CHAPTER 853: CHAPTER 576: MILITARY LEADER OF TIANXIA

"Lu Shanjun and Prince Northern Guardian—now this is truly a clash at the summit."

"Although odds are that Chief Lu will win, the Guildmaster is unfathomably profound and cannot be underestimated!"

"Indeed, in Seventh Realm battles, so many variables abound."

Within the four great cities, the people passionately discussed the final battle.

One was a peerless Genius of his era, the other a battle-hardened leader who had commanded civilization for sixty years.

No one dared make a rash judgment.

...

Chen Beiming charged forth with saber raised.

The saber’s edge was as fierce as reshaping heaven and earth, ablaze with the power to change the sun and sky itself.

In every direction, eight invisible stars seemed to be born at once, closing in and compressing space around them.

"The Guildmaster’s saber technique is no longer confined within even Master Wan’s supreme martial legacy."

Lu Chenzhou swept his spear across, the tip flashing with chilling brilliance, shattering the invisible stars to pieces.

"Master once said, ’Those who imitate him live, those who become him die.’ I, too, cannot be content with where I stand."

Chen Beiming’s saber technique shifted again; the saber trembled like a flood dragon bursting from the sea, the blade-light undulating like silver silk, flowing outward to all sides.

Lu Chenzhou raised his spear to parry; his skeletal frame trembled thrice, as if about to fall apart entirely.

"Excellent saber technique."

Suddenly, he accelerated, almost vanishing from Chen Beiming’s sight.

Though he had prepared himself, old Chen’s heart was still shaken to the core.

"With my Seventh Realm Eye Power, I still cannot track Lu Chenzhou’s movements."

All martial arts under heaven, only speed is without equal!

Speed Extreme Dao is not merely escape speed.

It is the swiftness of nerves, of flickering, weaving movement in all directions.

The Chasing Sun Dragon Emperor’s attacks were like ten thousand golden rays, crisscrossing and shooting from every direction.

If speed surpasses light itself, then one approaches omnipresence.

How is an enemy to evade such assault?

Lu Chenzhou’s feats are but a hint of that power.

Still, it is enough to defeat someone at the Early Stage of the Seventh Realm.

In a single breath, Lu Chenzhou slashed out a thousand spear strikes, weaving them into a world of spears.

Chen Beiming blocked to left and right, swinging his saber like bold strokes of ink.

"I must unleash my Law Realm Divine Skills now."

Resolved to give it his all, as a leader of civilization, it had been too long since he fought with utter abandon.

Chen Beiming took a deep breath, invisible ripples surging outward.

Dozens upon dozens of geomancy maps like warp and weft unfolded one by one, stretching some three hundred kilometers.

Heavenly King’s Realm·Crossing Heaven and Earth!

He stood at its heart, casually tapping his saber onto one of the lines of dimension.

"Mountain Peaks Array!"

Peaks forged of Sword Qi sprang up from the earth, stabbing toward Lu Chenzhou.

Lu Chenzhou parried and retreated, the peaks shattering one by one beneath his spear, a rare delight lighting his eyes.

Chen Beiming was indeed powerful; among those at Seventh Realm in today’s Human World, he remained ahead of the rest by a clear step.

"Hundred Rivers Forge the Army!"

Again, Chen Beiming slashed upon the geomancy map—Yangtze, Yellow River, Lancang—the endless torrents transformed into flood dragons, soaring and lunging to attack.

"Within Crossing Heaven and Earth, I am as a Divine, commanding mountains and oceans alike to war. Even someone at Middle Stage of the Seventh Realm, I could face in battle!"

Chen Beiming was in high spirits.

Among all of Tianxia’s forty-four Seventh Realms, his Law Realm ranked among the very best.

Mountains and waters converged, surrounding Lu Chenzhou like Daoist Soldiers.

He remained composed, breaking each attack with his spear skills.

"Chenzhou, are you still not going to use your Law Realm Divine Skills?!"

Chen Beiming’s face was ruddy with excitement, lips curled upward.

"What a bold kid—growing ever more arrogant, sun and moon illuminating the sky!"

His saber technique grew ever more ferocious, giving Lu Chenzhou not a moment’s respite.

Outside the ring, the gathered Seventh Realm powerhouses watched with relish.

The Yellow River Old Ghost, feigning modesty or not, murmured, "At this point I’d be at my limit. Without Divine Skills, I couldn’t withstand even a few of old Chen’s strikes."

Alcohol King: "I could hold out for a few more moves yet."

The old ghost looked skeptical: "Then the two of us should spar some day."

