The Human Emperor

Chapter 1852: Enigmatic Phantom!

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

“Child of Destruction, the time has not yet come. What need is there to be so impatient?”

The High Priest’s familiar and mysterious voice resounded through Wang Chong’s mental domain.

Buzz!

Wang Chong’s face twitched upon hearing ‘Child of Destruction’. He had been heading for the giant bronze cauldron, but at this moment, with a heavy heart, he turned toward the High Priest.

“‘Child of Destruction’? You’re a member of the Celestial God Organization!”

Wang Chong’s voice rumbled in the High Priest’s mental domain. At present, the only people who knew the title ‘Child of Destruction’ and associated it with him were the members of the Celestial God Organization, the organization of the men in black.

The High Priest had mysterious origins, and not even those in the Arabian Empire knew of his true history. In his memories, Masil had regarded him as a god. Wang Chong had many speculations about who this man was, including that he belonged to the organization of the men in black.

However, the highest leader of the men in black Wang Chong had interacted with so far was True Lord Yellow Dragon, but True Lord Yellow Dragon and the High Priest resided distantly from each other, one in the east and one in the west. In addition, in terms of appearance, while True Lord Yellow Dragon was powerful, he had the face of an easterner. The Tianfu Divine Lord had also had a typical eastern face.

With regards to the Celestial God Organization, it only existed in the records of the Book of Paimon. In the west, this organization had vanished without a trace and no longer seemed to exist. Thus, after some thought, Wang Chong had rejected the possibility.

But to Wang Chong’s surprise, the reality turned out to be completely different.

“Heh! Yes, but also no.”

The High Priest’s thoughts came out of the void, the void faint and drifting.

“Although I know that you are the Child of Destruction, that does not mean that I am a member of the Celestial God Organization, nor does it mean that only members of the Celestial God Organization know your identity!”

Wang Chong couldn’t help but deeply frown at these words.

The High Priest spoke in a mysterious tone that made it impossible to extract any useful information from his words. There was just too little known about him. The fact that the High Priest possessed such powerful Psychic Energy but did not excel in martial arts made him completely different from any individual Wang Chong had encountered in the Celestial God Organization.

“Just who are you?” Wang Chong sternly said. The High Priest was becoming more and more shrouded in fog. If he was not a member of the Celestial God Organization, who was he? Was there a power in the west that was just as powerful as the Celestial God Organization but not a part of it?

But from the Book of Paimon, it appeared that the Celestial God Organization was an extremely forceful faction. Would one permit another to snore right next to their bed? Would the Celestial God Organization permit an organization to exist in the western world outside of its control?

After all, the High Priest was strong enough to influence secular authorities!

Wang Chong found this person far too mysterious!

“Heh!”

The High Priest softly chuckled.

“I will not answer you. Whatever you’re planning, go back. With me here, you cannot succeed. Or perhaps you wish to start the battle early? A major battle will take place soon, but if you want to have the decisive battle now, I will not refuse!”

Wang Chong deeply frowned. It was practically impossible to tell if the High Priest was telling the truth or speaking lies. He claimed to not mind a match, but that was not necessarily his true intention.

While Wang Chong also hoped to force out his true strength and explore the depths of his power, he quickly ruled the idea out. The High Priest might have been trying to intentionally provoke him.

Moreover, he could fight with the High Priest at any other time. There was no need to rush it. As the commander of the army, he had the role of presiding over the center and obtaining victory in tomorrow’s battle.

But retreating was also not Wang Chong’s style!

“Since that’s the case, I’ll give you what you want!”

There was a loud laugh, and before the High Priest could react, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy gathered into a massive sun, radiating immense heat as it hurtled at the High Priest’s Psychic Energy.

Supreme Art, Blazing Sun!

Wang Chong used the technique he had once used against Masil. Psychic Energy was formless energy that belonged to the dark and gloomy side, but Wang Chong’s Blazing Sun was bold and upright, completely different from the energy of other Psychic Energy practitioners, and almost all of them would have to fear this technique.

