The so-called allied forces of Incense Fire True Gods were likely the strongest force the Celestial Realm could currently dispatch.
In the past, so many Incense Fire True Gods would have been more than enough to inflict heavy losses on the Godslayer Alliance, even if they couldn’t wipe it out completely.
But now that Li Chang’an had returned, the forces they sent seemed rather inadequate. Other than serving as a feast for Li Chang’an, they had failed to achieve their intended effect.
The high and mighty Immortal Gods of the Celestial Realm probably had no idea how quickly the Human Race could grow after cultivating the Martial Dao. They certainly never imagined that a super-freak like Li Chang’an, who defied all categorization, would emerge from their ranks.
Ten years had passed since Li Chang’an’s return to the Fusang Tribe and the beginning of his large-scale instruction in the Martial Dao.
In these ten years, the strength of the Godslayer Alliance’s Martial Artists had undergone a qualitative leap. Previously, even the strongest of the younger generation, like Taiyue, could at best only reach the Ultimate Realm before the age of fifty.
But now, with Li Chang’an’s guidance, the cultivation speed of many had increased significantly.
Within the Expeditionary Army, a young genius had already broken through to the Ultimate Realm in his forties, setting a new record for the youngest expert to reach that level.
Meanwhile, the Celestial Realm had not been idle these past few years.
Ever since Li Chang’an had cost them over ten experts at the Incense Fire True God Realm, the Celestial Realm had not rashly sent more people down. Instead, they hoped to restrict the Godslayer Alliance’s growth by blockading all routes leading out of their territory.
This was, without a doubt, a measure that treated the symptoms but not the root cause.
After all, the Immortal Realm could block major transportation routes, but it could not block the hearts of the people.
As long as people’s hearts changed, as long as they began to hope for and aspire to a better life, any stumbling block in their path would inevitably be cast aside, or even kicked away.
The Celestial Realm had quieted down, seemingly waiting for something.
Li Chang’an, however, did not remain quiet. He began ordering the Godslayer Alliance to take the initiative, liberating towns and tribes ruled by the Celestial Realm one by one, determined to completely uproot the Immortal Realm’s foothold in the Mortal Realm.
This was an extremely serious provocation.
But since they had already torn off all pretenses, the only possible outcome was a fight to the death.
Li Chang’an would not show mercy to a mortal enemy, nor would he fear the bloodshed and sacrifices necessary in the struggle.
「Another ten years passed.」
The Godslayer Alliance launched continuous counterattacks, achieving significant victories everywhere. Their territory expanded once more, and their influence even reached some core regions of the Central Plains.
The long-silent Celestial Realm finally made a move. The same True God who had once slapped Man Yu to death appeared high in the firmament.
Many humans looked up, only to see a brilliant, golden sun.
No... that True God was even more scorching than the sun. Anyone who looked at him would bleed from all seven orifices, their bodies’ moisture evaporated by the searing heat until they burst into flames and were burned to a pile of ash.
He was high and mighty, extremely ostentatious. He swaggered across mountains and rivers, and every living being he encountered along the way had only two choices: kneel and kowtow in worship, or be blinded and burned to ashes. There was no third option.
...
「Meanwhile, in the Fusang Tribe.」
Li Chang’an was also mustering his forces, preparing to attack the Immortal Realm.
After all, although he didn’t know why the Immortal Realm was acting like a coward hiding in its shell, Li Chang’an certainly wasn’t going to let them get their way and continue to cower.
Thus, upon discovering that the Celestial Realm seemed unwilling to initiate a conflict, Li Chang’an decided to go all in. He prepared to charge directly into the Celestial Realm’s lair to see what those fellows were plotting.
When he heard that a True God had descended and was approaching the Fusang Tribe, Li Chang’an’s tone was icy. "Heh, swaggering around like this... is he afraid he won’t die a miserable enough death? Does he want to go out with a bang?"
Hearing Li Chang’an’s words, the members of the Expeditionary Army below were both nervous and excited.
