Honghuang: Fire De Huaguang, I am the Horse King of Human Education

They were not real beings, but rather projections of some kind of rule or will, yet at this moment they all bowed in respect towards Chi You!

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their postures were extremely respectful, as if they were welcoming the return of the supreme monarch to the throne!

A grand, majestic voice, seemingly originating from the very will of heaven and earth, resounded deep within the souls of Chi You and Xing Tian, ​​accompanied by the bowing of the phantoms of gods and demons.

"Welcome back to the Fire Cloud Cave—Human Martial Emperor!"

The voice was powerful and carried an unquestionable tone, as if this was a divinely ordained destiny and the highest honor!

However, Chi You sensed a chilling and coercive force that penetrated to the bone from their synchronized movements and their grand and majestic voice!
This is hardly a welcoming gesture; it's clearly an attempt to use the power of heaven and earth to force him into submission!

Fire Cloud Cave? Isn't that the place where the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were indirectly imprisoned?!
"Returning to its original position? Fire Cloud Cave?"

Chi You grinned in a ferocious arc, his eyes blazing with crimson light, and the murderous aura that had just subsided around him surged again, staining his golden aura of merit with a layer of blood.

"Bullshit! You want me to squat in that godforsaken place? Dream on!"

He took a sudden step forward, the ground beneath his feet cracked, and a violent aura soared into the sky, causing the grand "welcome" to shake.

"I am a Martial Emperor of the Human Race! But my path lies in the primordial land! In the battlefields of blood and fire! Not in some damned cave, where I am but a clay or wooden statue!"

"Chi You! Don't make a mistake!"

The booming voice was tinged with anger.

At the same time, light flowed across the golden bridge, and an indescribable martial arts essence spread out!
This profound meaning is as vast as the sea, encompassing all things, as if it contains all the mysteries of human martial arts from its birth to its ultimate peak, and has a fatal attraction for any martial arts practitioner!

It was like the sweetest poison, tempting Chi You to step onto the golden bridge and head towards that "supreme" destination.

"Tempt me?"

Chi You sensed the true meaning of martial arts, but instead of being attracted, he became completely enraged!
What is this? A slap followed by a sweet treat? First coercion, then bribery? What do they take him for, Chi You?!
"roll!"

Chi You let out a roar that shattered the heavens, and the Tiger Soul Blade in his hand, which he had previously disliked as "golden and soft," suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light!

But within this golden light lies Chi You's destructive, indomitable, and ferocious fighting spirit!

"I'll walk my own path! I don't need your hypocrisy!"

He gripped the sword with both hands, pouring all his strength, anger, and fighting spirit into it, and slashed down fiercely at the magnificent golden bridge that stretched across the sky!

"Smash it, you son of a bitch!"

A golden blade of light, condensed to its extreme and seemingly capable of splitting heaven and earth, tore through the sky, carrying Chi You's roar and determination, and slashed fiercely at the center of the golden bridge!

A crisp, yet resounding, shattering sound rang out!

The seemingly indestructible golden bridge, which embodied the will to "welcome," was broken in response to Chi You's angry blade!

Countless fragments of divine metal, mixed with shattered runes, fell from the sky!

The bowing phantoms of gods and demons on both sides let out a silent wail, instantly becoming illusory and distorted, and finally dissipating into nothingness!

"Chi You! How dare you...!"

The booming voice was filled with shock, anger, and disbelief, as if it had never expected Chi You to be so resolute, let alone that he could sever the golden bridge containing the power of a sage with a single strike!

However, before his angry shout could even finish, another unexpected event occurred!
Just as the golden bridge collapsed and the phantoms of gods and demons vanished, the void around Chi You and Xing Tian rippled violently, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake!

Five figures stepped out of the rippling void without warning!
These five men, dressed in imperial robes and wearing crowns, exuded an aura that was either majestic and dignified, ambitious and enterprising, benevolent and magnanimous, calm and composed, or discerning and perceptive!
They were surrounded by a rich aura of humanity, as if they were the embodiment of the five directions and five virtues of the human race!

These were the Five Emperors of the Human Race, who had secluded themselves in the Fire Cloud Cave and suppressed the destiny of the human race!
Their timing was absolutely perfect, just as the golden bridge collapsed, the phantoms of gods and demons vanished, and that grand voice was utterly shocked and enraged!

The five appeared without uttering a single word, and didn't even glance at Chi You.

The emperor at the head, whose aura was the most imposing and seemed to bear the weight of the earth, had a gaze as sharp as lightning that instantly locked onto a twisted, ferocious, and ominous phantom of a demon god that had appeared in the void due to the collapse of the golden bridge!
"town!"

"break!"

"kill!"

"Yu!"

"Heng!"

The five emperors shouted in unison, their voices like the sounds of the Dao!
With their shouts, five magical treasures, each with a different form but all radiating the vast light of humanity, were simultaneously unleashed!

A large seal, shrouded in primordial energy and engraved with the character "德" (virtue), crashed down with overwhelming power, suppressing everything!

