Chapter Two Peerless Under Heaven

After a brief interlude, Long Yunshui began to recount the history and current state of this realm.

Although she could well be described as a super shut-in, some matters considered secrets by ordinary mortals of this world were things she had personally experienced.

Listening to her detailed and unhurried narrative, Mo Wen gradually formed his own understanding of this world.

The primordial deities had created their respective dependent clans and then departed this world. Because humanity was relatively active, their collectives could form a special resonance with the heavens and the earth, possessing a strong social nature. Consequently, they established dynasties and became the dominant race of the world.

Yet, humanity remained somewhat lacking in raw power, so they would offer the tributes of an entire nation in exchange for external support.

The Vermilion Bird, the Phoenix, the Ancestors, the Qilin, and down to this current generation's "Celestial Stars."

If the reigning emperor lacked virtue and was not replaced in a timely manner, heaven-human resonance would trigger disasters across the lands, causing the external forces enjoying the nation's tributes to fall into slumber—or make one final, desperate struggle before doing so.

At present, the dynasty was showing signs of decline. Long Yunshui had heard from friends that several Celestial Stars had already transformed into mortals and descended to the mortal realm, preparing to land three heavy punches upon the emperor. Meanwhile, other factions believed it was already time for a dynastic transition.

The Vermilion Bird had recently awakened from its slumber caused by a previous dynastic shift, finally realizing that it hadn't simply overslept, but had suffered from karmic backlash; it was now preparing to reclaim its position of tribute.

The Phoenix had suffered backlash while fully conscious and slumbered for a while, but she had woken up long ago. However, due to certain factors, she had remained cooped up in her lair ever since and would likely not participate in the conflict.

The Ancestors... that generation had been rather miserable. Long Yunshui had heard that their descendants were unfilial, attempting to use the enshrined heroic souls of their ancestors as raw materials to seek longevity. In the end, they exhausted the ancestors to death without succeeding, and were subsequently hunted down and wiped out.

The Qilin had just fainted and probably hadn't woken up yet.

As for the other scattered, miscellaneous contenders, Long Yunshui's intelligence network did not reach far enough to provide specific news.

"But all in all, the faction with the highest win rate is ours."

"Although Celestial Stars include human heroic souls who have received years of tributes, ascending cultivators who have achieved success, and stellar spirits, their ability to interfere in mortal affairs is the weakest. Those not strong enough down below cannot easily affect the earth from above; once they descend into mortals, they might not even retain all their memories, let alone their former power."

"We cannot casually interfere in human affairs by personally descending with our true bodies either, but we can bestow a portion of our power upon our supporters."

"Excluding the Celestial Stars, the unconscious Qilin, the utterly extinct Ancestors, the self-secluded Phoenix, and various miscellaneous fellows, there is only a single Vermilion Bird left who can match me."

"I can't beat that black-feathered bird, but you are powerful. At a single glance, I could tell your strength is peerless under heaven and unprecedented through the ages—a person capable of swaying the fortunes of the world entirely by yourself."

"Now, we shall march straight into the imperial capital, slay the current emperor, finish off any remaining resistors, and declare a new dynastic succession."

"You shall be the emperor, and I shall be the state beast. If the 'Celestial Stars' refuse to accept this... I suppose I could let them be the primary recipients of tribute while I take a minor title."

"It's not like I must be worshipped as a tribute, but being able to share this experience with my friends will better display my might."

"Ah, the position of state beast—I merely made a slight move, and it's already within my grasp, though I never had such ambitions before."

"And when I mention this to that black-feathered bird: 'Black feather, so you still wanted to be worshipped after all? I'm terribly sorry for accidentally rolling right over you. But seeing as we're old friends, if you have the ability to take it yourself, I won't stop you.'"

Long Yunshui spoke with radiant excitement, as if victory were already firmly in her hands.

Mo Wen did not relax. "You say I am very strong, but I have no frame of reference. Could you elaborate on this world's 'power system'?"

"A power system?" As a dragon, Long Yunshui understood the term the moment it crossed her mind.

"There aren't really any strict tiers for spellcasting, and it's rather hard to compare the depth of one's Daoist attainment. Generally speaking, the older they are, the more they know, and the stronger those who have stirred up a mess of trouble and still survived tend to be."

"Rural minor deities, wandering disciples, regional patron entities, Daoist monastery guardians, Heavenly Masters, State Preceptors... no, this generation calls them Daoist Marshals."

"Pure martial prowess, however, is much clearer."

"Those who merely train their physical strength are considered unrefined; elite soldiers in the military can condense martial slaughter aura, while great generals can cleanse that slaughter aura until their battle qi becomes like roiling clouds. A select few supreme powerhouses can even condense wondrous visual phenomena, though apart from the Celestial Stars still undergoing trials, no one in this generation has broken through to that realm. And finally, there is you."

"I recall someone giving those realms names... Body Refining, Slaughter Cleansing, Cloud Condensation, and Heavenly Transformation."

"And you, you should belong to the 'Peerless Realm'."

"Just rouse your fighting intent, and you will know how strong you truly are."

"Rouse my fighting intent?" Mo Wen was uncertain, but he decided to do as she said.

Power—it was not merely the strength of his physical body, nor was it simply spiritual energy. There was also a kind of power, naturally mastered upon arriving in this world, that welled up along with it.

That phenomenon could be called "battle qi."

It was born from his will and flesh, enriched by his formidable physique, and strengthened by his stubborn resolve. Summoned for the sake of battle, it transformed into a force capable of crushing enemies and protecting oneself.

The heavens... changed.

The clear sky was swallowed by a bloody hue. The sun hanging high in the heavens vanished without a trace, replaced by faint, struggling stars engulfed in the crimson expanse.

Rivers stagnated, the wind ceased to blow, and everything in this realm seemed paralyzed by terror, daring not advance further. Even the flowers and grass bent their stems, submitting to an absolute powerhouse.

What of the insects, fish, birds, and beasts further away?

Mo Wen did not know how they were faring at this moment—whether they were fleeing or prostrating themselves—but he could sense that profound terror, the fear belonging to the weak.

Long Yunshui's eyes gleamed as she clapped and cheered, "Yes! Exactly this feeling!"

"As the one peerless under heaven, you can conquer the mortal world with your bare hands alone. The heavens and earth shift for you, the stars hide because of you, the path you walk is the sole righteous way, and whatever you desire can be taken without exception."

"Unmatched and peerless, completely unstoppable!"

"The Divine Martial Emperor who slaughters eighty thousand imperial guards with his bare hands—an absolute, undying dynasty!"

Mo Wen felt a sense of unreality.

Though he had possessed power before, it had always been the result of coincidence, pushed to the limit under special environments. Yet now, having merely arrived in a new world, he seemingly stood already at its pinnacle.

Could his luck really have turned around?

Had his bleak, suffering-style journey suddenly transformed into an invincible power fantasy?

The transition was so drastic that he felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.

According to past experience, powerhouses who had slumbered for God-knows-how-long in various corners of the world should have been awakened by him. There should be higher-tier beings watching from the heavens, ready to descend at any moment to fight him to the death over some incomprehensible reason, or forcing him into mortal combat for reasons beyond his control.

He... strife would find him in the end, refusing to cease simply because he chose to keep a low profile.

If he truly possessed the power to rival the entire world, then he would simply use that power to accomplish something.

"You said we're heading straight for the imperial capital, right? I'm still not certain whether I can be a good leader, but if this truly is the chaos of a dynasty's final days, then I indeed need to cleanse this world."

"Take me there."