His order was not only given to General Huage, but also sent to Longyun. Seeing Yang Hao’s cold expression, even though Huage was confident, he could sense that they were about to face a force that even Yang Hao found daunting.
“Could it be?!” A sudden realization struck Huage.
“Yes,” Yang Hao nodded solemnly. “Only the Sovereign could open such a massive wormhole. What we are about to face is the power of the Sovereign himself.”
Yang Hao’s expression was grave, yet calm. What was destined to come would come eventually, especially when this was exactly what he had anticipated.
“Are we really going to retreat?” Huage, now fully aligned with Yang Hao, asked, “Can the Sovereign alone really halt our entire army? Is there no way for us to win?”
Yang Hao fixed his gaze on the enormous wormhole appearing in the sky. The power radiating from it was unsettling, yet suddenly, a brilliant smile broke across his face.
This smile was as radiant as blooming flowers, bringing a sense of peace.
“You’re mistaken,” Yang Hao’s eyes sparkled with brilliance. “We’ve already won. The moment the Sovereign turned his attention here, our victory was assured.”
“Why?”
“Because the true offensive of the United Galactic Alliance isn’t here, nor is it on your arm of the galaxy,” Yang Hao explained.
“Then… is it in the east?” Huage was completely confused. Based on the intelligence he had, although the imperial main fleet was concentrated on the eastern front, the number of United Galactic Alliance forces there was relatively small.
“No,” Yang Hao shook his head and punched Huage in the chest. “At this very moment, while we’re talking, my dagger has already pierced the heart of the Empire.”
With that, Yang Hao burst into laughter, like a true victor.
The four hundred Saint-level experts led by Hede were Yang Hao’s dagger. When Yang Hao had subdued General Huage, Hede had already quietly appeared at the capital of the Galactic Empire.
This group of four hundred Saint-level experts represented nearly all the top warriors of the United Galactic Alliance, including elites from the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, the Western Autonomous Territory, and the Eastern Star Spirit Republic. Yang Hao had truly pulled out all the stops—except for Longyun and himself, every Saint-level expert in the United Galactic Alliance, including those from Confucius Literature Network, had been deployed.
Surprisingly, Hede did not directly attack the imperial palace. Instead, he launched another assault on Elder Mountain.
This puzzled even the Saint-level warriors under Hede’s command. After all, the nominal head of the Galactic Empire was still the former crown prince, now Emperor Mianyou. Without attacking the imperial palace, the entire covert operation would seem pointless.
However, when they reached the summit of Elder Mountain, they were astonished to discover that the once-formidable Senate had been so easily destroyed. Previously, Yang Hao and Emperor Yinglie had gone to great lengths, even sacrificing the latter’s life, to merely fight the Senate to a mutual destruction. But today, Hede had encountered almost no resistance, effortlessly annihilating the Senate’s main forces and forcing the executive elders into their final bastion—the alchemy sect’s cave dwelling.
The reason for such an easy victory was simple—it was a surprise attack.
In the previous battle at Elder Mountain, Emperor Yinglie had openly confronted the Senate, forcing them to unleash centuries of accumulated power. Although Emperor Yinglie ultimately lost, Yang Hao’s army still eliminated the majority of the Senate’s forces. The Sovereign only managed to rescue about two hundred injured elders and a few executives.
This time, Yang Hao had dispatched Hede to lead a surprise attack on Elder Mountain, a move that completely caught the Senate off guard.
According to Elder Wu Yi’s assumption, with the United Galactic Alliance’s massive forces pressing in from the east being a feint, and the large-scale operation in the west led by Yang Hao himself, the decisive blow was expected to come from there. Therefore, Wu Yi reported this development to the reclusive Sovereign, hoping the Sovereign would use his unmatched power to eliminate Yang Hao.
But Wu Yi had overlooked Elder Mountain, a far more critical strategic point. Although the Sovereign’s physical form was no longer there, Elder Mountain remained the Senate’s base and the political heart of the Galactic Empire.
Moreover, Emperor Mianyou himself was being held hostage within the alchemy sect’s cave dwelling.
This was a fatal oversight. The imperial palace was merely an empty shell, a secret known to very few—except Yang Hao had somehow discovered it.
To suppress the military forces across the empire, the Senate had already dispatched fifty elders and two executive elders to various garrisons. Another fifty elders and two executives were tied down on the eastern front. Thus, only one hundred elders and three executive elders remained on Elder Mountain, including Elder Wu Yi, whose strength had already diminished to Saint-level.
