Chapter 822: Yandi Returns, Sacrifice Without Fear

It could make the entire primordial heaven and earth, with three thousand deities emerging together, to fight it... Looking across the world, only Pangu could match it!

August Emperor the Heavenly Emperor, ruler of the universe, dominating an age, who opened heaven and cleaved the earth, wields supreme divine power.

Under his pressure, the gods are forced to ally, not to kill the foe but merely to survive.

In the Houtu reincarnation era, the Great Luo of the witch clan have all returned; in a heaven‑shaking battle they stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Emperor Jun… This scene bears a striking resemblance to the earlier confrontation in the Ziwei Palace when they pressured the Dao Ancestor Hunyuan.

But similar events involve different people.

When confronting the gods, the Heavenly Emperor is not as amenable as the Dao Ancestor, who would back down; he even contemplated slaughtering all the deities.

Let us reenact the creation of heaven and remake the primordial cosmos!

The era is corrupt.

Then we shall cleanse the whole era, leaving a blank slate for a new picture.

Even things like jugs and jars try to bind me?

If we break it down and rebuild, could it possibly be more difficult than before?

August Emperor the Heavenly Emperor's killing intent is excessively radiant!

He possesses not only supreme power but also unwavering determination.

He is a genuine peerless hero who rose from utter destitution, caring nothing for factions or cliques—he could overturn the whole table by himself!

His iron‑blooded will and killing edge make the hearts and souls of the gods fighting alongside him tremble, evoking memories of a bloody ordeal.

At that moment, someone with tears in his eyes and a smile on his lips sacrificed all three thousand chaotic demons to heaven.

It is a past too painful to remember; even a fleeting thought of it makes many Great Luo tremble, fear mounting, nearly driving them to abandon the fight.

Without having stood on such a battlefield, it's hard to feel such complex emotions.

When feeling stirs, distracting thoughts arise—we are just ordinary workers; is it really necessary for us to join such a grand, sacrificial endeavor?

His face remains unchanged, but the troops' morale begins to waver.

Then a frail figure stepped out from behind the Houtu ancestor witch trapped in reincarnation, dressed in white that outshone snow, lighting a lamp in the vast void whose holy flame burned eternally, illuminating eternity.

That is the holy fire of the Human Way.

It burns quietly in the void, not blazing fiercely, yet its light is infinite and its brilliance boundless.

It holds the power of Taiji and the subtlety of the profound, bringing forth being from nothing; time flows from it, tracing the vestiges of what once was, painting them into a vast, tumultuous scroll.

It began as a proposal, originating at the witch clan's games, then spread to humanity, kindling the flame of communication and exchange.

Gradually it wins people's hearts; to oppose the heavenly way becomes an act of resistance and defiance, a challenge to tyranny.

Finally, as a holy sovereign passes, he ignites himself with this fire, offering the path he has walked in life as a sacrifice, solely to establish the heart of heaven and earth and the destiny of all beings, so that such a lamp may forever burn in his heart, guiding him toward a magnificent and beautiful future, granting him infinite courage to devote and sacrifice himself openly.

The holy fire of the Human Way burns, consuming the deepest doubts and fears in people's hearts and soothing all darkness and evil; an emperor who lights it inspires the gods' fighting spirit, dispelling all fear and retreat.

The gentle firelight seeps out from reincarnation; though not blazing, it gradually fills heaven and earth, filling the age and epoch.

Its mere existence stirs the Human Dao, rallying the people; even the fate of the Taichu divine dynasty seems shaken, as half divert their allegiance toward that figure.

He is a divine being with a youthful bearing, towering and transcendent, his demeanor boundless; stepping out of reincarnation with clear eyes, he ascends straight to heaven to wage war against August Emperor.

Along the way he happened to pass Emperor Hong, yet he gave not even a glance to the one who oversees the present Human Dao leader, ignoring him completely.

Emperor Hong did not grow angry or block the youth; he simply gazed deeply and murmured, 'Yan Emperor…'

—The Yan Emperor has returned as well!

Having toiled half his life, endured hardship, and willingly faced death, he returns still as a youth.

He takes on the most grueling tasks, challenging one ferocious foe after another, resting only in death.

Now Houtu defies heaven, restoring his reincarnation, reviving him from oblivion, and once again setting out on a similar quest, brandishing his blade against stronger foes.

Without doubt, he is special.

In the Houtu reincarnation era, he performs Pangu's deeds without having Pangu's form, bearing tremendous karmic consequences.

Whether fallen witches or humans, they all manifest across heaven and earth, but only he stands beside Houtu.

This is the utmost trust, and Houtu wishes to protect him, not wanting his foremost general under command to be sacrificed again.

