Chapter 796
The Might of the Human Emperor, Shennong VS Xuanyuan
Upon hearing Zhu Chongba's words, Chen Jie frowned and said, "Zhu Chongba, don't be so arrogant. Do you think Shennong only follows the four seasons?"
"Following the natural order brings prosperity to heaven and earth, which is a blessing; going against it brings the end of the world, which is destruction!"
"Reversing the heavens and earth!"
After saying this, Chen Jie shouted angrily, and the next moment he directly inserted the Shennong Staff in his hand into the red jade platform that Zhu Chongba had created with the power of the earth veins.
The point of black light at the tip of the staff spread rapidly, like ink dripping into water. Everything in its path seemed to "rebel."
It's not destruction, it's "reversal".
The stone on the Akagami platform began to "degrade"—from hard jade to soft soil, then from soil to sand, and finally to the most primitive mineral particles.
The growing plants began to "grow in reverse"—reverting from towering trees to seedlings, from seedlings to seeds, and then the seeds degenerated into a tiny bit of wood-elemental spiritual energy, eventually dissipating.
Even the celestial phenomena of the four seasons are reversing.
The spring in the East is no longer spreading, but rather shrinking. The newly sprouted vines and flowers are withering, fading, and turning to ashes at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The raging flames in the south have stopped churning; the fire seems to be flowing backward, as if time has reversed, the burning flames shrink back into a spark, and the spark is extinguished into a tiny ember.
The thick western soil no longer sinks, but rises instead. The illusory image of the vast, thick soil suspended in the air begins to crumble, weather, and dissipate.
The northern ice stopped spreading, the cold air began to "warm up," the frozen spacetime began to thaw, and the illusory ice dragon let out a mournful cry of resentment as it shattered inch by inch.
At the heart of this reversal was that glimmer of dark light.
That is the opposite of the power of creation. It is the "reverse creation" power created by Chen Jie forcibly distorting the origin of the Shennong Staff with his own martial will. It does not create, but destroys; it does not grow, but declines; it does not follow the heavens, but defies the heavens.
This is not a technique unique to Shennong Staff, but rather a clever fusion of the destructive power that Chen Jie comprehended from the Nine Li Demon Art and the Way of Shennong.
"This technique is not inherited from Shennong; it is something I, Chen Jiu Si, have uniquely comprehended." Chen Jie gripped the staff with both hands, his entire being merging with the Shennong staff, his aura rising steadily. "Heaven wants me to follow the seasons, but I will defy them. Creation wants me to create all things, but I will destroy all living beings. This technique defies fate; to follow it is to become Shennong, to defy it is to become a demon!"
He suddenly pulled out his cane, the tip pointing at Zhu Chongba.
"Please enter into annihilation!"
A burst of black light shot out from the tip of the staff, not a beam of light, but a trajectory of "nothingness".
Wherever the trajectory passed, all things returned to nothingness—space was erased, time was severed, and laws were denied. This attack was not aimed at the physical body, nor at the soul, but at "existence" itself, as if it wanted to completely "delete" Zhu Chongba from the history, present, and future of this world.
This is the result of the combination of the power of Shennong and Chiyou; obliteration and rebirth can both originate from the same root!
Off!
A powerful force instantly enveloped Zhu Chongba.
Zhu Chongba's pupils suddenly contracted.
He felt the terror of that attack.
This is not a confrontation on the level of power, but an obliteration on the level of the Heavenly Dao. The "order" power of the Xuanyuan Sword can regulate growth, restrain combustion, correct gravity, and adjust time, but it is somewhat powerless against this kind of reversal of creation that fundamentally denies "existence".
Order requires existing things to regulate it.
If even "existence" itself is denied, what use is order?
"You actually comprehended this existence, Chen Jiu Si has to admit you are indeed terrifyingly strong, but you think you can make me submit like this? Don't even think about it!" Zhu Chong Ba shouted, advancing instead of retreating, the Xuanyuan Sword drawing a mysterious trajectory in front of him.
As the sword tip passed, images appeared in the void—the ancient people lighting torches in the darkness, Shennong identifying the five grains in the wilderness, the Yellow Emperor raising the battle flag at Zhuolu, and Yu the Great digging waterways during the flood…
Every image is an epic of humanity's struggle.
Every epic is an indelible proof of "existence".
The final move of the Xuanyuan Technique – Passing on the Flame Forever.
This approach neither attacks nor defends; it merely "proves"—proves that humanity existed, struggled, and passed on its heritage. As long as this flame remains burning, humanity will never perish. Any force that denies "existence" appears pale and laughable before the epic of humanity's five-thousand-year struggle.
A pitch-black trajectory collided with an epic painting.
A silent collision.
But Zhu Chongba's face turned pale, he groaned, and a line of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
The blood was not bright red, but pale gold, with a sacred luster—this was his original essence blood, a trace of "human emperor's blood" born in his body after he mastered the Xuanyuan Technique.
He blocked the attempt to "defy fate" and eliminate him, but at a great cost.
