Chapter 1706: Gathering Generals

A desolate battle horn sounded in a corner of the universe, on a wild, untamed planet. A youth, clad in animal hides and walking through the mountains, opened his eyes. He gazed towards the horizon, murmuring softly, "After so many years, to hear the war horn again is truly rare."Then, he put down the prey on his shoulder, walked towards a distant thatched hut, retrieved a black hard bow and a stone staff, and vanished from the spot.

"Boom," "boom..." The dull thunder of drums boomed, and the four corners of the world and the eight directions of the universe trembled once more. The Heavenly Emperor's Summoning Drum was being beaten, its sound like wild oxen stampeding across the earth, rumbling deafeningly. This sound was too immense; it had been momentarily suppressed by the horn, but now it surged forth again. Like crashing waves, the entire universe resonated.

"We can't resist this. This is the Heavenly Emperor's summons. Our ancestors swore an oath, and its words are etched into the blood of their descendants. If we don't go to war, disaster will strike." Different voices rose from various locations, all expressing shock. Millennia had passed, yet the ancient oath had resurfaced.

In the ancestral land of the Mighty Ox Demon clan, the highly venerated divine statue shook violently, emitting a brilliant light, as if a celestial deity was enraged. Several ancient oxen were desperately resisting. Their blood burned, and like sharp swords cutting through dry wood, they felt themselves dissolving. An ancient voice echoed within the ancestral land: "Obey your oath, let your spirit remain intact, heed my summons, fight for life..."

This sounded like an ancient spell, originating from primordial times. Its archaic and weathered tone was terrifying and astonishing, making one's blood boil. If one obeyed, the strong would grow even stronger, erupting with boundless light. If one resisted, their entire body would be bathed in tribulation fire, enduring a devastating inner demon ordeal, suffering unbearable pain.

This phenomenon occurred across various parts of the universe. The sacred blood oaths sworn by the ancient ancestors of different races to the Heavenly Emperor remained unbroken, etched into their very blood, binding their descendants. This outcome was deeply unsettling. Many powerful clans changed their expressions, gathering in their ancestral lands to discuss countermeasures and attempt to resist.

What to do? This was the choice many powerful clans faced. The ancient Heavenly Emperor's drum had sounded in this era. Should the former war divisions obey or not? It was a difficult decision; given a choice, no one wished to be drawn into a bloody war.

"Wuwu..." The Emperor Lord's horn had a desolate, more powerful penetrating sound. It suppressed the Heavenly Emperor's drums, easing the perilous situation for many great clans and offering them much relief. Many strong individuals rushed towards the sound of the Emperor Lord's horn, using it to resist the Heavenly Emperor's drum.

"A decision must be made now; there's no time to delay!" With the Emperor Lord's horn and the Heavenly Emperor's war drum sounding simultaneously, each clan had to decide quickly. Further delay was impossible.

"Heed the Undying Heavenly Emperor's summons and go to war!""Kill! Enter the cosmic battlefield! Fight for the oath of our ancestors, for the promise of protection, and advance towards the Heavenly Path!"After struggling and deliberating, many great clans mobilized, charging towards the direction of the Heavenly Drum's sound, obeying the summons to engage in the most terrifying and brutal battle.

Squads of powerful figures streaked through the starry sky, flying towards the star system where the Phoenix Nest was located. Eventually, countless figures densely packed the area, covering the sky and earth. It was a mighty torrent, converging from all directions as stargates continuously opened, transforming the area into an ocean of powerhouses. Even before the actual battle began, the atmosphere had become extremely oppressive.

The gigantic Phoenix Nest was blood-red. Constructed from phoenix wood, it spanned across the cosmos. A beautiful and alluring woman stood upon it, guarded by several divine generals. Her elegance was unparalleled, and her clear, cold voice resounded throughout the area."The glory of the Undying Heavenly Emperor is eternal and imperishable. Yet now, some trample it underfoot. What shall we do? Naturally, we fight to the end, to protect the Heavenly Emperor's dignity!""Fight!"Below, overwhelming roars rose endlessly. This part of the universe trembled, and the tremors spread to distant, infinite star systems, causing countless beings to quake.

