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

"Your Majesty! This fiend is the ringleader of the Chan Sect! He has repeatedly opposed our Great Shang Dynasty and harmed our soldiers! He deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

Huang Feihu suddenly took a step forward, his tiger eyes wide open, and his voice was like a thunderclap.

"This humble general requests permission to behead this scoundrel and display his head above the gate as a warning to others and to demonstrate the might of our Great Shang army!"

"Yes! Kill him!"

"Kill this evil Taoist!"

"Hang your head at the gate!"

The soldiers of the Shang Dynasty were filled with righteous indignation, and their roars shook the heavens and the earth!
As Taiyi Zhenren listened to the shouts of battle around him and felt the chilling killing intent, his whole body trembled uncontrollably!
He suppressed his fear, suddenly raised his head, stared intently at Hua Guang, and spoke in a hoarse but menacing tone.

"Hua Guang! You...you dare to kill me?! I am a direct disciple of the Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerable! A disciple of a sage! If you dare to lay a finger on me, my master will unleash his thunderous wrath! He will wipe out your Great Shang...your entire human race...and condemn you to eternal damnation!"

He invoked the name of Yuanshi Tianzun in a last-ditch effort!

Thick, dark clouds hung over Xiqi City.

"Master! Taiyi is in grave danger!"

Looking at the murderous scene below, Lu Ya couldn't help but whisper.

"Should we intervene to save him? If we can save Taiyi, the Chan Sect will owe us a great debt of gratitude!"

Zhunti Daoist's gaze was deep and calm, like a still well. His eyes did not fall on Taiyi Zhenren, but were firmly fixed on the figure in the black bird imperial robe in front of the gate, with a majestic demeanor—Hua Guang!
And Kong Xuan, dressed in colorful robes and exuding a cool aura, stood beside Hua Guang!

"Don't be impatient."

Zhunti's voice was calm, yet undeniable.

"Taiyi's life or death is irrelevant. Taking action now would be futile. Huaguang possesses the fortune of humanity, holds the Kongtong Seal, and has powerful allies like Kong Xuan and Chi You protecting him. Why would he easily release him? Besides..."

His eyes gleamed.

"That Kong Xuan... the primordial five elements manifested, his five-colored divine light sweeping away all things... Such a primordial deity carries great fortune and karma, and is destined to be connected with our Western Paradise! If he can be converted into our Western Paradise, it will surely flourish! This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity! As for Taiyi..."

Zhunti's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Only when they are truly desperate and on the verge of death should we step in to save them, thus demonstrating the compassion of the West! This will also make them grateful and devoted to us! And it will leave the Chan Sect speechless!"

He was determined to wait until Taiyi Zhenren was completely desperate and Huaguang gave the order to execute him, at the very last moment, before descending in the guise of a savior!
Only in this way can we maximize our profits!

At the gate, Hua Guang listened to Taiyi Zhenren's threat without any change in expression; instead, his eyes grew even colder.

He slowly raised his right hand, his voice steady and authoritative, resounding throughout the entire battlefield.

"Disciple of a sage? What a prestigious title! Yet, on the territory of my Great Shang, slaughtering my people is a crime for which even a sage would not escape punishment! Taiyi! Your sins are heinous and beyond description! Today, in the name of the Emperor, I sentence you... to be executed immediately!"

"Huang Feihu!"

"The general is here!"

"Take my sword! Execute the execution!"

"Accept the decree!"

Hua Guang unfastened the sword from his waist and solemnly handed it to Huang Feihu!
Although this sword is not a divine weapon, it is imbued with the humanistic fortune of the Kongtong Seal and carries the will of the Human Emperor!

Huang Feihu took the sword with both hands, his eyes blazing with killing intent!
He turned around abruptly and strode toward Taiyi Zhenren, who was lying on the ground, pale as a ghost!

"No...no! Huaguang! How dare you! Master! Save me!!"

As Taiyi Zhenren looked at the gleaming sword and felt the chilling killing intent, he finally broke down completely!

He let out a shrill, desperate roar, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered!

"cut!"

Huang Feihu roared, gripped his sword with both hands, and raised it high!
On the edge of the sword, the flow of human destiny emanates, exuding a majestic and righteous aura that judges life and death!

At this critical moment!
"Amitabha!"

A grand and solemn Buddhist chant, seemingly capable of cleansing the soul, resounded through the heavens like celestial music!
A vast and boundless, compassionate aura of a saint, like warm sunshine, instantly dispelled the chill and ferocity on the battlefield!
A phantom figure dressed in a moon-white monk's robe, with a compassionate face and a golden wheel of immeasurable merit hanging behind his head, appeared out of thin air above the gate! It was none other than the Daoist Zhunti!

