Chapter 427: Bow and Submit

Wait...

The Western Heaven War Emperor rubbed his brow, looked up at Chu Yang, and tentatively asked, "Is the Great Summer Empress your disciple?"

Chu Yang nodded.

"Is the head of the Cloud Mist Sect your divine beast?" the Western Heaven War Emperor asked again.

Chu Yang nodded again.

"Is the young master of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion your lover?" the Western Heaven War Emperor asked once more.

Chu Yang was slightly startled, then looked at the Ice Spirit Patriarch.

Where did this rumor come from? Earlier the Ice Spirit Patriarch transmitted a message to the Western Heaven War Emperor; Chu Yang could have intercepted it, but he had no interest, so he didn't know what the old fellow had said.

The Ice Spirit Patriarch also frowned darkly, silently cursing the Western Heaven War Emperor for being brainless and spilling everything.

That can't be blamed on the Western Heaven War Emperor; the information he received was so shocking that his mind briefly crashed.

"The Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion is actually under your command? And that Endless Fire Domain…"

The Western Heaven War Emperor didn't continue questioning; he seemed to mutter to himself, sparking a mental storm.

In other words…

All of this, was it a scheme set up by Chu Yang?

Invite the lord into the jar! Shut the door and beat the dog! Yet they themselves and the Five Ancient Tribes scramble to crawl into the trap!

No…

This matter shouldn't have much to do with me!

Chu Yang seems to have acted all along for the primal Dharma Body, implying that he was merely an unlucky pawn dragged into this turmoil. From this perspective, it really does look like a misunderstanding!

His expression became briefly awkward; after all, if Chu Yang could devise such a massive scheme, it shows that his and the Five Ancient Tribes' petty thoughts were laid bare before others.

Thus, in the entanglements with the Martial Realm and Lin Dong, he ends up being the one at fault.

"Cough…"

The Western Heaven War Emperor cleared his throat and said, "So it was just a misunderstanding…"

He looked at Lin Dong, clasped his fists, and said, "Martial Ancestor, if I have offended you before and spoken disrespectfully to your wife, the fault lies with this emperor first!"

He's being soft!

There's no way around it; the forces behind them are just too massive!

Chu Yang's own strength, plus the elites and forces under his command, even make the Five Ancient Tribes bow obediently; his tiny Western Heaven War Hall is simply insufficient to be noticed.

He then explained, "I feel ashamed to say, at first I wasn't motivated by desire, I just wanted to…"

He gave a brief outline of his motives and mental journey, which made Chu Yang's and Lin Dong's expressions turn odd, and the Ice Spirit Patriarch's face grew darker.

Fine, fine! So this is how you repay kindness? I have been sincere with you, and you treat my Ice Spirit clan as a tool? "Since everyone has clarified the misunderstanding, let this matter be dropped!"

Chu Yang waved his hand, sealing the decision.

Then, staring at the Western Heaven War Emperor, he finally got to the point: "Senior War Emperor, would you be willing to join Great Summer, be granted a king title and appointed as prime minister?"

The Western Heaven War Emperor was taken aback; he never expected Chu Yang to extend an olive branch at such a critical moment.

Invite him to join Great Summer and be made king and prime minister?

It should be noted that, although the Western Heaven War Hall is only a hegemon‑level power, far inferior to Chu Yang's network, he can still be the head of the house, a ruler wielding absolute authority.

Thus it seemed absurd to him, as if an emperor were suddenly asked to become a subject of another nation.

Just as he was about to refuse, Chu Yang added, "Of course, even if you join Great Summer, you may remain on the Western Heaven Continent, and Great Summer will not overly interfere with the internal affairs of the Western Heaven War Hall."

"Moreover, if you wish to break through to Saint Product by accumulating foundation on the Western Heaven Continent, it would still take several hundred years."

"Great Summer can drastically shorten that time!"

The Western Heaven War Emperor squinted; the words of refusal reached his lips, but he forced them back down.

Breaking through to Saint Product is his greatest aspiration and lifelong pursuit.

He has been scheming on the Western Heaven Road for years, accumulating foundation, all to break through to Saint Product, hasn't he?

But if that's all, it wouldn't be enough to make him bow and submit! Chu Yang smiled and said, "There may be something you don't know, Senior, that aside from Xiao Yan and Lin Dong, the vast majority of the strong among the six factions, including those at Saint Product, were cultivated by me personally."

"Your talent is not weak, at least stronger than many under my command; can you be content to stop at the initial Saint Product stage?"

These words were like a heavy bomb, stirring turbulent waves in the Western Heaven War Emperor's heart.

Not only him, but also Lin Dong, the Ice Spirit Patriarch, and Fan Wuye standing nearby were all stunned.

Those strong ones… were actually cultivated by Chu Yang?

Good fellow! How massive a foundation does he truly command!

"Of course, you may also refuse…"

Chu Yang smiled and said, "Back when the Maha Ancient Clan invaded the Great Hall, I couldn't spare a moment, so in urgency I let Yaofeng lead the Nether Army to the front to assist."

