Chapter 946: Four Esteemed Heaveneaters
The Heaveneater species didn’t count as one of the top species in Revered Ancient. At best, they were second-tier. Unlike the first-tier species, they lacked reserve powers, had insufficient destiny aura, and even more relevant, didn’t have the backing of any god. In order for them to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the most powerful species, they would have to work hard and pay a very, very steep price.
Their home, the Heaveneater Region, was located far away from the humans’ Imperial Region. Even a Void Returning expert would need decades to make that journey by flight. As a result, the Heaveneaters had never gone to war with humans.
However, they weren’t happy with their current state of affairs. The reigning Emperor Heaveneater was a person of outstanding ability and grand vision, and had already led his people to new heights of glory. In fact, using some unknown method, Emperor Heaveneater had actually broken through the limits of the Smoldering God level, becoming the first of his species since the time of Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity to become an Imperial Sovereign.
As they grew strong, the Heaveneaters grew more ambitious. All they needed to do now was devour a suitable species to boost their own reserve powers and destiny, thus earning the qualifications to offer a sacrifice to a god. Then they would be on the path to becoming one of the top species.
Considering that humans had once been one of the most powerful species, they were the perfect target for the Heaveneaters. After all, humans were suitable both when it came to their reserve powers and their destiny aura.
That said, though humankind wasn’t one of the top species anymore, they did have Grand Emperor Swordsage, whose might resounded even now. What was more, all of the successive emperors of humankind were Imperial Sovereigns, which caused even the most greedy scoundrels to avoid them.
Emperor Heaveneater had come to the conclusion that targeting humanity would require doing things in a very secretive and clever way. It would also require... waiting for the right opportunity. After years and years, that opportunity had finally come. That said, the opportunity wasn’t fully ready to take advantage of, until today. The emperor was waiting for... the fulfillment of a pledge.
Four majestic figures stood in the plaza outside the Heaveneaters’ imperial palace. Each was some 300 meters tall. Their faces didn’t look human, as they only had one eye in the middle of their forehead. Their skin was greenish-black and very coarse, while simultaneously pulsing with astonishing fleshly body power. They were clad in battle armor, and were so impressive that wild colors flashed in heaven and earth.
Above the shoulders, heads, and other body locations on each of them were, astonishingly, at least seven worlds. And the two strongest among them had nine worlds!
These four were high-level Smoldering God cultivators. They were the Heaveneaters’ four heavenly kings, and they were considered the species’ most precious and powerful assets.
They stood silently in the plaza, looking into the depths of the imperial palace, at a figure even more majestic than themselves.
It was their emperor! He was fully 3,000 meters tall, with a majestic aura that seemed like that of a god. He stood looking up into the canopy of heaven, as if he were currently receiving orders.
The plaza was completely and utterly silent.
A moment passed, then rumbling filled the sky. Blood-red bolts of lightning crashed left and right, eventually forming a gigantic magical symbol that covered everything for 5,000 kilometers. The flickering, blood-red color spread from the symbol to form a vortex. As it rotated, it rumbled loudly, while simultaneously exerting a huge gravitation force that covered the Heaveneaters’ imperial palace. Throughout all of that, the four heavenly kings didn’t move a muscle.
Until....
Among the countless blood-red lightning bolts appeared a silver bolt of lightning. It shot from the horizon toward the 3,000-meter-tall emperor and pierced into his head. He exhaled a stream of energy, which pierced through the air, opening up a pocket dimension.
“The fulfillment of their pledge...” Emperor Heaveneater said calmly. “Gentlemen, for the sake of the future of our species, please take a visit to human lands!”
The four heavenly kings surged with battle spirit. Without saying a word, they turned into deadly streaks of light that shot up toward the blood-colored vortex. Within moments, they disappeared inside. As teleportation fluctuations rolled out, Emperor Heaveneater looked up at the crimson sky and sighed.
“As long as the fulfillment of their pledge brings enough value.... Maybe this opportunity really is just about us being a weapon used for an assassination. But that’s acceptable! After all, they’re the ones who made the promise.”
Emperor Heaveneater smiled. As he continued to look up into the sky, his gaze pierced through the clouds and off into the distance.... Far, far off into the distance....
***
In the humans’ Imperial Region, on Planet Ancient Emperor, twelve globs of blood hovered in front of Eleventh Prince. As the blood-colored vortex spun faster and faster in the sky, a nonhuman aura spilled out. It was an unfamiliar aura to everyone present, but it was obviously terrifying and powerful. Just sensing it left everyone feeling shaken.
An instant later, a 300-meter-tall armor-clad figure shot out of the vortex, accompanied by deafening rumbling sounds. He dropped down with the power to sunder heaven and earth as he appeared on Planet Ancient Emperor! The arrival of this figure caused the cosmos to tremble, and sent the human destiny aura seething.
The 300-meter-tall giant had a single eye in his forehead that he used to look around. A cruel grin could be seen on his face as more rumbling emerged from the vortex, along with a second, third, and fourth figure.
All were about 300 meters tall, clad in armor, and surrounded by a fiendish aura. They were the four heavenly kings of the Heaveneater species!
Countless gasps and expressions of astonishment could be heard outside of Planet Ancient Emperor.
“What species are they?”
“Nine-world Smoldering Gods!”
Even the people on Planet Ancient Emperor were shocked. Maybe the emperor was attempting godly ascension, but... the arrival of these nonhumans made everything else much less important. Numerous auras locked onto the newcomers. Behind the emperor was the court eunuch, whose gaze had suddenly become extremely sharp.
Then Eleventh Prince’s voice once again rang out.
“Welcome. Now, please abide by our agreement... and kill the human emperor!”
When the four Heaveneaters heard that, they didn’t hesitate for a moment. Circulating their cultivation bases, they started advancing on the emperor, who was still not fully freed from the chains.
The court eunuch scowled as he moved out to block their path.
At the same time, a good number of the heavenly kings near Xu Qing shot forward. In an instant, deafening booms filled the skies of Planet Ancient Emperor. Everything blurred as fierce fighting broke out. The air was thrown into chaos and time shattered. At the same time, the aura of godly ascension on Planet Ancient Emperor started to falter.
Xu Qing’s expression was extremely grim. As of now, this situation had changed from an internal human affair into a nonhuman invasion.
As the booms rang out, Eleventh Prince looked at the emperor, whose face was still calm. Taking something out of his sleeve, Eleventh Prince laughed and said, “Father, I’m sure you recognize this Dawning Sun. And you must know why I’m really here.”
The object he was holding was the very same Dawning Sun that went missing![1]
“I’m curious about something. Since you knew all along that I was the one who took the Dawning Sun, what exactly did you prepare to deal with it today?”
Eyes suddenly flashing with cruelty, Eleventh Prince suddenly hurled the Dawning Sun... right into the depths of Planet Ancient Emperor!
The Dawning Sun immediately began to shine with dazzling light. A sun was exploding!
1. The situation with the missing Dawning Sun started inchapter 771 . Well, technically it started in the chapter before that, but the relevant aspects were in 771. ☜