Li Xiuying’s mind raced, already attempting to unravel Chen Beiming’s saberwork.

In such a Realm, merely observing battle was to simulate it internally.

The transformation at Seventh Realm is all-encompassing: comprehension ascends, thought elevates.

Wang Changming studied the battle intently; it brought him endless gain. His gaze grew ever clearer, until inspiration suddenly struck.

He immediately practiced his spear technique on the spot, successfully elevating it to the realm of Supreme Divine Skill.

His path was the unification of saber, spear, and sword—he had only lacked the spear technique.

He could not help but burst out in laughter.

He almost wanted to take Lu Chenzhou as his teacher; everyone considered the matter in their own terms.

Boom! A blazing sun and a bright round moon took solid form within the Heavenly King’s Law Realm, attacking Lu Chenzhou from both sides.

Lu Chenzhou was forced to use his Eastern Chanting Domain to shield his body.

Radiance at its utmost blazed throughout the Battle Realm.

When the light faded, Chen Beiming flashed above Lu Chenzhou’s head, unleashing three thousand saber cuts in a heartbeat, weaving a net around him.

"Divine Power·Order Three Thousand!"

This was a 21-inscription Low Grade Divine Power, boundless in might.

Among Da Xia’s present Seventh Realms, reaching twenty-one inscriptions and ranking in the upper Third Class—there are but two palms’ worth.

Inside the saber net, even with Lu Chenzhou’s peerless tunneling speed, there was no way to evade.

Golden armor congealed on his body, Fourth Rank Yuji Dao Essence transforming into a Giant Shield.

Crack—

The shield shattered, sabers fell; with a backward stroke, he used [Sunrise] to block, submerging Chen Beiming in rolling brilliance.

Though the Divine Power was mighty, its cost was greater. Old Chen was sent flying, his Sixth Rank Spiritual Armor reduced to ashes.

Dragging his wounded form, licking the blood from his mouth, he clasped his fists with a hearty grin: "I concede."

To encounter one so gifted—with all his strength still he could not win; there was no shame in defeat.

Lu Chenzhou withdrew his spear and stood, returning the salute: "Thank you for letting me win."

"Why didn’t you use your own Divine Skills? I had hoped to see them," Chen Beiming said, a hint of regret on his face.

"My Divine Skills are reserved for dealing with true foes," Lu Chenzhou replied tactfully.

Should the Nine Tribulation Lotus be unleashed, even he could not guarantee leaving the Guildmaster’s body whole.

Divine Skills differ from ordinary techniques—either not used, or unleashed at full power; there is no such thing as holding back or using merely a fraction of their force.

As for [36 Transformations], that is an even heavier card—best not to reveal it lightly for now.

Otherwise, if Evil Gods see it, they’ll stop at nothing to find ways to counter me.

...

"As expected, there was never any suspense."

"Lu Shanjun didn’t even use his Divine Skills—only a single Law Realm technique. The gap is so wide..."

"Now I truly understand what it means to stand atop the summit and look down on all the mountains below."

Every spectator was filled with awe.

Even the mighty Chen Beiming of their hearts—had grown old.

...

January 1st, 2276.

The Elder Council declared: the Tianxia Human Civilization was now officially established.

Lu Chenzhou was elected Tianxia Military Leader, concurrently serving as Head of the Myriad Phenomena Daoist School and Lord of Yun Meng City; Heart Dream Emperor and Alcohol King were named Vice Lords (Vice Deans).

Chen Beiming became Lord of Beidi City, Head of the Taiyi Daoist School; Yellow River Old Ghost and Cui Shan Daoist became Vice Lords (Vice Deans).

Sword and Saber Academy Head Li Xiuying, Spirit Mountain Head Emperor Hanu... all Seventh Realms and the top ten Heavenly Persons were given posts.

Tianxia Civilization’s goal: to overthrow Divine Alliance oppression and Evil God rule, to redefine the order of the Three Thousand Worlds and this universe.

All citizens are soldiers; everyone takes part in war!

The first act after civilization’s founding was to erect, in each Great City, 108 statues of ancient sages, forged from Divine Iron.

These were called: the Ancient Sages of Tianxia.

Without the Ancient Sages who pioneered these roads, there would be no flowering of Tianxia Civilization today.

...

News of the formal founding of Tianxia Civilization gradually spread.

In distant Otherworlds, the exiled Seventh Realms also learned of the final results.

"A new era has arrived."

"The pace of the Heavenly Person Martial Arts will surely grow ever swifter."

