A New Dawn

The entire world lit in luminous light as if a new day had arisen. It was very perplexing to the average civilian or even lesser cultivators who did not have a good understanding of higher mysteries. It was no wonder that all became curious as to why the middle of the night transformed into broad daylight.

This would've been a cool mystery for people to fuss over if it had not been one major issue. That was the constant tremors permitted the Thousand Flames upper realm. Everywhere from the southern volcanoes, mountain ranges, oceans, forests, and plains suffered large tremors. The new day also brought along extreme heat that seared the skin of unsuspecting people wondering outside.

It was not a good experience. For those cultivators hidden away in seclusion after the Sam incident this was an instant sign that something was very wrong. Many of the Human Immortals and Saints who had ignored the earlier gathering of energy were now wide awake with full attention on star city.

For those of higher cultivation and hence more privy to higher mysteries of the Heavenly Tao, they sensed the struggle of epic proportions. What was more disturbing was the complete shattering of the Zodiac formation. This was because the act of such was near impossible as far as their knowledge went.

However for those present during the construction of the formation such as Hu Wei, he recognised one scenario where such was possible. The formation was targeted by a mighty being from within. The defence and overall power of the formation was much weaker within Thousand Flames upper realm as opposed to outside it.

The Zodiac formation itself was a gargantuan planetary defence formation keyed to the Immortal throne in the royal palace so previously it could only be used inside the capital. However Hu Wenxi had covertly removed this when he reached the True Immortal realm and instead attached it onto a rat construct while still keeping the throne as a battery instead.

For the Celestial Star king who had obliterated the Zodiac formation, he was ecstatic. His current situation was great, his foreign allies can now signal possible reinforcements since the formation was gone. His position was also more secure as Hu Wenxi had lost one of his greatest weapons. The Celestial Star king's massive starry avatar stood proudly atop his chariot one hand on the reins while the other held a war axe pointed at the emperor.

"Today is the dawn of a new empire, my empire" he confidently said. Hu Wenxi looked more amused, "An empire subsidiary to another it would seem". Hu Wenxi took a glance at Yi Guang and Nan Fu who teamed up to engage Yinying Yan, it was not going well. Hu Wenxi opened his palm and vast Immortal power gathered into a sphere like a hyper condensed ball of pure sandy coloured power.

"Don't be too confident Hu Wenxi" the Celestial Star king pointed with his axe and the massive sun shot towards Hu Wenxi. The emperor looked down at the king and slapped the sandy ball in his hand. It expanded into a sharp nail tipped pillar shooting vertically down at the sun.

"Where is your equity? When a subordinate speaks to his emperor, they refer to him as your majesty" Hu Wenxi said. The nail pillar rapidly descended puncturing the sun like a balloon. Vast Yang energy leaked out in a blaze of power. Searing heat spread across the city before an unseen force stopped it.

The Celestial Star king had his axe raised, the massive residue of hot Yang energy spiralled in the air like a hurricane of blades slicing at Hu Wenxi. The emperor bent back dodging many of these spinning blades. "Are we playing spinning tops now?" He asked and summersaulted backwards landing midair starring eye level with Celestial Star king.

"Finally" the Celestial Star king condensed the spiralling yang Qi into a long jousting spear. "Take this!" He cried out attempting to spear Hu Wenxi. The emperor raised both hands and mysterious Tao runes appeared chanting a spell that distorted time. The spear slowed as it traveled giving Hu Wenxi time to complete a second spell.

Immortal energy gathered into Hu Wenxi's right palm. The symbol of the bull appeared manifesting the massive sand bull who charged colliding with the spear.

BOOM!

The massive bull was instantly destroyed along with the spear disintegrating in a rain of sand showing the city below. The Celestial Star king frowned while Hu Wenxi still looked jovial. "Very impressive Xin Da Kong, your control of is impeccable" complimented Hu Wenxi, "In raw power you are definitely among genuine True Immortals". Hu Wenxi face morphed into a serious face, "But you are not a True Immortal".

…

"My god, is the star kingdom really rebelling" a Human Immortal who was missing one arm stood watching the titanic struggle taking place at star city a safe distance away. This man was the River Walking taoist Han Guowei. Along with him were the saints from his sect.

Another broad man walked forward, he looked like a barbarian and had some deep scars across his head and chest that occasionally stung with fiendish energy. This was the Bear demon patriarch who also arrived after feeling the massive disturbance.

Many other experts began arriving at the outskirts of the star kingdom. Those power Human Immortals such as the Divine Phoenix sage, Radiant Moon king, Mountain Cleaving grandmaster etc had indeed been stirred. Many of them also carried wounds left by Sam.

