Chapter 522: Tyrant

The Asura Path?

Xu Zhi had anticipated this.

While the nature of reincarnation was powerful, its flaws were also glaring: only 600,000 beings would ever possess innate talents. The number of true souls remained constant, making them extremely rare, even as the number of players could grow. It was akin to an online game world with only 600,000 fixed NPCs. Beyond these 600,000 reincarnating beings, there were, of course, ordinary creatures—plants, insects, fish, and even untalented commoners—who made up 90% of this world. However, their inherent deficiencies made it difficult for them to rise. The 600,000 talented beings were truly the core of this world!

“Therefore, the fundamental principle of this world is quality over quantity; it’s inherently sparse... This defines it as an online game, even without levels or stat sheets.” Xu Zhi bid farewell to Shangguan Man, walking through the underworld, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire realm.

In this vast underworld of reincarnation, endless lines of souls bustled along the Yellow Spring Road, a magnificent sight. Crying and laughing, they displayed the myriad states of life; before death, emperors and slaves were equal.

“The general foundation of the Gourmet World has been established,” Xu Zhi mused, considering the Three Realms, the Lava World, and the newly developing Gourmet World. The third world—the Gourmet World—was essentially a small world within his own body, not a traditional super-dimensional realm. It served as a training ground for his personal guards and his exclusive weapon: Reincarnation. His Cthulhu evil god form currently had a mechanical battle armor configuration and a reincarnation configuration. Although forging this weapon was challenging, its future prospects were boundless. After all, Xu Zhi understood that the path of cultivation demanded greater time and cost for higher combat power and potential at the same level.

Whoosh! With a slight shimmer, he reappeared before the Wheel of Reincarnation. It was a massive, interwoven black and white wheel, slowly rotating and radiating an eternal aura. Each number inscribed upon it represented a true name within the cycle of reincarnation, immortal and indestructible. Currently, it resided within Xu Zhi, serving as the core power source for the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique.

“As for establishing Fengdu Ghost City... that’s not surprising; the players will be enthusiastic.” Xu Zhi looked up at the massive black-and-white light wheel, mesmerized and awestruck by its beauty. “And the underworld, though currently with only three individuals, can continuously recruit new members...”

“Things are on track.” After this inspection trip, Xu Zhi was very satisfied with Shangguan Man as a choice, feeling he could completely delegate authority. “But I still need to stay in the underworld for a bit to observe its development.”

“However, one day in the Beast Path equals one year, ten years in the Mortal Path, and one hundred years in the Celestial Path... While I’m developing the Beast Path and the Wheel of Reincarnation, a considerable amount of time has already passed outside.”

A civilization was born among the celestials, marking the Celestial Era.

In the 321st Celestial Year, Zhang Xiao, the lord of the Yao Kingdom, was a man of great vision and talent, capable of sweeping across the land. He traveled alone through the eighteen vassal states, becoming the first in history to break through to the Celestial Emperor realm. Dissatisfied with the celestials, he sought to defy heaven and conquer the Dao.

The celestials brought disaster, with floods and fires extending for tens of thousands of miles.

“Celestials, how dare you bully my people!” Zhang Xiao roared in fury.

Whoosh— A single blade strike swept across the sky, cleaving into the Celestial Path. Instantly, the world lost its color. Vast stretches of the sky rumbled and split open, engulfing entire mountain ranges. Amidst the pattering sound, a torrential rain began to fall from the torn Celestial Realm, mixed with vibrant drops of blood. The splendor of that blade strike was indescribably stunning. What was it to be peerless? This was it. He was the first Great Emperor in the history of the Mortal Path, his combat power unprecedented, born for slaughter.

Above, the celestials were completely moved. The potential and terror of the Mortal Path, which always gave birth to mysterious and unknown talents, made them fearful and wary. A cold voice emanated from them. “Since you, Blade God Zhang Xiao, wish to wage war against the celestials, we shall not oppress you. Emperors will not intervene, nor shall quasi-emperors participate. Only the younger generation shall contend.”

“Even the celestials fear me.” Zhang Xiao laughed loudly, throwing his head back in a grand display of mirth. “You know well that my talent is terrifying and my combat power unmatched. Even if two or three celestials were to surround and kill me, I would still take one or two of you down with me. Your fear of death... that is your weakness, celestials. Since you desire a battle among the new generation, then I shall oblige!”

Within days, young celestials of exceptional talent descended, each entering the territory of the Yao Kingdom, engaging in widespread slaughter. This incited the wrath of countless strong individuals, leading to fierce battles.

“Celestials, how dare you despise the Yao Kingdom!”

“Are they using us as whetstones to train celestials?”

One after another, kings, nobles, and generals raged.

Initially, the young celestials were scarred and suffered mutual damage, for they were noble beings, unaccustomed to such encounters. Then, upon returning to the Celestial Realm while heavily injured, they would recuperate within less than a day, regaining their vigor before rushing back to face their opponents from the previous day. However, by then, their opponents were still severely wounded.

“Damn it...”

“This is the terror of the celestials!”