Loyal subjects are rare!

Yet in this age of upheaval, this human sovereign still steps forward, leaving reincarnation to confront the most terrifying foe directly.

He ignites the holy fire of the Human Way, shielding with his body; its bright radiance refracts into the gods' hearts, dispelling their fear and timidity.

Moreover, it awakens the potential of the Human Way's myriad beings, causing the will of those oppressed by August Emperor, on the brink of self‑closure, to rise up.

The Yan Emperor's life has been marked by many trials.

He bears the grudge of departed souls, the sin of the Human Way, and again willingly faces death, repeatedly shifting between life and death.

Who else could understand the true meaning of sacrifice better than he?

Only with great sacrifice can lofty ambitions dare to call for the sun and moon to be renewed!

August Emperor is supremely strong; after his scheming, even the Human Way finds itself at a three‑tenths disadvantage when facing him.

Given that…

If we have done wrong, we admit it.

The Yan Emperor softly tells the Human Way, 'Do not avoid… avoidance solves nothing.'

If August Emperor's Majesty has claimed the righteous cause, we are at fault; then compensation is appropriate—as redress for the debt dispute, covering the mental and material losses inflicted upon Fuxi.

We will cut flesh, strip bone, sever the origin to make amends… we will act and bear responsibility.

But, each matter corresponds to its own.

When did the reckoning of debt turn into a struggle for power and control of sovereignty?

Our era, we shall protect it… we can acknowledge the failure of our path and willingly welcome the continuation of the past epoch.

But we will not accept the past's possession, invasion, and overwriting!

The Human Way… has grown up!

Yandi stirred the resonance of the human way, whipping up a raging torrent.

He set his heart for the myriad beings.

Unlike Xuanyuan's maneuver, which laid hidden threads, he steadily walked another path.

Facing the ancient Heavenly Emperor's inquiry, who shows no mercy when in power, he is willing to admit his past mistakes.

Wrong is wrong.

One can deceive others, but not oneself.

In the age of witches and goblins, one may actively accept the overlay and continuation of the Dragon-Phoenix epoch—but only on a voluntary basis.

Not forced acceptance—that tramples the dignity of the human way!

—I'll beat you up and tell you it's for your own good……Even if it's true, the human way cannot accept it!

Before negotiations are settled, the human way's myriad beings must fight to defend their era!

Of course, war is war.

To avoid being at a loss, past mistakes will be acknowledged.

In the next instant, deep within the origin of the human way, a blinding blood-light burst forth.

Understanding Yandi's will, the myriad beings united, and the human way severed itself!

The utmost magnificent power, condensed into a radiant stature, is an eternal blessing, surpassing the attacks of all gods, and it first fell upon August Emperor.

Merely an instant, this ancient Heavenly Emperor's imprint incarnation emanated a terrifying, boundless aura, massive to the extreme, like a true Pangu standing there!

This is the compensation due to August Emperor, the atonement of the human way after having wronged an era.

Therefore, the human way's injuries are too severe.

Moreover, there are endless repercussions—if the human way and August Emperor clash again, August Emperor's strike on the human way is critical damage, while the human way's slaughter of August Emperor inherently weakens by one-third!

Even the human way is like this.

Not to mention the gods.

The opponent was strengthened to the extreme, nearly a Pangu standing in the present, the Kunpeng Great Sage shouting 'Majesty Emperor Jun, do not worry,' people were almost scared silly, wanting to flap their wings back.

The previous moment, holy fire ignited, dispelling the negative fears in the heart.

The next moment, the opponent strengthened… isn't going up just giving it away for free?

The Kunpeng glared at Yandi, its little eyes full of resentment—are you a mole?

You must be a mole, right?

How could one strengthen the opponent so much?

Not just him.

Many great shamans on the charge route were startled, for a moment not knowing whether to continue charging forward.

Before being strengthened, August Emperor, even if they joined forces, their chance of victory was still less than thirty percent.

After this strengthening, going up is surely death!

"When did we fall to this state?"

"Fear the strong enemy?"

"Avoid mistakes?"

Yandi, carefree and transcendent, surpassed many comrades, his brilliant flame light sweeping across the ages—one era after another!

He stood shoulder to shoulder with Emperor Jun, to oppose August Emperor.

While opposing, he spoke softly.

"What's the harm in strengthening? It's merely repaying a debt."

"As for after strengthening, whether we can withstand…"

"We fight for protection, we fight for the justice in our hearts, sacrifice and death—what is there to fear?"

"An era that dares not admit its mistakes is not worth our struggle to the death."

"Only by knowing and correcting mistakes, with a clear conscience… dying for this epoch gives true meaning."

