Chapter 1576: Achoo

"Ye Chen?" Hearing this, Yao Huang's divine eyes narrowed sharply.

His tone was somewhat surprised, even shocked.

Ever since the Yao Clan sealed itself away, he had known that Ye Chen was forced into the Ming Tu by the pursuit of all clans, and too many people had witnessed his burial.

Yet, who would have thought that after a hundred years of unsealing, he would hear news that the Sheng Ti was still alive? How could this not be surprising?

This was utterly shocking. Ming Tu was an existence of no return, a hell from which one could enter but never leave, and yet the Sheng Ti had actually come out alive.

While Yao Huang was in shock, the Sheng Zhu of the three clans each sent out a wisp of divine sense.

Within that divine sense were fused many major events from the past hundred years, all related to Ye Chen, and naturally including the Tian Ting.

Yao Huang slightly closed his eyes and saw in the divine sense a series of horrifying scenes: the great battle in Xi Mo, the bloodbath under Zhu Tian Mountain, Zhi Yang being slaughtered, Ling Shan being overturned, the Di Qi fleeing, Shi Jia facing calamity, and the Huang Gu Sheng Ti being suppressed under Wu Zhi Mountain.

Each event, each incident, was incredibly hard to believe.

But what shocked him the most was the fifty million cultivators.

It was a massive army of cultivators, fifty million kneeling in unison, and even he was stunned by that scene.

"Da Chu Tian Ting." Yao Huang gazed remotely toward the Tian Xu direction, as if he could see through the haze to the immortal mountains of the Tian Ting.

Daring to build a divine gate outside Tian Xu, yet the forbidden zones did not rage.

In an instant, he was extremely doubtful about Ye Chen's identity—who exactly was this divine being, hiding what kind of secrets?

"Emperor, please seek justice for us!" The three Sheng Zhu wept inconsolably, their tones filled with grief and indignation, their eyes full of grievance.

"Come, assemble the troops." Yao Huang's roar echoed through the nine heavens.

Immediately, the Yao Clan immortal mountains erupted with killing intent, and the demon sea surged forth, rolling with dark masses of figures that blanketed the sky.

The Yao Clan's army of cultivators was extraordinarily vast, their combined momentum making the virtual heavens rumble and tremble.

The heavens and earth lost their color, overshadowed by the demon sea that blocked out all light.

Cultivators from all directions retreated in fear; the Yao Clan had too many people, and their momentum was too strong, even Quasi-Emperor level experts avoiding them.

Yao Huang moved, striding through the skies directly toward the Tian Xu direction.

Behind him, the Yao Clan army swept across the heavens, gripping war spears and driving ancient war chariots, as if marching to conquer the ten thousand domains.

The Ta Qing Gong, Yu Hua Shen Chao, and Zhi Zun Cheng also followed, backed by the Yao Clan, they felt very confident.

"Quick, quick, quick." A large group of cultivators from all sides rushed to catch up; Zhongzhou was about to see a major event, surely a grand spectacle.

In the Tian Ting, clouds and mist swirled, obscured by formations in a hazy veil.

On each mountain peak, figures stood densely, all clad in armor, with the Da Chu Tian Ting war flags fluttering fiercely in the wind.

Ye Chen stepped on the immortal fire clouds, standing in the virtual heavens, his white clothes, white hair, and white beard all swaying in the breeze.

His blind eyes gazed into the distance, murky yet calm.

Even as a mortal, even as a blind man, even aged and decrepit, his silhouette remained majestic, like a monumental stele.

It was precisely that silhouette that made the Tian Ting cultivators fearless.

More than three hundred years ago, they had followed that silhouette, charging as a full army from Nan Chu to kill toward Bei Zhen Cang Yuan.

He was Ye Chen, also a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead.

"Ye Chen, we will hold on until Da Chu returns, won't we?" Shangguan Yu Er murmured softly, her voice carrying a woman's tenderness.

"We will." Ye Chen smiled with a weathered expression, his voice hoarse.

"They've come." Xiao Chen said faintly, looking toward the mountains outside.

