CHAPTER 316: CHAPTER 314 FIRE PLUME BATTLES GOLD GOD!

What, after all, is the meaning of the existence of living beings?

Is it to prove that nullity and death have significance?

Central Mountain, the very center of this world.

Wu Wang stood quietly in a river valley.

There was no longer any ground to stand on. Corpses filled every inch, piled several layers high—a mix of Human Cultivators and creatures from the Hundred Races, their blood not all of a dark red hue.

This was an aerial skirmish where tens of thousands of troops from both sides had fought fiercely, resulting in extremely severe casualties and injuries. Human Domain cultivators’ battle formations were shattered by Divine Spirits. The bodies of the Hundred Races’ creatures could not withstand the sky filled with Liu Guang released by cultivators. Innumerable figures kindled Immortal Light within themselves, charging incessantly towards the north. Like waves surging ceaselessly, bearing divine gifts from the sky and the earth, they wrapped themselves in holy light, forging barrier after barrier.

Then, the battle raged on, with no consideration for life or death.

If the world were a furnace, living beings would be but ashes.

"Sigh," Wu Wang muttered softly, his gaze tranquil, showing no hint of sorrow.

He only felt a certain injustice.

Humans of the Human Domain could choose their own fates, to stand against the Heaven Palace and secure a piece of the world for the survival of those who came after them.

But what about these creatures of the Hundred Races?

They probably could not find any meaning in sacrificing themselves here.

They were just following orders, merely because the gods they worshipped had summoned them. It was merely because if they did not come, divine catastrophes would befall their tribes.

Accompanied by the Whistling Serpent, Wu Wang had traveled from the north, widely bypassing the Heaven Palace, and had seen the nations, cities, and clans of Central Mountain.

Most places were actually peaceful. The vast lands nurtured countless beings, with many chaotic and bustling towns that had an even higher density of creatures than the Human Domain. Yet, the development levels of these places varied dramatically; some were divine kingdoms like heavenly paradises, while others were desolate lands akin to purgatory.

Throughout Central Mountain, Wu Wang saw traces of the Northern Wilderness clans almost everywhere. Their situations had quite a few similarities... If the Divine Spirits cast down ferocious beasts, they would all kneel, welcoming death.

This was how the Great Wilderness was; the Human Domain was merely an exception.

This was the age of gods, the era of the divine.

At the Immortal Platform, the Yan Emperor’s Order, heavily sealed, was trembling and throbbing. It sensed the vital embers here, seeking to gather them as its fuel, to escort and protect the next Human Emperor.

Wu Wang pondered for a moment and sealed the Yan Emperor’s Order again. He truly did not want to again experience the sensation of countless beings’ resentments converging upon him, as it weighed him down.

Immortal Light flew from afar; Human Domain cultivators were coming to retrieve the bodies of the fallen.

Wu Wang stepped back, and ripples appeared in Heaven and Earth. Aided by the Whistling Serpent’s increasingly skilled Divine Skills, he reappeared hundreds of miles away. He found a secluded corner away from the clamor to meditate silently and cultivate.

He could not show himself easily.

Indeed, from a strategic perspective, it was best he did not show up at all.

In this battle, he was not the so-called ’protagonist’; it was best for him to remain a bystander.

Wu Wang naturally understood this principle.

His appearance could easily make him a target for the Heaven Palace, but that was a secondary concern. Due to the enormous reputation he had built in the Human Domain, if Wu Wang suddenly joined the battle, it would put immense pressure on the Human Domain’s high command and frontline generals. This could potentially prompt them to make decisions that deviated from the established strategy. For example, if Wu Wang were surrounded by the Heaven Palace but not immediately attacked, how could the Human Domain refrain from attempting a rescue?

