"Mother, watch me!"

"I'm watching."

"Mother, don't be impulsive."

As soon as Wu Wang's words fell, a faint fluctuation in the power of the stars appeared, and the image Cang Xue saw through the necklace trembled slightly.

She frowned slightly, her wooden staff quivering in her hand, and her figure flashed to the center of the great hall.

The colossal divine body of the Star God loomed above the middle of the great hall, the disc in his hand trembling slightly, while faint starlight began to swirl around Cang Xue's staff.

The situation brought back by the necklace became clear once again.

Seeing that Wu Wang had entered the valley with Shen Nong and the others, Cang Xue didn't call out again. Instead, she wrapped a strand of the power of the stars around Wu Wang's Primordial Spirit.

Wu Wang immediately sensed this and knew that his mother was always paying close attention to him.

It was very heartwarming.

At this moment, Cang Xue closed her eyes and frowned. Her face, which seemed to gather all the beauty in the world, was tinged with an irresolvable worry.

What exactly is Emperor Shun doing?

How could her child, this boy with such a pure, kind, simple, and innocent heart, contend with a crafty villain like Emperor Shun?

Cang Xue hummed softly. Several times she wanted to warn Wu Wang to be more careful, to leave early if things went wrong, and not to get involved in this mess. But each time the words reached her lips, she hesitated.

She actually understood that if she wanted her child to truly survive in the world, she had to harden her heart and let him experience all sorts of trials.

—This was a principle many Innate Gods spoke of.

At this moment, with the Dao of Fire by Ba'er's side, he is not exactly in a dangerous situation.

Cang Xue briefly assessed the current situation and decided to continue watching without interfering further.

Within the valley, several figures cautiously explored every corner.

The great war between the Human Domain and the Heaven Palace had also reached a stalemate.

This wasn't due to any tacit agreement. It was purely because the Human Domain, after assessing the situation, realized that gnawing away the Heaven Palace's last bone would require sacrificing too many lives.

The gods of the Heaven Palace were gathered at their final 'stronghold.' If this siege battle were truly to be fought, it would be a cataclysmic war. The strength the Human Domain had currently amassed in the Southeastern Region was slightly insufficient for it.

After all, there's a world of difference in strength between an Innate God who is fleeing and an Innate God who is fighting for their life.

The Human Domain had always only intended to completely expel the Heaven Palace's forces from the Southeastern Region.

Cang Xue, observing through the Stars, swept her gaze across various locations before refocusing on Wu Wang.

She waited quietly, awaiting the moment when the mystery would be unveiled.

Meanwhile, Wu Wang followed Shen Nong into the valley, frowning the entire way.

Everywhere he looked, he saw scenes of decay; everything he smelled was the stench of corruption.

Upon entering, the path was initially narrow. After about a hundred more steps, his vision suddenly opened up. However, all he could see were withered branches and fallen leaves, and the ground was covered with a layer of black mire, as if they had entered a swamp.

Shen Nong, however, seemed to be strolling through a courtyard, his demeanor calm and his movements unhurried. He walked barefoot on the mire, yet left not a single footprint.

His wooden staff made a thudding sound, but this sound didn't travel more than half a zhang from them.

It was quite magical.

Elder Red Rose suddenly sent a voice transmission to the others, "Your Majesty, is it truly appropriate for Young Friend Wu Wang to enter? This place reeks of strangeness everywhere; it could very well be a trap."

Wu Wang secretly raised an eyebrow. This elder's change in attitude is quite swift.

Shen Nong chuckled, "Don't underestimate Wu Wang."

"Your Majesty jests," Elder Red Rose said, his gaze constantly scanning the surroundings. He then chuckled, "I was rather offensive to Young Friend Wu Wang before. Having seen Young Friend Wu Wang's ability to command a thousand troops, I naturally realize I had greatly underestimated him. Please don't take offense."

Wu Wang nodded calmly.

He really couldn't manage to be so relaxed and jest under such an environment and pressure.

The Heavenly Emperor might be hiding right here!

This situation was like... like being surrounded by three max-level experts, yet still not feeling the slightest bit of security.

Wu Wang asked softly, "Why didn't we bring more experts with us?"

Shen Nong chuckled, "At this level of a duel, victory can no longer be achieved through numbers."

"Then…"

Wu Wang was at a loss for words.

Another elder beside him said, "Your Majesty, it is indeed somewhat inappropriate for Wu Wang to enter. This is a formidable enemy that we should be dealing with."

Shen Nong said, "To break today's predicament, his power of Feng Chun is needed."

