# 1742
Chapter 1735: Seven Kings
The rumbling thunderlight drowned the figure clad in blood-stained armor. Huo Qubing's aura climbed steadily, and simultaneously, a surge of divine power erupted from within him!
Boundless battle intent and dominion force burst forth from the法则 (law). Within this unparalleled law lay Huo Qubing's执念 (obsession) from both his life and his transformation into a heroic spirit—the Marquis of Champions' compassion for the common people, and the Dominating Emperor's absolute sovereignty over all things in creation!
That was Huo Qubing's unique... [Sovereign Law].
Boom—!!
A divine shadow gripped a long spear and burst forth from the raging sea of thunder. Huo Qubing had ascended to divinity!
Gongyang Wan flicked her sleeves gently, and vivid faces materialized in the surrounding void—some furious and grim, some resigned and easygoing, some burning with intensity, others melancholic and withdrawn...
Hundreds of these faces floated around Gongyang Wan, flickering like corrupted code. Meanwhile, Gongyang Wan's own features blurred, dissolving into a hazy mist, growing indistinct.
A strand of law suffused with mortal worldly气息 (qi) was gently cradled in her palm.
This was the law she had comprehended over two thousand years of wandering among mortals—thick, complex, like everyone she had seen, heard, and absorbed of human nature. Whether good or evil, these individuals' complexities were woven together, forming a face representing all living beings in the world!
That was Gongyang Wan's exclusive, [Law of All Beings].
When that face of all beings finally settled into Gongyang Wan's original appearance, a divine power fluctuation no weaker than Huo Qubing's erupted from within her. Draped in her elegant court gown, she stood calmly in the high heavens.
"Marquis, since you've ascended to divinity, won't you give yourself a name?"
Huo Qubing fell silent for a moment, then said slowly:
"When mortals seize laws, they become gods; when mortals create laws, they become immortals... Therefore, this marquis shall be the [Myriad Manifestations Martial Immortal] who shelters all beings."
The moment Huo Qubing's words fell, all phenomena in the heavens and mountains on earth simultaneously froze!
The next instant, under the power of the Sovereign Law, all tangible things trembled with deafening resonance, like soldiers in the Marquis's hands!
Gongyang Wan nodded, smiling lightly,
"I'm not good at naming. Since I have a thousand faces and can manifest all beings... let me be called [Thousand-Faced Human Immortal]. What does the Marquis think?"
"Adequate."
Huo Qubing raised his palm and pressed forcefully toward the sky above Earth!
The force of dominion... no, under the Sovereign Law's power, a celestial array unfolded before the two of them. Surging three-colored thunderlight rushed forth from the void, forming a wall that settled above Earth!
Before the vast wall of intertwined three-colored thunderlight, five Cthulhu Faction figures slowed dramatically. They gazed down at the two diminutive figures standing firm before the thunder wall and let out earth-shaking roars!
Just then, two more figures emerged from within the thunder wall.
Huo Qubing glanced back. "You're late, Hu Jia."
Doctor Li stuffed his hands in his pockets, giving Huo Qubing and Gongyang Wan an apologetic smile. "I had to bring someone along... got held up on the road."
Beside him, Wu "Old Dog" stared in astonishment at the magnificent celestial wall before him and the two ancient figures radiating divine auras. Bewilderment flickered in his eyes...
"Doctor Li, who are they...?"
"This is the first generation Chief of the Bureau of Evil Suppression, Marquis of Champions Huo Qubing. This is the second generation Chief, Gongyang Wan."
"The Marquis of Champions and Gongyang Wan?" Wu "Old Dog" knew nothing of the 国运Island or the [Heroic Spirit] squad. Now, seeing these figures who should only exist in history appearing in reality, he was utterly shocked!
"Who exactly are you?" He turned to look at Doctor Li.
Doctor Li smiled faintly, pushing the golden-framed glasses up his nose bridge as he spoke leisurely:
"The Sixth King Ruins, master of [Mind Wanderer], Li Yangguang... though you may call me by my original name, Hu Jia."
"Hu Jia?" Wu "Old Dog" murmured. He seemed to recall seeing this name on the stele at Night Watch headquarters, ranking quite high, belonging to the same era as Huo Qubing and Gongyang Wan.
His expression toward Doctor Li grew complicated. "I knew you were no ordinary person."
Doctor Li clapped him on the shoulder and introduced him to Huo Qubing and Gongyang Wan. "This is the Seventh King Ruins, master of [Formless], Wu Tongxuan."
"Indeed." Huo Qubing gave a slight nod.
"Come to think of it, why do the highest-ranking King Ruins all exist in your era?" Wu "Old Dog" voiced the question that had been troubling him.
Doctor Li shook his head. "The King Ruins weren't always called King Ruins... it's because of us that they gained that name."
"...What do you mean?"
"The 'King' in King Ruins doesn't refer to the Forbidden Ruins themselves, but to their original owners.
Because in the earliest era, we few were the strongest in the mortal realm, later generations called our Forbidden Ruins 'Kings'... and the order of the King Ruins reflects our strength ranking. With that understanding, can you grasp it?"
"But what about me? I don't belong to your era!"
"Your [Formless] is quite special—it can replicate any 'King.' That's why it was specially included in the King Ruins sequence." Doctor Li pointed to the chess piece in his hand. "Your existence is also a crucial element in this war."
"So, which ability do you want me to replicate?"
Before Doctor Li could answer, a deep blue figure stepped out of the void and arrived before the thunder wall!
Seeing that figure, Doctor Li's lips curved upward slightly.
"You see? Didn't it come just in time?"
Wu "Old Dog" followed his gaze, only to see a figure draped in deep blue Han robes standing barefoot on the void, divine power churning from within—already a divine being!
Wu "Old Dog" froze at the familiar face.
The Third King Ruins, [Immortality], Jialan!
"Jialan greets the Marquis." Jialan bowed respectfully.
"You've also achieved Immortal status..." Huo Qubing nodded. "Where is Lin Qiye?"
"He arrives momentarily."
A indifferent voice rang out from behind the thunder wall. A figure in a mud-stained cassock stepped forward slowly, palms pressed together in prayer.
The Second King Ruins, [Destined Buddha], Fate Monk.
Jialan showed little emotional fluctuation at that achingly familiar face. Because she knew—that was merely an individual born from [Fated Fruit], not Lin Qiye.
A stream of deep crimson light streaked across the sky above the five Cthulhu Faction gods and halted firmly before the thunder wall. Jialan's eyes immediately brightened!
Her gaze met that person's. The latter's eyes trembled violently, but with the Cthulhu Faction gods approaching, he managed to suppress his inner turmoil, though his lips couldn't help but curl upward.
"Long time no see... Jialan."
The First King Ruins, [Causeless Cause], Lin Qiye!
Beyond the thunder wall spanning the sky above Earth, seven figures stood imposingly. They were participants in this grand game of chess, and the seven mightiest "Kings" since ancient times... stretching back two thousand years to that ruined temple, causality had guided them here, to this moment.
They were the human trump card hidden deepest in this grand game—the defense line after the Heavenly Court gods had all emerged!
Lin Qiye raised his head, gazing at the emptiness above. He knew that in the highest realm of infinite spacetime, a certain gate stood watching this scene silently.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"All-knowing, all-seeing? Have you calculated this move?"