Chapter 814: Conspiracy

On Su Yu's side, they flexed their muscles!

Impressive!

Thirteen venerable-level beings, plus Su Yu himself, multiple top-tier heavenly kings—Tianhuo, Lanshan, Doubao were all top-tier heavenly kings, along with Jiuyue, Chuibing, Minghuang, Liekong, and Tianche, several heavenly kings.

Liekong hailed from the Space Ancient Beast Clan, the consort of the Space Beast Emperor.

Tianche was formerly the spokesperson of the Upper Realm's Fate Clan.

As for the Hou Emperor, Space Beast Emperor, Siyue, Liuyue, Futu Ling, Great Qin King, Great Xia King...

These individuals, integrated into Su Yu's realm, were all heavenly kings within that realm; those not integrated still possessed second-tier He Dao combat power.

Hetu, Xiachen, and other revived dead spirits were similar; Daming King and the like were also second-tier beings.

Except for some newly ascended He Dao who were weaker, figures like Tianmie also possessed heavenly king or second-tier combat power within the realm.

Earlier, Su Yu's side had dispatched fifty He Dao; now, over twenty revived dead spirit He Dao had arrived, plus He Dao from the Upper Realm's Fate Clan, Space Ancient Beast Clan, and Hou Clan—at this moment, the He Dao numbered nearly a hundred!

And this wasn't all!

With such strength, how could the myriad races not despair?

The human race grew stronger, while they grew weaker; Su Yu aimed to subdue the enemy without fighting!

...

Would anyone else come?

On the sixth day, Nan Wang and over twenty He Dao arrived; on the seventh day, would anyone appear?

Wu Huang?

Or Su Yu?

At this moment, aside from these two, Su Yu's side should have no other strong beings.

...

But there were!

On the seventh day.

Suddenly, death qi surged to the heavens!

That day, Su Yu opened the Dead Spirit Domain, and death qi shook the world.

The Dead Spirit Emperor actually didn't want to leave his mountain...

But he couldn't withstand Su Yu's nagging.

Su Yu said he wanted to flex his muscles and throw all his cards onto the table... That was Su Yu's phrasing; whether it was truly all his cards, no one knew.

Let's just assume it was!

Dead spirits appearing in the living realm easily triggered rule punishment... But now, in the myriad realms, the rules had been scattered and devoured by Su Yu; the rule great path had been shattered by him—what rule punishment remained?

That day, in the human realm.

Bai Zhan's eyes narrowed!

Beside him, Chang Qing and Chang Mei stood; Chang Qing said gravely, "Another one has appeared!"

And... not ordinary!

"The Dead Spirit Emperor!"

Bai Zhan knew who this was, speaking with some gravity: "In all these years of the Dead Spirit Domain, perhaps only he is a true Rule Master realm being!"

The Dead Spirit Emperor had actually appeared!

What exactly did Su Yu want to do?

No, or rather, whom did Su Yu intend to intimidate?

Was it him?

If not, the force Su Yu had deployed earlier was already sufficient, but at this moment, he still mobilized the dead spirit army!

Yes, not just the Dead Spirit Emperor alone; now, the Dead Spirit Emperor led over a dozen dead spirit He Dao, tearing through the void, flying toward the Zanghun Mountain passage.

"Is this all his hidden strength?"

Bai Zhan murmured, "Very strong!"

One Rule Master, no, plus Wu Huang, that made two!

Two Rule Masters, thirteen venerables, and Su Yu himself not counted, over a hundred He Dao, a batch of heavenly kings—this was Su Yu's confidence?

Impressive!

Bai Zhan hadn't expected, nor had he anticipated, that Su Yu, in such a short time, had amassed such formidable power—it was shocking.

Beside him, Chang Qing said solemnly, "Your Majesty, Su Yu... is probably intimidating Your Majesty!"

All these strong beings hadn't passed through the Chaos; except for the two from the Chaos Ancient Clan, the rest had come through the myriad realms, each bursting with aura outside, shaking heaven and earth. Su Yu hadn't secretly sent his subordinates to the battlefield.

Instead, for seven consecutive days, strong beings kept emerging.

And today, even the Dead Spirit Emperor had appeared!

That was the truly shocking thing!

Bai Zhan closed his eyes, then opened them quickly, nodding: "He is indeed intimidating me!"

Su Yu was arrogant, but he had the capital for it; he was warning Bai Zhan not to make a wrong choice, for with Su Yu's current forces, they were terrifyingly powerful. According to the current situation, it might even be that two sides joining forces couldn't match him.

They might even need three sides to unite against Su Yu's side!

Su Yu... the one with the shallowest foundation, yet at this point, had become the strongest faction!

...

In the Upper Realm.

When death qi surged to the heavens, everyone realized trouble had come.

"Yu Emperor's Mansion: The Dead Spirit King enters battle!"