The two Human Domain experts immediately stopped talking.

Wu Wang also felt a little more relieved.

Listening to the tone of the senior, it seemed as though he had everything under control.

Ahead, Shen Nong suddenly raised his wooden staff. Elder Red Rose and the other elder flanked Wu Wang on his left and right, forming a three-talents defensive formation with Shen Nong.

Following Shen Nong's gesture, Wu Wang focused his gaze and saw a cloud of pale red smoke slowly dispersing in the center of the valley.

A dilapidated circular altar slowly emerged. Its carvings and decorations had long been corroded by the ages, leaving only faint outlines and uneven, mottled marks.

A desolate and ancient aura washed over them, yet within it were mixed notes of decay and desolation.

At this moment, the ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian stood on the altar, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at a dark cloud that had appeared on the other side of the valley.

Within the dark cloud was a vortex, and inside it, there seemed to be the shadow of an unnatural beast.

Emperor Shun's true form?

Shen Nong murmured.

Wu Wang frowned slightly, calmly stepped in front of the others, and signaled the Echoing Serpent to shield him from the front.

It wasn't that he was merely clinging to life; he purely wanted to preserve this body to contribute more light and warmth.

"Emperor Shun!"

The ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian shouted resolutely, and waves of grayish-white energy surged around him.

Within that energy, the roars of myriad living beings emerged. That pure and concentrated Power of Living Beings vibrated the complex and intertwined Great Dao of this place.

It was like ferocious beasts roaring.

From the vortex within the dark cloud, a massive azure claw reached out, parting the dark cloud and revealing Emperor Shun's form—a human torso with a serpent's tail.

The Heavenly Emperor's true body!

This body was no more than a dozen zhangs tall, yet to Wu Wang's perception, it seemed more majestic and more powerful than the Star God's true body hidden in the depths of the cosmos.

He wore an ancient long robe, with half of his serpent tail exposed. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, and his slender neck was covered with faint, fine scales.

Wu Wang had seen Emperor Shun's Order incarnation before. That incarnation had left him with an impression of being scholarly and peaceful, yet with a kind of detachment unrelated to living beings.

But the Emperor Shun who appeared here…

His face was handsome, and his presence intensely imposing. His pale blue eyes seemed to hold two oceans, and the faint smile playing on his lips carried a hint of casual disregard for all matters.

Wildness?

Yes, the Emperor Shun that appeared this time exuded far more 'wildness' than the one Wu Wang had seen last time.

Speaking impartially, Emperor Shun's true body possessed considerable masculine charm.

Only just a bit less than his father's.

Then, Emperor Shun chuckled and said,

"Fu Xi, your remnant soul is truly hard to eradicate. I've allowed you to reincarnate through countless ages, yet unexpectedly, you've managed to awaken again.

To welcome your appearance, I specially designed this feast of living beings. How is it?"

"Hmph!"

The ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian said coolly, "If you truly didn't fear me, why then do you show such fear of me?"

"Afraid?"

Emperor Shun sneered, "Our struggle, it seems, I won. Now you are but a remnant soul. With what can you win? With Shen Nong behind you?"

The ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian's brows knitted tightly. He turned his head to look back down the path they had come.

THUD—

A faint sound was heard. A bit of gray energy dispersed, and the five figures of Shen Nong's party slowly materialized.

Wu Wang immediately noticed a detail.

Elder Shen Nong didn't greet San Xian, nor did he even spare him a glance; he directly raised his head and stared at Emperor Shun.

Emperor Shun frowned slightly. He looked at the Echoing Serpent shielding Wu Wang and said indifferently,

"The Human Domain unexpectedly still has people who understand such Divine Spells? And you still claim to have no connection with the Candle Dragon?"

Shen Nong merely smiled without speaking, looking up at Emperor Shun's true body.

Wu Wang lowered his head, avoiding Emperor Shun's gaze, but layer upon layer of doubt arose in his heart.

Something wasn't right; the unfolding events seemed too 'expected.'

What was going to happen next?

Would the former Human Emperor and the current Human Emperor join forces in a grand battle against Emperor Shun's true body?

If this was the scenario Emperor Shun desired, what then was his true purpose?

The Heavenly Emperor would not act without cause.

Shen Nong suddenly asked, "Wu Wang, do you understand now?"

Wu Wang honestly shook his head.

"Then keep watching," Shen Nong said calmly. "You are the key today."

Wu Wang couldn't help but feel utterly puzzled.

