Chapter 1650: The Heavy Weapons of Yankang
The crisis in the Primordial Realm came swiftly and departed just as quickly. Ancestral God King and Void Heavenly Venerable retreated one after another, leaving a scene of utter devastation behind them.
The soldiers of Yankang and the Land of No Worries swept the battlefield and discovered that both sides had suffered heavy casualties. Emperor Yanfeng, enraged, immediately ordered the cleansing of the ghost domains throughout the Primordial Realm.
The reason the Netherworld had been able to invade so smoothly this time was primarily because, during the Battle of the Netherworld, the demons, demon gods, and Netherworld spirits had infiltrated the Primordial Realm and its various subsidiary heavens, forming numerous ghost domains.
Furthermore, after Lord Tu's death, there was no one to guide those wandering souls and wild ghosts into the Netherworld, causing the ghost domains' sphere of influence to expand more and more.
Previously, the ghost domains had been merely a superficial ailment, but during this invasion, the ghost domains in various regions became passageways for the Netherworld's invasion. A significant portion of the casualties in the Primordial Realm resulted from this.
The various regions of the Primordial Realm and its major subsidiary heavens immediately mobilized their forces, sweeping away the lurking abyssal realms one by one. Meanwhile, Netherworld Heavenly Venerable and Qin Fengqing established the Primordial Realm Netherworld, guiding the wandering souls and wild ghosts from those ghost domains into the Netherworld to reward the good and punish the evil.
As for the soldiers who died in the war, they were guided into Fengdu to serve as ghost armies, which also constituted a considerable force.
"Guiding souls into the Primordial Realm Netherworld is no different from what Lord Tu did, and it will increase the burden on the Primordial Realm Netherworld."
King Yan submitted a memorial to Emperor Kaihuang, Di Yiyue, saying, "If this continues, the Primordial Realm Netherworld will become overcrowded with ghosts. Qin Fengqing lacks Lord Tu's power and will eventually be unable to suppress them. In the future, the Primordial Realm Netherworld will inevitably give rise to trouble. This cannot be ignored."
Di Yiyue summoned Celestial Master Wen Tiange and asked, "Holy Teacher, do you have any insights?"
Wen Tiange said, "I have heard that Yankang's Mu Heavenly Venerable has refined the Path of Reincarnation. Based on this, he can forge a treasure that allows the souls of all beings to reincarnate and be reborn throughout the myriad heavens and realms, punishing evil and rewarding good."
Di Yiyue went to Yankang and met with Emperor Yanfeng, telling him about this matter.
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "Emperor Kaihuang need not worry. This treasure is already being forged."
Di Yiyue was startled and asked, "When did the forging begin?"
Emperor Yanfeng said, "Ever since the defeat in the Battle of the Netherworld, Emperor Yanxiu and Mu Heavenly Venerable ordered all the major manufacturing bureaus of Yankang to forge various heavy weapons in preparation for future battles. This treasure is one of them. The skilled craftsmen of Yankang have been forging day and night, and many heavy weapons have already taken shape."
Di Yiyue said, "May I go and take a look?"
Emperor Yanfeng gladly led her to the Jinjiang Manufacturing Bureau. There, they saw giant manufacturing bureaus lined up along both banks of the Jinjiang River, stretching like a long dragon. Countless giant ships shuttled back and forth on the river like weaving shuttles. Some of those giant ships were carrying only a single divine artifact component!
Those ships carrying divine artifact components arrived at the largest divine mechanism manufacturing bureau, where dozens of deities had to work together to unload the components.
Here, Di Yiyue saw a giant divine artifact taking shape. It was dozens of times larger than the largest divine artifact the Heavenly Court had ever built—the altar of the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge—and was majestic and magnificent.
Di Yiyue looked up, her heart filled with unparalleled shock. The top of this incredibly complex circular wheel had already pierced into the clouds, even taller than the Yankang capital built atop the crown of the Primordial Tree!
Many Yankang deities had their primordial spirits leave their bodies, working together to carry huge components, flying up into the clouds to embed them into the circular wheel. Many other deities were connecting the runic patterns.
Those components were already extremely massive, but compared to this circular wheel, they still appeared very small.
"This must be the greatest marvel and heavy weapon in the past twenty thousand years!"
Di Yiyue praised sincerely, saying, "To forge such a heavy weapon requires an immensely powerful divine kingdom, with tens of thousands of industries working in close coordination. The Kaihuang Era could also have forged such a heavy weapon, but it cannot do so now."
She sighed with emotion and smiled bitterly, saying, "The Land of No Worries no longer has these industries now. Your Majesty, what is the name of this heavy weapon?"
"The Six Paths Heavenly Wheel, which governs the cycle of life and death."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "In the future, once this divine artifact is completed, it can permanently suppress the Primordial Realm Netherworld, making it difficult for ghosts and gods to cause chaos. Moreover, the power of this divine artifact will be unimaginably great. Mu Heavenly Venerable said that once this divine artifact is forged, Lord Tu, Qin Fengqing, will be able to confront Void Heavenly Venerable head-on. As for victory or defeat, that will still depend on Qin Fengqing's cultivation."
