Chapter 768

From the Extreme East Divine Province, they crossed the sea and came.

Translation: "From the Extreme East Divine Province, they crossed the sea and arrived."

From Extreme East Divine Province, they crossed the sea and arrived.

Wu Tie instinctively glanced into the distance; there, a group of elders from the Great Wei Seven Scattered People clan were cooperating with the great army in battle.

Translation: "Wu Tie subconsciously glanced toward the distance; there, a group of elders from the Great Wei Seven Scattered People clan were cooperating with the great army in battle."

We need to keep Great Wei Seven Scattered People clan as the translation, 'elders' for the term meaning, and 'cooperating with the great army in battle' for the phrase meaning.

Wu Tie had heard of the plans of those elders from the Seven Scattered People family.

Translation: "Wu Tie had heard of the plan of those elders of the Seven Scattered People family."

They expended enormous material and financial resources, spent several years, and built a sturdy vessel for long-distance sea voyages.

Translation: "They expended enormous material and financial resources, spent several years, and built a sturdy vessel for distant sea voyages."

If it weren't for the outbreak of all-out war among the Three Kingdoms, and the Divine Emperor of Great Wei summoning all divine-realm experts to march, these elders of the Seven Scattered People clan would probably still be drifting on the sea.

Translation: "If not for the outbreak of all‑out war among the three kingdoms, with the Great Wei Divine Emperor summoning all Divine Realm experts to march, these elders of the Seven Scattered People clan would probably still be drifting on the sea now."

The Seven Scattered People clan had to pool the strength of all seven families to forge an extremely sturdy ship; only with everyone's cooperation did they dare attempt a trans-sea voyage. Meanwhile, Fan Kun, using his own power, directly crossed the boundless ocean, departing from the divine vessel of the Extreme East and reaching this continent.

Translation: "The Seven Scattered People clan needed to pool the strength of the seven families to forge an extremely sturdy ship; only with everyone's cooperation did they dare attempt a trans‑ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Fan Kun, with his own power, directly crossed the boundless ocean, arriving from the divine ship of the Extreme East to this continent."

The name Fan Kun is kept as is; according to the glossary we only have Wu Tie, Feng Shang, and Wuguo. For personal names we should romanize using pinyin: Fan Kun. Keep it as Fan Kun.

Fan Kun's formidable strength is evident.

Translation: "Fan Kun's overbearing strength is evident."

But his words are truly impolite.

Translation: "But his words are truly impolite."

"Kill me? Then pick a king willing to surrender?" Wu Tie snorted coldly, looking at Fan Kun, whose body emitted a faint golden light, and asked in a deep voice: "If I, the king, were to surrender..."

Translation: "\"Kill me? Then pick a king willing to surrender? \" Wu Tie snorted coldly, looking at Fan Kun whose body emitted a faint golden light, and asked in a low voice: \"If this king were to surrender... \""

Fan Kun pulled a golden hoop from his sleeve; the thumb-thick hoop glimmered with a faint golden light, and countless tiny swastika-like Buddhist symbols spun rapidly within the light.

Translation: "Fan Kun pulled from his sleeve a golden circular hoop, thumb‑thick, its whole body flashing with a faint golden light; countless tiny swastika Buddhist characters spun rapidly within the light."

The hoop emitted no aura, yet it inexplicably gave an immense sense of oppression, a suffocating heaviness.

Translation: "The hoop emitted no aura, yet inexplicably gave an immense sense of oppression, a suffocating heaviness."

"This is my master's teacher, one of the Three Buddhas of the Great Red Lotus Temple, the 'Angry-Face Buddha,' who fashioned this 'Forbidden Hoop' based on an ancient legend. If the Martial King surrenders and wears this hoop, he will become a Dharma-protector disciple of the Great Red Lotus Temple, and naturally will receive the protection of my lord."

Translation: "\"This is my seat master, one of the Three Buddhas of the Great Red Lotus Temple, the 'Wrath‑Faced Buddha', modeled after an ancient legend and personally forged as the 'Binding Hoop'. If the Martial King surrenders, by wearing this hoop he will henceforth be a Dharma‑protector disciple of my Great Red Lotus Temple. Naturally, the Martial King will also receive the protection of my lord. \""

An ancient story quickly sprang to Wu Tie's mind.

