Zhongshan Shenzhu Chi

Chapter 124 The Dynasty, Summer of 1564

The fifteenth year after the end of the drought in Yongningzhou was also the 1564th year of the imperial calendar.

June marks the beginning of the height of summer.

Lu Changqing, the Dragon-Slaying Sword Immortal who had been in seclusion for over three hundred years, suddenly reappeared. With a single command, he brought all the Lu clan members of Yunxi Continent back to their ancestral home and declined all visits from guests.

Given the scale of the event, everyone assumed that the Lü family was planning a major operation targeting either Zhongshan or the East Sea Dragon Court. They speculated whether the next being to perish in Yunxi Continent, following the Cloud Dream Water God, would come from Zhongshan or the East Sea Dragon Court.

To everyone's surprise, it was the Lü family that started the fight first.

That night, the ancestral land of the Lü family was filled with the light of swords, as if the sun were rising in the east.

The next day, with the outcome of the battle between the two fifth-realm cultivators still undecided, the eight branches of the Lü family split into two factions.

Led by Lü Changqing, there were three factions that called themselves the Lü family and broke off relations with the imperial court.

Led by another patriarch of the Five Realms, there are five lineages. They claim to be the King of Yunxi and have established the Yunxi Kingdom.

Before the two major demon races in Yunmengze even went to war, the civil war among the human race had already burned more than 30% of the land in Yunxi Continent.

July, 1564 (Imperial Dynasty).

Lü Changqing was victorious. He beheaded the old ancestor of the Lü clan from the Fifth Realm who had borrowed the mist ghost to prolong his life in the ancestral hall, and exterminated his clan.

The Lü family's eight branches were reduced to only three. After a clash of beliefs and a baptism of blood and fire, these three branches, with Lü Changqing at their core, clung together tightly.

Just as the Lü family was in dire need of rebuilding, Lü Changqing disappeared again. Rumors circulated that he had gone to the border of Yunxi Continent to hunt down a certain being.

"So decisive! If the imperial dynasty could act like this, we might not even be able to attack Yunxi Continent." News from the Lü family was presented to Frog one after another.

It sighed, "The Lü family seems to have suffered a great loss, but they only lost one Fifth Realm cultivator. They still have two more. Moreover, Lü Changqing just fought for ten days and killed a Fifth Realm cultivator to establish his authority. Until it is clear that he is dead and his cultivation has been extinguished, the Lü family cannot be removed from the title of the leader of the human race in Yunxi Continent."

"What you said is both good and bad. What should we do?" The Golden Ape King couldn't understand, so it asked directly.

"What else can we do? King against king, general against general. The Yunxi Continent humans, us, the East Sea Dragon Court, and even the imperial dynasties will all settle this in the Yunmeng Marsh." The frog said, turning to look at the red dragon who was playing with the little fox.

That look seemed to be telling the Golden Ape King, "Go ask it."

"Hmm————" The Golden Ape King followed the frog's gaze and looked over.

Contrary to his usual behavior, he didn't go over to ask directly, but instead stood there counting on his fingers.

"Star River Sword Palace, one and a half. Lü family, two. East Sea Dragon Court, two Dragon Kings, one Dragon King and one Dragon King... and the dynasty you mentioned, one."

"A total of six and a half realms—"

As he calculated, the Golden Ape King, who had held his head high, lowered it.

It believes that in a one-on-one or even one-against-two situation, the candle will not be at a disadvantage and has a very high probability of winning.

However, Yunxi Continent now has at least six and a half Fifth Realm experts gathered, while Zhongshan only has one King.

"How do we fight?" the Golden Ape King asked again.

"I already said it, it's king against king, general against general. It's a battle of resources, hard power, and logistics," the frog replied.

"You want Zhu to fight six people by himself? If you don't come up with a solution, I'll immediately take the Prison Wolves and Bloodhounds back to Zhongshan."

