novelraw Chapter 1118: You Have No Right to Know
Chapter 1118: You Have No Right to Know
In the deep valley—this was the final site for refining the Soul Orb.
Atop a dirt slope stood a young man with his hands behind his back, overlooking the dense mass of human heads below. His gaze was indifferent, seemingly uninterested in the progress of the refinement below.
Soon, another young man arrived on the slope. “Shiyu!”
This youth was none other than Gongsun Shiyu, a distinguished figure of the Qian Department of Xuanyuan Palace, who had awakened a portion of the Yellow Emperor’s bloodline through the Gongsun branch family.
After losing a battle with the Firecloud Evil God and being forced to retreat, Gongsun Shiyu had gone into seclusion to recover. Once healed, he returned to participate in the Million Soul Orb project.
Using the cover of thick fog in this region, they had secretly excavated multiple deep pits for Soul Orb refinement—each one unnoticed by the Management Bureau due to the lack of contact with the outside world. Soul Orbs had been continuously and quietly refined.
Though the Bureau was actively searching for trapped civilians, they were unaware that the majority of this fog-covered region had already become a land of death.
“You’re back, Zhishui.” Gongsun Shiyu turned to speak.
Gongsun Zhishui had grown up with him, training together, learning martial arts, and undergoing the War Soul inheritance. They were almost never apart.
Earlier, Gongsun Zhishui’s War Soul had been destroyed while attempting to capture Nero, forcing him to return to Xuanyuan Palace to select a new one from the Hall of Heroic Spirits.“There was a small hiccup with the new inheritance, but it’s been resolved,” Gongsun Zhishui replied solemnly.
“What kind of War Soul did you inherit?” Gongsun Shiyu asked calmly.
“Quite fortunate,” Zhishui smiled. “I was chosen by a War Soul from the first generation.”
Gongsun Shiyu was slightly stunned—the first-generation War Souls were the original warriors who had followed the Yellow Emperor in his conquests. Their souls had been specially preserved, making them the most powerful spirits in the Palace.
Their direct descendants were classified as the second generation, and so on up to the fifth. When Shiyu had undergone his own inheritance, he had also obtained a first-generation War Soul—an exceptionally strong one due to his awakened bloodline. Zhishui had only inherited a second-generation spirit back then.
“Looks like misfortune turned out to be a blessing,” Shiyu nodded. Staring into the distance, he muttered, “You’re catching up now, Zhishui.”
Zhishui didn’t notice the subtle tone in Shiyu’s voice. “Maybe it’s fate. I can’t afford to fall behind, not with how things are now.”
He walked to the edge of the slope, frowning at the sea of bodies below. “Shiyu… do we really need to help Lai Caisheng to this extent? Even if martial cultivators like us aren’t bound by karma, your Imperial Heaven World-Shocking Scripture was meant to bring benefit to the world… a path for the people.”
“I know what I’m doing.” Shiyu shook his head. “That scripture is the greatest technique created for the emperor of mankind. Very few have ever reached the ‘Emperor Realm.’ Only the founder, the Yellow Emperor himself, ever reached the ultimate level: ‘Emperor of the World.’ I’ve hovered at the edge of this realm for some time… Do you know what I lack?”
“What?”
“Dragon Qi.” Shiyu gazed coldly at the sea of people. “The True Dragon Emperor’s Dragon Qi… Only by becoming the Son of Heaven and drawing that Qi into myself can I advance to the Emperor Realm.”
“That’s what Lai Caisheng promised you?” Zhishui asked sharply from behind.
“He promised me?” Shiyu replied coldly. “The younger generation of the Qian Department is on its way. I’m letting him fulfill his life’s wish. After that… the world will be mine. No one grants me anything.”
Restore the imperial system. Found a new dynasty. Become the Son of Heaven. Break into the next stage of the scripture. Pursue the pinnacle of power—that was Gongsun Shiyu’s true goal.
But Xuanyuan Palace’s code was to remain hidden and only intervene in dire national crises. Shiyu’s ideals directly opposed that doctrine. Whether the elders of the Qian Department would accept it was uncertain, but the Kun Department would almost certainly object immediately.
Zhishui sighed. “Xuanyuan Palace has three great scriptures. Imperial Heaven is only one. With your talent, had you chosen the other two, you might have already reached the peak. Why go this far?”
“Because only Imperial Heaven World-Shocking Scripture reaches the summit.” Shiyu’s tone was dreamy. “Like the True Dragon of Divine Land, or that blonde woman that day… That kind of ultimate power. I want to know what this world looks like through their eyes. Don’t you?”
Zhishui fell silent, then changed the subject. “I stopped by Lai Caisheng’s site. From what I gathered, the number of Soul Orbs is already enough. This last pit is unnecessary.”
“We’ve come this far, might as well finish it.” Shiyu replied indifferently. “Besides, most of these are fakes. Few possess true souls… And this isn’t the Underworld. Why care about the Six Paths of Reincarnation?”
Just as he finished speaking, chaos suddenly erupted below.
Though Shiyu was overseeing this final pit, the actual refiners were those black-robed figures in bronze masks.
These people—or Demons—were gathered by Lai Caisheng. They had long abandoned hope, and no amount of killing fazed them.
As the saying goes, “A dead pig isn’t afraid of boiling water.” That described them perfectly.
“Go down and take a look,” Gongsun Shiyu said softly, lightly tapping his toe.
He moved like a startled swan.
...
At the edge of the deep pit, one black-robed man’s sleeve had already been torn, and not just that—his bronze mask had shattered, revealing half of an old, scarred, and terrifying face.
