Chapter 2268: Supreme Commander

Boom! Rumbling!

Accompanied by thunderous booms, the starry sky trembled, and countless star domains shook violently.

Countless star domains came into view, along with hidden spatial realms that suddenly exploded—the ancestral lands of the Hong Huang races, concealed in utmost secrecy and rarely revealed. Normally, they stayed hidden, making them hard to find, but now, with the Hong Huang's great calamity finally erupting, they no longer held back. All emerged from their ancestral grounds, ready to ignite war and make the Hong Huang's iron hooves trample across all realms and heavens.

From these Hong Huang ancestral lands, no figures were seen at first, only the surging and rolling Hong Huang aura, each strand as heavy as a mountain, disrupting yin and yang and crushing the universe.

Gazing into the distance, it was a vast, pitch-black ocean. Some rode flying swords, others soared on clouds, and still others drove war chariots, engulfing entire swaths of the starry sky. Not all were in human form; many had transformed into their true bodies, their sizes overwhelmingly massive, sweeping through the Hong Huang aura as they rampaged through the stars, collapsing vast expanses of the sky. Their enormous eyes gleamed with crimson light, filled with savage bloodlust, like death gods from Jiu You descending to harvest all living souls.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Wherever the Hong Huang army passed, chaos ensued. Ancient stars were shattered one by one, the flying debris still flickering with dim starlight, reflecting on their grotesque faces. The Hong Huang war banners fluttered wildly, stirring up storms of war that swept through all heavens.

"Ants, tremble!"

Wanton laughter echoed across all realms, carrying supreme demonic power that disturbed the minds of the world. Those with weak resolve turned pale, their hands shaking as they gripped their weapons.

"War!"

The cultivators of the heavens showed no fear, their battle cries shaking the immortal dome. They had all donned armor, forming ranks centered on Xuan Huang Continent, Da Chu, and You Ming Continent, positioned within barriers and prepared to defend to the death. Their eyes burned with unyielding resolve, facing death as if it were return.

They feared no battle. Even in the dark ages of the Tian Mo invasion, they had endured the most brutal fights and survived. Would they fear the Hong Huang? Even if absolutely outmatched, they would bathe in blood, achieve ultimate transcendence, and end in glorious splendor, not wasting a lifetime of cultivation.

"Ants, tremble!"

The same sinister laughter resounded again, infused with Yuan Shen power, echoing endlessly.

After countless eons, the Hong Huang races mobilized together once more.

Overlooking the void, each Hong Huang race flowed like streams from various star domains, converging into a massive force. The scale was immense, even making Ming Di and Di Huang frown upon seeing it. The numbers were inestimable, dozens or even hundreds of times greater than the heavens, like a sky-covering black curtain blotting out all light.

The Hong Huang had their strategies, decided before the war began.

This was the true execution.

The entire Hong Huang army divided into three allied forces with perfect coordination.

The first allied force charged straight for Xuan Huang, splitting into four to invade the Xuan Huang Star Sea from the east, west, south, and north, aiming to land in Dong Huang, Xi Mo, Nan Yu, and Bei Yue.

The second allied force targeted the Da Chu heavens, comprising hundreds of races.

The third allied force attacked You Ming Continent, with a slightly smaller force than the first and second, yet still overwhelmingly superior.

In Da Chu, at Tian Xuan Gate.

All the Zhun Di were present, clad in wartime armor—men like marshals, women like generals. They all gazed up at the ancient starry sky above, where tiny stars hung, not stationary but slowly moving along certain paths.

Indeed, each of those tiny stars represented the Hong Huang army: gold stars for Zhun Di, silver for Da Sheng, and red for Sheng Wang.

This was the formidable power of the ancient starry sky map, allowing them to observe the Hong Huang army's movements clearly, unless the Hong Huang used equivalent secret arts to conceal them.

Such ancient starry sky maps existed in Xuan Huang and You Ming Continent as well, all interconnected. What Da Chu could see, so could the others, including the enemy formations, all laid out plainly.

"You wouldn't believe it until you see it." Di Lao clicked his tongue. "The Hong Huang hid such massive forces. I wouldn't have believed it myself."

"This lineup is shocking, downright ironic!" Tian Lao couldn't help but sneer. "Where was this power during the Tian Mo invasion? They deserve to be slain."

"Are they attacking Da Chu, Xuan Huang, and You Ming Continent at once?"

"Is this an attempt to swallow the entire heavens in one go?"

"Your prediction might be off." Dong Huang Tai Xin murmured, glancing at Ye Chen.

"As the art of war says, show strength where you are weak, and weakness where you are strong." Ye Chen replied immediately. "Attacking all three sides is a feint. The Hong Huang's real target must be You Ming Continent."

