Chapter 77: The Titan’s Fall (Part Two)

A vast army of ferocious beasts surged toward the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains like a tide. Everywhere they passed became a domain of bloody slaughter, and every living being they encountered was annihilated, leaving no survivors.

Under their unstoppable might, the vanguard of the beast army advanced with lightning speed to hasten their assault, soon reaching the outermost region of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains—the Taihai Range.

Beyond the Taihai Range, beneath a sea of blood and clouds of baleful energy spanning millions of miles, an army of beasts marched in strict formation, their banners fluttering, exuding an overwhelming aura of murderous intent. Thick, unabsorbed blood mist swirled around them as they raced toward the Taihai Range.

Before long, this vanguard—numbering in the tens of millions—arrived at the Taihai Range, striding upon clouds of baleful energy.

Strangely, the vanguard did not attack immediately. Instead, they arrayed themselves in formation, waiting in silence for the opportune moment.

At the center of the vanguard stood a blood palace spanning a hundred miles, above which flew a great black banner emblazoned with the character for “Earth” in blood-red script. Beside it stood nine smaller banners, each inscribed with a single character: “Chief,” “Baleful,” “Valor,” “Hero,” “Might,” “Power,” “Elite,” “Strange,” and “Fierce”—all written in the same cruel, bloody script.

This campaign’s vanguard was led by the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter, with nine subordinate Dread Lords—no, they should now be called Dread Sovereigns as well.

After the Gate of Heavenly Order was shattered, all one hundred and eight Dread Lords of the beast race were promoted to Dread Sovereigns, collectively known as the One Hundred and Eight Dread Sovereigns.

These One Hundred and Eight Dread Sovereigns were named for the Thirty-Six Celestial Fiends and the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, each group led by twelve principal Dread Sovereigns, commanding awe in every direction.

Under the command of the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter were the Earth Chief Star, Earth Baleful Star, Earth Valor Star, Earth Hero Star, Earth Might Star, Earth Power Star, Earth Elite Star, Earth Strange Star, and Earth Fierce Star.

Thus originated the legendary Thirty-Six Celestial Fiends and Seventy-Two Earthly Fiends, the One Hundred and Eight Dread Stars.

Later, after the Divine Ancestor Nanluo subdued the beast race, he was impressed by the unmatched might of the One Hundred and Eight Dread Stars and reestablished their ranks.

When Nanluo ascended as Celestial Emperor, he enfeoffed the One Hundred and Eight Dread Stars, making them a crucial force in the Celestial Court, their legacy enduring through the ages.

Excerpted from: “A Divine History of the One Hundred and Eight Dread Stars”

Hall of Dread Earth.

The Dread Sovereign of Slaughter sat high upon the pitch-black Throne of Earth, while the nine Dread Sovereigns sat below in two orderly rows.

“Salute to the Dread Sovereign. Our lord commands: When the sun stands at its zenith, attack the Titans.”

A Dread Sovereign in black armor stepped forward, bowed respectfully to the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter, and announced.

“Very well. I have received the command. Dread Sovereign of Shadow Earth, return and report to the Dread Sovereign of Merciless Slaughter.”

The Dread Sovereign of Slaughter nodded with satisfaction.

“Your servant takes his leave.” The Dread Sovereign of Shadow Earth saluted, stepped back, then transformed into a streak of black light and vanished.

Once Shadow Earth had departed, the Fierce Earth Dread Sovereign could no longer restrain his curiosity and respectfully inquired of the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter.

“May I ask, my lord, why do we deploy our hidden pawn, the Assassins’ Tower, at this moment? The Titans are but a trivial clan—our beast army could crush them in an instant. Why not save this secret weapon for the Phoenixes?”

Noticing the confusion on the faces of all nine Dread Sovereigns, the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter pondered and replied, “Do not let momentary strength blind you! Never underestimate any adversary, no matter how weak, for they are capable of desperate measures.”

“The Titans may be the weakest among the five great races, but they are not to be taken lightly. To do so would invite needless losses.”

“The reason we activate the Assassins’ Tower is because its mission is complete. Ten thousand years ago, His Majesty the Dread Emperor planted this hidden pawn to assassinate powerful enemies, gather intelligence, and seize resources, rendering great service to our kind. But now, as we launch our all-out assault on the myriad races, the Assassins’ Tower is no longer necessary.”

“Moreover, the existence of the Assassins’ Tower is no secret to the wise. The Dragons, Phoenixes, Lions, and Qilins have all long since become aware of it, though they kept it hidden from the Titans. Using the Assassins’ Tower to eradicate the Titans will be its final act.”

