Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 224 I, Cao Benqi, have no need to explain my actions to others!

The opponent is a super genius renowned throughout the universe, the Lord of the Blazing Sun. If they refuse to cooperate, they will be powerless against him.

"Emperor Yan? Hmph!" A fierce glint flashed in Cao Benqi's eyes. "Once I break through, I'll make him see who the true genius of the human race is!"

At this moment, he was filled with the pleasure of revenge:
"Ling Xuan, you wait! The humiliation you suffered today will be repaid a hundredfold in the future!"

"Once I become the strongest in the universe, I'll make you taste the bitterness of humiliation!"

Having said that, he made a fierce move, and the Flaming Divine Halberd, carrying the power to burn the heavens and boil the seas, directly slammed into the three Law Enforcement Venerables.

The sudden attack caught the law enforcement team off guard, and terrifying flames instantly engulfed the entire starry sky.

"No—!" The leading law enforcement lord only had time to let out a scream before his divine body completely collapsed under the terrifying power of the Flame God Halberd.

Although the other two Enforcement Venerables promptly unleashed their defensive treasures, they did not hold out for long and were quickly incinerated by the terrifying blazing sun.

Cao Benqi didn't even glance at the treasures scattered across the starry sky. He tore through the void and vanished instantly into the vast sea of ​​stars.

As he traversed the spatial passage, he was already planning his next move:
"Let's return to the Yan God Clan first. With my patriarch's authority, I'm sure I can persuade the entire clan to leave with me."

"Those who disobey... Hmph, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"With Master Zuoshanke as my backer, even if Ling Xuan comes in person, I have nothing to fear!"

The mountain hermit, witnessing all this from the shadows, couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Foolish child, foolish child, you're courting death! You're really going to risk your old face now."

The Star Prison Demon Lord, who was stationed in the Star Domain Prison, sensed the terrifying fluctuations here and rushed over immediately.

brush~
Looking at these treasures scattered across the starry sky, the Star Prison Demon Lord suddenly realized that the situation was troublesome.

This is the first time since the founding of the Heavenly Court that a criminal has dared to kill a law enforcer. This is a slap in the face to the Heavenly Court and to Emperor Yan.

But he had no choice. The Star Prison Demon Lord was only a top-tier universe overlord. Although he was powerful, he could only barely rival a second-tier universe lord. He had no chance of winning against the fourth-tier Blazing Sun Lord.

He could only immediately send the message back to the Heavenly Court headquarters.

Ling Xuan quickly received news of the Lord of Blazing Sun's escape. Standing in the starry sky, he gazed intently at the direction Cao Benqi had fled, his face revealing neither joy nor anger.

The Lord of Ice Peak stood beside him, his face solemn, and said in a cold voice, "Emperor Yan, this scoundrel Cao Benqi is unruly and defied orders by killing an enforcer. His crime is doubled! He must not be tolerated! Please allow me to go and capture this traitor, or execute him on the spot, to uphold the laws of our human race!"

Ling Xuan nodded slightly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable determination: "Alright. You will go to Bingfeng."

"I obey!" The Lord of Ice Peak was filled with murderous intent, and transformed into a blue streak of light, instantly following the residual aura of Cao Benqi.

……

Cao Benqi emerged from the dark universe, and before him stood the familiar Yan Shen Star.

This life-bearing planet, with a diameter of over three million kilometers, is the ruling center of the Yan Shen Universe Kingdom. Countless magnificent temples have been built on the planet's surface, among which the most magnificent Yan Shen Palace is the symbol of power for the Yan Shen race.

He landed directly in the square in front of the Yan Shen Palace, still carrying the violent aura of his escape.

The Lord's guards patrolling the plaza were taken aback when they saw him, and then they all knelt on one knee:

"Greetings, Chieftain!"

But their eyes held undisguised surprise and confusion—just hours earlier, the virtual universe system had released a celestial announcement, declaring that Lord Cao Benqi of the Blazing Sun had been sentenced to imprisonment for a million epochs for violating celestial laws.

The sudden appearance of the patriarch, who should have been in the Starfield Prison, has made everyone uneasy.

Cao Benqi's face was gloomy. He ignored the guards and walked straight towards the main hall of the Yan Shen Palace.

