Chapter 672: Remaining Embers

Li Changshou walked alongside the army, gazing at the densely packed figures, his eyes filled with a sense of reluctance he couldn't shake.

Behind him, Heng'e searched the crowd with a slight confusion, seeking the missing piece of her Dao heart.

At the forefront of the army, Sui Ren Shi moved with a trembling, unsteady gait, like a candle flame on the verge of flickering out, yet he stood defiantly against the wind.

The horn blasts fell silent, and the seemingly endless Qiankun tunnel stretched infinitely beneath Sui Ren Shi's feet. Only the uniform rhythm of footsteps and the creaking of wagon wheels echoed through the space.

It had been so many years.

“Leader, there's no food to be found here. Everyone is on the verge of collapsing.”

“How much longer can we hold on?”

“At most six or seven meals. It will take seven days to reach the next underground chamber. If we don't move now, we might starve to death right here.”

“Don't panic. The demon clan's army hasn't withdrawn yet. I'll think of something for the food.”

The hunched figure sat in the damp underground chamber, staring at the pile of wood and sticks, slowly rubbing them together.

Back then, he always wondered when this endless hiding would end.

“This is the only way.”

The old man gazed at the inscriptions illuminated by the torch in his hand, gently tracing the lines of text with his fingers.

“Leader, let us handle this.”

“I'm the strongest, the one with the highest cultivation in the clan. Only I can withstand the assault of the Demon Ancestor remnant soul…”

The old man spoke softly, his eyes full of determination.

“Leader, this is too dangerous. What if you can't hold out?”

“Then kill me, turn my body into spiritual energy, and nurture the next leader.”

That large hand pressed against the stone tablet, crushing it to pieces in an instant. His entire body was engulfed in black light, yet his eyes remained firm and unyielding.

Mere demonic flames.

Beneath the vast sky, endless palaces stretched out, and the boundless demon clan army blanketed the heavens.

On the ground below, countless men, women, and elders stood silently with weapons in hand, their anger surging toward the skies.

At the very front, three thousand figures shrouded in black mist devoured the endless light, burning with scorching red flames. Their fervent gazes fixed on the elderly figure ahead.

My warriors…

Entrust your lives to me, leave your beliefs for those who come after.

Demonic energy enters my soul, blood stains the demon gods' weapons.

The skies belong to the demon clan, the earth to the witch clan. We humans have only our companions, only you and me. We march forward to ensure our descendants don't have to hide and flee, so our posterity can stand proudly on this land and gaze at the skies!

The flame endures!

The flame endures…

“Ah, that's right, where's the sword?”

In the flame-filled tunnel collapsed from the Qiankun, the old man at the front reached for his empty waist, then remembered something.

Ahead, the Chaos Sea churned with waves, and the look of reminiscence in the old man's eyes gradually faded.

Suddenly, thunder rumbled, and endless lightning surged forward, only to be shattered effortlessly by the flames surging from the old man.

Then, winds of annihilation blew from all directions, but the old man drew a simple yet profound symbol with his hand, and the winds ceased, returning to silence.

Behind him, countless heroic spirits advanced in silence, faint flames igniting on their foreheads, shielding them from the tearing of Chaos energy and the crushing of the Qiankun.

Their gazes remained steadfast, just as they had been when facing death.

Strands of Dao rhythm that could incite inner demons permeated the passage, yet they could not shake these heroic spirits in the least.

They lived for a single belief.

They were left with only their spirits and obsessions.

Like the old man ahead, lying at the lake bottom gazing at the heavens, they constantly watched his back, waiting for him to raise his arm and point the way.

On the war chariot, Xuan Yuan Huang Di coordinated from the center, sending out waves of mental commands as the battle formation shifted continuously during their advance.

The Zi Xiao Palace was just ahead.

They would face the strongest will in all the heavens;

What they fought for was to let out the cry that humanity deserved!

