Tribulation of Myriad Races

South Heavenly King said, ”We need to prepare this in advance. It’s better to have an alternative but not use it than not have an alternative when it’s needed. We should create the tunnel while he’s still working on the other daos. That way, we can channel the powers of life and death over the moment he needs them.”

Marquis Lanshan nodded in agreement. She looked at the distant Great Zhou King and sent a voice transmission, ”You, the asshole who once refused my application for military provisions, get over here.”

Great Zhou King, who was in the middle of a discussion with the others, blanked out slightly. What was that? Why? Why was this fellow still talking about that even after dying? He could only fly over helplessly.

Marquis Lanshan looked quite awkward, but she pushed on, ”Are you scared of death?”

”...”

”Did you consume a Long Life Pill in the past?”

”Yes!” Great Zhou King nodded. He smiled and asked, ”Are you looking for one as well? Unfortunately, these pills are only suited for the living. Furthermore, all three of them had been used.”

”All used?”

Instead of asking about the other two pills, Marquis Lanshan said, ”His Majesty might encounter some issues when laying down the life and death daos. After my discussion with South Heavenly King, we decided to channel the powers of life and death over to assist him when required. Are you helping? If not, just be honest about it.”

That caught Great Zhou King by surprise. After a short pause, he asked, ”You...he won’t be needing this help if he manages to complete it himself.”

”What if he fails?” Marquis Lanshan knew that she should be optimistic about this, but she insisted, ”Stop wasting time. If you’re unwilling to help, just leave. We’ll get someone else to help.”

Great Zhou King laughed and said, ”Are you sure? I considered this method as well. In fact, many of us had the same idea. Wan Tiansheng and Lan Tian had definitely thought of this. But it’s too difficult. And it’s also too dangerous. It’s not too bad for the living, but as death spirits, there is no returning for you after dying one more time.

”When Emperor Yu fails, he can simply switch his dao. But for death spirits, there is the risk of eternal end. And this method requires the help of truly powerful experts. The two of you are probably the only ones capable of helping among the dead.”

Great Zhou King sighed and continued, ”I believe Emperor Yu himself knows this as well, but he has been keeping silent about it. We know what he’s thinking. At worst, he would fail. So be it. He could always inherit the pen dao instead.” ”He might not be willing to inherit Human Emperor’s dao, but he’s fine with the pen dao. Therefore, a failure here won’t be the end of the road for him. But a failure will be the end of everything for you.”

Marquis Lanshan asked with surprise, ”Is His Majesty already aware of this method?”

”Of course.” Great Zhou King said, ”Do you think Emperor Yu is that stupid? It’s not like he has never been to the place where life and death interweave. The two of you wouldn’t have learned about that place without him. How can he not know of this method?”

Su Yu had simply not bothered to mention it.

Marquis Lanshan looked at Su Yu and saw that he had laid out about two thousand daos. He only had roughly three thousand daos to lay down. Before long, he would reach the life and death daos.

She asked, ”We will die upon failure, but how exactly does a failure look like for this method?”

”Any issue in the middle of the process will cause a failure.”

Great Zhou King sighed and said, ”The death spirit dao isn’t a weak dao. Creating a tunnel through it requires experts of the dead and living to work together and maintain the balance.”

He looked at Liu Hong and continued, ”You’re probably thinking of utilizing Liu Hong’s ink dao. That’s slightly safer. You can use him as a node. He can stay in the Origin Land and transfer the two powers toward Emperor Yu. This will indeed make the job easier.”

Great Zhou King said, ”But not a single mistake is allowed during the process. If you’re the person in charge of suppressing the experts in the river, South Heavenly King, a conflict will definitely arise. It’s very dangerous.”

Marquis Lanshan frowned and said, ”I’m not afraid of dying. It’s not like I have never died before. South Heavenly King, are you scared?”

South Heavenly King chuckled and said, ”Don’t forget that I’m the one suggesting that we do this.”

True.

Marquis Lanshan looked at Great Zhou King again and said, ”Why do you spout so much nonsense? Just be honest. Are you scared? So be it. We’ll ask someone else...”

Great Zhou King laughed and said, ”Patience, Marquis Lanshan. Did I refuse? In any case, I doubt you can find anyone more suitable than me.”

”So is this a yes?” Marquis Lanshan exclaimed in surprise. Why did Great Zhou King agree so easily?

Great Zhou King said, ”As I said, this isn’t that dangerous for me. But I have one request. If we must proceed with this plan, follow my orders while we’re doing it. I am not interested in getting myself killed because of some idiot.”

Who was he calling stupid? When Marquis Lanshan looked at Liu Hong, he smiled innocently. She then looked at South Heavenly King, who was keeping a cold and aloof expression.

Finally, her face fell as she asked Great Zhou King, ”Are you talking about me?”

That must be the case. Right?

Great Zhou King said, ”No, not at all. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m talking about Liu Hong. Right, Liu Hong?”

