Chapter 174: The Plea of the Divine Race (1)

It took Hao a long time to fully digest such shocking information. His heart pounded with awe, like tides rising endlessly without calming.

What unsettled Yang Hao wasn’t merely the bloody and bizarre history he had just learned, but more so his astonishment toward the leader of the cultivators. A single individual, relying solely on the strength of an ordinary person, had managed to alter the cosmic order and seal away the powers of countless divine races.

One could say that this person, using only his bare hands, had saved billions upon billions of lives across the universe.

That was an unfathomable miracle!!

“What do you want me to do?” Yang Hao suddenly seemed to see through the intentions of the gods, narrowing his eyes with deep meaning.

Yun Shang indeed hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances with the others, and then spoke directly instead of sending thoughts, “I hope you can gather the Ten Divine Treasures, help the divine race, break the seal upon us, and allow us to leave the Divine Realm and regain our powers.”

This wasn’t unexpected. The gods had willingly revealed such a secret and humiliating history because they had a request for Yang Hao. What puzzled Yang Hao, however, was why he should help the divine race?

Yang Hao was an ordinary human, even more so than Hun Yuanzi. Not long ago, he had merely been attending an advanced academy on the planet Laimun, studying some strange courses. He had never imagined he would ever be involved in such a vast secret.

As a human, Yang Hao could only feel excitement and admiration toward the fact that ordinary people had stripped the divine beings of their powers. Why would he want to help the divine race? Would the resurgence of the divine bring more benefits? Would it be better than allowing humanity to control the fate of the universe?

Yet the expressions of the gods showed confidence that Yang Hao would help them, especially Yun Shang, who stared at Yang Hao as if watching the key to restoring the divine race’s former glory.

Yang Hao spread his hands, ready to refuse firmly. But beside him, Hun Yuanzi suddenly turned his head and stopped him with a meaningful look. Yang Hao saw something hidden deep in his master’s gaze.

Hun Yuanzi, with his vast experience, had thought much deeper than Yang Hao. He raised his head and asked, “Who was the leader who deceived the divine race into sealing themselves?”

At this question, Yang Hao’s heart trembled. He suddenly realized that the gods’ confidence likely stemmed from some unknown truth.

Indeed, the gods had been waiting for this question. As soon as Hun Yuanzi spoke, all the gods lifted their eyes toward the highest point in the clouds.

At that height stood only the King of the Dark Angels, Sa’an. With silver hair cascading and an expressionless face, he now held Night Axe, a gleaming long silver axe that pierced the night sky like lightning.

Sa’an slowly and heavily executed a single move. His cautiousness in performing this technique was truly surprising, yet to him, it seemed perfectly natural—as if this move deserved such slowness and care.

It was a simple strike. Though he wielded an axe, the technique was that of a sword. There was no thunderous roar, no explosion, seemingly even no sound. Yet in reality, the deafening thunder had nearly shattered the heavens and earth.

A golden dragon appeared briefly on Sa’an’s Night Axe, leaving a deep imprint across the sky before vanishing in an instant.

“The Divine Dragon Sword Technique!” As soon as Sa’an performed the move, Hun Yuanzi closed his eyes. From the stance alone, from the unique whistling in the wind, he had already recognized it.

The Divine Dragon Sword Technique! Of course, it was the Divine Dragon Sword Technique!!

Ever since the divine race was sealed away a thousand years ago, no one among the gods dared speak that person’s name again. Yet no one could forget the human leader who had convinced the divine race to seal themselves, changing everything. He wielded the Divine Dragon Sword Technique. An unparalleled genius in cultivation, his Divine Dragon Sword Technique remained unbeatable even today.

“The Divine Dragon Sword Technique,” Hun Yuanzi nodded calmly. “That man who ruined the divine race was our Dan Ding sect’s greatest enemy, our sworn enemy.”

Yun Shang’s face reddened slightly, as if regretting his scheming. “Exactly. That’s why we are certain you two will help us, because we share the same enemy.”

“Perhaps that man is already dead.”

“He isn’t,” Yun Shang replied. “You know it, and we do too. He’s alive—not only alive, but in control of the universe’s power.”

Hun Yuanzi couldn’t argue. In truth, he would rather his enemy still lived, for only then would his quest for vengeance have meaning.