Sacrifice meant nothing; they were already figures of ancient history in the texts.

Sui Ren Shi pressed on without pause, repeatedly fending off the various attacks in the tunnel with his flames, resisting the infinite pressure from beyond.

A hint of unease showed in Li Changshou's eyes. He flashed forward, appearing at the front of the army, and quickly caught up to Sui Ren Shi, walking beside him.

“Senior…”

“No need to say more; I probably know,” Sui Ren Shi said with a gentle smile. “You have your own difficulties, and it's already a great comfort to me that you've spoken for humanity.

Since the Human Emperor has become the Human Emperor, he is the backbone of our people. The Heavenly Dao's unreasonable suppression is like trying to exterminate humanity.

Our people have never owed the Heavenly Dao anything, so why endure this humiliation?

It must be opposed.

But remember, no matter what happens next, protect yourself.

And, never fully trust the Dao Ancestor.”

Li Changshou clenched his fists slightly, boldly reaching out to support Sui Ren Shi's arm, quickly transmitting strands of information.

It was his inner thoughts, along with parts of his plans and schemes concerning humanity.

Sui Ren Shi furrowed his brows, turning to look at Li Changshou, his steps halting for a moment.

But then, he continued forward, suddenly chuckling lightly, and patted Li Changshou on the shoulder.

“You're doing well. Go ahead.

Remember, don't make a move today. Follow your plan, and let us old ones go first.”

“Senior, I feel ashamed.”

“Don't be sentimental. Humanity doesn't need that. Go on; the path ahead is for you younger ones to walk.”

Sui Ren Shi gently pulled his arm free from Li Changshou's support.

From behind, Xuan Yuan Huang Di summoned a white cloud. Li Changshou sighed and stepped onto it, landing with Heng'e on the emperor's chariot, standing behind Huang Di.

This legendary emperor who led the heroic spirits glanced at Li Changshou with a hint of a smile, then continued gazing toward the palace at the tunnel's end.

“Senior is about to risk it all again.”

Li Changshou remained silent, closing his eyes to steady his heart.

In the Lingxiao Hall of Heaven, the Jade Emperor in white sat quietly on his throne, clad in golden armor and holding the Emperor's Sword, with a hundred righteous gods standing silently below.

A precious seal rotated gently before the Jade Emperor, radiating boundless heavenly might. Below it, a projection unfolded, showing the human heroic army marching through the endless tunnel toward the Zi Xiao Palace.

The gods below maintained their silence; at this moment, they could only remain silent.

Mu Gong gazed at those figures with a complex expression…

Once, he had been one of them, but he had survived by luck and was placed in Heaven by a certain Saint.

Ah, the boldness of those days was gone, yet the blood of humanity still flowed in his veins.

“Your Majesty,” a righteous god whispered, “the Heavenly Dao has summoned us to guard the Zi Xiao Palace. If we don't set out now, we might miss the opportunity…”

“Your Majesty!”

Mu Gong knelt down on both knees, declaring firmly, “The Heavenly Court's rules, granted by the Heavenly Dao, establish order in the Three Realms and protect the heavens and all beings!

There is no rule about guarding the Zi Xiao Palace!”

The ministers in the hall were all startled.

Mu Gong kept his eyes tightly shut, his body trembling slightly, his Dao heart twisted in knots.

He was practically throwing his life away!

The Jade Emperor propped his sword in front of him and said calmly, “Wait for the Dao Ancestor's decree.”

The gods continued their silence, and the general who had spoken earlier bowed his head and knelt motionless.

At the side, the Queen Mother gazed at the Jade Emperor's face, a warm smile touching her lips.

In the Saints' dojos, at Yu Xu Palace and Bi You Palace, streaks of light flew in as the chief disciples of the two sects gathered, only to be told similar words by their teachers.

Yuan Shi Tian Zun said: Do not act rashly.