Such a force was absolutely no match for Hede’s Saint-level army, especially with a group of cultivators from the Hidden Immortal Realm among them. Although their powers were sealed, they had once been Golden Immortal-level cultivators—masters of killing, unmatched by anyone.
In merely half a day, the once supreme authority of the Galactic Empire—the Senate—had been shattered.
Elder Wu Yi, leading the last twenty elders, retreated to the alchemy sect’s cave dwelling, desperately hoping for a miracle.
But miracles never come.
Just as Yang Hao had said, as long as the Sovereign’s power was displayed on either the eastern or western front, this surprise attack would succeed.
Victory was already firmly in Yang Hao’s grasp.
Hede raised his golden-sundering axe and coldly stared at the figures before the cave dwelling.
Elder Wu Yi was covered in blood. Though his strength had diminished to Saint-level, he had still remained the Senate’s Grand Summoner in the Sovereign’s eyes, wielding great power. But now, no amount of power could undo the Senate’s destruction or bring back the more than eighty elders who had been slain.
“Why!” Wu Yi roared in fury. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be attacking the western front?”
“Would Yang Hao be so foolish? In this universe, all fleets will eventually belong to him. Why would he waste lives in internal conflict?” Hede said arrogantly. “Once you’re all eliminated, everything will belong to Yang Hao.”
“Nonsense!” Wu Yi bellowed. “Do you really think the Galactic Empire will be so easily taken from us? Don’t forget, there’s still an emperor?”
Hede laughed loudly. “Emperor? There’s still an emperor? Wu Yi, have you forgotten? The Galactic Emperor was killed by the Sovereign himself. Do you really think bringing out the crown prince will stabilize the empire?”
“With Emperor Mianyou in my hands, I am the master of the world!” Wu Yi, disheveled and bloodshot-eyed, was almost delirious. Behind him, the twenty elders held none other than Emperor Mianyou himself.
Emperor Mianyou remained calm and composed. Compared to his earlier days as a mere crown prince, he had matured greatly. After losing his father’s protection, he had suddenly realized the many misfortunes of the world, and only then did he deeply understand that his cold, seemingly emotionless father had always been protecting him.
Mianyou had always been weak-willed, manipulated by the Senate and the Privy Council since childhood, even looked down upon by Princess Xianlan.
But Yang Hao had once had a conversation with the crown prince that was recorded in history.
During that conversation, Yang Hao had asked the crown prince whether he wanted to be a weak ruler or a dignified individual.
At the time, the crown prince had not answered.
But now, he finally answered with action.
As Hede led the Saint-level warriors in a massive assault, Mianyou was still in the elders’ hands. The elders dragged Mianyou with them as they fought and retreated. Blood splattered everywhere, lives were torn apart, yet Mianyou remained calm, as composed as his imperial robes.
Walking along the bloodstained path of Elder Mountain, Mianyou showed no sign of panic. He had finally matured into a true emperor.
But now, at the final moment when the dagger was revealed, Mianyou knew his time had come.
Perhaps his entire life had been one of obscurity, but this was his last chance. He would seize this opportunity to make his final, brilliant stand at the very place where his father had gambled his life.
“I!” Mianyou broke free from the elders’ grasp and stepped forward. “Elder Wu Yi, the one who informed Yang Hao to launch this surprise attack was me.”
“What?!” Wu Yi’s eyes widened in near madness as he glared at Mianyou. “It was you!”
“It was me. I sent word to Yang Hao about the elders’ movements. My envoy ordered the ceasefire on both fronts, and it was I who requested Yang Hao to strike Elder Mountain,” Mianyou said calmly, showing no fear.
“Are you willing to hand over your throne?” Wu Yi bellowed.
“Throne?” Mianyou sneered. “Is this really a throne? Better to be a deposed emperor than your puppet. Elder Wu Yi, don’t forget—you are the murderer of my father, my teacher, and my sister. Even if I am weak, I will not call my enemies father!”
“Scoundrel! I’ll kill you!” Wu Yi roared, clapping his hands together, turning them white, and preparing to strike Mianyou.
“Ha!” Hede shouted, swinging his axe forward.
An axe-light of unparalleled brilliance, radiating an aura of invincibility, surged toward Wu Yi.
Wu Yi’s face turned pale. He turned and struck back with his palm, hoping to block the golden-sundering axe.