In the distance, within the void, a formidable being, his aura shaking heaven and earth, was followed by over a dozen dead spirit He Dao, who seemed insignificant beside him.

This was the seventh day!

A Rule Master had personally appeared.

The Dead Spirit Emperor stepped through the void, death qi sweeping across the world. He was thin, clad in robes, wearing a crown—the mark of the Dead Spirit King—and as he walked, he smiled: "By His Majesty's order, I am to receive the generals who fall in battle for the Yu Emperor's Mansion!"

The Dead Spirit King had appeared!

At this moment, the myriad races were utterly despairing!

"A Rule Master!"

"And there's still Wu Huang!"

"How can we fight?"

"Perhaps even the Divine Emperor's Consort cannot match this Dead Spirit King... How can we still fight?"

The crowd was truly in despair!

Once the Divine Empress was entangled by the Death Spirit King, how could the other nine Heavenly Lords match Su Yu’s side?

After all, Su Yu’s side had several top-tier Heavenly Lords!

Despair, pessimism—all kinds of emotions seethed above the Mountain of Men.

...

Above the Mountain of Men.

The moment the Death Spirit King appeared, Tiangu was utterly crushed, with some confusion and some loss, murmuring softly, “War… only… extinction!”

War?

The Martial Emperor hadn’t arrived yet!

If the Martial Emperor came, what would the outcome be?

The Martial Emperor had gone deep into the Chaos, perhaps to find Zhou Ji, or perhaps just to wander freely—but regardless, he existed, he had broken his seal. Once he appeared, not to mention the myriad races, even if the myriad races united with the sinful races, Su Yu’s side could be suppressed!

How terrifying!

The number of Dao Mergers was only equal to Su Yu’s side, and crucially, there were many pseudo-Dao experts. Once battle began, Su Yu’s side might even have more Dao Mergers.

This… was utterly unwinnable.

At this moment, only a three-way alliance could hope to fight Su Yu’s side!

The Death Spirit Emperor strode through the air, smiling, “His Majesty will arrive soon! His Majesty set a three-month deadline; perhaps there won’t be an early general offensive!”

With that, the Death Spirit Emperor looked toward Wu Ji and the others, still smiling, and said loudly, “His Majesty asks you all: once battle begins, can you six block the sinful races’ rescue? Why doesn’t Baizhan come to fight? Or do you think you can stop them too?”

On the Prison King’s side, there were only six Heavenly Lords.

Not many!

Of course, there were many Heavenly Kings and Dao Mergers—Yue Zhan, Mo Heavenly Lord, perhaps could be left to the Heavenly Kings and Dao Mergers to fight. But could the six Heavenly Lords match two Rule Masters?

A slim hope!

At this moment, Wu Ji’s face was heavy. Was it time to fight?

Would His Majesty… come?

If His Majesty didn’t come, they would be no match for the Prison King’s faction.

But Su Yu hadn’t appeared yet; if His Majesty came first, wouldn’t that be a loss of face?

Yet now, their side’s strength was indeed inferior to Su Yu’s, unable to suppress them. If during the great battle, the Prison King’s faction truly rescued the myriad races, that would be an even greater loss of face!

At this moment, a Rule Master came to inquire, and Wu Ji did not neglect him, saying solemnly, “Rest assured, if war truly breaks out, we will intercept them!”

The Death Spirit Emperor asked again, “Can the Baizhan lineage only intercept, not annihilate?”

The Death Spirit Emperor said with a faint smile, “Emperor Yu’s strength is weak, unable to match a Rule Master, so whether he comes or not makes no difference! His Majesty’s intention is that he sits at the core; as long as he is safe, our spiritual faith remains! But Baizhan King is your strongest; if he doesn’t come, can you truly stop us?”

At these words, some people’s minds suddenly stirred.

What?

Right!

Su Yu!

The core!

At that moment, something seemed to flash in everyone’s minds—Su Yu!

Su Yu was alone!

He was all alone!

Where was he?

In the Death Spirit Realm?

With the Martial Emperor?

What if the Martial Emperor wasn’t there?

What if he was in the Chaos… then… then Su Yu truly was alone. His subordinates—Rule Masters, Heavenly Lords, Heavenly Kings, Dao Mergers—could be said to have all come out.

At this moment, if anyone claimed Su Yu still had a large number of experts, no one would believe it. If he did, Su Yu would have already unified all worlds!

Su Yu… alone!

…

At this moment, Tiangu, the Divine Empress, Yu Qing, Wu Ji…

Many people’s minds suddenly trembled like lightning.

Su Yu, he was alone.

He was the core. Su Yu’s side was too mixed—all kinds of people, experts from all races, even the dead. Once Su Yu was killed, Su Yu’s side would likely collapse on its own.

Besides Su Yu, who could suppress all sides?