Di Yiyue nodded silently.
Emperor Yanfeng said, "However, the Six Paths Heavenly Wheel is not the only divine artifact under construction. Besides it, there are dozens of other divine artifacts, not much smaller than this one."
Di Yiyue's heart shook violently. She hesitated for a moment and asked, "May I ask how many heavens are under Yankang's command?"
The reason she asked this was actually to inquire about Yankang's financial resources. Back in the Kaihuang Era, they had ruled over thirty-three heavens and commanded over a hundred subsidiary heavens. However, the financial resources of the Kaihuang Era could only afford to forge a heavy weapon like the Land of No Worries. After forging the Land of No Worries and then two Ark of the Other Shore, the Kaihuang Era's financial resources were completely exhausted!
"Yankang commands only forty-six subsidiary heavens."
Emperor Yanfeng led her to see other heavy weapons. Passing through a teleportation gate, they arrived at the Jiangling Manufacturing Bureau. The Jiangling Manufacturing Bureau was also spectacular, with manufacturing bureaus standing like a forest.
Emperor Yanfeng said, "However, the number of subsidiary heavens that have signed trade and commerce contracts with Yankang exceeds two thousand seven hundred. Yankang has trade and economic exchanges with over two thousand subsidiary heavens. Coupled with the mining purchases over the years, although Yankang has few subsidiary heavens, its financial resources can still support this."
Di Yiyue nodded silently. Suddenly, she saw a familiar heavy weapon and exclaimed softly, "The Creation Divine Artifact?"
That was a divine artifact resembling the Creation Divine Artifact of the Heavenly Court's Zaofu Heavenly Palace, but it was somewhat smaller and had significant differences.
She saw five mountain-range-like supports holding eight circular wheels in the center. Those five supports looked like five mineral veins, inscribed with various runic patterns and imprints, fundamentally different in structure from the Creation Divine Artifact of the past.
"This Creation Divine Artifact was improved by Mu Heavenly Venerable and Ling Heavenly Venerable."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "It can be used to forge the Divine Artifact Imperial Heavenly Venerable. Lan Yutian came here some time ago, and Lin Xu, the Daoist Master, led many Daoists to survey and map him. They are probably almost done. Emperor Kaihuang, please look over there."
Di Yiyue followed him and flew over. They saw another manufacturing bureau forging a giant ship, no less in scale than the Ark of the Other Shore. The peculiarity of this giant ship was that it could split into countless smaller ships at any time to attack separately.
The ship seemed to be made of countless modules that could be assembled at any time to form a single unparalleled giant vessel.
"This was designed by the old sect leader Wei Suifeng to counter the Heavenly River Navy's Heavenly River Floating Pagoda. We plan to forge five of them."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "The first one is almost complete."
Di Yiyue's eyes flickered, and she said, "Lend two of them to my Land of No Worries for use."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "That's only natural. This way, please."
Di Yiyue also saw rows of Vermilion Bird War Chariots. These war chariots were used to counter the Xuan Du Sun Guard. She saw that the Southern Emperor, Vermilion Bird, was also here, helping the master craftsmen of the manufacturing bureau design the chariots.
In addition, she saw several Northern Emperor Divine Weapons. Unlike traditional Northern Emperor Divine Weapons, which used a type of gourd from the Ancestral Court to contain the Five Elements Cloud Thunder, the Northern Emperor Divine Weapons forged by the Yankang manufacturing bureau used divine metals and divine materials as materials, supplemented by runic patterns, to forge them into gourd shapes.
Those manufacturing bureaus were also forging Azure Dragon Divine Weapons, which were pagoda-shaped treasures, and White Tiger Divine Weapons, which were horn-shaped treasures.
They then arrived at the Yongjiang Manufacturing Bureau near the Tiansheng Academy and the Yongjiang Academy. This was a holy land for formations and divine abilities.
The Yongjiang Manufacturing Bureau was building giant formation diagrams.
"The formation diagrams were designed by Divine Spear, leading the formation experts of Yankang. Each formation diagram contains a Heavenly Palace-level cultivation technique. If one has sufficient divine power, they can unleash the power of an Emperor Throne-level expert."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "However, these formation diagrams require a divine demon army to enter the formation and combine their power to unleash their might. Control over the formation is crucial. Divine Spear and the formation masters of Yankang have already designed over two hundred types of Heavenly Palace formation diagrams. More importantly, these over two hundred types of formation diagrams can form different Great Heavenly Courts."
Di Yiyue exhaled a turbid breath and murmured, "If the number of divine demons is sufficient, can they simulate the combat power of a Heavenly Venerable?"
"Theoretically, yes."
Emperor Yanfeng said gloomily, "However, the number of divine demons in Yankang may not be enough to unleash the power of all the formation diagrams. In the past hundred years of development, the number of deities in Yankang is still far less than that of the Heavenly Court."
