"Bang!!!" Liu Bang roared, his dragon aura surging, accelerating his leap.
In the end, Liu Bang successfully entered the weak Hunyuan level. Within the imperial aura, there was a faint holy intent. At the same time, the human dragon aura became more and more powerful, and that imperial sword began to undergo a qualitative change.
"This time, it's my turn to strike," Liu Bang declared loudly. His spirit leaves flew like knives, but they were no match for the God-Slaying Spear. However, the Demon Bull could not wield that fierce weapon freely, and the spirit leaves, aided by the Human Dragon Qi and a portion of the Energy Divine Pillar, were able to barely withstand the ferocity of the God-Slaying Spear.
The Han emperor himself wielded the imperial sword, and the dragon energy and another pillar of light were infused with magical power, greatly increasing his power!
The Chaos Demon Bull, which had initially held the upper hand, suddenly found itself at a disadvantage and was suppressed by the Han Emperor.
"Moo!" The demon bull roared, but it was to no avail. Its armor trembled, and blood seeped out.
"This..." The sudden change shocked the heroes of the Eight Desolations. This turned the tide of the battle?! Wasn't it a bit too hasty...? At this moment, they were all extremely astonished.
"Haha, Emperor Han, Marquis of Huaiyin, Han soldiers, and billions of people, you are all outstanding!"
The Great Emperor of the North Pole Ziwei laughed heartily. The benefits of the spiritual leaf's enlightenment effect on the Han Emperor's advancement were quite important, but the support of the human destiny and the surging energy was also crucial. Otherwise, the Han Emperor would not have been able to take that step and cross the insurmountable barrier. Behind him, there was the support of the endless human race!
"Is it going to capsize again?" the Spider wondered, the tragic scene of the Demon Dragon still vivid in his mind.
Cao Ya's expression changed slightly, and he was about to spread his divine sense to the lower realm to remind the Han Emperor and the Marquis of Huaiyin.
"Wait!" the demonic spider said with a smile, its web weaving to sever Cao Ya's power of law.
"Our battle ended inconclusively, so let's just leave it at that and watch from the northern star sea. If you want to intervene in the battle... Lord Ketu, I must stop you."
The Great Emperor of the North Pole, Ziwei, was still somewhat puzzled. Ketu Star Lord, what does this mean? What has he discovered?
"Emperor Qin Shi Huang once defeated the Chaos Dragon," Cao Ya sighed.
Immediately, the expression of the Arctic Purple Star Emperor also turned solemn. That Chaos Shark from the opposing camp didn't care about face; even with its Saint Realm power, it could still launch a sneak attack on a weak Primordial Chaos cultivator...
"Boom!" Sure enough, just as the Han Emperor, with the help of the Marquis of Huaiyin and others, displayed his supreme imperial might, overwhelming the past and future, sweeping away the previous decline, and fiercely injuring the Chaos Demon Bull, a giant shark suddenly rushed out along the spatial fluctuations!
It's the Chaos Shark again! Perhaps other holy realms still value appearances, but it is clearly an exception.
"I anticipated your appearance!" Liu Bang said solemnly. Because of the death of the First Emperor, he had discussed this matter with the Marquis of Huaiyin while he was smashing the Chaos Demon Bull, and was not at all alert.
"Whoosh." Liu Bang retrieved the spirit leaf, the Emperor Sword in hand, and the dragon energy of humanity swirled around him, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Regardless of the ferocious shark's character, the power of that Primordial Saint Realm is real and undeniable.
"Who said you were my target?" The Chaos Shark sneered, flicking its tail to slice through the energy beam. Its gaping maw opened wide, swallowing the vast magical power like a whale devouring the sun and moon.
"Boom..." The Chaos Ferocious Shark's power far surpassed that of the Demonic Dragon and the Demonic Bull.
Its movement caused the endless rules to groan, and the Han soldiers vomited blood one after another.
"Whoosh." The Chaos Shark swam by, absorbing too much energy. Many soldiers died suddenly, and Marquis Huaiyin was also attacked by the shark. His soul exploded, and a rain of light appeared as it began to dissolve.