Translation: "An ancient story quickly surfaced in Wu Tie's mind."

His face instantly darkened: "You, are you treating me like a monkey?"

Translation: "His face instantly darkened: \"You, are you treating this king like a monkey? \""

Fan Kun looked at Wu Tie in surprise and exclaimed: "Oh? You actually know this story? I didn't expect you people here to still preserve a fragment of ancient heritage—remarkable, truly remarkable."

Translation: "Fan Kun looked at Wu Tie in surprise, then exclaimed: \"Oh? You actually know this story? I didn't expect you lot here to still retain a fragment of ancient heritage—remarkable, truly remarkable. \""

After nodding, Fan Kun said in a deep voice: "Knowing this story is perfect; it saves me from wasting breath explaining the power of this forbidden hoop to you."

Translation: "After nodding, Fan Kun said solemnly: \"Knowing this story is best; it saves me from wasting breath explaining the hoop's power to you. \""

Wu Tie's eyes twitched; he said coldly: "Even if I die, I want to understand clearly. Fan Kun, tell me about your master and about your origin in the Great Red Lotus Temple."

Translation: "Wu Tie's eyes twitched; he said coldly: \"Even if I die, I want to die with some clarity. Fan Kun, tell me about your master and about your origin, the Great Red Lotus Temple. \""

Fan Kun nodded and said in a deep voice: "To put it simply, I come from the Extreme East Divine Province, where there is a divine dynasty whose power is immensely strong, its inheritance ancient and profound, its foundations exceedingly rich; even if your little martial state were stacked hundreds of times, it could not match that dynasty."

Translation: "Fan Kun nodded and said solemnly: \"To put it simply, I come from the Extreme East Divine Province, where there is a divine dynasty whose strength is extraordinarily formidable, its inheritance extremely ancient, its foundation immensely rich; your little Wuguo, even if stacked hundreds of times, could not match that divine dynasty. \""

"The divine dynasty is named Sui, the orthodox succession of the ancient human emperor Sui Ren."

Translation: "\"The divine dynasty is named Sui, the orthodox succession of the ancient human emperor Sui Ren. \""

"Within the Sui dynasty there is one temple, one observatory, and one pavilion. The temple is my Blaze Red Lotus Temple; the observatory, hum, is that bunch of dead-ox-nosed Non-acting Azure Lotus Observatory; the pavilion is those hypocrites, effeminate, pale-faced Pure Heart White Lotus Palace."

Translation: "\"Within the Sui dynasty there is one temple, one observatory, and one pavilion. The temple is my Blaze‑Fire Red Lotus Temple; the observatory, hum, is the Non‑Action Azure Lotus Observatory of those dead‑nosed Daoists; the pavilion is the Pure Heart White Lotus Palace of those hypocritical, effeminate, pretty‑faced ones. \""

Fan Kun obviously had objections to the White Lotus Palace; he spent a long time slandering it, spitting out a barrage of words.

Translation: "Fan Kun obviously had objections to the White Lotus Palace; he spent a long time slandering it, spitting out a tirade."

After a cold snort, Fan Kun said in a deep voice: "The Blaze Red Lotus Temple, also called the Great Red Lotus Temple, together with that observatory and pavilion, forms the three state-protecting divine sects of the Sui dynasty."

Translation: "After a cold snort, Fan Kun said solemnly: \"The Blaze‑Fire Red Lotus Temple, also called the Great Red Lotus Temple, stands alongside that observatory and pavilion as the three divine sects protecting the state of the Sui dynasty. \""

"My lord, Prince Yin Feng Sheng, is the second prince of the Sui dynasty and the future divine sovereign chosen by the Great Red Lotus Temple. His cultivation is astonishing: having mastered the three hundred sixty major paths and the seven thousand two hundred minor paths to perfection, he broke into the divine realm, truly the pinnacle of a heavenly god."

Translation: "\"My lord, King Yin Feng Shang, is the second prince of the present Sui dynasty, chosen by my Great Red Lotus Temple as the future Divine Emperor. His cultivation is astonishing: having achieved great perfection in the three hundred sixty major dao and the seven thousand two hundred minor dao, he broke into the Divine Realm, truly the pinnacle of the 'Heavenly God'. \""

Wu Tie raised his eyebrows.

