Chapter 143: Southfall Journeys Westward

On the third day of the third month, the Northern Wilderness was besieged by swirling snow and ice, a winter-like chill gripping the land as frost and snow continued to reign over all living things.

News of the God Emperor Nan Luo accepting the Fierce Emperor’s challenge had already spread across the Primordial Land and among all the myriad races, carried by Zhu Long and the others as they returned to their respective tribes. This explosive revelation was like a massive boulder cast into a tranquil lake, shattering the illusion of peace across the Primordial realm and forcing the turbulent undercurrents beneath the surface to surge forth.

The Great Calamity had arrived; war was imminent. This was the consensus among all insightful beings within the myriad races of the Primordial world.

Amidst such chaotic times, the God Race convened the leaders of the Northern Wilderness’s myriad races in the City of Gods to deliberate on matters of great importance. This was the second Great Assembly held by the God Race, and the second time God Emperor Nan Luo had formally appeared before the myriad races of the North. The first assembly had taken place at the inception of the God Race, held by Nan Luo to consolidate his rule after subduing the Northern tribes. Following that inaugural assembly, however, Nan Luo had entered a deep meditative seclusion for one hundred thousand years. During that period, the meetings convened by the Twelve Heavenly Venerables were merely considered minor assemblies. After all, an assembly without God Emperor Nan Luo could hardly be called a "Great" Assembly.

The command for the Great Assembly had been issued to the Northern tribes many days prior. The leaders of the tribes traveled by teleportation formation if they were remote, or by riding beams of light if they were near. However, within a million-mile radius of the City of Gods, the use of teleportation formations was strictly forbidden. The leaders could only fly toward the City of Gods suspended in the sky, accompanied by their retinues in grand, shimmering processions.

Looking down from the firmament of the Northern Wilderness, one could clearly see figures tearing through space, appearing within the million-mile radius of the City of Gods, their divine light flashing like an unending meteor shower as they converged upon the city. This was their second audience with Nan Luo, and every leader, eager to witness the majesty of a Semi-Saint Emperor, refused to be left behind.

In the City of Gods, within the Palace of Heavens:

"Dong! Dong! Dong..."

After nine thunderous bell tolls, the Great Assembly officially began. The golden doors of the magnificent Palace of Heavens slowly creaked open. The Twelve Heavenly Venerables of the God Race and the leaders of the Nine Tribes of the Northern Wilderness walked in two parallel lines, entering the palace together. Behind the Twelve Heavenly Venerables and the nine tribal leaders followed the officials of the God Race and the leaders of the myriad tribes, all stepping into the mysterious, majestic, and solemn hall.

Inside the Palace of Heavens lay an endless expanse of white jade tiles, and suspended at the far end of the hall hung the Throne of the God Emperor.

Once the officials and tribal leaders were in position, the herald shouted at the top of his lungs: "We respectfully invite His Majesty, the God Emperor, to descend!"

The Twelve Heavenly Venerables led the God Race officials, and the nine tribal leaders led the myriad tribal heads, all bowing in unison toward the empty throne: "We respectfully invite His Majesty, the God Emperor, to descend!"

"We respectfully invite His Majesty, the God Emperor, to descend!"

The synchronized roar of the gods created a massive echo that reverberated through the vast, empty hall for a long time.

Boom!

A pillar of golden light, connecting heaven and earth, descended from the sky to envelop the God Emperor’s throne.

Nan Luo, adorned in a crown and imperial robes, his presence solemn and majestic, appeared out of thin air upon the throne. Accompanying his arrival was the peerless aura of a Semi-Saint—a pressure like a volcanic eruption, a sweeping gale, or a collapsing heaven, bearing down upon the officials and tribal leaders.

The Great Assembly was, by design, a moment for Nan Luo to establish his might. If he did not intimidate the gods and the myriad tribes now, when would he?

One by one, the gods, starting from the back, found themselves unable to withstand the Semi-Saint pressure, kneeling in submission. The Twelve Heavenly Venerables and the nine tribal leaders remained standing, but the sweat—something they had not shed in ten thousand years—dripped from their brows, proof of the crushing weight they endured.