"Is that true?" Xie Mo raised an eyebrow.

"Absolutely." Ye Chen's response was firm, his tone absolute. "Hitting all three is just bluffing. The forces attacking Xuan Huang and Da Chu are decoys to divert attention. Don't be fooled by appearances. Though the third allied force is smaller than the first and second, I dare say that over eighty percent of the Hong Huang's ultimate Dao emperor weapons are with them. They can end it quickly and seize You Ming Continent easily."

"This analysis is spot-on." All the Zhun Di nodded in agreement.

"Your mind is sharp; you should be the commander." Dong Huang Tai Xin smiled.

"I agree with the Kun Lun goddess on this. Xuan Huang will follow your orders." The laughter came from a Xuan Huang illusionary water screen, spoken by the Kui Niu clan's clan emperor.

"Our You Ming forces are ready at your command." Words also came from the You Ming Continent direction, implying unconditional support for Ye Chen as commander, just like the Kui Niu emperor.

"No objections." Whether the Da Chu Zhun Di present, or those from Xuan Huang Continent and You Ming, all spoke as one.

Ye Chen's legend had spread across all realms and heavens.

Back then, he led the Da Chu Heavenly Court to repel the Tian Mo invasion, proving his commanding talent. In cultivator wars, such leaders were needed to unify command.

And that leader was Da Chu's tenth emperor.

It had to be said, the commanders and Zhun Di from all three sides showed immense resolve.

Handing over command mid-battle required such boldness.

Their words elevated Ye Chen in that instant to the highest commander of the heavens, wielding the greatest authority. For a minor Da Sheng, this was an unparalleled honor.

After all, such glory had only been for great emperors throughout history.

Who would have thought the three commanders would crown Ye Chen at this moment, treating him like a king? The heavens' armies, the myriad realms' beings—from peak Zhun Di to Qi Condensation novices, countless predecessors and successors—all awaited his orders.

This act perfectly illustrated: where the heart leads, the people follow.

In that instant, time seemed to freeze as everyone looked at Ye Chen.

"I will not fail this mission." Ye Chen did not refuse, his words resolute, his expression solemn.

The crowning of a king brought immense honor.

But being the heavens' highest commander was no easy task. Along with the supreme glory came a tremendous mission, for every command he gave and every word he spoke could lead to the deaths of millions. He had to bear responsibility for the lives of all in the heavens.

"The heavens' commander, issue your order!" Fu Ya laughed.

"Da Chu and Xuan Huang, bring all your ultimate Dao emperor weapons and reinforce You Ming Continent." Ye Chen declared at once, his words grave and authoritative.

Boom! Boom!

No sooner had he spoken than rumbling sounds erupted. Da Chu and Xuan Huang opened their emperor domain gates simultaneously, connecting to You Ming Continent. Streams of figures stepped through, all Zhun Di without exception, carrying various emperor weapons.

Ye Chen also manifested a clone and followed the Zhun Di.

After they left, Ye Chen looked up again at the ancient starry sky.

The Hong Huang forces attacking Xuan Huang had crossed the Xuan Huang Star Sea and reached the continent's edge. Massive war ships like mountains lined up, each flying Hong Huang war banners that whipped in the wind. The Hong Huang figures standing on them all grinned maliciously.

"Dammit, fight!"

The Xuan Huang armies guarding Dong Huang, Xi Mo, Nan Yu, and Bei Yue were fully prepared, with countless killing formations activating. Before the Hong Huang army could land, they unleashed billions of divine rays.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Rows of figures turned to blood mist, staining the star sea. Lying in wait, they drove the newly arrived Hong Huang army back into the star sea.

"Set up formations and bombard them!"

The Hong Huang commanders roared from their rear war ships, swords pointed at Xuan Huang.

At their command, countless killing formations and war ship cannons fired at the Xuan Huang army.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

Just as with the Hong Huang, rows of Xuan Huang cultivators fell.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

The rumbling shook the nine heavens. The Hong Huang army stood on their war ships at the edge where the star sea met the land, while the Xuan Huang army held the mainland, engaging in a fierce barrage of formations.

As Ye Chen had predicted, this was a feint for the Hong Huang. Despite their superior numbers, they did not launch a full assault, only bombarding with formations and cannons. Their goal was clear: wait for the third allied force to destroy You Ming Continent, then combine the second and third forces to take Da Chu, and finally Xuan Huang.

The Hong Huang's plans had been seen through by Ye Chen, and he watched the battle on the ancient starry sky map as clearly as day.

"They've arrived." On one side, Fu Ya snorted coldly.