His steps were heavy, each step leaving a deep imprint on the specially made divine gold floor, revealing his inner anxiety and anger.

The main hall doors opened automatically, and he stepped inside, sitting on the throne that symbolized the highest power of the Yan God Clan.

The throne is forged from eternal fiery gold, with fiery patterns flowing across its surface. Successive leaders of the Fire God Clan have issued their commands from here.

"All those who have been granted the title of King or Immortal and above, proceed to the main hall immediately for a meeting!"

His divine power instantly enveloped the entire planet, and his voice resounded in the consciousness of all the high-ranking members of the Yan God Clan, carrying an unquestionable tone of command.

Instantly, streaks of light flew up from all parts of Yan Shen Star.

Leading the group was none other than the former leader of the Yan God Clan, and the current ruler of the Yan God Universe Kingdom—the Yan God Kingdom Ruler.

This seasoned cosmic overlord, clad in crimson armor, had a furrowed brow, clearly having already received the news through the virtual universe.

Following him were twelve cosmic venerables and hundreds of immortal kings.

Everyone's expression was unusually solemn; they too had received a notice from the Heavenly Court.

The crowd quickly gathered in the main hall.

The magnificent hall is thousands of meters high, and the surrounding walls are carved with reliefs of powerful figures from the Yan God Clan throughout history, recording the glorious history of this clan.

At this moment, the atmosphere inside the hall was so oppressive that it was suffocating.

"Clan leader," the Lord of the Flame God Kingdom spoke first, his voice filled with obvious worry, "the virtual universe system shows that you are serving your sentence in the Star Domain Prison. Why have you suddenly returned? Is there some misunderstanding?"

Cao Benqi coldly swept his gaze across each of the high-ranking officials present, his gaze pressing down on their hearts like a physical weight: "I was framed by Ling Xuan and had no choice but to escape from prison. Not only that, I also killed three Enforcement Venerables who tried to stop me."

These words were like a thunderclap in the hall, and the faces of all the Venerable Ones turned deathly pale instantly.

"Clan Chief! How...how could you do this?" Venerable Yanxin exclaimed in shock, his voice trembling. "Killing a Law Enforcement Venerable is a heinous crime of treason!"

Another Venerable Yanhuang hurriedly stepped forward: "Clan leader, is there some misunderstanding? We can appeal to the Heavenly Court through normal channels, why take it this far?"

Cao Benqi slowly stood up, his body radiating a chilling aura: "Appeal? Appeal to that jealous and envious Ling Xuan? You're too naive!"

He descended the throne step by step, his voice growing increasingly agitated: "How many merits have I rendered to the human race? How many times have I narrowly escaped death? Yet how has Ling Xuan treated me? For a single treasure, he intends to suppress me for millions of epochs!"

The Lord of the Flame God Kingdom said solemnly, "Clan leader, according to the information released by the virtual universe, you attacked Lord Youhou first and even tried to forcibly seize the treasure..."

"Shut up!" Cao Benqi interrupted abruptly, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes. "That treasure should have been mine! I fought a bitter battle, while Youhou took the opportunity to reap the benefits. Is that fair?" He surveyed every high-ranking official present, his voice growing increasingly cold: "I have summoned you here today not to discuss right and wrong. I hereby announce: The Yan God Clan shall immediately sever ties with the Human Race and establish its own independent sect with me!"

"Absolutely not!" The Lord of the Yan God Kingdom practically roared. He stepped forward and met Cao Benqi's gaze. "Clan leader, do you know what you're saying? Our Yan God Clan has been human for generations. How can we betray our own race?"

A burly elder hurriedly tried to dissuade them, his voice filled with pleading: "Clan leader, please reconsider! Our ancestors fought for humanity beyond the realms, how many heroes shed their blood in the starry sky? My father died in battle against the demon race! Now we want to betray the clan they protected with their lives?"

Another female Venerable One exclaimed excitedly, "Clan Chief, do you know what betraying humanity means? It means we will become the enemy of the entire human race! Emperor Yan Lingxuan is now awe-inspiring throughout the Primordial Universe. Just recently, he slew the Blood Blade Master with a single strike on the Primordial Star. His imperial might terrifies all races. If we betray him, wouldn't we be courting death?"

