Chapter 196: Gentle River? Mad Demon River?

Sangyu turned her back on you, turned her back on all living beings, and stepped toward the Heavenly Dome.

Her final words echo in your ears.

"Jiao, I accept you as a friend."

"Tch~"

You laugh through tears, "I don't want your approval."

You hope even more that she returns, to fight you again.

Being alone in this moment is not victory but loneliness, and you dislike that feeling of loneliness.

You watch Sangyu disappear on the horizon, and you also conceal your aura and depart.

What the final outcome will be? You can't guess.

When you return to the Human Race's domain, a distant Shikong erupts with violent turbulence; after the chaotic Deity's power roils heaven and earth, the world steadies again.

You don't know exactly what happened.

But you can be sure that Sangyu accomplished what she wanted.

The Dragon Phoenix Qilin Three Tribes Alliance withdrew, ending the bloody battle, and for either side the war incurred heavy losses.

The Grand Array that protected the Human Race's mountains, rivers, and state was shattered.

Along the way you heard many reports.

Sui Fusu, one of the Human Race's First True Ancestors, gathered the Human Race's Spark, burned himself out, and continued the race's path of survival.

Sui also completely became the Huo Guang that illuminates the Human Race.

Xi, Chi, and Hong, three Human Race First True Ancestors, were gravely wounded, on the brink of death, and fell into a comatose state.

Cang, Yu, Yi and other strong ones were also nearly crippled.

Nearly seventy percent of Human Race's Lianxu Stage and above strong ones fell.

This war truly exhausted the Human Race's foundation.

Other great clans that fought alongside the Human Race also suffered heavy losses; the remaining strong ones of the Elf Race were all slain, leaving only a new generation of bloodlines.

The Fox Clan, as the first great clan to ally with the Human Race, upheld your will and fought side by side with the Human Race, and its end was even more tragic.

Even the Fox Grand Elder who once opposed the Fox Clan's alliance with the Human Race died in battle.

Because all the strong ones realized that if this war were lost, the age of the Ancient God Clan ruling heaven and earth would return.

You drag your severely wounded body toward the First Mountain of the Human Race.

You don't even need to guess; you know Chuan will definitely be there.

Sure enough, you found him under Sangyu's tree.

Only the scenery here is different; the massive Sangyu tree that symbolized the Human Race's earliest tribe has collapsed.

Only a scarred stump remains.

Chuan lies beneath the tree, undisturbed by anyone, and no one approaches this place.

He has paid too much for this war.

Everything has passed and will fade into time.

Everything will remain, forever lodged in the heart.

You can't imagine what a shattered heart Chuan now bears.

In your perception, Sangyu's aura has completely dissipated; perhaps she truly has left.

"Chuan."

You call his name softly, "I'm back."

Chuan bolts upright.

His eyes are blood‑red, his beard ragged, looking utterly disheveled, like a destitute beggar.

He trembles and asks, "Sang…Sangyu?"

"I'm sorry."

You say bitterly, "I didn't bring Sangyu back."

You sit beside Chuan; he leans into your arms and cries out like a child.

In the Tribulation Transcendence Battle, Yun Baobao died for him.

In this war, Sangyu departed again.

You deeply know Chuan's grief, yet you cannot utter a single comforting word.

Because you know all consolation is futile; nothing releases inner pain more than tears.

"I… I can no longer feel Sangyu's aura."

"She really has left me."

"No! This isn't the outcome I wanted~"

Chuan keeps trembling, his tears soaking your garments.

"I'm still here; I'll stay with you forever."

You gently pat Chuan's back; it's the only solace you can give him.

You say, "Sangyu may not have fallen; if the Human Ancestor returns, Sangyu will be safe."

In truth, you know it clearly in your heart.

The death‑defying spirit Sangyu displayed when she left already shows she knows the road ahead is bleak.

After all, that place is where the Ancient God Clan battles.

There, Sangyu is merely a moth; even though she delivered a faint flame to the Human Ancestor's hand, she cannot escape being burned to ash.

You also wish her to live.

But that truly is a luxury.

You sat with Lin Chuan under the withered Sangyu tree for seven days and seven nights.

Until a child's wail sounded nearby, indicating a new life was born in the tribe.

In Lin Chuan's dim, colorless eyes, a hint of hue appeared because of the new life.

"The battle hasn't ended!"

"Not even close!"

Lin Chuan's aura grew increasingly fierce.

"The Ancient God Clan hasn't yet paid the price they ought to!"

At this moment, Lin Chuan's demeanor was completely different from before; his body radiated violent aura, and his eyes were filled with madness.

More terrifying than Sangyu, who follows Demonic Path Cultivation!

He looks at your Seven Fox Tails, embraces you, and says, "Empress, you've worked hard; I will reclaim what you lost."

"From now on, Shi Jie no longer belongs to any Ancient God Clan."

"He will belong to us!"

Lin Chuan's tone was frantic, making you both fearful and excited.

Compared with the gentle, jade-like gentleman Lin Chuan, you seem to prefer this mad Lin Chuan.

Shi Jie has shattered.

You are willing to go mad with him, to cause a ruckus with him, to turn this world upside down with him.

As long as he is happy, you are content.

You nod heavily, cupping his cheek with both hands, and kiss his lips.

"Whatever you want to do, I will accompany you."

"We avenge Yun, we avenge Sangyu, we avenge the Human Race, we avenge the Fox Clan, and we slaughter those Ancient God Clan!"

In the days that followed, you and Lin Chuan rebuilt your home.

The Dragon Phoenix Qilin Three Tribes no longer attacked; even the Divine Lords of the three tribes vanished, and the other Ancient God Clans kept to their lands.

You know these are all Sangyu's merits, but you do not know what price she paid.

The world welcomed a brief tranquility.

But you know this tranquility will soon be shattered.

The ones who will break the peace are no longer the Ancient God Clan, but you, bearing hatred.

Through day‑after‑day cultivation, you felt the shackles of heaven and earth loosening; you vaguely sensed that you could now challenge the realm of a Divine Lord.

If you can become a Divine Lord, the history of Shi Jie will be completely rewritten!