Chapter 642: The War Begins
It shot Xu Yunfan one last, vicious glare. Ice-blue Divine Power erupted from its body, and wrapped in a maelstrom of wind and snow, it transformed into a pathetic streak of light, fleeing toward the depths of the ice plains.
It fled frantically toward the territory of the Upper-Rank God it served—Bosse, the God of Storm.
Watching Lokan vanish into the ice storm on the horizon, the cold curve of Xu Yunfan’s lips finally bloomed into a deep, knowing smile.
He slowly retracted his Martial Dao Dharma Aspect Golden Body, reverting to his usual appearance as Tatus.
’Calling for backup? Excellent. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.’
He muttered to himself. With a slight stir of his Divine Thought, a wisp of an extremely subtle, almost undetectable causal mark attached itself to the Divine Blood Lokan had spat out, clinging to it like a maggot to bone. As Lokan fled, the mark moved with it, silently extending a connection toward some unknown, distant location.
This was the marvelous power of the Celestial-Eroding Netherworld Talisman.
’Trace the source through causality, then just wait for the big fish to bite.’
’When Rockman steps in and the Upper-Rank Gods start fighting, won’t their lackeys—the Middle-Rank Gods—have to pitch in?’
’Then I’ll be able to gather more Banner Spirits for my Star Spirit Banner and obtain more Immortal Golden Nature.’
Xu Yunfan gently stroked the banner pole hidden up his sleeve, his gaze fixed on the direction where Lokan had disappeared.
He would just wait here quietly.
’If I leave and they can’t find me, all my hard work will be for nothing.’
Soon, high above the howling, snow-swept ice plains, space suddenly warped.
A violent torrent of air ripped through the heavy, leaden clouds. A cyan divine light, carrying with it countless Wind Blades and piercing shrieks, descended with a thunderous roar. Its oppressive might far surpassed that of Lokan, the Middle-Rank God.
The figure of Bosse, the God of Storm and the Upper-Rank God who commanded the endless Gang Wind of the Northern Plains, coalesced within the light.
He had a slender build, with cyan light flowing around his body as if he were sculpted from a living storm. His gaze, as frigid as a polar wind, was locked onto Xu Yunfan in the canyon below, who had reverted to his ordinary appearance as Tatus.
"Tatus!"
Bosse’s voice was like the grinding of a billion Wind Blades, stirring up an endless gale.
"How dare you grievously injure my subordinate god, Lokan? Do you take my Gale Pantheon for a pushover?"
Almost as soon as Bosse finished speaking, another vast, icy will swept in, freezing the raging gale into fine Ice Crystals.
A staircase of deep blue ice extended down from the void, and the figure of Rockman, the God of Frost Winter, descended its steps.
His face, shrouded in a hazy ice mist, betrayed no expression, but the indisputable aura of the Northern Plains’ sovereign made even Bosse’s powerful presence falter for a moment.
"Bosse."
Rockman’s voice was as cold and steady as the grinding of ancient glaciers. "When did it become your place to question my subordinate god in my domain?"
Listening from the side, Xu Yunfan resisted the urge to clean out his ears. ’These Divine Spirits,’ he thought, ’have to imbue every word and gesture with cosmic might, as if it’s the only way they know how to project their majesty.’
Rockman deliberately emphasized the two words "my domain," and the invisible web of the Frost Winter Law trembled in response, demonstrating his absolute control over the Northern Plains.
A dark light flashed in Xu Yunfan’s eyes. He stroked his Star Spirit Banner, confirming that the Celestial-Eroding Restriction was working perfectly, forcing Rockman to follow his script.
’Everything is going according to plan.’
The cyan light around Bosse flared. Wind pressure and cold currents clashed violently in the void, producing a heart-stopping shriek.
"Rockman! Tatus crossed the border first and then injured my subordinate! What are you going to do? Are you really going to declare war on my Gale Pantheon for his sake?!"
Bosse’s question seethed with the fury of an Upper-Rank God. He was certain that, just as in countless border skirmishes before, Rockman would ultimately choose restraint and compromise.