But he had forgotten—his strength was no longer what it once was. He was no longer at the peak of Saint-level. His opponent was Hede, a legendary figure second only to Yang Hao in approaching the Divine Realm.
The axe blow barely slowed from Wu Yi’s palm strike, rolling over his body without resistance.
“Ahhhh!!” Wu Yi watched helplessly as his entire arm was severed, screaming in agony.
“Kill!” Hede gave no one a chance. After years of struggle, today was the day of reckoning. The four hundred Saint-level warriors of the United Galactic Alliance surged forward, sweeping away all elders within seconds.
Only the crippled Wu Yi remained, pinned to the ground, unable to move.
Hede slowly approached the entrance of the alchemy sect’s cave dwelling and sighed, “At last, this place returns to the Alchemy Sect.”
Elder Wu Yi, eyes wide with fury, could do nothing more.
Before Wu Yi’s eyes, Mianyou stepped forward and knelt before Hede.
Hede took out something from behind—none other than Yang Hao’s divine artifact, “Shadow Moon.” He placed Shadow Moon upon Mianyou’s head.
Mianyou spoke calmly, “I, Emperor of the Galactic Empire, hereby pledge allegiance to Yang Hao, the Supreme Ruler of the United Galactic Alliance. From this day forth, the Galactic Empire joins the United Galactic Alliance, and I shall obey the commands of Supreme Ruler Yang Hao.”
A brilliant glow emanated from Shadow Moon, a surge of green light shooting into space, vanishing without a trace.
At that very moment, as the world seemed calm, a seismic shift swept across the universe. The Galactic Empire, powerful for centuries, would no longer exist. The balance of power in the universe had been reborn.
Yang Hao had finally become the supreme ruler of the universe.
Elder Wu Yi, witnessing all this, suddenly spat out two mouthfuls of blood. He screamed toward the heavens, “Sovereign! Sovereign! Master, grant me power! Master, grant me power!!!”
As his piercing cries echoed, auspicious clouds gathered in the sky above Elder Mountain, just as they had when the Sovereign had appeared before. Elder Hede gripped his axe tightly, eyes locked on the transformation in the sky.
But no one expected the true change to come from below.
As rays of divine light rained down from the heavens, illuminating the alchemy sect’s cave dwelling, countless magical treasures and divine artifacts hidden within suddenly leapt from the cave, soaring into the sky.
The Sovereign’s figure truly appeared in the sky, radiant with divine light. With one hand, he seized all the artifacts, then cast a calm gaze downward.
Hede, who had been glaring defiantly, suddenly spat blood, as if struck by an invisible force.
“Master!” Wu Yi cried in joy.
But what awaited him was the Sovereign’s cold finger. With a single flick, the Sovereign shattered Wu Yi’s skull—the most favored disciple of the Sovereign, gone in an instant.
The Galactic Senate was no more.
“Return and tell Yang Hao,” the Sovereign said calmly, “that in one month, I shall challenge him to a final battle. If he does not appear, I shall destroy this realm, and this entire universe.”
With that, the Sovereign vanished into the clouds, leaving no trace.
Elder Hede clutched his chest, gasping as he watched the Sovereign disappear into the sky. Though the Sovereign had not unleashed mass destruction, Hede felt no relief in his heart.
A month from now, the final showdown between Yang Hao and the Sovereign—the ultimate battle of the universe.
His order was not only issued to General Huage but also sent to Long Yun. Looking at Yang Hao’s stern face, even the most confident Huage knew that what they were about to face was a force that even Yang Hao found daunting.
“Could it be?!” A thought flashed through Huage’s mind.
“Yes,” Yang Hao nodded. “Only the Supreme One could open such a massive wormhole. What we’re about to face is the power of the Supreme One.”
Yang Hao’s expression was solemn but not tense. What was coming would come, and this was something he had hoped for.
“Are we really retreating?” Huage had fully aligned himself with Yang Hao. “Can the Supreme One alone halt the advance of our entire army? Is there no way for us to achieve victory?”
Yang Hao stared at the enormous wormhole in the sky, from which emanated an unsettling power. Yet, suddenly, a smile bloomed on his face—radiant as a flower, bringing reassurance.
“You’re mistaken,” Yang Hao said, his eyes gleaming like stars. “We’ve already won. The moment the Supreme One turned his attention here, victory was ours.”
“Why?”
“Because the true attack of the Cosmic Federation isn’t here, not in your Star Arm,” Yang Hao explained.