As they saw Hu Wenxi's battle against the Celestial Star king and the shockwaves generated they began seeing how the Star king was in fact keeping up with their emperor. In fact it seemed to them that they were relatively equal. This naturally gave birth to some thoughts within certain individual's minds.

For the Radiant Moon king he was extremely tempted. On one hand he could free his kingdom but on the other the will be helping his arch nemesis. This placed the proud king of he Radiant Moon kingdom in a slump. 'Will I be able to resist him?' This thought echoed through the mind of the monarch.

"I do not know about you lot, but I am going to help" an old voice rang out. An old monk marched forth prayer beads in one hand and alit flames in the other. Lao Fu had arrived along with Hu Wei and Hu Wang Tian. "Fellow taoists, our sovereign his majesty is in danger, as his loyal subordinates we must help" said Lao Fu.

"Too true" Bear patriarch echoed the same sentiment. Many others nodded but others seemed hesitant. Lao Fu's group did not wait for them. Hu Wei had brought an army with him, over 100,000 Heavenly connection soldiers led by 4000 Crossing Tribulation generals. As a royal advisor Hu Wei had mobilised many soldiers but due to the short notice he could only scrape together several legions of elites.

"GO" commanded Hu Wei, "For his majesty". The army began charging forth. Hu Wei, Lao Fu, Bear patriarch, Mountain Breaking grandmaster and many others dived into Star kingdom territory. The Star kingdom is evidently committing treason and must therefore be purged.

"Halt" a loud voice rang out. Hu Wei was instantly on guard. Before the army stood the armies of Celestial Star kingdom. It was an opposing army of cultivators all of whom were at least late Heavenly Connection. Five men stood in the front all of whom had peak Martial Saint cultivation realm. They stood before their armies looking nervous and sweating.

"Old Yan, do you really think you can stop us" called out Mountain Breaking grandmaster. The five custodians of the Star Kingdom frowned, their king and six brothers were locked in combat with Hu Wenxi. As such they're unlikely to receive their aid. They had brought the full host of their armies numbering into the millions. However the gap between Heavenly Connection soldiers, Crossing Tribulation elites and Martial Saint generals were incomparable to a even a host of Human Immortals.

Even with number advantage they will not win. What's more their nation's treasures were all in the Grand Chariot North Star Supreme formation at the moment. Still the men stood proud in gleaming starry armour. "We will not bend to you any longer peasant trash. Today a new dawn has come" cried the five Martial Saints. "Onwards men, for a new dawn" the millions of star soldiers began pooling their strength together.

"Its a battle formation" said the wise old Divine Phoenix Sage while stroking his black beard. Bear patriarch humphed and began sprouting furs on his body. For the men forming the Overbearing Celestial Star formation, they knew the moment they went into battle against these monsters they will all die.

"ATTACK!" The millions of soldiers formed the image of a miniature galaxy filled with millions of stars. These stars rushed towards the group of loyalists.

"DIE" cried out Mountain Breaking grandmaster who swung his pickaxe sideways. Hundreds of thousands of stars flickered out signifying the deaths of just as many solders. "KILL THEM ALL!" Divine Phoenix sage joined in with Taoist Infinity Heaven, Lao Fu, Hu Wei, and thousands of others.

The massacre had began. With so many Human Immortals present the Star kingdom's armies stood no chance. Thousands died by the second, the battle formation could only do so much in the face of such might.

Mid battle tragedy struck. Several experts Immortal Steel Sword, Immortal Free Wings and their sects decided to turn traitor. Steel Sword engaged Bear patriarch in combat much to the other's shock. "Don't blame us, Hu Wenxi is too oppressive, out destinies are much safer in their hands".

"Fucking traitors" Hu Wang Tian roared and attack an enemy saint. Their loyal vessels were not so loyal after all despite the efforts of the emperor. A massive amount of noble families and their saints had also turned traitor.

Hu Wang Tian was cornered by an equally powerful expert. "Brother Hu, please don't resist. Our families have been great acquaintances with each other" it was a noble Martial Saint, duke Zan. Hu Wang Tian recognised him as the grandfather of Hu Diyi's friend. Infact Hu Wang Tian also recognised the parents and families that turned traitor as being majority Hu Diyi's friends'.

ROAR!

The one sided battle had turned chaotic as suddenly the enemy numbers vastly increased in quality. More then 4 Human Immortals had turned traitor and began fighting back against loyalist forces. For the loyalists they still had more experts but their hastily put together army was simply too small.

Hu Wei called into his communication talisman, "How long are you going to take?". "Why don't you focus on me" cried an expert attacking Hu Wei. "Marquise Dong, you traitor and you Duke Yan I expected better" roared Hu Wei. The old man swiped his palms distorting space cancelling out the two noblemen's attacks.