“The one who controls the universe’s power is the Galactic Empire!” Yang Hao muttered at last. He still hadn’t figured out who that person was.

“How do you know he isn’t the leader of the Galactic Empire?”

“The Emperor?!” Yang Hao was startled.

But he quickly rejected the idea. According to the gods’ account, that person should be much older than the current Emperor of the Empire. “The Senate?!” Yang Hao suddenly realized. As soon as the word crossed his mind, everything became clear and logical.

If the Galactic Empire ruled the universe, then who ruled the Empire? Most people would say the Emperor, but behind the Emperor stood a vast Senate that actually supported the throne.

Based on the information gathered during the past few months, Yang Hao had already sensed many secrets hidden within the Galactic Empire—such as the mysterious disappearance of cultivators, one of the biggest mysteries.

Human cultivation history, like technological research, spanned millennia, often intertwining with each other throughout the evolutionary process. A thousand years ago, a new cultivation system emerged, and a large number of cultivators stepped onto the forefront of cosmic exploration. That era, known as the Third Renaissance of Cultivators, saw technology pushed into a relatively minor role.

Yet that brilliance vanished quickly. Soon after the God-Demon War, with the divine race’s powers sealed, for reasons unknown, those once-dominant cultivators suddenly disappeared without a trace.

A thousand years later, the world now belonged to technology. The Galactic Empire had officially banned ordinary people from practicing any strange techniques, allowing only a few great families to preserve their secret arts.

In this era, cultivation had become a forbidden act.

But that didn’t mean cultivators no longer existed.

The Galactic Senate was composed of mysterious figures, and no one truly understood the real situation of its elders.

If the leader of the ancient cultivators had orchestrated the divine race’s sealing a thousand years ago and then engineered the rise of the Galactic Empire, it wouldn’t be entirely unexpected.

Yang Hao’s mind raced with possibilities, but beside him, Hun Yuanzi had already spoken first: “I accept this mission.”

“But—”

Hun Yuanzi raised his hand to stop Yang Hao from continuing, then smiled at the gods. “After all, that man in the Senate is already my sect’s enemy. Even without your help, I would seek him out for revenge. But my young apprentice here prefers freedom. This kind of wandering, vengeful life isn’t suitable for him. Let me shoulder the hatred alone. You can let him return to live as he pleases.”

“Master!” Yang Hao raised his voice. He didn’t understand why Hun Yuanzi said this. All along, Yang Hao had always considered their responsibilities as one, never distinguishing between the two.

Hun Yuanzi suddenly pulled Yang Hao into his arms, like a father’s rough embrace, and whispered into his ear, “Fool! The hatred of the Dan Ding sect has nothing to do with you. Helping the divine race break their seal and opposing the Galactic Empire fully—this consequence doesn’t need you to bear, nor can you bear it.”

“And you can?” Yang Hao whispered fiercely.

“I’ve lived this long only for revenge,” Hun Yuanzi said calmly, filled with sorrow. “That has been my destiny since a thousand years ago.”

Yang Hao fell silent. He felt the tide of tears rising, but he held them back. He could feel the pain in Hun Yuanzi’s heart—the hatred of the Dan Ding sect, the murder of countless fellow disciples, and the loss of his beloved. On the other side stood one of the most powerful figures in the Galactic Empire. This burden, Hun Yuanzi had decided to carry alone.

“From today on, you are no longer a disciple of the Dan Ding sect,” Hun Yuanzi smiled. “Though you are my best apprentice, you have your own life, your friends and wife. You should live a carefree life.”

Yang Hao nodded. He had understood Hun Yuanzi’s meaning. “Alright, Master.”

Then, Yang Hao raised one finger and placed it against Hun Yuanzi’s carotid artery. Suddenly, he released a surge of true energy from his inner core, striking the artery directly. Caught off guard, Hun Yuanzi immediately lost consciousness.

“Even an Immortal Sage is nothing more than this!” Yang Hao, completely over his earlier sadness, grinned and clapped his hands, turning to the gods. “So, what do you need me to do? Continue.”

“You actually did that to your master?” Yun Shang stared in disbelief.

“That’s my kind of guy,” thought Sa’an, the King of the Dark Angels, secretly amused. Yang Hao had seemed sentimental and hesitant before, but when it came to action, he was clean and decisive, never dragging his feet.