Chapter 40: The Legacy of the Human Emperor (Part I)

As the global situation continued to tense, Ye Zhong did not have much time left at the Martial God Bureau.

After all, the two awe-inspiring Human Sovereigns of the God of War Pass had quietly departed, and leaving the defense solely to the lonely shadow of a single SS-class Martial God was by no means a wise strategy, akin to trying to prop up a collapsing building with a single pillar. Under normal circumstances, with mysterious black ice making its sudden appearance within the borders of the Dragon Kingdom, Ye Zhong, as the City Lord guarding the God of War Pass, should naturally have been stationed there. Yet, at this very moment, he had quietly appeared in the heartland of the Martial God Nation, which undoubtedly indicated that his journey was a covert and profound mission.

As for the exact nature of this mission, perhaps only the Sovereign and his wife truly understood.

At this moment, the setting sun resembled blood, casting its remaining rays upon the ancient and solemn high platform of the Martial God Bureau, stretching Ye Zhong's solitary silhouette into a long and desolate shape. He stood there all alone, his gaze piercing through layers of mist, locked firmly onto the distant northwest. The wind howled from afar, carrying an ominous aura that ruffled the few stray locks of hair across his forehead, seemingly whispering of an impending storm.

Ye Zhong took a deep breath and turned to face the woman beside him—Lisa. Her expression appeared exceptionally gentle in the glow of the setting sun, yet her eyes flashed with resolute determination.

He spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful: "Right now, the situation at the God of War Pass is like this setting sun, growing dimmer by the second, more tense by the day. I am deeply concerned. Those slumbering Ability Beasts are quietly reviving their strength in the dark; within three years, they will inevitably sweep across the land once more. When that time comes, relying solely on Bing'er and me will hardly suffice to turn the tide."

Hearing this, Lisa furrowed her brows tightly, a trace of anxiety flashing through her eyes. She knew that Ye Zhong's words were not unfounded. Among those once-sealed Ability Beasts were the Ten Kings, each possessing earth-shattering power. Once they broke free from their restraints, the consequences would be unimaginable. She asked softly, "So... what you mean is—?"

Ye Zhong replied, "Exactly. The God-Creation Project must be initiated once more." His tone was firm, as if he had already made an irrevocable decision.

Upon hearing this, Lisa's complexion changed drastically; she could scarcely believe her ears. "But A-Heng is only sixteen years old!" Her voice carried a hint of urgency and reluctance. A-Heng, that innocent and carefree boy full of longing for the future—how could he become a pawn in this gamble? His life should have been one of freedom and joy, rather than being bound by heavy responsibilities and dangers.

Ye Zhong understood Lisa's apprehension, but he knew even better that time waited for no one and the circumstances forced his hand.

He gently patted Lisa's shoulder, his gaze filled with profundity and firmness: "Lisa, I understand your concerns, but as you said, time waits for no one. Heng'er may be young, but his potential is beyond any of our estimations. He is my son, and I believe in him. He is our final hope, the dawn of humanity's future. His path is destined to be extraordinary. This time, I will pour out everything I have, even if I have to wager this old life of mine, to make him a true god, to protect this land, and to help him fulfill the dream he has held since childhood."

Ye Zhong continued: "Looking back, when I trained the two of you, I always believed you were my pride. Yet the failure of the God-Creation Project left you both capped at the peak of the Human Sovereign realm at best, and for that, I feel deeply guilty."

Lisa replied: "Master flatters me. Without your teachings, which nourished us like a gentle spring breeze, I would merely be a speck of dust drifting in the wind. How could I have become who I am today? In truth, the one who should harbor guilt is me. I failed your expectations, wasting the best of my days wandering and chasing after stars, missing class day after day. If only I had possessed a bit more focus and a bit less volatility back then, perhaps Ah-Kai's fate... would have been different."

At this moment, as Ye Zhong gazed at the guilt-ridden Lisa, the bitter anguish surging within his heart churned like a tidal wave, twisting through a hundred turns.

Recalling the past, how full of youthful vigor and high-spirited ambition the iron triangle of the three of them had been. Yet now, things had changed, people were gone, life and death separated them, and each had gone their separate ways, leaving only Lisa's lonely shadow behind.

Ye Zhong gently patted Lisa's shoulder again, his voice laden with deep sorrow and self-blame: "Regarding Xiao Ling's departure, as her master, how could my grief be any less than yours by even a fraction? Looking back, if I had insisted on stopping the two of you from stepping into that perilous mission, perhaps Xiao Ling could have been spared that tragedy."