A faint, playful smile touched the lips of Emperor Shun's true body. His form, over ten zhang tall, slowly shrank to just over one zhang, yet his aura grew even more formidable.

He said, "Shen Nong still has the leisure to instruct his disciple; truly not easy."

"He is not my disciple, but rather a friend despite our age difference."

Shen Nong said coolly, "Heavenly Emperor, why not summon your Order incarnation here as well? Since your true body has already left the Heaven Palace, you should no longer care about the Heaven and Earth Seal."

A sharp light glinted in the eyes of Emperor Shun's true body as he said coolly, "Is the Human Emperor threatening me?"

"Further talk is useless."

Shen Nong raised the wooden staff in his hand, and wisps of gentle wind began to swirl around him.

"Between you and me, a battle to decide life and death, victory and defeat."

After Shen Nong spoke, his figure leaped up. His long hair and wide robes remained perfectly still, yet an oceanic Dao-charm surged from his body.

In the next instant, Emperor Shun's true body strangely disappeared from its spot, as if Heaven and Earth had developed an 'interstice.'

And within that interstice, the Great Daos resounded in contention!

On the altar, San Xian's figure was also about to leap, but just as the Dao-charm around him stirred, a soft chuckle suddenly came from his side.

From within the clouds and mist, Emperor Shun, clad in a long robe, walked out slowly. He had no serpent tail, only a slender human form.

Emperor Shun's Order incarnation.

He gazed at San Xian and said in a clear, gentle voice,

"Fellow Daoist, why don't we test each other a bit?"

San Xian sighed softly and lunged at Emperor Shun.

Behind him, the illusory image of the Eight Trigrams appeared, and the Five Elements Great Dao seemed to respond simultaneously.

Emperor Shun's Order incarnation always wore a faint smile. He pointed a finger, and endless chains appeared between Heaven and Earth. These chains, all formed from the Great Dao, completely suppressed this valley.

It even sealed Shen Nong's path of retreat back to this place.

The two men in front of Wu Wang exchanged a glance. Elder Red Rose charged forward with his sword, leaving several afterimages. His sword light cleaved Heaven and Earth as he launched a fierce assault on Emperor Shun's Order incarnation.

However, several chains manifested around Emperor Shun, neutralizing all of Elder Red Rose's attacks.

Conversely, the palm image unleashed by San Xian—condensed from the lingering resentment of living beings and mobilizing the power of the Yin and Yang Path—caused Emperor Shun's Order incarnation to frown deeply and proactively dodge.

Wu Wang watched the great battle erupting before him.

The figures of Emperor Shun's Order incarnation, Elder Red Rose, and the ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian seemed incredibly distant.

Wu Wang could sense that a strange change had occurred in the fabric of Heaven and Earth here, likely the work of Emperor Shun's Order incarnation.

"Master, be careful."

The Echoing Serpent's voice was also somewhat tense. It raised its hands, deploying several layers of profound shields that completely protected Wu Wang, defending against the aftershocks of the three experts' duel.

In but a moment, Elder Red Rose was sent flying by a chain. The phantoms of several immortal treasures appeared around him, but these treasures shattered one by one…

The elder who had been protecting Wu Wang flashed forward and joined the battle.

These two elders from the Human Domain, who had come with Shen Nong, cooperated with remarkable tacit understanding, actually managing to stall Emperor Shun's Order incarnation for a short time.

Although both elders were beaten to the point of vomiting blood and had already begun to burn their Primordial Spirit's power, such a battle achievement was already something to be proud of.

Wu Wang's gaze followed the retreating figure of the ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian, his mind repeatedly analyzing and pondering.

Considering the words of Senior Shen Nong just now, Shen Nong must have seen through the Heavenly Emperor's scheme, yet he deliberately kept him in the dark.

At such a moment, panicking is futile.

Based on his understanding of the Senior, if he didn't disclose it, there must be reasons for his silence.

What lies behind appearances conceals the essence; there must be some kind of logic to it.

The God of Spring god position; my father-in-law has repeatedly reminded me that this matter is related to the God of Spring god position.

In other words, did the Heavenly Emperor calculate today's situation from the moment he decreed me the God of Spring god position?

Fragmented insights appeared in Wu Wang's heart.

At first glance, the God of Spring god position seems 'simple' – a minor deity conferred by the Heaven Palace, and such a Great Dao does not exist between Heaven and Earth.

But the authority of this deity is somewhat outrageous — bringing dead wood to life.

Especially after Wu Wang had rescued Xiao Deng, it was confirmed that the Dao of resurrecting dead wood could be applied to living beings.