Translation: "Wu Tie raised his eyebrows."

Three hundred sixty major paths, seven thousand two hundred minor paths?

Translation: "Three hundred sixty major dao, seven thousand two hundred minor dao?"

Wu Tie instinctively looked at the stern-faced subordinates standing behind him; most of the divine-realm experts of the Martial State had entered through a single major or minor path.

Translation: "Wu Tie subconsciously looked at the pallid subordinates standing behind him. The Divine Realm experts of Wuguo mostly cultivate a single major dao or a single minor dao."

For example, the Sword Clan of the Wei thief family excels in swordsmanship, specifically an extreme, off-balance assassin sword style.

Translation: "For example, the Wei Dao clan of thieves excels in sword dao, specifically an extreme deviant sword dao of assassins."

Another example is the Wei Mohist school, which focuses on the path of forging, aided by the Five Elements path and so on.

Translation: "Again, for example, the Wei Mohist school focuses on the dao of forging, aided by the five‑element dao and so forth."

The ancestors of the Martial State's generals and clans could never imagine, even in their dreams, that someone could, while still in the womb-state, directly grasp the three hundred sixty major path principles and the seven thousand two hundred minor left-hand paths, and then step into the divine realm.

Translation: "The ancestral martial clans of Wuguo could not even imagine in their dreams that someone, while still in the Embryonic Treasury realm, could directly master the three hundred sixty major dao laws and the seven thousand two hundred minor deviant dao, then step into the Divine Realm thereby."

What an immensely rich foundation!

Translation: "What an immensely rich foundation!"

What a terrifying cultivation!

Translation: "What terrifying cultivation!"

What kind of formidable combat power?

Translation: "What formidable combat power!"

Just a brief thought of it made the divine-realm experts behind Wu Tie tremble all over, cold sweat continually seeping out.

Translation: "Merely thinking about it slightly caused those Divine Realm experts behind Wu Tie to tremble all over, cold sweat continually seeping out."

"Heavenly god?" Wu Tie interrupted Fan Kun's introduction: "Could you explain what this 'heavenly god' entails?"

Translation: "\"Heavenly God? \" Wu Tie interrupted Fan Kun's introduction: \"Could you explain what this 'Heavenly God' entails? \""

He smiled, eased his tone, and spoke softly: "As I just said, even if I die, I must die with full understanding."

Translation: "He smiled, eased his tone, and said softly: \"As just said, even if I die, I must die with full clarity. \""

Fan Kun slowly nodded: "That's also true. So listen up, all of you."

Translation: "Fan Kun slowly nodded: \"That is also reasonable. So, you all, listen well. \""

In the Sui dynasty, there is a detailed ranking system for divine-realm masters, assessing their foundations, potential, future prospects, and the treatment they can enjoy in Sui, and so on.

Translation: "In the Sui dynasty, there is a detailed ranking system for Divine Realm powerhouses, measuring their foundation, potential, future prospects, and the treatment they may enjoy in Sui, etc."

Likewise, among divine-realm cultivators, those who practice inferior methods, whose grasp of a major path is incomplete—achieving only eighty-nine percent or even seventy-eight percent of a complete major path—and who force their way into the divine realm with external aid, are called 'inferior gods'.

Translation: "Likewise, within the Divine Realm, those who cultivate inferior techniques, having incomplete grasp of the great dao—achieving only eighty‑nine percent or even seventy‑eight percent understanding of a single complete great dao—and break into the Divine Realm by relying on external force, are called 'Inferior Gods'."

Such cultivators, who have not fully mastered even a single major path, possess extremely limited strength and are basically stuck in the first heaven of the divine realm; in Sui they serve merely as low-rank subordinates to be dispatched.

Translation: "Such individuals, who have not fully mastered even a single great dao, possess extremely limited strength and are basically stuck at the first heaven of the Divine Realm; in Sui they serve merely as expendable underlings."

'Inferior gods' in Sui can serve as officials—such as captains, inspectors, warehouse chiefs, chief clerks, and so on.

