Chapter 638: Yuchang Sword (Bonus Chapter—Seeking Moon Tickets)

"Again we meet, True Demon Lord!"

Lu Zhong sat at the guest table, picked up the teapot, and poured himself a cup of tea.

The tea was provided by the inn—not premium quality, and long since cold.

Yet he seemed utterly unconcerned, even savoring a small sip with great care.

"Hmm, we're old friends…"

Fang Xing smiled and nodded: "You've seen through my disguise—is that a unique ability of the Avenger?"

"Correct. Avengers seeking vengeance against the gods naturally possess the ability to detect divine qi… I secretly memorized your aura the last time we met."

Lu Zhong answered every question.

"I can see you've matured… and aged considerably…"

Fang Xing glanced at Lu Zhong's chest: "Is it because of that semi-divine artifact?"

"Oh? You can see it?"

Lu Zhong, slightly surprised, pulled a short sword from his chest.

It was no longer than a chopstick, tiny and delicate—more like a child's toy than a semi-divine artifact!

"It seems it still needs greater concealment…"

Lu Zhong toyed with the short sword, lost in thought.

"You've drained your lifespan nearly to its limit… just to forge such a semi-divine artifact?"

Fang Xing's eyelid twitched slightly—he sensed a faint danger emanating from the short sword.

A cultivator above Level 20 wielding a divine artifact already has the potential to threaten a god.

Though only slightly.

"I once incited several rebellions against the God of Redemption, launched uprisings… trained wave after wave of Avengers…"

Lu Zhong coughed: "But after years, I realized I achieved nothing! The people of this world are too foolish… they need a bloody reminder."

"So you decided to go all in?"

Fang Xing smiled: "Who's your target?"

"In the imperial capital, who else but the Zhou Shenchao Emperor deserves my 'Sword of Vengeance'?"

Lu Zhong sighed: "The Zhou Shenchao Emperor is a bloodline descendant of the God of Imperial Rule and Kingship—the very blood the main deity of Zhou left behind. I will use his blood and life to proclaim that gods, too, bleed… and can be destroyed…"

"Assassinate the Zhou Shenchao Emperor?"

Fang Xing nodded: "Indeed a grand scheme. Whether you succeed or not, you will die."

"Yes, but I've already sown the seeds of fire…" Lu Zhong said.

He had only a few years left to live, and intended to burn his final moments brightly.

"I see…"

Fang Xing's smile widened: "Such an interesting affair—I, as a demon god, must lend a hand…"

He extended his hand: "Give me your sword."

Lu Zhong handed it over immediately, as if he didn't care at all.

Fang Xing took it, gripped the hilt, and felt immediate resistance.

"This sword is an Avenger's divine artifact… to wield it smoothly, you must be an Avenger—otherwise, it will constantly reject you."

Lu Zhong spoke.

In the next instant, his eyes widened—he felt a mist suddenly envelop the short sword.

The sword was still the same, yet it now seemed ordinary, no longer dangerous.

It felt exactly like how he felt when facing Fang Xing!

"I've added a layer of effect beyond divine sight… For months, even gods won't notice it."

Fang Xing tossed the short sword back to Lu Zhong: "Since you're planning to assassinate a monarch, this sword will surely be remembered through history. Let's rename it—'Yuchang Sword'—for good fortune."

"Yuchang? Fine."

Lu Zhong took it, felt the strange aura on the blade, and silently nodded: "With this sword, my chance of success increases by thirty percent."

As for what would happen after the assassination, he gave it no thought.

That's what Avengers are.

And after assassinating the Zhou Shenchao Emperor, escape was hardly possible anyway.

"Then I wish you success…"

"I might take the chance to steal the Zhou Golden Statues during the chaos—give you some cover."

Fang Xing said indifferently.

"The Zhou Golden Statues?"

Lu Zhong suddenly seemed to recall something: "According to my top-secret intelligence… one of the Zhou Golden Statues was previously lost. Of the remaining eleven, six have been secretly relocated… the ones left behind are mere fakes."

"What? Faking the sacred relics—truly unforgivable!"

Fang Xing cursed, then grew curious: "Where did those six statues go?"

"The Outer Lands!"

Lu Zhong affirmed: "The Zhou Shenchao has long planned to launch war against the Outer Lands… and recover the final statue."

"No wonder it's the Zhou Shenchao…"

Fang Xing thought to himself.

Mobilizing large armies is hard to hide, but moving high-tier combatants is far easier.

If Sanjue Pass received six Zhou Golden Statues as reinforcements, even on its own strength, it could crush the Outer Lands.

"Has the Zhou court finally been driven to desperation by me?"

"And… no matter what the Killing Sect is doing in the Outer Lands, their silence all these years feels more suspicious than any action."

"Is this probe meant to force the Killing Sect to reveal its true strength?"

Fang Xing couldn't help but marvel internally—warfare hidden above the nine heavens, striking suddenly, leaving even him slightly unprepared.

