Chapter 46: The Sword Embryo Stirs, Five Supremes Join Forces

Tens of thousands of terracotta warriors formed a military formation. Led by a great general, their blades pointed outward, overflowing with imposing momentum. The spectacle was terrifying, making one hesitate to step forward.

Terracotta warriors were never alive to begin with; they were molded from clay and fired, not living beings. Moreover, these were relics from over two thousand years ago, ancient beyond compare—and yet now, they stood before the world, as if alive.

Above, the sky was thick with dark clouds, thunder rolling intermittently. It was as though the one entombed within the imperial mausoleum was roaring in anger, warning all not to advance.

Could the ancestral dragon of China retain such majesty even after more than two millennia in death?

“They’re just clay-made terracotta warriors. We are the Awakened, possessing extraordinary powers. What is there to fear?”

“Exactly. The more mysterious and astonishing it is, the more it indicates that something extraordinary lies within.”

“Right! Let’s fight our way in, seize supreme fortune, and evolve anew!”

After a moment of awe, some finally came to their senses. They were no longer ordinary people, but Awakened ones who had embarked on the path of evolution. Armed with powerful abilities, they could ignore many dangers—mere terracotta warriors were nothing.

Immediately, the hundreds at the vanguard did not hesitate. They strode forward, some drawing long knives, others brandishing iron swords or wielding spears, leaping dozens of meters in a single bound.

The Awakened possessed powers beyond mortals; their combat prowess and physique were unmatched. As they took action, halos of light shimmered around them.

Bang, bang, bang.

As expected.

In an instant, an Awakened wielding a long knife shattered several terracotta warriors with a single strike. Others opened their mouths and spat flames, intense enough to turn enemies before them back into dust.

Various lights flashed as many terracotta warriors were unable to withstand the assault, shattered and felled in moments.

This was the battle of the Awakened, unlike ordinary people—more akin to myth.

“Hahaha! Terracotta warriors of the imperial tomb are nothing!” crowed the knife-wielding Awakened, for in a fleeting instant, he had destroyed dozens and felt it was effortless. Behind him, thousands more like him were attacking; soon, the terracotta army would be annihilated.

Others were equally elated, finding it simple and thinking their previous fears were unfounded. Hadn’t they imagined the resurrected terracotta warriors from two thousand years ago would be formidable?

Now?

They were but powerful Awakened.

Some, still standing in place, did not move, their gazes grave. Among them was the Winged Deity, hovering high above, arms folded, with no intention of acting yet.

These were observing, assessing the situation before making their move.

Lu Yuan was among them, silent and calm.

At that moment, he suddenly sensed his Da Luo Sword Embryo stirring, emitting a resonant hum, as if yearning for something.

“Hm?” Lu Yuan was intrigued. He observed carefully and realized the disturbance was triggered by the terracotta warriors, though he was uncertain of the precise cause and needed to investigate further.

So he decided to wait.

“Charge the imperial tomb! Soldiers, follow me!” commanded the leading terracotta general below the mausoleum. He held a long spear, devoid of any sign of life, yet now his voice rang out loudly, his warhorse neighing beneath him.

At that moment, as his voice echoed, the terracotta warriors behind him began to brandish their weapons, shouting in unison, “Kill! Kill! Kill!”

As their voices fell, they marched forth, dust billowing, transforming the area into a battlefield. Astonishingly, the terracotta warriors previously shattered reassembled themselves, restored to their original form, and joined the advancing army with weapons raised.

How could this be?

The terracotta warriors could not be killed?

Those witnessing this were shocked, but still undaunted, thinking they could simply kill them again.

At last, the battle truly began.

The army from over two millennia past clashed directly with the Awakened of the new era.

Bang, bang, bang.

The sounds of battle resounded.

The Awakened fought bravely, slaying foes within the military formation. Yet the terracotta warriors, within a breath, reassembled and continued their assault. Though their numbers were not vast, they were impossible to destroy, and their mastery of battle formations allowed them to encircle Awakened fighters, spears and blades hacking down.

More importantly, the terracotta warriors grew stronger each time they were shattered.

Clang, clang, clang—

Weapons clashed in close combat.

Some Awakened had supernatural powers, but not all were strong. Soon, some could not withstand the onslaught, blood spilling as they were wounded.