At this moment, the Undying Empress on the blood-red Phoenix Nest began personally beating the war drum, gathering her generals. Her figure was graceful, slender, and beautiful, her white arms like lotus roots. As she earnestly beat the drum, she exuded a unique divine charm. The dull drumbeats were like surging oceans tearing through the sky, sweeping upward and spreading to the eight directions of the universe. Eventually, they sounded like a million-strong army clashing, roaring across heaven and earth. This rhythm was terrifying, making the spirits of all nearby powerhouses glow, their blood surge, and their veins throb, eager for immediate battle!

At this moment, the reactions from all corners of the universe intensified. Summoned by the war drum and assailed by the divine sound, everyone trembled and resonated with it. Any powerful clan that had sworn a heart-demon oath found it increasingly unbearable; failure to appear might lead to self-destruction.

"Fight for the Undying Heavenly Emperor! Let blood splatter beyond the realms! Cleave the azure sky! Fight!" Like a surging flood, powerhouses from all regions roared uncontrollably, and peerless figures embarked on their journey in groups, no longer able to resist.

The Undying Heavenly Emperor was once regarded as a supreme, omnipotent deity by many great clans throughout the universe, seated high above the Ninth Heaven. Now, they all emerged. In the ancient past, truly countless people revered him.

On a desolate planet, a white-haired old man in coarse linen clothes, who was tilling the land, let out a long sigh and dropped his tools. He walked towards a nearby stone village, led out a lame horse, swung onto its back, and a ray of morning light erupted from the spot, making the old man and the ailing horse vanish. Not long after, he appeared among the armies near the blood-red Phoenix Nest. He was inconspicuous, his cloudy eyes filled with reminiscence and the marks of bygone years. He looked at the graceful figure above the Phoenix Nest, his expression somewhat complex. The Undying Empress seemed to sense something, abruptly turning her head, but there was only empty space, no shadow. Those nearby also perceived nothing unusual.

"Wuwu..." The Emperor Lord's war horn, like a great wind sweeping through, like a hero's roar, sounded with a low wail. It had a powerful and majestic quality, as if an ancient celestial deity was summoning heroes, emerging from the ends of the primordial earth, bearing an untamed aura. The horn's sound grew louder and louder, naturally offsetting the war drums of this part of the universe. Many people flocked here, seeking refuge. Moreover, many ancient war divisions gathered due to the horn. These were the divine general tribes of the ancient Heavenly Court, now awakened. Many were filled with excitement.

"The glory of the Emperor Lord, his peerless majesty, shall not be defiled even after millennia; no one can challenge it. The Undying Heavenly Emperor, this sinner, must be held accountable!" Some roared in anger, shouting unwillingly, demanding a decisive battle to wipe away past humiliations and allow the Heavenly Court to shine brilliantly once more.

"Rumble..." A thousand armies and ten thousand steeds galloped. The powerhouses converging here were certainly no fewer than those gathered near the Phoenix Nest. Barbarian cavalry roared. Iron armor clanged, battle halberds gleamed with cold light. A million mighty lions convened.

Among them, a youth in animal hides, carrying a black hard bow and a stone staff, stood in the sea of people. His eyes were bright as he watched the war horn being blown by the old god. His expression was somewhat unusual, lost in memories.

Millennia had passed, and the world had seen countless changes. After an immeasurable span of time, the Undying Heavenly Emperor's summoning drum sounded, and the Emperor Lord's war horn wailed, shaking the starry sky and plunging the entire world into chaos. Everywhere was in turmoil, and many great clans embarked on their journeys to join the battle!