If Su Yu died, would the Death Spirit Emperor listen to others?

Would Feiqiu care about others?

Would Tianming still obey orders?

None of them!

Even Qi Princess, Tianhuo, and the others would probably withdraw. Who would Sanyue, Jufu, and the others listen to?

At this moment, countless hearts trembled.

The Death Spirit Emperor’s words suddenly made them realize a terribly serious problem.

…

On the human side.

Great Zhou King and the others changed color slightly.

Yes, why hadn’t Su Yu come yet?

The plan to coerce the myriad races was almost complete.

At this moment, if Su Yu brought the personnel from the lower realms of all races, the myriad races would surely compromise. Once they compromised… the humans allied with the myriad races would surely win!

Fighting the Baizhan side and the sinful race side would be effortless.

Great Zhou King quickly looked at the Death Spirit Emperor. The Death Spirit Emperor’s words seemed to imply something, as if telling everyone that Su Yu was now alone, and some people who wanted to kill him could go and do so!

He was strong, but he was only a Heavenly Lord.

Others might find it hard to leave, but… Baizhan could!

Now, Baizhan hadn’t appeared yet.

Go kill Su Yu!

Kill Su Yu, and Su Yu’s side would surely collapse.

……

On the Wuji side.

Wuji suddenly trembled slightly, transmitting telepathically to the others, his voice laced with fear: “His Majesty… wouldn’t go after Su Yu, would he?”

His Majesty did not support Su Yu’s plan!

Forced into it, he only agreed to suppress the criminal clans. And now… could His Majesty take a desperate risk, while Su Yu’s people are all in the upper realm, to enter the Netherworld Domain and kill Su Yu?

Baizhan could enter.

He could even go through Chaos!

Even if not through Chaos, Baizhan might have a way in. Across the lower realm, even if the two fought a cataclysmic battle in the Netherworld Domain, others might not know, nor be able to come to the rescue in time.

At these words, the group was shaken. Blood Shadow quickly transmitted: “He wouldn’t… Even if His Majesty and the Human Sovereign are at odds, he wouldn’t do something so foolish… Impossible!”

He dared not think of it!

It couldn’t be!

But… but what if?

Su Yu was now the core uniting the forces of the Imperial Mansion. If His Majesty truly killed Su Yu—heavens—Blood Shadow dared not imagine the upheaval that would follow. The entire situation across the myriad realms would shift in an instant!

Now, humanity suppressed the myriad races and the criminal clans. If Su Yu died, even if they could still fight, the tide would reverse immediately.

The hard-won advantage would vanish in a flash.

Red Moon quickly added: “He won’t. His Majesty isn’t so unwise. Killing the Tenth Human Sovereign—that would be defying heaven, betraying humanity… He won’t…”

They dared not think it, dared not believe it!

But Thunderclap suddenly said: “Why… would Su Yu… stay alone in the Netherworld Domain?”

Was Su Yu a fool?

No!

Su Yu was shrewder than anyone, truly shrewder than anyone. When the Netherworld Emperor spoke those words, many experts instantly understood and sensed the danger. Didn’t Su Yu himself know?

Thunderclap didn’t believe it. He trembled slightly, not because of Su Yu, but because of Baizhan: “Su Yu… he… he wants to actively force His Majesty to betray humanity… and kill His Majesty!”

At these words, their minds exploded!

Wuji felt it was unimaginable!

His mind was filled with Thunderclap’s words: Su Yu wanted to force Baizhan to act, to make Baizhan voluntarily betray humanity!

Heavens!

Was he mad?

Wuji’s body shook, and his telepathic voice trembled: “Impossible… His Majesty wouldn’t do that. Perhaps their ideals differ, but killing Su Yu… that would be different. Su Yu is suppressing the myriad races and the criminal clans. If His Majesty kills Su Yu… that… that won’t happen… won’t…”

The next moment, he suddenly looked toward Grand King Zhou and the others, a hint of panic in his eyes, and transmitted angrily: “Go back!”

If Su Yu wouldn’t come, then some of those on this side had to return!

He was afraid!

Afraid that His Majesty truly saw an opportunity and would strike.

When that time came… where would they go?

They couldn’t let the situation worsen like this!

Wuji and the others were terrified, because they knew Baizhan was not indecisive. In fact, Baizhan was more resolute than anyone. If he truly had such thoughts and saw the chance, he might actually do it!

Besides, Changqing and Changmei, those two lackeys, were there!

They might even actively urge His Majesty to act!

At this moment, Wuji wished he could run to the lower realm and tell Baizhan: Don’t, this is a trap!

Killing Su Yu would mean His Majesty cutting himself off from humanity!

Even if he had abandoned humanity in the past, it was under duress. But killing Su Yu now would be entirely different. From then on, there would be no turning back!