Rockman fell silent for a moment.
His face, beneath the ice mist, seemed to twitch slightly.
He knew far better than Bosse that once he acted, there would be no turning back.
But deep within his Divine Soul Origin, the deadly Celestial-Eroding Restriction was like a sword hanging over his head, transmitting Xu Yunfan’s irresistible command.
’Retreat, and I die.’
’Stand my ground, and maybe, just maybe, there’s a sliver of a chance to live.’
"Divine War?"
Rockman’s voice suddenly rose, more piercing than the bitterest Northern Plains wind, filled with the humiliation of being coerced and the savage fury that swelled within him.
"Bosse, spare me your hypocritical excuses! Your man stuck his claws where they don’t belong, so he should have been prepared to have them chopped off! Since you can’t discipline him, I’ll do it for you!"
Bosse’s expression changed drastically, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Rockman! Are you insane?! You’re going to start a war between our two pantheons over something so trivial?!"
He had never expected Rockman to be so unyielding.
Nearby, Xu Yunfan secretly curled his lip.
’There’s that line about starting a Divine War again.’
’Did they get that phrase wholesale from the Celestial Dao or something?’
’It never ends.’
Though he was grumbling internally, his face showed the perfect mix of reverence for his Main God and indignation at being falsely accused.
"Trivial?"
Rockman sneered, his laughter laced with a madness that bordered on desperation.
He flung his hand up, and the intangible Ice Frost Law instantly connected with the depths of the Eternal Freeze Royal Court.
"All subjects of the Eternal Freeze Royal Court, hear my command! The Gale Pantheon has trespassed on my lands and harmed my subordinate god! This is a declaration of war!"
RUMBLE!
From the direction of the Eternal Freeze Royal Court, a pillar of ice-blue divine light shot into the heavens. Amidst the blizzard, projections of countless Frost Giants, Ice Elves, and Snowfield Barbarian Warriors appeared, letting out earth-shattering roars.
At their Upper-Rank God’s command, the auras of more than a dozen Middle-Rank and Lower-Rank Gods of the Frost Winter Pantheon erupted without restraint. They transformed into streaks of light, bringing their Believer Legions with them as they tore through the blizzard, brazenly marching toward the territory of Bosse’s pantheon.
’The big boss had spoken, so naturally, his underlings had to wave their flags and cheer him on.’
The rumble of Ice Crystal War Chariots over frozen earth, the unified shriek of Elemental Spirits, and the clash of divine wills instantly transformed the entire ice plain into a seething Melting Furnace of war.
Seeing Rockman truly throw all caution to the wind and launch an all-out war, Bosse’s face, which was formed of wind, twisted completely.
Immense frustration and rage practically set him ablaze.
He couldn’t understand why Rockman had suddenly become so insane and reckless.
But things had already reached this point. If he were to back down, his subordinates would surely grow disloyal, and the prestige of the Gale Pantheon would be shattered.
In the politics of a pantheon, face was sometimes more important than tangible benefits.
"Fine! So be it, Rockman!"
Bosse’s furious roar shook the heavens. "Since you insist on courting death, then I shall grant your wish! We accept your challenge!"
Behind him, a cyan storm vortex expanded rapidly. The figures of countless Wind Elemental Spirits, Barbarian Race cavalry riding the gales, and his subordinate Middle-Rank and Lower-Rank Gods appeared one after another. The piercing shriek of Wind Blades cutting through the air resounded to the heavens.
The two torrents, representing the diametrically opposed natural forces of the Northern Plains, collided with a thunderous crash, like a moving glacier slamming into a raging storm.
A true war between pantheons had erupted.
Seeing this, Xu Yunfan was ecstatic, almost laughing out loud.
’Success! This was the perfect situation I’d worked so hard to create.’
With a flicker, he silently melted into the edge of the chaotic battlefield, his own aura perfectly concealed beneath the fluctuations of Tatus’s Thunderous Divine Format.
(Happy National Day, everyone! This arc will be wrapping up soon.)