Translation: "\"Inferior Gods\" in Sui can serve as officials—such as constables, inspectors, warehouse chiefs, chief scribes, etc."

Those who perfectly comprehend a single major path, aided by a few minor left-hand paths, break into the divine realm and are called 'human gods'.

Translation: "Those who perfectly comprehend a single great dao, aided by a few minor deviant dao, break into the Divine Realm and are called 'Human Gods'."

'Human gods' in Sui can serve as county magistrates; they are merely the head of a county, for no matter how great their merits or how high popular esteem, with only a human-god cultivation they can remain in that post for ten thousand years, which is still just a county magistrate.

Translation: "\"Human Gods\" in Sui may serve as county magistrates; they are merely the head of a county, for even great merit and high popular esteem cannot elevate them—being only a Human God, they can serve ten thousand years in a county magistrate post and still remain just a county magistrate."

Above the human god is the earth god.

Translation: "Above the Human God is the Earth God."

An earth god masters more than one but fewer than ten major paths, aided by several minor left-hand paths, and possesses strength far surpassing that of a human god.

Translation: "An Earth God masters more than one but fewer than ten great dao, aided by several minor deviant dao, and possesses strength far surpassing that of a Human God."

An earth god is qualified to serve as a prefecture chief.

Translation: "An Earth God is qualified to serve as a prefecture governor."

According to the number of major paths mastered by an earth god, earth gods are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades; correspondingly, the prefectural administrations of Sui are also graded upper, middle, and lower based on population and territory size.

Translation: "According to the number of great dao an Earth God masters, Earth Gods are also divided into upper, middle, and lower grades; correspondingly, the prefectural seats of the Sui dynasty are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades based on population and territory size."

An upper-grade earth god, who has comprehended seven or more major paths, serves as the chief of an upper-grade prefecture.

Translation: "An upper‑grade Earth God, having comprehended more than seven great dao, serves as governor of an upper‑grade prefecture."

A middle-grade earth god, who has comprehended four or more major paths, serves as the chief of a middle-grade prefecture.

Translation: "A middle‑grade Earth God, having comprehended more than four great dao, serves as governor of a middle‑grade prefecture."

A lower-grade earth god, who has comprehended two or more major paths, serves as the chief of a lower-grade prefecture.

Translation: "A lower‑grade Earth God, having comprehended more than two great dao, serves as governor of a lower‑grade prefecture."

Just like a county magistrate, no matter how many merits you accumulate or how good your popular support, if your cultivation cannot advance, you have absolutely no chance of promotion.

Translation: "Just like a county magistrate, no matter how much merit you accrue or how good your popular support, if your cultivation cannot advance, you have absolutely no chance of promotion."

However, after condensing the divine body, the divine fetus and body are nearly set; attempting another breakthrough in the divine realm, seeking to comprehend additional major paths, integrate them into the divine fetus, and reforge them into the divine body, is extraordinarily difficult.

Translation: "However, after condensing the divine body, the divine embryo and divine body are nearly set; wanting to make another breakthrough in the Divine Realm, to comprehend other great dao, fuse them into the divine embryo, and reforge them into the divine body—what an arduous undertaking!"

Unless there is a heaven-defying fortune, in the divine realm the foundation of the path cannot be broken through; it is basically impossible.

Translation: "Unless there is heaven‑defying fortune, in the Divine Realm the foundation of the dao basically cannot be broken through."

As for heavenly gods, if one comprehends more than ten major paths in the womb-state, aided by dozens of minor left-hand paths, using that as a foundation to break into the divine realm, one is a heavenly god.

Translation: "As for the 'Heavenly God', if one comprehends more than ten great dao in the Embryonic Treasury realm, aided by dozens of minor deviant dao, using that as a foundation to break into the Divine Realm, one is a Heavenly God."

Heavenly gods hold exalted status in Sui; they can serve as provincial governors or as senior ministers in the court.

Translation: "Heavenly Gods hold exalted status in Sui; they can serve as provincial governors or as high‑ranking ministers at court."

Among Sui's heavenly gods, those who have entered the way through one hundred major paths are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; such heavenly gods are also honored as 'king gods,' capable of ruling a nation and governing at least ten provinces regardless of origin.