When the Golden Ape King spoke, his gaze was resolute and his words were heavy.

"Even if I can't defeat the candle, I will bring it back. I can break through any realm at any time, but I must live."

Upon hearing this, the frog glanced sideways at the Golden Ape King.

It originally thought that only the Red Dragon, the Mountain Lord, and that fox in Zhongshan had brains and could think.

Unexpectedly, this golden ape king in front of them could also think.

"Not only does Candle need to break through, but I do too. This isn't a certain death situation, and Candle won't fight six against one." The frog lay down on the sandy ground beside the marsh. "Think again, how should we break this deadlock?"

"I can't think of any other way to break this deadlock except for them fighting each other," the Golden Ape King said frankly.

"Huh?" The frog sat up abruptly, looking at the Golden Ape King in surprise. "Did you guess or did you come up with that?"

"Isn't this the only possibility? Do you expect me to break through to a higher realm now and fight alongside Zhu?" The Golden Ape King exhaled two streams of blazing air from its nose.

White steam.

"It seems like a guess, and a pretty accurate one at that—the human race is not a monolithic entity, and the East Sea Dragon Court will not wholeheartedly cooperate with the human race."

The frog lay back down on the beach, its dead fish-like eyes fixed on the stars in the sky.

"If we lose the battle against the dragons and are forced to retreat to Zhongshan, they will naturally become suspicious of each other and start fighting."

"How can we lose? How can we lose in a way that makes them think we have no choice but to retreat to Zhongshan?" As he spoke, the Golden Ape King approached the frog, but instead of confronting each other with eyes and aggression as before.

It plopped down next to the frog, its voice filled with melancholy: "Will we all perish, or will Zhu be severely injured, or will you be on the verge of death? If so, how can we possibly fight for Yunmeng Marsh again?"

"In the midst of chaos and great battles, how can anyone escape unscathed? Who lives and who dies is still uncertain." The frog said, then looked again into the distance at the red dragon playing with the little fox.

It truly wanted to slaughter the entire Dragon Court of the East Sea to avenge its mother.

However, this is on the premise that it must control the water resources of Yunmengze and keep up with the speed of Yinglong's rise.

But the other party is a mythical being, a deity who gathers the fortune of all dragons in the world and was born in the midst of raging waters.

The hope of victory is too slim.

Moreover, the frog did not want to sacrifice so many lives on Zhongshan Mountain for its revenge.

As they walked all the way to Yunxi Continent, what propelled it forward was not only hatred, but also other things.

Putting everything else aside, it quite likes the atmosphere of Zhongshan. There are fools to tease, and clever ones to outwit; rivals can be found everywhere.

"Hunxie is right. Such a great battle and chaotic war is too dangerous. I might even perish." The red dragon shrank its size and coiled on the little fox's head.

The little fox hopped over, and upon hearing what the red dragon said, its initial excitement suddenly sank. Its three tails, which had been swaying like propellers, drooped down.

"Zhu, why don't we go back first?" Jiulian said cautiously.

Upon hearing this, even the Golden Ape King turned his head to look at the Crimson Dragon.

The red dragon remained silent.

Chaos has begun, and all living beings are rowing against the current; if they do not advance, they will fall behind.

Going back now might ensure a hundred years of peace. But what about a hundred years from now?

Yinglong controls the world's water transport. With the protection of the Dragon Court of the East Sea, as long as you don't go to sea, you will surely be able to advance to the sixth realm.

The dynasty once ruled the world; if it were to be fully supported, the yellow dragon's advancement to the sixth realm would be just around the corner.

Zhongshan in Yongning Prefecture can only support it up to the fifth realm.

"There's no going back. Chaos has arrived. If you don't fight, you'll die. Don't bring up similar things again." The Crimson Dragon's voice was deep and carried an undeniable authority.

"Nine Lotus, demonstrate your innate divine power. Breaking this deadlock, at least 30% of the battle is in your hands."