"Having attained the Dao, become Great Luo, we ought to do something meaningful, transcending life and death."

"Struggle after struggle across the ages cannot be mere petty scheming; there must be some radiance surpassing all."

"In the Dragon-Phoenix age, we fight to prove the Dao in Honghuang."

"This epoch… let us fight against tyranny!"

"For this… even if we die, it's acceptable!"

Yandi's words echoed across one expanse of spacetime after another.

The gods rushing to this battlefield were first stunned, then all felt relieved.

"Yes!"

Chiyou laughed loudly, "We fight to guard the era; even if we die, what's the harm?"

"It's rare not to be at a loss; what do we have to fear?"

"We've all been influenced by the past… actually, what is there to be timid about?"

"At worst, it's just death!"

"August Emperor Majesty has grown stronger—so what?"

"And Nüwa is still here!"

"Let us first test the waters for the Lady… even if we are utterly defeated, we must spill blood upon her to open a path for Her Majesty Nüwa!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

When Yandi gave the human way its heart-teaching, Chiyou's voice of agreement was the loudest!

He is also worthy of being the captain of Nüwa's guard, loyal and steadfast.

All the words in my heart have been spoken; I am willing to sacrifice my body, protect the era of the Wu and Yao, splash the Heavenly Emperor with blood, and open a path for Nüwa!

"Battle!"

The great Wu, Xingtian, roared, brandishing his shield and axe, his killing intent surged to the heavens: "Pangu is nothing to fear, the Heavenly Emperor is nothing to dread!"

"Our will shall not waver for ten thousand generations; today we shall fight once for the human Dao, challenging tyranny!"

The inspiring, rallying words made the Honghuang heavens and earth become incomparably stern and lethal.

The myriad gods set aside their burdens, cast aside their worries and fears of defeat, and together struck out, slashing through the Myriad Heavens!

"Hahaha!"

Di Jun had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth; seeing this, he nevertheless laughed, "the Wu Clan... cough! the Wu Clan!"

"I still find you lot displeasing to the eye... but this time, I admit, you do have some courage!"

The Heavenly Emperor laughed, drawing out his own bone and blood, a gruesome sight, leaving him almost nothing but skin.

He used bone as a brush, blood as ink, his trembling fingers writing something in the heavens and earth.

—That is the Dao of the Yao!

"What is there to fear when one is unafraid of death?"

"Perhaps the only worry is that this fighting spirit of today cannot be passed down..."

"If so, I will leave something for posterity, accompanying the lingering thought of Taiyi..."

"Later demons need not know that there once was a failed demon sovereign like me; I was never a good deity, nor does it matter to leave my name for future ages."

"But the path we have walked, the spirit of resistance, can still be referenced and learned from..."

"Today, I will engrave these things into the origin of countless demon spirits under heaven; in the midnight reverie, perhaps it will be a fortune..."

"Yao..."

"Free Yao!"

"Rebellious Yao!"

The Heavenly Emperor laughed, his voice growing hoarse; in his final moment, he burned his remaining bone and blood, turning it into a towering calamitous force, which he unleashed, collapsing an age.

The August Emperor was there crossing when he bore the brunt.

He had just split the sacred fire of Yandi when he encountered Di Jun's bone and blood; moreover, not only that, but hundreds or thousands of figures flew and leapt, accompanying vast, world-shaking divine abilities!

That was the myriad gods rising together, jointly waging war; in an instant they gathered ninety-nine percent of the supreme arts from heaven, earth, and universe, surging like monstrous waves toward the August Emperor, seeking to exile him eternally.

Unfortunately.

Perhaps the former Heavenly Emperors still had some hope.

But now, the August Emperor has just received a terrifying endorsement of the human Dao, noble and mighty without equal; he can be called the supreme sovereign recognized by the human Dao of this era, loftier than Yandi who lit the sacred fire and is revered by all creation, more exalted than Huangdi who established the Taihuang divine dynasty and is honored by all races... thus he has become utterly impossible to counterbalance.

Facing the slaughter of the myriad gods, the August Emperor raised his brows and gave a faint smile... that smile lingered in the eyes of the gods, yet his person suddenly vanished.

In the next instant, a muffled bang sounded, blood blossomed, and Di Jun's body collapsed, his flesh torn apart.

"Cough!"

Yandi coughed blood, his gaze dim, his heart seized by a hand, pulled out, then crushed into powder.

Xingtian howled madly, his shield and axe exploded; beneath a heroic head, a blood line spread... after which, rolling along, the head fell.

Countless beings who had attained the Dao of Daluo were slaughtered at will, among them top-tier mighty ones, yet they had no power to resist at all.

This sight caused Di Hong's pupils to contract.

(End of chapter)