Chapter 2622: Donghuang the Great’s Initial Resolution
Upon hearing the Devil Emperor’s promise, Ye Futian bowed and said, “Many thanks, Your Highness. The Ziwei Segmentum is not the only force in the Original Realm currently. Forces from the various worlds are there too. However, the Ziwei Segmentum is the largest force that is in charge of the realm. I can’t say the same for the other forces, but the forces of the Ziwei Segmentum will surely not become enemies with the Devil World.”
The two parties would not interfere in each other’s business.
As for allying with the Devil World to invade the Divine Prefecture together, Ye Futian dared not bring up this suggestion since the Ziwei Segmentum had yet to build up the necessary strength.
The Devil Emperor commanded the entire Devil World. The cultivators of the Devil World were far fewer in number than the cultivators of the Divine Prefecture. However, everyone in the Devil World was willing to join the war upon receiving the command of the Devil Emperor. In terms of unity, the Divine Prefecture was no match for the Devil World.
Moreover, many top-level demonic cultivators had emerged over the years.
Before this, the Ziwei Segmentum was sealed away, and the cultivators who resided inside the segmentum were complacent with their achievements. They were also restricted in terms of their cultivation. The Ziwei Segmentum was the last region protected by the Great Emperor Ziwei, and the cultivators had been improving since Ye Futian became their Palace Lord. However, they were still far behind the other major worlds.
The local forces of the Original Realm were even weaker. What would happen if Ye Futian commanded them to fight a war against the troops of the Divine Prefecture?
It would be no different from sending them to die.
If a world war were to erupt among the various major worlds, the forces of the Ziwei Segmentum would seize the opportunity to cultivate and improve their abilities. This would be the best outcome.
“Hmm.” The Devil Emperor did not say anything else. Ye Futian was uncertain of the former’s attitude towards this matter.
“Your Highness, I still have one thing which I wish to ask you,” Ye Futian probed.
“What is it?” the Devil Emperor asked.
“My godfather…”
“Do not mention him in front of me!” A terrifying pressure descended on Ye Futian instantaneously and stopped him from speaking. Ye Futian was curious to find out what happened in the past. The Devil Emperor was a heroic figure who had exceptional cultivation and charisma. This was proven based on the attitude of the cultivators of the Devil Imperial Palace and the Devil World towards him. He single-handedly sustained the lives of everyone here.
Under such circumstances, why would Ye Futian’s godfather betray the Devil World and choose to join the Divine Prefecture?
What else happened after that?
Seeing the Devil Emperor’s reaction, Ye Futian knew that he couldn’t get answers from the former. Ye Futian’s godfather seemed to be a taboo for the Devil Emperor. His name could not even be mentioned in front of the latter.
“Leave,” ordered the Devil Emperor. Ye Futian was evicted.
“Yes, sir.” Ye Futian nodded helplessly. He cast a glance at Yu Sheng.
Yu Sheng said, “I will see him out. Then, I will go join the battle against the troops of the Divine Prefecture.”
“You don’t need to go. After witnessing Donghuang Diyuan’s ability, I think your cultivation needs to be fortified. For the time being, you will stay out of the war,” the Devil Emperor rejected Yu Sheng’s idea right away. “You will train in seclusion with me for a period of time. I want you to be the commander of the troops of the Devil World in the future.”
The Devil Emperor continued, “You should know that in the Devil World is not powerful enough; they are unqualified to command the armies of the Devil World with authority.”
Due to being trapped under the Devil Abyss, the cultivators of the Devil World lived under harsh conditions, and they held great power in higher regard than cultivators of other worlds. They respected power and not status.
Yu Sheng fell silent for a moment and then nodded his head.
He had already accepted his calling. He would bear the heavy burden of the Devil World.
Ye Futian watched all of this without saying anything. He felt emotional inside. Back when Godfather was raising Yu Sheng and him, was he planning for such a day?
As for what the Devil Emperor did to Yu Sheng, did he allow Yu Sheng to build his own beliefs?
It was very hard for one to change their beliefs.
In that case, would Yu Sheng be going against Godfather’s expectations?
Even Ye Futian could not tell for sure. Most likely, only his godfather would know the answer.
Even though Ye Futian had discovered his godfather’s identity, everything about the latter remained a mystery to him. In fact, the past of his godfather appeared even more mysterious now.
What exactly did his godfather experience in the past?
“I will take my leave now,” Ye Futian said while bowing. Then, he nodded at Yu Sheng, turned around, and left.
The Devil Emperor turned his back against Ye Futian and did not watch as he left. He was wondering what the future would hold for Yu Sheng and Ye Futian. Exactly what plan did that person have in mind when he raised Yu Sheng and Ye Futian together?
Ye Futian was not the only one speculating about what happened in the past. The Devil Emperor was guessing too.
His younger brother was not simple. However, due to the difference in their beliefs, the two of them did not get along. In the end, his younger brother betrayed the Devil World and sought another path.
…
Ye Futian left the Devil World. At the border of the Devil World and the Divine Prefecture, he saw the troops of the Devil World surging into the Divine Prefecture. A lot of demonic cultivators rushed to the gates of the Devil World daily. There were also troops stationed at the Black River.