"Hmm, that's about enough." The Chaos Ferocious Shark muttered to itself, glancing over the Fire Cloud Cave, Nuwa Heaven, and Great Crimson Heaven. A hint of apprehension flicked in its eyes, and it disappeared into the void with a flick of its tail.
However, the damage it caused was irreparable. The Han army suffered heavy losses in the war, and the Marquis of Huaiyin was on the verge of extinction. He was only able to hold on with an iron will and maintain the vast battle formation.
"Your Majesty, withdraw immediately!" Han Xin transmitted his voice, filled with extreme pain.
No matter how high his military talent was, he was able to mobilize the vast forces of the Han army and empower the Han emperor.
However, the problem is that Marquis Huaiyin's own abilities are only at the initial stage of Quasi-Saint. If he were to face a seven-star behemoth like the Chaos Ferocious Shark alone, Marquis Huaiyin would naturally fall into the abyss of death.
Moreover, the Han army suffered heavy casualties, making it difficult to maintain even the energy beams.
"I'll be back immediately!" Liu Bang took the initiative to cut off the energy beam, reducing the burden on the Marquis of Huaiyin and the Han army, allowing them to catch their breath.
"Buzz." Immediately, Liu Bang thought for a moment, then channeled his magic power and burned the spiritual leaf. A unique magical aura began to spread, covering the Han army camp, nourishing the soul, suppressing injuries, and reducing pain.
Although the spirit leaf was precious, Liu Bang was a very generous emperor. If he could save the Marquis of Huaiyin and the Han army, he wouldn't feel bad about losing all the spirit leaves; on the contrary, he would be happy.
As for the Chaos Demon Bull... it was already a weak Hunyuan, but Liu Bang was still confident that he could contend with it.
Of course, the opponent was an old-school weak Hunyuan, and had two second-class spiritual treasures, the Ox Horn and the Purple Armor, and temporarily possessed the God-Breaking Spear... Without the Han army's reinforcements, Liu Bang would definitely fall into a disadvantageous position again!
"I have the Emperor's Sword and the Human Dragon Qi, so I'm not so weak. I can put up a fight," Liu Bang pondered.
His right hand was still gripping the sword, and a crimson dragon circled around him, its eyes fixed on the demon bull.
"Emperor Han, although I can't say I won this battle, my overall situation is definitely better than your Han Dynasty." The Chaos Demon Bull grinned, its size shrinking to the height of a human.
He stood up, his horns gleaming, and his armor surging with purple energy. The broken divine spear was right beside him.
Liu Bang's face was somber. He had to admit that he was now inferior to the Demon Bull once again.
Furthermore, the Han army's wounds urgently require the treatment of the Spirit Leaf, and they cannot afford to entangle themselves with the Chaos Demon Bull.
Left with no other option, Liu Bang had to back down and offer up precious artifacts in exchange for the return of the Chaos Demon Bull to the north.
Of course, the Demon Bull also had his concerns. From a firm advantage to a sudden turn of events, and then to the Chaos Shark's sneak attack... he worried that if things dragged on, something else might happen...
Having suppressed the newly established Han Dynasty and gained a degree of dominance, the Chaos Demon Bull felt it was time to report back. It also provided an explanation for the inquiries from the Demon Ancestor, Donghuang Taiyi, and the Chaos Demon Insect.
"Know when to stop. If you push them too far, that human dragon energy might come up with some tricks."
"I will also become a thorn in the side of the Three Emperors Daoists... If they follow the example of the Chaos Ferocious Shark, abandon their pride, and relentlessly attack, how can I withstand it?"
The Chaos Demon Bull grumbled to itself, returned to the northern region, gathered the demons, and issued orders to march south every few decades or centuries to plunder the Han people and slaughter their population.
"With me backing you up, what's there to be afraid of? The Han emperor of the Southern Dynasty, who was strong because of the dragon energy of humanity, was also harmed and could not live for long. When his time came, he would abdicate and go to the Fire Cloud Cave."
"How could the Han Dynasty have such ruthless characters in every generation? Just like the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the founders were the most powerful. After that, there might be wise and capable rulers, but they were all short-lived. There were mostly foolish and incompetent rulers, and eventually the dynasty would collapse. Humanity itself could not bear it and had to rise up in rebellion to overthrow the court!"