“Then… is it in the east?” Huage was utterly baffled. Based on the intelligence he had, while the Empire’s main fleet was concentrated on the eastern front, the Federation’s forces there were sparse.
“No.” Yang Hao shook his head and struck Huage’s chest with his fist. “At this very moment, as we speak, my dagger has already pierced the heart of the Empire.”
With that, Yang Hao burst into laughter, like a true victor.
The four hundred Saint Realm experts led by Hede were Yang Hao’s dagger. While Yang Hao was subduing General Huage, Hede had quietly arrived at the capital of the Galactic Empire.
These four hundred Saint Realm experts comprised nearly all of the Cosmic Federation’s top warriors, including elites from the Hidden Dragon Pavilion, the Western Autonomous Territories, and the Eastern Star Spirit Republic. Yang Hao had deployed almost all his forces, leaving only Long Yun and himself behind.
Strangely, Hede did not directly assault the Imperial Palace but instead attacked the Elder Mountain once more.
Even Hede’s subordinates found this puzzling. The nominal head of the Galactic Empire was still the former Crown Prince, now Emperor Mianyou. Without breaching the Imperial Palace, their mission would be in vain.
But when they reached the summit of Elder Mountain, they were stunned to discover that the once-indomitable Elder Council had fallen so easily.
Back then, Yang Hao and the Heroic Emperor had exhausted their efforts, even at the cost of the Heroic Emperor’s life, only to achieve a stalemate. Yet today, Hede encountered little resistance, effortlessly annihilating the Elder Council’s main force and driving the presiding elders into their last stronghold—the Alchemy Sect’s cave.
The reason for this swift success was simple: this was a surprise attack.
During the previous battle on Elder Mountain, the Heroic Emperor had openly clashed with the elders, forcing them to unleash centuries of accumulated power. Though the Heroic Emperor ultimately failed, Yang Hao’s forces had still wiped out over half of the Elder Council’s strength. The Supreme One had only managed to save two hundred wounded elders and a few presiding elders.
This time, Yang Hao sent Hede to lead a surprise assault on Elder Mountain—a move the elders had never anticipated.
Elder Wuyi had assumed the Cosmic Federation’s main force would strike from the west, given the grand display there and Yang Hao’s personal presence. He reported this to the Supreme One, hoping the latter would use his unrivaled power to eliminate Yang Hao.
But Wuyi had overlooked Elder Mountain—a far more critical strategic point. Though the Supreme One’s physical form was no longer there, it remained the Elder Council’s base and the political heart of the Galactic Empire.
Moreover, even Emperor Mianyou was held captive within the Alchemy Sect’s cave.
This was a fatal oversight. Few knew the Imperial Palace was an empty shell, but Yang Hao had discovered the secret.
To suppress rebellions across the Empire, the Elder Council had dispatched fifty elders and two presiding elders to various garrisons, while another fifty elders and two presiding elders were tied down in the east. Thus, only a hundred elders and three presiding elders, including the weakened Wuyi, remained on Elder Mountain.
Such forces were no match for Hede’s Saint Realm army, especially with the inclusion of immortals from the Hidden Immortal Realm. Though their powers were sealed, these immortals had once been Golden Immortals—unmatched in the art of killing.
In just half a day, the supreme authority of the Galactic Empire—the Elder Council—was shattered.
Elder Wuyi, leading the last twenty elders, retreated into the Alchemy Sect’s cave, praying for a miracle.
But no miracle would come.
As Yang Hao had said, the moment the Supreme One revealed his power in either the east or the west, this surprise attack would succeed.
Victory was already in Yang Hao’s grasp.
Hede raised his Golden-Splitting Axe, coldly eyeing the figures before the Alchemy Cave.
Elder Wuyi was covered in blood. Though his strength had dwindled to the Saint Realm, the Supreme One still regarded him as the Elder Council’s leader, granting him authority. But now, no amount of power could undo the destruction of the Elder Council or the deaths of over eighty elders.
“Why?!” Wuyi roared in fury. “Why are you here? Weren’t you attacking the western front?”
“Do you think Yang Hao is that foolish?” Hede replied smugly. “Every fleet in this universe will soon be his. Why would he pit them against each other? Once we eliminate you, everything will belong to Yang Hao.”
“Nonsense!” Wuyi snarled. “The Galactic Empire won’t fall so easily to Yang Hao! Have you forgotten the Emperor still reigns?”
Hede laughed. “The Emperor? The Emperor? Wuyi, have you forgotten? The Supreme One killed the last Emperor. Did you think propping up the Crown Prince would stabilize the Empire?”
