Chapter 18: Who Is the Culprit?
Kunlun Imperial Capital.
The Heavenly Emperor Dijun suddenly sensed an anomaly in the heavens and earth, and turned to investigate its origin.
Upon discovering that Athena was engaged in a fierce battle with the three great ferocious beasts—Qiongqi, Luozhi, and Ao'en—Dijun’s brows furrowed deeply. Then, he perceived some hidden information within the three beasts and immediately rose from his divine throne.
“Order! A human has colluded secretly with the ferocious beasts, an act that violates the laws of heaven and earth! If the human tribes do not promptly resolve this disaster, it will be regarded as a betrayal of the covenant between Heaven and Man!”
His sacred and solemn divine decree echoed throughout the entire Kunlun Imperial Capital, lingering for a long time.
The Heavenly Emperor Dijun’s command quickly reached the Twelve Divine Generals, who, though scattered in different directions, each received the imperial mandate.
The future contest for leadership of the human tribes’ alliance was ignited by the Heavenly Emperor Dijun’s proclamation!
——
Bear Tribe.
The tribal chief Xuanyuan was conversing with the visiting drought goddess Nüba.
At that moment, Mu Changge hurried back to the Bear Tribe, running urgently.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Xuanyuan sensed something amiss from Mu Changge’s urgency and suddenly felt a bad premonition.
“Quick… On our way back, we encountered the ferocious beast Qiongqi. Athena is battling Qiongqi—we must hurry to assist her!”
Xuanyuan’s pupils contracted sharply, and the drought goddess Nüba’s expression immediately grew serious.
“Lord Xuanyuan, I will accompany him to see,” Nüba requested without hesitation.
“Very well! Lady Nüba, please take Mu Changge to support Athena. We will bring reinforcements shortly!”
“Understood!”
Thus, Nüba swiftly flew toward the battlefield with Mu Changge.
The scorched earth, shattered mountains, severed rivers, the sky stained deep red and black, the dim sun, not a trace of life—this land was shrouded in despair, heavy and suffocating.
The combatants had vanished without a trace, as if evaporated from the world, leaving only the chaotic air currents that could tear flesh and draw blood, mourning the devastation of the great battle.
——
“Have we come too late?” Nüba shook her head, sighing at the ruined scene.
Mu Changge anxiously surveyed the area, searching for Athena’s figure in vain. After a long restless moment, he calmed himself and attuned to Athena’s presence.
Mu Changge shared an invisible bond with Athena, the snake goddess, through her divine emissary—a serpent. This mental connection now allowed Mu Changge to locate Athena.
Soon, Mu Changge pinpointed her direction and hurriedly led Nüba toward it.
After some flight, on a mountain some distance from the battlefield, Mu Changge found Athena resting in a cave.
Upon seeing Mu Changge and Nüba, the petite goddess relaxed and collapsed.
Mu Changge swiftly caught the fainting girl and, observing her wounds, felt a pang of sorrow and heartbreak.
——
Several days later, at the human tribes’ activity center in Chen Land.
The human sovereign Shennong sat high, expression cold and indifferent.
Below him were the young Flame Emperor Yuwang, Chiyou the leader of the Jiuli Tribe, Xuanyuan the chief of the Bear Tribe, and other tribal leaders.
Flanking them stood armed guards.
“Speak,” Shennong broke the silence. “Among you, who secretly colluded with the ferocious beasts?”
“Father, your son would never!” the young Flame Emperor Yuwang responded first.
“Your Majesty, I dare not!” the other tribal leaders followed suit.
Seeing none confess, Shennong’s fury surged, yet he restrained himself from cursing aloud.
“Fine! Fine! Refuse to admit it, then! Since none confess, there will be an investigation! I want to see who dares to consort with the ferocious beasts! The human tribes have been shamed!”
“Dismissed!”
“Yuwang, Chiyou, and Xuanyuan, you three stay!”
As Shennong’s words fell, all other tribal chiefs left in an orderly fashion, leaving only the three behind.
After the others departed, Shennong carefully scrutinized the three.
“Yuwang, who do you think colluded with the beasts?”
“Your Majesty, I do not know, but I earnestly beseech you to investigate thoroughly!” The young Flame Emperor chose cooperation, seeing this as an opportunity to leave a good impression.
“Chiyou, what about you? Your thoughts?” Shennong asked next.
“Your Majesty, I volunteer to be the first to undergo a thorough investigation!” Chiyou replied with righteous solemnity.
Lastly, Shennong turned to Xuanyuan.
“Your Majesty, that otherworldly goddess is in my tribe. I accept any punishment! It is my failure that the goddess was injured!” Xuanyuan interrupted him hastily.
Shennong withdrew the question he was about to ask. Yuwang and Chiyou glanced at Xuanyuan warily.
“Enough. I know the three of you all have designs on my throne.”
“Let me be frank: the day I ascend to the Heavenly Emperor’s seat is near!”
“I assign you three a task: whoever uncovers the human traitor behind this rebellion will be recognized as the next human sovereign!”
“Tomorrow, I will announce this to all human tribes. Prepare yourselves.”
“Understood!” they replied in unison...
Having spoken, Shennong rose and swept his sleeves, departing.
Yuwang, Chiyou, and Xuanyuan exchanged wary glances before each left separately after a brief silent standoff.
In truth, Shennong had already received news from the Kunlun Imperial Capital: this human upheaval stemmed from the succession struggle.
Shennong felt overwhelmed. Now, the ancient gods serving the human tribes had all returned to Kunlun, awaiting Heavenly Emperor Dijun’s command for a great purge of the ferocious beasts. Since Dijun had declared his stance, Shennong would not neglect it.
To hold the human sovereign’s position and suddenly learn that his subordinates—or more accurately, the heir candidates—were entangled with malevolent beasts was shocking beyond words. Moreover, he did not know who was responsible!
Besides publicly dispatching trusted agents to investigate each tribe, Shennong secretly ordered close confidants to conduct covert inquiries, yet all yielded nothing. The culprit was clearly cunning, adept at concealment. Worse still, the rivalry among Yuwang, Chiyou, and Xuanyuan had become overt, turning the human tribes into a powder keg.
Shennong could never have imagined that the ensuing battles of Zhuolu and Banquan would be the final chapters of this series of events.