“It’s infuriating that our time flows differently. They return for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, they’re back, their injuries healed. They’ve even processed ten days of experience, constantly reflecting, and then tailored their strategies against their previous opponents, becoming far stronger than their previous, green combat skills!”

“In this way, we truly have become their training ground...”

As young celestials descended, tens of thousands of refugees fled, starved bodies littered the land for miles, and bones filled the fields. The entire land was stained red with blood. The celestials’ world was terrifying, akin to a super-tier realm launching a dimension-reducing attack on a middle-tier world. They used their horrific time flow to recuperate and train through battle, making them almost unbeatable.

Zhang Xiao raged and sought help from other kingdoms. All other nations remained silent.

“The Yao Kingdom provoked celestial wrath; this kingdom is doomed.”

“When celestials rage, the land turns barren for thousands of miles. Do mortals dare to contend with heaven?”

Yet, there were still righteous individuals in the mortal realm. Some exceptionally talented people from various nations, after much internal struggle, resolutely and secretly rushed to the Yao Kingdom to fight fiercely against the celestials as part of the younger generation.

“What if celestials are strong?”

Within just ten years, numerous young prodigies roamed the Yao Kingdom. They arrived with brave hearts, confident in their exceptional talents, but only truly realized the opponent’s terror: death, fear, and despair. Large numbers of geniuses from various nations arrived, believing themselves to be prodigies, having once been renowned and unrivalled in their own lands. Yet, they were easily crushed and annihilated like tiny plankton. No brilliant genius of the Mortal Path could compare to the brilliance of the celestials!

This was the darkest of ages. But bathed in blood, legends always begin. One by one, young powerhouses of the Mortal Path gradually became capable of resisting the celestials, even slaying some who couldn't return in time. A most brilliant era was born. Seven young prodigies emerged, like radiant suns, suppressing their generation, unmatched and peerless, adding a beautiful hue of hope to the entire land. This period was known as the “Fifty Years of Hope,” but in less than a brief moment, they fell one after another, as even more talented celestial prodigies appeared, directly suppressing and killing them all!

The Yao Kingdom suffered a complete defeat, with no strength left to resist.

In the 373rd Celestial Year, Zhang Xiao met two Celestial Great Emperors in the Imperial War Palace.

“They’ve finally come...” Zhang Xiao sat quietly in his chair, watching the two figures shrouded in hazy white light, awaiting his final demise. He had lost. He was alone, and the number of Celestial Emperors on his side was far fewer than theirs. A gamble had been waged between the younger generations, below the Celestial Emperor and Quasi-Emperor ranks, and his side had been utterly defeated.

“But in the end... I did ignite some flames.” The face of this brilliant and strategic Great Emperor, Zhang Xiao, was now incredibly calm. He had known long ago that defeat was destined, inevitable. From the moment his nation declared war on the celestials, he knew this outcome: the destruction of his kingdom and his people, millions of his subjects displaced, their families shattered. Yet, he had still done it, becoming the first tyrant in history. His heart was cold, and he was ruthless enough. History would record this, and future generations might judge him thus: Zhang Xiao, the first in the Mortal Path to break through to the Seventh-Tier Celestial Emperor realm, a barbaric tyrant who led millions of his people to fight against the celestials, bringing his kingdom to ruin!

Did he not know the consequences? No, he knew the consequences better than anyone. Even knowing it meant death, he still chose this path. Because people must always take the first step, utter a roar. Without a revolution forged in blood, without challenging and probing, one would never know the opponent’s true nature, never defeat them, and forever be shrouded by the celestials’ shadow, with the mortal world ruled and dominated. The demise of the Yao Kingdom today would, in the end, become the spark of tomorrow’s hope, blossoming into vibrant flowers throughout the long annals of future history.

“Everything that happens today is paving the way for future generations.” His eyes grew distant. If he had a choice, who would willingly be a tyrant?

Before him stood the celestials, their bodies radiating a terrifying, soul-stirring aura. Zhang Xiao stood up, suddenly bowed his head, and slowly raised the long blade that had accompanied him for countless years. The tall, formidable strongman haphazardly wiped away tears from his face, laughing loudly, “Even if I die, I’ll take one or two Celestial Great Emperors with me.”

Zhang Xiao raised his blade high. He was about to strike.

But then, a celestial’s cold voice echoed, “Zhang Xiao, do you think we celestials are unaware of your scheme? We know everything you want to do, all about paving the way for future generations.”

Emperor Yun gazed at Zhang Xiao, whose talent and combat power were exaggerated. With Lord Yunzhong and others by his side, he said calmly, “You’ve seen our talents; do they not seem familiar?”

Zhang Xiao’s expression suddenly turned severe. The talent of this celestial monarch was strikingly similar to that of the ancient being he profoundly admired—Emperor Bai. This felt like a defilement of that ancient hero of the Mortal Path who had dared to raise his blade against the celestials.

Emperor Yun continued, “Perhaps it’s just a coincidence. How many beings are there in the world? Similar flowers will always bloom, and that’s what you might think... But are there truly so many coincidences in this world? Perhaps there’s a mysterious world of death where the deceased are reincarnated... Death isn’t an end, but the beginning of a new life.”