……

At that moment, among Grand King Zhou and the others, some were worried, some heavy-hearted, some terrified.

They all looked at the Netherworld Emperor.

Earlier, they hadn’t thought deeply. When the Netherworld Emperor spoke those words, almost everyone had considered the danger to Su Yu.

Someone suddenly said: “It’s fine… His Majesty… is over there… it should be fine!”

His Majesty was already in his own realm, right?

According to His Majesty’s words, even if Baizhan broke in, he wouldn’t be afraid.

Yes! That was it, no problem.

“Lantian, contact His Majesty…”

Lantian suddenly opened his eyes: “His Majesty… seems to be in the Netherworld Domain!”

Yes, Su Yu seemed to be in the Netherworld Domain. The Netherworld Domain was sealed; across the boundary, Lantian couldn’t sense his own clone. If His Majesty were in Chaos, he could sense something.

So… His Majesty was not in his realm!

At these words, everyone’s expression changed.

“The Netherworld Domain is sealed. Baizhan can’t enter, right?”

Everyone fell silent, not knowing.

Why hadn’t His Majesty come?

Was it really just for greater safety?

But now, it was far less safe.

The entire realm fell silent for a moment.

……

Above the Human Mountain.

Tiangu’s eyes suddenly blazed!

“Su Yu and Baizhan…”

Tiangu’s eyes shone brightly. “They… might come into conflict ahead of time!”

Divine Empress’s eyes suddenly flashed with divine light. “You mean Baizhan will take the chance to move against him?”

“Yes!”

Tiangu said gravely, “No, this is a trap Su Yu deliberately set. Could it be… that he is with the Martial Emperor? Is the Martial Emperor by his side?”

If so, that would explain everything.

If the Martial Emperor were not there... that would be a golden opportunity!

Tiangu's eyes flickered: "If Su Yu were... truly dead... my myriad races... would fear no one!"

Would Su Yu die?

The situation had reached this point, suddenly becoming murky and bewildering, and all of this was actually caused by Su Yu himself—utterly inconceivable.

That madman Su Yu, what on earth was he doing?

Clearly holding an absolute advantage, did he intend to take down all three sides in a single battle?

At that moment, Dao Tianzun's expression also shifted slightly: "If a real fight breaks out, others will go to rescue... then we... should we block them or not?"

If a true clash occurred, there might be commotion, and then others would surely come to the rescue—so block them or not?

Just as he was thinking, suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted!

The next moment, under the stunned gazes of the crowd, from the direction of Burial Soul Mountain and the Dao Source Land, booming sounds rang out incessantly. In the blink of an eye, the two passages leading to the lower realm seemed to be sealed.

Instantly, the entire upper realm fell into chaos!

Sealed?

Ever since Su Yu had broken the passages, the power of the rules had dissipated. Logically, these passages could not be sealed unless the rule power was restored.

To seal them... would likely require special means!

This... who did it?

Su Yu?

Hundred Battles?

...

At that moment, before the Gate of Hell.

Yu Qing suddenly stood up, gazing at the two locations. After a long pause, she murmured, "Sealed..."

She abruptly turned to look at the Python Dragon Beast!

The lower realm was sealed!

Traveling through Chaos was also possible, but it would be far more troublesome, requiring at least half a day to cross the Chaos, and only if nothing went wrong.

So now, could we go out and slaughter freely?

Kill Wu Ji and the others!

Then summon the Rule Lord!

Was this Su Yu's scheme?

Or something else?

At this moment, Yu Qing also trembled slightly—it seemed like an opportunity, but also like danger.

Was it a crisis or a chance?

The Python Dragon Beast also quivered faintly. After a long silence, it spoke in a low voice: "Wait!"

Wait for what?

Wait for the great battle!

Wait for the battle between Su Yu and Hundred Battles. Once a real fight broke out, they would strike, killing Wu Ji and the others!

If not... beware that these two sides were putting on a double act, deliberately luring them out, away from the Gate of Hell. Once they were too far, killing a Tianzun would be useless as raw material to summon the Rule Lord, and they might instead be surrounded and killed.

Was it a trick, or was it a genuine internal conflict among humanity?

No one could judge!

...

At this moment, on Su Yu's side, Nan Wang also changed color: "Travel through Chaos, go to the lower realm!"

Great Zhou Wang was very grave, suddenly shouting: "Do not go! You must not go!"

He looked around, "Stay calm!"

He spoke solemnly: "His Majesty will not act rashly. Right now, if we stay here and join forces with Wu Ji and the others, we can suppress both sides. But if some of us leave... do you want to doom everyone?"

He was trying to discern Su Yu's thoughts.

This time, Su Yu had said nothing at all.

Was this letting me choose?

On their side, plus Wu Ji's side, they could roughly match both sides now. But if some of their own left, trouble would follow—once the Sin Clan and the myriad races struck... the previous advantage would vanish in an instant!

