Chapter 2556: Thunder String, Shocking Cloud Peak!

The scorching sun hung high in the sky. A giant, as tall as a mountain, was striding towards the ten suns, leaning on a wooden staff. Each of his steps could span several mountain peaks, yet his speed remained considerably slower than that of the suns.

He no longer remembered how long he had been chasing. Under the intense heat, his entire body felt burning red, and his lips were already cracked with a layer of dry, white skin.

Finally, he saw a raging river ahead. He remembered it as the Yellow River, famous among the human tribes.

As the ten suns passed over, the river water had long since boiled furiously. He paid no mind to it, directly prostrating himself by the riverbank and gulping down the water.

Even though the water was boiling, his face showed an expression of pure enjoyment, as if he were drinking sweet dew.

He drank quickly, and before long, the entire Yellow River was drained.

Then, he was completely revitalized, and continued his pursuit of the ten suns with long strides.

The suns seemed to be deliberately toying with him. While he drank, they did not take the opportunity to flee far, but instead stopped and provoked him in various ways.

The moment he finished drinking the entire river, the suns instantly accelerated.

He chased, they fled...

Under the scorching heat of the ten suns, Kuafu's strength rapidly diminished. He soon became breathless, but fortunately, he encountered the Wei River.

As before, he instantly drained the Wei River and then continued chasing the ten suns.

This stretch of the pursuit made him realize that he was no match for the ten suns; even if he caught them, he could not avenge himself.

Yet, a sense of indignation lingered in his heart; he was unwilling to surrender to the ten suns just like that.

The Wu tribe could be defeated, but never truly overcome!

After chasing for a while longer, he felt increasingly thirsty. Even though he had drunk from two great rivers not long before, he remembered there was a large marsh ahead, and if he drank from it, he would surely regain the strength to continue the chase.

Alas, he could not make it to the marsh. He felt his legs growing heavier and heavier, and his eyelids gradually refused to stay open.

He knew he was dying, but he didn't understand why he was failing so quickly, even though he wasn't an equal match for the ten suns.

He looked at the suns in the sky, which seemed to be watching him with strange smiles, and suddenly a realization dawned upon him.

"So that's it..."

Understanding everything, he stopped the chase. With his last vestiges of life, he hurled the wooden staff from his hand. The staff rooted instantly upon landing, swiftly branching out and spreading leaves. Even with the ten suns blazing overhead, they could not stop its vibrant life force from radiating.

Soon, peach blossoms bloomed, then bore peaches. The peaches fell to the ground, quickly rooted and sprouted, turning into new peach trees.

In a blink of an eye, the staff had transformed into a peach forest.

Suddenly, chilling screams, both agonizing and somewhat relieved, echoed and then abruptly ceased in the surrounding area.

"How dare you ruin my grand plan!" a voice faintly rang out. Immediately, a fireball descended from the sky and struck Kuafu directly.

Kuafu's body was incredibly powerful; this meteor-like impact did not shatter him, but only charred his body into a cinder.

The suns in the sky, still not appeased, sent down more fireballs, intending to reduce him to complete dust.

Just then, a brilliant sword energy shot forth from a distance, scattering the fireballs like fireworks across the sky.

The ten Golden Crows in the sky turned their heads, seeing a rainbow arc as Zu'an appeared beside Kuafu.

Seeing his charred body, Zu'an's expression darkened: "I'm too late."

Kuafu pointed to the sky: "Beware of evil..."

Unfortunately, he could not finish his words before he completely breathed his last. His eyes were wide open, his expression filled with profound regret, as if lamenting his unfinished warning.

The ten Golden Crows circled, soaring in the sky: "Who is this impudent brat, daring to interfere with us, the Ten Princes!"

Zu'an ignored them completely, his expression solemn as his gaze swept over the peach forest not far away.

With a growing understanding, he gently closed Kuafu's eyes: "Rest assured, I know what you wanted to say."

Perhaps to outsiders, it might seem like the ten Golden Crow Princes were merely retaliating for Nuba's insult to their father, and also roaming around playfully.

Although this caused widespread desolation and immense suffering across thousands of miles, given their noble status, any punishment would likely be light.

However, Zu'an knew it was far more complex. Based on the information he had gathered along the way, the appearance of the ten suns was clearly no accident; it was a deliberate, premeditated act.

The Myriad Soul Banner, the Soul Destruction Cauldron...

Now, with the ten suns scorching the land, countless lives had been lost, and their souls had vanished without a trace. It was clear that Di Jun was using the Golden Crows to complete the final stage of a grand ritual designed to sacrifice all living beings.

Kuafu had likely realized all this as well. The peach forest, created from his staff in his dying moments, was specifically made of peach wood, which counters spirits.

This peach forest had instantly disrupted the collection of living souls across thousands of miles, explaining the Golden Crows' extreme fury.

"Brat, are you deaf? I asked you a question!" Prince Six of the Golden Crows shouted.

Zu'an finally looked up at the ten suns in the sky. With his keen vision, he could clearly discern them as the ten Golden Crows, all grinning as if nothing mattered. "You've committed acts that provoke both heaven and man. Do you truly believe no one can touch you?"

The ten Golden Crows paused at his words, then burst into laughter, bending over in mirth.

"Are you suggesting that a mere human like you can control us?"

"A mortal ant, overestimating yourself!"

"We are the sons of the Heavenly Emperor! For years, we have diligently blessed countless beings. What's wrong with taking a leisurely trip? As for those who couldn't endure it, it simply proves it was their fate. What does that have to do with us?"

"Why bother talking to this ant? Ant, if you cut off your annoying tongue and sever your own arms, I, the Prince, might reluctantly forgive your offense and spare your life."

Zu'an's expression remained calm as he watched the ten Golden Crows' arrogant smiles.

Since Di Jun chose to unleash the ten suns, he must have prepared everything. Little Xi was likely in grave danger.

His gaze fell upon Kuafu's charred corpse, and images of the countless apocalyptic scenes he had witnessed on his journey flashed through his mind.

Village after village, the dense clusters of charred human figures on walls and floors appeared before him, as if accusing him of something.

He felt as if his blood was burning. Just then, Mi Li's anxious voice echoed in his ear:

"Calm down! Di Jun's grand scheme is far beyond your ability to counter!"

"What you can do now is return and contact the Great Shamans of various tribes, then have Wu Hui contact the Heavenly Court. The appropriate high-ranking figures will naturally handle all of this."

"You absolutely must not get entangled in this massive karmic consequence."

"Don't act impulsively! This is one of the most famous events in the river of time. You are not from this era; forcefully interfering could have unpredictable consequences."

"If Di Jun eliminates you in this world, you won't even have a chance at reincarnation."

Evidently, Mi Li had been silently observing the entire situation. Realizing Zu'an's intentions, she abandoned her slumber to urgently warn him.

Normally, she was sparing with her words, but speaking so much at once showed her extreme anxiety.

A large red bow appeared in Zu'an's hand, yet his expression remained serene. "Queen Sister," he said, "I know your method is more reasonable, but if a person's cultivation grows higher and higher, yet they dare not act when faced with injustice, what's the point of a lifetime of cultivation?"

"But you will truly die this way!"

"People always die."

The moment the words left his lips, he leaned back, holding the crimson bow taut as a full moon. The primal energy of heaven and earth surged wildly into his body.

In that instant, he felt as if not one person was drawing the bowstring, but billions of beings stood behind him.

A beam of white light shot forth—the arrow pierced the Golden Crow, and blood flowed like a river!