“Emperor Mianyou is in my hands! I rule this realm!” Wuyi, disheveled and blood-eyed, was nearly deranged. But behind him, the twenty elders held none other than Emperor Mianyou.
Emperor Mianyou appeared calm, far more composed than when he was merely the Crown Prince. Without his father’s protection, he had come to understand the world’s cruelties, realizing how his seemingly cold father had always shielded him.
Mianyou had been weak, manipulated by the Elder Council and the Privy Council since childhood, even scorned by Princess Xianlan.
But Yang Hao and the then-Crown Prince had once shared a historic conversation.
Yang Hao had asked the Crown Prince whether he wished to be a weak ruler or a dignified man.
At the time, the Crown Prince had no answer.
Now, he answered with action.
As Hede’s forces stormed Elder Mountain, Mianyou remained calm amid the bloodshed, his imperial robes pristine. Walking the blood-soaked paths, he showed no fear, finally embodying the poise of an emperor.
Now, at the final moment, Mianyou knew his time had come.
His life had never shone brightly—this was his last chance to bloom, to honor his father’s sacrifice.
“I!” Mianyou broke free from the elders and stepped forward. “Elder Wuyi, I was the one who informed Yang Hao of this surprise attack.”
“What?!” Wuyi stared in disbelief, his face twisting with rage. “You!”
“Yes, me. I sent word to Yang Hao about the elders’ movements. My envoy ordered the eastern and western armies to cease fire. I asked Yang Hao to strike Elder Mountain.” Mianyou stood unflinching, his face serene.
“Would you surrender your throne?!” Wuyi bellowed.
“Throne?” Mianyou sneered. “What throne? Better a deposed emperor than your puppet. Elder Wuyi, remember—you murdered my father, my master, and my sister. Even a coward like me won’t serve his enemies!”
“Traitor! I’ll kill you!” Wuyi’s hands glowed white as he lunged at Mianyou.
“Hah!” Hede swung his axe, its dazzling arc slicing toward Wuyi.
Wuyi, pale-faced, raised a hand to block the Golden-Splitting Axe—but forgot his diminished strength.
The axe cleaved through his arm.
“Ahhh!!” Wuyi screamed as his limb shattered.
“Kill them!” Hede gave no quarter. After years of strife, the time for reckoning had come. The four hundred Saint Realm warriors surged forward, wiping out the remaining elders in seconds.
Only the crippled Wuyi remained, pinned to the ground.
Hede approached the Alchemy Cave’s entrance, sighing. “At last, this place returns to the Alchemy Sect.”
Wuyi could only glare helplessly.
Emperor Mianyou knelt before Hede.
From behind, Hede produced Yang Hao’s divine artifact, Shadow Moon, pressing it to Mianyou’s forehead.
“I, Emperor of the Galactic Empire, pledge allegiance to Yang Hao, Supreme Leader of the Cosmic Federation. Henceforth, the Galactic Empire merges with the Cosmic Federation, obeying Yang Hao’s rule.”
A blue light erupted from Shadow Moon, vanishing into the cosmos.
At that moment, the universe trembled. The mighty Galactic Empire, dominant for centuries, ceased to exist. Power had a new master.
Yang Hao now ruled the cosmos.
Wuyi coughed blood, howling at the sky: “Supreme One!! Grant me power!!”
As his cries echoed, auspicious clouds gathered above Elder Mountain, mirroring the Supreme One’s past appearances. Hede tensed, gripping his axe.
But the real change came from below.
Beams of light showered the Alchemy Cave, summoning countless artifacts skyward.
The Supreme One materialized amidst the radiance, seizing the artifacts with one hand. His gaze swept downward, causing Hede to spit blood as if struck.
“Master!” Wuyi cried in relief.
Yet the Supreme One merely pointed—and Wuyi’s head exploded.
The Elder Council was no more.
“Tell Yang Hao: in one month, we duel. If he fails to appear, I will annihilate this universe.” The Supreme One vanished into the clouds.
Hede clutched his chest, panting. Though the Supreme One had spared them, he felt no relief.
One month later—the final battle between gods.
The fate of the universe hung in the balance.
Who would prevail? Who would rule all?
As the Supreme One issued his challenge, Yang Hao himself faced peril, for the Supreme One had prepared another deadly gift.
The Supreme One’s wisdom far surpassed the Elder Council’s. He had not fallen for Yang Hao’s diversions.
