Chapter 44: The Arrival of the Dual Monarchs

Nearby, Jiang Wen, who had remained silent for a long time, slowly stood up. Suppressing the stern warnings of his primordial spirit, he circled the blood pool.

After confirming repeatedly with the divine spirit of the Emperor Weapon, the Hengyu Furnace, that this was indeed the vital essence of an Emperor-grade figure—and that the quantity was so terrifyingly vast that it would be impossible to refine even by slaying one hundred peak Emperors—his gaze grew increasingly complex.

Looking at Fang Zheng, who was currently frolicking with the flood dragons, Jiang Wen spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a lingering melancholy: "Senior Fang Zheng, perhaps you really will put an end to the wars of this universe..."

Throughout the long river of time, the living beings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths engaged in mutual slaughter to contend for limited resources, their blood staining almost every page of history.

Even what Jiang Wen had once witnessed in the ancient ruins of the starry sky—the so-called Ancient Immortal Era where True Immortals still existed—was likely nothing more than a fleeting moment of peace within the endless sea of blood and history.

Jiang Wen could not help but fall into deep contemplation.

If the power Fang Zheng currently exhibited truly had no limits, and he could single-handedly provide a continuous stream of resources for this universe, would a truly lasting peace finally arrive?

...

Silence lingered for a long time. A storm raged in Jiang Wen's heart, but his expression grew increasingly resolute.

Jiang Wen gazed at the expressionless blocky figure before him, his expression solemn, his heart surging.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, dropped heavily to his knees, and kowtowed deeply.

Aside from his parents and ancestors, this was the only time in his entire life that he had ever kowtowed to an outsider.

Fang Zheng was taken aback at the sight, and asked in confusion, "Ah, why did you suddenly kneel down?"

Nearby, Jiang Yifei, the head of the Jiang family, wore a strange expression at this sight, his heart filled with hesitation and doubt.

Since the patriarch of his own family had already knelt down, should he follow suit and kneel as well?

Yet he still did not fully understand what was happening. Furthermore, as the head of the Jiang family, he represented the dignity of the clan and could not easily kneel. Moreover, with his bloodline having undergone atavism, making him look identical to their ancestor, the Great Emperor Hengyu, he also represented the dignity of his ancestor, making it even more impossible for him to bow.

Jiang Wen, kneeling on the ground, never raised his head. With utmost sincerity, he spoke slowly:

"Senior Fang Zheng, this junior is the tenth-generation descendant of the Great Emperor Hengyu. Ten thousand years ago, I sealed myself within the divine source, preserving this aged body solely to await a time of need."

"This junior knows that I am old, and with the mere cultivation of a quasi-emperor at the third celestial layer, I am as insignificant as an ant in the face of the dark turmoil."

"When I sealed myself, I had already prepared for death, waiting only for the dark turmoil to strike once more a myriad of years later, when all living beings would bleed, so that I might break the seal and emerge."

"At that time, I intended to use the blood and soul of the tenth-generation descendant of Great Emperor Hengyu to sacrifice to the Emperor Weapon, awaken the deity within it, and summon the will of Great Emperor Hengyu to protect the living beings of this realm."

"However, when this junior was awakened today, I learned from the Jiang family's Emperor Weapon, the Hengyu Furnace, that Senior Fang Zheng is currently discussing the resurrection of the ancient emperors of all ages with the legendary Primeval Saint Emperor."

Dong! Dong! Dong!

Heavy kowtowing sounds echoed as Jiang Wen made his plea once more: "Senior Fang Zheng, I already know that your heart is tied to all living beings, as well as your supreme and boundless might."

"Now, I understand your wish: you hope that all living beings in the universe may be spared from the miseries of conflict and slaughter!"

"You intend to sustain all living beings in the universe single-handedly!"

"Yet, to protect all living beings and safeguard peace, how can one lack like-minded companions united in a single purpose?"

"And since my Jiang family ancestor, Great Emperor Hengyu, held all living beings in his heart, pacified the dark turmoil, and executed the rebellious supremes with monumental achievements, he will surely be resurrected by you, Senior."

"Here, Senior Fang Zheng, on behalf of all living beings in the universe and the Jiang family clan, this junior expresses our utmost gratitude for your immense grace and virtue!"

