Chapter 1064 — The Ancient Gods of the Five Stars

The Lord of the Zhen Star commanded the Dao of Death and was the ancient god of death; the Lord of the Yinghuo Star commanded the Dao of Plague and was the ancient god of plague; the Lord of the Chen Star commanded the Dao of slaughter and punishment and was the ancient god of war; the Lord of the Taibai Star commanded the Dao of fortune and calamity; and the Lord of the Sui Star commanded the Dao of life and sacrifice.

The Lord of the Zhen Star and the Lord of the Yinghuo Star had taken up residence in Youdu, as feudal lords through whom the Heavenly Emperor restrained Tu Bo; the Lord of the Chen Star and the Lord of the Taibai Star had ascended to Xuandu, as feudal lords through whom the Heavenly Emperor restrained the Lord of Heaven.

The Lord of the Sui Star was nearest to the Yuan Realm, dwelling just beyond it.

Under these five star lords were countless deities of natural calamity, and to invite their descent, a grand sacrifice had to be held.

The food of the demigods was the acquired living beings of the human race and other races, while the food of the ancient gods was demigods and the acquired races; only with sufficient offerings could the ancient gods of the Five Luminaries come to the Yuan Realm.

One of the demigod clan chiefs said, "Divine Emperor, there are still many humans in our territory unwilling to move away. Besides these humans, there are the slaves of various races we have captured—they too can serve as offerings."

Divine Emperor Langxuan said, "Then let them be used for the blood sacrifice, to bring the ancient gods of the Five Luminaries down. If that is not enough, then attack the other races of the Yuan Realm and seize more slaves!"

At last the altars were prepared, and the offerings were brought to the altars.

Divine Emperor Langxuan conducted the blood sacrifice, and at once bloody light surged to the heavens. The sky turned the color of blood, and within that bloody glow five stars grew larger and nearer—yet they seemed separated by a layer of space, as though they stood in another world.

Upon those five stars were thousands of palaces and countless gods and demons. The Yinghuo Star was filled with gods and demons with ox heads and human bodies, their feet treading twin dragons; the Zhen Star had gods and demons with human heads and serpent bodies; the Sui Star had gods and demons with human heads, bird bodies, and bird feet, treading azure dragons; the Taibai Star had gods and demons with tiger heads and human bodies, bulging eyes and white brows, wielding bronze battle-axes.

The Chen Star had gods and demons with human heads, red hair, and serpent bodies, holding tridents.

The demon gods upon the five luminary stars all absorbed the power of the blood sacrifice—a veritable dance of demons.

"Worthy nephew, the offerings you have presented are not many."

The five stars drew nearer and nearer. The five calamity stars appeared above the Yuan Realm, yet they did not pass the Yuan Realm's world barrier—plainly the offerings were insufficient, and they could not descend.

The Lord of the Zhen Star chuckled. "The souls and flesh you have offered are too few, and all of them inferior goods. You are rather stingy. Why not sacrifice a few of your own descendants? Your bloodline has had me drooling for a long while."

Divine Emperor Langxuan gritted his teeth and bowed. "Uncles, Heavenly Venerable Mu brings calamity to the world, violates the laws of heaven, and humiliates the divine race—which is to humiliate you, my uncles. I beg you, my uncles, to descend."

The sky twisted. The five star lords left Youdu, Xuandu, and beyond the heavens, came down from the sky, and landed upon the altars. They seized the offerings and ate. Chaos reigned around altar after altar; the humans and the living beings of other races given in sacrifice ran wildly in every direction—but where could they flee?

When the five star lords had eaten their fill, the Lord of the Chen Star said, "His Majesty's decree reached us as well. Seizing Heavenly Venerable Mu is our duty. But that one called Niu Ben—he is not at his side, is he?"

At the grand gathering at the Jade Pool in years past, Niu Sanduo had gone by the name Niu Ben. Possessed of vast divine arts, he had run wild through the Heavenly Court and wounded countless ancient gods; thus even the five star lords held some fear of him.

Divine Emperor Langxuan bowed. "Niu Ben is not at his side."

"That is well, then."

The Lord of the Sui Star stroked his lips and smiled. "Worthy nephew, your descendants are tasty, and you have bred so many—you will not mind if I eat a few?" So saying, he reached out his hand, thrust it into the Langxuan Divine Palace, seized several men and women, and put them into his mouth.

Divine Emperor Langxuan was shocked and enraged, and slapped the table with a furious shout—when suddenly the Lord of the Zhen Star's tail swept out, lashed him across the face, and knocked him to the ground.

"Worthy nephew, you are merely the leader of the demigods. Your strength was given by us ancient gods, and your status was given by us ancient gods as well."

The Lord of the Zhen Star planted his ox hoof on his back, the Great Dao of Death binding him tightly. "What great matter is there in eating a few of your descendants?" he laughed. "Do not forget who the true rulers of the cosmos and the primordial wilds are!"

For all his strength, Divine Emperor Langxuan could not resist. Facing the ancient gods—he who had lived through the Blood Rust Campaign, who could even slay the overlords among the Creators single-handed—had no way to fight back, no matter how boundless the power he possessed. He had realized this long ago.

Divine Emperor Langxuan lowered his head. "Your nephew knows his fault. I beg you, uncle, for my father's sake, to forgive this junior."

The Lord of the Zhen Star withdrew his ox hoof and smiled. "They say you are the Eastern Emperor's son, and I must grant the Eastern Emperor some face, so I will not make things hard for you. Heh heh. To you, Heavenly Venerable Mu's divine arts are an insoluble puzzle; to us ancient gods, his divine arts have merely brushed the edge of the Dao—he will be taken with ease. Prepare a feast of blood and set out a victory banquet. We will be back in no time!"

Whoosh—

Countless grotesque gods and demons flew out from the five stars into the sky. Each of the five star lords commanded a great army, treading dragons of every hue, and they streaked away with a howl.

Divine Emperor Langxuan rose silently to his feet, his gaze dark, and watched the five star lords lead their host into the distance.

"Divine Emperor, how does humiliation taste?" Heavenly Venerable Hao walked out from the Lingxiao Hall of the Langxuan Divine Palace, smiling.

Divine Emperor Langxuan's four faces were ashamed and furious at once. "Why must Heavenly Venerable Hao humiliate me further?"

Heavenly Venerable Hao gazed quietly after the departing five star lords. "Though the demigods are the descendants of the ancient gods and possess powers inconceivable in mortal eyes, all the power the demigods hold comes from the ancient gods. They know the how but not the why. You are very strong, yet against the ancient gods you are helpless. Do you know the reason?"

Divine Emperor Langxuan shook his head.

"Divine arts!"

Heavenly Venerable Hao smiled. "The mere command of water, fire, wind, and thunder does not count as divine arts. You have boundless strength, yet you do not know where true divine arts come from. True divine arts come from the Dao! I was wounded by Heavenly Venerable Mu and lay on a sickbed for a thousand years, and at last I have understood the source of his power. His divine arts have entered the Dao!"

Divine Emperor Langxuan's eyes went wide. He murmured, "Divine arts entering the Dao..."

"Just so."