Chapter 654: The Grand Finale (Part 3)

Chu He’s powerful words echoed like thunder, cracking across the heavens and earth to reach the ears of every single person.

The people of the Great Xia Empire, who had long seen Chu He as their spiritual pillar, and even the foreign refugees cowering beneath the Empire’s towering walls—all were profoundly moved.

They raised their heads, their gazes fixed upon Chu He. He was pinned in the void, yet his back remained unbowed.

At this moment, Chu He was covered in wounds, blood dripping unceasingly from his limbs.

Yet, there was not a shred of fear in his eyes. Deep and resolute, they were like an eternal torch in the cold night, granting everyone endless strength and hope.

The Light God loomed high above, observing Chu He as one would an ant.

In Chu He’s indomitable figure, the Light God caught a glimpse of that person from the past.

It was an absolute devotion to the Human Race.

At this discovery, the disgust in the Light God’s eyes swelled like a furious tide, growing ever more intense.

It was as if Chu He’s very existence was a blatant provocation to His supreme authority.

Beneath this disgust, so potent it was almost palpable, lay an imperceptible trace of fear.

It was an instinctive fear of that person from the past,

a dread of Chu He’s tenacious spirit of defiance.

The Light God had to consciously suppress this fear to maintain his divine majesty.

He decided to kill him outright!

‘I can’t allow another one like him to rise!’

“Even in death, I have no regrets,” Chu He said with a faint smile.

…

On the vast, boundless Northern Desert Grassland of the Great Xia Empire, fierce winds howled across the plains, kicking up so much yellow sand that the world became a hazy blur.

A burly herdsman stood upon the grassland, his face etched with the passage of time by wind and sand, his eyes filled with unflinching resolve.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he whipped out the dagger at his waist and sliced open his palm.

Blood spurted like a fountain. Caught by the wind, it sprayed wildly toward the sky,

as if to stain the very heavens crimson.

“O, Eternal Heaven! Today I offer my blood as sacrifice! I ask only that you shelter the Human Race and protect our Great Xia!”

His voice echoed across the open grasslands, carrying the heroic and tragic grandeur unique to the people of the steppes.

Every word was filled with love for the Human Race and trust in Chu He.

…

Meanwhile, in the serene and beautiful Jiangnan Water Village, a refined scholar in a long robe stood with a solemn expression inside a quiet academy.

He carefully lifted the classic texts from his desk. For years, they had been his spiritual nourishment, carrying the wisdom and cultural heritage of countless ancestors.

But now, without a trace of hesitation, a look of resolve flashed in his eyes. He touched a tinder-box to the books, and they instantly caught fire, the roaring flames spreading rapidly.

A scholarly spirit, almost tangible, radiated from the dancing flames and soared into the heavens.

“Though I am but a frail scholar with no strength to speak of, I will offer all I have learned as literary spirit! I will aid Lord Chu He and protect the peace of our Great Xia!”

The scholar’s voice was firm and powerful. In the gentle, graceful Jiangnan Water Village, it sounded exceptionally stirring, filled with the unique integrity and responsibility of a man of letters.

…

And in the treacherous Ba and Shu Region, beneath Jianmen Pass nestled among towering mountains, a group of children in coarse hemp clothing stood in neat rows.

Their young faces were filled with earnest concentration as they recited the “Song of Righteousness” in unison. The crisp, clear sound of their voices echoed through the valley like a great bell.

“Between heaven and earth, there is a righteous spirit, which takes on many forms…”

The children’s voices merged, forming a powerful and pure force that sought to burst through the towering Jianmen Pass, pierce the clouds, and reach the very heavens.

They might not have understood the cruelty of this battle,

but they knew Chu He was their hope.

He was their hero.

And they would support him in their own way.

Inspired by Chu He’s dauntless spirit, no one was afraid anymore.

They straightened their backs and bravely stood forth.

In that instant, the willpower of billions from the Human Race converged into a raging, crimson torrent.

The torrent carried with it limitless power and unshakeable faith as it crashed toward the cross pinning Chu He.

With a deafening CRASH, the seemingly indestructible cross shattered under the force of the impact. It crumbled into countless fragments and dissipated into the air.

Chu He felt the immense power gathered from the billions of the Human Race, and his body began to undergo an astonishing transformation.

His gray-streaked hair, as if infused with new life, swiftly returned to its former jet-black luster.

His pale, haggard skin gradually regained its glow, radiating with vibrant life.

Now, he was clad in the Profound Yellow Emperor’s Robe, its hem fluttering in the wind, exuding an aura of mystery and majesty.

He held the Xuanyuan Sword, its blade glinting with a cold light. A terrifyingly powerful aura radiated from him. He had fully awakened.

With every step Chu He took, magnificent, epic scenes from the history of the Great Xia Empire materialized beneath his feet.

This was the Human Emperor in his prime!

He took his first step. The scene of Suiren creating fire materialized at his feet.

The dancing flames, imbued with the great power that founded human civilization, blazed forth and burned straight through the Light God’s seemingly sacred and inviolable barrier of holy light.

Then,

He took a second step. The scene of Yu the Great taming the flood unfolded. Raging floodwaters roared forth with the force of an avalanche, crushing the angelic battle formations the Light God had so carefully arranged.