Chapter 2436: Sunset

There was a long silence within the Original Heaven God supreme god temple.

Across the entire territory of He Kingdom, a long, mournful sound echoed.

War—or rather, a one-sided slaughter—had already begun. Until Zong Dezhen or the higher will of Jing Kingdom spoke, Xian Nan Kui would not stop, and the Shen Ce Army’s swords would not be sheathed.

"......Is that all?" Zong Dezhen finally asked.

The great palm teacher of Jade Capital Mountain had already listened to Original Heaven God's explanation but seemed unsatisfied.

Original Heaven God manifested as an unclear face on a green-clothed divine figure, completely devoid of majesty. Like a trapped, angry beast, it suppressed its voice and roared angrily: "I only knew they wanted to do something here! I didn't know Yin Xiaoheng would come, and I didn't know they wanted to kill Yin Xiaoheng! You Jing Kingdom didn't inform me beforehand!"

"You don't know who they are?" Zong Dezhen asked again.

"Do you think they would let me know their identity? They didn't even dare to walk into this god temple, only secretly transmitting messages from the border of He Kingdom!" Original Heaven God originally said this, but looking at Zong Dezhen's purple eyes, it hatefully added: "The person who spoke with me was very possibly that Zhao King from Equality Kingdom!"

"How can you tell?" Zong Dezhen asked.

Original Heaven God said: "I'm just guessing, that's all I can do! You may not believe me, but I've given you an answer!"

Zong Dezhen didn't speak.

But the Shen Ce Army's actions of felling mountains and destroying temples continued.

This formidable army branch from the central empire was completely unobstructed in He Kingdom's territory, galloping freely on horseback.

Wherever their hooves passed, He Kingdom's city defenses were like paper. Wherever their swords pointed, He Kingdom's army was like molded mud.

One by one, majestic god temples became ruins of broken walls. Devout believers paved the stairs with their corpses, and the heads of priests were hung on the temple doors.

Large numbers of Original Heaven God believers were forced to smash the god statues they had worshiped diligently, forced to blaspheme the god in various ways in front of the temple. Others were locked in prison, awaiting further "awakening." The most fierce resistance was met with immediate death!

Every scene unfolded before Original Heaven God's eyes.

Its chaotic pupil color never clearly showed joy or sorrow, but what kind of mood was swirling within it?

It finally said: "Over forty years ago, Zhao King secretly came to Tianma Plain. I observed his traces, and the feeling they give me is similar."

Tianma Plain had always been divided as a forbidden zone by the two great hegemonic countries, forbidding others to explore it, yet the Zhao King of Equality Kingdom had secretly come!

What was his intention? What was his plot?

"How do you know the one who came secretly at that time was Zhao King?" Zong Dezhen looked at it and said: "As you said, they wouldn't let you know their identity. How can you be sure he is the real Zhao King? Or perhaps, you fundamentally know who Zhao King is, and he doesn't need to conceal himself from you!"

Original Heaven God said: "At that time, they invited me to join Equality Kingdom."

Zong Dezhen thoughtfully: "I want to know what conditions they offered you at that time."

"I refused!" Original Heaven God said.

Zong Dezhen didn't pursue this question. He knew what conditions could move Original Heaven God. It was nothing more than helping It achieve true transcendence, but did Equality Kingdom really have the ability and willingness to fulfill such a fantasy? Original Heaven God probably didn't dare to believe it either. He asked: "Over forty years ago... specifically which year?"

Original Heaven God didn't hesitate this time: "Dao Calendar three eight eight eight year!"

The year Qi Kingdom won hegemony!

History flipped through his profound pupil light. Zong Dezhen nodded slightly: "Only at this moment do I confirm that, esteemed god adult, you indeed have sincerity to exchange with me."

"Original Heaven God is a false god, Original Heaven God religion is a false belief."

Zong Dezhen publicly declaring this statement almost denied the very foundation of Original Heaven God's existence in the world. Felling mountains and destroying temples was then about thoroughly eradicating Original Heaven God religion.

If the situation were reversed with any other party, Original Heaven God would inevitably fight it to the death.

But the opponent was Zong Dezhen. Even with the anger of a toppling heaven, It could not vent.

Now he even called it "esteemed god"!

Zong Dezhen emphasized that the truth was simply this: It could only be considered an esteemed god depending on whether Jing Kingdom recognized it or not.

"Then—" Original Heaven God said with humiliation: "Can you call Xian Nan Kui to stop now?"

"No." Zong Dezhen said.

His voice was so icy: "Pulling out all the Original Heaven God temples in He Kingdom's territory is because you made the wrong choice. Yin Xiaoheng is already dead, and this result cannot be reversed. You could have avoided this, but you didn't."

Within Original Heaven God's chaotic pupil color, there was true swirling anger. That emotion even penetrated its god position and existence, but finally, it fell silent.

Only at this moment did Zong Dezhen tap the ground with the tip of his foot: "But we will leave this one, because you are correct at this moment."

With a light sweep of his white dao robe, Zong Dezhen turned and left.

The already dead great priest of Original Heaven God, those dozens of smashed high walls, were the only destruction inflicted by the Jing Kingdom people on this supreme god temple. He Kingdom's capital city would not have Jing Kingdom people come again today.

