Chapter 829: Serial Number

Bang! Boom! Rumble!

These sounds echoed relentlessly across various parts of Nanchu, ever since the allied forces from all directions had mobilized. They never ceased.

Just as Ye Chen had commanded, whether it was Zhong Jiang, Hengyue Zhenren, Nangong Zheng, or Dan Chen, they advanced with unyielding force. Those who surrendered were left in peace, but those who resisted faced mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

The battle raged for three days and three nights.

Nanchu was transformed, its earth stained red, the sky veiled in a bloody haze, and the air thick with the stench of blood everywhere.

In this war, no one emerged as a true winner. Ye Chen's iron-fisted methods were brutal, yet Nanchu was truly unified for the first time. The chaos that had plagued it for thousands of years ended under the light of a new dawn.

In the grand hall of Hengyue Zong, the high-ranking members of Yanhuang, Hengyue, Qingyun, Zhengyang, and the major families had all returned.

Glancing around, they were all covered in blood—some their own, some from enemies.

They looked exhausted, their faces etched with weariness. Over these three days, they had slain far too many, including many innocents.

"Ah!" The usually sleazy Gu Santong plopped down on the ground and pulled a wine gourd from his robe. "It's been centuries, and I haven't killed as many in three days as I have now. I never realized I could be so cold-blooded."

"Having second thoughts?" Wuya Daoist glanced at Gu Santong.

"Not at all." Gu Santong took a swig of wine. "If the world stays in chaos, even more people will die."

"Using that as an excuse to console ourselves is the best we can do." Zhong Jiang sat down heavily beside him, looking much older, perhaps from the fatigue.

"As long as the world finds peace, killing for three days and nights is worth it." The Su family ancestor also sat down, his laugh tinged with bitterness.

"There's no such thing as true peace in the world." Dao Huang chuckled, planting his dragon blade in the ground and sitting with them. "But his grand vision is still impressive."

As they spoke, Ye Chen entered, drenched in blood and radiating a fierce aura of killing intent. In these three days, he had clearly slain many, even his snow-white hair now dyed red.

Behind him, Ji Ningshuang was the same, her cold killing intent sending chills through anyone nearby.

"Nanchu is unified!" Ye Chen removed his bloodstained Gui Ming mask, leaving bloody footprints with each step, until he sank wearily onto the stone steps. His face showed utter exhaustion, mixed with a touch of desolation.

His single word plunged the hall into silence.

Nanchu was unified, but at the cost of rivers of blood.

In the silence, someone glanced at Ye Chen and saw he had fallen asleep against the stone steps. It was unclear if it was from sheer exhaustion or to escape the weight of his conscience.

"Time to wash up and rest." The group of elders dusted themselves off and stood, turning to leave the hall. They had killed for too long and needed a break.

Now, only Ji Ningshuang remained in the hall.

She glanced at Ye Chen, asleep on the stone steps, bit her lip as if to approach, but after taking a step, she silently turned and walked out. Another person had entered—Chu Ling'er.

"Heading home to sleep." Chu Ling'er gently stroked Ye Chen's face, her expression full of reluctance, then carefully lifted him onto her back.

"Will my master think I'm too cruel?" Ye Chen murmured softly.

"You'll have to find her first." Chu Ling'er replied with a light smile, then soared away like a divine rainbow toward Yunu Peak.

The blood-soaked Nanchu fell silent!

The blood-soaked world fell silent!

After the war's baptism, Nanchu was a landscape of crimson. Many fell silent, many sighed.

Yet, a new dawn was breaking over this land.

Nanchu was unified. The forces that surrendered, along with the scattered cultivators, numbered in the millions. Though some submitted unwillingly, they were a minority. Most understood clearly that ending this era of turmoil required a sacrifice of blood.

Ye Chen slept for three days and three nights.

When he returned to the Hengyue Zong grand hall, it was filled with people. Though they all wore fresh dao robes, the air still carried a faint bloody scent.