What was Xiao Deng's condition at that time?

Helpless to medicine, beyond salvation by Human Domain's elixirs, and very weak in personal strength.

If True Immortals or Heavenly Immortals were at their limit, Wu Wang wouldn't have the Divine Power to save them either.

Did the Heavenly Emperor bestow him this god position merely to please his own mother?

All these calculations are quite a headache.

Wu Wang's lips twitched slightly.

Fine, so everyone's playing the riddler, are they?

Then he won't bother guessing riddles anymore!

Elder Shen Nong also seems to be somewhat following Emperor Shun's line of thought and should be quite passive at the moment; why shouldn't I break free from Emperor Shun's calculations and make things simple and direct?

First, my God of Spring divine authority, the Dao of bringing dead wood to life, is something Emperor Shun wants the Human Domain to master.

Second, the elder knew all this and had specially brought him here.

Third, the matter should revolve around my God of Spring divine authority and Senior Sanxian.

Fourth, there was no need for me to follow Emperor Shun's line of thinking.

"Mother, mother?"

Wu Wang gripped the necklace, calling out twice in his heart.

Cang Xue's gentle voice responded, "What is it?"

"Mother, can you contact the Outer Sky?"

"It's somewhat difficult, but I can try."

Wu Wang thought for a moment, then said calmly, "Have them create some commotion over there. Force Emperor Shun back to the Heaven Palace."

"Alright," Cang Xue agreed. "Have you noticed what's wrong?"

"Not yet," Wu Wang said. "But continuing like this is too passive. We might as well…"

His words suddenly halted as he thought of the current war situation in the Southeastern Region.

Although the Heavenly Emperor was here, most of the divine beings from the Heaven Palace were left to guard it; even if the Candle Dragon acted up, the Heaven Palace should hold out for some time...

"What is it?"

Cang Xue urged, "Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes, I'll have to trouble Mother to put pressure on the Heaven Palace," Wu Wang said. "No matter what, we can't let Emperor Shun act so unscrupulously."

"Alright."

Cang Xue assented. In the Starry Sky Temple, she raised her staff high.

In the North Sea, that blizzard-swept, extremely cold land, the orchid grass trembled faintly, and a ripple vanished without a trace.

Just then, in the valley where Heaven and Earth were being repeatedly distorted, Emperor Shun's Order incarnation thrust out a palm. It struck the ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian head-on. The faint Taiji of Yin and Yang directly shattered, and the old Daoist's figure flew backward, hurtling toward Wu Wang.

Wu Wang could only stare.

Could this be any more obvious?

Must he really give that 'spring' a push?

If that was really the case, then why choose him to hold the God of Spring god position rather than the Heavenly Emperor himself capturing San Xian and bringing him to the Heaven Palace before appointing a God of Spring and using the power of Feng Chun to rejuvenate him? Wouldn't that work...

What is there, that he alone possesses, which the Heavenly Emperor wants to use?

Wu Wang subconsciously clenched his fist.

The Echoing Serpent immediately acted, shielding Wu Wang as they retreated several hundred zhang. At this distance, they should have flown out of the valley entrance, but now, behind Wu Wang and the Echoing Serpent, there was only a gray, hazy mist.

CRACK!

The ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian's body slammed into the ground, sending up a shower of blood. His aura rapidly decayed.

He tried to get up, but his body was like shattered porcelain, covered in a spiderweb of cracks.

The roars of the living beings gradually subsided. The gray energy around the old Daoist was now filled with dejection and helplessness, and his figure even began to shrink.

Withering, decaying.

Wu Wang instinctively took a half step back, as if ready to turn and leave at any moment.

Chains flew wildly around Emperor Shun's Order incarnation, batting aside the two Human Domain experts. Then, with a light flick of his palm, a palm shadow pressed down toward San Xian.

In that instant...

The flow of time seemed to slow down.

The Echoing Serpent used Divine Power to pull Wu Wang away, dodging into the distance. Wu Wang stared at the ThreeOld Daoist Sanxian's prone figure on the ground; Emperor Shun's palm shadow was about to descend...

Is it really Emperor Fuxi?

Subtraction. At this moment, I must do subtraction.

Emperor Shun probably wanted him to personally revive San Xian, to endow San Xian with the intent of renewal. If he acted, he would be playing into Emperor Shun's hand.

But...

'To break today's situation, his power of Feng Chun is needed.'

I choose to trust the elder.

This thought flashed through Wu Wang's mind. His left hand had already opened, palm aimed at San Xian's figure.

Dead wood, meet spring.

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