They had barely pushed the myriad races to this point!

If they withdrew now, all the preparatory work would be wasted!

They must stay calm!

Great Zhou Wang thought of these things and shouted: "The general's duel continues!"

He looked toward the myriad races' direction, his voice deep: "What are you staring at, Tiangu? Are you not ready to fight? Then this moment, it will be a full assault!"

Tiangu also cast a deep glance at Great Zhou Wang, saying calmly: "Are you sure you want to continue?"

Great Zhou Wang sneered: "His Majesty has his own plans. Tiangu, don't tell me you think His Majesty is as foolish as you?"

Tiangu did not take offense, and after a while said: "I just fear that he, sweeping through the world, has become overly arrogant!"

Tiangu said flatly: "He doesn't think that he alone can truly suppress all three sides, does he?"

Was Su Yu too arrogant?

As his words fell, from afar, Wu Ji's roar came, filled with anger: "Nonsense! It's all a conspiracy! His Majesty will not clash with the Tenth Generation Human Lord. Their ideals differ, but they will not conflict!"

Great Zhou Wang suddenly looked in that direction, with some doubt and uncertainty, and said solemnly: "We also believe Hundred Battles will not... but... if it is so... you... how will you choose?"

Was Su Yu doing this for these people?

Deliberately forcing Hundred Battles to rebel!

Had Su Yu seen something? Most of these Hundred Battles followers in the upper realm still had their hearts set on humanity, not necessarily on Su Yu. Su Yu could not represent humanity, nor could Hundred Battles.

Some people merely followed those strong enough to save humanity.

Could it be that Su Yu was doing this for them?

At this moment, the upper and lower realms were separated. Once Hundred Battles truly went to kill Su Yu... these Hundred Battles followers in the upper realm might collapse.

Wu Ji's face shifted, gritting his teeth, and he roared: "I said, His Majesty will not do this!"

He would not!

Hundred Battles was also a faith for some!

Hundred Battles, humanity—once Hundred Battles truly went to kill Su Yu, how would they choose?

This was a question that utterly shattered them, one they dared not contemplate.

When they saw Su Yu's side gradually pressuring the myriad races, to be honest, they felt both shock and joy. It was good that Su Yu's side was strong, suppressing the myriad races—that was fine too.

Although there might be disputes with the Baizhan issue, is there not any now?

Yet... once Baizhan breaks this situation?

Then... what shall we do?

At this moment, the Great Zhou King seemed to understand Su Yu’s thoughts. He took a deep breath, his eyes sharp and cold: “Anything is possible! Why was the lower realm passage suddenly sealed? Who could do it?”

“Your Majesty has already dispelled the rules, unless... someone immensely powerful mobilized the power of the rules to seal the lower realm!”

He said coldly: “Why seal the lower realm? What are they afraid of?”

“It’s... it’s the Martial Emperor!”

Suddenly, Wu Ji shouted: “It’s him, yes, it’s him! He is also very powerful, perhaps he also wants to... to strike at Su Yu, yes, that’s it. Last time he even wanted to join forces with Your Majesty to kill Su Yu!”

Some things cannot be thought about!

Otherwise, the trouble would be immense.

The Martial Emperor?

At this moment, Wu Ji could only think of what the Martial Emperor had done. This was the best outcome; if it wasn’t the Martial Emperor, then it would be the worst.

Yet, at that very moment, a figure suddenly emerged in the distant chaos. The Martial Emperor, clad in golden armor, cursed: “What the hell, one moment here, the next there...”

The next moment, he was startled: “Damn it, you did that on purpose, didn’t you, you bastard? If I catch you, I’ll beat you to death!”

Boom!

An immensely powerful aura instantly shook heaven and earth. The Martial Emperor broke through the void, vanishing from his spot in an instant. In the blink of an eye, he shattered the void and disappeared, but his voice echoed back with wild laughter: “That bastard has appeared. Zhou Ji, right? This time I will definitely beat him to death and see who is stronger!”

Wu Ji’s face turned pale!

Zhou Ji!

Zhou Ji had appeared?

Had the Martial Emperor discovered him?

No, it was more like he was deliberately luring the Martial Emperor to chase him, luring him away!

Why would this happen?

Could it really be His Majesty’s doing?

Impossible!

But the lower realm was sealed by the Martial Emperor—that possibility no longer existed. If so, only Baizhan had the strength to do this.

The Martial Emperor who just appeared must be the real body!

Too powerful!

Thus, the sealer of the lower realm could never be the Martial Emperor!

Then... it could only be Baizhan.

Baizhan had betrayed them!

Wu Ji was somewhat frantic. His Majesty had betrayed them, truly betrayed them... No, he couldn’t jump to conclusions so rashly now. Maybe... maybe it wasn’t?