"The legends of Zhang Ancestor, Lv Ancestor, and the rest, will soon be reflected across Three Thousand Worlds."

...

Star Dome Sea.

Bai Feng, Ye Xiaoyao, and Hui Fa Abbot gathered.

"Welcome, Abbot."

"I, this old monk, have arrived late. How fares the Divine Alliance now?"

"They have seized the Mystic Domain. The good news is, the Eastern Extreme Border Tower seems not so easy to enter."

"That’s good—now we only wait for the Land Army Master to arrive and take command of the situation."

...

Eye of Truth.

Though she had temporarily given up on the plan to assassinate Lu Chenzhou, Witch Master nonetheless habitually monitored Lu Chenzhou’s affairs each day, quietly keeping the updates to herself.

The Evil Gods, listening to intelligence streaming in from Xia Realm, grumbled and cursed.

"Damn Military Leader! In the mountain without a tiger, the monkeys call themselves kings!"

"When this Lord awakens, Tianxia Civilization will be reduced to ashes in but a breath."

"So arrogant, even dreaming of toppling us—the gods among the stars!"

"It was only victory in a minor skirmish; we still control the war’s outcome!"

In a raucous meeting room corner, Lord Toad opened his eyes, happiness appearing on his face.

"Wang Yue has emerged... Lu Chenzhou, come quickly to the Mystic Sky Realm."

The Nine-inscription Demon Saint possessed causal mastery far beyond Youtong, and also inherited that one’s curse Divine Skill as a Direct Disciple.

Below the Eighth Realm, none may escape death.

...

Deep in the Heart Realm.

Three figures suffused with Buddha Radiance emerged from within.

"Brother Moonlight, Brother Heavenly Dragon—this is my homeland."

The square-faced True Buddha Tianlong said, "Junior brother, your talent is unparalleled. Now you return to the mortal world—do not flaunt yourself too highly, lest you draw the Evil Gods’ notice."

The round-faced Moonlight True Buddha smiled, "Heart Cultivation is too hard. Looking across the Three Thousand Worlds, only some twenty Seventh Realm figures have emerged in three centuries, and many shackled by their mortal shells, unable to escape the wheel of birth, aging, sickness, and death. You reached the Sixth Rank at barely seventy—surely the first in Three Thousand Worlds, blessed with boundless fortune, a destined Great Power. Just don’t forget the kindness your brothers have shown you, haha."

Di Jialou smiled: "But of course."

His cultivation was not high, but his status was, and he was deeply favored by the Ancient Emperor.

The three exited the Heart Realm, and Di Jialou flew toward Po Suo as he remembered it.

Three days later, gazing out over an endless ocean, he was stunned.

"Canghai Sangtian—the world has changed so vastly?"

He wandered east and west, bringing the two True Buddhas with him, and finally found a South Sea Giant City.

"What a massive city."

"Forty billion humans live within."

"And two Seventh Realms, over a hundred and fifty at Sixth Rank—worthy of being a Fire Seed World. Their comprehensive strength is quite impressive."

The two True Buddhas exchanged thoughts through spiritual sense.

The three concealed their identities, changed their appearances, and entered the city with humility.

Looking at all the various races of cultivators, Di Jialou felt somewhat lost.

"Is this truly Xia Realm?"

Not long after,

Di Jialou found a Po Suo Heart Cultivator who looked scarcely more than a teen.

"Tell me, what year is it today?"

"It’s 2276."

Di Jialou breathed a sigh of relief; it appeared time passed no differently between Buddha Country and the Human World.

"Tell me, how many Seventh Realms does Po Suo boast nowadays?"

"Two."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes—Emperor Hanu and Heart Dream Emperor. The old Four Emperors are still in the Three Thousand Worlds."

The three looked puzzled.

"Yet Ancient Emperor said it should be three—who is missing?"

Di Jialou’s face grew grave. He asked again, "Where is Heart Dream Emperor? I must pay my respects."

Heart Dream Emperor was his father, Emperor Shitian’s True Inheritance, and he was on good terms with him.

The young Heart Cultivator replied, "The Emperor is in Yun Meng City, serving at the side of the Land Army Master."

"Who is this Land Army Master?"

"You don’t know the Military Leader? Are you an evil spirit?" The young Heart Cultivator was instantly alert.

"I was in seclusion too long—a single nap, and I’m out of touch with the times," Di Jialou coughed, explaining himself.

The young Heart Cultivator proudly announced, "Of course it’s our number one human Genius—the ultimate power of the Human World, Head of Myriad Phenomena Daoist School, Tianxia’s original Military Leader... Lu Chenzhou!"