Chapter 132: The Promise
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That voice was undoubtedly music to Jiang Yuan’s ears.
He had already reached the end of his strength. If Bai Ze had not arrived, all he could do was watch Zhang Kui and his wife die before his eyes.
Jiang Yuan had been utterly desperate.
He had never imagined that anyone would come to save him. And even if someone did, he had thought it would be either Shennong or Suiren.
He had never expected it to be the great demon Bai Ze—the mysterious demon sage whom he had met only once and who had spoken a series of inexplicable words to him.
Even the Heavenly Emperor had not imagined that Bai Ze, who had never once set foot among the Celestial Clan, would come there today.
And he had come to help this Human Sovereign who had invaded the Celestial Clan!
What mystery did this generation’s Human Sovereign conceal? How had he managed to draw so many people to his side?
For some inexplicable reason, the Heavenly Emperor felt a trace of fear.
A chill crept into his heart as he recalled the Three Sovereigns of old. Setting aside Fuxi, that supreme deity, even Shennong and Suiren had once seemed blessed by Heaven and Earth. In those days, anyone would have been willing to help humanity for their sake.
Could humanity be about to produce another Saint?
The Heavenly Emperor knew something of Bai Ze’s origins. Born with innate knowledge, he understood yin and yang and grasped the transformations of all things. Even he had chosen to aid the Human Sovereign. What did that signify?
Humanity might very well recreate the glory of antiquity!
“Bai Ze, do you intend to become my enemy as well?” the Heavenly Emperor asked, fixing him with a cold stare.
If they truly fought, Bai Ze was certainly no match for him.
But no one wished to offend a genuine half-sage, especially one as mysterious as Bai Ze, an innate life-form.
Bai Ze slowly shook his head. “I have no desire to become the Heavenly Emperor’s enemy. I came here only to fulfill the promise I once made to the Human Sovereign.”
“That Human Sovereign? Shennong or Suiren?” the Heavenly Emperor asked with a frown.
“The current Human Sovereign,” Bai Ze replied calmly.
“Are you saying that the demon race intends to join hands with humanity?” the Heavenly Emperor asked angrily.
“Only I, Bai Ze, wish to cooperate with the Human Sovereign. You may also understand it as my serving him now.” Bai Ze did not care in the least about saving face.
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He directly declared that he was now Jiang Yuan’s subordinate.
Help given in a time of desperate need was always remembered far more deeply than favors bestowed upon someone who was already thriving.
Even Jiang Yuan had not expected Bai Ze to so readily admit that he intended to serve him.
Feilian was even more horrified. At first, he had assumed Bai Ze had come to rescue him because they were both demon sages. He had never imagined that the situation would turn out like this.
Now, he no longer felt mere fear toward Jiang Yuan. What he felt was awe.
Once a person realized that he would never have any chance of catching up to another in this lifetime, all that remained was awe.
Jiang Yuan was probably far more than merely the Human Sovereign.
Based on what Feilian knew of Bai Ze, Jiang Yuan definitely possessed some other identity—or perhaps there was something about him that attracted Bai Ze.
Feilian could not help wondering what, in this world, could still attract Bai Ze.
As he pondered, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he turned sharply toward Jiang Yuan.
Bai Ze had already reached the half-sage realm. There were scarcely any things left in the world capable of attracting him.
That could only mean that Jiang Yuan possessed the opportunity Bai Ze needed to become a Saint!
That was the path to sainthood!
The moment Feilian understood this, he immediately realized why Bai Ze—who had never meddled in worldly affairs—had chosen to stand so firmly on Jiang Yuan’s side this time.
If he were in Bai Ze’s position, he would certainly have done the same.
For a moment, Feilian even felt that the ten years he had agreed to serve Jiang Yuan were far too short.
Hearing Bai Ze’s answer, the Heavenly Emperor burst into laughter and mocked him. “A dignified demon sage in the half-sage realm is actually rushing to serve as a lackey for a Human Sovereign in the Golden Immortal realm! What an absurd spectacle!”