Liu Hong was all smiles as he nodded.

Yes, yes.

It didn’t matter. All of them knew the answer anyway.

Great Zhou King couldn’t be bothered to waste more time. He glanced at the distant Lan Tian and said, ”If you agree to follow my lead, there is a rather high chance of success. But if you disagree, well, we might all die.”

”Fine. We’ll follow your orders.” Marquis Lanshan said, ”Don’t worry. I know that slimy snakes like you are very good at thinking. Back when I followed Martial King, we would always follow the plans of snakes like you as well.

”Before every battle, Lord Martial King would first take out his pouch and check the prepared instructions before taking action. I know what to do.”

She was already used to this. Wasn’t it just following orders? What was the big deal about that? Back then, even Martial King would follow the plans of these snakes. Those instructions would either come from Culture King or someone else. The others would do all the thinking for him, and he only needed to use his fists.

For him, thinking was too tiring. What was the point?

Great Zhou King didn’t know how to react to that, but he was also glad. They had accepted his suggestion far more easily than he had expected.

He said, ”Good. I’ll get Xing Yu’s token. We’ll make our preparations at the place where life and death interweave. You’re right. Having something and not needing it is better than not having something when you need it.”

”But won’t His Majesty learn of our plan if you’re borrowing Xing Yu’s token from him?”

”Of course.” Great Zhou King sighed and said, ”We must let him know about this. What if he decided to give up on the attempt before we could help? He has always been a decisive person. He wouldn’t delay if he believed that giving up was the right choice.

”It’s fine, he has no choice now. We need to give him some pressure and let him know that this is no longer a personal affair of his. His failure will implicate everyone.”

Marquis Lanshan nodded.

Then, Great Zhou King flew back into the chaotic space.

***

Su Yu, who was still in the middle of his dao pioneering, had an unsightly expression. Over two thousand daos had been laid down. He was left with only a few hundred daos. Before long, he would need to lay down the life and death daos.

”Did you force Lanshan and South Heavenly King?”

Great Zhou King had a helpless expression. What was this distrust?

”No, they forced me!”

Su Yu snorted with disbelief.

”I doubt they can even think of this method. You must have deliberately guided them to reach this conclusion.”

No matter what, Great Zhou King was at fault.

Great Zhou King cursed inwardly. This really wasn’t him! Lanshan was the one who had proposed this to him! What was he supposed to say to this? He felt greatly wronged.

”Your Majesty, you wronged me!” Great Zhou King said, ”It’s really not me...fine, fine. Just assume it’s me if you want. Our mind is made. We won’t change it even if you refuse to lend us Xing Yu’s token. Of course, the risk will be higher for us without the token.”

Su Yu inhaled deeply and said, ”When I fail, I will be able to toss the matter of Creation aside and focus on something else. I will still be fine. The pen dao might not be so impressive, but there is still hope for me to rise further in the future. There is no need to get our people killed for a single attempt at Creation. Do you understand?”

Yes, he wasn’t too impressed with the pen dao. But it was still acceptable. It wasn’t like Su Yu was so desperate to become a Creator. He was only making this attempt because this was the fastest path to reach the level of a Venerable or even a Master of Law.

Fortunately, Culture King wasn’t here to hear what Su Yu was talking about. Was the pen dao really so unimpressive?

Great Zhou King said, ”It won’t be the same, Your Majesty. We all want to see you succeed. Your success will increase our hope of victory. Becoming a Master of Law through the pen dao might not be enough for you to face the coming events.

”Everything we do now, we do for the sake of an easier future. Failing your Creation now will only result in a greater sacrifice in the future.”

After a short silence, Su Yu tossed a token out.

”Go. Be careful.” Su Yu warned solemnly, ”Don’t force it. Withdraw if it’s not possible. If I were to fail, and if I couldn’t even return to the pen dao...I would...inherit Human Emperor’s dao.”

As Great Zhou King’s heart thumped, Su Yu continued, ”It’s no big deal. But don’t sabotage me just because of this. I won’t forgive that. Remember, failure might cause deaths. Give up when necessary.”

Great Zhou King inhaled deeply, ”I understand. Don’t worry. I hope to see you becoming the second Emperor, not the second Human Emperor.”

Then, he left.

Su Yu had complicated feelings about this.

Lan Tian, Great Zhou King, South Heavenly King...

All these people were doing everything they could to help. He wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he failed even after receiving all their help. He must succeed! Definitely! He would succeed in reversing life and death! Never before had he felt this so strongly.

”Pen dao? No thanks. A mere trash dao. As for Human Emperor’s dao, he can keep it for himself. I’m not interested in cultivating his dao. If I must cultivate, I’ll cultivate my own dao!”

Su Yu roared to himself. As more and more daos were woven together, the resulting dao grew stronger and stronger alongside Su Yu’s aura.

At this point, he was already at the level of a heavenly king.

He wasn’t even done.

Upon success, he could very well reach the level of a Venerable.