Demon Monarch Yang Hou gave chase, ignoring Zhong Yue entirely to pursue Celestial Monarch Jin Wu.
Queen Goddess shouted, “Dao Brother Yang Hou, leave Jin Wu, we should erase Yang Zun, Chang Sheng, and Jin Tian first!”
Demon Monarch Yang Hou’s speed was incredibly fast however. In the blink of an eye, he was already gone, completely ignoring Queen Goddess’s words.
Celestials and demons never got along with each other, as arch nemeses, he had been fighting Celestial Monarch Jin Wu his entire life. Now that Celestial Monarch Jin Wu was injured, there was no reason for Demon Monarch Yang Hou to stop right here.
“Fool!”
Queen Goddess retracted the Tree of Life and charged towards Yang Zun, Chang Sheng and Jin Tian, who were now attacking Monarch Qing He, injuring him greatly and Queen Goddess activated the Tree of Life. After siphoning Di Ming’s cultivation and blood essence, this tree’s might grew again, allowing Queen Goddess to overwhelm the three monarchs even with them working together.
The tree’s strength grew every second. The spiritual root’s abilities were unpredictable, Hundun Clan managed to turn a Fusang tree branch into a monarch weapon; Great Si Ming turned the World Flower into Zi Wei. Great Sui created Void World with Other Shore Flower. The spiritual roots were very powerful.
It might have been dead for some time already, but the Tree of Life, one of the three great spiritual roots, still surpassed the other monarch weapons. With this tree as her weapon, Queen Goddess overwhelmed Monarch Yang Zun, and Monarch Jin Tian.
Especially for Monarch Jin Tian, after being snuck up on by Monarch Qing He, he was injured heavily. Now, his situation was the most dire out of the three. The Jintian Clan’s members that he brought along with him today were almost wiped out. Even if he managed to escape, the clan would also deteriorate severely after this battle.
In Bi Luo Palace, a striking light shined in Mister Bi Luo’s eyes. Just as he was about to draw out Tian Fa, a crow landed in front of him and screeched twice.
Hearing this, Mister Bi Luo stopped right away and lowered Tian Fa aside as he remained expressionless.
At the same time, Zhong Yue sailed back to Southern Heaven Court and King Zi Guang approached right away, “King Yi, how is His Majesty doing?”
“His Majesty is one step ahead, as always. The situation is a mess right now and we have a clearer view now!”
Zhong Yue continued, “If I’m not wrong, after faking his death, His Majesty is now back in his innate sacred ground, reborn with his Dao while leaving the Queen Goddess and the other monarchs embroiled in a ferocious battle. Queen Goddess is really impressive, with Mister Wuji and Consort Tian Si’s help, she may not wipe the monarchs out but she is definitely going to give them a heavy blow.”
King Zi Guang nodded, “And we will be sitting back until the time is right to maximize our gains. As Queen Goddess, Monarch Chang Sheng and the others fight, she would not be able to preserve a lot of strength even if she wins. That is when His Majesty stands to gain the most. We Xian Tian Palace must withdraw ourselves from this chaotic battle for now to preserve our strength.”
Zhong Yue nodded and he charged right into the battle. Upon seeing their great leader charging into the battle and fighting with them, the Heaven Breaching Fortress’ soldiers’ morale boosted tremendously. In the next second, these warriors fought with every bit strength they had, pushing the Heaven Court’s army back.
With a roar, Zhong Yue had his men activated the ten monarch weapons, “Lou Zhengshi, Southern Heaven Gate’s armies, and the rest of the army divisions, surrender!”
Lou Zhengshi sighed, he looked towards the Southern Heaven Gate and found that the many familiar faces now looked alien; their faces were beyond scary and strange.
And behind them was Zhong Yue’s army, sandwiching them in the middle.
Xiang Zuoyu shouted, “Lou Zhengshi, I’ve already surrendered, why don’t you join us? King Yi promised us good treatment!”
Devoid of strength and with a broken will, Lou Zhengshi shouted, “King Yi, is His Majesty really gone?”
Zhong Yue nodded, “Yes. He did not die in the hands of my lord but in the hands of Queen Goddess. Mister Wuji is also a witness.”
