Chapter 72: Strategic Maneuvering
By: Gu Zhenren
2014-06-18
“This world actually has such an Innate Divine Ability! Even the Iron Emperor and Azure Emperor have fallen…” The Sand Emperor clutched his token, his expression a mix of emotions.
“This Spirit Emperor has hidden himself too deeply. I originally thought that among the newly promoted Great Emperors of this generation, the Night Emperor was the strongest, followed by the Spirit Emperor, then the Dragon Emperor. I never expected the truly terrifying one to be the Spirit Emperor.” The Rain Emperor sighed, her eyes holding both joy and apprehension. She was wary of Chu Yun’s power, yet glad that Chu Yun was on their side. Even with a Immeasurable Dao, according to the faction contract, he couldn’t strike against her.
“Immeasurable Dao…” Upon hearing this news, the Thunder Emperor’s entire body went cold, and he broke out in a cold sweat. He was filled with both hatred and fear. In the current situation, there was no going back. He knew all too well what a terrible fate awaited him if he encountered Chu Yun in Danzhou.
Setting aside the Emperors, let’s talk about the Emperor level. The intelligence provided by the Melon Emperor had delivered a profound shock to the Great Emperors.
“Should we rescue the Melon Emperor?”
“He’s already unreachable. It seems his fate is grim.”
“The Immeasurable Dao poses a severe threat to our safety. I propose we join forces to eliminate the Spirit Emperor!”
Currently, the Emperor level powerhouses were in the void high above the Nine Heavens, besieging the Dan Saint’s Clone. The Great Emperors, however, communicated with each other through their tokens, discussing countermeasures.
Undoubtedly, killing Chu Yun was the safest method.
Chu Yun’s side already included the Dawn Emperor, Incense Emperor, Charm Emperor, Benevolent Emperor, Night Emperor, Azure Emperor, Iron Emperor, Melon Emperor, and Gourd Emperor, bringing the total to ten Great Emperors, including Chu Yun himself.
How many Emperor levels were there in the Nine Provinces? At most, forty-five. Considering those who had fallen, there were now a total of forty-two.
Chu Yun’s faction alone accounted for a quarter of them, their power having grown to a point that inspired dread. Individual Emperor level powerhouses were completely powerless against Chu Yun.
“I never expected that after three thousand years, another astonishing Great Emperor would emerge. He alone is capable of endangering the interests of all Emperors.”
“Let’s not talk about eliminating Chu Yun for now. Our immediate priority is our own safety.”
“Exactly. We are currently in danger. We must first gather together so that we have the strength to resist if we encounter the Spirit Emperor and his faction.”
The Great Emperors were individuals of profound wisdom. This sensible proposal was immediately agreed upon by the majority. Under the immense pressure brought by Chu Yun, they quickly united.
At this moment, if one were to overlook the entirety of Danzhou, one could see dozens of Emperor lights streaking across the sky, traversing Heaven and Earth. They converged from all directions, forming a temporary alliance.
This alliance was composed entirely of Great Emperors, spanning across nine major factions. There were no early-stage Emperor levels; the vast majority were high-level Emperors, with three mid-stage Emperor levels among them.
“Why are so few people here? Only twenty-one? Everyone is in the same predicament and should cooperate wholeheartedly. The more people there are, the greater the confidence in whatever we do. Let’s see who isn’t here and notify each other.”
“This is everyone. The Great Emperors from Xingzhou and Danzhou, along with Grand King Yan, will not come. Excluding a few peak Emperor levels, everyone else is here.”
“Damn it… With this, dealing with Chu Yun won’t be easy.”
Despite the alliance having twenty-one Great Emperors, double the number Chu Yun had, they might not be a match for Chu Yun’s faction in a real fight.
The biggest reason was that these twenty-one Great Emperors belonged to different factions and harbored their own intentions; none truly trusted the others. In contrast, Chu Yun’s side, due to the Immeasurable Dao, was tightly united and of one mind.
When spirits gather, warmth is high; when people unite, strength is great. When individual powers are intimately combined, the resulting force is immense and terrifying.
This power has no limits. The more people who unite, the stronger the force will be.
This is the ultimate profound meaning of the Dao, a power without limits and infinite – Immeasurable Dao!
Grand King Yan was not a fool and understood the alliance’s flaws.
“Such an alliance is too loose. We’ll likely face great peril if we try to fight the Spirit Emperor. I propose we sign covenants with each other. Only then can we trust each other and work together to deal with Chu Yun.”
“Absurd! Any private covenant is inferior to a faction covenant. What if it conflicts with the faction covenant in the future? It would be better to negotiate directly with the Spirit Emperor.”
“Negotiate with the Spirit Emperor? He has the advantage now, would he be willing to negotiate?”
“This isn’t a real negotiation, but a delaying tactic. Didn’t we do the same when dealing with Emperor Fu three thousand years ago? We stabilized him first, then had the Emperors intervene. Even with nine Great Emperors assisting him, what could he do?”
“Exactly. Emperor Fu was so powerful back then, undefeated among Emperor levels. Didn’t he still die at the hands of the Emperors?”
“All the Emperor level powerhouses are currently attacking the Dan Saint’s Clone. We’ll stall for time until the Dan Saint’s Clone is destroyed. By then, even if the Emperors don’t intervene immediately, we can teleport back to our respective Sacred Halls through our tokens and no longer fear the Spirit Emperor.”
After a period of discussion, the twenty-one Great Emperors reached a consensus. While plundering resources in Danzhou, they began to actively contact Chu Yun.
“Oh? You want to sign an agreement with me? Hehehe, what right do you have to negotiate terms with me?” Chu Yun’s voice came through the token.
Many Great Emperors breathed a sigh of relief. It was best that Chu Yun responded. They feared that Chu Yun would come charging in without a word.
