animosity.

“Zhuanxu, you have overstepped your bounds,” a deep, muffled voice resonated, making the entire earth tremble.

Zu'an realized that the Heavenly Emperor was indeed Zhuanxu, the same one who had given him the Sun-Shooting Bow. With a mix of surprise and uncertainty, he glanced down at his feet. Legends described Zhulong as an indescribably immense serpent, and thanks to his study of the *Di Tian Sui Chan Wei*, Zu'an was exceptionally sensitive to the contours of mountain ranges. He had just felt the entire Spirit Mountain range subtly shifting, making him wonder if this vast, mysterious chain of mountains was, in fact, Zhulong himself. How colossal must he be!

At that moment, a golden beam pierced through the clouds, descending upon the land, and a colossal golden figure manifested in the sky. Majestic, sacred, powerful… In an instant, countless words flooded Zu'an’s mind. He could clearly perceive the figure’s appearance, yet he found no precise words to describe it. The moment he looked away, the specific details would vanish, leaving only the memory of an overwhelming, majestic, and sacred presence. This was the true might of the Heavenly Emperor!

Heavenly Emperor Zhuanxu stated dispassionately, “Gu, a celestial being, has violated divine laws for his selfish desires, murdering Baojiang and seizing the elixir of immortality. His crime is unforgivable!”

As he spoke, a series of images flickered across the sky, vividly illustrating Gu’s precise actions in killing Baojiang. Zu'an watched in stunned disbelief. These images were even more detailed and vivid than those the Wushan Goddess had shown earlier. Could it be that for these deities, nothing in the world could escape their sight or hearing?

Upon seeing the images, murmurs immediately spread throughout the mountains. Previously, everyone had supported Zhulong without knowing the full story, but now, faced with such irrefutable evidence, they were all greatly astonished. Baojiang resided in the Spirit Mountain and was known for his benevolent nature. He would always help anyone in the vicinity who sought medicine or fell ill, earning him widespread popularity. Now, upon learning that Gu had killed him, many who had previously benefited from Baojiang’s kindness began to denounce Gu’s cruelty. Seeing the images, Zhulong’s formidable aura faltered, and he fell into a prolonged silence.

At that moment, a female figure appeared atop Mount Zhong. “All of this was instigated by Qin,” she declared. “My son was deceived. I implore the Heavenly Emperor to spare his life, considering his youth and momentary confusion.” The woman, clad in green robes with disheveled hair obscuring her face, appeared somewhat grotesque based on her silhouette. Simply by standing there, the surrounding trees visibly withered and died, and the ground cracked beneath her. Even from such a distance, Zu'an felt a wave of intense heat emanating from her, secretly alarming him.

Zu'an recalled that during his last visit to this secret realm, the Ten Witches of Spirit Mountain, while discussing Ya'er Yu's death, had mentioned that Zhulong's wife was originally the Yellow Emperor's daughter. She had lost her divine powers while helping her father defeat Chiyou and was unable to return to the Heavenly Court, ultimately remaining on earth. She became the dreaded and loathed Ba, leaving scorched earth in her wake for a thousand *li*. This must be her.

The colossal golden figure of the Heavenly Emperor fell silent for a moment before shaking his head slightly. “His crime is heinous,” he declared, “and only his death can truly uphold the heavenly laws!”

After speaking, he gently extended a finger, and a beam of golden light descended upon Mount Zhong, drawing Gu out from a hidden cave dwelling. Gu instantly panicked, desperately struggling to break free, but the golden light’s bonds were unbreakable. He cried out in distress, “Mother, quickly save me!” Seeing this, the woman in green robes grew frantic and flew forward to rescue her son. However, the moment she touched the golden light, she was instantly repelled. Realizing the immense power disparity, she urgently cried out, “Zhulong, save your son!”

Zhulong did not respond, and Mount Zhong fell into complete silence. The woman in green robes was about to speak again when Gu let out a piercing scream. He was instantly impaled on the eastern cliff of Mount Zhong, his life force extinguished, his eyes wide with bloodshot disbelief.

Witnessing this, Zu'an wore a strange expression. The Heavenly Emperor was truly overbearing, killing Zhulong’s son right in front of him, within his own domain.

The Heavenly Emperor’s voice resonated once more: “The Celestial God Erfu caused Ya'er Yu’s death. Considering he was provoked by Gu and Weiyueyan, he will be spared death and confined to Mount Shushu for three thousand years of solitary contemplation.”

A woman’s scream pierced the air. Weiyueyan, hidden within a palace, was instantly disintegrated by a divine light from the heavens, leaving no trace of her body. Erfu, meanwhile, was transported by a divine light to the distant Mount Shushu.

“Heavenly Emperor, what a display of might! The agreement was that the Demon Clan governs the heavens and the Pangu Tribe governs the earth. Why do you now come to our territory to assert your authority?!” A chilling voice rang out as dozens of colossal water spouts surged from the distance, even managing to slightly dilute the golden light that filled the sky.

“It’s Ancestor Witch Gonggong! Gonggong has arrived!” many Pangu Tribe members cheered. The recent events had caused their entire tribe to lose face. Zhulong’s concession to the Heavenly Emperor had deeply displeased many hardliners within the Pangu Tribe. Now, with Gonggong stepping forward, they suddenly felt a renewed sense of purpose.