"Although that matter has settled and the Five Ancient Tribes dare not retaliate against my forces, the Western Heaven War Hall…"

He did not continue, but the meaning was obvious.

In plain terms, the Maha Ancient Clan dares not trouble Chu Yang, nor dare they trouble your Western Heaven War Hall?

The Maha Ancient Clan has always acted domineeringly, seeking revenge for any slight; after such a huge loss, they must find a way to regain some standing.

Targeting the Western Heaven War Hall would undoubtedly cleanse some shame to a certain extent.

Especially for the Maha Ancient Clan, the Western Heaven War Hall is far too weak! Apart from the Western Heaven War Emperor, who is a pinnacle of Saint Product, there is only one battle formation master who hasn't reached Saint Product, making it practically defenseless before the Maha Ancient Clan.

The Western Heaven War Emperor's expression froze instantly, his eyelids twitching.

If Chu Yang's initial offer was an incentive, now it's outright coercion! Agree, and both sides profit; refuse, and the Western Heaven War Hall will face the Maha Ancient Clan's onslaught, its fate obvious!

As for returning Yaofeng to Chu Yang and publicly stating that Yaofeng went to aid Great Summer, not on his orders—actually, when Yaofeng served the Western Heaven War Hall for ten years under Chu Yang, many witnesses saw it, making the matter easy to verify.

But the problem lies in…

For the Maha Ancient Clan, they don't care whether the Western Heaven War Emperor's shadow is behind this.

All they need is a vent, and a chance to wash away disgrace and re‑establish their authority!

The Western Heaven War Emperor remained silent for a long while, then, with a neutral tone, clasped his hands and said, "King Chu truly employs fine tactics!"

Chu Yang smiled without replying, pointed at Fan Wuye and Luo Shen a short distance away, and said softly, "I forgot to introduce them: the former is a disciple of the Immortal Elder, the latter is a resurrected ancient Luo deity now serving under me."

The Western Heaven War Emperor's pupils suddenly contracted; if earlier Chu Yang was merely coercing and enticing while revealing the underlying strength of his faction's potential…

Now it is unmistakably showcasing his connections! The Western Heaven War Emperor knows that the current head of the Great Thousand Palace, as well as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven—who once debated with the Great Thousand Demon Buddha and received extremely high praise—are both formidable figures that Chu Yang brought back from the Outer Evil Tribe.

Moreover, given his title as Demon‑King Exterminator, a single call of his could likely secure the support of half the Great Thousand Palace.

Now that he travels alongside a disciple of the Immortal Lord, does this imply that the Land of Ten Thousand Tombs also backs him? The Ice Spirit Patriarch seemed to recall something, quickly sent a telepathic message summarizing what had occurred at Yun Lan Sect. Upon hearing that a disciple of the Immortal Lord and a young princess of the Tomb‑Keeper lineage were willing to reveal their identities publicly and intervene to support Chu Yang, the Western Heaven War Emperor became even more convinced of his suspicion.

When his gaze fell upon Luo Shen, it grew exceedingly complex.

He did not know that Chu Yang had entered the Luo River, nor that Luo Shen had once returned to the Luo clan.

Because Luo Shen's visit was a covert night operation, no one besides Luo Qingyun, Luo Tianshen, and the resurrected Luo clan's young lady had seen her.

To avoid affecting Chu Yang's plan, Luo Shen deliberately instructed the three not to disclose anything publicly.

Only after the matters concerning the Five Ancient Tribes settled did the Luo clan openly acknowledge Luo Shen's resurrection.

The already charismatic Western Heaven War Emperor had long been enamored with this ancient first beauty.

When he first seized dominance over the Western Heaven Continent, he tried many ways to uncover Luo Shen's lineage, but ultimately gained nothing.

He never imagined he would encounter her in this manner.

Taking a deep breath, the Western Heaven War Emperor said gravely, "The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit; I admire King Chu's methods, and they also compel my surrender!"

"I am willing to join the Great Summer; henceforth there will be no more Western Heaven War Emperor!"

Chu Yang smiled and nodded, then raised his hand and produced a scroll bearing a patterned dragon and carved phoenix.

The scroll unfurled in the air, revealing Tang Huorie's figure, ethereal and dignified, gazing at the Western Heaven War Emperor and saying:

"From today onward, the Western Heaven War Hall shall be the third allied faction of my Great Summer!"

"Confer the title of Western Heaven War King upon the Western Heaven War Emperor, making him a hereditary prince!"

As the words faded, Tang Huorie's figure dissolved, turning into a golden‑red token that hovered before the Western Heaven War Emperor.

The Western Heaven War Emperor, with a somewhat complex expression, tucked the token away; Chu Yang smiled and said, "The Immortal Elder had long invited me to the Northern Wilderness Hills, but my many affairs delayed me for a long time."