An ancient sword, wreathed in crimson dragon energy and inscribed with the character "革" (Ge), pierced through the air, its sharp edge tearing through the void!

A long spear, wreathed in black malevolent energy and with the character "兵" (soldier) flashing at its tip, emerged like a poisonous dragon from its lair, piercing straight into the core of the demon god!
A giant shield, inscribed with the character "礼" (rites/propriety) and radiating the light of order, appeared out of thin air, firmly protecting Chi You and Xing Tian!
Finally, a jade ruler, radiating wisdom and engraved with the character "智" (wisdom), pointed in mid-air and precisely fixed all the chaotic space and energy around the demon god's phantom!
Five magical treasures, five kinds of power, representing the will and authority of the five emperors of the human race!

They worked together seamlessly, instantly creating a flawless and deadly situation!

Boom! Pfft!

The demonic phantom that had just manifested and hadn't even had a chance to unleash its power was smashed to pieces by the great seal before it could even let out a scream, its core pierced by the ancient sword, and its remnant soul strangled by the spear, all under the combined attack of the five emperors.

Ultimately, it was completely annihilated within the space where the jade ruler was fixed!
The whole process was lightning fast and clean, as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times!
The aftershocks of the collapsed Golden Bridge had not yet subsided, and the shock and anger of that loud voice still seemed to echo, but the scene had already changed completely.

Chi You maintained his posture of slashing down with his sword, the golden light on the Tiger Soul Blade not yet completely faded.

His eyes widened as he stared at the five figures that suddenly appeared in front of him and joined forces to defeat the demon god's phantom, his face filled with disbelief and shock!

"You... you..."

Chi You's voice was hoarse; he recognized the five people. The Five Emperors of Humanity! Within the Fire Cloud Cave, beings on par with the Three Sovereigns!
Shouldn't they be... "imprisoned" in the Fire Cloud Cave? How did they end up here? And even helped him?
Chi You stared in the direction where the Five Emperors had disappeared, and it took him a long time to recover from his shock.

He shook his head, suppressing the chaotic thoughts, and his crimson pupils rekindled with a burning fighting spirit.

He patted Gun Gun, who was also somewhat bewildered, on the seat.

"Let's go! To the front lines!"

With a low roar, the rolling beast thawed its four hooves and carried Chi You as it continued its rapid journey towards Xiqi.

Xing Tian's enormous body followed closely behind, stirring up gusts of wind.

On the way, Chi You once again drew his golden Tiger Soul Blade, weighing it in his hand, feeling increasingly awkward about it.

The golden light flowing from the blade was gentle and peaceful, and the blade was still sharp, but it had lost that chilling and ferocious aura.

He flicked the blade with his finger, producing a clear, crisp "ding," and curled his lip in disdain.

"Damn it, it's gone soft now that it's been gilded? It's not even as effective at cutting people! When we get to the battlefield, I'll make it drink a lot of blood and get that killing intent back for me!"

Xing Tian chuckled in a deep, muffled voice from the side.

"Brother, you're now a Martial Emperor of the Human Race, protected by merit. This sword has also benefited from your good fortune, becoming a sacred artifact of merit. Even ordinary immortals and gods would give way to it. Isn't that impressive enough?" "Impressive my foot!"

Chi You stared wide-eyed.

"What I want is a fierce aura that strikes fear into the hearts of the enemy! Not this shiny, bodhisattva-like appearance! It just makes me angry!"

He cursed as he shoved the knife back behind his back, deciding to ignore it.

Beneath the walls of Xiqi, banners fluttered in the wind, and a murderous aura filled the air.

Huang Feihu, clad in golden armor and wielding a golden-handled spear, sat atop a five-colored divine ox. Behind him stood 50,000 elite Shang soldiers, their armor gleaming, their swords and spears forming a forest, their chilling aura soaring to the heavens.

They pursued relentlessly, forcing the remnants of the Xiqi army to the city walls. At this moment, their military might was at its peak, and their morale was soaring.

In contrast, the defenders on the walls of Xiqi were sparse, and many soldiers looked panicked and their morale was low.

The city's garrison numbered less than 100,000 at most, and most of them were old, weak, or newly recruited soldiers. Facing the ferocious Shang army below the city, a sense of despair permeated the city walls.

Huang Feihu rode his ox to the central army banner, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect to Hua Guang, who was seated on a cloud chariot, and asked for orders in a voice as loud as a bell.

"My Lord! The remnants of Xiqi's army are holed up in the city, like turtles in a jar! This humble general requests permission to attack the city immediately! We will surely crush Xiqi in one fell swoop and capture the traitor Ji Fa!"

Tens of thousands of soldiers behind him roared in unison.

"Crush Xiqi! Capture the traitor!"

The deafening roar startled the soldiers guarding the city walls.

However, Hua Guang on the cloud chariot remained calm. His gaze swept over the fearful soldiers on the city wall, then looked towards the western horizon, as if sensing something.