Before the Heavenly Court, Ye Fan, the Black Emperor, Pang Bo, and others sighed with emotion. The influence of the two supreme beings from the past was immense; with a drumbeat and a horn blast, they overshadowed countless current inheritances. Their potential forces were truly vast; after such a long time, they could still gather their generals! What is true heritage? This is it: with a single command, even after millions of years, followers still converged like clouds, war divisions filled the sky, and the universe moved for them.

"'When will our Heavenly Court be like this, able to rally the world with a single shout, with none daring to disobey!'" Pang Bo remarked."'There's no time to think about that now,' Ye Fan warned. 'This situation has exceeded our expectations. We must prepare for the worst. Black Emperor, stay by Little Nuannuan's side, don't leave her even for a step, and protect this place with her!'"This battle was inevitable; a great war was bound to erupt!

Time flashed past, as if centuries had been crossed in an instant. War arrived, mobilization orders echoed across the universe, and killing intent permeated the sky. On a divine island, Ye Fan stood with the Woodcutter Elder. Behind them stretched endless armies, while in another direction were members of the Divine Organization. The old god continued to blow the horn, summoning the descendants of the ancient Heavenly Court's remnant forces scattered throughout the world.

"'There's no other choice; a battle must be fought today!'""'In the past, the Undying Heavenly Emperor betrayed the Emperor Lord, launching a sneak attack that led to the ancient Heavenly Court's failure to ascend to immortality. He is a sinner of the ages, and the entire world should condemn him!'""'Centuries have passed, and millennia have covered the past in dust, yet the lineage of the Undying Heavenly Emperor remains unyielding. They audaciously seek conflict once more. In this era, there will be no compromise, no evasion of battle. Although the ancient Heavenly Court has fallen, its battle spirit has not dissipated. We must fight to the death, to sever the karma of past and present lives!'"

Many roared in anger. The old god, especially impassioned, his snow-white hair flying, his body trembling, shouted commands, poised to initiate the great war. The void collapsed, and stargates appeared one after another. All warships, iron cavalry, and other forces mobilized, advancing forward!

"'Bathe in the blood of gods, trample upon the bones of devils, and wage the most glorious battle!'" The crowd before the Phoenix Nest also roared. The Undying Empress's words were resounding, boosting morale. At this moment, stargates opened to this location, and the great war arrived, unavoidable, as endless armies surged forth.

An entire island flew out. Ye Fan and the Woodcutter Elder stood upon it, surveying all directions with undisguised powerful auras that surged outwards. With a whoosh, the people on the island vanished, rushing towards the Phoenix Nest. Both Ye Fan and the Woodcutter Elder unleashed formidable energies, pressing down upon the Heavenly Emperor's forces.

"'We meet again, but this time, you are nothing!'" Divine General Kuntian charged forward to confront Ye Fan, his face etched with boundless killing intent. His aura was many times more intense than before, abnormally powerful, causing everyone's hearts to skip a beat.

"'Be careful! He must have consumed remnants of the Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill. Its medicinal properties have unleashed, healing his injuries and possibly restoring his true combat power from before the Primordial Era!'" Quasi-Emperor Shanhuang warned. He was an old rooster who had attained enlightenment, and had once accidentally entered a collapsed immortal's cave, where he consumed such a substance, making him highly sensitive to this kind of aura. Everyone's hearts jumped. The presence of Nine Revolutions Immortal Pill remnants in the Phoenix Nest was truly defying the heavens!

"'Before the Primordial Era, who could stand against us Eight Divine Generals once we appeared? We even killed Quasi-Emperors from the Ninth Heaven who were about to attain enlightenment. What are you, a person of the Sixth Heaven?!'" Kuntian roared, divine power surging like an ocean within him. He charged forward furiously. The last time, he was almost killed by Ye Fan, which he considered the greatest humiliation of his life.

"'Here and now, I'll take your head!'" Ye Fan uttered just this one sentence.The great decisive battle had arrived!