The great calamity has erased all living beings. For three months, blood clouds have blanketed Zhongzhou without signs of fading, turning the once-bustling land into a desolate wasteland cloaked in fear. Desperate people scurry to find shelter, many even digging deep underground, praying to escape the wrath of this cataclysm. The thick blood clouds choke the skies above Zhongzhou, filling the air with nauseating, rancid scent of gore, while the earth is painted crimson by thick rivers of blood, turning the landscape into an arena of hellish torment. Countless skeletal remains float in the sea of blood; eerie wails echo endlessly across heaven and earth, raising chills that run down one’s spine.
Such slaughter is rarely seen even in the long history of the Dou Qi continent. Usually, no matter how fierce the war becomes, civilians are spared, but this time, the Hun Clan reveals a ruthless madness, sparing none irrespective of status or background. Watching the blood clouds darken the skies, hope fades ever deeper in people’s hearts. The longer time passes, the more terrifying the energy accumulating inside the formation grows. Everyone knows that once the Hun Tian Di breaks through, none shall be able to stop him from doing anything his heart desires! Shadows of death loom heavily over every inch of the land, evoking chilling despair.
In the headquarters of the Tian Fu Alliance, atop a raised platform, several silhouettes stand still. Their gazes pierce the sky’s vast barrier shrouded beneath red clouds.
“The aura of Hun Tian Di grows stronger… I can feel—he is nearing completion,” Chu Kun finally says after an oppressive silence lingers among them.
Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily feels their heart sink heavier within.
“Can we only watch helplessly as he takes his final step?” Lei Ying grits his teeth, frustration bleeding into his voice. To remain cowered beneath the shield like turtles, utterly defensive, torments his fiery spirit beyond patience.
“The formation is complete. Even just the immense power coalescing in the blood clouds is already enough to crush us—it is folly even to dream of storming it for battle with Hun Tian Di,” Gu Yuan mutters, eyes clouded with helplessness. Facing such overwhelming strength, simply preserving themselves seems nearly impossible already.
Their clenched fists shake with desperation—an emotion they rarely experience, which only highlights how hopeless things seem.
“In the vicinity near the alliance base, tensions rise too—sect factions rushing here for refuge squabble over prime positions.”
“Pah!” Lei Ying snarls. “These cowards did nothing when we declared war against the Hun Clan—now that they taste bitter results, suddenly they seek safety under our banner!”
The group sigh at these words. Amid such warfare, who dare intercede?
“Nonetheless, do not surrender entirely to darkness… we still possess some last hope…” Gu Yuan rallies their spirits softly. Upon hearing this, glimmers awaken within the depths of the group’s gazes—the faint flicker of their remaining hope burns bright again.
“All we can now do… pray Xiao Yan succeeds in accepting the ancient emperor’s inheritance. If that boy emerges victorious, he might yet turn the tide. Otherwise… Zhongzhou will fall.” As he whispers that last sentence, a thin young figure flickers through Gu Yuan’s mind, causing a soft smile to creep onto his face. “Even so… I believe he’ll pull off something miraculous…”
His hopeful words gradually melt the tense atmosphere among them; smiles bloom timidly on faces worn with grief.
As countless souls suffer anxiety, the blood-laden heavens seem ready to drive men insane. Three months… four… five… six…
With each passing day, the clouds grow denser, blotting out even sunlight completely. Across the skies blaze beams of bloodlight sweeping back and forth. With each surge comes waves of suffocating carnage.
But as refugees stream within the protective barrier of the alliance’s defenses, those terrifying rays increasingly shift targets. By then, these red blasts start crashing violently into the dome overhead. Luckily, masters abound within the alliance. Though removing the red clouds remains an insurmountable task, defending their protective shields proves manageable.
Yet with each collision of deadly blood beams upon their sole defense, panic rises anew—shattering that shield would condemn every soul here to become nameless rot in that bloody wasteland below. So pass half a year filled with constant dread. Though no great battles erupt, the heavy stench of blood and fear gnaw ceaselessly on men’s sanity, wearing away minds far worse than any battlefield could.
Throughout the entire six months, the Hun Clan does not stir nor does Hun Tian Di himself make a sound. Yet the murderous presence rising from the blood sea steadily deepens with every moment until it threatens cosmic domination itself.
At seven months into the siege, the blood ocean above roils at last. Its surface churns wildly, opening into a vortex that births a colossal lotus of crimson.
Perched atop sits a lone figure—long, flowing hair the color of blood cascading like a waterfall. Some strands trail down into the crimson waters, floating upon its crimson tides as if wings of an emerging demon unfurl.
“Ahh… intoxicating power…” the silent figure opens its blood-red eyes, releasing a pulse strong enough to ripple the endless ocean below.
*”Rushing torrents!”*
Space twists and bends behind Hun Tian Di, materializing a second silhouette wreathed entirely in black flames.