However, many other Great Emperors were quite displeased.
“Spirit Emperor, don’t push your luck and act so arrogant. To tell you the truth, we have already formed an alliance. The reason we are negotiating with you is that Danzhou has fallen, and this is a golden opportunity that should be seized. Therefore, we don’t wish to waste precious time on conflict. If you want war, we, thirty Great Emperors, are ready to face you.”
Chu Yun let out a dismissive laugh. “Thirty? Do you take me for an ignorant newcomer Great Emperor? You have no more than twenty-three at most. If there were thirty, would you still be negotiating with me? Since you want war, let’s have war! Let’s meet at Dan Saint Mountain in the center of Danzhou.”
The Great Emperors were dumbfounded. Chu Yun’s forceful attitude left them unable to respond directly.
The Plague Emperor, who was in charge of the negotiations, had no choice but to cut off the communication and look around. “Are we going to Dan Saint Mountain?”
“Go to hell! Are you trying to die?” one Great Emperor immediately retorted.
“No, let’s agree to it first and trick him into going to Dan Saint Mountain. Our main goal is to delay the time,” one Great Emperor shamelessly suggested.
“This… I, the Plague Emperor, have always kept my word, and my words are worth their weight in gold. If I break my promise like this, how will I walk in the Nine Provinces in the future?” the Plague Emperor hesitated.
This was not the Plague Emperor being overly scrupulous. Emperor level powerhouses were almost all honorable individuals who kept their word. Deceitful people could not survive in their circle.
“The situation is special, Plague Emperor, you don’t have to worry. We all know your difficulties.”
“Besides, how much longer will the Spirit Emperor live? As long as multiple Emperors attack together, he will have no chance of turning the tide. No matter how powerful the Immeasurable Dao is, it is still subject to the cultivator’s own cultivation. Why discuss honor with a dead man?”
Everyone tried to persuade him.
The Plague Emperor’s expression was not good. “Why don’t you guys negotiate?”
“It’s still you, Plague Emperor.”
“You were the one negotiating just now. Changing people temporarily will arouse suspicion from the other party,” the others said.
The Plague Emperor cursed inwardly, but seeing that everyone was a determined as he was, he finally resigned himself to it. He contacted Chu Yun again. “We have discussed it. Let’s have a decisive battle at Dan Saint Mountain and settle this once and for all!”
“Quick and to the point, good! Then we’ll meet as promised.” Chu Yun’s voice quickly responded.
“We’ll meet as promised,” the Plague Emperor agreed, his expression as if he were constipated.
An hour later, the token of the Plague Emperor vibrated, and Chu Yun’s voice came through. “I’ve arrived, where are you?”
“So fast?” The Great Emperors were startled. However, remembering that the Dawn Emperor had been subdued, they all felt relieved.
The Plague Emperor had no choice but to hold his token and say, “We are on our way.”
Another hour passed quickly. Chu Yun urged him again, “I’ve already plundered and swept through the entire Dan Saint Mountain, why haven’t you come yet?”
The Great Emperors were speechless. The Plague Emperor stubbornly replied, “We encountered and killed a formation core Demonic creature on the way, we’re here now.”
Another hour passed.
Chu Yun cursed, “You bunch of faithless wretches, you dared to trick me? You’ve disgraced the honor of all Great Emperors! Cowardly, scurvy rats, do you lack even the courage to face me head-on?”
The Great Emperors’ faces grew grim. In a certain sense, Chu Yun’s scolding was not wrong. They only wanted to stall for time and truly did not want to clash with Chu Yun.
Chu Yun continued to curse, and no one retorted. There was no basis for a rebuttal. To speak carelessly would only make them appear more timid and incompetent.
Only the Plague Emperor held his ground. “We’ve had an internal dispute here. Some people indeed do not wish to participate in the decisive battle. But don’t worry, the rest of us are already on our way.”
Chu Yun suddenly burst into laughter. “No need to hurry, we’re here!”
“What?”
“It’s the Spirit Emperor and them!”
“Not just the Spirit Emperor, but also Emperor Chu, Emperor Yun, Emperor Chen, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Han from Danzhou!”
Seeing fifteen Great Emperors charging at them fiercely, the Great Emperors almost spat blood. In an instant, they understood. It turned out that while they were stalling for time, Chu Yun was also stalling for time and took the opportunity to deal with the five Emperors of Danzhou, bringing them all under his command.
“Despicable and shameless! You didn’t go to Dan Saint Mountain either, yet you cursed us for so long.” Realizing they had been thoroughly tricked, the Plague Emperor stomped his foot in anger.
Chu Yun sneered, waved his hand, and the battle commenced fiercely.
The intense melee involving thirty-six Great Emperors shook Heaven and Earth, causing the sun and moon to lose their light. Mountains crumbled, rivers flowed backward, and living beings suffered.
The alliance of twenty-one Great Emperors was no match for Chu Yun’s side. Chu Yun’s side cooperated loyally, their Spirit lights having a subtle connection with Chu Yun, allowing for seamless coordination. In contrast, the alliance was plagued by infighting, each unwilling to commit their full strength, fearing they would become shields for others.
Chu Yun unleashed his Innate Divine Ability repeatedly. Each person struck by it added a fighter to his side and reduced the opponent’s strength.
After five hours of fighting, despite the Great Emperors’ efforts to dodge and weave, Chu Yun managed to strike six of them.
The alliance could no longer hold on. It disintegrated, and everyone fled in all directions.
As Chu Yun was about to pursue his victory, the Melon Emperor suddenly cried out, “I see it! Not long from now, the Nine Saints will exert pressure together, demanding that the Lord revoke the Immeasurable Dao and restore our freedom.”
(To be continued)