"Back then, I too had my own hardships. I left Heng'er and Yun'er at the Martial God Temple and rushed off to the 'Heavenly Fire Battlefield.' Yet fate is always fond of playing tricks; even though I pushed myself to the limit, traversing forests and deserts at top speed, I still could not rewrite that history. Dragon Brother......"

At this moment, that past scene resurfaced in Ye Zhong's mind.

Ability Beasts were creatures that did not belong to this world; they were powerful beings hailing from another plane. Their arrival was like a meteor streaking across the sky—brilliant yet carrying an aura of destruction, herodynamic of a new era's dawn. Ever since the Ability Beasts crossed the barriers of dimensions and descended upon this planet, a full three hundred years had passed. Throughout these long years, the war between humanity and the Ability Beasts had never ceased, and every battle served as an ultimate test of the will to survive.

Amidst this protracted history of confrontation, people gradually realized that there existed an unimaginably powerful entity among the Ability Beasts—the Ability Kings.

They were not ordinary Ability Beasts, but beings who had undergone countless ages of bitter cultivation, elevating their realms to breathtaking heights.

From their initial beastly forms, passing through ten thousand years of time, they had metamorphosed into existences possessing wisdom and human shapes. This process was not only the ultimate pursuit of power, but also a profound comprehension of the essence of life. Therefore, the Ability Kings enjoyed supreme prestige among the Ability Beast tribe, each ruling over a territory and becoming the undisputed paramount powerhouse of their respective domains.

However, the complexity of the story far exceeded imagination. The Ability Beast tribe was not a single, unified entity; intricate factional divisions existed within them as well. As time passed, ten Ability Kings rose in different regions. Each possessed unique abilities and unbridled majesty, competing with one another while secretly forming alliances, jointly maintaining the delicate balance of the Ability Beast world.

Each of these ten Ability Kings was a living legend. Their names resounded like thunder in the world of Ability Beasts, striking awe into countless lesser beasts and plunging the human world into unprecedented crisis.

In this perilous era, humanity did not sit idly waiting for death. Batch after batch of brave warriors emerged from their ranks—some were extraordinary individuals gifted with special abilities, while others were warriors proficient in ancient martial arts. Hand in hand and heart to heart, they vowed to protect this land from the invasion of the Ability Beasts.

In this contest spanning races and dimensions, the most eye-catching clashes were undoubtedly those between humanity and the Ability Kings. Every encounter was a collision of wisdom and strength, a duel between light and darkness. Every victory condensed the sweat and sacrifice of countless people, while also igniting the undying flame of hope in human hearts.

Yet, who could have known that when the ten Ability Kings gathered, it would represent the "end" of this world? The battle at the Heavenly Fire Battlefield brought the ten Kings together; heaven and earth changed color, and space tore apart. To ensure the continuation of their race, humanity paid a horrific price.

One Human Sovereign from the Martial God Nation, two Technology Kings from the Coda Nation, two Sword Spirit Emperors from the Sword-Casting Nation, and one Magic King from the Magic Nation.

"Master!" Lisa looked at the weather-beaten Ye Zhong, her heart filled with a complex mixture of emotions.

Ye Zhong raised his head, a trace of tenderness flashing in his eyes. He smiled faintly, a smile that concealed too many past storms and patches of sunlight. Outside the window, the setting sun resembled blood, casting its light upon his black hair, as if plating this former hero in a layer of tragic golden splendor.

Lisa's tears welled up in her eyes. She could almost see those past years when her master led them forward through wind and rain, every step so firm, so unyielding.

Ye Zhong said: "Looking back, wasn't I once full of high-spirited vigor? Nowadays, not only am I afraid of death and afraid of my wife, but I'm even afraid of my children."

Indeed, today was different from the past. With a family, the heavy burden on Ye Zhong's shoulders seemed even heavier than towering mountains. Once upon a time, his eyes had flashed with an endless yearning for the martial arts, driven entirely to become the strongest Martial God soaring through the nine heavens and striking awe across the four seas.

Back then, he and Tilong were known together as the "Twin Stars of Martial Arts," also dubbed the "Ability Beast Slaughtering Machines."

However, time flies, and the torrent of time ruthlessly washes over everyone.

As the years quietly passed, Ye Zhong's features were gradually polished by time like an artfully carved piece, shedding his former greenness and sharp edge, replaced by a temperament as steady as a mountain and as profound as the sea.

Those eyes that once only knew how to gaze at the edge of a sword, flashing with an endless thirst for martial arts, now frequently revealed tenderness and deep attachment toward his home, as if capable of embracing all the wind, frost, rain, and snow in the world. Whenever the sun set and its remaining rays fell upon his face, that tenderness became even more vivid, resembling a touch of winter warmth—comforting yet not blinding.