For a very long time, Original Heaven God's figure remained silent there.

It seemed to be quietly listening to the sounds of one god temple after another being destroyed.

He Kingdom was too small; the iron hooves of Jing Kingdom fundamentally wouldn't take until sunset to traverse it.

In fact, for such a small country as He Kingdom, these god temples, these believers, whether they survived or not, would not affect Its power. This god position had long since shaken off its reliance on faith.

It was only for someone like Cang Tu God to Mu Kingdom that faith would have a crucial impact. With the support of a present-world hegemonic country, the torrent of human path entangled with the power of faith could expand the divine might boundary of a present-world god to the greatest extent.

But this was Its country.

Its dignity was being trampled upon today.

Jing Kingdom thus declared its majesty!

It had no choice, neither Its dignity nor Its head.

Or perhaps, from the beginning, this was Its choice.

From the beginning of the dialogue, Original Heaven God intentionally mentioned Tai Xu Dao Master, deliberately went to Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace, and let Zong Dezhen's disciple, who could no longer speak, testify for Itself. Zong Dezhen then repeatedly called him a "deformed product" and "false eternity."

Both sides poked at each other's wounds; clearly, Original Heaven God felt more pain.

Because Zong Dezhen didn't necessarily care about Xu Yuan Zhi, and it was even highly possible that he personally led Xu Yuan Zhi's end. Original Heaven God, having come this far, could not ignore its own dignity.

Was it that Original Heaven God didn't know how to poke Zong Dezhen more ruthlessly?

Having experienced tens of thousands of years, almost completely observing Zong Dezhen's life trajectory, what didn't It know?

It was just that Its taboos were deeper.

It could not inflict harm unrestrainedly, just as Zong Dezhen almost faced It directly, even stepping on Its dignity, It could not unleash Its sea-like divine might.

The root cause was still Tianma Plain.

Tianma Plain was under the joint control of Jing Kingdom and Jing Kingdom. Both great hegemonic countries had the ability to destroy it, and Jing Kingdom had already shown its determination.

Original Heaven God's lifeline was within it.

Now everyone said that Jing Kingdom was the central empire, and Heavenly Capital City was the center of the present world.

But the so-called "center of the present world" had shifted over a long period of time.

Long before, or more specifically—in the era of myths, Tianma Plateau was the center.

Of course, at that time Tianma Plain wasn't called Tianma Plain.

In ancient times, Cang Tian God Master established an eternal heavenly kingdom here, making it hang like the sun and moon, even higher than the sun and moon.

In its most glorious period, it was called "star river sways within it, sun and moon rise and fall from here, long river rings its waist, heavenly sea wears its crown"— "Chao Cang Wu."

It almost controlled the highest authority in the present world, having the qualification to interpret "heaven's intent" and write "heaven's will."

The establishment of the eternal heavenly kingdom proclaimed the opening of the myth era.

The demise of the eternal heavenly kingdom also marked the curtain call of the myth era.

This strongest god country in history did not die in solitude, but had countless gods accompany it in burial.

Eternal dusk condensed on this plateau, and from then on, within the world of gods, there was only sunset forever.

Original Heaven God was the "scavenger" under the dusk. Indeed, as Zong Dezhen said, it grew by swallowing and absorbing the remnant intentions of various gods. It controlled the power of gods' demise, becoming a god with the death of gods. It walked alone in the era of gods' fall, possessing power surpassing all within the dusk of gods.

But It was discovered too early.

Or rather, It was very clear that its scavenging behavior in the ruins of the heavenly kingdom, as a survivor of the myth era, could not be concealed from those wills hanging high in the nine heavens. It actively offered up its freedom as the price to gain an opportunity to leap under the gaze of various parties.

There was no such transcendence in the world.

It indeed did not count as a true transcendent!

Although It could be said to have borrowed the evolution of the dusk of various gods on Tianma Plain to barely condense a present-world god position, claiming "first" in the silent era of gods, this position was illusory and fragile.

It could only be declared to existences outside of Jing Kingdom and Jing Kingdom.

Not to mention comparing with Ao Shu Yi, It was not even comparable to You Ming God. At least You Ming God had the vast You Ming great world, where it could freely claim honor. The only place It could display its supreme position was Tianma Plateau.

Of course, Tianma Plain after all belonged to the present world. Compared to You Ming God, It was still somewhat closer to true, unlimited transcendence. This distance did not represent strength, only the difficulty of the leap.

But Tianma Plateau did not belong to It!

Its honored position was locked long ago, and its authority was always divided, first by Dao Gate, and now by the two great hegemonic countries overlooking the plateau.

Tang Yu was truly overbearing that year, personally holding a knife, cutting off a piece of Tianma Plateau, forcing Jing Kingdom to sit down and talk—at that time Ji Yu Shu and Ji Yan Qiu were still in the annual unrest of war—only then did He Kingdom exist.

Both Jing Kingdom and Jing Kingdom could destroy Tianma Plain at any time, tear apart the eternal dusk condensed on it, and break Original Heaven God's honored god position. At that time, It would face Zong Dezhen again and would fundamentally not be able to withstand a single strike.

