Ch. 1545 - Hidden Motives

“Light Lord Sage Monarch,” said Sumeru Buddha with an easy smile, “after all these long years, isn’t it natural that this humble monk should have grown stronger? My Sun-Moon Temple shines eternal, like the sun and moon themselves. Yet your Radiant Court has declined more and more with each passing era. One rises as the other falls, it is only right that the time has come for us to overthrow you.”

He spoke with a grin like the Laughing Buddha himself, cheerful, unbothered, as though he could laugh his way through anything.

“Sumeru, your tone is rather arrogant,” said a man who stepped forward from among the Ten Sage Monarchs of the Radiant Court. He was the Nihility Sage Monarch.

With a cold snort, he said, “Have you already forgotten how your Sun-Moon Temple once fled from us like a pack of beaten dogs?”

“Nihility, that’s all ancient history,” came another voice from within the swirling vortex.

A middle-aged man walked out slowly, a curved blade on his back and an ocean of blade intent surging around him. His gaze was razor-sharp, like two blades ready to cut the heavens themselves.

“Sky-Gazing Blade Sovereign,” Nihility Sage Monarch muttered, narrowing his eyes.

In the great war between the Radiant Court and the Sun-Moon Temple long ago, although most of the Sun-Moon Temple had been driven to retreat, this Blade Sovereign was one of their fiercest fighters. Even when surrounded by dozens of Saint Sovereigns, he held his ground with ease, and even managed to kill a few of them.

“I didn’t think you were still alive,” Nihility said.

“Of course I’m alive,” the Blade Sovereign said with a grin. “You didn’t die either, did you? As our master said, even if members of the Sun-Moon Temple die, we do so on the road to toppling the Radiant Court, not in vain mediocrity.”

The two sides now faced one another head-on, the tension crackling between them. Neither side yielded an inch.

Meanwhile, the onlookers below were pale-faced with disbelief.

“Are they trying to tear the heavens apart today?” someone gasped. “So many Saint Sovereigns, all at once!”

“The Sun-Moon Temple must have brought out their entire force,” said another. “They’re ready for an all-or-nothing battle.”

“After hiding for a million years, they must want to settle this once and for all.”

“But can the Radiant Court withstand them?” someone else whispered.

“Let’s just watch,” another advised. “A battle on this scale is far beyond our reach.”

…

“Light Lord Sage Monarch,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile, “aren’t you going to call for your old ancestor?”

“There’s no need,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch replied, shaking his head. “I still have over a dozen Saint Sovereigns under my command. It’s far too soon to say who’ll win or lose. But tell me, Young Master Xu, you’re fighting on our side now. Shouldn’t you show some sign of goodwill?”

“Show what?” Xu Zimo said casually. “Your feud with the Sun-Moon Temple has nothing to do with me. I only came here to kill Shangguan Xiongba.”

“This young master,” said Bright Sun Sovereign from below with a courteous smile, “could you give me some face? Let Brother Shangguan go, and name your price. Anything within my power, I’ll grant.”

Xu Zimo glanced down and said coolly, “You think you can afford my price?”

“How will we know unless you name it?” Bright Sun Sovereign replied.

Shangguan Xiongba, standing beside him, looked furious. He had joined the Sun-Moon Temple on behalf of the Divine Crow God Realm, not merely for their protection, but because he wanted them to help him kill Xu Zimo.

But Bright Sun Sovereign had his own plan.

“First, we deal with the Radiant Court,” he said quietly. “As for this Xu Zimo, he’ll be easy to handle afterward. Once the Radiant Court is gone, you can kill him however you like. It’s called taking a step back to move forward.”

Shangguan Xiongba thought about it and realized it made sense, so he held his tongue.

Bright Sun Sovereign then looked up again. “So, Young Master Xu, what is your condition?”

“I want the head of the Lord of Heaven of the Heavenly Court,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile. “Trade his head for Shangguan Xiongba’s life, what do you think?”

At those words, Bright Sun Sovereign and Celestial Tiger Sovereign both fell silent.

They all knew that this attack on the Radiant Court was not just the work of the Sun-Moon Temple and the Hell Tiger Race. The Heavenly Court was the one pulling strings behind the scenes.

“Surely Young Master Xu is joking,” Bright Sun Sovereign said with a strained smile.

Celestial Tiger Sovereign, however, gave a cold laugh. “Looks like some people just don’t know what’s good for them.”

“Don’t act so arrogant, Celestial Tiger Sovereign,” Xu Zimo shot back. “If you’ve got the guts, come fight me one-on-one. Otherwise, shut up, you sound like an old gossiping woman.”

Celestial Tiger Sovereign’s face darkened with fury, but when he remembered how Xu Zimo had brutally beaten the Five Elements Saint Sovereign earlier, he decided not to provoke him further.

“Don’t get cocky,” he said instead. “Our predecessors from the Hell Fire God Realm will arrive soon enough.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Xu Zimo replied with a grin.

…

Meanwhile, the Light Lord Sage Monarch turned his gaze toward the other God Realms, specifically the Vermilion Bird God Realm and the Chaos Fire God Realm.

“Well then,” he said. “Will you two stand with the Radiant Court against our common enemy?”

These two domains were the Radiant Court’s strongest potential allies. The smaller forces would likely follow whichever side they chose.

Of the Six Great God Realms, both the Hell Fire God Realm and the Divine Crow God Realm had already joined the Sun-Moon Temple. The Radiant Court, of course, was the Radiant Court itself. The only other major domain was the Undying Fire God Realm.

But the Light Lord Sage Monarch didn’t bother with them, for good reason. Everyone knew that in the Ancestral Lands, Xu Zimo had slaughtered all of the Undying Fire God Realm’s disciples. There was no mending that enmity.

Upon hearing the Radiant Court’s invitation, the Sun-Moon Temple quickly countered.

“Fellow Fire Ancestors,” Bright Sun Sovereign called out, “you’ve seen it yourselves. Our Sun-Moon Temple has returned at full strength. The Radiant Court’s fall is inevitable. Join us, help us overthrow them, and you will all share in the glory as heroes of the new age!”

“I’ll say only one thing,” the Light Lord Sage Monarch said coldly. “Under our Radiant Court’s rule, each of you remained the sovereign of your own domain, we never interfered. But if the Sun-Moon Temple takes over the Inferno Crucible Heaven, do you think things will stay the same? Won’t they try to merge all six God Realms into one?”

He sneered. “You and I both know your so-called ‘Heavenly Court’ wouldn’t allow that. Am I wrong?”

Bright Sun Sovereign’s expression tightened. The Sage Monarch’s words struck like an arrow through the heart.

It was true. The balance between the six God Realms had been stable for ages. No sane ruler would risk losing their independence to an outside force, unless, like Shangguan Xiongba, hatred had blinded their judgment.

Soon, the Fire Ancestors of the Vermilion Bird God Realm and the Chaos Fire God Realm exchanged a glance and made their decision.

“We will stand with the Radiant Court,” they declared. “But Light Lord Sage Monarch, you must guarantee that after the battle, each of us will remain sovereign over our own domains.”

“Of course,” the Sage Monarch said with a warm smile. “The Radiant Court does not seek to dominate the Inferno Crucible Heaven. This realm belongs to all of us, and it should be guarded by all.”

“I will join the Sun-Moon Temple,” said another voice.

It was the Fire Ancestor of the Undying Fire God Realm. His eyes burned with hatred. His disciples had all been killed by Xu Zimo, he and Shangguan Xiongba were like brothers in misfortune.

“Welcome, welcome!” Bright Sun Sovereign said with a smile. “Realm Lord Du has made the right choice.”

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