Translation: "Among Sui's Heavenly Gods, those who enter the dao with one hundred great dao are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns; such Heavenly Gods are also honored as 'King Gods', capable of ruling a nation regardless of origin, at least governing ten provinces."

Feng Sheng, with three hundred sixty major paths and seven thousand two hundred minor left-hand paths, entered the way; with such a profound foundation he ascended to the divine realm, truly the pinnacle—indeed, in the history of Sui's founding, he is a peerless heavenly prodigy that could be counted on one hand.

Translation: "Feng Shang, with three hundred sixty great dao and seven thousand two hundred minor deviant dao, entered the dao with such an immensely rich foundation, ascended to the Divine Realm, and can be called the pinnacle; he is truly an unparalleled heavenly prodigy that Sui could count on one hand since its founding."

The Three Buddhas of the Great Red Lotus Temple have likewise placed their hopes on Feng Sheng, wholeheartedly supporting his ascent to the divine sovereign's throne to secure a future fortune lasting up to thirty-six thousand years.

Translation: "The Three Buddhas of the Great Red Lotus Temple have likewise placed their heavy bet on Feng Shang, wholeheartedly supporting his ascent to the Divine Emperor's throne, seeking to obtain the future's longest possible auspicious fortune, up to thirty‑six thousand years."

After Wu Tie understood the origin of the heavenly god, he suddenly had a new question.

Translation: "After Wu Tie understood the origin of the Heavenly God, he suddenly had a new question."

"Thirty-six thousand years of fortune? What does that mean?" Wu Tie looked at Fan Kun, utterly perplexed.

Translation: "\"Thirty‑six thousand years of fortune? What does that mean? \" Wu Tie looked at Fan Kun, utterly perplexed."

Fan Kun seems to have quite good patience, although he just seriously injured Xi Bu Bai with one punch a moment ago and also threw Xi Wu Le to the ground, beating him into a seriously injured state, which is utterly incompatible with the patience he is presently displaying.

He again began to explain to Wu Tie the origin of this "36,000-year fortune".

The Blaze Dynasty has a unique rule: after the God Emperor ascends the throne, he holds supreme authority.

However, a God Emperor may reign for at most 36,000 years before he must abdicate, passing the throne to his successor. And once abdicated, a God Emperor never appears in public again; since the founding of the Blaze Dynasty, no abdicated God Emperor has ever reappeared.

If the Great Red Lotus Temple can help Feng Shang ascend to the God Emperor's throne, it will naturally receive ample reward from him; in the coming 36,000 years, the Great Red Lotus Temple will undoubtedly surpass the Green Lotus Temple and the White Lotus Palace, becoming the foremost of the three state-protecting divine sects.

The present God Emperor of the Blaze Dynasty has less than a hundred years left before abdication.

This brief hundred-year period is the time for Feng Shang and his rivals to frantically make preparations—strengthening themselves, striking at opponents, employing every possible means.

"So, I have crossed the sea to come here." Fan Kun looked earnestly at Wu Tie: "To subjugate retainers for my lord and to open up territory for the Blaze Dynasty. If you follow me, you will wear this tightening hoop; if you do not, I will beat you to death, then pick another obedient one to take your place."

Wu Tie remained silent.

But he could feel the low spirits of the retainers behind him, and sense the repressed aura on their bodies.

According to Fan Kun's description, the Blaze Dynasty is terrifyingly powerful.

Inferior Gods can only serve as officials.

Only Human Gods can be the masters of a county.

Only Earth Gods can be the masters of a commandery.

And only Heavenly Gods who have comprehended ten or more Great Dao principles can become the masters of a province.

The Blaze Dynasty's provincial capitals are surely far more numerous than those of Wuguo; for however many provinces there are, there are at least that many Heavenly Gods.

The strength of those Heavenly Gods…

Wu Tie asked in a deep voice: "Fan Kun, are you... a Heavenly God?"

Fan Kun smiled, clasped his hands together, and gave Wu Tie a slight bow: "I am a Heavenly God, and one of the Heavenly Kings. I entered the Dao through 128 Great Dao principles, and my true form is that of a pure-blooded kun-peng, so my strength is boundless. In the Great Red Lotus Temple, my honorific title is 'Great Power King Bodhisattva'."