How could the demons and monsters at the Great Luo Realm and Quasi-Saint Realm dare to disobey the orders of the Chaos Demon Bull?
Moreover, upon careful analysis, what the Demon Bull said makes a lot of sense; the history of previous dynasties is no exception.
Meanwhile, in the south, Liu Bang returned to the Han army camp. He pointed his finger, and the spirit leaf quickly ignited.
"Whoosh..." A vast expanse of green light enveloped the entire Han army.
Indeed, many of them received timely medical treatment from the Han Emperor, which stabilized their injuries and allowed them to gradually recover.
The Chaos Shark's magic is indeed ferocious, but the Spirit Leaf comes from the Chaos Divine Tree, so how is it any different?
The Chaos Shark wasn't going all out, while Liu Bang was completely focused.
However, some severely wounded soldiers, whose true spirits were damaged, were ultimately unable to recover and perished one after another.
Marquis of Huaiyin, Han Xin, was one of them.
"Buzz." Liu Bang mobilized the green light, penetrating Han Xin's soul, but it was still useless.
"Your Majesty, there's no need for this." Han Xin smiled, showing no sign of sadness.
"I was originally under the command of the Overlord as a halberd-bearer. After Xianyang, I joined His Majesty's ranks. I was recommended by Prime Minister Xiao. After a long talk with His Majesty all night, His Majesty ascended the altar and appointed me as general, commanding the Han army."
"Since then, he has offered strategies to subdue Qin, secretly captured Wei, defeated Zhao and destroyed Dai, subjugated Yan and seized Qi, attacked Long Ju by water, and surrounded and destroyed Chu. He has helped Your Majesty pacify the northern border and defeated the incomparably brave Hegemon."
"When His Majesty rewarded meritorious officials, he selected the 'Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty' and praised them highly. Zhang Liang and Chancellor Xiao He were both exceptionally talented and their personal abilities were unparalleled throughout history. I agree that they should be ranked alongside me. However, I would be dissatisfied if Cao Shen, Chen Ping, Zhou Bo, Fan Kuai, and others were also included in this list."
Hearing Han Xin's words, Cao Shen, Zhou Bo, Fan Kuai, and others present also expressed their agreement.
The "Three Heroes of the Early Han Dynasty" as judged by His Majesty are all outstanding individuals, far beyond the reach of others.
"In strategizing within the command tent and winning battles a thousand miles away, I am inferior to Zhang Liang; in governing the state, pacifying the people, providing supplies, and ensuring uninterrupted supply lines, I am inferior to Xiao He; in commanding a million troops, winning every battle and capturing every city, I am inferior to Han Xin. All three are outstanding, and my ability to employ them is why I conquered the world," Liu Bang said.
"Haha." Han Xin laughed loudly and said, "In the last battle of my life, I was able to defeat an unorthodox saint, so it wasn't a failure... I died at the hands of a Primordial Saint, and although I was unwilling, there was nothing I could do about it."
"On the battlefield, you didn't lose; it was just a matter of personal combat strength..." Liu Bang sighed.
Even now, he is no match for the Chaos Shark; the terror of the Saint Realm is beyond description.
"My only regret is that I didn't kill the Chaos Demon Bull," Han Xin shook his head.
Finally, his soul, even the spirit leaf could not sustain it, began to disintegrate, and the rain of light dissipated.
Liu Bang couldn't help but sigh. With the loss of the Marquis of Huaiyin, the Han Dynasty would have no idea when it could retake the north!
"Pass down the order that all fallen soldiers shall receive a pension three times the normal amount as compensation from their families."
"Those who survive will also be rewarded; the Great Han will not treat you unfairly."
Liu Bang's decree quickly spread throughout the camp, making the departure of many soldiers less painful. Those who survived even proclaimed that the Han Emperor would live a long and prosperous life!
Immediately afterwards, Liu Bang dispatched a general and left some soldiers to guard the northern frontier and build fortresses.
He then led his army back to the capital, Chang'an. On the way, the "Song of the Great Wind," composed by the Han emperor himself, was sung at the beginning and end of the procession, resounding through the sky.