Many lands in the North Cliff Region had been conquered by the troops of the Devil World.
Clearly, the Devil Emperor was serious with his ambition this time. His troops started a war and would invade the Divine Prefecture little by little.
Their first step would be seizing control of the North Cliff Region, which was part of the 18 Domains of the Divine Prefecture.
Ye Futian traversed across the sky above the North Cliff Region. Along his way, he witnessed many lands being rampaged by the demonic cultivators. Many locals who lived in the North Cliff Region had migrated and left the place. Many people perished in the process too.
Ye Futian witnessed many demonic cultivators killing the cultivators of the Divine Prefecture and looting their treasures.
As he observed, he wondered: who was right and who was wrong?
Or rather, what was right and what was wrong?
Was the Devil Emperor at fault? The residents of the Devil World suffered from the horrible environment of their world, and their lands were treated as prisons for sinners. Naturally, they bore intense grudges, and this resulted in them killing the other cultivators. The Devil Emperor did everything for the good of the Devil World.
However, were Donghuang the Great and the other cultivators at fault for stopping the troops of the Devil World from invading their lands?
If the troops of the Devil World seized control of the entire Divine Prefecture, the demons would descend upon the world, and the power of the Devil Abyss would corrode all the lands. How would things be then? How many people would die because of that?
Each of them had their stance. All of them had beliefs that they wanted to protect.
Even though Ye Futian felt compelled to interfere in the battle, he resisted the urge. He was very powerful currently, but he was still lacking if he wanted to intervene in global affairs. Only the Great Emperors were qualified to decide the fate of all living beings.
Ye Futian’s power was insignificant. He was not capable of making any difference.
Now, he could only do all he could to protect the Ziwei Segmentum as well as the forces of the Original Realm.
Ye Futian came to Four Corner Village in the Shangqing Domain with complicated feelings.
Four Corner Village had already revealed itself to the world and was now very prosperous. Countless cultivators came from everywhere to Four Corner Continent. They wanted to seek the Path in Four Corner Village and ask Master for guidance. However, Master was someone who did not involve himself with the world. No one managed to see him.
Yet, Ye Futian could directly meet with Master. Now, he came to Master. He bowed before him and greeted, “Master.”
“What is on your mind?” asked Master. His figure still felt somewhat ethereal, as though he was not real but merely an illusion.
“Hmm,” responded Ye Futian as he nodded his head. “I just came back from a trip to the Devil World, and now I have some doubts on my mind.”
“Let’s hear them,” said Master.
“Alright,” said Ye Futian as he told Master all that had transpired in the Devil World. Ye Futian had absolute trust in Master and did not hide anything from him, including the matters regarding his godfather. Moreover, Ye Futian’s identity was no longer a secret.
After he finished, Ye Futian said, “Master, you have met Donghuang the Great before. What sort of person is he?”
Donghuang the Great had previously come to Four Corner Village to seek the Path. Back then, he had yet to become an Emperor.
“He is an idealist and is heroic,” said Master as he looked at Ye Futian.
“What ideals does he aspire to?” asked Ye Futian.
“He wishes for martial arts to prosper and for all lives to be equal. He hopes that all may possess the most optimum environment for cultivation. That way, everyone can become powerful cultivators and seek the path to immortality. He desires no conflict and no loss of life,” replied Master.
“So, Donghuang the Great wishes for everyone in the world to attain the Path. He won’t mind even if others break through to the Imperial Realm?” Ye Futian summarized.
“That is most likely his ideal. At least it was,” Master said.
Ye Futian wondered, “Back then, Donghuang the Great had yet to become a Great Emperor. He had also yet to unite the Divine Prefecture and become its ruler. After he became the co-ruler of the Divine Prefecture together with Emperor Ye Qing, he was worshipped by the crowd. Since his identity has changed and the things that he needs to take into consideration have also changed, did he desert his ideal and forget his initial resolution?”
Judging from Donghuang the Great’s response towards Emperor Ye Qing, the two of them surely had a complicated past. Donghuang the Great and Emperor Ye Qing were both Great Emperors of the Divine Prefecture, and their heroic tales were praised by many. They were legends. However, Donghuang the Great later betrayed Emperor Ye Qing and removed his name from the annals of history, making him a taboo. Ye Futian was still brooding on this.
“I don’t know,” Master replied while shaking his head.
“Did his actions demonstrate this possibility?” Ye Futian continued to push for an answer.
“Yes, but it can be a ‘no’ too,” Master said. “I will not speculate what I do not know.”
Ye Futian nodded in agreement. What Master said was definitely right. Prejudice and subjective opinion were often mixed in one’s guesses.
Ye Futian sighed and said, “Currently, the world is undergoing huge changes. What beliefs should I hold on to? What actions should I take?”
Master advised, “If you have any doubts, go and seek the truth. However, what you choose in the end still depends on you. As you have said, everyone has their own stance and beliefs that they hold on to. It is the same for you. No matter what decision you make, as long as your conscience is clear and you do not regret it, then it’s good.”
Ye Futian fell silent. He then nodded and bowed, saying, “Many thanks, Master!”