At this moment, a middle-aged elder who had remained silent spoke. His voice, though calm, carried a heavy weight: "Clan leader, you should know the Flame Emperor's strength better than we do. Just now, news of his exploits on the Primordial Star has spread throughout the virtual universe—the Heavenly Blade revived on its own, and with a single strike, the Lord of the Universe fell. With such power, how can our Flame God Clan possibly contend with him?"

Another younger Venerable added, "Moreover, the human race is now thriving under the leadership of Emperor Yan, and the Heavenly Court has just been established with strict laws. If we betray them, we will not only face Emperor Yan's wrath, but also lose all our status and resources within the human race. The future of those disciples in the core of the Virtual Universe Company and the Giant Axe Arena will be ruined."

The Lord of the Flame God Kingdom took over the conversation, his tone heavy: "Clan Chief, think about it. The human race is currently at its peak, the Flame Emperor's fame is widespread, and all races come to pay homage. To betray us at this time would not only be unjust, but also unwise! In the entire primordial universe, which race would dare to be an enemy of the human race at this time?"

The other venerable ones also spoke up to dissuade him, each with an agitated expression:
"My son is fighting for humanity on the battlefield beyond the realms. How can I betray the people he is protecting at this time?"

"We would rather die than be traitors to humanity! We cannot bear the wrath of the Yan Emperor!"

"Clan leader, stop! It's not too late to apologize to the Heavenly Court!"

Even if they are killed by Cao Benqi, the Yan Emperor can still reverse time and revive them. But if they truly betray their clan and the Yan Emperor comes to clean up the traitors, then they are truly doomed.

As Cao Benqi listened to these heartfelt pieces of advice, his expression grew increasingly cold.

He slowly raised his right hand, and dark red divine power began to flow in his palm: "You only see these pointless entanglements, but you cannot see the long-term crisis. If Ling Xuan can treat me like this today, he can treat the entire Yan God Clan like this tomorrow!"

The Lord of the Flame God Kingdom felt the increasingly intense pressure, and his expression became even more solemn: "Clan leader, what are you doing? Are you going to attack our own people?"

"Fellow clansmen?" Cao Benqi sneered. "Only those willing to leave with me are my fellow clansmen! Today, I give you one last chance to choose..."

His right hand was fully raised, and a miniature, blazing star had condensed in his palm, radiating suffocating heat.

This was no ordinary flame, but a simplified application of his unique secret technique, "Nine Suns Burning the World." Although it was small in scale, the terrifying energy it contained caused the temperature of the entire hall to rise sharply.

"Those who are willing to follow me, stand behind me. Those who are not," his gaze turned icy and merciless, "don't blame me for disregarding blood ties!"

"No!" The Lord of the Flame God Kingdom was shocked and immediately activated the treasured battle armor on his body.

This is a high-grade treasure-level battle armor, its surface shrouded in secret patterns, exuding a defensive aura, standing in front of everyone.

The other twelve Venerable Ones also took action, each activating their weapons and treasures to create layers of defense within the hall.

In an instant, divine power surged throughout the main hall, and various colors of light flashed.

But everyone's hearts sank to the bottom—they were facing a fourth-order universe lord, the most powerful patriarch in the history of the Yan God Clan!
Even if they join forces, they probably won't be able to hold out for long.

"Stubborn fool!" Cao Benqi sneered, and the miniature star in his palm suddenly expanded. The terrifying heat caused the entire Yan Shen Palace to shake violently. Fine cracks began to appear in the space inside the palace, and the reliefs on the walls began to peel off under the energy impact.

The air was thick with tension, and some of the lower-level servants, unable to withstand the oppressive force, collapsed to the ground.

At this critical moment, a cold voice suddenly resounded throughout the entire Yan Shen Star:
"Cao Benqi! You still dare to act so violently!"

With this sound, the spacetime structure of the entire star field underwent subtle changes.

The miniature star in Cao Benqi's palm seemed to have encountered an invisible barrier, its terrifying energy forcibly suppressed. The scorching heat in the hall instantly dissipated, replaced by a chilling cold.