After a moment, he slowly shook his head, his voice clearly carrying throughout the entire army.

"Order the entire army to retreat ten miles, set up camp, cook and rest for a day. We will attack the city again at dawn tomorrow."

"what?!"

Huang Feihu was stunned when he heard this, almost thinking he had misheard.

He said urgently.

"Immortal Master! Opportunities are fleeting! At this moment, the people of Xiqi are in a state of panic, and their defenses are weak. This is the perfect opportunity to break through the city! Why..."

Not only him, but also the generals around him, and even the soldiers waiting in the rear, all showed expressions of confusion and anxiety.

Pressing our advantage and taking the capital of Xiqi in one fell swoop is a very simple principle!

Beside Hua Guang, Kong Xuan, dressed in a five-colored robe, also frowned slightly, her cool gaze fixed on Hua Guang with a questioning look.

He didn't understand why Hua Guang would give up such an easy victory.

Hua Guang did not answer Huang Feihu immediately, but looked at Kong Xuan, his tone calm but meaningful.

"Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan, do you know why this great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods began, and why it ended?"

Kong Xuan was taken aback and pondered for a moment.

"The positions of gods in the Heavenly Court are vacant, and 365 righteous gods need to return to their places to govern the stars and maintain the order of heaven and earth. Therefore, a great calamity has been sent down to complete this task."

"good."

Hua Guang nodded, his gaze turning to the majestic yet seemingly precarious Xiqi City.

"The great calamity is underway, but its duration is not yet complete. If we were to crush Xiqi today and slaughter Ji Fa and his followers... do you think that would fill the 365 positions of true gods?"

A glint flashed in Kong Xuan's eyes, and he instantly understood Hua Guang's meaning.

"You mean... even if Xiqi is destroyed, those high-ranking sages will still instigate new wars in order to complete the number of deities to be conferred? They might even... risk splitting the human race again and creating new internal strife?"

"exactly."

Hua Guang's voice was cold.

"The destruction of Xiqi is merely a change of battlefield and a change of the people destined for this calamity. The flames of war will continue to spread, and the human race will continue to shed blood. In fact, in order to 'make up the numbers' more quickly, the new conflicts may be even more brutal and have a wider impact."

He raised his hand and pointed towards Xiqi City.

"And this place has now gathered the last of Xiqi's fortune, and most of the fates of those destined to be listed. Confining them here, limiting the battlefield to this place, let those destined for this calamity face their tribulation here..."

While sacrifices are unavoidable, the damage the war inflicts on humanity as a whole can be minimized. This will allow this cataclysmic event to end here as quickly as possible.

Upon hearing this, Kong Xuan's brows furrowed even more deeply instead of relaxing, and a solemn expression appeared on his usually cool face.

"Enclose territory to raise Gu worms, and wait for them to kill each other to the last... Hua Guang, although this method can reduce the overall casualties of the human race, for you... it may be against the natural order and even incur the wrath of the sages!"

Hua Guang gazed calmly into the distance, his tone indifferent yet carrying an undeniable firmness.

"If fewer innocent people die, what does a little fear matter? As for the harmony of Heaven... I wield the Kongtong Seal and act in accordance with humanity. The benefit of humanity is the greatest harmony of Heaven."

He said no more, looking at Huang Feihu, who still looked puzzled and even somewhat indignant, his voice carrying a soothing yet authoritative tone.

"General Huang, carry out the order. Let the soldiers rest and recuperate. Tomorrow's battle is the key."

Huang Feihu looked into Hua Guang's calm yet profound eyes, then glanced at Kong Xuan beside him, whose brows were furrowed but who no longer questioned him. Finally, he gritted his teeth, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said in a deep voice.

"I obey your command!"

He turned the bull around, suppressed his resentment, and began to direct the army to retreat and set up camp.

The Xiqi defenders on the city wall looked at the retreating Shang army below, and were first bewildered, then burst into cheers of relief at surviving the disaster.

They didn't understand why the enemy had retreated; they only knew that they had temporarily saved their lives.

Just as the Shang army retreated and set up camp, chaos erupted on the walls of Xiqi.

Three streaks of light shot through the western sky at an astonishing speed!

First, a golden light shone brightly, carrying a majestic and awe-inspiring imperial aura; then came a billowing black mist, its malevolent energy soaring to the heavens; and finally, the last one appeared even more violent, with a headless body walking through the air, its power astonishing!
It was Chi You, Xing Tian, ​​and Gun Gun!

"Haha! Hua Guang, kid! I'm here!"

Before he even arrived, Chi You's rough, bold laughter, with its metallic sound, had already resounded over Xiqi City!

Three figures landed with a thud, stirring up clouds of dust.

Chi You rode atop a rolling beast, his crimson gaze sweeping over the Shang army encamped below, then glancing at the chaotic Xiqi defenders atop the city walls, before finally settling on the cloud chariot in the center of the army. He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. (End of Chapter)