The battle between Yao Zhen and the Celestial Guardian raged on, the very air crackling with divine and infernal energy. The ground beneath them quaked with every strike, sending shockwaves that tore apart the stone structures around them. The city of Xian, once a bastion of divine favor and power, now trembled under the weight of the clash between the Emperor and the god.
Yao Zhen's body thrummed with the power of the system, his strength and speed amplified beyond human limits. His Infernal Fury skill surged, sending out waves of demonic energy that lashed at the Celestial Guardian, yet the god stood firm, their golden armor gleaming with celestial light, each strike a thunderous roar.
"Your power is insignificant!" the Celestial Guardian bellowed, raising a massive sword forged from divine light. "You dare to challenge the heavens? You are nothing but a mortal! You cannot win."
Yao Zhen's eyes narrowed. He could feel the celestial power pushing against him, but the system was always there, guiding him, offering new paths to victory. It had unlocked new skills after his battle with the Demon Lord, and now it was offering him another opportunity: the Celestial Wrath skill.
Skill Unlocked: Celestial Wrath. Effect: Channel the full power of the heavens for a single devastating strike. Consumes all remaining celestial power in the body.
Yao Zhen didn't hesitate. He felt the celestial energy coursing through his veins, and for a brief moment, he became one with the power of the heavens themselves. The sky above him darkened as his aura shifted, now a blend of divine light and infernal darkness. The world seemed to hold its breath as Yao Zhen raised his hand toward the Guardian.
"I am not just a mortal," Yao Zhen said, his voice carrying a chilling confidence. "I am the one who will reshape this world and the heavens. And you will be the first to fall."
The Celestial Guardian roared, unleashing a blast of radiant energy toward Yao Zhen, but he met it head-on, channeling the full force of the Celestial Wrath skill. The resulting explosion of power shook the heavens themselves. Light and darkness intertwined, creating a maelstrom of destruction that consumed everything in its path. The Celestial Guardian's form was obliterated in an instant, their golden armor shattering into pieces as the divine essence was torn apart.
For a moment, everything was still.
Then, a roar of triumph erupted from Yao Zhen as the power of the Celestial Guardian flowed into him. His body crackled with new energy, a perfect fusion of infernal and celestial might. His vision blurred as the immense power threatened to overwhelm him, but the system's voice calmed him.
Power absorbed. Celestial Power gained. New skill unlocked: God's Wrath.
Yao Zhen felt the surge of new energy within him, his muscles tightening as his aura grew even stronger. His connection to the system deepened, and he could feel the pulse of the heavens themselves bending to his will. The once-immovable god was now nothing but a source of power for him.
"Xian is mine," he muttered, his voice now carrying the weight of the heavens and the abyss.
The Kingdom Falls
With the defeat of the Celestial Guardian, the tide of the battle was decisively turned. The defenders of Xian, who had once stood proud against the Imperial Army, now faltered. Their morale shattered in the face of the overwhelming power Yao Zhen commanded. The soldiers who had fought bravely now cowered, uncertain how to face an enemy who had just defeated one of their own gods.
King Li Feng, watching from his palace, felt the cold grip of dread tighten around his heart. He had known that this day would come, but he had hoped the gods would intervene, that the power of Xian's divine alliances would be enough to turn the tide. But now, with the Celestial Guardian fallen, the divine favor he had relied on for so long seemed meaningless.
"Your Majesty," one of his advisors said, voice trembling. "It is over. The Emperor... he has absorbed the power of the Guardian. We cannot win."
King Li Feng's face was a mask of stoicism, but his eyes betrayed the desperation that surged within him. "Send word to the other kingdoms. We need reinforcements, allies... anything."
But it was too late. As word of the Celestial Guardian's defeat spread throughout the kingdom, the remaining resistance in the streets crumbled. The Imperial Army pressed forward with unrelenting force, breaking through Xian's defenses and overtaking the palace itself.
Yao Zhen stood at the gates of the palace, his army standing at attention behind him. His eyes glinted with anticipation, knowing that the end was near. The Kingdom of Xian, once a powerful and divine kingdom, was now at his feet.
Mei Lian approached him, her expression unreadable as she looked at the fallen city. "Your Majesty, Xian's forces have surrendered. King Li Feng is waiting for you inside."
Yao Zhen's lips curled into a smile, his eyes flashing with the satisfaction of victory. "Let him wait. The gods themselves couldn't stop me. Now I will show him the true meaning of power."
The King's Final Plea
Inside the palace, King Li Feng stood before a grand throne, his shoulders slumped in defeat. His once-immaculate robes were now dirtied and torn, his regal presence diminished. Before him stood Yao Zhen, the Emperor who had claimed his kingdom and destroyed the gods who had once protected it.
"You have won," Li Feng said, his voice heavy with resignation. "Take my kingdom, take my people. But tell me, Emperor, what is it you truly seek? Power? Glory? Or something more?"
Yao Zhen looked down at the fallen king, his eyes cold and calculating. "I seek the heavens themselves," he said, his voice like steel. "This world is not enough. I will ascend, and I will make the heavens bow before me."
Li Feng shook his head, his eyes weary. "You would destroy everything in your path for this... ascension. Even the gods cannot grant such a thing without consequences."
Yao Zhen's smile was sharp, dangerous. "I do not need the gods' permission. I will take what is mine."
With that, he extended his hand, and a surge of divine and infernal energy exploded from his body, crushing the throne beneath him. The room trembled as the power of the system flowed through him, fusing his mortal ambition with the celestial and infernal energies he had absorbed.
King Li Feng, seeing the destructive force of Yao Zhen's power, knew that resistance was futile. His kingdom, his legacy, and his life were now in the hands of this Emperor. And there was nothing left to do but submit.
"I yield," Li Feng whispered, his voice barely audible.
Yao Zhen's eyes gleamed with triumph. "Wise decision."
He turned to Mei Lian, signaling her to move the court. "Let the Kingdom of Xian become a part of my empire. Its resources, its people, will serve the new order I am building."
The world trembled as Yao Zhen's dominance spread. His path toward the heavens was becoming clearer with each conquest. The gods themselves had fallen before him, and now, with Xian under his control, there was nothing left to stop him.
To Be Continued...