Tong Tian Jiaozhu said: Do not get agitated. This is karma between humanity and the Heavenly Dao; your involvement would be futile.

In the Niang Niang Palace, the Saint Nü Wa sat in the great hall, leaning sideways on her throne, her fingers pressed against her smooth forehead, her eyes showing a trace of anxiety.

In the Dragon Palace, at the sea eye, old dragons looked up at the calm sky, watching the ethereal shadows defying the heavens, their gazes mostly complex.

In the Qiankun tunnel, the path ahead suddenly opened up wide, and the expected heavenly soldiers and generals did not appear.

Jade Emperor…

Li Changshou silently offered a word of thanks in his heart. Suddenly, Xuan Yuan Huang Di raised the Xuan Yuan Sword high!

Countless heroic spirits let out low roars, like the growls of ancient beasts.

Sui Ren Shi lifted his trembling finger and drew another character, a wave of fire spreading out and directly driving away the Chaos energy.

The fire spread like wildfire, pulling the seemingly distant Zi Xiao Palace into its embrace.

It was unclear whether Sui Ren Shi had drawn the palace closer or brought them to its doorstep.

Vast earth spread beneath their feet, the Chaos energy receded like a tide, and a low “sky” appeared overhead, with them standing between heaven and earth.

Sui Ren Shi did not stop, advancing toward the Zi Xiao Palace.

“Ah…”

A soft sigh echoed as a meditation cushion about a zhang in diameter appeared first, followed by swirling lights, revealing the imposing figure of an old Daoist before the Zi Xiao Palace, frowning at Sui Ren Shi.

The Dao Ancestor, Hong Jun!

Hong Jun Dao Ancestor asked slowly, “What brings the Human Emperor here today?”

“To wage war against the heavens.”

L flames intertwined with black around Sui Ren Shi, his withered form showing no weakness before the strongest in all the realms.

Hong Jun Dao Ancestor furrowed his brows and said gravely, “ Humanity is now the protagonist of the heavens. Look around— the world is filled with humanity's domain. Why is the Human Emperor still discontent?”

Sui Ren Shi clenched his fists slowly and said, “Why does the Heavenly Dao bully our later Human Emperors? Why does it insult our clan's Saint Mother, Nü Wa?”

The Dao Ancestor fell silent.

“When you made me give up the Heavenly Emperor's position, you said the Heavenly Dao is impartial and selfless, that humanity's destiny was set, and I needn't worry.

When the Heavenly Dao arranged for the innate great powers to reincarnate as Human Emperors, you said humanity's foundations were insufficient and needed to be strengthened.

What more can you say today?

Dao Ancestor, you are the teacher of all beings, passing on the methods of cultivation and merging with the Heavenly Dao!”

Sui Ren Shi stepped forward, flames erupting around him, his voice roaring like hundreds speaking in unison, bold and unrestrained!

“Then, Dao Ancestor, are you the Heavenly Dao or a being?”

Hong Jun said indifferently, “I am the Heavenly Dao, and I am also a being.”

Sui Ren Shi fell silent, stepping forward with flames directed straight at Hong Jun!

“Very well,” Hong Jun Dao Ancestor sighed, “Everything has its destined measure. The Heavenly Dao has flaws, and hearts are restless. I only ask you, Human Emperor, how do you intend to wage war against the heavens?”

“Destroy the Zi Xiao, break the Heavenly Dao.”

Hong Jun Dao Ancestor replied:

“The Heavenly Dao is the aggregation of the Great Dao, ignited by Pangu's will, formless, colorless, pathless, and bodiless, thus neither born nor destroyed.

Now, the Heavenly Dao has selfish desires and obsessions, originating from humanity. Mortal selfish desires are unchecked, invading the Great Dao and benefiting the Heavenly Dao.

Yet the Heavenly Dao's obsessions are merely for the stability of the heavens, and its selfish desires for the eternal peace of heaven and earth.”

