NOVEL WEB Chapter 393: Crossing the Calamity
Chapter 393: Crossing the Calamity
If one were to liken Heaven and Earth to a stone pot, the stone chopsticks were akin to utensils scooping food from within, while the Supreme-level experts of the various top-tier forces were the ingredients.
This left the Supreme-level experts both terrified, enraged, and humiliated.
The terror stemmed from the fact that after achieving the Supreme Realm, each of them had become a dominant power in their respective domains. Yet at the moment the stone chopsticks emerged, all Supremes felt as though they had regressed to their pre-Supreme days – mere ants living in constant fear.
Their anger was born of powerlessness. They wanted to storm out of their hiding places and face the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve monster in battle, but they lacked the strength to do so. Powerless and frustrated, their anger festered.
As for the humiliation, it came from the fact that even the dignity of a Supreme was stripped away before the might of the Hidden Reserve. All they could do was endure.
“The Qian Dynasty, Huangpu Yan! The Blood Sea will never rest until we have your heads!”
“Damn it all! The Qian Dynasty must be deliberately targeting us!”
The entire Blood Sea erupted in furious curses because the stone chopsticks had once again reached into their territory and snatched another Supreme.
The other top-tier forces looked on with schadenfreude. As long as the stone chopsticks didn’t target their own Supremes, they were more than happy to watch others suffer.
At the same time, the Supreme-level experts couldn’t help but wonder why the stone chopsticks had targeted another Supreme from the Blood Sea.
Was it mere coincidence?
Or had the Hidden Reserve detected multiple Supremes hiding within the Blood Sea?
Or perhaps, after tasting one Blood Sea Supreme, it found the flavor satisfactory and decided to sample another?
The sound of “crunch, crunch…” echoed from the depths of the Qian Dynasty’s Imperial Palace. The Blood Sea Supreme screamed in agony, only for the cries to abruptly cease as a burst of crimson mist filled the air, signaling the end.
All the Supreme-level experts across the world felt their hair stand on end, shivering with dread. What kind of monstrous entity was lurking deep within the Qian Dynasty Palace? It was absolutely terrifying.
After a brief pause, the hidden reserve monster of the Qian Dynasty seemed to have finished consuming the Blood Sea Supreme and extended the stone chopsticks once more.
Every Supreme across the land tensed up, their pupils contracting sharply as they held their breath, watching this terrifying spectacle unfold. Each feared that they might be the next target.
The stone chopsticks scoured the lands, and wherever they went, the Supremes trembled in fear.
Ultimately, the chopsticks reached the Yu Dynasty, plunging into a secret area and plucking out one of its Supremes.
The entire Yu Dynasty was plunged into despair, their wails and curses echoing endlessly.
“Supreme Ancestor!”
“Qian Dynasty, damn you to hell!”
“Huangpu Yan, you will die a miserable death and face divine retribution!”
The sound of “crunch, crunch…” echoed once again from the depths of the Qian Dynasty Palace. The Yu Dynasty Supreme screamed in anguish, blood mist exploding before silence fell.
After devouring one Supreme from the Blood Sea and one from the Yu Dynasty, the hidden reserve monster of the Qian Dynasty seemed to have temporarily sated itself, retreating back into stillness.
The world fell silent.
A deadly silence.
It was too terrifying.
Too terrifying.
Who could bear it?
At the Divine Race Ancestral Grounds, Xu Lian felt a sense of déjà vu. It was as if he had been transported back to that old earthen house on the ancient street of Green Bamboo Town. Every night, the Night Patrol would come.
Now, the entire world seemed like an “enlarged version” of Green Bamboo Town.
No, it wasn’t just similar – it was identical.
Every month or so, two Supremes were randomly selected as offerings. Who among the Supremes wouldn’t feel a chill run down their spine?
After the silence, the fury of the Supreme-level experts from the various top-tier forces erupted.
“Where has that wretch Huangpu Yan gone into hiding?”
“I don’t know. All our attention was focused on the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve, so we didn’t notice Huangpu Yan.”
“We need to find him and kill him!”
Obviously, Huangpu Yan had incurred the wrath of everyone.
In particular, the Blood Sea Holy Land was seething with anger. They harbored an intense hatred for Huangpu Yan, wishing to tear him apart and scatter his ashes.
Next came the Yu Dynasty. Although they shared no borders or grievances with the Qian Dynasty, one of their Supremes had been randomly snatched by the dynasty’s hidden reserve. Who wouldn’t be enraged by such an act?
Finally, there was the Vast Domain faction. First, they had been ambushed by the combined forces of the Qian and Liang dynasties. Then, one of their Supremes had been “snatched away” by the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserves. Their anger knew no bounds.
However, despite their fury, neither the Blood Sea Holy Land, the Yu Dynasty, nor the Vast Domain faction could locate Huangpu Yan. It was as if he had vanished from the face of the earth.
One of the remaining Supremes of the Blood Sea Holy Land roared furiously, “Since Huangpu Yan has fled, we’ll annihilate the entire Qian Dynasty! The Qian Dynasty is a threat to the world-it has no right to exist!”