Di Yiyue quickly said, "The Land of No Worries needs a set of Great Heavenly Court formation diagrams, one that can form a perfect Heavenly Court!"
Emperor Yanfeng revealed a smile and said, "That is not difficult. The manufacturing bureau of Tiansheng Academy has also built some cloud chariots, each equipped with sword towers. Each sword tower contains five thousand sword pellets, and each sword pellet contains two thousand swords. These cloud chariots are used for ground sweeping and sky sealing. Does Emperor Kaihuang also need some?"
Di Yiyue said decisively, "Yes! The more, the better!"
"The Lijiang Manufacturing Bureau also has some good things. Emperor Kaihuang, please!" Emperor Yanfeng said, raising his hand.
"There's more?"
Di Yiyue suppressed the shock in her heart and followed him through the teleportation gate leading to the Lijiang Academy.
"The climate here in Lijiang is suitable. The manufacturing bureaus here are mainly focused on alchemy, supplemented by other manufacturing bureaus."
Emperor Yanfeng led her to the Lijiang Manufacturing Bureau. There, they saw giant furnaces burning day and night. Many alchemists worked diligently, refining various spiritual pills and storing them.
"This is the place responsible for Medicine King God, Poison Master Mu Yingxue, and Little Poison King Fu Yuanqing. They specialize in refining various spiritual pills, miraculous medicines, and poisons."
Emperor Yanfeng said, "On the battlefield, casualties are inevitable, so life-saving spiritual medicines are indispensable."
"Yes!"
Di Yiyue said decisively, then said with some embarrassment, "Your Majesty, can the poisons kill divine demons?"
Emperor Yanfeng smiled and said, "It is not troublesome. During battles, injuries are inevitable. Coating divine weapons with some potent poison is all that is needed. Does Emperor Kaihuang also need some?"
"The more, the better!"
Emperor Yanfeng then asked, "Has Emperor Kaihuang heard of the Painting Dao? Let me take you to the Painting Sage Pavilion. The Painting Sage is currently painting the maps of the mountains, rivers, and geography of the myriad heavens."
...
Above the Abyss of Return, the thirty-six layers of void opened, and the Great Luo Heaven of Divine Awareness appeared. Cloud Heavenly Venerable stood beneath the Dao Tree, gazing at the Abyss of Return. Suddenly, his form became unstable, and he was almost sucked into the Abyss of Return along with the Great Luo Heaven. He was startled.
"Mu Heavenly Venerable asked me to rescue Void Heavenly Venerable. He really thinks highly of me. This Abyss of Return is also a dead end for those who have attained the Dao, capable of devouring even the Ultimate Void!"
He steadied himself and looked down, seeing layers of void being captured by the Abyss of Return and pulled inward.
He instinctively sensed danger. The Abyss of Return, this mysterious place, could even destroy the Ultimate Void and was extremely lethal to the Great Luo Heaven and Dao Tree of those who had attained the Dao. He had to act cautiously.
After a moment, Cloud Heavenly Venerable took advantage of an eruption of the Abyss of Return's tide, stepped out of the void, and arrived beside the Great Abyss. He looked down but could not see how deep the Abyss of Return was.
"Ling Heavenly Venerable has been here. There are traces of her divine abilities left behind."
Cloud Heavenly Venerable pondered for a moment. His Dao Fruit flew over and entered the Taichu Primordial Stone in his brow. He then leaped into the Great Abyss.
At the same time, a golden ship sailed out of chaotic space. Dao Ancestor and Mahabrahma Deva sat at the bow and stood at the stern, respectively, heading toward the Primordial Realm.
The ship was mostly filled with Buddhas and Daoists. Over the years, they had transported some Yankang people to the chaotic lands, found a small universe, settled those Yankang people, built divine cities, planted crops, and allowed Yankang's civilization to continue.
On the golden ship, besides them, there were also Emperor Ming and Emperor Chi. Two tall and stalwart emperors stood on the deck, gazing at the increasingly close Primordial Realm and the myriad heavens and realms.
On the other side, Bai Qiu'er led some divine demons from the Shanghuang Era, migrating from a certain subsidiary heaven, traveling a long distance to arrive at the ruins of the Shanghuang Heavenly Court.
Yi Shisheng led them to pay respects to the coffins of the successive Shanghuang emperors. After Bai Qiu'er paid her respects at these tombs, she said, "Senior Yi, I have come on the orders of Moon Heavenly Venerable to ask something. The great calamity of Yankang is imminent. Can the Shanghuang still fight?"
Yi Shisheng's face darkened, and he said sorrowfully, "The Shanghuang Era is no more! My senior brothers have turned into corpse demons. If they emerge, they will cause chaos. They cannot fight..."
At that moment, the coffins began to tremble.
"You say our teacher has given orders. Is there a decree?" A deep, eerie voice came from one of the imperial coffins, asking.
Bai Qiu'er presented Moon Heavenly Venerable's decree. The imperial coffin cracked open, and a cyan giant hand grabbed the decree.