His focus had always been Elder Mountain—yet, for reasons unknown, he had abandoned the elders to their fate.
But in the distant west, at the Lotus Seat Star Arm, the Supreme One had left Yang Hao an unprecedented surprise.
As the Sovereign issued his challenge to Yang Hao, Yang Hao himself was still in peril, for he had also received a “gift” from the Sovereign.
Indeed, the Sovereign’s wisdom far surpassed that of the Senate. At least, he had not fallen for Yang Hao’s multiple diversions.
The Sovereign’s gaze remained fixed on Elder Mountain, yet for reasons unknown, he had not saved the elders’ lives, seemingly having completely abandoned the Senate.
But far away in the west, on the Lotus Star Arm, the Sovereign had prepared an unprecedented “gift” for Yang Hao.
Dragon!
“That’s right. Dragon,” Yang Hao said, feeling the faint dragon roar coming from the wormhole, and turned to General Huage, who looked confused. “Looks like our trouble is just beginning.”
As soon as Yang Hao finished speaking, a sudden uproar erupted from the wormhole. Surprisingly, the first wave wasn’t dragons, but layers of energy waves. This was already an unfathomable occurrence. Such massive waves of energy rampaging through space could easily destroy countless warships.
After the energy waves had dissipated, all sorts of flying dragons surged out from the wormhole. Green dragons, red dragons, black dragons, white dragons, wind dragons, and other dragon species appeared. Regardless of their power or rank, nearly every known dragon species familiar to humanity showed up.
From the moment the first dragon emerged, General Huage began to tremble. After a while, he could hardly stand anymore and plopped down onto his chair, his face turning deathly pale.
The Western Allied Forces were even more terrified. Those officers couldn’t even issue orders to retreat properly, as warships began turning around on their own and fleeing toward their base, the Sanjinghai star system.
It wasn’t their fault. Even the most mentally resilient warriors would break down at such a sight.
Because flying out from that wormhole were no fewer than a thousand dragons.
A thousand dragons!!!
Though these dragons had also been sealed and retained only one percent of their former power, they were still divine beings of the highest order. Their dragon auras, roars, and even dragon tongue magic were the most terrifying weapons for humans.
Almost every human fleet began fleeing, whether it was the Allied Forces or the Galactic Empire’s army. They scattered in all directions, pushing their reverse-core devices to the maximum, hoping to escape this place as quickly as possible.
Because after a thousand dragons appeared, the Lotus Nebula star system would become a hell—a true dragon hell!
If millions of soldiers were panicking to the extreme, their leader Yang Hao remained completely calm, even somewhat excited, like seeing a true opponent, rolling up his sleeves and getting ready for battle.
Seeing so many dragons appear, Yang Hao couldn’t help but admire the Supreme One’s imagination. That old man actually thought of such a move. Gathering dragons from various dimensions in such numbers must have involved collecting dragons from every realm, and implanting mental seals in them so the dragons would obey the Supreme One’s commands.
The Senate had done something similar before, but it was only four of the weakest wind dragons, and it cost the lives of dozens of elders. Eventually, the mental seals on those four wind dragons were removed by Yang Hao using the Soul Spring Elixir, restoring their freedom.
But that wouldn’t work today. With thousands of dragons sealed, unless Yang Hao could release them all at once, he would inevitably be killed in the ensuing attack.
So for now, retreat seemed like the best option.
General Huage thought the same. He had already issued the order, demanding the ships to jump immediately and escape from this arm of the galaxy as fast as possible.
But just one second after he gave the order, Yang Hao had already vanished from General Huage’s command chamber, transforming into a streak of fire, charging straight toward the thousand dragons.
It was perhaps the most spectacular scene in the universe. Yang Hao, holding his silver axe, became a massive flaming trail, fearlessly charging into the dragon swarm.
Though a thousand men oppose me, I shall go forth.
If I do not descend into hell, who will?
General Huage stared blankly at the trail of fire gliding across the dark universe, and the entire legion stared at that flaming mass. Everyone knew Yang Hao was doing this to buy time for the fleet.
If no one stopped these dragons, perhaps within a few hours, the thousand-dragon legion could annihilate all the warships here, and the most powerful fleet in the universe would perish along with these dragons.
Millions of lives would be lost in this battle.
This was the Supreme One’s vicious plot.
But this was no longer a world of solitary gods. New deities, new gods of the universe, would not allow their followers to die so easily.