The Vast Domain faction quickly echoed this sentiment: “We have no objection to destroying the Qian Dynasty!”
The Yu Dynasty also agreed.
This left the five Quasi-Supremes of the Qian Dynasty, the new Emperor, and the entire court of nobles and ministers trembling with fear. They realized that the dynasty had incurred widespread outrage, and their situation was dire.
However, despite the fiery rhetoric of the Blood Sea Holy Land, the Yu Dynasty, and the Vast Domain faction about destroying the Qian Dynasty, no one dared to take action.
This drew disappointment and ridicule from the other top-tier forces, who mocked them and urged them to act.
“You three claimed that you would destroy the Qian Dynasty, so why haven’t you acted yet?”
“The Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve has harmed your three factions. Can you really endure this?”
The Blood Sea Holy Land, Yu Dynasty, and Vast Domain factions fell silent. They were just venting their anger-they weren’t foolish enough to act rashly. If they destroyed the Qian Dynasty now, it might provoke the full wrath of its Hidden Reserve, with unimaginable consequences.
A Supreme from the Yin Dynasty stepped forward and said, “Based on the pattern of the Qian Dynasty Hidden Reserve monster’s actions, next month it will extend the stone chopsticks again and snatch two more Supremes. This cannot continue indefinitely – it’s only a matter of time before it targets us. We must find a way to either kill this monster or banish it from the world.”
As the most affected party, the Blood Sea Holy Land immediately followed suit, saying, “What the Yin Dynasty says is correct. We must find a way to eliminate this scourge of the Qian Dynasty!”
The Vast Domain faction, which already had a grudge against the Qian Dynasty, quickly agreed with this stance: “If the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve isn’t dealt with, the entire world will remain in turmoil, and all Supremes will live in constant fear!”
A Supreme from the Yu Dynasty proposed, “I suggest we activate the ancient Great Wheel of Calamity . Whoever the wheel selects will be tasked with subduing the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve monster!”
The other top tier forces fell silent, offering no response.
Since they weren’t the ones who were directly harmed, they decided to sit back and watch. Of course, they didn’t want the Great Wheel of Calamity to be activated, as that might lead to their selection.
Although the world was vast and the chances of being chosen were small, there was still a chance. They hoped that the aggrieved parties – the Vast Domain Faction, the Blood Sea Holy Land, and the Yu Dynasty – would step forward to resolve the issue themselves.
Xu Lian asked, “What is the Great Wheel of Calamity?”
Bai Luohe explained, “The Great Wheel of Calamity is an ancient mechanism whose origins are lost in time. It even predates the Ancient Era. Whenever a great calamity occurs that no single faction can handle on its own, the Great Wheel of Calamity is activated to randomly select individuals to collectively deal with the calamity.
For example, the demon ancestor sealed in the demon sealing cave and the humanoid monster exiled beyond space-these were once great calamities resolved through the activation of the Great Wheel of Calamity” .
Xu Lian was surprised. “Didn’t the ancestors of the thirteen clans seal the Demon Ancestor?”
Bai Luohe nodded. “Indeed, but why do you think the ancestors of the thirteen clans suddenly decided to seal the Demon Ancestor? It was because they were chosen by the Great Wheel of Calamity.”
“So that’s how it works,” Xu Lian understood. The Thirteen Clans and the Demon Ancestor had no inherent enmity – it was simply fate, dictated by the Great Wheel of Calamity, that compelled them to act.
This understanding sparked another question in Xu Lian’s mind: “Is the Great Wheel of Calamity completely random? Why did it happen to select mythical figures like the ancestors of the Thirteen Clans? If it had chosen ordinary strong individuals, how could they possibly have sealed the Demon Ancestor?”
Bai Luohe replied, “The Great Wheel of Calamity has great sentience. If the difficulty of the calamity isn’t particularly high, it will randomly select individuals to resolve it. However, if the calamity is too severe for ordinary individuals to handle, it will choose the most suitable candidates.”
Xu Lian fully understood the concept. “So the Great Wheel of Calamity is truly a treasure that protects the world. I wonder who created it.”
Time Supreme, the three newly ascended Supremes, and Xu Lian briefly discussed the matter and decided to remain silent, observing developments. Once again, it was a test of their resolve.
If the aggrieved parties – the Blood Sea Holy Land, the Yu Dynasty, and the Vast Domain faction – buckled under the pressure first, they would step forward to deal with the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve.
If the other top-tier forces cracked first, the Great Wheel of Calamity would be activated to randomly select Supremes to resolve the disaster.
As days passed, half a month went by.
The Blood Sea Holy Land, the Yu Dynasty, and the Vast Domain faction remained completely silent, seemingly determined not to be the first to “stick their necks out.” Unable to bear the mounting pressure, the other top-tier forces began voicing their support for activating the Great Wheel of Calamity .
After all, in half a month, the Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve monster would extend the stone chopsticks again. Fearing that they might be targeted, the various top-tier forces reluctantly agreed to activate the Great Wheel of Calamity in hopes of resolving this great calamity once and for all.