"Your Majesty! Wait!"

The phantom of Zhunti looked at Huaguang with gentle eyes, his voice filled with compassion.

"Heaven cherishes life. Although Taiyi Zhenren has committed sins, he is a disciple of a sage and bears the mandate of heaven. If he is killed now, it may provoke the sage's wrath and cause great suffering to the people."

"How about... you grant me some leniency and spare his life? I am willing to use the wondrous methods of the Western Paradise to transform his violent temper and guide him towards goodness; this would be a meritorious deed."

In the Jie Sect camp, Zhao Gongming, Jinling Shengmu, and others frowned and looked displeased as they saw Zhunti suddenly appear.

This Western religious saint is causing trouble again!

Duobao Daoist's gaze was deep as he looked at the phantom of Zhunti, then at Huaguang, his eyes flickering slightly.

He didn't make a sound, but his internal magic power circulated quietly, and the Qingping Sword Qi remained hidden.

He's waiting! Waiting to see how Huaguang will respond!
He wanted to see if this Human Emperor was worthy of the Jie Sect's full support!

Hua Guang raised his head, his gaze calmly meeting the illusory figure of Zhunti, his voice neither humble nor arrogant.

"So it is the arrival of a sage from the Western Sect. I appreciate your compassion, sage. However, the evidence against Taiyi Zhenren is irrefutable. He slaughtered the soldiers of my Great Shang Dynasty and deserves to die! This is an internal matter of our human race and is also the clear will of Heaven! Sage... it would be best not to interfere."

He refused! He directly rejected the saint's plea!
The compassionate smile on the illusory face of Zhunti faltered slightly, and a barely perceptible cold glint appeared in his eyes.

He hadn't expected Hua Guang to be so tough, not even giving face to the sage!

"Your Majesty is mistaken."

Zhunti's voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

"In the primordial world, sages governed the Way of Heaven and educated all living beings. All sins were judged by the Way of Heaven. As the Emperor, Your Majesty governs the Way of Humanity and should be even more mindful of Heaven's benevolence towards life. Killing one person is easy, but appeasing the sage's wrath is difficult."

If the death of one person leads to widespread suffering, wouldn't that be Your Majesty's fault? This humble Taoist is willing to vouch for Taiyi, taking him back to the West to be strictly disciplined and never to set foot in the East again! Is that acceptable?

He lowered his stance again, even offering to "guarantee" the deal, seemingly backing down, but in reality still putting pressure on people!
Hua Guang's gaze swept over the trembling Taiyi Zhenren on the ground, whose eyes had been rekindled with hope, and then looked at the phantom of Zhunti, a cold smile slowly curving his lips.

"A saint as guarantor? Strict discipline? Never to set foot in the East again? Heh..."

His laughter was full of sarcasm.

"Have you forgotten, Sage? The Investiture of the Gods was orchestrated by you Sages! Where were you when the Chan Sect slaughtered the soldiers of my Great Shang? Now that Taiyi is about to be executed, you Sages come to talk about the virtue of cherishing life? Talk about the will of Heaven? Isn't that laughable?!"

He took a sudden step forward, his voice abruptly turning stern.

"My mind is made up! Taiyi Zhenren must be executed! To comfort the spirits of my Great Shang soldiers in heaven! To uphold the laws of humanity! If the Sage insists on obstructing this, he is an enemy of my human race! An enemy of... the destiny of humanity!"

"Huang Feihu!"

"exist!"

"cut!"

"Accept the decree!"

Huang Feihu hesitated no longer! His eyes flashed with murderous intent!
The sword in his hand, carrying the destiny of humanity and the will to decide life and death, tore through the air and slashed fiercely toward the neck of Taiyi Zhenren!

"Do not--!!!"

Taiyi Zhenren let out a desperate roar! His pupils reflected the ever-approaching sword!

"Sigh... Stubborn and unyielding."

The phantom of Zhunti let out a soft sigh, his eyes filled with even deeper sorrow, yet also with a cold resolve!
He slowly raised his right hand and gently brushed it against the falling sword blade!
An invisible and intangible yet gentle power containing the laws of the Great Dao descended instantly!

Huang Feihu's sword strike, which was as powerful as thunder, seemed to have pierced into the thickest amber, and its speed was suddenly reduced!

The human destiny on the sword's edge fluctuated violently, but was forcibly suppressed and neutralized by that force!
Finally, the sword tip stopped on the skin of Taiyi Zhenren's neck, unable to go any further!
"Sage! You...!"

Huang Feihu's face turned red, his veins bulged, and he used all his strength, but he couldn't budge that invisible force even a fraction!
Hua Guang's eyes suddenly turned icy cold! His humanistic energy erupted violently! The phantom of the Kongtong Seal appeared above his head, and a black bird cried out!