So Yang Hao, like throwing a bomb, hurled himself into the thousand-dragon legion.
General Huage’s emotions were indescribable. He finally understood why this universe needed Yang Hao to take charge. Because this man’s strength was not for himself, but for the sake of all other lives.
Yang Hao had transcended the divine race, surpassed the Supreme One, and become the guardian deity of all life in the universe.
Tears welled up in Huage’s eyes, but soon his body froze in shock. Near the wormhole, Yang Hao and his Primordial God Axe simultaneously emitted blinding silver light, as dazzling as a supernova explosion, blinding to behold.
But at the same time, a thousand dragons simultaneously unleashed their dragon breath upon Yang Hao.
The breath of a thousand dragons.
Huage saw Yang Hao’s silver glow being overwhelmed by the mixed black dragon breath until it was no longer visible, and Yang Hao himself was immersed in the dragon breath, as if swallowed by darkness, no longer visible.
Huage stood still for a moment, then suddenly rushed to the command console, frantically shouting orders:
“No retreat! Full speed ahead! Full speed ahead!!!”
Not only his fleet, but even the Allied Force fleet that had been desperately fleeing moments ago now regained their senses. The warships that had already fled turned back and charged toward the thousand-dragon legion at full speed.
These warriors had awakened. Yang Hao was shielding them from the most powerful force, and now, they had to use their lives to defend their god.
Innumerable ships rechanneled their energy into their turrets, unleashing massive firepower onto the thousand-dragon legion. Even though these dragons had bodies hundreds of times stronger than humans, they could hardly withstand such massive assaults.
Moreover, the warship fleet charged forward like they had nothing to lose, clearly ready to collide head-on with the dragons, ready to perish together.
Though the thousand-dragon legion was powerful, their main target was still Yang Hao. Facing so many warships charging recklessly toward them, almost the entire military force of the universe combined, even a thousand dragons, despite being controlled by the Supreme One’s seals, instinctively retreated slightly.
The light from the Primordial God Axe instantly pierced through the black dragon breath fog.
With a mighty swing of his arm, Yang Hao cleaved through the thousand dragon breaths and even the wormhole itself, splitting them into two halves. Holy light poured from his body like cascading waterfalls, illuminating the dark universe.
Yang Hao raised the Primordial God Axe high, rapidly ascending amidst infinite glory, like a living moon rising straight into the sky.
This dazzling radiance stirred an overwhelming surge of faith within people’s hearts.
Witnessing such an unbelievable scene, someone on a warship suddenly shouted, “The Supreme Deity! The Supreme Deity!!”
This voice, transmitted through the communication network, reached every warship. In an instant, all the Allied Force soldiers began shouting in unison.
“The Supreme Deity! The Supreme Deity!!”
“The Supreme Deity! The Supreme Deity!!”
General Huage, trembling, saluted Yang Hao, who shone like a brilliant star in the cosmos, and shouted into the communicator with all his might, “The Supreme Deity! The Supreme Deity!!”
Whether the Imperial Army or the Allied Forces, they all became one voice: “The Supreme Deity! The Supreme Deity!! The Supreme Deity!!!”
Amidst these cries of “The Supreme Deity,” the Supreme One’s seals once again drove the thousand dragons forward, and the dragons flapped their wings, chasing after Yang Hao. Like a massive energy mass flying through the universe, they followed Yang Hao toward a specific coordinate.
Hearing the cries of “The Supreme Deity” echoing throughout the entire arm of the galaxy, Yang Hao suddenly thought about how divine power was generated. Those high beings who looked upon life as grass and all things as dogs might become rulers, but they could never become the Supreme Deity in people’s hearts.
Only with love could one earn the reverence of these lives.
This catastrophe was a historic confrontation between Yang Hao and the Supreme One. Yang Hao had gained the hearts of the people and the entire Galactic Empire, while the Supreme One had unleashed a legion of a thousand dragons. Both sides were evenly matched.
But the Supreme One certainly hadn’t anticipated that the breath of these thousand dragons would become the third dark trial Yang Hao needed to undergo. As the heir to the Creator God, he must endure three light trials and three dark trials before blooming the Nebula Flower, which would reveal where the Creator God’s power was hidden.
With the help of the entire fleet, Yang Hao finally endured this ultimate dark trial. He only needed to undergo the third light trial, and the Nebula Flower on his back would fully blossom.