Maybe it was just an accident?

...

And at this moment.

In the lower realm.

Su Yu looked up at the sky with some emotion: “The lower realm is sealed now!”

Not far away, Baizhan, wearing a crown and a golden robe, stood with a few companions. His expression was calm, but his eyes were complex. He said softly: “Su Yu, you... are you scheming against me?”

Su Yu smiled lightly: “No, I’m just giving you an opportunity!”

Su Yu chuckled: “I prefer to take the initiative, not to wait passively for results. Whether you betray or not, the choice is entirely yours, isn’t it?”

Beside him, Changqing’s face was ashen, and he shouted angrily: “Su Yu, you... you did this on purpose! You are forcing His Majesty!”

Yes, the lower realm was not sealed by Baizhan.

It was Su Yu himself!

He did it himself!

This terrifying man was even stronger than expected. He sealed the two passages himself, startling even Baizhan!

Su Yu was terrifying to the extreme!

He did this deliberately!

Su Yu said calmly: “I am not forcing you, Baizhan. You can choose for yourself! Choose to kill me, or... choose to cooperate with me, truly cooperate! You have been holding back, waiting in the human realm. What are you waiting for? For Wu Ji and the others to be killed, and for the sinful clans to summon a few more Lords of Rules?”

Su Yu said calmly: “You have delayed going to the upper realm. If the sinful clans act, what will be the outcome? If my people were not so many and so strong, what would happen then?”

“What you fear is merely the Martial Emperor’s interference... Are you contacting Zhou Ji to take the Martial Emperor away?”

“Don’t worry. I have already made arrangements for the Martial Emperor. I let him appear and leave on his own... to suit your wishes! Of course, Zhou Ji might truly appear. If so, the Martial Emperor cannot interfere... But my people are strong, and the sinful clans will not act rashly, unless... you can capture me!”

Su Yu looked at him with a smile: “What you have been waiting for all along, is it Zhou Ji? You are afraid the Martial Emperor will disrupt your plan, right?”

“But you never expected that my people are many, stronger than you imagined!”

“Even without the Martial Emperor, they would not dare to act rashly... So you have only one path: kill me to turn everything around. Baizhan, what do you think?”

Baizhan’s face darkened: “Su Yu, I never wished to be your enemy!”

“Yes, perhaps!”

Su Yu nodded slightly: “What you want is merely to complete your own plan. Being my enemy is probably not the outcome you desire. You would rather everything pass smoothly...”

Su Yu smiled: “Without my interference, no one could stop you from opening the gates of hell, right? Unfortunately... it seems I have disrupted your plan! Baizhan, is that so?”

Baizhan sighed: “I never expected you to rise so quickly, nor did I expect... that you would take the initiative to force me!”

He said with a hint of self-mockery: “Su Yu, you are more terrifying and more cunning than anyone imagined. You want to smoothly take over my people, don’t you?”

He added with self-mockery: “Now, everyone thinks I sealed the lower realm to kill you... Wu Ji and the others are probably already in despair. Once we fight and the commotion reaches the upper realm... you can easily take over my people, right?”

What a Su Yu!

Cunning, shameless, treacherous!

No one would believe that Su Yu himself sealed the lower realm; they would only think it was Baizhan. Besides Baizhan, there was no one else!

Su Yu said calmly: “I just don’t want internal strife among the human race, isn’t that so?”

Su Yu wore a faint smile: “If you cooperate with me... then your people will naturally remain yours! If you have no ulterior motives, everything will develop toward the best outcome!”

Baizhan laughed: “Perhaps! Su Yu, I am only curious about one thing: where do you get the confidence to match me?”

At this moment, his aura gradually revealed!

It surged through the galaxy!

Boundlessly powerful!

That formidable presence even shook the myriad realms!

Bai Zhan walked step by step toward Su Yu, his expression cold. "I don't want to be your enemy. Even if you want to be the lord of men, the sovereign of all, I can yield it to you! As long as you don't interfere with me, I won't seek you out. Su Yu, why must you force my hand?"

His aura was formidable! In the blink of an eye, it surpassed that of the Divine Emperor Consort from that day, even drawing close to the Martial Emperor. He carried a trace of reluctance and anger. "I have never wronged the human race in the slightest!"

"I too have suppressed the myriad races, held back the guilty clans... So why, why must you push me?"

At this moment, behind Bai Zhan, two Heavenly Sovereigns materialized, and soon nearly twenty more Dao-Integrated beings appeared, all of them powerful. These figures swiftly dispersed, surrounding Su Yu from all directions.

Bai Zhan strode toward Su Yu. "Su Yu, now... you still have a chance!"