Lou Zhengshi turned around and shouted fiercely, “Is this true?”
Feng Wuji nodded and smiled, “No one escapes my perfect plans, not even the Heavenly Monarch himself. Lou Zhengshi, now that only a few of you lonely souls from Di Ming faction are still alive, I promise you a new life and the chance to command the Heavenly River Naval Fleet, you have my word.”
“This bitch and this brat! You have ruined our reign!”
With a pale face, Lou Zhengshi looked at the generals standing beside him, finding each and single one of them covered in wounds that prevent them from battling anymore and he laughed, “His Majesty is gone now, and how could a loyal servant serve two lords in his lifetime? His Majesty treated us with kindness and generosity and he will always be our king, even if His Majesty passes away. We, as servants of His Majesty, have sworn our loyalty to His Majesty, we will follow His Majesty wherever he goes, even into death! Comrades, I will now follow after His Majesty, as for you, King Yi will definitely offer you a generous offer if you surrender to him.”
Zhong Yue’s expression changed right away hearing this and he hurriedly said, “Senior Martial Brother Lou, do you not want to take revenge for Di Ming?”
Lou Zhengshi shook his head and replied, “I appreciate your generosity, but I am just brawns and no brains. I know nothing except for military warfare. I know just how bad I am in tactics and plots, even my strength is no match for Queen Goddess. I’m afraid that I am incapable of avenging His Majesty. King Yi, I’m already too old, but my men, they are still young, they can still fight! Farewell, King Yi!”
“Your Majesty, your old servant is coming!”
His divine sword raised up, wrapped in bright divine light and with a swing, he took his own life!
Zhong Yue was shocked by this unfortunate event, he looked at Lou Zhengshi’s headless body with a heavy heart and empty mind, reluctant to accept this.
“King Yi.”
Beside Lou Zhengshi, the many Heavenly River Navy Fleet’s generals stood there lifelessly, among them, a Creator removed his headgear and on his honest and modest face, a smile broke out as he looked at Zhong Yue, “Please forgive us, King Yi. We’ve been fighting you for such a long time and many of our brothers fell in the war with you, if we surrendered, we will not be able to face their brave souls down there.”
Zhong Yue asked bitterly, “You’re surrendering to Queen Goddess?”
The Creator shook and burst out laughing, “Surrendering to Queen Goddess? Then what about His Majesty? What about Commander Lou? Brothers, who are with me to walk side by side Commander Lou again?”
Zhong Yue’s heart sank right to the bottom, as the generals raised their swords silently.
“Commander Lou, please wait for us, you are not alone!”
Zheng zheng zheng—
The divine weapons fell, and along with them, the souls of the brave and loyal, the generals’ body dropped dead beside Lou Zhengshi, circling around their honorable commander.
“This cosmos, it never lacked loyal warriors.”
Zhong Yue couldn’t bring himself to watch this scene and he said, “Senior Martial Brother Yu, please take care of them, bury them with the most honorable standard.”
“Lou Zhengshi is stubbornly loyal and King Yi is also playing pretend!”
Feng Wuji stood on Southern Heaven Gate and laughed, “Heavenly King Shen, Heavenly King Mo, Heavenly King Xian Tian, commanders and generals of the many army divisions, Lou Zhengshi took his own life for his stupid loyalty but you, are you going to follow his footsteps? From now onwards, Queen Goddess is the real ruler of this universe, the Heavenly Monarch, the strongest power figure in this universe, are you going to surrender, or what?”
Heavenly King Shen looked at the commanders and generals of Zhou Tian Star Division, Tian Gang Star Division, Di Sha Star Division and the rest, where silent was the only element left.
“There is no more loyalty to speak of in this Heaven Court.”
Heavenly King Shen removed the general robe donned on him and smiled, “Dear brothers, I reckon that there is no more reason for us to keep fighting anymore, there is simply no more drive anymore. My ambition, my will, and my hope, all gone. I feel nothing now but only endless chills and despair. The Heavenly Monarch that I know, the king that I pledged my service to, the man that is worthy of my loyalty, he is no more; so is the Heaven Court I once knew! All I want now, is to retire and live a peaceful life somewhere hidden from plain sight. As for this position, Heavenly King Shen… Heh, screw it! Farewell, brothers!”