Nan Luo’s Semi-Saint pressure grew in intensity relative to the cultivation of those who bore it. To anyone below the level of a Semi-Saint, it felt as though the vast power of heaven and earth was crushing them, forcing them to kneel in involuntary submission.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The nine tribal leaders, led by the Xuanwu leader, Xuan Tianji, fought with all their might, but after only a few moments, they too were forced to their knees, surrendering to Nan Luo.

*So, this is the power of a Semi-Saint.*

At that moment, the thought arose in the minds of the nine leaders: a sense of invincible, irresistible power. This realization would haunt them forever. Unless they themselves could break through to the rank of Semi-Saint, they would remain forever under the shadow of Nan Luo’s invincibility.

"We pay homage to His Majesty, the God Emperor!"

At the herald’s cry, the officials and leaders bowed in submissive reverence.

"Rise," Nan Luo said, his voice majestic, his face obscured by the golden light.

Having intimidated the assembly, Nan Luo had no interest in further theatrics. The rest proceeded according to his plan: organizing the military, elevating Miao Yan to the rank of Grand Heavenly Venerable, and resolving other trivial matters.

...

In the City of Gods, at the Sacred Jade Pond:

Nan Luo sat upon his throne, with the Twelve Heavenly Venerables and the nine tribal leaders before him. True matters of importance were always settled in private; what could be made public was already a consensus. While the Great Assembly was underway in the Palace of Heavens, Nan Luo held a private audience with the leaders of the Nine Tribes.

In the Northern Wilderness, two forces held sway: the God Race, which dominated the land, and the Nine Tribes, who had ruled for ages. Originally there had been ten tribes, but the God Race had ruthlessly annihilated the Xuanming Black Snake tribe to establish their authority. Thus, only nine remained.

The Nine Tribes had ruled the North for millions of years before the God Race emerged. Their reign was as long as that of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans, yet they had failed to produce a single victor to become an imperial clan that could dominate the entire region. It was only when the God Race rose and unified the North that their rule came to an end. However, by surrendering in time, the Nine Tribes had preserved most of their strength. Combined with the intricate connections between the myriad tribes, they still held significant influence.

As Nan Luo needed a stable rear and a secure Northern Wilderness to support the God Race in its confrontation with the Four Imperial Clans, the Nine Tribes represented an unstable factor. He had come to resolve this.

With the destruction of the Xuanming Black Snake as a warning, and Nan Luo’s status as a Semi-Saint and Lord of Destiny, the Nine Tribes led by Xuan Tianji dared not defy him. With the Great Calamity approaching, all races were desperate for a patron. The God Race, led by the Lord of Destiny, was the natural choice.

Yet, this reasoning did not put Nan Luo at ease. If they could submit to the God Race for survival today, they could just as easily submit to the Four Imperial Clans tomorrow. To ensure the God Race would not be attacked from the rear, Nan Luo compelled the nine leaders to sign a Covenant of Heaven and Earth.

The Covenant stipulated that during the Great Calamity, the Nine Tribes would support the God Race with all their might and harbor no ulterior motives. Should they break this vow, their tribes would be annihilated and their paths extinguished.

Such a venomous oath, monitored by the heavens themselves, left no room for reneging. Though the leaders were reluctant, faced with Nan Luo’s killing intent and Semi-Saint pressure, they had no choice but to sign the unequal treaty.

"Hmph! You wish for the protection of the God Race yet are unwilling to pay the price? How could there be such a bargain?"

Nan Luo noted their dissatisfaction but ignored it. The covenant was signed; if they dared to betray him, they would meet their end. Once he survived the Calamity and achieved the Holy Path, the God Race would become the masters of the Primordial world. Nan Luo knew they would never dare to rebel, holding their resentment deep in their hearts.

Three days had passed since the avatar of Xiong Shitian had wreaked havoc in the City of Gods. Nan Luo had finalized all arrangements; whether the God Race would survive the Calamity was now up to fate.

Nan Luo looked toward the Western Wilderness, his golden eyes cold. *Life or death, this is the gamble,* he thought.

On the evening of the third day of the third month, God Emperor Nan Luo departed the City of Gods, setting off for the Western Wilderness to honor his appointment at the Great Snowy Mountain.

There were six months remaining until the battle of the ninth day of the ninth month.