Everyone in the Tian Ting also lifted their heads, gazing far into the distance.

At the horizon where sky met earth, the rolling demon sea was already swallowing the heavens and earth as it approached; even from afar, the rumbling could be heard.

The heavens and earth, with their arrival, turned inch by inch into darkness.

At ten thousand zhang away, the Yao Clan army halted, arranging into numerous cultivator formations, numbering several million strong.

"Ye Chen, come out!" A Yao Clan divine general roared in anger.

"The five million Da Chu cultivators— if you're not convinced, then come and fight!" The one responding was Si Tu Nan, his roar shaking the heavens and earth.

"Seeking death." That Yao Clan divine general suddenly raised his sword, about to point it remotely at the Tian Ting and break through the protective barrier.

However, before the sword could fall, he was stopped by Yao Huang's wave.

Yao Huang narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the Tian Ting and also at the Tian Xu; he was not afraid of the Tian Ting, but of the Tian Xu.

The fearsome reputation of the Tian Xu forbidden zone made even the Yao Clan dread it.

In ancient times, the Yao Clan's great emperor had passed down the supreme imperial decree: all Yao Clan descendants must never provoke Tian Xu.

This decree had been upheld by the Yao Clan to this day, never disobeyed.

If even a great emperor dreaded it so, Yao Huang could imagine the terror of Tian Xu— an existence that must never be provoked.

Yet, the Tian Ting was built right at the entrance of the forbidden zone, making the situation awkward; he was unsure if Tian Xu would intervene.

Thinking of this, Yao Huang turned his head and glanced at the Ta Qing Sheng Zhu, Yu Hua Sheng Zhu, and Zhi Zun Sheng Zhu. "You all, attack."

"We... us?" The three Sheng Zhu's faces changed, and they subconsciously retreated; clearly, Yao Huang was dreading the forbidden zone and wanted to use them as a test— essentially as cannon fodder.

"My Yao Clan will be your strong backing." Yao Huang said indifferently, his words full of supreme authority.

"Why aren't you going?" A Yao Clan divine general scolded coldly.

The faces of the three great sacred lands' Sheng Zhu turned ugly.

The Yao Clan dreaded the Tian Xu forbidden zone, and so did they; if they angered it, it would be a total disaster.

"Go, we'll go." The three Sheng Zhu gritted their teeth and steeled themselves to advance; they had reason to believe that if they disobeyed the order, they would be exterminated by the Yao Clan in the next instant.

Only at this moment did the three great sacred lands realize their regret— they should have stayed put honestly! Instead, they had to come out and act tough.

Now, they had ended up being used as tools by the Yao Clan.

Witnessing this scene, the spectators from all sides couldn't help but want to laugh. "They dug such a good pit and buried themselves in it!"

"Yao Huang's move is brilliant! Using the three great sacred lands to probe— even if it provokes Tian Xu, it won't involve the Yao Clan."

"Once the forbidden zone remains silent, the Yao Clan army will surge forward."

"The Tian Ting is in trouble this time." The older generation cultivators said.

"Without even a single Zhun Sheng Wang level expert, how can they withstand the Yao Clan army? Don't forget, the Yao Clan has ultimate Di Bing."

Amid the discussions of the masses, the near hundred million people from Ta Qing Gong, Zhi Zun Cheng, and Yu Hua Shen Chao advanced cautiously, not daring to move quickly, each step filled with trepidation, afraid of being struck down.

En Ke!

Just as they were walking, a sudden throat-clearing cough came from Tian Xu.

This cough was no trivial matter, startling everyone so much that they nearly lost control.

A Zi!

As everyone's bodies tensed, another sneeze followed, making people shudder all over and almost burst into tears on the spot.

This sound also came from Tian Xu, the sneeze bursting with domineering force.

This sneeze was no trivial matter, turning that urge into actual release.

Though the cough wasn't loud, it was like ancient thunder; though the sneeze was faint, it shook everyone's hearts.

Whether it was the three clans' cultivators, the Yao Clan, or the spectators from all sides, at that moment, they all felt a chill running through their bodies.