He spoke gravely: "As long as you don't interfere with me, I swear I won't let the guilty clans grow too strong, nor let the myriad races disrupt the myriad realms... You can annihilate the myriad races; I might even help you destroy them... But the guilty clans still serve my purpose... Su Yu, in this way, we could cooperate. If you go to rescue the Human Sovereign and the others, I won't stop you. You do your work, I do mine—how about it?"

Su Yu smiled. "I'm curious: why are you so determined to open the Gates of Hell? You claim you won't let the guilty clans grow too strong... Then let me ask you: if Yu appears, can you handle him?"

Bai Zhan replied solemnly, "Of course I can. The Human Ancestor can handle anything!"

"You're so certain the Human Ancestor can handle everything?"

Su Yu laughed. "Where is the Human Ancestor? How strong is he? What are his true intentions... do you even know?"

Bai Zhan shouted harshly, "I know! Su Yu, I don't need you to remind me! You will never understand how powerful the enemy you face truly is! The Chaos beyond the Gates of Hell, the Age of Creation beyond the Heavenly Gate, and... perhaps even the existence before Chaos!"

He roared, "Can you deal with them? Can the Human Sovereign? The Human Sovereign knows nothing of this..."

Su Yu said calmly, "Then we can wait until the Human Sovereign returns, and discuss opening the Gates of Hell together!"

Bai Zhan grew angry. "I told you, you don't understand! The Human Sovereign is a conservative; he will never agree to open the Gates of Hell and let Chaos batter Heaven and Earth! You don't know the Human Sovereign at all! His ideals are different from yours, and different from mine... If you truly understood him, you wouldn't think he would willingly open the Gates of Hell! He would rather leave alone with the myriad races' strong ones than let the Human Ancestor return... He is different!"

Su Yu's expression shifted. "You mean... the Human Sovereign... actually knows all this!"

Bai Zhan was silent for a moment, then sneered, "Yes, he knows!"

Su Yu's heart trembled!

The Human Sovereign knew, but he disagreed!

The Prison King!

Su Yu's mind shook again: "The Prison King... it's connected to the Prison King... His betrayal... Could it be... Could it be that the Prison King wanted to open the Gates of Hell, but everyone disagreed, right? The Literary King once punished the Prison King... but it was only a minor chastisement, and he even let the Prison King guard the Gates of Hell... That means back then, no one thought the Prison King would betray... Was it you... Did you do all this?"

His voice trembled: "So you and the Prison King are actually in league?"

At that moment, he seemed to grasp something fully.

Su Yu said, shaken: "Your goal and the Prison King's are the same: to fully open the Gates of Hell! And the Prison King even willingly plunged into the Gates of Hell! You aren't afraid of the Gates opening because the Prison King is actually one of you, isn't he?"

In that instant, Su Yu understood completely. He stared at Bai Zhan, stunned: "So, Yue Luo and Yue Xiao—they were all part of your faction?"

Su Yu frowned: "Then why, six thousand years ago, didn't you join forces to annihilate the myriad races? That way, no one would have stopped you from opening the Gates of Hell! Why put on a charade?"

Bai Zhan closed his eyes, as if deep in thought or contemplation. Suddenly, he opened them and sighed softly: "You are very clever! As for not annihilating the myriad races—you don't understand. If the myriad races were destroyed, those exiled Rule Masters would sense it!"

He spoke with a hint of melancholy: "You truly don't understand... Once the myriad races are wiped out, those people will stop at nothing to fight their way back! Six thousand years ago, the Gates of Hell had not yet opened so wide. If they returned too quickly... everything would be lost!"

Bai Zhan laughed bitterly: "The Rule Masters of the myriad races outnumber those of humanity, and they are stronger than the Human Sovereign and his companions! But they fear death, fear sacrifice. So they wait, slowly grinding away, rather than striking with all their might and crushing the Human Sovereign and his forces!"

"Su Yu, you still don't understand... Your slaughter of the myriad races will only cripple the Human Sovereign and his allies! It might even destroy them!"

Su Yu's face turned icy: "Yet you said you would help me annihilate the myriad races, because now the Gates of Hell can be opened! When I lead my people to rescue the Human Sovereign and the others, perhaps they will already be defeated, and we might encounter the myriad races' strong ones mid-journey, sparking a great battle—just enough to delay us for a while... Isn't that right, Bai Zhan?"

Bai Zhan looked at him and sighed: "You are too clever!"

Su Yu—with a single sentence, he could deduce so much!

A terrifying fellow!

And now, Su Yu understood completely: "Six thousand years ago, the Gates of Hell had not yet cracked, had they? So even if you had crushed the myriad races and no one stood in your way, you still couldn't open the Gates of Hell! But now, you can!"

"According to the Human Sovereign's calculations, perhaps in the last tide, six thousand years ago, the myriad races should have been defeated. The Ninth Generation Lord of Men would have led his people to rescue them. That was when the Human Sovereign's shadow guards appeared... But then a traitor like you emerged, seizing control of humanity—something neither the Human Sovereign nor the Firebearer had anticipated, right?"