Sui Ren Shi retorted, “I only know that if heaven is unjust and earth unfair, humanity will cry out.”

Hong Jun Dao Ancestor's eyes brewed with lightning, hundreds of thunder dragons forming behind him, their vast heavenly might slowly unfolding.

But just then!

A Dao rhythm manifested, black and white energy swirling, enveloping the human heroic army.

An old Daoist emerged from the Chaos, his face gaunt and his form wrapped in layers of Dao rhythm, half-opening his eyes as he sat to the right of the human army.

“The way of heaven benefits without harm.”

The Tai Qing, Lao Zi.

Two more figures stepped forth from the Chaos.

The one on the left had his hands behind his back, a middle-aged face radiating pure Dao rhythm, his expression stern yet kind.

He smiled and said, “Teacher, the Heavenly Dao should be impartial and emotionless to maintain justice.”

The young Daoist on the right held a sword and chuckled, “It's not just humanity that feels anxious about this, Teacher. I, too, am somewhat discontent with such a Heavenly Dao.”

As he spoke, the two figures stood one on each side behind Lao Zi.

Hong Jun Dao Ancestor sighed, “This matter has nothing to do with the great teachings of the Saints.”

“But Teacher,” Tong Tian Jiaozhu replied, “we established our teachings to educate humanity. Though we've done little since, there is still a connection through destiny.

In this great calamity, we ask that you consider the misfortunes of beings and give humanity a chance.”

Sui Ren Shi said, “The war against the heavens is for me alone to bear.”

The space between heaven and earth fell instantly silent, with no wind, no movement, not even a breath.

Li Changshou lowered his head in thought, then reached out and gently pulled Heng'e beside him.

Heng'e understood, knowing her moment to act had come. But faced with such heavenly might and the pressure of these supreme beings, her heart was tense.

Yet that emptiness within her, born from endless years, surged forth.

She took half a step forward, slowly kneeling before the Dao Ancestor, bursting into sobs that left her unable to speak.

“Please, Dao Ancestor, return the missing piece of my puzzle to me…”

The Dao Ancestor fixed his eyes on Li Changshou, a flicker of anger crossing his face; Li Changshou simply kept his head down, as if unaware of the gaze.

“Very well.”

Hong Jun closed his eyes and sighed lightly, raising his left hand and waving his sleeve. Heng'e fainted on the spot, and the Chaos and Qiankun around them changed dramatically.

Countless Great Dao transformed into pillars of light, crisscrossing to form a massive grid that enveloped the egg-shaped primeval world.

At the center of this grid, a somewhat blurred old Daoist sat quietly, letting out a cold hum.

Sui Ren Shi's eyes sharpened, his face twisting with ferocity as his form was wrapped in flames, shooting skyward.

The blurred old Daoist's face seemed to sneer as he raised his hand, unleashing endless lightning that enveloped Sui Ren Shi in an instant!

Xuan Yuan Huang Di's great sword was about to thrust forward when Sui Ren Shi's roar echoed everywhere:

“I lead the charge!”

Amid the roar, demonic flames erupted like a thousand-li lotus, shattering the endless lightning like broken glass!

Sui Ren Shi burst through the flames, his form like an invincible sword piercing the heavens, straight toward the embodied Heavenly Dao!

This battle…

This battle!

Li Changshou looked up.

He watched as countless projections of the Great Dao bloomed between Sui Ren Shi and the Heavenly Dao shadow, and the surging demonic energy and endless flames tore through everything with raw force.

For some reason, a wave of sorrow rose in his heart.

Sui Ren Shi's flames grew more intense.

Yet his life force was steadily waning.

The Heavenly Dao shadow possessed endless divine abilities and spiritual power, creating infinite streams of light with a lift of its hand and controlling the Qiankun and time with a wave.

But no Dao or law could stop Sui Ren Shi's frail, charging form!

The Heavenly Dao shadow retreated!

