The Divine Farmer's Gambit

“The Divine Farmer? Shennong?” Ji Ning was startled, standing among the assembled immortals and demons. He recalled the ancient past. After Nuwa created humanity and the race multiplied, in those early days of the Primordial Era, humans were still very weak. Among the myriad races, humanity was ranked dead last. Yet, from this weak human race emerged three astonishingly brilliant individuals: Suiren, Fuxi, and Shennong.

They led humanity, steadily growing stronger and rising to prominence. The goddess Nuwa placed great importance on these three, and their ultimate achievements… shook the entire Three Realms.

Within Nuwa’s faction, the公认 (universally acknowledged) apex figures were, without a doubt, the leaders of the Daoist and Buddhist schools.

As for the Three Sovereigns of Humanity, they were considered peers of these two great leaders!

Only then did figures like Old Man Yuan and Patriarch Subhuti follow. Of course, does that mean Old Man Yuan and Patriarch Subhuti are definitely weaker than the Three Sovereigns? Hard to say. After endless years of cultivation, they might have broken through and reached the same level. Only through a true life-or-death battle could anyone know for sure.

But the power the Three Sovereigns had displayed to the outside world was already recognized by all.

It was because of the existence of the Three Sovereigns that humanity became the master of the Three Realms!

Although the Imperial Clan of the ancient dynasties had successive Emperors over the generations, only the Three Sovereigns… were the true, universally acknowledged Emperors of the Three Realms. Even the most powerful Grandmasters had to bow their heads before them. They had to. The power of the Three Sovereigns was simply far, far too great.

“Divine Farmer, one of the Three Sovereigns, has made a move. This is a figure truly on the level of an Emperor of the Three Realms,” Ji Ning mused in awe. “I wonder what methods the Three Sovereigns will employ.”

……

When he heard the young Daoist in front of him say he had been sent by the Divine Farmer, Shennong, Daofather Crimsonbright was also delighted. He deeply trusted and respected Shennong. Yet, he still asked in confusion, “Does the Divine Farmer know of the dire situation in my Crimsonbright Territory? Among the army commanded by Daofather Ink Bamboo, there is now a Daofather Puppet.”

“The Divine Farmer is already aware,” the young Daoist replied.

“Can we win?” Daofather Crimsonbright’s voice was tight with excitement.

The fighting on both sides had been incredibly brutal.

Daofather Crimsonbright desperately wanted to win.

“We have a chance,” the young Daoist nodded. “But we need to plan carefully. I need to speak with you in private, Daofather. For now, it would be best for all the immortals and demons to withdraw.”

Daofather Crimsonbright nodded, then swept his gaze across the hall with a smile. “You may all leave now.”

“As you command, Daofather.”

Ji Ning and the others all replied respectfully in unison, then filed out of the hall.

Once outside, the crowd of immortals and demons immediately erupted into excited chatter.

“The Divine Farmer has intervened! That’s one of the Three Sovereigns of Humanity!”

“We’re sure to win now!”

“I wonder what method the Divine Farmer will use to deal with that Daofather Puppet.” Everyone was discussing it eagerly, their hopes high.

Ji Ning walked alongside the Seven Radiance Empyrean God and the other six.

“Senior Radiance, do you think we can win?” Ji Ning asked.

“Probably, but there’s no absolute certainty,” the Seven Radiance Empyrean God mused. “The Divine Farmer, as one of the Three Sovereigns, is far more powerful than my former master ever was. His sending an envoy means he must have a certain degree of confidence. But remember, our opponent is the Seamless Gate alliance. They also have terrifying existences… This is a contest of wits between both sides. It’s hard to say who will win or lose.”

The Seven Radiance Empyrean God knew this very well, because of the ancient Dawn War…

They had almost lost.

The goddess Nuwa had nearly perished, and their own side had suffered countless casualties. Daoist Threelives had fallen in that battle. It was only because Nuwa had broken through, reaching the Pangu God level, that she had managed to turn the tide. Even so, the Godking of the Seamless Gate had survived by merging with the Heavenly Dao, and the Lord of All Demons had escaped, with even Nuwa unable to kill him.

“Let’s just watch how they play this out,” the Seven Radiance Empyrean God said. “This war has escalated to a level of madness that even I didn’t anticipate.”

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

It was indeed mad.

There had already been several Realm Wars in the Three Realms before this. They had all occurred in some of the weaker ‘Territories’. The Crimsonbright Territory was also considered a weaker one, as Daofather Crimsonbright was not among the top Grandmasters of the Three Realms. But none of the previous Realm Wars had been as insane as this one in the Crimsonbright Territory.

“All I can do is follow orders. In the midst of this great tribulation, that’s all any of us can do.” Ji Ning thought of his newly born daughter, that infinitely adorable yet mischievous little girl. This ignited a fierce desire within him to grow stronger. “I must become stronger. I must have the power to protect Brightmoon in this tribulation. To protect my wife.”

What Ji Ning didn’t know was…

That the escalation of this war was significantly influenced by him. First, Old Man Yuan had taught him the Heart Sutra, and his leadership of the Karmic Punishment Deity had proven exceptionally formidable. The Godking saw him as a major threat to be eliminated early. Second, the Wuxiao Celestial Immortal sought revenge for Zicao. Combined with Ji Ning himself inviting the Seven Radiance Empyrean Gods into the fray, the war naturally spiraled out of control.

Of course, if the Seven Empyrean Gods hadn’t intervened, the Crimsonbright Territory would have already lost.

An infinitely vast, dark world.

In the center of this world, on a ten-thousand-zhang throne suspended high in the air, sat the Godking. His right hand rested on the armrest, fingers tapping lightly.

Thump, thump, thump…

The tapping echoed through the world.

“Shennong has also joined the game,” the Godking muttered, lightning flickering in his pitch-black, misty eyes. “He’s truly willing to pay the price. It seems our Seamless Gate has pushed too hard, enraging the Three Sovereigns. They want to use this Realm War to intimidate us.”

“What to do?”

“What exactly is to be done?”

The Godking was growing anxious.

“What secret plans are that Clouddust True Immortal and Daofather Crimsonbright hatching? And what did Shennong’s envoy, just a Pure Yang True Immortal, bring with him?” The Godking was frantic. These were things he had not been able to uncover.

“Master.”

The Godking looked up at the dark sky, his voice low. “Please tell me what Shennong’s plan is, and what the Crimsonbright Territory intends to do.”

The Heavenly Dao operates everywhere, an omnipresent force.

Where the Heavenly Dao exists, nothing can be hidden from the Godking.

Huum…

A powerful yet supremely subtle fluctuation descended directly upon the Godking.

The Godking was momentarily stunned, then a look of joy appeared on his face. He quickly bowed respectfully. “Thank you, Master.”

In the ancient Dawn War, the Godking had been gravely wounded. The goddess Nuwa had pursued him relentlessly, forcing him to merge with the Heavenly Dao. Even so, his primary consciousness had fallen into a deep slumber. But because he was now a part of the Heavenly Dao, he retained a faint, shallow awareness, still able to maintain some connection with the Seamless Gate.

“It seems that if we are to win this time, the key for our Seamless Gate lies with that girl, Yu Wei,” the Godking nodded to himself.

He immediately began to summon Yu Wei.

Soon.

A woman dressed in white appeared on the vast, dark earth. It was Yu Wei. Her aura was now somewhat different, carrying the same gentle, maternal quality that Yuchi Snow had once possessed. Upon arrival, she immediately knelt down respectfully. “This one pays respects to the Godking.”