“The citizens of the Ling, Shi, and Yao Clans were cast fully into the blood pool—two-thirds of our clan also joined,” Xu Wu Tun Yan speaks solemnly before addressing the crimson-haired deity: *“However,* there was much unrest following this act…”
Hun Tian Di smirks slightly as crimson light swirls in his gaze; the massive blood lotus rotates gently to face Xu Wu Tun Yan.
Meeting that piercing stare, cold flames flash within Xu Wu Tun Yan’s own pupils, though his tone stays calm:
“You sensed something amiss within the energies of this ocean?”
“Oh?” Xu Wu Tun Yan flicks.
Smiling wider, Hun Tian Di plunges his hand forcefully into the surrounding sea. His fist clenches tight, summoning dark tendrils upward until a mass transforms into a swirling sphere—a ball of sinister black fire. He examines it carefully before locking gazes once more:
“So, ingesting this introduces a ‘seeding flame,’ doesn’t it? Seems… you weren’t truly aligned beside me after all?”
Shock flashes momentarily across the Flame Warden’s face. But it vanishes instantly beneath cold resolve:
“You left me little choice.”
Suddenly furious, his palms slam into the scarlet ocean, unleashing violent pulses. Black infernos burst forth like hungry beasts seeking destruction, converging upon the enthroned god.
At this betrayal, Xu Wu Tun Yan lets loose a cry:
*”Attack!!”*
From shifting void nearby, over thirty shadows appear. With hesitation briefly flashing across their expressions, they spit streams of pure abyssal blaze. Twining together, they form into a mystical seal shaped like chains of dark fire aimed directly at encasing Hun Tian Di.
Seeing those familiar forms, Hun Tian Di raises an amused brow:
“It seems you’ve been playing sly indeed over these years—these Elders unknowingly bent entirely to your will?”
“Hmph—you speak only truths about these elders—but mark my words, I’ve embedded binding runes inside body of more than seventy percent of our kinfolk, including yours! Hun Tian Di… surely you haven’t imagined I’d remain passive when sensing assassination intentions toward me?” The Warden scoffs darkly. “Had fate gone differently, I wouldn’t take arms first… alas, self-preservation leaves me no alternatives.”
Frost creeping into his expression, Hun Tian Di replies smoothly:
“Whatever losses inflicted on lesser ranks hold no bearing—I remain. No harm short of true divinity shall undo our legacy!”
“You fancy yourself fit opposition…? How pitiful—this rebellion earns only ruin!”
Leaping high above his crimson blossom throne, Hun bellows aloud triumphantly as monstrous hunger consumes everything. A single open mouth creates an irresistible vortex drawing down the descending seal in fiery threads, consuming it whole.
With this action unleashed, heavenly dominance surges violently from his very being, shaking both heavens and hells alike.
*BAM BAM BAM!* Behind the conspirator elders, red foam rapidly rises from beneath them. Before reactions follow, their bodies collapse inward as blood-filled bubbles compress, crushing them instantly into crimson splatter absorbed back into the raging pool beneath.
Not a single soul finds opportunity to resist or flee.
Staggered realization dawns across Xu Wu Tun Yan’s features:
“Then… you succeeded?!”
“For two weeks now—I merely waited for *you*, my dear traitor…” Hun Tian Di purrs sadistically, his hand extending casually. “As a celebratory gift for ascending humanity’s pinnacle as the first Battle King in countless millennia… I’ll claim the essence of your flame.”
“You hesitate,” the Fire Warden snarled threateningly. “Because I command countless lives—including members of your beloved Clan. Strike me down, and I unleash extermination unbound!”
Silence.
Hun Tian Di barely hesitates; eyes narrowing curiously at the man whose schemes dared betray centuries-long camaraderie.
“Still clinging naïvely to sentiment… Do you truly not comprehend what lengths I pursue my goal to?” A cruel smile curves his lips.
A sudden terror grips Xu Wu Tun Yan’s heart—no sacrifice is unthinkable for this mad god—not even offering up *every soul of their people.* Just as the Fire Sovereign seeks escape though retreat—
*Paralyzed.*
“No more running…” Hun Tian Di grins serenely.
*CLENCH*.
Instant annihilation erupts before any thought surfaces—the traitor’s corpse exploding violently apart as waves of rebellious fire scatter outward uncontrollably. The ascendant God eyes the escaping sparks with disinterest before inhaling mightily, swallowing each flaming particle hungrily through parted lips.
“To me, now…” he murmurs silkily, fingers daintily wiping droplets from a smeared lip—crimson stained lips twisting seductively. “…you are mere insects beneath my foot.”
Crimson glee spreads slowly over Hun Tian Di’s face:
“Now, perhaps I should visit other pesky nuisances?”
Eyes falling upon Zhongzhou’s broken world below, malevolent pleasure plays across his features as thunderous echoes roll outward across lands drenched in crimson.
“Remember this day… as the hour of MY ascension to DIVINE reign!”
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