Those with sturdier physiques were targeted for elimination, surrounded and hunted by the terracotta warriors.

The Awakened, who initially held the advantage, gradually began to falter as time passed.

Meanwhile, terracotta warriors emerged from the pit, their numbers increasing, forcing newly arrived Awakened to join the fray.

Eventually, some could not endure and were slain outright.

At last, there were casualties.

This scene was recorded, for many were watching the Lishan Imperial Tomb incident.

Blood flowed freely; many died—a major event in any other context.

“Hmph, fools, what’s the point in fighting? Watch me fly across!” scoffed an Awakened with wings. He flapped them and soared dozens of meters into the air, attempting to bypass the battlefield and fly straight to the tomb.

Yet, though he had wings, he was no Winged Deity, lacking special abilities, able only to fly simply.

Some looked up, eager to see if this would work and perhaps imitate him.

Boom!

Shlurp—

But as he neared the tomb’s gate, the dragon-shaped spiritual energy on the mountainside surged, unleashing a terrifying pressure that crushed him into a bloody mist.

Below, the Awakened were stunned and filled with fear.

Indeed, the resting place of the ancestral dragon was not easily breached.

“It seems we must carve a path of blood, entering the tomb from the ground. Each time the terracotta warriors reassemble, they grow stronger. Fire is useless, and they inherit the battle instincts of two thousand years ago—this is difficult,” the Winged Deity said, descending to stand beside Zhou Yunqiong, gathering information.

Especially since the terracotta warriors grew stronger each time—it was truly troublesome.

“After all, this is the Lishan Imperial Tomb.”

Zhou Yunqiong remained serene and cool.

“Why did you stop me just now, preventing me from killing that man?” asked the Winged Deity, his gaze sharp. “Now that I’ve regained my true form, none are my equal.”

“No need,” Zhou Yunqiong shook her head, then looked toward Lu Yuan, who stood in the distance. “He seems different now, exceeding expectations.”

With that, she ended the topic and continued, “It’s about time. Prepare to act.”

“There are four others yet to arrive,” replied the Winged Deity, shaking his head, “but I can sense their presence.”

Ahead, the battle raged on.

Nearly all Awakened present had joined the killing. The terracotta warriors were numerous, and, with each reassembly, stronger than before. Though the increase was slight, it compounded, making them hard to resist. Screams echoed across the battlefield, some tried to escape but became trapped.

Blood began to flow across the earth, filling the air with its stench.

The tomb had been open for less than half an hour, and already blood had been spilled.

As the saying goes, fortune and peril go hand in hand.

Thud!

Just then, a huge blood-colored silhouette appeared suddenly on the battlefield.

In an instant, blade energy surged, shattering dozens of terracotta warriors at once.

A man appeared, dressed in a black cloak and wielding a blood-red cleaving blade.

From the moment he appeared, a powerful aura emanated from him, murderous intent spreading. Even surrounded by terracotta warriors, he cleaved through them with a single stroke, injuring nearby Awakened as well.

“It’s Asura! Asura has arrived!” someone exclaimed, shaken by his formidable power.

Sizzle—

Meanwhile, from another direction, a cold, bone-chilling aura surged forth.

Terracotta warriors were frozen and then shattered.

A woman in white entered the battlefield—serene and elegant, her skin fair, hands folded before her abdomen. Wherever she walked, within ten feet, enemies froze solid.

Boom!

Elsewhere, a short-haired man, two meters tall, appeared.

His skin was bronze; he relied solely on his fists. A mounted general was struck by his punch, exploding instantly, horse and all.

Finally, a man of noble bearing and handsome, proud features appeared, surrounded by radiant lights. With a single strike, the earth split, terracotta warriors unable to withstand it.

“Ice Fairy, Northern Emperor, Southern Sovereign, Asura, and earlier, Winged Deity—the five supreme rulers are all here!”

“No wonder they stand at the pinnacle of the Awakened—they’re so powerful!”

“They’re carving a path!”

Those nearby watched, astonished and reverent.

Compared to ordinary Awakened, these four were truly powerful. In a short time, they had opened a path, still far from the tomb’s gate, but gradually closing in.

“Now, it’s my turn. Yunqiong, just wait,” said the Winged Deity, unable to hold back, battle intent in his eyes.

Previously, he had chosen not to act, thinking it premature, unable to showcase his strength.