Right in front of him stood a strange Demon in the form of a boy, who appeared to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old.
This boy-like Demon had a ten-centimeter-long wound on his shoulder and crouched on all fours like a wild, untamed beast.
Behind the little Demon stood another youth who looked slightly older.
This older boy said calmly, “Windchaser, didn’t this Lonely Emperor tell you? Once you throw a punch, you must press forward without hesitation. You could’ve finished him in one strike, but your hesitation let him live like a stray dog.”
The younger boy’s fierce expression instantly drooped into a bitter one. “Big Brother, even if you say that… I really don’t understand what it means to go ‘all the way forward’…”
“Figure it out yourself.” The older youth snorted and turned away, focusing his gaze on the blood-like spiritual energy roiling within the pit.
As for the edge of the pit, other black-robed figures were continuing to cast refining techniques into the deep hole, completely ignoring what was happening outside.
Windchaser sighed, slumped his head, then once again assumed a ferocious stance in front of the injured black-robed man.
Hmm… he was tough, but far easier than Sun Xiaosheng—at least Windchaser wasn’t the one getting completely beaten down.
The exchange between Windchaser and 'Mo Xiaofei' was heard word for word by the black-robed man with the shattered mask.
His rage surged. “You little brat—how dare you! I’ll kill you!!!”
Seeing him go red with fury, Windchaser’s heart skipped a beat. Ever since 'Mo Xiaofei' had started acting weird, he’d been going full force against anyone he encountered.
Like this time—after 'Mo Xiaofei' saw the living being pushed into the pit, he flew into a rage, kicked Windchaser away, and fought the black-robed man himself.
That “press forward without hesitation” thing… Windchaser really didn’t get it. Though he vaguely remembered Sun Xiaosheng saying something similar when he was training him.
Still, not understanding it didn’t stop him from going all out now. Even if he couldn’t reach that state, giving it his all was never wrong.
Facing the man’s fierce assault, Windchaser didn’t hesitate. He activated Greedy Wolf Divine Skills, then threw out the martial arts he’d learned from 'Mo Xiaofei'.
This was the strongest attack he could muster:
Imperial Heaven Shattering Fist – First Form
Greedy Wolf Divine Skill: Super Speed
Greedy Wolf Divine Skill: Herculean Strength
Greedy Wolf Divine Skill: Vajra Body!
The moment before the punch even landed, the force stirred up a fierce wind that sent dust and debris flying—Windchaser’s aura soared rapidly.
This wasn’t a move powered purely by martial true force; it was infused with a blend of demonic energy and a bit of newly cultivated true force. The overwhelming demonic presence gave the punch a sinister, monstrous edge.
With all his essence, spirit, and will focused into one, Windchaser still didn’t know what the “press forward” realm really meant—but right now, he had one desire:
To land that punch.
To knock his opponent down with one blow.
From a short distance away, sensing the chaotic blend in Windchaser’s aura, Mo Xiaofei’s eyes flashed approvingly. “Instinct, huh… This Lonely Emperor may have let loose a monster.”
At that moment, the black-robed man stood frozen, seemingly overwhelmed by the force of the punch.
Windchaser’s momentum reached its peak—all of his power twisted into a singular force. He had no choice but to release it now!
But at the very last instant—
Another equally powerful aura suddenly burst out!
It was startlingly similar to Windchaser’s punch, but far more refined and concentrated.
Windchaser’s rising momentum instantly collapsed like a deflated balloon. Flustered, he could only barely release the punch.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion!
But his punch didn’t land on the black-robed man—it collided with another fist.
Gongsun Shiyu’s.
The shockwave from the clash knocked all the nearby dazed civilians to the ground like dominoes.
Windchaser spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying, crashing hard into a massive boulder.
Seeing this, 'Mo Xiaofei' sighed. “What a pity.”
Gongsun Shiyu narrowed his eyes. “What’s a pity?”
Mo Xiaofei casually glanced at him. “If you’d been just a second slower, his punch would’ve reached its full potential. The power would’ve been complete, and he would’ve advanced in his martial path.”
He shook his head. “Still, no matter. Martial arts requires perseverance. His foundation isn’t solid yet, despite his talent. Failure is a good thing. If he can overcome it later, his understanding of fist intent will only become more refined. In a way, you’ve helped him.”
Gongsun Shiyu silently stared at the seemingly young man in front of him—there was something about this guy, an aura completely inconsistent with his age.
Even more strangely, Gongsun Shiyu’s own true force had begun to stagnate inside his body… This startled him deeply.
He asked in a low voice, “Where did that Demon learn his boxing technique?”
'Mo Xiaofei' ignored him completely.
Two thousand years ago, he asked the world. No one dared question him.
He raised his hand and pointed to the pit. “You Demons dare refine such an evil thing here—what are you after?”
“Young Master Gongsun, the Soul Orb is nearly complete! Don’t let them destroy it and ruin our lord’s grand plan! Please strike down this man and the Demon!” the black-robed man with the shattered mask screamed.
“Impudent!”
But those words triggered something terrifying in 'Mo Xiaofei'.
He glared at the black-robed man and said coldly: “You… deserve to die.”
Just those two words.
With a thud, the man dropped to his knees—so hard that the earth cracked.
More shockingly, his head slumped forward.
Gongsun Zhishui, who had just arrived, rushed to check on him. His expression changed. He looked toward Gongsun Shiyu in shock and said, “He’s dead.”
“One word determines life or death… intent manifests instantly…” Gongsun Shiyu spoke in a hoarse voice. “Who… are you?”
“You…” Mo Xiaofei said calmly,
“are not qualified to know.”
(End of Chapter)