"What's going on? My throat's a bit dry, probably from smoking too much." In Tian Xu, Tian Zhu squatted on a stone, holding a tobacco pipe in one hand and exhaling smoke rings deeply.

"I must have caught a cold. Getting old, the body just can't take it anymore." Di Mie squatted beside Tian Zhu, rubbing his nose nonstop, his face full of earnestness.

"Thank you, seniors." Ye Chen expressed sincere gratitude; this cough and sneeze came at just the right time, shockingly effective.

They understood each other tacitly, but the people outside the mountains were no longer calm.

Not coughing earlier, not coughing later, but coughing now.

Not sneezing earlier, not sneezing later, but sneezing now.

Was this a signal? A signal from Tian Xu?

People from all sides involuntarily retreated, feeling as if a catastrophe was imminent; everything had come too suddenly.

The Yao Clan divine generals all looked to Yao Huang; this matter needed his decision.

Yao Huang furrowed his brows, his divine eyes fixed dead on the Tian Xu forbidden zone.

Clearly, this cough and sneeze from the forbidden zone were no coincidence; these two sounds carried significant meaning.

Once again, he was filled with endless doubts about the Tian Ting—what exactly was the relationship between the two?

He found himself in a dilemma—attack or not attack.

Bang!

As he hesitated, a sudden boom echoed in the virtual heavens.

Then, bang bang sounds followed, slow and rhythmic.

Listening carefully, it was the sound of footsteps.

Perhaps the body was too heavy, causing the virtual skies to rumble with each step, making the heavens and earth tremble.

"Quasi-Emperor?" People from all sides exclaimed in surprise, all looking in one direction.

In the distant horizon, a figure was striding through the skies— an elder, with rolling Yao Qi rampaging boundlessly.

It was a powerful cultivator, his great robe fluttering, his Quasi-Emperor might vast and surging, his pair of demon eyes encompassing the heavens and earth.

This person was no ordinary figure; he was a Yao Clan Quasi-Emperor level ancestor.

Upon his arrival, the hesitant Yao Huang immediately perked up; with the old ancestor present, his confidence soared.

"Not to brag, but someone like him, I could kick ten to death with one foot." In Tian Xu, Tian Zhu held his tobacco pipe, tapping out the ash on the stone, his words full of swagger.

"If he dares to enter Tian Xu, I'd slap him dead with one palm." Di Mie hugged his wine gourd, his nose twitching, on the verge of another sneeze.

"We've seen great emperors; what's he acting tough for?" The Tian Ting cultivators glanced at the Yao Clan old ancestor and weren't intimidated at all.

Under the gaze of the masses, the Yao Clan Quasi-Emperor ancestor halted, staring at Tian Xu. "This is a grudge between the Yao Clan and the Tian Ting; I hope the forbidden zone dao friends do not get involved."

He stood in the nine heavens, overlooking the world like a king, his ancient eyes carrying supreme authority.

His words received no response from Tian Xu; Tian Zhu and Di Mie smoked and drank, too lazy to bother with him.

Great emperors dread us by three parts; you're just a Quasi-Emperor—what's there to boast about? If you've got the guts, come in.

However, their lack of response led the people from all sides to believe that Tian Xu was afraid of the Yao Clan and dared not speak.

The Yao Clan also thought this way, instantly becoming arrogant; they raised their war spears high, their roars like thunderous booms.

The Yao Clan ancestor straightened his back even more, thoroughly enjoying this feeling, feeling so elated he almost floated away.

"Why aren't you attacking?" Yao Huang swept his gaze toward the Yu Hua Shen Chao, Ta Qing Gong, and Zhi Zun Cheng's Sheng Zhu; even Tian Xu was scared silent, so what did they have to fear?

The three Sheng Zhu wiped away their cold sweat, their smiles awkward.

That earlier cough and sneeze from the forbidden zone had scared them into turning and running, and they had run the fastest of all.

As great saints, they had lost face badly.

"Kill, kill for me!" After adjusting their breath, the three Sheng Zhu roared one after another, their shouts shaking the azure skies.