A glint flashed in Duobao Daoist's eyes, and the Qingping Sword Qi flickered uncertainly at his fingertips!
The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence in an instant!
All eyes were on Hua Guang, awaiting his final decision.

Huang Feihu's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulged on his forehead, and he gripped the sword that carried the destiny of humanity tightly with both hands!
On the sword's edge, a righteous aura flowed, and the will to decide life and death was as solid as a tangible substance! He stared intently at the pale-faced, trembling Taiyi Zhenren on the ground, his eyes showing no hesitation, only deep-seated hatred and determination!

Back then, his father, Huang Gun, died because of the schemes of the Chan Sect. This hatred is irreconcilable!

Today, I finally have the chance to personally avenge my enemy!

"You old scoundrel Taiyi! Prepare to die!"

Huang Feihu roared, his voice like a tiger howling through the mountains!
With his long sword, imbued with his lifelong hatred and the blessing of humanity, he tore through the air and slashed fiercely toward Taiyi Zhenren's neck!

Before the sword even arrived, the fierce killing intent had already caused the skin on Taiyi Zhenren's neck to split open inch by inch, and blood to seep out!

"stop--!!"

On the city walls of Xiqi, Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect roared in despair, their eyes bloodshot with rage!
They watched helplessly as Taiyi was about to be beheaded, but there was nothing they could do!

"presumptuous!"

The compassionate smile on the phantom of Zhunti vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling rage!

He, a sage, personally pleaded for mercy, yet he was ignored by a mere mortal general?!

This is a blatant trampling of his holy power!

A vast and boundless, terrifying holy might, as if the heavens and earth were collapsing, descended with a deafening roar, like an invisible ancient divine mountain! Its target was Huang Feihu!

At the same time, he made a fist with his right hand, and the illusory image of the Seven Treasures Tree, which was shimmering with light, instantly condensed. He then gently brushed it against the descending sword!
"brush--!"

The seven-colored light surged like a reversed celestial river, carrying the supreme will to annihilate all laws and sweep away all things. In an instant, it traversed space and headed straight for the Emperor's sword in Huang Feihu's hand! Zhunti needed to save people, but more importantly, he needed to save face!
If Taiyi dies, what face will he have as a sage? Won't the Western Sect become a laughing stock in the primordial world?!

At this critical moment!
A deafening roar erupted! Chi You's towering golden body took a sudden step forward!
His blood and qi surged, and a pure, domineering, and all-destroying martial will erupted!

A blood-red pillar of light, as if it were a tangible substance, shot into the sky, forcefully withstanding the crushing pressure of the saint!
"Zhunti! I am your opponent!"

Chi You's scarlet pupils blazed with fierce battle intent!

The enormous Tiger Soul Blade in his hand erupted with a dark golden light that pierced the sky! Countless ferocious beast phantoms roared along the blade!

His arms were bulging with muscles and veins, and he slashed out with his sword at the falling seven-colored light!

"Martial Arts! Heaven and Earth Opening!"

A dark golden blade aura, refined to its extreme and seemingly capable of splitting the heavens and earth, tore through the void, carrying a resolute will to sever cause and effect and destroy all laws, and fiercely met the Seven Treasures Tree!
"Hmph! Duobao! Aren't you going to make a move?!"

At the same time, Daoist Duobao's cold voice rang out!

He pointed his fingers like a sword and suddenly pointed at the void!
"Slay the Immortal! Kill the Immortal! Trample the Immortal! Annihilate the Immortal! Behead!"

Four terrifying sword lights, completely different yet equally imbued with a world-destroying and ferocious aura, instantly tore through space!

A sword strike of unparalleled sharpness, tearing through space!

A single sword strike, heavy as a mountain, suppresses all laws!

A single, unpredictable sword strike devours life!

One sword can destroy all things and end everything!
Four sword lights intertwined to form a world-destroying sword net, carrying the supreme will to slay immortals and gods, closely following Chi You's sword energy, and fiercely slashed towards the Seven Treasures Tree!

"Chi You! Duo Bao! How dare you obstruct me?!"

The phantom of Zhunti roared! The Seven Treasures Tree shone brightly, its seven-colored light swirling wildly, attempting to block both the blade energy and the sword net simultaneously!

Boom——!
Blade energy, sword net, seven-colored precious light!
Three world-destroying forces collided violently above Huang Feihu's head! A raging energy storm instantly swept in all directions! Space shattered inch by inch! Blinding light engulfed the entire battlefield!
However, Huang Feihu stood firm in the eye of this devastating energy storm!