Thus, with the Human Domain currently holding an overall advantage against the Heaven Palace, it was indeed unsuitable for Wu Wang to appear. Even if he encountered a special situation that forced him to appear, he would need to withdraw from the battlefield as quickly as possible. He would also have to ensure that news of his safe return to the Human Domain was promptly communicated to all armies. Only in this way could he avoid putting the Human Domain in a passive position due to his own "recklessness."

Senior, does this northward attack on the Heaven Palace by the Human Domain have any specific goals? Wu Wang truly wanted to ask these questions.

But in the end, he did not ask directly, as he had actually figured out the correct answer himself.

What the current Human Emperor, Shen Nong of the Shennong Family, wanted to do was to overthrow the Heaven Palace and fight Emperor Shun to the death. For this purpose, he was willing to pay any conceivable price.

End the era of gods.

Open the epoch of Man.

In the distance, spiritual energy surged violently, and Heaven and Earth transmitted invisible ripples—another great battle had erupted.

The Immortal Consciousness Wu Wang sent out was severely distorted and severed. He could only peer into an area within a few hundred miles and vaguely see creatures fighting to the death.

Honestly, he still felt somewhat stifled.

In his previous life, he was born in a safe country where others shouldered such burdens for him. Had he ever witnessed wars of this scale, where defeat meant the annihilation of an entire clan?

At this moment, Wu Wang finally understood what "the intensity of living beings" meant.

Did I used to think that living was too easy? he murmured quietly, his gaze shifting from confusion back to clarity.

Although he needed to adjust some of his perspectives on this world, as well as many of his own concepts.

But there was one thing he could not forget.

There is no such thing as righteous exploitation and bullying. This was his principle, his bottom line.

"Master," the voice of the Whistling Serpent floated over, her faint outline appearing behind Wu Wang. "There are many strong beings active nearby; we are not safe here. We should leave sooner rather than later."

"I’ll watch a bit longer. There’s no rush," Wu Wang said softly, his expression somewhat gloomy.

The Whistling Serpent pondered for a moment. She hesitated several times, as if wanting to speak, but ultimately couldn’t help but remind him:

"Master, this is actually the normal state of living beings. The very purpose for which living beings were created was to serve as vessels for the wars desired by the gods. The number of innate beings has sharply decreased, and they are almost irreplaceable.

"Divine Spirits...

"They cherish their own lives greatly. Most of the time, unless it’s something that threatens their very core existence, they send their followers to fight.

"Our Whistling Serpent clan has gradually fallen into decline.

"The reason there are so many ferocious beasts in the Great Wilderness is simply because their clashes are considered more entertaining to watch.

"I don’t quite know what I’m saying, but, Master, please don’t feel pressured by this situation.

"This is not your responsibility."

Wu Wang smiled, turning his head to look at the Whistling Serpent.

She wore a tight black dress, her figure outlining the enchanting beauty of an Innate Dao Body. The faintly discernible ferocious aura about her clashed slightly with her current expression of anxious concern.

Gently, Wu Wang said, "I just feel a bit uncomfortable seeing so many people getting killed or injured."

"You’ll get used to it," the Whistling Serpent said in a hurry.

Wu Wang was speechless.

"Is this how you Evil Gods usually chat?" Wu Wang pursed his lips slightly. Just as he was about to tease her further to lighten his own mood, his Dao Heart suddenly trembled.

BOOM!

The Great Dao itself was trembling!

Such immense pressure!

Wu Wang suddenly rose to his feet, looking up towards the western sky.

It was as if a sea of Dao Rules existed between Heaven and Earth, with countless Great Daos arrayed within it, forming a vast ocean.

And just now—just moments ago! The sea of Dao Rules had stirred, sending waves upon waves. A force, no less powerful than the impact generated when the Lin Family rebelled and Fu Xi’s great formation suppressed the Head Manager, was now striking against the countless laws governing Heaven and Earth.

The ultimate sharpness.

The supreme sturdiness.

An aura approaching that of a supreme expert...

Strong Gods were erupting in the Heaven Palace!