"And at that time, once the myriad races were crushed, their Rule Masters would sense it and return swiftly... You had no time to open the Gates of Hell, so you bided your time?"

Su Yu said coldly: "The Gates of Hell... to welcome back the Human Ancestor, you have truly gone mad! You would even sacrifice the Human Sovereign and his companions—you beasts!"

Bai Zhan stared at him silently.

He said nothing, offered no defense.

At this moment, Su Yu's aura began to swell, faintly reaching the level of the Divine Emperor Consort. His voice was sharp: "So, when I led my people to kill those guilty clan members, it must have pained you, didn't it?"

"Not at all."

Bai Zhan replied calmly: "Dead is dead. If they hadn't died, how could we have summoned Yu Qing and Po Long? How could we have widened the crack in the Gates of Hell? If not them, then others would have died. I just didn't expect you to try to unify the myriad realms so soon."

Su Yu's face hardened. He stared at Bai Zhan, his smile gone.

"So... you, Bai Zhan, are the greatest traitor!"

"No... I am no traitor!"

Bai Zhan shook his head: "I am not. The Prison King is not. The Battle King is not. None of us are... We simply wish to walk a different path, rather than follow the Human Sovereign into passive waiting for annihilation! Su Yu, this is a difference in choice, not betrayal!"

He said calmly: "If you consider us traitors... then the Literary King, the Martial King, and the Time Master are traitors too, for they delved into the Heavenly Gate, causing the collapse of the Ancient Imperial Court! At least the Prison King did not choose to unseal the Gates of Hell during that era... It was the Literary King and the others who left first, creating the current situation. If anyone is to blame, it is the Literary King and the Martial King for causing all this. Why don't you call them traitors?"

Su Yu thought for a moment, then suddenly laughed and nodded: "What you say... sounds somewhat reasonable... but it's utter nonsense!"

Su Yu shouted coldly: "Even if the Literary King and the others delved into the Heavenly Gate and caused the ancient collapse, the Human Sovereign cleaned up after them, leaving behind a wealth of contingencies to ensure humanity's safety! And you beasts squandered those contingencies instead of using them to benefit humanity!"

"All I can say is that the Literary King and the Martial King were fools, but they had a good elder brother who bore that burden for them! As for you—you only know how to take, never to give, and no one among you shoulders that responsibility!"

What rubbish!

Did they think Su Yu was ignorant?

The Human Sovereign's contingencies were enough for humanity to use, to protect itself, even to rise again. Yet the Firebearer lineage was butchered by Bai Zhan's faction!

Su Yu's face was like ice: "Perhaps, from the very first tide, your people were already in the shadows! By your time, it had only reached its peak. Maybe from the first tide onward, your people were systematically killing those loyal to the Human Sovereign!"

Bai Zhan was silent.

Su Yu's face turned even colder!

He suddenly looked at Long Eyebrow, at Chang Qing, and the others, and laughed!

"I think... I might have guessed right!"

Yes, perhaps from the first tide, someone had been undermining the Human Sovereign's faction, causing the myriad races and humanity to face off for countless ages, all waiting for the day the Gates of Hell could be opened!

Otherwise, if they had brought the Human Sovereign back earlier, wouldn't everything have returned to how it was before?

"So... the wars of these hundred thousand years were all caused by you!"

Su Yu murmured: "Countless humans died, countless ancient strong ones perished! All because of you! The guilty clans' ancestral precept was to prevent the Literary King and the others from returning—perhaps they added another: to prevent the Human Sovereign and his companions from returning! And the Time Master might have been set up by you!"

Su Yu spoke as if in a trance: "Yes, the Time Master was not the reckless type, yet he delved into the Heavenly Gate... and met with danger! Meanwhile, the Prison King clashed with the Literary King over opening the Gates of Hell... So the Literary King absolutely opposed it! The Martial King was of the same mind, and the Human Sovereign was their elder brother... So all of this was probably orchestrated by you!"

Su Yu's expression grew darker and darker!

"Well done... The Time Master, without a doubt, was set up by your faction, wasn't he?"

Su Yu sneered: "Don't deny it. You were certain the Literary King would go to rescue him! When the Literary King went to save him, he probably didn't tell the Martial King... But someone passed the news to the Martial King—that was you too! Because you knew the Martial King would definitely go to help, since he was too foolish, afraid his brother might be in danger... Isn't that right?"

Bai Zhan chuckled lightly: "Su Yu... you are too clever!"

He praised him once more. Su Yu was truly too astute!

A series of events had long aroused Su Yu's suspicions, yet he had never been able to connect them into a single thread. Today, however, everything became clear to him! From ancient times to the present, it had all been a conspiracy!