Heavenly King Mo too, took off his general robe and smiled, “I’m coming with you!”
Zhou Tian Star Division’s commander, Xing Suiyun threw his robe onto the ground and smiled, “I am a coward who can’t bring myself to taking my own life like Brother Lou, so I guess my only option is to retire and stay away from plain sight, just like Heavenly King Shen and Heavenly King Mo. King Yi, are you going to spare us?”
The commanders of Tian Gang Star Division, Di Sha Star Division, Tian Shi Division, and San Li Gong Division removed their robe and looked towards Zhong Yue in silence.
With a heavy heart, Heavenly King Shen added, “Xiao Wuji is a man of cold blood, he will definitely execute us all, but King Yi is different. This man is a man of his words and if he promised us that he will spare us, we will be spared for sure! King Yi, will you give us your words?”
After kept quiet for a moment, Zhong Yue waved his hand, “And your men, you can bring all of them with you, now go, get out of my sight.”
“Thank you for your kindness, King Yi!”
The generals got up, and Heavenly King Shen shouted, “Follow me, if you are willing to cast aside and leave behind everything but if you want to surrender to King Yi, then stay right here! With him around, there will always be a chance for you to shine and make your people proud!”
More than half of the soldiers followed Heavenly King Shen and some of the others chose to stay. With an order, the ten monarch weapons moved aside and gave way to these soldiers that chose to stay and gathered them up.
Zhong Yue said deeply, “I will set up another army division and it will be named the Di Ming Army, you will all be recruited into this army.”
The soldiers knelt down right away and they cried as they thanked their new lord.
“After this war, no matter who sits onto that throne, that person will not be clean anymore.”
Zhong Yue sighed and shouted again, “Fall back, establish a base in the Imperial Star!”
King Zi Guang who was standing beside him, glanced at him and smiled, “King Yi, your remark seems rather inappropriate.”
Zhong Yue replied calmly, “Do you think His Majesty is clean as well?”
King Zi Guang fell into silence before this question and after some time, he replied, “This is not to be decided and should never be said by us, who pledged our service to the lord. It can only be said by historians. King Yi, His Majesty’s methods may be a little underhanded, but in the end, it is much better than the others. War can only be won by using every possible way, there is no room for morality.”
Zhong Yue was surprised and he asked, “Is that what you think?”
King Zi Guang left him unanswered and sometime later, he slowly said, “You and I are always giving out ideas, planning for them, we all have an idealistic view, however, our views are always distinct from the reality.”
Heaven Breaching Fortress’ army steadily backed off, the monarch weapons floated behind the soldiers, eliminated every single chance Heaven Court’s army to sneak up; even when they were retreating, Feng Wuji found no opportunity to commence an attack.
Throughout the way, Zhong Yue sent scouts everywhere to obtain the result of this monarch war. Two months later, after arriving at the Imperial Star, he sent scouts to the Changsheng Clan, Zhongyang Clan, and Jintian Clan to obtain more information.
In this battle, Queen Goddess could be considered as the winner of the game, aside from removing Di Ming and Mu Xiantian, the greatest competitors in this war, she also had Demon Monarch Yang Hou and Monarch Qing He side with her.
Not long later, the first batch of scouts returned with the news they received, in this monarch war, Monarch Jin Tian was injured heavily, forced to surrender to Queen Goddess and Monarch Chang Sheng and Monarch Yang Zun fled away, causing Queen Goddess and Monarch Chang Sheng to gave chase.
Some moments later, the second batch scouts returned, bringing back the news that Monarch Chang Sheng and Monarch Yang Zun had returned to Zhongyang Clan. With the altars raised and the prayers to the five ancient Zhongyang monarch spirits, they managed to repel Queen Goddess and Monarch Qing He.
As for Lilu Clan, Shuilong Clan, Titing Clan, and the other ancient monarch races, their situation deteriorated and their strength was no longer the same as before.
I know who you are working for now, Yun Juanshu.
After organizing and processing the information, Zhong Yue thought, Yun Juanshu, Yun Juanshu….