Without a thought, Wu Wang’s figure darted toward the west.

The Whistling Serpent kept pace, her Divine Power enveloping Wu Wang, continuously accelerating his form and even concealing him within the void.

Before Wu Wang could reach the site where the powerful Dao-infused resonance had erupted, two messages burrowed into his Dao Heart, one after the other.

"Don’t go. This god is exceedingly troublesome," Shen Nong advised solemnly.

Compared to Shen Nong’s somewhat somber tone, Yun Zhongjun’s transmitted voice was much lighter: "Ah, it’s the Gold God."

...

The Gold God?

When Wu Wang heard this title, his Dao Heart inexplicably sank.

The Five Elements Gods.

Yun Zhongjun’s voice still echoed in his mind. Images had already emerged before his eyes, and Wu Wang, flying rapidly, halted abruptly after just a single glance.

"Whistling Serpent, find a path for a Heaven and Earth spatial leap. Later, take me to the periphery of this great battle."

"Yes, Master," the Whistling Serpent responded calmly.

Perhaps because Wu Wang’s words were so decisive, the Whistling Serpent did not hesitate at all. She quickly closed her eyes, raised her hands levelly, and began sensing the layered ripples of Heaven and Earth, searching for the most stable point for translocation.

Wu Wang watched the scenes of the great battle transmitted by Yun Zhongjun, an unavoidable shock filling his eyes.

He had played chess against the imprint of the Heavenly Emperor’s Great Dao. He had also peered into the Star God’s sea of memories, witnessing many scenes of chaotic battles among the gods. Yet today, viewing the scenes of this great battle through Yun Zhongjun’s Divine Skills from a distance of nearly ten thousand miles... his Dao Heart was still inevitably shaken.

There were countless beings.

At least three armies from the Human Domain, comprising nearly one-tenth of the total forces in this great battle, had established layers upon layers of defenses spanning Heaven and Earth. Formation light walls, like colossal ramparts, extended for hundreds of miles. Behind every major formation, Human Domain cultivators gathered into battle formations, ready for combat.

The Great Dao trembled, and countless chains manifested within Heaven and Earth, forming an iron-walled fortress in the shortest possible time. Behind the sea of cultivators, the cultivators in the rear echelons stood ready to rush to any potential breach at a moment’s notice.

Boxes of Spirit Stones were crammed into simple yet sturdy formation bases. Cultivators flew through the air and tunneled through the earth, delivering Elixirs, Talismans, and spare Magic Treasures to areas in urgent need.

Suddenly, dozens of streams of light appeared in the northern sky! Like dozens of meteors, they chased the largest, leading comet, hurtling toward these formations at tremendous speed.

"Protect the formation!" a white-haired yet armored general roared loudly from above the Human Domain’s battle lines.

Across a span hundreds of miles wide, figures soared into the sky. Most were elders, with a smaller number appearing middle-aged or youthful. They simultaneously unleashed their immortal power, just as they had in countless drills. They braced against the layers of the forward formations, pushed the defensive barriers outward, and in the shortest possible time, converged the spiritual power within the formations towards the imminent point of impact.

They had employed this method many times, almost always with success. This was the process where an accumulation of quantity led to a qualitative change. This was the Great Wilderness Human Domain’s embodiment of ’strength in numbers.’

The principle was universal: as long as enough Mana, Spiritual Power, and immortal power were gathered, they could withstand the impact of a Divine Spirit...

BANG!

The golden comet flashed erratically and struck the thickest part of the formation wall!

Dozens of Heavenly Immortals responsible for reinforcing this part of the formation were instantly blown backward, spurting blood in mid-air. The formation barrier held for merely an instant before cracks spiderwebbed across it.

It was only for a moment. The golden comet paused for just that single instant before relentlessly shattering the barrier and crashing obliquely into the crowd.

