BTTH : Emperor Yang

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**

As the aftermath of the battle slowly subsided, the scene was nothing short of a blood-soaked wasteland. Shattered corpses and chunks of flesh littered the ground.

Many of those who had just finished fighting collapsed where they stood, utterly exhausted, lying on the cold earth, too drained to even lift a finger. Others moved silently, collecting the broken remains of their friends and kin.

When they had first set out, everyone had been full of confidence and excitement—gathering friends, forming alliances, eager to charge into the Ancient Wasteland Region and fight for a chance to change their fate.

But now, of the three or five close friends who had set out together, many stood here alone—one survivor among the fallen.

They thought back to when they had departed from the Wasteland Town, to the grand procession leaving the Ancient Region Stage, filled with powerhouses as far as the eye could see. Now, looking around this battlefield, only a few dozen remained alive.

In such a short span of time, nearly a hundred Dou Zun had perished. As for the Dou Zong—they numbered over a thousand, and almost all had been wiped out, not one left standing.

After this battle, the number of mid- to high-tier experts across all of Central Plains—the Dou Zong and Dou Zun level—might very well be cut in half. Then, given another thousand years of accumulation, the next generation would rise... only to repeat the same bloody cycle once again.

A weary old man knelt on the ground, hands trembling as he gathered the corpse of his fallen friend. His voice quivered as he muttered, ”Was it worth it?”

The crowd fell silent.

Was it worth it? Maybe.

There was no right or wrong here. Everyone was simply struggling—struggling for a sliver of hope, for that faint, almost unreachable chance at becoming a Saint.

For many Dou Zun who had been trapped at their current level for centuries, death itself wasn’t what they feared most. They had lived long enough already.

What terrified them was the endless stagnation, the hopelessness of remaining stuck for decades, even centuries, unable to advance—a lifetime spent staring at a ceiling they could never breakthrough.

In the outside world, in Central Plains, even across the entire Dou Qi Continent, Dou Zun experts were revered—beings who stood above all.

Yet here, in this place, Dou Zun experts were fragile and pitiful, hardly different from slightly stronger ants. They could die at any moment, and no one would even flinch. But no one present showed any sympathy.

They had chosen to come here. The moment they did, they should’ve been ready to die. The silence stretched as everyone sat cross-legged, focusing on their recovery.

After a while, the members of the Gu Clan and the Flower Sect—who had already rested and healed for some time—were the first to open their eyes. With the aid of medicinal pills, their auras had mostly stabilized, and they all rose to their feet, gathering behind Wei Yang.

Seeing this, Hun Yu and the others, still recovering, grew anxious. They frantically circulated their cultivation techniques, desperate to restore as much strength as possible before anything else happened.

When Wei Yang sensed that his people had fully recovered, his half-closed eyes opened. He turned slightly, sweeping his gaze across the group before speaking calmly.

”The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree is dangerous. From here on, everyone’s on their own. Whether you want to continue or not—it’s your choice.”

After saying that, he shifted his gaze back toward the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.

The others were momentarily stunned before lapsing into silence, lost in thought.

Xiao Yan followed his gaze toward the massive tree and, after a brief pause, said, ”It’s certain that what lies ahead will be even more dangerous than before. My suggestion is this—those whose strength hasn’t reached high-level Dou Zun should stay here. Don’t go any farther.”

The crowd hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Since both Wei Yang and Xiao Yan had spoken, their advice carried weight—it was worth heeding. The Ban Sheng Puppets had already appeared; no one knew what other dangers might be waiting below.

If one’s strength wasn’t enough, stepping forward would only mean walking to their death.

”Sect Master, let us stay here with Yanran and not continue. You should go with the two Young Pavilion Masters.” Several Elders of the Flower Sect exchanged glances and spoke to Yun Yun.

They naturally knew the benefits of the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Though they were aware that they didn’t have the fortune to enjoy them themselves, they still wanted their Flower Sect to at least get a trace of that luck.

At present, among the Flower Sect members here, Yun Yun’s strength was the highest—a peak Eight-Star Dou Zun—which happened to meet the required threshold of high-level Dou Zun and above. Moreover, she had some ties with Xiao Yan and was also acquainted with Wei Yang.

If there truly were benefits to be gained, following along might allow her to at least get a small share.

”Then... all right, but be careful.” Yun Yun hesitated briefly before nodding lightly.

She wasn’t harboring any thought of seizing treasures. She merely wished to follow along and see if she could lend a hand. After all, the Flower Sect’s overall strength was the weakest here.

Even if there were treasures, it wouldn’t be their turn. In that case, it would be better to contribute some effort to help Wei Yang and Xiao Yan—it could also be considered a repayment for saving their lives earlier.

The Gu Clan had also made arrangements, leaving behind the injured Gu Hua and Gu Xing, while the others continued forward.

Seeing that everyone was ready, Wei Yang’s eyes swept over the group.

”Let’s go.”

With a light wave of his hand, he took the lead and slowly walked toward the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Behind him, Xiao Yan and the others followed with solemn and wary expressions, their bodies tensed for any danger.

”Let’s move as well.”

Seeing Wei Yang’s group advance, Hun Yu and Jiu Feng could no longer sit still. Without resting any further, they waved their hands and led their people toward the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree too.

Further back, the few remaining broken teams, upon witnessing this scene, gritted their teeth and forced themselves to stand, following along as well.

They had already paid such a heavy price to reach this point. To give up now, at the very last step—no matter what, they couldn’t accept it. If death awaited them, then so be it. Thus, one group after another slowly approached the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree.

As the distance closed, everyone’s hearts inevitably grew extremely tense. No one knew what other strange methods this Bodhisattva Ancient Tree might possess.

It was precisely this kind of unknown that bred fear. Among everyone present, perhaps only Wei Yang’s expression remained relatively calm.

Rustle... rustle...

Soft footsteps echoed quietly, mingling with the faint rustling of leaves above as they brushed against each other.

Gradually, the group arrived beneath the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. Standing there, raising their heads to look up, they could finally feel just how towering and majestic this ancient tree—alive for countless years—truly was.

Chi!

At that moment, just as everyone looked upward from beneath the tree, a dazzling light suddenly erupted from the trunk, more than a hundred zhang high. That radiance transformed into a pillar of light that instantly enveloped Wei Yang and everyone around him.

This sudden scene startled them all. They instinctively tried to circulate their Dou Qi, but to their horror, they discovered that their Dou Qi had completely vanished!

Swoosh!

While they were still stunned, the pillar of light rapidly shrank. With a sharp sound, it retracted back into the tree in the blink of an eye. At the same time, Wei Yang and the entire group who had been standing beneath the tree disappeared without a trace.

”No!”

In the distance, Nalan Yanran and the others watched as everyone vanished under the tree, leaving behind only emptiness.

Their faces instantly turned pale.

**

Support me at patreon to get all the remaining Chapters :

/YaoIk