…

Several days later.

Sanjue Pass.

A patrol unit was walking the city walls. The countless terracotta warriors, divine beast golems… remained still, kneeling or standing as always.

Until…

Boom!

The great gates of Sanjue Pass burst open, and the stationed armies were dispatched out.

The terracotta warriors' eyes glowed, divine beasts roared in fury.

Thud!

Thud!

The earth trembled as golden giants, nearly as tall as the city walls, rose into view.

Merely the pressure from their divine radiance made the entire army tremble.

"The Emperor must be dead serious about crushing the Outer Lands—he's sent six Zhou Golden Statues… This is like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken."

On the city wall, a flash of light appeared.

!

Sang Chenghuang materialized, feeling the oppressive aura from the six Golden Statues, and immediately bowed respectfully.

He wasn't bowing to the statues—he was bowing to the gods.

The Zhou Golden Statues carried divine majesty!

"This campaign will surely eradicate the barbarians and proclaim our nation's glory!"

The commander of Sanjue Pass, full of vigor, gazed southward.

…

Almost at the same moment.

Zhou Shenchao Imperial Capital.

The Emperor was traveling to offer sacrifices at the divine temple.

The broad streets were packed with dense ranks of imperial guards.

Just the ceremonial procession exceeded ten thousand men.

Wherever they passed, iron armor stretched like clouds, banners fell like rain.

This was only the surface.

If a high-level cultivator were present, they would see the true spectacle: "Land Spirits clear the path, City Gods follow unseen, Wind Lord leads ahead, Rain Master purifies the streets…"

"The Emperor's procession, accompanied by a hundred deities—truly magnificent…"

Among the crowd, Fang Xing, still dressed as a hunter, marveled.

In truth, he internally scoffed:

"Emperor—the Son of Heaven… born already one step beneath Heaven, bearing a divine title, not an imperial one!"

"A true Emperor calls himself 'Human Sovereign'—ruling by virtue of humanity, independent of Heaven and gods… that is true self-reliance."

"I am human—humanity must surpass Heaven, surpass all!"

"That's the principle: where the interest lies, your seat must be placed."

Though the scene was lively, Fang Xing had no intention of getting too close.

After all, today's avengers will surely act; getting too close might get you splattered with blood.

Instead, he stepped back several paces to observe the Great Zhou golden figures.

'Hmm… now that I'm closer, several of the golden figures clearly seem off…'

'So they've tampered with them—some divine power illusion?'

Fang Xing silently calculated: 'Right now… the Three Passes' army should have mobilized, preparing to sweep the Outer Lands?'

Given the scale of the Great Zhou Shenchao, the Outer Lands clearly stand little chance.

Moreover, this is another offensive following the previous failure against the Killing Sect.

'The Outer Lands aren't crucial, but the trees I planted are all over there…'

That's precisely why Fang Xing intervened last time, personally blessing the Fish-Belly Sword.

I just hope Lu Zhong delivers.

Of course, Fang Xing knew that even if Lu Zhong succeeded in killing the Great Zhou Emperor, it wouldn't change anything.

There are countless divine descendants on the earth; kill one emperor, and another will simply be installed.

As a divine dynasty, in the end, everything ultimately comes down to the gods.

'Huh?'

Fang Xing suddenly looked up, watching the stars suddenly blaze bright in the daylight: 'Heaven stirs the killing intent—stars shift, constellations change?'

…

The Zone of Destruction, beyond the Divine Realm.

One by one, the incarnations of the gods appeared.

A god's incarnation is an innate ability of a true deity—creating a duplicate with nearly half their power, and within the celestial hierarchy of Heaven, their strength suffers almost no suppression.

'God of Shadows and Thieves, God of Love…'

'And of course, the Lord of War…'

A dark flash of Destruction divine power appeared—Fang Xing's Destruction incarnation materialized, watching the scene, a cold sneer crossing his face: 'You few not only besieged my church below, but now dare to surround my Divine Realm?'

'Destruction…'

The Lord of War appeared as a muscular, pale-skinned man with red hair, clad in pitch-black divine armor, his voice like thunder: 'Hand over the Great Zhou golden figures and guarantee the Killing Sect never leaves the Outer Lands… This is our final offer and last mercy.'

True gods are hard to kill, especially Fang Xing, the God of Destruction; as long as he remains within his Divine Realm, even the Great Zhou's chief deity has few effective options.

Thus, at this point, all are granted a chance to negotiate.

Of course, if negotiations fail, the Great Zhou pantheon will immediately seal off Fang Xing's Divine Realm.

As a God of Destruction, his divine power is limited; no matter how long he holds out, he cannot outlast twelve true gods.

Though the cost and losses would be immense, for the Great Zhou pantheon, this is already the best option.

At least, it's far better than directly storming his Divine Realm.

'So… it's come to this?'

Fang Xing murmured, his gaze dropping downward, as if witnessing something profoundly intriguing.

(End of Chapter)