Although that dark light was blocked, worn away, and eventually extinguished by the epic scroll, the Daoist charm of "reversing creation" contained within it still managed to damage his internal organs through the protection of the Xuanyuan Sword.
"Pfft—" Zhu Chongba finally couldn't hold back and spat a mouthful of golden blood onto the Xuanyuan Sword.
The sword was stained with blood, and the engravings of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and plants suddenly came to life. The sun and moon began to rotate, the stars began to move, the mountains began to rise and fall, and the plants began to grow... The entire Xuanyuan Sword seemed to transform into a miniature world.
However, Zhu Chongba's aura did not decrease but increased.
The will of the Human Emperor is awakening. It is the power of the Heavenly Dao that the previous Human Emperor gained after his victory. Although Shennong and Chiyou were also Human Emperors, the victor of that great battle was the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan.
As the victors, they naturally receive the favor of Heaven.
Such a terrifying move didn't even kill Zhu Chongba, which can only mean that his divine favor was even greater than Chen Jie's, but so what!
The battle is not over yet!
"Zhu Chongba, you really didn't disappoint me. The power of the Yellow Emperor is indeed terrifyingly strong!" Chen Jie wiped away the blood that had also seeped from the corner of his mouth—forcibly activating "Defying Fate" to merge Shennong's power of creation with Chiyou's power of annihilation had backfired on him.
But that doesn't matter. Paying some price for victory is necessary. Now that Zhu Chongba is spitting blood, I must seize the opportunity, take advantage of his illness, and kill him!
Chen Jie thrust the Shennong Staff in front of him and formed an extremely complex ancient hand seal with his hands in front of his chest.
"The Four Gods have returned to their places!"
Spring God Jumang: A shepherd boy riding an ox, holding a willow whip, his body exuding boundless growth power.
Zhu Rong, the god of fire: A strong man bare-chested, wielding snakes with both hands, terrifying flames rise up, burning away all external forces. This is Zhu Rong, the power of the god of fire.
Autumn Goddess Thick Earth: The earth is benevolent, the Goddess Thick Earth brings abundant harvests and great fortune to the world.
Winter Goddess Xuanming: The goddess of ice, with a wave of her hand, ice and snow descend upon the land, snowflakes fill the sky, and the power of ice and snow is displayed to the fullest extent.
The four gods appeared, and Chen Jie gently pointed his finger: "Return to your positions!"
The next moment, the God of Spring transformed into a vibrant green light, the God of Summer into a fiery red light, the God of Autumn into a bountiful yellow light, and the God of Winter into a desolate white light. Then, the powers of the four gods merged and finally all disappeared into Shennong's staff!
The four gods entered the staff, causing Shennong's staff to tremble violently. The emerald green light on the staff's body shone again, but this time it was no longer pure; instead, it was a mixture of blue, red, yellow, and white, forming a constantly rotating vortex of four colors.
Chen Jie gripped the staff with both hands, pouring all his inner energy and willpower into it without reservation. "Four Gods unite, creation returns to its source—"
The four-colored vortexes spun faster and faster, finally merging into a chaotic mass of light. Within the light, images emerged: early humans practicing slash-and-burn agriculture, Shennong tasting herbs to identify medicinal plants, tribes worshipping heaven and earth, and humanity struggling to survive in the wilderness…
"Respectfully inviting the progenitor—"
Chen Jie clasped his hands together and raised the Shennong Staff high, like the most devout believer worshipping a deity.
"Emperor Shennong!"
The chaotic ball of light exploded, and the next moment, a phantom figure emerged from behind Chen Jie.
He was nine zhang tall, dressed in grass and leaves, barefoot, with disheveled hair, a face like bronze, and eyes like bright stars.
He held no staff, but the moment he appeared, the entire world fell silent—not a quiet stillness, but a harmonious stillness. Spring in the east, summer in the south, autumn in the west, and winter in the north no longer clashed or reversed, but coexisted harmoniously, each in its proper place.
This is the true creator, the ancestor of human agriculture and medicine, and the martial arts phantom of Shennong, who tasted hundreds of herbs and identified the five grains!
Moreover, this is not a mere martial arts illusion, but a Shennong illusion that Chen Jie summoned using the Shennong Staff, containing a trace of Shennong's divine soul!
Although it was just a remnant soul, its divine nature, which benefited all living beings and created all things, had already caused the entire 400,000-strong army that had fled more than ten miles above to kneel down in worship. Even peerless generals like Xu Da and Zhang Dingbian could not help but bow their heads.
They are descendants of the human race. Regardless of their stance, when they see the Human Emperor, how can they not pay homage? It is obedience etched in their genes, a resonance from the depths of their souls.
"Greetings to the Great Emperor Shennong, the Ancestor of Humanity!"
Zhu Chongba wiped the golden blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the Shennong phantom with a look of shock in his eyes. The human bloodline in his body made him want to kneel down, but he was no ordinary person. He was a descendant of Xuanyuan. You have Shennong, I have Xuanyuan!
