Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

"Now, tell me your decision," Zhan Sha finally asked.

"We still have to go," said the Poisonous Jellyfish and the Fierce Crab. If it had been before, they would have chosen to stay, but now, things were different.

The grand undertaking Zhan Sha spoke of now seemed insignificant to them. It was a trivial matter, hardly a grand undertaking at all. They wanted to follow their master and take part in truly important affairs.

"What? You still want to leave? Remember, an opportunity like this won’t come again," Zhan Sha said.

"We know."

"Then we’ll take our leave."

With that, the Poisonous Jellyfish and the Fierce Crab departed.

"You... you... You’ll regret this!" Zhan Sha bellowed. He, a man accomplished in both literary and martial arts whose life had been one of smooth sailing, was furious. To think that after only hearing Wu Tian’s name, without even meeting the man, my own right and left-hand men just ran off? I am destined to create my own era! How can I lose to Wu Tian? What is this Wu Tian, anyway? How can he possibly compare to me?

Zhan Sha felt he had to make the Poisonous Jellyfish and the Fierce Crab see the error of their ways and realize that Wu Tian was nothing special.

"General Dian She," Zhan Sha shouted, taking a deep breath.

"Great General."

A moment later, another General entered the mansion. It was General Dian She of the Electric Snake army. Dian She had taken human form. Although only nineteen, he had already reached the Second Rank of the Tongxuan Realm. Under Zhan Sha’s guidance, his progress had been swift.

"You will go to the Xiuyuan Realm on that continent and deliver a Challenge Letter from me."

"A Challenge Letter?" Hearing the Great General’s words, the Emperor was taken aback. "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Is it really wise to rush into battle like this?"

"Don’t worry, Your Majesty, there won’t be any problems," Zhan Sha waved his hand, his tone filled with rage. "I guarantee I will defeat him. This time, it’s not a one-on-one duel but a clash on the battlefield. When our two armies meet, I don’t believe for a second he can best me."

Zhan Sha immediately took up the brush and ink on his desk and began to write. "General Dian She," he said, handing over the Challenge Letter, "take this and find Wu Tian. Tell him that in seven days, I will lead my army to attack the Xiuyuan Realm. Tell him that if he’s a real man, he’ll stay and face me. If he’s scared, he should run while he still can."

Personal martial strength was formidable, in Zhan Sha’s view, but it wasn’t his primary area of expertise. His true mastery lay in the art of war. When two armies clashed, his extensive study of military strategy guaranteed him victory in every battle.

"Yes, I understand," General Dian She said, taking the Challenge Letter.

Dian She worshipped Zhan Sha, a fact Zhan Sha himself had noticed. For this reason, Dian She was his most trusted confidant.

"Go," Zhan Sha dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

General Dian She nodded and departed.

"Attacking the Xiuyuan Realm, the strongest territory on that continent, first... is that truly a good idea?" the Emperor couldn’t help but ask.

"It is! Don’t worry, I have my strategy. Your Majesty, I will conquer that continent for you," Zhan Sha said, his gaze burning with a fiery light. "Not just for you, but for myself as well."

Why attack the Xiuyuan Realm first? The first reason was Wu Tian. Though they had never met, a personal grudge had already formed between them. The second was his belief that by defeating the strongest, the other two major domains would naturally lose morale, making them much easier to conquer. Thus, the key was still Wu Tian. He had to ensure Wu Tian suffered a crushing defeat, one that would make the Poisonous Jellyfish and the Fierce Crab regret the decision they made today.

「And so, a day passed.」

During that day, the Artifact Domain and the Domain of Myriad Demons were plunged into military chaos. Even the Xiuyuan Realm was not entirely at peace, as many of its people began to blame Wu Tian for the outbreak of war.

"How can they blame the Sect Leader?" Dao Feng demanded angrily inside the Xiuyuan Royal Palace. The others were equally worried.

"What do those people know? Without my dad to unify everything, there would still be wars from time to time.

"Now that my dad is here, this great chaos has begun. This is a good thing! It’s the opportunity for true unification.

"Enduring one great pain to achieve lasting peace—that’s what’s truly good," the little one said, scoffing at the common folk’s perspective. "Their normal lives are filled with small, intermittent conflicts, and what does that accomplish? It’s like they’re sick and feel a little pain occasionally, and they think that’s fine. But undergoing surgery—one great pain to be healed completely—they don’t see that as a good thing?"

The little one was only four years old, but Dao Feng, Zhou Butong, and the others no longer dared to underestimate her. On the contrary, they had begun to value her opinions. Though her words were sometimes unorthodox, careful consideration revealed an unconventional wisdom within them.

Just as they were discussing the situation, a voice boomed from outside.

"Where is Wu Tian?"

"Is Wu Tian in the Royal Palace?"

"Get out here! I’ve come to deliver a Challenge Letter!"

The thunderous voice traveled from outside the walls, penetrating the Royal Palace and reaching the ears of the little one and the others. The little one was furious. Damn it! How dare someone issue a Challenge Letter to my dad?

"Come on, let’s go see," she declared. With Wu Tian in seclusion, she led Dao Feng and the others out of the Royal Palace.

This person doesn’t seem human, the little one thought upon seeing Dian She for the first time, trusting her intuition.

"Indeed," Zhou Butong, a man of the older generation, confirmed, relying on his experience to deduce Dian She’s identity. "From what I can tell, he’s an Electric Snake."

"An Electric Snake?"

Hearing this, the expressions of Dao Feng and the others changed. Members of the Monster Race and Beast Clan were generally stronger than humans of the same Realm. Electric Snakes, born with a natural command of lightning, were even more troublesome to fight.

"Heh, I didn’t expect someone among you could see my true form. I’m here to find Wu Tian. Who is Wu Tian? Come out and accept my Challenge Letter," Dian She said, his contempt for the Human Clan evident in his arrogant, condescending tone.

Dao Feng and the others frowned, wondering if this Electric Snake was really the one who intended to challenge Wu Tian. In their eyes, he stood no chance.

The little one, however, was thrilled. Dad’s in seclusion, off looking for some Wa Imperial Palace or whatever. This means it’s my time to fight in his place! She had Nezha’s Supreme Treasure but hadn’t had a chance to use it yet. She never expected an opportunity would present itself so soon.

She immediately turned to Dao Feng and the others. "You’re not to interfere. This prey is mine."

"Yes," they responded in unison.

The little one nodded in satisfaction.

"Prey? You, a little child?" Dian She let out a cold laugh.

But the little girl he found so ridiculous was already charging toward him, holding her Qiankun Ring.

"Who would have thought I’d see the day I have to bully a child?" Dian She laughed loudly and charged forward to meet her.

Just then, the little one threw the Qiankun Ring.

Holy shit, what is this thing?! Dian She’s face turned pale. He was struck by the inescapable feeling that he couldn’t dodge, that his head was about to be smashed. The Qiankun Ring, glowing brilliantly, flew straight for his forehead.