Time waits for no one, and seasons flow like a stream. Silver threads had quietly woven themselves among Ye Zhong's strands of hair, gleaming slightly in the sunlight like specks of starlight. They were the silent yet firm imprints of time, as well as his silent yet heavy assumption of family responsibility. Every single silver thread seemed to recount countless days and nights of toil and perseverance, representing his unspoken love and dedication to his family.

In the years following Tilong's sacrifice, as several turns of seasons passed, although Ye Zhong lost his former sharply honed sword intent and unyielding sword heart, this journey was not the end of despair, nor the prelude to a new birth, but rather a profound tempering and precipitation along life's path. Yet it was precisely this seemingly hopeless period that quietly nurtured new possibilities.

During these long years, Ye Zhong learned to slow his pace. He no longer immersed himself blindly in the pain of loss, instead pouring more of his energy into accompanying his family. In the dead of night, he would sit beside Ye Heng and Ye Yun's beds, telling them ancient and mysterious stories, or teaching them the rudiments of swordsmanship. That patience and tenderness were the most precious treasures in the children's hearts. Amidst the laughter and joy shared with his children, Ye Zhong gradually felt a long-lost peace and contentment—a sense of happiness that transcended martial achievements.

It was precisely this deep affection for his family that became the catalyst for him to rediscover his sword heart. One pleasant, breezy afternoon, Ye Zhong took Ye Heng and Ye Yun for a stroll in the backyard mountain. As they passed through a lush bamboo grove, a gentle breeze swept by, causing the bamboo leaves to rustle, resembling nature's most melodious movement.

At that exact moment, Ye Zhong's heart throbbed violently, as if a warm current welled up from the depths of his soul and surged straight into the clouds.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. That long-lost sword intent unexpectedly returned of its own accord, like the first ray of spring light after hibernation, warm and full of vitality.

He finally understood that a true sword heart did not merely lie in the sharpness of the blade, but in the love for life, the protection of family, and a profound understanding of all things in the world. Ye Zhong finally realized that although Tilong's sacrifice robbed him of his friendship, it also taught him to cherish those before him and helped him find something far more important in life: familial affection.

And was this not, in itself, a new beginning?

Ye Zhong said: "I believe in him, and I support him. Who made him my son? As his father, I indeed spent six years away, but those six years were a form of torment for me as well!"

Lisa retorted: "So, when all is said and done, you are still determined to take A-Heng to the God of War Pass?"

Ye Zhong nodded: "How can you catch tiger cubs without entering the tiger's lair? Even if he encounters an Ability King at the God of War Pass, I will stake this old life of mine to ensure my son remains safe and sound."

With that, he slowly opened his palms, and an indescribable fluctuation began to permeate the air. As he concentrated his intent, the surrounding space seemed to tremble, and an invisible force gathered from his palms, like river water channeled into a narrow gorge, growing increasingly turbulent.

That power condensed slowly within his broad palm, resembling a falling star, converging into a dazzlingly brilliant light. This radiance was blinding to the extreme, as if capable of piercing through all darkness in the world. Even Lisa, an SSS-peak powerhouse, could not help but narrow her hawk-like eyes, trying to fend off the intense light that nearly scorched her soul.

Within the light contained a terrifying energy capable of destroying heaven and earth. It swayed gently, every microscopic fluctuation seemingly expressing contempt for the world. A mere touch would be enough to cause the surrounding space to dissolve into nothingness like fragile paper, obliterating it into endless chaos.

Just as this power reached its peak and was about to erupt, a fissure quietly split open within the void, appearing silently like the gaping maw of a cosmic abyss, swallowing all surrounding light and sound.

At the end of the fissure stood an ancient and mysterious set of doors, carved with intricate patterns. The most mysterious of all were the two coiling dragons upon the doors; they crouched on either side, heads held high and eyes blazing like torches, emitting a deep blue glow akin to cold stars in an abyss—both profound and dangerous. That radiance seemed to contain endless power, capable of swallowing heaven and earth and grinding space and time to dust. Though they stood completely still, the coercive pressure emanating from them struck awe into the heart. A mere second of eye contact made Lisa's feet tremble.

Ye Zhong instructed: "Do not fear. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and slowly mobilize your Martial God power."

Lisa forcefully suppressed the churning waves in her heart and, following Ye Zhong's instructions, slowly closed her eyes, mobilizing the dormant Martial God power within her body. As her power surged, the ancient doors slowly opened, emitting a distant and profound roar, as if a slumbering giant had been awakened.

"Come!" Ye Zhong extended his left hand, signaling Lisa to follow.

Following closely behind Ye Zhong, Lisa stepped through the spatial rift. The scene before her changed abruptly, revealing a desolate land where yellow sand filled the sky and the aura of battle pervaded the air.