"His majesty is nothing compared to the great sect leader, please understand" reasoned Duke Yan. The duke ripped trees from the soil and propelled them like arrows at Hu Wei. A sword crane suddenly appeared ripping the trees apart.

"Thank you patriarch Bai" said Hu Wei who began focusing on marquise Dong. The father of Bai San nodded and grabbed his sword proceeding to battle Duke Yan. The battle field had turned chaotic, even the renowned Li royal family were trapped in a sticky situation. Li Guxie is the greatest Martial Saint and managed to direct her forces to aid loyalists.

'This is getting out of hand' thought Lao Fu who was busy fighting another saint. More saints turned traitor then Human Immortals but that did slow the battle to a grinding halt. The turned saints were experienced masters and difficult to kill when fighting defensively. The battle was still on the loyalists side but the momentum was gone.

Suddenly from a distance a golden light shot across the sky. Flowery images of the creation of world can briefly be glimpsed in the ray of light. It rocketed past the battlefield ignoring it entirely. "Stop her" one of the star custodians yelled. Unfortunately they were too tied up and the light moving too fast.

It streaked across the sky directly towards the star city.

…

"Behind me" cried Hu Jin Shen to Hu Tong Shan who was carrying the unconscious Hu Lan Yue. The eldest crown prince shielded his siblings with one arm while the other shot a wolf head energy head out to destroy falling debris. Yi Guang and Nan Fan supported by Hu Wenxi's immortal power battled Yinying Yan.

Although the two fighters were powerful the battle was not going well. The buff by the Zodiac formation was gone and while Hu Wenxi's sand rat provided power to the two they still could not do much the True Immortal. "Pathetic" Yinying Yan threw his arms up stabbing Yi Guang in the stomach. The general stabbed his spear down into shadow as Yinying Yan faded backwards.

"For an Immortal you're surprisingly weak" mocked Nan Fan who landed besides Yi Guang and fed him a pill. Nan Fan quickly grabbed Yi Guang and dodged a shadow claw slash moving faster then the attack could land.

"Big talk for deadman walking" growled Yinying Yan. He constantly attacked the two who responded with defences and kitting methods. Yinying Yan was very fast but under immortal Qi enhancement Nan Fan was able to react and dodge. However Nan Fan realised a critical issue, he could not take the princes and princess and run.

"Yi Guang, attack when I distract him" Nan Fan raced before Yinying Yan before U-turning dodging Yinying Yan's vicious black whip blade. "Worms" Yinying Yan lashed at Nan Fan and kicked out meeting Yi Guang's spear. "Did you think it'll be that easy" the gaunt man kicked Yi Guang in the face and grabbed out at Nan Fan catching him by the arm.

Shadows rose up beneath them and a monstrous maw intending to swallow Nan Fan appeared. Sandy light formed on Nan Fan's free hand and he slashed down severing his own arm. The sandy immortal Qi damaged the shadow as well forcing the Yinying Yan to gasp. However the damage was not much at all.

"Brother shadow, you really having trouble?" The voice meant that the pale skinned man had arrived and indeed he and the old woman had finally caught up. Yinying Yan humphed looking away from the arriving forms of his compatriots.

"Its over" Yinying Yan swiped with thick black tendrils catching both Yi Guang ad the one armed Nan fan in the stomach sending them flying into buildings. The pale skinned man smirked maliciously approaching Hu Jin Shen. "Well we meet again princess, you're in so much trouble with me" the pale skinned man drawer his Khopesh when suddenly his group all leaped back avoiding pillars of sand and Yan Qi duking it out.

"Damn it their fights spilling everywhere" said a female voice. Hu Wenxi engaged a struggle with the Celestial Star king. Their battle had rattled the surrounding landscapes reforming it with each strike. The star city itself was in shambles with thousands crushed under rubble.

The spillage from their fight had caused problems for everyone on the ground. Jasmine and Yun Xiao Che also had to dodge to stay alive. Previously they chased after Nan Fan but Yinying Yan caught up before they did. Choosing Yun Xiao Che and her safety the Crimson Star princess and her censors stood back and watched.

"Not going to join" questioned the pale skinned man. Jasmine frowned, "Foreigners, you know as well as I that I am not strong enough. We are satisfied on spectating for now". The Crimson princess would of course interfere if Hu Jin Shen actually did get away but she recognised the superior strength of the foreigners.

Yun Xiao Che tugged at her dress and she nodded, 'They were all Human Immortals at leasts'. She held an irrational hatred to the royal family but she wasn't that stupid to endanger herself to mess with a host of Human Immortals.