Unsealing Emptiness

Chapter 481: Wake up!

The next day, Ember paid a visit to the Celestial Phoenix.

She dragged Ozul along since he was the only one beside her who could conversate casually with her.

They barged into Ryujin’s estate without informing or taking permission and walked directly into the crimson obelisk, door to the Phoenix’s nest.

"It hasn’t been a day."

The voice resounded throughout the small realm.

Ember didn’t mind the unwelcome tone and flew directly toward the volcanic mountain.

"Since I’m on your side, I need to know everything."

Perched atop the hottest spot, the Phoenix kept her face tucked backward and hidden under her feathers, not even bothering to look at Ember. She knew that Jinx hadn’t come together with Ozul and thus found no need to show any etiquette.

"What is there to know? It is war."

Ember shook her head. The Phoenix didn’t want to answer only because she was a sloth. It eerily reminded her of another being.

’Hm? Why are you eyeing me?’ Ozul thought to himself as he noticed Ember glancing at him from the corner of her eyes.

"I need to understand what I have gotten myself into. There is supposedly God against us. What can we do against him?"

Ember didn’t try to put it in nicer words. Since the Phoenix was lethargic as well, she had learned from Ozul to be as direct as possible.

The Phoenix finally turned her head, finally looking at them as she spoke, "That is a valid concern, but it is baseless."

"Baseless why?"

"The war is waged by ’His’ son, Kami."

"Kami?" Ozul muttered to himself, in a fruitless effort to remember his name as it felt important.

"That is his name," affirmed the Phoenix.

"I had heard about God’s Son starting the war, but are you saying that God has no part in it?" Ember asked. She knew varying details after spying on other Realms.

"Until now, ’He’ has yet to say anything on the matter. That is why Kami, that brat has gotten bold. Even if ’He’ was the one to start this war, it wouldn’t at least be one-sided."

"The Demonic Emperor is that strong?" Ember asked with some hope.

"I am not sure," the Phoenix answered with a pause, "But it’s certain that if anyone can face ’Him’, it can only be the Lord of Shadows."

’Lord of Shadows?’ Ozul kept repeating the names so as not to forget them.

Ember also noted that the giant bird of black fire hadn’t called him Demonic Emperor and opted for a more respectable title.

"What about the Heavenly Virtues? I take it that not everyone supports this. Kami?" Ozul asked as Old Gu was the most impressionable person on his mind.

"There are two on our side."

"What about Old Gu?" He asked.

The Phoenix paused again. She took a few seconds before replying, "No one knows what he’s thinking."

"Isn’t it still a losing battle then? The number of Empyreans on their side is more than double of those who support the Demonic Emperor." Ember expressed her worries.

But she had forgotten a critical part. According to Jidu, the other three Celestial Beasts had also refused Kami’s offer.

From how the battle had progressed, it was also clear that a Celestial Beast was slightly stronger than the Heavenly Virtues.

"If you’re afraid, you can run away to some broken world," sneered the Phoenix as if taunting her.

"Wake up. It is war!"

Her voice thundered across the Realm, the distant volcanos even showed signs of eruption.

Ember didn’t know what to say anymore as she went silent.

But Ozul didn’t care either way. It was her fault for seeking some sort of consolation words amidst a war of this scale. No one knew what was going to happen.

"I don’t understand. What does this Kami hope to achieve?" Ozul asked.

From what they had gathered, he was the one who had declared war without any provocation.

"Who knows," the Phoenix did a bird action equivalent of the human shrug, "It might just be a childish pursuit of glory for defeating God’s only nemesis or maybe he knew it was inevitable."

’It was inevitable? Maybe the Lord of Shadows was also planning to wage this war sooner or later?’ He thought, but he could only muse.

"About Ryujin-"

"I do not care." The Phoenix knew what Ember had really come to ask. "Things have changed. Deal with him as you wish to. I believe you will make the right decision."

Ember’s face instantly brightened. Before she could ask more, however, the Phoenix had already turned her head, burying it under her feathers again.

Sighing, she dragged Ozul out of the realm.

She still wanted to discuss the details and their strategic advantages, but it seemed like she could do whatever she wanted until someone came to stop her.

. . .

With Ember’s speed, no one could even feel her presence in the City Lord’s Hall.

They quickly went back to the estate without anyone even knowing.

"So, how did it go?" Rai asked excitedly. He only cared about starting a killing spree in the heart of the city.

"She doesn’t care about anything, says it is war."

