Chapter 1219: Giant Emperor Breaks Free

The Giant Emperor reached out, grasping the last chain! Sensing danger, the chain struggled violently, emitting a clanking sound. This scene plunged the entire void into dead silence. The many powerful cultivators besieging the Great Yin Sect Master halted their attacks. They stared intently at the sight before them, involuntarily swallowing their saliva. If this last chain were also snapped, they would all perish!

Jiang Fan's heart also tensed. He secretly prayed that this chain would hold. The Giant Emperor's arm contracted as he began to pull with force. The chain clanked and shook, but it never broke. It seemed the chain was specifically forged to bind the Giant Emperor; while external forces could easily sever it, the Emperor himself was powerless against it.

Before Jiang Fan and the others could sigh in relief, a majestic glint appeared in the Giant Emperor's black eyes and purple pupils. He spoke in the human tongue, his voice indifferent: "A mere broken chain, attempting to shackle this Emperor?"

On his forehead, two circular marks appeared. At first glance, they resembled two suns! As the two great suns emerged, two beams of light, imbued with power, shot out and struck the chain. The chain melted at a visible rate. This sight terrified everyone, striking their souls with dread. Who would dare to linger? They scrambled to flee.

Jiang Fan's heart also sank, but he made no move to escape. There was no opportunity left. Before such an entity, any attempt at escape was futile.

Snap!

In just two breaths, the last chain broke. With that, all the chains that had imprisoned the Giant Emperor for a millennium were severed. He was free!

Unimpeded, the Giant Emperor slowly rose to his feet. He let out a prolonged roar to the heavens, releasing the resentment of a thousand years of confinement. The roar swept across the eight directions! Like a world-ending torrent, it flung everyone present backward. As Nascent Soul realm cultivators, they were like small boats in the face of the roar, liable to be overwhelmed at any moment.

The entire ancient battlefield vibrated ceaselessly, and the atmosphere thundered. The Tianshan mountain range, standing for millennia, also rumbled continuously, with some fragile peaks collapsing entirely!

Jiang Fan managed to grab Yue Mingzhu and Xia Chaoge in time, and they were flung to the edge of the void. A sweet, metallic taste filled Yue Mingzhu's throat as she surveyed her surroundings. The previously vibrant areas of abundant fortune rapidly dimmed after the Giant Emperor's escape. This indicated that no place could now offer them an opportunity for escape. She turned to Jiang Fan, her eyes filled with bitterness: "This time, I fear we truly have reached a dead end."

Jiang Fan also let out a long sigh. Looking back at the Taicang Great Province beyond the battlefield, he sighed softly: "Fellow Daoists of Taicang, I... I have done my best. May you all find your own salvation."

The darkest hour had arrived!

In contrast, the Great Yin Sect Master was ecstatic, quickly kneeling on one knee: "Greetings, My Emperor, upon your liberation! May My Emperor unify the Central Lands; your humble servant is willing to serve you wholeheartedly until death!"

The Giant Emperor, with his black eyes and purple pupils, glanced at him, then surveyed the others. He spoke in the human tongue, stating indifferently: "Those who follow me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish! Those who surrender to this Emperor shall be spared death."

The Taicang powerhouses, their faces etched with horror, couldn't help but feel surprised and doubtful. Was there truly a way out?

Before they could ponder, a resounding rebuke echoed throughout the arena. It was Jiang Fan. He spoke with forceful clarity: "Abandon your delusions! If the skin doesn't exist, how can the fur attach itself? If the Central Lands are gone, what is the point of surrendering to the Ancient Giants? Moreover, the Ancient Giants view us as livestock; between us, this is not an ordinary war, but the annihilation of our race—a struggle of life and death!"

His cautionary words resonated in the silent expanse above, striking deeply into everyone's hearts. Indeed, this was inherently a battle to the death between hunter and prey. The outcome was either their death or their survival. There was no middle ground. Surrendering would only prolong their agony for a short time; once the Central Lands were destroyed, their fate would be that of a dog cooked after the rabbit was caught.