The figure of the Lord of Ice Peaks appeared in the center of the hall. With each step he took, the space beneath his feet condensed into crystalline ice flowers. These ice flowers were not real ice, but rather anomalies manifested after spacetime was controlled to the extreme. Each ice flower contained a complete set of spacetime laws.

Cao Benqi's face immediately turned extremely ugly, his heart filled with shock and anger: "How could it be so fast? Even the strongest beings in the universe would need some time to travel from the Primordial Star to the Flame God Star, let alone find this place directly. Unless..." His gaze swept over the high-ranking members of the Flame God Clan present, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes: "Someone tipped us off in advance!"

He never expected the Lord of Ice Peak to arrive so quickly; clearly, someone from his clan had secretly sent word through the virtual universe. Facing this veteran universe lord whose strength far surpassed his own, Cao Benqi knew that things would not end well today.

The battle on the original star was still fresh in his mind. The Ice Peak Lord's strength completely overwhelmed him, not to mention that he was in poor condition now. He had just been brutally beaten by the Ice Peak Lord and had not yet had time to recover his divine power.

When Cao Benqi faced the sudden appearance of the Lord of Ice Peak, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by madness and stubbornness. He gripped the Flame God Halberd tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his face filled with defiance and resentment.

In his heart, he always believed that he was the victim and that he was treated this way because Ling Xuan was jealous of his talent.

"Ice Peak!" Cao Benqi said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with suppressed anger, "Do you have to be so ruthless? How many great contributions have I made to the human race? Just for a treasure, you want to force me like this?"

The Lord of Ice Peaks had a cold and stern expression, like ice that had stood for millennia, but a barely perceptible hint of heartache flashed in his deep eyes.

As a veteran ruler of the human race, he had witnessed the rise and fall of too many geniuses, but seeing a talented junior like Cao Benqi go astray, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

“Cao Benqi,” the Ice Peak Lord’s voice was cold and firm, “you have gone astray. Betraying your clan and killing your own people are unforgivable crimes. If you turn back now, perhaps you can be treated leniently.”

“Turning back?” Cao Benqi let out a shrill, cold laugh. “Why should I, Cao Benqi, explain my actions to others! That treasure should have been mine all along! I fought five powerful figures alone at the front, expending a great deal of divine power, while Youhou took the opportunity to reap the benefits. Is that fair?”

His words were full of prejudice and selfishness; he was completely blind to his own mistakes and instead shifted all the blame to others.

Just as the Lord of Ice Peaks was about to make his move, the void rippled once more, and a deep, yet sorrowful, voice rang out:
"You wicked disciple! You still show no remorse!"

The figure of the Lord of Lancang stepped out from the void.

This usually calm and collected veteran ruler of the universe now wore a rare expression of deep disappointment and heartache.

He looked at his carefully nurtured disciple, his eyes filled with complex emotions—anger at his disappointment, as well as self-blame and regret.

“Teacher…” Cao Benqi’s expression faltered slightly when he saw Lord Lanzang, but then he became stubborn again. “Even you are going to side with them? I have served my clan for so many years in the Giant Axe Arena. How many merits have I made for my clan? Now they want to suppress me for millions of epochs because of a trivial matter!”

Lord Lan Cang sighed deeply, his sigh filled with endless regret: "Ben Qi, I have taught you for countless eons, taught you cultivation, and even more so, taught you the principles of being a human being. Do you know what betraying your clan means? It means you will forever bear the stigma of a traitor, it means your descendants will be disgraced because of you!"

Cao Benqi remained unmoved, instead becoming even more agitated: "What about the greater good of the clan! What about eternal infamy! I, Cao Benqi, only seek to act with a clear conscience! If you dare to obstruct me today, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Having said that, he suddenly activated the Flame God Halberd, and nine fireballs containing the power to incinerate star systems roared out, heading straight for the Lord of Ice Peak and the Lord of Stormy Retreat. He was putting all his strength into this attack, clearly intending to fight to the death.

Upon seeing this, the Lord of Ice Peak quickly gathered up all the Yan God Clan members on Yan God Star to prevent the battle from affecting these innocent Yan God Clan members.

When he arrived, he saw the stance of the Yan Shen Clan's high-ranking members. They did not betray the clan with Cao Benqi and remained part of the human race.

(End of this chapter)