Instantly, Rai’s eyes lit up. It felt as if a poverty-stricken child was allowed to play with toys for the first time in his life.

"Halt your feet," Ember immediately ordered as she noticed him walking toward the door.

Since he had become a Sage, he and his subordinates alone could kill Ryujin. Since they had previously culled their number of Transcendents, it only made things easier.

"Why?? The Phoenix doesn’t care, so why do you?"

"He is a Sage," Ember answered with a tone of authority, leaving no room for negotiation.

Following the Phoenix’s words, she had given it a careful thought. It would serve no purpose to them if she killed him now.

"Are you going to replace me now?" Rai looked at her like a child being abandoned.

Raven, Blaze, and Zier were not part of the conversation, yet they dropped everything to give him a disgusted look. He was way too old for acting like this.

"Shut up. He will be given a choice to live."

Rai instantly deflated, walking back toward the trio with heavy steps.

"Stop sobbing. Get your ass to work. I want a list of all Sages in this Realm in two days!" She ordered as Rai dropped his act, getting to work.

In a perfect world, all wars and battles would be solved by the most powerful men so thousands of lives would not have to be sacrificed.

Unfortunately, it was far from even a decent world, much less perfect.

As such, Ember needed to find more powerful people to recruit. The number of Transcendents working under her could match the Wilderness or the Immortal Sect after the addition of the trio who had all stepped into that realm.

However, she couldn’t keep up with the number of Sages. It couldn’t be helped since it hadn’t been long since she herself had been one.

. . .

In the distant realm, covered with shadows writhing in unfamiliar patterns, the oppressing air kept everyone tense.

The smell of war hadn’t yet reached here, owing to the fear of the Demonic Emperor.

Kami first wanted to unite all the other realms under his banner. Once that was done, he would confront the Demonic Emperor.

Deep inside the only empire ruling this Realm, stood the castle of the person in question, referred to by his people as the Lord of Shadows.

Inside a dark room, sat Qingyu, the Heavenly Virtue of Chastity.

He played with his long hair while waiting for the Lord of Shadows to appear.

Just then, the darkness began to swirl and hiss.

Qingyu instantly straightened his back, taking his feet off the table as the man manifested before him.

"Baoshi hasn’t returned yet?" asked the man known to be the only nemesis of God.

"She should be back any minute. I am not sure what is taking her so long," shrugged Qingyu.

And just then, a spatial crack appeared in the room, and out stepped an unkempt old lady. Signs of battle were apparent on her body.

"Report." The Lord of Shadows was a man of few words.

Baoshi took a deep breath, calming herself as she sat next to Qingyu.

"Tanlan and Zihao were both sent with 3 Empyreans as backup."

"Against the Celestial Dragon and 2 Empyreans?" Qingyu raised his brows in surprise, "That brat is set to remove all those who stand against him."

Sighing again, Baoshi narrated, "They were not very keen on continuing when I showed up. It took me so long because of the Celestial Dragon. Unlike the other three, he has uncontrollable rage. He didn’t calm down until one of their Empyreans died."

Qingyu chuckled, earning a glare from the old lady.

"The Phoenix was attacked at the same time," informed the man without any emotions.

Qingyu and Baoshi both looked stunned. If a similar force was sent there as well, then the Phoenix surely wouldn’t have survived.

"Calm your nerves. Only Jidu was sent with 2 Empyreans."

Baoshi looked confused, "That brat is arrogant, but not foolish. He would at least need 3 Empyreans."

On her side, Qingyu chuckled again, "Landuo must have been too lazy. It is not easy to convince that lady."

"So, what happened?

Even though she didn’t think Jidu with 2 Empyreans could deal with the Phoenix, it was war and anything could happen.

"Phoenix had the support of one Empyrean as well. In the end, however, Gu stopped them."

Baoshi visibly relaxed and even in Qingyu’s eyes, there was a sense of relief. After all, they couldn’t lose one of the Celestial Beasts this early in the war. As for Old Gu intervening, they didn’t care as long as he wasn’t against them.

"I shall go there then," Baoshi stood up. Since war had reached the Realm of Abezan, she had to go and coordinate with the Phoenix and the Empyrean there.

"Qingyu." The Lord of Shadows uttered and motioned to Baoshi to sit back at the same time.

"Hmm?"

"Make yourself useful."

The authority laced within his words was something that even a Heavenly Virtue could not overlook.

Qingyu stood up with a grunt and with a slash of his hand, the space tore open and he stepped into it.