A Supreme from the Shui family interjected urgently, “Our Shui family will not participate in the Great Wheel of Calamity . However, we will provide the Thirty-Six Heavenly War God Battle Formation, allowing the Great Wheel of Calamity to select thirty-six Supremes to work together to resolve this disaster.”
A Supreme from the Yin Dynasty responded, “Agreed.”
The other top-tier forces also consented. Although the absence of the Shui Family slightly increased the odds for the others, it wasn’t significant. In addition, the Shui Family’s provision of the Thirty-Six Heavenly War God Battle Formation would increase the chances of success.
Thus, the Supremes of the various top-tier forces prayed together, beseeching the appearance of the Great Wheel of Calamity .
With their prayers, a resounding “hum” echoed throughout the heavens and earth. The heavens trembled, and nine-colored auspicious lights illuminated the firmament. It was as if true immortals had descended. A massive, millstone-like silhouette slowly materialized in the radiant light.
From hazy to clear, and from clear to tangible, it eventually solidified into a colossal wheel etched with ancient inscriptions, bearing the weight of countless eons.
The Great Wheel descended slowly from the heavens, spinning rapidly as it surveyed the world. It seemed to sense something. When it hovered above the Qian Dynasty’s capital, it paused momentarily before returning to the heavens.
“The Qian Dynasty’s hidden reserve has surfaced and is wreaking havoc on the world. We humbly request the Great Wheel of Calamity to select thirty-six Supremes to join forces and eliminate this menace.”
“We implore the Great Wheel of Calamity to select the most suitable candidates to resolve this catastrophe.”
The Supremes of the various top-tier forces voiced their intentions.
The Supreme from the Shui family added, “Our Shui family provides the Thirty-Six Heavenly War God Battle Formation, but does not participate in the Great Wheel of Calamity . We ask the Great Wheel of Calamity to take note of this.”
The Great Wheel of Calamity spun faster and faster, its inscriptions resembling divine chains swirling in the air as if calculating something. Eventually, its speed reached its peak, transforming into a state of chaos. The entire sky was shrouded in mist, obscuring the wheel. However, thirty-six silhouettes appeared in the chaotic mist.
“The Vast Domain Supreme, Zhe Lingling!”
“The Wen Dao Sect Supreme, Ning Heng!”
“The Violet Cloud Sacred Land Supreme, Yun Ji!”
“The Silver Blood Family Supreme, Yin Pushi!”
“The Blood Sea Supreme, Xue Ranfu!”
“The Yu Dynasty Supreme, Yu Mao!”
“The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands Supreme… Wait, no-it’s Xu Lian, the Ninth Heaven Divine Son!”
“How could the Ninth Heavenly Divine Son Xu Lian be chosen by the Great Wheel of Calamity? He ascended to Sagehood just two hundred years ago – he couldn’t possibly have reached the Supreme Realm so quickly!”
“It’s obvious. He has already mastered the laws of the Divine Kingdom.
Although he’s at the Sage level, his strength rivals that of a Supreme, much like Time Supreme in her early days!”
“The Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands have concealed this well. Unfortunately, the Great Wheel of Calamity has revealed Xu Lian’s true strength.”
“No wonder the Eight Supremes of the Divine Thunder Sect and the Sacred Land of Heaven’s Treasury factions were defeated by the Six Supremes of the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands.
Xu Lian must have used the laws of the Divine Kingdom to launch a surprise attack during that battle, catching them off guard and securing victory for the Nine Heavenly Sacred Lands!”
Among the thirty-six individuals selected by the Great Wheel of Calamity, one Sage stood out conspicuously, drawing immediate attention from the top-tier forces. Speculation arose as to the “truth” behind the earlier battle.
At the Divine Race Ancestral Grounds, Xu Lian was stunned.
Damn it… He had hidden himself so well, yet the Great Wheel of Calamity had discovered and selected him.
Supremes Bai Luohe and Meng Hao stared at him in shock, clearly unprepared for the revelation that he had mastered the laws of the Divine Kingdom and possessed the strength of a Supreme.
Meng Hao complained, “Ninth Heaven Divine Son, this isn’t fair. You’ve been hiding this from us and treating us like outsiders.”
However, He Changfeng didn’t seem overly surprised, as if he had anticipated this outcome. His expression suggested that he had expected nothing less.
Xu Lian snapped out of his daze, feeling a chill run down his spine. “Can I refuse to participate?”
Bai Luohe shook his head firmly. “No. Once someone is selected by the Great Wheel of Calamity, they must participate in the resolution of the calamity. Otherwise…”
Xu Lian urged, “Otherwise what?”
Bai Luohe sighed. “I don’t know. The legend has it that terrible things will happen. One could be directly suppressed and wiped out by the Great Wheel of Calamity. Throughout history, no one selected by the wheel has ever dared to defy its decree”.
Xu Lian felt completely helpless. It seemed that he had no choice but to grit his teeth and participate.