"Now that matters here are settled, I shall not linger any longer…"

Finishing, Chu Yang looked up at Lin Dong.

Lin Dong hesitated briefly, then said to the Western Heaven War King, "War King, we've met without fighting; why not come to my Martial Realm for a visit?"

The Western Heaven War King waved his hand and said, "I have just received orders; now that I have joined Great Summer, I must declare my stance and implement certain reforms to the Western Heaven War Hall."

"Next time I come to the Southern Region, I will certainly visit your door!"

Lin Dong did not press the matter, and flew off with Chu Yang and the other two toward the Martial Realm.

Watching their backs, the Western Heaven War King let out a long sigh.

He harbored little resentment, no significant grudge, but truly admired Chu Yang.

He made his name through battle, his reputation forged battle by battle, so he fully understood the hardships he had endured.

Compared to Chu Yang, he felt like a child playing house! After centuries of toil, he had only established a regional hegemonic power, barely a top figure.

But what about Chu Yang?

How long has it been since he descended from the lower plane to the Great Thousand Realm?

His first battle was astonishing, and he later rose rapidly with an unmatched momentum.

At first, few paid him much attention; after all, he was just a late‑blooming talent, still far from the Saint Product.

Primarily, Chu Yang's achievements and reputation were largely earned by slaying Outer Evil Tribe members.

Having never faced his might personally, one inevitably missed the direct impact and shock.

Yet even some true heavyweights valued Chu Yang highly, and he himself held Chu in great regard, but no one anticipated…

This fellow's growth speed would be so rapid, and secretly he harbored such a massive power! To dominate the Great Thousand…

This was something the Western Heaven War King had never imagined, and he dared not contemplate.

Or, to be precise, throughout history countless strong ones have never entertained such a thought.

Even the Immortal Great Emperor, though powerful, only established a Great Thousand Palace that stands above the Great Thousand Realm.

But the Western Heaven War King suddenly felt that if Chu Yang aimed to dominate the Great Thousand, it might not be that difficult after all…

The Ice Spirit Patriarch looked at him with a complex expression, sighed, and said, "War King, you need not worry; as far as I know, the Great Summer Empress is still very young."

"Moreover, she possesses a King‑Chu demeanor; with an Immortal Product she can cross realms and defeat a Saint Product, her future is limitless."

"Joining Great Summer is not a bad thing at all!"

"Hard to say… we will have to advance and retreat together in the future…"

The Western Heaven War King glanced at him, a cold laugh forming in his mind.

How could he fail to see the Ice Spirit Patriarch's ulterior motive? 'Advance and retreat together'?

You, a waning Ice Spirit clan, even with the Martial Realm matriarch backing you, what can you do? I am a Great Summer Prince!

Moreover, the Western Heaven War Hall's status in Great Summer can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion; what can you compare with me?

After a brief moment of sentiment, even the Western Heaven War King did not notice that his mindset had quietly shifted.

……

After Chu Yang and his two companions arrived at the Martial Realm, they did not linger and directly teleported from the capital Tiandu City to Yun Lan Sect.

After linking up with Ye Tao, Chu Yang built a temporary spatial passage and headed straight for the Northern Wilderness Continent! It is worth noting that before departing, Ye Tao, Dan Tong, and the little one lingered in a heartfelt farewell, reluctant to part from their close confidante and, of all beings they had ever seen, the most appetizing… person?

The Northern Wilderness Continent lies in the central region of the Great Thousand Realm, not far from Tianluo Continent; the group reached its area in just two hours.

Exiting the spatial passage, Chu Yang waved his hand to shatter it, prompting Fan Wuye to exclaim, "Brother Chu, using spatial power to speed travel is truly convenient!"

Chu Yang smiled and said, "Without spatial coordinates, I could not freely traverse the Great Realm."

He was telling the truth; each time constructing a spatial passage requires precise spatial coordinates.

Otherwise, one could only rely on Pan Gu's calculations to be transmitted to an approximate location.

But this carries great risk; one might be transmitted to an extremely high altitude, or directly into the depths underground, or even directly enter a dangerous zone.

If not so, why would he need to rely on the two spatial nodes he left outside the territory earlier to carry out his covert plan? The group flew all the way and soon arrived at the Northern Wasteland Continent.

Upon entering the Northern Wasteland Continent, Ye Tao took an exaggerated deep breath, puffing out her chest, and said with a satisfied expression: "We're home!"

Soon after, she also felt a bit disappointed: "Too bad there are no more tasty medicinal pills… I can't see Xiao Xiao and Dan Tong either…"

Chu Yang rubbed her head and said: "Don't worry! Before I leave, I will refine a batch of medicinal pills to give you."

"Really?" Ye Tao's beautiful eyes lit up.

Chu Yang nodded, then Fan Wuye suddenly coughed, looked at Chu Yang warily, and said: "Chu King, I have already sent the news to the master; he is waiting for you!"

"Then let's go!" Chu Yang shook his head and laughed. (End of chapter)