’A True God!’
’A being who was once so high and mighty, an existence they never dared to look up at, has now personally descended to the Mortal Realm because of the constant harassment from a group of ants like us, just to settle things once and for all.’
It would be a lie to say they weren’t nervous or afraid.
However, something else now burned in their blood, temporarily allowing them to completely suppress their fear.
This was especially true for Taiyue in the expeditionary force.
When he heard that this True God was the very one who had slapped Man Yu to death over two hundred years ago, the rage in Taiyue’s chest had not subsided for a moment.
He had to avenge his master. He had to lead the Human Race to freedom.
This was the ultimate ideal he had pursued through so many years of arduous cultivation. Before meeting Li Chang’an, he never thought he could achieve it in his lifetime. But now, after meeting Li Chang’an, he felt he could do it. ’So what if they’re Immortal Gods in the sky?’
’Human effort can overcome the heavens!’
Li Chang’an’s gaze swept across the faces of everyone present, his expression gradually turning solemn. He raised his voice and said, "Everyone, I’m sure that from the day you joined the Expeditionary Army, you understood the mission you would have to shoulder. A war between the Mortal Realm and the Immortal Realm is inevitable, and you are the vanguard who will bear the brunt of this battle..."
"Now, the Immortal Realm can no longer hold back and has dispatched a True God to suppress us. This is a good thing. At the very least, it proves that the humans who were once treated as nothing but ants have finally stood up, and we can even threaten the rule of the Celestial Realm!"
Below the stage, it was silent. No one spoke, but their gazes, fixed on Li Chang’an, unconsciously carried a murderous intent.
The members of this Expeditionary Army had all been handpicked by Li Chang’an. Besides having talent in the Martial Dao, the most important trait was fearless courage.
Therefore, not a single person wavered before the coming battle.
Li Chang’an was unwilling to let the True God reach their doorstep. Otherwise, the ensuing battle might affect the entire Martial God City, leading to heavy casualties.
After a brief speech to rally the troops, Li Chang’an led more than a thousand members of the Expeditionary Army out of Martial God City, preparing to intercept and kill the incomparably arrogant True God on his way.
That being was the main culprit behind Man Yu’s murder, creating a feud with Li Chang’an that could only end in death. If possible, Li Chang’an would exact his revenge on the spot.
Of course, in a battle between beings of such high Realms, the main force would naturally have to be Li Chang’an. The others could, at best, act as human shields to prevent any potential allies of the enemy from interfering in their fight.
The hundred-plus members of the Hell Race were also incorporated into the Expeditionary Army.
Due to their enormous size, which was well-suited for wide, sweeping movements, the members of the Hell Race were outfitted with custom-made soft armor. They could use their natural toughness to charge ahead and draw fire.
After quickly preparing everything, the army set out. They finally ran head-on into the True God from the Celestial Realm near a small-to-medium-sized tribe not far from the Sanjiang River.
When he saw the vast army of human Martial Artists appear before him, the True God was visibly stunned. He probably hadn’t expected that Li Chang’an and his people, upon hearing of his approach, would not flee but would instead dare to block his path in advance.
The True God stopped, sized up the crowd, and his gaze finally landed on Li Chang’an at the head of the group. He sneered, "Just a disorganized mob. Is this the trump card you’ve been preparing for all these years? How utterly ridiculous!"
Hearing his voice, Li Chang’an also sneered back. "Heh, if we’re a disorganized mob, then the Celestial Realm sent you to suppress us. So what does that make you?"
Hearing Li Chang’an’s reply, the True God couldn’t help but grow angry. He said coldly, "Sharp-tongued brat. Over three hundred years ago, I slapped a woman to death who was on the verge of dying from old age. I heard that old bag was some kind of ’Martial Arts God’?"
"Heh, what bullshit Martial Arts God? She was just a slightly bigger fly. Today, I’ll let you ungrateful beasts know exactly what a True God of the Celestial Realm is—not something a pack of slaves like you can ever compare to!"