His eyes were fixed on Taiyi Zhenren! His mind held only one thought—to kill!

"kill--!"

Huang Feihu let out a roar that could shatter gold and split rocks!

He ignored the terrifying energy turbulence above his head that could crush him into dust, and ignored the oppressive aura of the saint's wrath!

With unwavering resolve, he swung his long sword down fiercely!

"No—! Spare me—!"

As Taiyi Zhenren watched the sword blade rapidly enlarge in his pupils, he let out a final, mournful, and desperate wail!
The voice was filled with endless fear and pleading!
laugh--!
A soft sound!
Like a sharp blade slicing through rotten leather!

Blood splattered!
A head, its face contorted in terror and despair, flew high into the air! Scalding blood gushed from the headless neck!

Taiyi Zhenren! One of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect! A disciple personally taught by Yuanshi Tianzun! And so... his body was separated from his head!
A faint soul, filled with confusion and resentment, drifted out from the headless corpse, paused briefly in the void, and then transformed into a stream of light, fleeing hastily towards Mount Xiqi!

That's the direction from which the Investiture of the Gods guides the true spirits!

"Hang it up!"

Hua Guang's cold voice rang out, carrying an unquestionable authority!
"According to the order!"

Huang Feihu wiped the blood splattered on his face, his eyes as cold as iron!
He grabbed Taiyi Zhenren's head and hung it on the highest flagpole at the gate!

That terrified, distorted face swayed slightly in the wind, like the most glaring warning!
"Junior Brother Taiyi—!!"

On the city walls of Xiqi, Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, and other Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect let out heart-wrenching cries of grief!

They watched helplessly as their fellow disciples were beheaded and their heads displayed in public! Immense grief and humiliation gnawed at their hearts!
"Good! Good! Good!"

The phantom of Zhunti looked at the head hanging on the gate and the fleeing soul, and said three good words in a row!
The voice was icy cold, devoid of any compassion!
He gave Hua Guang, who was expressionless, a deep look, then glanced at Chi You, Duo Bao, and the others, his eyes flashing with cold light.

"Your Majesty the Human Emperor! Fellow disciples of the Intercepting Sect! I have remembered what happened today!"

The voice of the phantom of Zhunti was like a cold wind from the depths of hell, carrying a deep-seated killing intent.

He didn't linger. The illusory image of the Seven Treasures Tree instantly retracted, and with a flicker of his figure, he transformed into a streak of light and appeared on the top of Xiqi City.

"saint!"

Guang Chengzi and the others rushed forward, their faces filled with grief and fear.

"Junior Brother Taiyi, he..."

"Shut up!"

The phantom of Zhunti coldly interrupted, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice filled with suppressed anger.

"waste!
"A bunch of useless trash! You couldn't even protect a single Taiyi! What use are you?!"

Guang Chengzi and the others turned pale instantly, filled with shame, yet dared not refute him.

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty!"

Upon seeing this, Jiang Ziya quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"Although Senior Brother Taiyi has perished, his true spirit has not been extinguished and has already been guided by the Investiture of the Gods. Once the Investiture of the Gods is completed, Senior Brother Taiyi will be able to ascend to a divine position and enjoy the incense offerings of the Heavenly Court. Although he has lost the path of immortality, he has gained a divine position, which is not necessarily a bad thing..."

"shut up!"

Guang Chengzi suddenly turned his head and shouted at Jiang Ziya, his eyes filled with anger and disdain.

"Jiang Shang! What do you know?! The Divine Path? That's nothing but a puppet controlled by the Heavenly Court and the Investiture of the Gods! How can it compare to the carefree Immortal Path?! Junior Brother Taiyi is a direct disciple of Master Yuqing, with extraordinary talent and profound cultivation. He was originally expected to reach the Great Luo realm!"

Now…now you've ended up dead and your spirit listed on the altar! This is a great disgrace to our Chan Sect! How dare you speak such nonsense about the divine way here?! Get out of here!

Jiang Ziya was publicly reprimanded by Guang Chengzi. His face turned pale and then red. He was filled with shame and indignation, but he could only retreat silently, his eyes filled with deep gloom.

Zhunti Daoist watched this scene with a barely perceptible hint of mockery in his eyes.

He ignored the internal strife within the Chan Sect, turned his gaze to the menacing army of the Jie Sect outside the city, and then looked at the heads hanging on the gate. His voice was low and cold.

"Investiture of the Gods... Hmph! What a magnificent Investiture of the Gods! Senior Brother Yuanshi... you certainly have... a clever scheme!"

He knew in his heart that Taiyi's death was a foregone conclusion.

The Chan sect lost face, and the Western sect also failed to achieve its goal.

But... the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has only just begun! (End of Chapter)