It was why Masil had been so afraid of Wang Chong back then.

Boom!

The two Psychic Energies clashed, and when they did, even the High Priest was forced to grimace. He thought that Wang Chong would be somewhat more restrained in order to be ready for tomorrow’s battle. Instead, he had unreasonably chosen to fight.

Buzz!

As the High Priest was momentarily distracted, Wang Chong split off a part of his Psychic Energy and sent it streaking toward the cauldron.

“Not good!”

The High Priest hadn’t expected this to be a diversion. Boom! His Psychic Energy instantly obliterated that wayward streak of Psychic Energy, but he had been just a little too slow. At that final moment, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy had been able to reach the cauldron.

Boom!

At the moment his Psychic Energy touched the cauldron, Wang Chong was finally able to see the thing within. His world suddenly went dark, and in this dark world, Wang Chong saw a phantom that was even larger and fiercer than a Behemoth, bursting with brutality, insanity, and destructive energy. It seemed to desire the annihilation of all things.

So great was the chaos and destruction in this energy that Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy was afflicted upon contact, infected with this terrifying darkness and ultimately burned to nothing.

What in the world was that?!

Wang Chong was greatly shaken, his mind in turmoil. That massive phantom and the dark world disappeared so quickly that he almost thought it was an illusion, but the impression made in that brief second was far too deep.

“Child of Destruction, withdraw! You will not have another chance!” the High Priest warned, his Psychic Energy seeping into the bronze cauldron and sealing it. No more energy leaked out, and not even Wang Chong’s True World could see what was within.

Wang Chong now realized that the seal on the cauldron had been left by the High Priest. It was the only way he could explain the High Priest being capable of controlling the cauldron.

“Hahaha, High Priest, I’ll be waiting for you tomorrow!”

With these words, Wang Chong’s Psychic Energy receded like the tide. He had gotten enough from this probe. The rest could wait until tomorrow.

Buzz!

The darkness fell silent, except for the sound of gusts of wind. The High Priest stood in the base and did not pursue. Meanwhile, Wang Chong quickly returned to the City of Steel.

Unbeknownst to even Wang Chong, as he was returning to the City of Steel, the Nightmare Beast core that he had obtained from the Origin Immortal Treasury trembled in his bosom as if resonating with the distant cauldron. But a moment later, the Nightmare Beast core went still as if nothing had happened.

……

As the front line in the northwest was fraught with tension, so was the Central Plains behind it. Countless people were keeping a close eye on this battle that would decide the destiny of the Great Tang.

In the capital, this mood was so thick that many places were still lit in anticipation of an update from the northwest.

Whoosh!

At daybreak, a messenger bird finally came from the northwest with the latest news.

“What? We won the first battle?! Hurry! Hurry! Post this news all over the capital! I’ll pay for the printing expenses!”

In a large restaurant in the northwest part of the capital, the owner had waited the entire night for news. He was extremely sleepy, with deep bags under his eyes, but this news flooded him with excitement that swept away his fatigue.

A few moments later, this news was spread throughout the capital.

Numerous residents of the capital had been waiting throughout the night. The war in the northwest was no longer just a matter for the Bureau of Military Personnel, but for all the people of the realm.

One hour later, large crowds had gathered in front of the posters, and two hours later, before the markets had even opened, the streets were packed with people.

Many of them had black bags under their eyes. It was clear that they had spent many restless nights tossing and turning in their beds.

These people could not take part in the battle, but all of them had been waiting and supporting in their own ways. The restaurants and tea houses were already open and were treating these early-risers and sleepless citizens at no charge.

“Won? We won!”

“Hail the Great Tang!”

“Hail the King of Foreign Lands!”

With the night past, the news of victory in the first battle in the northwest began to spread to the common people, and the capital exploded in cheers.

An army of 3.8 million was a force that the Great Tang had never fought before. The empire was in a precarious situation that left everyone nervous and sleepless. The people were in dire need of a victory like this to raise their confidence.

Although it was only the first battle, it allowed many people to relax.