"The wind rises and the clouds fly, my might extends across the land, I return to my homeland, where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners of the earth!"
With the assistance of Xiao He and others, and with the advice of Zhang Liang, Liu Bang formulated a national policy and began to allow the people to recuperate. The Southern Continent, over millions of years, had endured too much war, rivers of blood, and fields strewn with corpses. This northern expedition had again resulted in heavy casualties; it was imperative to allow the people to rest and recuperate.
As for the position of crown prince in the court, Liu Bang hesitated. But after thinking it over, he realized that if he passed away and Liu Ying succeeded him, Empress Lü would still be alive, and the situation could be stabilized.
Moreover, Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and others had all offered advice and expressed their opinions on behalf of the Crown Prince.
With the Marquis of Huaiyin deceased, Liu Bang could not ignore the remaining two of the three heroes of the early Han Dynasty: Chancellor Xiao He and Marquis Liu. Liu Ying, though physically weak, was benevolent and righteous, a quality that both Chancellor Xiao and Marquis Liu valued.
The Han Dynasty of today does not need a powerful ruler, but only a benevolent ruler who knows how to recuperate and care for his people like his own children.
To push back into the north, we need to build up national strength, increase the population, and build up the number of soldiers. We also need to wait for the emergence of a great general! Until then, we will have to fight more defensive battles.
Regardless of the political situation in the Great Han Dynasty of the Immortal Realm, the powerful figures from all sides were unsurprised by the sudden attack of the Chaos Shark.
"It's a pity we couldn't kill the Emperor of Han. Of course, killing the Marquis of Huaiyin wouldn't have been bad either."
"Without such an unparalleled general, the Han Dynasty will have to submit to the demon god in the north."
"Under such circumstances, how can the fortunes of humanity be improved?"
"As time goes by, incompetent rulers emerge, collusion occurs between superiors and subordinates, officials protect each other, the bureaucracy becomes corrupt, and the people suffer. This is the end of a dynasty, the time when humanity and fortune are at their lowest."
Demon Ancestor Rahu, Donghuang Taiyi, Chaos Ferocious Shark, etc., were not entirely satisfactory, but not unsatisfactory either.
Seeing this, the Chaos Demon Bull breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that it had passed this test.
"Demon Ancestor, that divine spear..." Demon Bull tentatively asked.
Rahu glanced at it, which made the demon bull tremble with fear, but Rahu waved his hand and said, "Since I made the promise, I will not go back on my word. You can take it and ponder it for hundreds of thousands of years."
Demon Bull was overjoyed. With this time to ponder the mysteries of the God-Breaking Spear, his chances of becoming a saint undoubtedly increased by one to two percent!
Don't underestimate the small number; in reality, any weak mixed elementalist with a 30% chance of success is considered quite impressive!
Around them, the Chaos Spider, Chaos Scorpion, and Chaos Serpent all wore expressions of envy.
If only they had volunteered back then.
However, due to the example of the Demon Dragon, he had reservations and backed down at the last minute, thus giving the Chaos Demon Bull an easy advantage.
Of course, if time could be reversed, they would still remain silent.
"In both encounters, we and the human race both failed in the same place," the Chaos Demon Rabbit shook its head.
The weak Primordial Chaos Realm demon god, on whom high hopes were placed, lost to the emperor of the Southern Continent. In the end, it was only thanks to the Chaos Ferocious Shark that the situation was turned around.
"If it weren't for those Holy Realm beings, a mere human would have been wiped out by us long ago!" The Chaos Demon Insect's voice was extremely cold.
Many beings above the weakest level nodded.
The Three Sovereigns, Nuwa, the Moral Celestial Venerable, and the Dao Ancestor Hongjun were the people they were wary of.
On the other side, beyond the celestial realm.
"Despite many changes, the Marquis of Huaiyin still died."
"He didn't die at the hands of a palace maid, but was ambushed by the Chaos Shark of the Holy Realm. Before that, he even helped the Han Emperor attain the Weak Primordial Chaos Realm and suppressed the Chaos Demon Bull... This ending is already much better for Marquis Huaiyin."
Different historical timelines, yet with certain similarities in evolution; Cao Ya observed this and felt a complex mix of emotions.
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