It could only retreat!

In that instant, across the primeval world, faint light points flew from the foreheads of countless humans. On Sui Ren Shi's forehead, a golden-red flame ignited, and behind him appeared an uncountable multitude of figures!

They were the men and women playing and crying by Nü Wa's mud pit;

The old man hunched over, drilling wood for fire, his eyes full of deep sorrow;

The gentle elder sitting by the river, calculating anomalies with measuring tools before him.

The middle-aged man in beast hide, examining spiritual herbs by the roadside, jotting notes on a stone slab, then carefully placing the herb in his mouth.

The dashing king raising his long sword, commanding vast human armies to clear away ancient remnants;

The burly man shouldering an ax, battling fierce dragons in raging floods!

And many more figures.

They wore animal skins, gathering and hunting as they raced across the land;

They gripped weapons, facing the strong of the heavens while protecting the weak;

They recited the chapters of sages aloud, running to address the sufferings of all beings…

In this moment, they were all here, in the flames, behind the old man!

The Heavenly Dao shadow let out a cold hum, stirring endless Chaos and smashing down with thousands of light pillars!

Sui Ren Shi roared lowly, the figures behind him scattering only to regroup instantly, using anger as flame and gathering the will of all beings to isolate the Heavenly Dao's selfish desires!

“Changshou.”

A call sounded beside him. Li Changshou looked up at Xuan Yuan Huang Di, who was smiling at him.

Xuan Yuan Huang Di said, “Three things.

First, heaven, earth, and humanity should be in balance; that's how the primeval world should be.

Second, Senior just transmitted to us that Fire Cloud Cave will follow your arrangements from now on. I don't know what you said to him earlier, but you've undoubtedly succeeded.

Third, in this world, besides divine abilities and treasures, there is one Great Dao with infinite power— the one the Heavenly Dao fears most. Today, it can only be used on this incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, which is somewhat regrettable.

We already know the Heavenly Dao cannot be erased. What we're fighting now is merely a strand of its thoughts.

But that strand is the source of disaster, the selfish desire of the Heavenly Dao, which can also be seen as its true self.

Watch closely; the timing is almost here.”

Xuan Yuan Huang Di paused, sighing lightly as the Kong Dong Seal floated before him. He tossed his great sword aside and quickly formed seals with his hands.

From the chariots on both sides, Fu Xi Shi and Shen Nong Shi leaped up, their forms turning into comet-like lights hurtling toward the densest part of the flames in the void.

Sui Ren Shi raised his hand to shield the sky, flames bursting from his forehead as his skin turned golden-red!

Behind Shen Nong Shi and Fu Xi Shi, countless light points gathered rapidly, transforming them into two “arrowheads.”

Just then!

The heroic army rose together, their forms turning into golden chains that connected from the arrowheads, extending from Sui Ren Shi's form!

Humanity's chains!

Seeking to bind the heavens!

The Three Pure Ones fell silent, and Hong Jun Dao Ancestor frowned.

Li Changshou clenched his fists, constantly urging his Empty Bright Dao Heart!

Xuan Yuan Huang Di spat out a mouthful of blood, his hands supporting the Kong Dong Seal as he leaped up and hurled it far toward the battlefield!

The Heavenly Dao shadow suddenly broke free from Sui Ren Shi's flames and tried to flee into the Chaos Sea.

In a flash, a figure emerged from the Chaos Sea, enveloped in five-colored divine light with the Tai Ji Diagram above his head. He pushed with his left palm and struck with his right fist, smashing toward the Heavenly Dao shadow!

The Ren Jiao's Xuan Du Great Mage… no!

He was humanity's Saint Teacher, Wu Ming!

Light exploded, the black-and-white glow of the Tai Ji Diagram dimming instantly. The Great Mage was sent flying, spitting out blood.

The Heavenly Dao shadow was repelled by his punch, instantly enveloped by flames, vegetation, and turtle shells!