However, trials aside, if he truly fought against these thousand dragons, even if he wasn’t killed, it would likely result in mutual destruction. Yang Hao wasn’t foolish enough to let the Supreme One watch from the sidelines like a tiger waiting for its prey. But he couldn’t retreat either, because behind him were countless warships and troops. If these thousand dragons charged toward them, at least half the people would perish.
Therefore, Yang Hao could only flee, taking these thousand dragons with him.
He traversed countless stars, dragging such a massive tail behind him. It was truly an exaggerated sight. Yang Hao didn’t know how many stars were reduced to cosmic dust from the dragons’ collisions.
Fortunately, his destination was nearby. It was a coordinate engraved in Yang Hao’s mind, given to him by the Golden Dragon God during his ascension trial.
Yang Hao didn’t want to waste effort subduing these thousand dragons, so he decided to return them to the Golden Dragon God. Since he created these divine beings, let him handle them himself.
On the edge of the Empire’s core region, there was a rarely visited asteroid field. The number of asteroids here was staggering, and they were all quite large, flying rapidly under the gravitational pull of nearby planets.
Such a massive asteroid field had always been a deadly enemy for interstellar navigation and fleets, so Imperial fleets avoided it from afar, and almost no one ever came here.
Therefore, no one would know that behind these asteroid layers lay a constellation shaped like a golden dragon, composed of eighteen golden stars without life. These eighteen golden stars firmly guarded a massive golden black hole.
According to common knowledge, black holes should naturally be black because their immense gravitational pull would suck in even light, so people would only see a black vortex.
But this black hole was golden.
Moreover, Yang Hao also knew that this golden black hole, even the eighteen golden stars shaped like a golden dragon, and this massive asteroid field spanned all dimensions.
In other words, at this coordinate in any dimension, such a star system existed, and such a golden black hole was present.
“Dragon God!! Come out quickly, your descendants have come to visit you!” Yang Hao shouted while transforming into a ball of light, shooting into the golden black hole vortex.
The dragon swarm behind him crashed through countless asteroids, ruthlessly shattering them. These small asteroids were dangerous to warships, but to the dragons, they were barely more than a punch’s worth of resistance.
The massive scale of a thousand dragons caused even the eighteen golden stars to tremble, subtly shaking and showing signs of orbital change.
The Golden Dragon suddenly appeared outside the black hole, intercepting Yang Hao. Seeing the dragon swarm rushing like a storm, he roared, “What’s going on?”
“The divine tribulation you mentioned has side effects,” Yang Hao said upon seeing the Golden Dragon, no longer in a hurry. He stopped and pointed at the dragon swarm, saying, “Your descendants, the perfect divine race you created, are now under the Supreme One’s control and have become his henchmen.”
The Golden Dragon flapped his wings and flew higher. With his wisdom, how could he not see the special mental seals implanted in these dragons’ minds?
“Roar! Roar!!” The Golden Dragon roared in fury.
Even the universe on this side trembled from his anger.
Dragons were the proudest divine race in the universe, primarily because the Golden Dragon God, as the Creator God’s energy projection in this world, had always maintained a neutral and observational role.
Yet he still made some changes to this world—for instance, creating dragons in his own image. Thus, dragons were considered the proudest and most perfect among the many divine races.
Proud dragons would never bow their heads, let alone be controlled by others.
Seeing his people obeying the Supreme One’s commands, the Golden Dragon God was furious beyond words. His dragon roars exploded repeatedly, echoing throughout the star system.
Yang Hao, hiding near the black hole, secretly smiled. This was exactly the result he wanted.
The Supreme One could scheme and manipulate, but here, his tricks wouldn’t work. The Golden Dragon God might watch the universe’s destruction with indifference, but he couldn’t tolerate his people being humiliated.
As the saying goes, gods may be killed, but never dishonored.
With a subtle wave of his claw, the Golden Dragon God sent forth a silver light mixed with colorful, glass-like rays from his golden black hole. These lights drifted above the thousand-dragon legion.
The dragons roared in pain, but black mists exploded from their heads.
Yang Hao clearly felt the powerful dragon psychic energy rapidly increasing in this star system. The mental seals the Supreme One had placed on these dragons were effortlessly removed by the Golden Dragon God in one go.
This power was simply unfathomable.
Before long, all the dragons regained consciousness. Upon seeing their Dragon God standing before them, they immediately prostrated themselves at Star’s feet, murmuring strange sounds, seemingly pleading for something. However, the Golden Dragon God paid no attention to these dragons. He turned around, shrunk his body, and flew to Yang Hao’s side.
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