Now, with the other four present, the Winged Deity had a simple plan: use this battle to suppress all others.

After all, only through comparison could his lineage’s exceptional nature be fully revealed.

Boom!

The next moment, the wind and thunder wings behind him vibrated, roaring loudly.

He shot into the battlefield, lightning surging about him, wherever he went, terracotta warriors exploded, unable to resist.

He was extraordinary indeed—winged, silver-haired, golden-eyed, with a presence that drew all eyes.

Though last to join, he advanced rapidly, catching up with the four ahead.

“Winged Deity is strong—probably the strongest of the five. That senior is a bit weaker,” observed Zhu Qingyu from the other side, solemn.

They had not acted directly, as the battlefield was chaotic.

“Indeed, with them clearing the way, entering the tomb is only a matter of time,” said Dean Zheng, then added, “But the process will be arduous. It looks like it will take quite a while. The terracotta warriors will only grow stronger.”

As soon as he finished speaking—

“Kill!”

Terracotta warriors gathered, increasing in number, blocking the way.

Each time they were shattered, they grew stronger.

Meanwhile, archers in the rear drew their longbows—ten thousand arrows flew.

In the Qin dynasty over two thousand years ago, archers were the elite soldiers, their combat power immense.

In an instant, the sky was filled with arrows raining down.

Terracotta warriors were fearless; even wounded, they continued to fight.

But the Awakened were different—they could not hold out long. Soon, deaths mounted, casualties increased, even the five supreme rulers were stalled, forced to respond.

“Ah, these terracotta warriors are getting stronger!”

“Not just stronger, but more numerous!”

“What’s going on? Damn it!”

As the terracotta warriors grew stronger and more numerous, some Awakened could no longer endure, suffering grave injuries and retreating, the blood-soaked earth growing ever redder.

At the same time, people noticed that if they retreated past a certain distance, the terracotta warriors would not attack.

But then, how could they reach the tomb gate and seize fortune?

Meanwhile, the Winged Deity, Northern Emperor, and others were also stalled, unable to advance as easily.

As the terracotta warriors increased, a solution was needed.

“Northern Emperor, Ice Fairy, Asura, Southern Sovereign!” the Winged Deity suddenly called out, “This won’t do. It’ll only get worse. Why don’t the five of us join forces to open a path and enter the tomb together?”

His words drew much attention.

The others stopped, considering his suggestion.

In the end, Asura acted first, moving closer to join him.

The other three did not hesitate long, agreeing to the plan.

Within the ranks, the five were safe, but approaching the tomb would be troublesome.

Together, things would go much smoother.

“The five supreme rulers are joining forces! Quick, let’s fall back!”

Those who saw this rejoiced, halting the battle. It was the first time the five acted together—everyone wanted to see their strength.

Soon, with Winged Deity at the forefront, the other four stood behind.

They said nothing, each unleashing their strongest abilities—blood-red cleaving blade, powerful fists, ice aura, radiant light.

Combined with the wind and thunder from Winged Deity’s wings, their powers converged.

A powerful force surged forth like a storm.

Boom!

The earth shook, dust flew.

Under this immense power, even Awakened turned pale.

The terracotta warriors before them cracked and collapsed, opening a path just a thousand meters from the tomb gate. In that instant, at least a thousand terracotta warriors were destroyed.

“Excellent!”

“Amazing!”

“As expected of the five supreme rulers!”

Shouts erupted—such power was terrifying.

Thousands of terracotta warriors, when five could slay just five at once was astonishing. Now, the five together had wiped out thousands—a feat to inspire awe.

All eyes turned to the Winged Deity and his companions—admiration and fear mingled in every gaze.

The five stood there, basking in the attention.

“Truly strong,” sighed Zhu Qingyu from afar.

With a single attack, the five destroyed a thousand terracotta warriors. Though they would reassemble, this window allowed them to advance closer to the tomb gate and prepare for another assault.

“Indeed, their talents are remarkable,” said Dean Zheng. Though he knew many secrets, he could not help but marvel at their gifts.

To achieve such feats in the early days of the mutation was truly terrifying.

But alas, only the Northern Emperor belonged to Zhendan Academy.

Zhu Qingyu did not reply.

Unbidden, she thought of someone and turned to look.

What she saw startled her—because that person had moved!

(End of chapter)