The Kong Dong Seal emitted roars like dragons and phoenixes!

Across the Three Realms, faint flames appeared on the foreheads of humans, though mortals remained unaware and immortals puzzled.

In the outer heavens, Xuan Yuan Huang Di, with blood in his mouth, formed seals rapidly, drawing endless golden light to reinforce the three massive, boundless chains, finally clenching his right hand toward the Heavenly Dao shadow.

This was humanity's will!

The shackles of heaven!

“Seal!”

A hum echoed—

This power.

Li Changshou looked up, watching the void where the countless Great Dao projections repaired and aligned themselves.

He watched as the three chains dissolved into scattered seven-colored petals, disappearing into formlessness, feeling the Heavenly Dao's once uneven terrain smoothed by a great hand into seamless harmony.

It seemed the Heavenly Dao's selfish thoughts had been suppressed.

The heroic army behind him did not return; they had become the chains, imprinted on the Heavenly Dao.

This must be the power the Heavenly Dao feared.

The Dao Ancestor had vanished, the Zi Xiao Palace returned to calm, and the Three Pure Ones had departed.

Around Li Changshou, the chariots turned into specks of golden sand, scattering in the wind, leaving only the chariot beneath his feet stable.

Heng'e was guided back onto the chariot by Xuan Yuan Huang Di, still in a coma.

Endless Chaos energy surged back, extinguishing a small cluster of flames. Li Changshou instinctively rushed forward, along with several other streaks of light, to the spot where the flames had died.

He excelled in escape arts and had studied those of the Chaos Sea. He hadn't acted earlier, so his magical power was full, and with the Eighty-Nine Profound Art…

He reached Sui Ren Shi first, supporting the swaying figure, but felt an unbearable weight.

Li Changshou knelt down, holding the labored-breathing Sui Ren Shi tightly, trying to channel immortal energy, only to realize he held nothing but stone and bones.

In his heart, Sui Ren Shi's voice echoed intermittently, a transmission only they could hear.

“Did… did this old bag of bones help you?”

“You helped, you helped…”

Sui Ren Shi managed a faint smile, closing his eyes with a soft sigh, his body slowly turning transparent.

The Great Mage, Shen Nong Shi, and Fu Xi Shi landed nearby, some sighing with hands behind their backs, others bowing their heads in silence.

Sui Ren Shi instinctively grasped the edge of Li Changshou's robe, opening his eyes to reveal the same light as in the past.

“I'm sorry, later generations.

Back then, fighting the Demon Emperor took all my strength; I couldn't do more.

If I'd thought of a better way, or if there'd been a more capable leader to take my place and complete humanity's Heavenly Court, perhaps there wouldn't be this crisis today.

Now, I'm placing the future flame of humanity on your shoulders.

You can stand outside humanity, free from the Heavenly Dao's influence— something we old ones couldn't do.

Even if you fail later, it doesn't matter. Even if the flame dies, it doesn't matter; it will be reignited.

Don't be afraid; it will always be reignited.”

“It won't fail! It certainly won't!”

Li Changshou gripped the rapidly withering arm tightly, perhaps squeezing too hard, as Sui Ren Shi's form shattered like extinguished flames, turning into a handful of ashes scattered into the Chaos mist.

A candle-like flame flew from the ashes and entered Li Changshou's chest.

In the misty fog, someone sighed softly, though it was unclear who.

People walking the land followed the sparse fire points, searching for hidden chambers…

In the depths of that profound, damp earth, a hunched figure rubbed the wood in his hands…

Before the碑文 radiating an ominous aura, that large hand crushed its seals, surrendering to the darkness…

Before the overwhelming demon court, layers of flames ignited, tearing apart the demon clan's sky.

To those who come after…

The skies are the demon clan's, the earth the witches', but we can stand on the land, shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the skies.

The flame endures, the will endures.

The way of humanity is eternal.