The earth shook violently, and dust filled the air. An extremely strong shockwave sent ripples through Heaven and Earth, instantly sweeping across an area dozens of miles wide. Countless figures were thrown into the air. Nearly thirty percent of the Human Domain’s battlefront was obliterated!

More streams of Liu Guang rushed over. The majority were blocked by the layered defensive barriers, but a few Innate Gods closest to the golden comet followed its path and smashed through into the Human Domain ranks.

"Heh." Amidst the cacophony of battle—the shouts of killing, the pounding of war drums, and the chaotic din—a light laugh spread, carrying disdain, contempt, and a hint of bored detachment.

The swirling dust cloud eerily stopped its spread, then slowly settled towards the ground.

At the epicenter of the golden comet’s impact, a figure was slowly rising from a one-knee kneeling position. Her spiked Battle Armor covered every inch of her skin. Despite the armor, the fierce divine aura she exuded sent a chill through the Dao Hearts of countless cultivators.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Figures appeared at the edge of the crater—elders with wind-blown, flying hair. Without a word, without any preamble, these elders leaped towards the somewhat petite silhouette.

From behind the Battle Armor came a faint, clear sound of an indrawn breath.

The Gold God clenched her right fist. Her arm retracted in a seemingly slow motion, while her left hand, clad in Golden Armor, ’slowly’ pushed forward. As her palm pushed forward, the movements of the nine Transcendent cultivators from the Human Domain within a radius of dozens of feet decelerated from extremely fast to ordinary, then to a complete standstill.

The expressions of these nine old men changed drastically. But they had no time to react, nor even to form many thoughts. Under the watchful eyes of the surrounding cultivators and in the gaze of the other Divine Spirits, eighteen pupils dilated simultaneously, reflecting the petite silhouette delivering a punch.

A punch thrown at empty air.

Yet, the upper halves of nine bodies exploded simultaneously!

That strange and invisible surge of power burst forth. The nine Primordial Spirits, still tinged with bewilderment, were torn apart in an instant...

The Gold God seemed to furrow her brow slightly. Although no one could see through her Battle Armor, almost everyone sensed that this Innate God was frowning, her unseen eyes filled with impatience. She did not even deign to glance at the surrounding figures. The punch she had just thrown with all her might seemed, to her, like an utterly trivial act.

"What a bore." The Gold God waved her hand dismissively and turned to walk back the way she came. "Make it quick," she uttered, and her figure immediately leaped into the air.

The Human Domain cultivators were clearly still reeling from the shock of seeing nine Transcendent experts die so horrifically.

Witnessing this scene, Wu Wang also felt an inexplicable sense of stifling anger and humiliation welling up within him.

WHOOSH—

"Hmm?" The Gold God paused, turning her head to look at the mutilated corpses of the nine Transcendent experts.

A flame materialized out of nowhere. It was intensely bright and spread with astonishing speed, unfolding into a fiery curtain roughly ten feet square in mid-air. The fiery curtain converged, seeming to envelop a tall figure whose silhouette was clearly that of a woman. As one wisp of flame died down, a patch of pale skin was revealed. As more wisps extinguished, they fully revealed the figure holding a long spear aloft.

Her bright red hair flowed unbound behind her like waves. The flammable parts of her Battle Armor had burned away, yet her slender figure exuded an indescribable might.

"Xia Official, Fire Plume." Sparks of fire flew from the nine corpses, streaking into the flame emblem on Fire Plume’s forehead.

Her eyebrows were arched like flying wings, her face filled with stern authority. Limitless fiery light surged within her pupils. Having announced her name, she was already thrusting her spear forward.

"This is a little interesting." The Gold God tilted her head slightly. Her right hand grasped at the empty air beside her, and a broad-bladed long knife materialized in her palm.

The spear flashed, the knife howled!

In an instant, the two figures clashed, their impact shattering the fabric of Heaven and Earth in that location!

At the horizon, a line of fire rapidly extended—the Human Emperor’s Imperial Guards had arrived as reinforcements!