Bai Ze did not become angry at the Heavenly Emperor’s words. He merely looked at him calmly.
Then he smiled. “Heavenly Emperor, do you wish to kill the Human Sovereign now?”
“The Celestial Clan and humanity have been enemies for ages. The current Human Sovereign has already grown into a threat. Of course I cannot allow this scourge to live!” The Heavenly Emperor made no attempt to conceal his killing intent.
Bai Ze gazed at him with detached calm. “Do you believe that even if I had not come today, you would still be unable to kill the Human Sovereign completely?”
“Do you think I will believe that?” the Heavenly Emperor sneered.
Bai Ze took a single step and appeared beside Jiang Yuan. Facing the Heavenly Emperor, he released the faint pressure of a half-sage.
“Then let me be frank. If the Heavenly Emperor dares kill even one person whom the Human Sovereign wishes to protect today, I dare ensure that you will never have any chance of becoming a Saint in this lifetime. Do you believe me now?”
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“Do you think you are qualified to threaten me?” the Heavenly Emperor said, his voice growing increasingly sinister.
He felt that his dignity had been challenged. Had it been a Saint, he could have accepted it; his inferior strength would have been no one’s fault but his own.
But this time, he was being provoked again and again by a Human Sovereign in the Golden Immortal realm and a half-sage whose strength was inferior to his own.
“I am not threatening the Heavenly Emperor,” Bai Ze said. “I am merely stating a fact. Anyone the Human Sovereign wishes to protect today, I will protect to the end.”
“My strength may be inferior to yours, but after living for so long, I believe I have accumulated a few means of my own. Destroying the foundation of the Celestial Clan would not be difficult.”
“If you do not believe me, you are welcome to try. Then you will know whether I am telling the truth.” Bai Ze spoke with perfect composure.
The Heavenly Emperor stared deeply at the people before him. In his eyes, every one of them deserved to die.
But Bai Ze was simply too mysterious. He had scarcely taken part in any of the great calamities, and his ability to avoid danger and seek fortune was second to none.
The Heavenly Emperor did not know whether he should gamble—whether he should stake his chance of becoming a Saint on a Human Sovereign in the Golden Immortal realm.
He could not determine whether such a bargain would be worthwhile.
Judging from the current situation, this generation’s Human Sovereign would at the very least achieve the level of the Five Emperors in the future.
If he were truly allowed to mature, the threat he posed to the Celestial Clan would be no less than that of a Saint.
Yet the Heavenly Emperor was uncertain how long Jiang Yuan would need to reach that stage.
After all, he himself was not far from becoming a Saint. If he could ascend before Jiang Yuan matured, the Celestial Clan would naturally remain secure.
After struggling with the decision for a long while, the Heavenly Emperor finally made up his mind.
“I can let these people leave,” he said slowly. “But I have one condition.”
“You should discuss that with the Human Sovereign,” Bai Ze said, stepping back.
Jiang Yuan gave Bai Ze a deep look. This Bai Ze was truly far too skilled at winning people’s favor.
He had to admit that Bai Ze had thoroughly won Jiang Yuan over. His favorable impression of him had reached its peak.
“Heavenly Emperor, state your condition.” For the moment, Jiang Yuan had no time to cultivate a closer relationship with Bai Ze. He turned instead toward the Heavenly Emperor.
“My condition is that, until I become a Saint, the Celestial Clan and humanity must not interfere with one another in any way.”
Regardless of everything else, the Heavenly Emperor had decided to preserve the Celestial Clan first.
Humanity already had Saints targeting it, so its days would certainly be difficult.
There was no need for the Celestial Clan to involve itself in that struggle.
“I can agree to that. Until the day you become a Saint, humanity and the Celestial Clan shall keep entirely out of each other’s affairs,” Jiang Yuan said, accepting the Heavenly Emperor’s condition.
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