"The various forces are being integrated. Here's the list." Hongchen Xue handed a scroll to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen said nothing, simply unrolling the scroll. The forces listed were extensive, many he had never even heard of, and there were detailed notes on the scattered cultivators, including their cultivation levels.

Notably, with Nanchu's unification and the submission of these forces, their overall strength had surged to a terrifying level, easily rivaling the most powerful in Dachu.

"Chen'er, think of a fanhao for it." Hengyue Zhenren spoke thoughtfully as Ye Chen reviewed the scroll.

"Fanhao?" Ye Chen looked up from the document.

"Chuhuang established the Dachu Imperial Clan, Yanhuang founded Yanhuang, Yuehuang created Guanghan Palace, Taiwang built the Shengdian, Tianzanghuang established Tiandian, Donghuang founded Tianfu Shenchao, Zhanwang created Jiutian Zhanlong Zong, Xuanhuang established Tianlong Shengzong, and Chenhuang founded Dachu Xuanzong. Every emperor of the past left an immortal legacy. It's time for you to name this army."

"Shizu, I..." Ye Chen furrowed his brow, realizing they were treating him as an emperor.

"In the beginning, we followed you hoping you'd restore the glory of Yanhuang and unify Dachu once more." Zhong Jiang interrupted. "But we've come to see that the era of Yanhuang has passed. It should adapt and become part of a new fanhao."

"Zhong Jiang is right." Zhou Ao added, "The time of Chenhuang and the three sects has also ended. Even unified, it's no longer the Dachu Xuanzong of old."

"But..."

"No buts. We've already discussed this, and it's unanimous." Tianzong Ancestor smiled. "Whether it's Yanhuang, Hengyue, Qingyun, Zhengyang, Dan Cheng, or the major families, they'll all fall under the new fanhao."

"I'm not an emperor; I can't accept this honor." Ye Chen took a deep breath.

"Chenhuang wasn't an emperor when he founded Dachu Xuanzong." Hengtian Shangren laughed. "It was the support of all forces that elevated him. We're here to pave the way until you ascend as one."

"Don't hem and haw like some delicate woman—back and forth is pointless." Gu Santong grumbled. "Picking a fanhao is easy. How about I suggest one? Call it the Foutou Bang. You'd be the boss, tough and impressive."

"What's with the Foutou Bang? We're serious folks here." Wuya Daoist scoffed. "I think Nanjie Village sounds more reliable."

"What kind of names are those?" Zhuge Laotou adjusted his collar. "Listen to me: call it Liuliu. It's high-end, atmospheric, low-key, luxurious, and full of depth. Anyone who hears it will be thunderstruck."

"That won't work. Don't go flying off with that idea." Niushisan stroked his beard meaningfully, drawing disdainful looks from everyone.

"Or how about Niuzong?" Niushisan coughed awkwardly.

"Why not call it Niudan'er while you're at it?" Wu Sanpao kicked Niushisan out of the way and flipped his hair. "This should be my call: Yizhu Qingtian. Now that's tough."

"I think Tianwang Gaidi Hu sounds pretty good." Manshan, the burly figure, chimed in.

Their banter left Tianzong Ancestor and the others twitching at the corners of their mouths. Foutou Bang, Nanjie Village, Liuliu, Niuzong, Yizhu Qingtian, Tianwang Gaidi Hu—these names were utterly shameless.

"Tianting." Amid the chatter, Ye Chen, who had been silent, spoke up, halting all conversation.

Pfft!

In the Tianxuan Gate grand hall, Donghuang Taixin spat out a mouthful of wine.

Beside him, Fuya's expression turned strangely amused. "That kid's got some nerve! I wonder if the old folks from Daluo Zhutian, Kunlun Xu, Daxia Huangchao, Jiuhuang Tian, and Shendian will come marching over to beat him."

"I'm tempted to go right now and do it myself."

"What a coincidence—let's go together!"