Most who could reach the Nascent Soul realm had endured countless hardships and possessed unwavering resolve. Their slightly wavering hearts became even firmer after Jiang Fan's awakening words.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master stepped forward, gazing at the Giant Emperor. Though fear was inevitably present in his eyes, his expression was calm and composed. "For a millennium, my Heavenly Secret Pavilion has sought a way to resolve the catastrophe. Generations of ancestors have quietly advanced, forging a path of hope for all beings. Though I, Yun Tianzhou, am of humble strength and have not achieved the aspirations of my predecessors, I will never bring shame upon them! My Heavenly Secret Pavilion would rather die than surrender!"

Fairy Yunshang and the others remained silent, simply gathering around the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master. Their stance was self-evident.

The Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall Master looked up and laughed: "A mere Heavenly Secret Pavilion possesses such backbone! How could my Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall be inferior to others?" He raised a hand and waved, and a hundred-zhang Indestructible Blade materialized in his palm. He then coldly surveyed his surroundings: "Disciples of the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall, heed my command! Should anyone dare to surrender to the Ancient Giants, this Hall Master will personally execute them!"

A clamor arose! Many powerful cultivators of the Myriad Tribulation Sacred Hall rallied around him. Not one surrendered.

The Fire Worship Sect. Fairy Qianlan's beautiful eyes sparkled as she gazed at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master, as if seeing the young figure who had once knelt before the Old Pavilion Master, accepting a mission in a time of crisis. "Truly worthy of my junior brother Tianzhou!" Her red lips slightly pursed, her eyes glimmering with admiration. When her gaze swept to Jiang Fan, she pursed her lips slightly and muttered: "This little rascal performed quite well too. Of course, it's all because my Tianzhou taught him so well!"

With this thought, she darted to the Fire Worship Sect Master, saying: "Sect Master, what are we waiting for?" The Fire Worship Sect Master nodded slightly, his gaze sharp, and declared: "My Fire Worship Sect's members are all forged in countless flames; we have no cowards! If there are any, this Sect Master will personally refine them!"

The Lord of the Myriad Phenomena Void Realm watched Jiang Fan from afar. Envy was unconcealed in his eyes. "The Heavenly Secret Pavilion has truly produced an extraordinary individual. However, do not underestimate my Myriad Phenomena Void Realm. In the face of great righteousness, my Myriad Phenomena Void Realm will not falter!" He raised his arm and waved, declaring: "My Myriad Phenomena Void Realm would rather die than yield!"

Following this, the Heavenly Horizon Sea Pavilion, Jiangshan Yipin Tower, and Shennong Cliff successively declared their stances. Not one showed any intention of surrendering.

Among the three divine sects and seven great sects present, six had already declared their stance. Only the Great Yin Sect, Sanqing Mountain, and Shenxing Sect remained hesitant. Everyone looked toward them. Jiang Fan also looked, feeling no surprise. From their interactions, these three sects had the worst conduct. Most Sanqing Mountain members were vile and selfish, the Shenxing Sect was cruel and indifferent, and the Great Yin Sect was ruthless and domineering. It would be no surprise if they surrendered to the Ancient Giants.

The new Daoist leader of Sanqing Mountain indignantly exclaimed: "Why are you all looking at our Sanqing Mountain? Does my Sanqing Mountain lack even this much discernment? Disciples of Sanqing Mountain, clear your heads! This is not the time to contend for benefits; it is the annihilation of our race! Anyone who dares to surrender, I will personally slay!"

Jiang Fan was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected that Sanqing Mountain, which he had considered quite contemptible, would actually display some integrity as a sect of the Taicang Great Province.

The Shenxing Sect Master gritted his teeth and shouted: "Don't look at me either! Our Shenxing Sect dug tombs everywhere, incurring divine and human wrath, but it was also to cope with the catastrophe caused by the Ancient Giants. Yet, we never once considered surrendering!"

Finally, only the Great Yin Sect remained! Pairs of hostile gazes shot towards them. As the Great Yin Sect Master had already defected to the Ancient Giants, it was hard to believe their disciples wouldn't harbor similar intentions.