Before his words faded, rumbling sounds came as the Hong Huang's second allied force reached Da Chu. At a glance, it was a devouring black ocean surrounding Da Chu from all sides.

"A symbolic counterattack will do; conserve the source stones." Ye Chen spoke, his words echoing through Da Chu's heavens.

"Crystal clear." The Da Chu cultivators smiled and activated their killing formations.

"Attack for me!" Shouts filled the stars, from the Tao Tie clan's clan emperor, who had drawn his killing sword, pointing at Da Chu.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Millions of killing formations roared to life, bombarding Da Chu's protective barrier.

Yet, though their attacks were fierce, they could not shake the barrier, for Da Chu's defenses were extraordinarily strong, unbreakable without sufficient ultimate Dao emperor weapons.

Unfortunately, the Hong Huang's emperor weapons were all concentrated in the third allied force, so they had very few here. Besides, this was just a feint—much thunder, little rain.

"Fight, hit them hard!"

Da Chu's roars echoed one after another, shaking the heavens and earth.

However, though the Da Chu experts shouted loudly, the immortal rays from their formations were far fewer than expected. It was all for show; a feint meant playing along. Keep it light—don't go all out. Even if they did, with your limited emperor weapons, you couldn't breach Da Chu's defenses.

"Fight, attack for me!"

The Hong Huang clan emperors laughed leisurely, lounging in their jade carriages, issuing casual orders, as if unconcerned with the war's outcome.

As the clan emperors ordered casually, the Hong Huang army surrounding Da Chu attacked half-heartedly. It was a feint, so no real effort— they just needed to wait for the third allied force to destroy You Ming Continent, then the two forces could combine, with dozens of emperor weapons attacking together to break Da Chu.

"I've been dying to drink Da Chu's blood." The Tao Tie clan emperor licked his crimson tongue, grinning savagely. If not for the agreements among the races, this wouldn't be a feint—it would be a full onslaught, breaking the barrier and slaughtering at will.

The other clan emperors were the same, smiling cruelly with violent eyes, eager to destroy Da Chu most of all, because of one person they hated to the bone.

That person was, of course, Ye Chen, Da Chu's tenth emperor.

But they had no idea that Ye Chen was now Da Chu's highest commander. If they knew, they would be shocked by the heavens' audacity in entrusting command to a Da Sheng.

At Tian Xuan Gate, Ye Chen completely ignored the Hong Huang army. Da Chu's defenses were no joke; even a real attack would struggle to break through.

His focus was on You Ming Continent.

Compared to Da Chu and Xuan Huang, You Ming was the real battlefield. The Hong Huang had gathered over eighty percent of their emperor weapons there, an absolute advantage. Without aid from Xuan Huang and Da Chu, it wouldn't last half a day. Fortunately, Ye Chen's prediction was correct—the Hong Huang had concentrated their emperor weapons, but so had the heavens, all of them, combined with You Ming's protective barrier for formidable defense.

As he watched, the Hong Huang's third allied force arrived at You Ming Continent.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

These buzzing sounds came from emperor weapons—dozens of them. The emperor weapon hum echoed across star domains, even audible in Da Chu.

Looking out, the Hong Huang army filled the stars, surrounding You Ming Continent from all sides. Dozens of ultimate Dao emperor weapons floated in the void like suns, radiating brilliant light, with strands of emperor might cascading down, collapsing the eternal immortal dome.

"It's just as Ye Chen said!" An old Zhun Di sighed, gazing at the Hong Huang's dozens of emperor weapons. If they bombarded together, You Ming's barrier couldn't hold.

"Seems we didn't arrive too late." With laughter, Shen Jiang Tian Jiu was the first to step forward, clad in ancient armor and wielding the Sky-Opening Axe, his presence majestic.

Following him, Dong Huang Tai Xin, Xie Mo, Yue Huang, Sheng Zun, and other Da Chu Zhun Di all appeared.

In just three to five moments, the Xuan Huang people arrived too, led by Kui Niu emperor and Sheng Yuan emperor—one carrying an emperor weapon battle axe, the other an emperor tool iron staff—with numerous Zhun Di following.

"Surrender and live."

As the Zhun Di gathered, a sinister laugh came from the stars.

Looking closely, it was the Qiong Qi clan emperor, armored and holding a golden emperor sword, his lips curved in amusement as he gazed at You Ming Continent. Unfortunately, his vision was limited; he couldn't see through it, or rather, You Ming had concealing secret arts.

This guy was exceptionally confident, with high bearing, clearly the commander of the third allied force and the strongest among the three, thanks to their unmatched number of emperor weapons—dozens of them.