Chapter 102: The Battle of Banquan (Continued)

Why did Chiyou, who could not have been unaware of the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan’s army movements, forgo this unique opportunity for victory?

It turned out that as soon as the Yellow Emperor’s army began to "relocate," the scouts of the Jiuli tribe discovered his intentions and immediately reported them to Chiyou. However, Chiyou hesitated at that moment. The battle between his Twelve Capital Divine Banner formation and the Golden Immortals of the Chan School had reached its climax; it was a matter of either the destruction of the formation or the death of the Immortals. As for the Human Sovereign Xuanyuan below, he was merely an ordinary cultivator who had not even crossed the threshold of the Great Luo Golden Immortal stage. Surely, dealing with him would be child’s play?

Chiyou quickly made his decision: he would let Xuanyuan pass and have his main force follow closely behind, ready to launch a new offensive against the human army at his command. Yet, fate did not go as planned, and Chiyou completely lost control of the battlefield. The appearance of Xuan Daozi thoroughly disrupted Chiyou’s strategy, and by the time he tried to issue orders to his Jiuli forces, the human army had long since vanished.

The fury of the Chan School’s Golden Immortals was ignited. As disciples of the Chan School, they were accustomed to being treated with the finest wine and food wherever they went in the prehistoric world. When had they ever suffered such a slight? Guangchengzi led the other immortals to the skies above the Jiuli forces, intending to wreak havoc.

"Fellow Daoist Guangchengzi, what are you doing?" Xuan Daozi immediately sensed their malicious intent. The people were innocent; even if they were the remnants of the Wu clan, so what? If one simply killed the ringleader, the rest would scatter, and they would pose no threat. Why must these Chan School immortals resort to such cruelty against common folk? Xuan Daozi stepped in to stop them, as he, being the Holy Father of the human race, had a responsibility to protect these people.

"Fellow Daoist, by doing this, are you not showing disrespect to our Chan School?" Guangchengzi knew only that Xuan Daozi was on good terms with the Ling School, unaware that he was an avatar of his own Grandmaster.

"Your actions are sowing seeds of future karma. Is this how your Chan School conducts itself?" Xuan Daozi, after all, was their Uncle-Master, and he had a role in overseeing their conduct.

"We do not need your interference in our affairs!" Guangchengzi and the others tried to push past him, but Xuan Daozi stood his ground. As they tried to move around him again, Xuan Daozi suddenly shuddered, sighed softly, shook his head, and withdrew to join the disciples of the Ling School.

"Junior Brother, you had best mind your own business," a stern, unrefined voice echoed from the majestic palace above, making the atmosphere on the scene awkward.

"Since the Second Senior Brother is determined to have his way, I shall say no more." Tongtian had originally hoped to preserve some fortune for the Chan School to prevent them from being ensnared by karma during the coming Great Calamity. Since Yuanshi Tianzun refused to appreciate the gesture, and things had reached this point, Tongtian felt he had no face left to stay on Mount Kunlun. He even gave up the quota for the Five Emperors; relying on his status as the Holy Father of the human race and the influence of the Ling School, he did not believe the fortune of the Ling School would fade.

Seeing Xuan Daozi "yield," Guangchengzi and the others were overjoyed. They were determined to show him the power of the Chan School! Guangchengzi brandished the Heaven-Turning Seal, channeling his magic to strike the Jiuli warriors below; Chi Jingzi’s fingertips danced with Yin-Yang energy, raining lethal fairy light upon the soldiers. The Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan School fought with reckless abandon, unaware that their karma was accumulating.

"Your Chan School goes too far!" Once Chiyou recovered from the depletion of his magic and reunited with the Great Wu warriors Feng Bo and Yu Shi, who had helped him preside over the formation, he launched a strike. How could Guangchengzi and the others withstand an attack from someone at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal stage? The blow shattered their complacency. Guangchengzi brushed the dust from his robes and urgently issued commands.

Guangchengzi, Chi Jingzi, Taiyi, and Yuding teamed up to fight Chiyou, while Fearless Sun, Puxian, Wenshu, and Cihang faced Feng Bo. The rest confronted Yu Shi. Four against one—even among equals—the fate of these final great powers of the Wu clan was tragic. Chiyou, at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal stage and bordering on the Quasi-Saint realm, relied on his combat skills to barely hold his ground. Feng Bo and Yu Shi, only at the late stage of the Taiyi Mysterious Immortal realm, faced four opponents of equal rank and were quickly overwhelmed.

The result was inevitable: Chiyou, Feng Bo, and Yu Shi were all captured, a testament to the formidable power of the Chan School’s immortals. Witnessing this, a roar emanated from the Houtu Palace in the underworld: "Where is the dignity of our clan?!" The earth shook, and the Nine Springs surged with waves before vanishing without a trace.

"Hahaha! Even if you have captured us, so what? You cannot kill me!" Chiyou, his magic sealed by the Immortal-Binding Rope and his body pierced by golden needles at his three hundred and sixty-five acupuncture points, was immobilized. As a Great Luo Golden Immortal, he would have broken free had Taiyi and the others not used the Taiji Diagram to seal his power.

The executioners looked toward Feng Hou on the main stage, who in turn looked to the Yellow Emperor. At that moment, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, standing beside the Emperor, spoke: "Mortal weapons cannot harm him, so why not use a heavenly one?" The words awakened them from their stupor.

Just then, auspicious clouds drifted across the sky, and a brilliant celestial light descended, striking the ground before the Yellow Emperor. The Emperor was startled. "This is the Human Sovereign Sword, forged to shatter all evil spirits in the world! Since the Human Sovereign is in distress, I grant you this sword. Use it well." The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, filled with the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.

Guangchengzi and the others immediately prostrated themselves, recognizing the voice of the Grandmaster. "We respectfully send off the Grandmaster!" they shouted. Xuan Daozi bowed slightly in respect to Taishang Laojun. Seeing his teacher kneel, the Yellow Emperor followed suit, and the entire assembly knelt in succession.

The Yellow Emperor drew the Human Sovereign Sword from the ground and walked toward the execution platform. "You of the Jiuli tribe, why this slaughter? Does your ambition justify the loss of so many lives?" He did not mock Chiyou as a victor but asked for his motivation.

"For the glory of the Wu clan!" Chiyou persisted in his ideals, even though they would never be realized.

"Have you not considered the Jiuli people who did not wish for hegemony? Did you launch this war according to their hearts?" The Yellow Emperor did not rebuke him harshly but sought to persuade him with reason.

"I hope you treat the Jiuli people well!" Chiyou stopped arguing; it was useless. As a prisoner, there was no need for pride.

"Go in peace; I will care for them well." The Yellow Emperor raised the Human Sovereign Sword and brought it down heavily.

Chiyou was dead, but his body possessed immense vitality. To prevent his resurrection, the Yellow Emperor dispersed his remains across the ends of the earth. Chiyou’s only lingering regret was his people; only when they lived in harmony and prosperity would he truly find rest. The world was finally at peace, the era of the human race’s prosperity was near, and the governance of the Five Emperors was at hand.