The nine Dread Sovereigns were astonished by these words, but understanding soon dawned on their faces.

“The four great races knew of the Assassins’ Tower but kept the Titans in the dark—do they hope to use us as their weapon?” the Hero Earth Dread Sovereign exclaimed in surprise.

“More than that!” added the Chief Earth Dread Sovereign. “According to our lord, the Assassins’ Tower was exposed long ago, yet the four races kept silent, letting it murder their own. Such ruthless cunning!”

The others grew visibly excited and bloodthirsty at this analysis, their savage natures resonating with the merciless schemes of the four races.

“Enough! Go make preparations—you have less than an hour!” The Dread Sovereign of Slaughter cruelly cut off their excited debate and issued his command.

“Yes, my lord!” The nine Dread Sovereigns bowed and vanished as nine streaks of black light.

“Hmph! The myriad races of the world—each harbors its own agendas,” the Dread Sovereign of Slaughter sneered, thinking of the ruthless cunning of the four great races.

Titan Hall.

The Titan Divine Sovereign sat upon the Titan Throne, priests standing on either side, while the Phoenix Sovereign knelt on one knee before him.

As the immense power of earth dissipated within the hall, the land itself grew calm and once more fell into slumber.

“Your Majesty, I request permission to execute Phoenix Sovereign!” The Taihai Priest, face grim, stepped forward, bowed, and spoke in a loud, respectful voice.

“Your Majesty, I request permission to execute Phoenix Sovereign!” The other nine priests, led by the Grand Priest of Taishan, likewise stepped forward, bowed, and pleaded.

Having nearly injured the Taihai Priest, forcing the Titan Divine Sovereign to intervene and bringing shame upon the Titans, only the death of the Phoenix Sovereign could appease their wrath and wash away their disgrace.

The Titan Divine Sovereign regarded the priests with disappointment, once again grateful for his own decision. How could such cowardly and incompetent individuals shoulder the Titans’ fate?

Instead of seeking to better themselves after defeat, they wished only to rely on external force to destroy their rival. The priests of the Titan clan had truly fallen.

“Phoenix Sovereign, have you anything to say?”

The Titan Divine Sovereign looked down at the kneeling Phoenix Sovereign, his face expressionless.

Phoenix Sovereign sensed the suppressive power of earth retreating and realized she could now speak. She met the Titan Divine Sovereign’s gaze unyieldingly, raised her head proudly, golden phoenix eyes blazing with immortal fire, and sneered, “The strong devour the weak—such is the law of nature! You Titans fail to recognize your fate and will perish by your own hand.”

“How dare you!” roared the Grand Priest of Taishan, his fury ignited. He glared at the Phoenix Sovereign and shouted, cutting her off.

“Your Majesty, I beg you to swiftly execute this despicable Phoenix!” Taishan turned to the Titan Divine Sovereign, bowed, and called out.

“Your Majesty, please execute this despicable Phoenix at once!” the other priests echoed.

The Phoenix Sovereign looked at them with disdain, as if regarding a troupe of performing clowns, and sneered, “If you wish to kill me, let us see if you are capable!”

“Insolent Phoenix, death approaches and still you spout such arrogance!” The priests of the Titan clan were apoplectic with rage.

Within the Titan Hall, with the Titan Divine Sovereign present, did this mere Phoenix Sovereign truly think she could escape?

The Titan Divine Sovereign, observing the Phoenix Sovereign’s bravado, caught a glint of understanding in his eyes—he suddenly realized the Phoenix Sovereign’s true reliance.

“Descend, Your Majesty!”

The Phoenix Sovereign lifted her head high, her golden phoenix eyes shifting from pure gold to a glassy, crystalline gold as the immortal fire within them burned ever more brightly. She let out a piercing cry.

Boom!

A pillar of golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping the Phoenix Sovereign.

Within the golden radiance, a golden phoenix of crystalline luster suddenly appeared.

A resonant cry, piercing the nine heavens, echoed through the hall as an overwhelming aura swept out in all directions, proud and untamable as a celestial gale.

If the Titan Divine Sovereign’s oppressive might was suffocating, this aura was the very embodiment of pride.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Under this absolute aura of pride, the Titan priests all fell to their knees, faces grave.

“Phoenix Sovereign, Feng Jiutian!”

The Titan Divine Sovereign slowly rose from his throne, his expression solemn as he gazed at the glass-gold phoenix before him.