In the large pit on the ground, Xi Wu Le finally caught his breath; the shattered bones in his body made a clack-clack noise, a massive surge of essence-blood energy filled his whole frame, his broken bones quickly knitting themselves back together, he gripped his spear and thrust upward, stabbing at Fan Kun's abdomen.

Fan Kun stood unmoving where he was; the spear pierced his abdomen, a thunderclap rang out, vast arcs of electricity flashed, and Fan Kun emerged completely unscathed.

"Even a Bodhisattva has the wrath of thunder." Fan Kun smiled, raised his right hand, and brought his palm down.

With a tremendous crash, Xi Wu Le spat out a mouthful of blood, and his bones were shattered inch by inch by Fan Kun's shock.

Sustaining such grave injury to his divine body, Xi Wu Le nearly fell from the first heaven of the Divine Clarity Realm back to the Embryo Treasury Realm. He curled up on the ground, his whole body wracked with violent spasms, his breath fluctuating wildly, becoming utterly disordered.

"Still, your talent is not bad either; I won't kill you... in the future, you could become a great general for my lord." Fan Kun laughed brightly, once again revealing his mouth full of gleaming white teeth.

"Martial King, are you willing to surrender?" Fan Kun raised his head, looked at Wu Tie and smiled: "If I subdue you, I subdue Wuguo; you are quite an interesting little fellow, I don't really want to beat you to death... decide quickly—if I subdue you, I still have to go underground to bring the Fuxi Divine Kingdom under my lord's command as well."

From afar came a harsh, mocking voice: "Yo, what big talk, to bring the Fuxi Divine Kingdom under your lord's command... dead baldy, what sort of remarkable figure is your so-called master?"

In Wu Tie's central army camp, lights blazed everywhere—torches, lanterns, braziers floated in the high air, and the warships hovering above cast dazzling light from their formations, illuminating the entire camp as bright as day.

Clad in a black fur-trimmed long gown, with loose flowing hair and an eerily beautiful face, Wa Zhao drifted slowly, step by step, walking through the air.

Though the surroundings were brilliantly lit, the aura emanating from Wa Zhao was icy and sinister, as if it were sucking in all the light around, making people feel a heavy gloom in their hearts.

Behind Wa Zhao, likewise dressed in a black long robe, with loose flowing hair and pitch-black eyes, Xi Yao also drifted slowly through the air.

Xi Yao said nothing, but instead stared at Fan Kun from a distance.

Fan Kun, who had been focusing his attention on Wu Tie, fell silent as well, and unconsciously, his eyes flickered with a faint golden light as he fixed his gaze on Xi Yao.

This feeling was like a venomous snake and a mongoose (meng) colliding head-on in the wild.

Though the venomous snake is fearsome, the mongoose is its natural enemy.

Both sides possess the strength and opportunity to kill each other, and being mortal enemies, they are bound to fight to the death upon meeting.

Thus, Fan Kun and Xi Yao locked eyes from afar.

They stared straight at each other, and the air was filled with an unsettling pressure.

Suddenly, Fan Kun said in a low voice: "Extraterrestrial heavenly demons... heh, today I will subdue demons and eradicate evil; I will surely gain merit and easily break through to the next level... wonderful, wonderful."

Xi Yao finally spoke, his tone likewise low: "There is something about you that I utterly despise... are you... a Buddhist disciple?"

Xi Yao gave a sideways grin, the corners of his mouth stretching in an eerie way almost down to his earlobes.

He looked at Fan Kun, stuck out his tongue to lick the corner of his mouth, and softly laughed: "Buddhist disciple... the Buddhist relics are the supreme treasure of my clan. Heh, when I was just born, my father used a relic said to come from the Buddha of the Buddhist Sect to cleanse my soul."

"My talent was originally inferior to that of my brothers... but because my father favored me, a single Buddha relic elevated my talent far above my clansmen... to this day I still remember how sweet that taste was."

"Baldy, are you willing to give me your relic?"

Xi Yao laughed, and behind him vast black mist roiled, with sharp wails of ghosts and wolf howls continually ringing out.