"If Senior has any commands, this junior and the Jiang family shall exhaust every effort to serve you loyally as dogs and horses. Even if our bodies are pulverized and our bones turned to dust, we shall have no complaints!"

"What? Resurrect the ancestor Hengyu?!" Hearing this, Jiang Yifei's expression changed drastically, his face filled with shock and inner conflict.

Glancing at the blood pool, Jiang Yifei knew that with the terrifying power Fang Zheng had displayed, this was likely no empty talk.

If the Great Emperor Hengyu could truly be resurrected, what did the dignity of the Jiang family head even matter? Even if the entire Jiang family lost every ounce of their pride, it wouldn't amount to a damn thing!

He glanced at Jiang Tingting, and seeing that she had already knelt down, he promptly dropped to both knees as well.

At this sight, the five Great Saint-grade cold dragons began to chatter among themselves: "Why did they suddenly kneel down?"

"I don't know."

"Should we kneel too?"

"Let's just kneel together. Anyway, he's the boss now."

Immediately, they also lined up in a row, lowering their bodies and kowtowing continuously.

Only the blocky figure remained standing, looking somewhat lost and bewildered as he pondered what Jiang Wen had just said:

"Ah, what did you say? Who is the Great Emperor Hengyu? I have no idea."

"Huh?" Hearing Fang Zheng's words, Jiang Wen's kowtowing motion paused momentarily. Confusion filled his heart as he thought:

"Could it be that the Hengyu Furnace was deceived? He doesn't even recognize my Jiang family ancestor—how can he speak of resurrection!"

However, just as he was gripped by doubt and prepared to try questioning the Hengyu Furnace, the next moment:

"To see such descendants of the human race, we are deeply gratified."

A faint strand of divine sense reverberated.

From the passageway of the Jiang family's minor world, two young men dressed in black and cyan respectively walked side by side with smiles on their faces.

The Dao principles of Taiyin and Taiyang intertwined and resonated between them.

Faintly, Jiang Wen seemed to see a rotating Taiji diagram, witnessing the dual forces of Yin and Yang reversing the primordial and returning to chaos, while all things in heaven and earth were miraculously gestated from within that chaos.

In his youth, Jiang Wen had traveled across the starry sky, witnessing the statue of the Primeval Saint Emperor in ancient ruins and inheriting the secret arts left behind by him.

Therefore, looking at the appearance of the man in black and feeling that same strand of Supreme Emperor Might identical to the one in the blood pool, Jiang Wen instantly confirmed his identity.

He was definitely the legendary Primeval Saint Emperor!

Yet, who was the companion beside him, who also emanated Supreme Emperor Might, but with an entirely opposite aura that blazed like the midday sun?

Jiang Wen's expression hesitated for a moment as an answer surfaced in his mind, instantly filling him with excitement. "The resurrection was successful? Could this be that legendary..."

Upon seeing the newcomers, Fang Zheng greeted them cheerfully, "Yo! Taiyin, you're here."

Taiyin smiled and nodded in response. "Mm, I'm here, and I succeeded."

Fang Zheng leaned in close, staring intently at the Saint Emperor Taiyang. "Taiyin, did you resurrect him this time? What's his name? How long has he been dead? Is he strong? If the two of you fought, who would win? Who are you going to resurrect next?"

"Oh right, look at me." Fang Zheng motioned for Taiyin to look at the five flood dragons coiled around his blocky body.

"Look, I discovered I can directly spawn intelligent life now."

"They were just created by me, and that pool over there is the food I provide for them. I feed them meals, so they acknowledge me as their boss."

"As long as I provide for them, they will obey me."

"I reckon I might even be able to directly feed the entire universe!"

"If that's possible, this underworld-like immortal-cultivating world of yours might actually become a bit more peaceful."

Listening to Fang Zheng's endless rambling, Taiyin and the Saint Emperor Taiyang exchanged a glance, then looked toward the blood pool and the flood dragons. Their mere gazes frightened the dragons so much that their bodies stiffened, hanging off Fang Zheng like a set of dragon-themed jewelry.

If they were communicating via divine sense, vast amounts of information could be exchanged in an instant, but Fang Zheng's blocky body could only hear and see, and his speed of thought was no different from a mortal's. Explaining things to him in detail would take quite a bit of effort.

Therefore, Taiyin smiled helplessly. "Fang Zheng, let's wait a moment and chat about this slowly later."