Relatively speaking, Jing Kingdom enjoyed more authority over Tianma Plateau, because it continued the rights left by Dao Gate.

So even if Jing Kingdom disagreed, Jing Kingdom could still unilaterally destroy the god plain.

The foundation of the central first empire, when truly enraged, indeed did not care about any force!

How could Original Heaven God not know all this?

But Tianma Plain had been silent for too long...

Watching the new start of the Dao Calendar, Ji Fu Ren, Ying Yun Nian, Huang Wei Zhen, one by one leaped out of the absolute peak, transcended, while It always stagnated here, unable to obtain the respect that matched its god position.

It was clearly so close, seemingly within reach. Yet it was also so far, as if separated by eternity!

Cultivating to such a realm today, It had only two paths to true transcendence.

One was to grasp the deepest part of the dusk of various gods at the time of the myth era's shattering, where the crown condensed from countless shattered divine intentions lay. To truly take control of Tianma Plain's authority, and from this, possess true supremacy, no longer needing to suffer the clampdown of Jing Kingdom and Jing Kingdom. To this step, there would be no obstacle ahead, and reaching true transcendence would only be a matter of time.

One was to personally complete true god's demise, thoroughly condense the present-world god position of a "perish god." This was to directly jump out of Tianma Plateau and achieve supreme eternity.

These two paths were only one step apart, yet the possibility was almost invisible.

The dusk god crown was divided by Jing Kingdom and Jing Kingdom. It could not move either side, let alone exhaustively take it into its palm.

The only one who could help It transcend the supreme god was currently only one, Cang Tu God, hanging and illuminating the grassland.

That was a true present-world god, far beyond what It could compare to.

Shen Xiao War was about to come. This was an unprecedented period of great change spanning ten thousand ages. Countless secret existences were successively revealing their layouts. It also wanted to seize this rare opportunity to grasp eternity during this period.

It was a pity that the shackles It wore were more restrictive than Ao Shu Yi's, yet it was far weaker than Ao Shu Yi. Every move was scrutinized, and it could only passively wait for change.

If the opportunity came again, how would It choose?

Would It still hide or not hide in Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace?

Original Heaven God remained silent for a long time alone, finally walking onto the offering platform and standing there like a clay statue.

"Palm teacher adult, what do you say?"

On Tianma Plain, Song Huai and Wu Dao You still hadn't left. The speaker was North Heavenly Master Wu Dao You.

Although belonging to Da Luo Mountain and having a very high seniority, he still maintained enough respect for Zong Dezhen.

Yin Xiaoheng's corpse still lay quietly there, not having been collected.

His death was indeed shrouded in heavy clouds of doubt. Without collusion from internal forces within Jing Kingdom, it would have been impossible for him to die so abruptly. Various forces within Jing Kingdom who had doubts about this matter all wanted to come and see for themselves.

Zong Dezhen only said three words: "Equality Kingdom."

Song Huai turned and walked away: "I'll go do things."

"On Lun Xian Lin's side, Jin King has already gone," Zong Dezhen said.

Song Huai stood there, without doubt.

Yin Xiaoheng's death was too vicious!

Using assassination in the present world to plot harm against a renowned general of Ba Jia commander level was completely a behavior that did not put Jing Kingdom in its eyes.

The dignity of Jing Kingdom was the embodiment of the collective interests of Dao Kingdom.

For this matter, internal forces within Jing Kingdom had already reached a consensus this time. All sides would not hold back, and it was necessary to show this world whether Jing Kingdom's power was still present!

Not only had Zi Xu Dao Jun Zong Dezhen descended the mountain, but even Hun Yuan Dao Jun Yu Zhao Luan, who always stayed out of worldly affairs, had already made preparations to descend the mountain.

Song Huai and Wu Dao You coming to Tianma Plain, Zong Dezhen entering the Original Heaven God temple, Jin King Ji Xuan Zhen going to Lun Xian Lin to attack Tian Gong City—various parties acted in concert, and mutually supervised each other, leaving no room for tricks, and everyone had to exert themselves.

Zong Dezhen raised his head and looked at the sky.

The torrential blood rain had stopped, but some blood color still lingered, dyeing the twilight.

Outside Tianma Plain, it was still noon; here, it was still dusk.

The passage of time would not affect this place.

"The dusk here is the most beautiful dusk in the entire present world. It is because the blood of gods dyed it so beautifully, it is the shattering of a glorious era that made it so precious," Zong Dezhen sighed inexplicably.

Song Huai said: "On Tianma Plateau, it is always dusk."

"Is tomorrow's dusk the same as today's dusk?" White-haired and white-bearded Wu Dao You asked with a slight melancholy.

Zong Dezhen said: "They all say that the Feng Hou of the distant ancient eight sages, two proved transcendence, eternally unique. He who opened the myth era, indeed is a wisp of remnant soul of a Feng Hou who proved transcendence. But this Feng Hou is no longer that Feng Hou."

Under the dusk, the voice of the great palm teacher of Jade Capital Mountain was meaningful: "He is Cang Tian God Master, not the Human Emperor eight sages."