Zhu Chongba gritted his teeth, planted the blood-stained Xuanyuan Sword in front of him, knelt on one knee, and formed a hand seal in front of his chest. But this seal was different from Chen Jie's—it was not a sacrifice, but an oath.
"Your subject, Zhu Chongba, rose from humble beginnings and witnessed the suffering of the people and the chaos of the world. Now I lead righteous troops to punish the wicked and restore peace to the land." His voice was not loud, but each word was as firm as iron, imprinted in the void. "However, my strength is insufficient, and I encounter powerful enemies blocking my way. Now I borrow the Holy Sword of the Ancestor to communicate with Heaven and Earth and respectfully request the Holy Emperor!"
He bit his tongue and spat a mouthful of his heart's blood onto the Xuanyuan Sword.
The sword trembled, and the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and plants that had come to life suddenly detached from the sword and recombine in the void.
The sun and moon became eyes, the stars became clothing, the mountains and rivers became the torso, and the grass and trees became hair...
A phantom figure, also nine zhang tall, slowly rose up behind Zhu Chongba.
Wearing a crown and imperial robes, with a long sword at his waist, his face was blurred, but the imperial majesty that ruled over the eight wastelands and whose virtue extended to the four seas pressed down on all directions as if it were a tangible thing.
He held no sword, but as he raised his hand, projections of the Xuanyuan Sword naturally appeared in the void—not just one, but countless ones, like a forest or a sea.
This is the image of the Yellow Emperor, the sovereign of the human race, the god of war, the progenitor of civilization, the one who cast the tripod to establish the nine provinces and once defeated Shennong!
Two illusory figures gaze at each other across the void.
A benevolent and compassionate being, like Mother Earth, nourishing all things.
A majestic figure, like the Supreme God of Heaven, ruling over all living beings.
This is a "gaze" between two ancestors of the human race across space. Although it is only a wisp of divine soul image summoned by later generations with the help of a divine artifact, the "Dao" contained within it has transcended martial arts and supernatural powers, touching the origin of civilization and the destiny of the race.
This is a battle fought again after a thousand years, and it will once again determine the future of civilization.
The two illusory figures remained silent, yet they spoke volumes.
After a while, Shennong was the first to make a move.
He didn't attack; he simply raised his right hand.
With his palm facing upward and fingers slightly spread, the entire Poyang Lake began to "grow"—not that the water level rose, but that the water underwent a "qualitative change."
Ordinary lake water began to teem with life. Wounded soldiers touched the lake water and their wounds began to heal; withered aquatic plants touched the lake water and regained their vitality; and the lake fish that had been killed by the shock suddenly came back to life, fluttering about before plunging into the water.
This is the ultimate manifestation of the power of creation—transforming ordinary water into "water of life".
But what's even more terrifying is that various creatures began to "grow" in this life-giving water. These weren't the existing fish and shrimp, but entirely new and never-before-seen life forms: some resembled dragons or jiaos, some resembled phoenixes or luan birds, some resembled qilin, some resembled bai ze... all auspicious beasts from mythology.
All the beasts emerged, carrying immense life force, and charged towards the illusory image of Xuanyuan.
The illusory image of Xuanyuan also moved.
He didn't raise his hand, but simply opened his eyes. His eyes had no pupils, only the sight of the sun and moon revolving, and the stars moving. Within his gaze, all the auspicious beasts charging towards him suddenly froze.
Then, the process of "ordering" begins.
Dragons return to the sea, phoenixes perch on parasol trees, qilin guard the mountains, and the Bai Ze wards off evil... Every auspicious creature has been "arranged" to its most suitable position and to assume its most suitable "duty." It is no longer a chaotic frenzy of life, but a well-ordered "mythical beast system."
This is the ultimate manifestation of the power of order—transforming disorder into order, and chaos into a system.
The illusory image of Shennong had a slight frown.
He unleashed both hands simultaneously, his left hand representing life, his right hand death. The palm of life unleashed boundless vitality, while the palm of death spread an aura of annihilation. Life and death intertwined, forming a colossal Tai Chi diagram, which spun and pressed down upon the illusory image of Xuanyuan.
The illusory image of Xuanyuan finally drew its sword.
It wasn't a real sword, but rather the convergence of countless projections of the Xuanyuan Sword in the void. When the sword was unleashed, there was no sword energy, only a "line"—a "line of law" that divides yin and yang, defines purity and turbidity, and regulates order.
Where the line passes, the Tai Chi diagram of life and death is split in two.
Life is life, death is death; they no longer intertwine or transform, but each finds its place and goes its own way.
The collision between the two illusory figures has completely transcended the level of power.
It is a clash of the laws of nature, a confrontation of divine authority, and a remote exchange between two different civilizational ideologies.
On the lake, the 400,000 troops of both sides were completely stunned.
They forgot to flee, forgot their stance, and even forgot their fear. They just stared blankly at the two god-like phantoms in the sky, knelt down, and kowtowed. This was no longer the martial arts confrontation they understood.
This was no longer the illusion of martial arts as they understood it; it was practically a true god descending to earth.
Both Chen Jie and Zhu Chongba are representatives of the gods! (End of Chapter)