“We celestials have observed continuously and gradually discovered a pattern. We found that many of us celestials are individuals who achieved great merit in the history of the mortal world, and in their next lives, they enter the Celestial Path, becoming the most noble beings. One, two, over a dozen... their talents all resemble historical figures. Their appearance among celestials is no longer a coincidence... Zhang Xiao, you too will be like me, like Emperor Bai, and in your next life, you will enter the Celestial Path.”

Zhang Xiao’s face gradually turned blank.

Emperor Yun continued, speaking eloquently, “Not only you, but even the seven astonishingly talented prodigies who dared to resist the celestials and were subsequently killed will, due to their great merit, enter our Celestial Path. Their exceptional and formidable talents are enough to replenish our celestial ranks with excellent and powerful blood!”

“This war with the celestials, you thought it was part of your calculations?”

“No!” Emperor Yun took a forceful step forward, “Wrong!! You are terribly mistaken!!”

Emperor Yun’s voice grew louder, striking at Zhang Xiao’s mind like a dull, tolling bell, “You have always been within our calculations, acting with the momentum we provided, falling right into our trap... This war has not only served to train our younger generation of celestials but also delivered all the fresh blood of the mortal path from this era. Those seven individuals, and you yourself, will thoroughly expand the influence of our Celestial Path.”

In an instant, Zhang Xiao’s mind went blank. He instinctively clutched the long blade in his hand, his only companion.

“Do you truly intend to strike us now?” Emperor Yun’s voice was cold, each word piercing Zhang Xiao’s innermost being. “You! You have helped us, and in the end, you too shall become one of us... You are a meritorious servant to our celestials; in your next life, your great service will be recorded!”

Zhang Xiao’s pupils dilated completely, his body trembling, his frame seeming to age a dozen years. His withered body quivered, “No, no, no, your talents being similar is just a coincidence! They were all passionate heroes throughout history; they couldn’t possibly become you...”

“You are wavering; your will to fight is gone...” Emperor Yun looked at Zhang Xiao. This was a terrifying enemy, whose will was steadfast to the extreme. But at this moment, his heart instantly slackened, revealing a vulnerability, because... he began to kneel. In Emperor Yun’s talent, an opponent who knelt was already destined to lose.

Undeniably, Zhang Xiao was a formidable opponent. His combat power was terrifying, and a direct confrontation would result in heavy losses. However, the current situation was a grand scheme, systematically eroding his morale, spirit, and conviction. He had personally delivered seven heroic prodigies into the Celestial Path, including himself... He appeared to be a tragic hero, bearing historical infamy. In reality, he was truly the greatest sinner and traitor of the Mortal Path, aiding the Celestial Path. His faith had crumbled.

Brilliant. Simply a brilliant strategy. Whether in intellect, calculation, planning, or combat ability, they were at an astonishing level. Was this the monarch of the celestials? Was this the Emperor Bai of old, who led humanity towards slash-and-burn cultivation, the first great human leader?

Zhang Xiao fell silent. Such an entity, perhaps no one could defeat.

Emperor Bai gazed at the wavering Zhang Xiao, sighing softly, “Ah, Zhang Xiao, you will be recorded in history and spoken of by future generations as the most truly cruel tyrant, both in appearance and in character.”

This sentence was the cruelest.

“I...” At this moment, Zhang Xiao’s knees completely gave way.

“So... I was a tyrant after all.” His expression froze, then he violently swung his long blade.

Thud! Blood bloomed.

The generation’s hero who dared to wield his blade against heaven, Blade God Zhang Xiao, fell within his own royal palace.

“He knew clearly that from the moment he began to kneel, his spirit had collapsed, and he had no chance of victory. He was a hero... who bore infamy, yet sought to carve a path, but...” Emperor Bai slowly bent down, his hands gently covering Zhang Xiao’s wide, unwilling eyes. He murmured, “Zhang Xiao, you alone were the spirit of an era. To break you is to make the entire Mortal Path instantly age countless years, utterly devoid of life...”

He slowly stood up, gazing inexplicably at the vast, cloud-strewn sky. He murmured, “Reincarnation? How mysterious is that realm? When living beings die, do they go to another world?”

Death is life’s most mysterious domain, and its ultimate end. From the moment every life is born, it faces inherent death.

“You reached the end prematurely.” Emperor Yun was unexpectedly calm. He vanished from the spot with the body, reappearing amidst unknown verdant green mountains. With a wave of his hand, earth churned. A tomb quietly rose. He erected a stone tablet, inscribing it with “Tomb of Hero Zhang Xiao.” A gentle breeze swept past. The sky was high, the clouds light, vast, and boundless.

The war was won, yet Emperor Yun felt no joy. Instead, he stood quietly before the tomb. “What exactly is reincarnation?”

“Does the world after death truly exist, as we suspect?”

“Is it controlled by someone? And if a deity truly controls it, then what are we to you, mysterious being who commands reincarnation?”

“Zhang Xiao, you’ve gone to meet him... I hope you can return and tell me what you encountered.” Emperor Bai looked down at the grave, behind him a kneeling group of celestial subordinates. He murmured, and then let out a soft chuckle, “The one who governs reincarnation? I, too, wish to meet you.”