Chapter 1895: The Tragedy of Rongyue

The navel of the plane in Rongyue World lay within the Nine Abyss Mountains.

This was the birthplace of its races and civilization.

Countless gray-white peaks rose and clustered together here.

At first glance, the region seemed barren, almost devoid of greenery or life. Yet it had nurtured the ancestors of nearly every native lifeform in Rongyue World.

The small patches of grass clinging to cracks along sheer cliffs reflected the resilience of the Rongyue people, while the rivers surging through deep gorges represented their untamed spirit.

This was a medium-sized world that lived in harmony with nature, following its most primal laws of survival.

But everything changed when the iron march of the Dawn Empire arrived.

At the peak of the Nine Abyss Mountains, Ronglu the White Horse gazed up at the azure sky, its eyes filled with quiet sorrow.

Despite being a Rank Five guardian that wielded dendro-attribute law and possessed immense vitality, Ronglu bore a circular scar on its lower back.

It had been left by the strongest soldier of the Dawn Empire.

That single blow had nearly killed it.

Yet that powerhouse had not pressed the attack, allowing it to escape.

Even now, it remained near the navel of the plane, wary and on edge.

In truth, with the Dawn Empire’s strength, they could have leveled the Nine Abyss Mountains long ago.

But they chose not to. Instead, they focused their efforts on hunting down the King of Rongyue and the Rongdi Groundhound, who still resisted.

Just as Gongsun Wudi had said—profit was their goal, not destruction.

A ruined Rongyue World held no value to them.

“Guardian, what are you watching?” a Rank Four creature asked as it approached. Its back was lined with spikes.

It bowed respectfully.

The creature’s hind leg was badly wounded, blood still seeping from the injury.

In fact, at this point, there was hardly a single powerhouse left in Rongyue World that was not injured.

The guardian did not respond and continued to stare toward the horizon. A quiet melancholy hung between heaven and earth.

After a moment, the spined Rank Four creature spoke again. “Guardian... Caiyu may not be able to hold on much longer...”

Caiyu the Butterfly was another native Rank Four being who had gathered near the navel of the plane. She had once been a lively presence that brought joy to many across Rongyue World.[1]

Now, the law-wielding beings of Rongyue World were divided into two camps.

One faction remained resolute and unyielding.

They followed the King of Mount Yue and Rongdi the Earth Hound, fighting the Dawn Empire head-on and refusing to surrender even now.

The other faction, led by Ronglu, stayed near the navel of the plane. While they continued to resist, their goal was to preserve what they could—especially the seeds of the plane.

In truth, both sides shared the same hatred for the Dawn Empire.

The difference was that those under the guardian were generally weaker, both in strength and in resolve.

The words of the spiky creature finally pulled the guardian back to the present.

It slowly descended from the peak and approached the Rank Four creature. Lowering its head, he plucked a tuft of lush green grass from his horn and handed it over.

Though it resembled a white horse, Ronglu was something more of a creature that was half flesh, half plant.

The horn on its head was actually a cluster of exceptionally potent plant-type treasure.

That single tuft of grass was among the finest healing resources in Rongyue World.

But as the war dragged on, the guardian had grown noticeably more “bald”.

“Take this and give it to—”

Before it could finish talking...

The colors of the mountains and rivers suddenly changed!

A strange surge of law power swept across the lands surrounding the Nine Abyss Mountains!

The once-clear sky turned a sickly yellow, and panic spread among the creatures gathered near the navel of the plane.

At the same time, with the navel as the center, vast stretches of forest, grassland, and shrubs began to wither at a visible rate!

The smell of decay instantly filled the air.

This sudden change in the world’s laws struck Rongyue World like a devastating blow.

But for the guardian, the impact was far more direct.

Ronglu coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood.

Ignoring its internal injuries, Ronglu staggered and leapt back toward the mountaintop.

From the peak of the Nine Abyss Mountains, it looked west, then swept its gaze across the horizon.

The disturbance was not limited to the region around the navel of the plane. Similar anomalies were erupting in several other parts of Rongyue World.

Before it, a vast tide of decay spread across the land.

In that moment, it could almost see the suffering of countless living beings.

Their cries echoed in its ears, refusing to fade.

“It’s over...” A drop of thick blood slid from the corner of its mouth.

This Rank Five being, who was the embodiment of this plane’s will, now wore an expression filled with despair and self-reproach.

***

At the heart of the battlefield stood the Royal City of Rongyue.

The ancient city walls, once towering over a thousand meters high, had long since been reduced to ruins by years of relentless war.

Broken stone and shattered debris covered the land. They were silent witnesses to the brutality of the conflict.

A massive golden-maned hound-like creature lay collapsed on the ground.

Its once formidable mid-stage Rank Six aura had dwindled to a faint flicker.

Not far away, the King of Mount Yue knelt on one knee, roaring as he hurled one of his enormous black axes.

The weapon, heavy enough to split a mountain, was casually deflected by a Dawn Empire soldier clad in white-gold armor.

In both combat skill and mastery of laws, this soldier far surpassed the King of Mount Yue, who relied purely on brute strength.

The outcome was already decided— even life and death were about to be determined.

Without support of the planar will’s origin laws, the two native Rank Six beings of Rongyue World stood no chance against the Dawn Empire’s powerhouse.

The powerhouse in white-gold armor stepped forward and removed her helmet.

It was Gongsun Wudi.

This peak Rank Six woman lifted her gaze toward the distant horizon.

Under the fading light of dusk, the killing had not stopped.

The King of Mount Yue’s roars, Rongdi the Earth Hound’s dying groans, and the Dawn Empire’s banners flying high came together to paint a stark picture of war.

Clad in armor, her long hair streaming in the wind, Gongsun Wudi stood unmoving.

The spear in her hand emitted a low hum.

Behind her, her shadow stretched longer and longer in the fading sunlight.

1. Translator’s Note: Caiyu literally means “colorful feathers”. ☜