Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent-Chapter 181: Luo Feng Takes Action

The Ruler of Yuguo asked, “Brother Luo He, when can you make your move?”

After all, this was a sudden visit, and once Luo Feng acted, he would be facing pressure from the entirety of Shiguo. Such an action usually required prior preparation.

“Anytime,” Luo Feng replied with a smile.

“Good.” The Ruler of Yuguo was overjoyed.

How straightforward—Luo He was far too straightforward!

If all the Divine Kings on the Origin Continent conducted themselves so directly, the Ruler of Yuguo would have long befriended a great number of allies.

“Let’s wait one day,” the Ruler of Yuguo said. “I need a day to reclaim these Ten Chaos States. They currently have owners, and once Brother Luo He repels Shiguo, it would be much more troublesome to recover them.”

These Ten Chaos States were the ones closest to Huyang City, all located along the border. Given the dire situation, the Lord Hous of those fiefs were willing to sell.

But once the situation improved, they were, after all, territories that had been managed for countless years. For the Ruler to reclaim them then? Even if the Lord Hous agreed, the terms would certainly be steep.

“All right, I’ll wait for your word,” Luo Feng said.

“I’ll make arrangements now.” The Ruler of Yuguo stood up. Covered in fur, he looked sincerely at Luo Feng. “This time, Brother Luo He, you’re helping me. I will surely repay this favor.”

Luo Feng rose with a smile. “If I ever need the help of the Ruler of Yuguo, I will speak up.”

The Ruler of Yuguo promptly took his leave, bringing along the six attendants who had been idly feasting and drinking in Huyang City, and returned straight to the capital of Yuguo.

“To face the Heavenly Kun Ruler,” Luo Feng stood atop the pavilion of the City Lord’s Residence, his gaze cold and sharp.

He had agreed so readily—and even taken the initiative to lower the price—partly because he still remembered the gift of that Void Derivation Mother Tree leaf from the Ruler of Yuguo when he was weak. But more importantly, it was a legitimate reason to face off against several rulers of Shiguo in person, allowing him to experience the Heavenly Kun Ruler’s strength firsthand.

“After all, the opponent is at the Second Stage Divine King, and has also cultivated the Primordial Bloodline. Best to prepare in peace.” Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the pavilion, calmly waiting for the moment to act.

…

Within Jiugang City.

“Shiguo has launched a full invasion, with many border Chaos States already taken. Only my Jiugang Chaos State remains untouched.” The Jiugang Marquis frowned deeply. On one hand, he felt fortunate. On the other, uneasy.

As all surrounding Chaos States fell, the Jiugang Chaos State was now completely encircled by Shiguo’s territory.

This lone Chaos State was surrounded on all sides.

“Shiguo hasn’t attacked my Jiugang Chaos State. It’s certainly not because of me, but because of Divine King Luo He.” The Jiugang Marquis had long subscribed to Luo He’s intelligence services, though only at the basic level. The higher-tier intel was far too expensive.

“Divine King Luo He… rumors say that after becoming a Divine King, he possesses the strength of a hegemon. But these are just legends—never proven.”

“And even if he is a hegemon, Divine King Luo He is also a direct disciple of the Emperor, while the Heavenly Kun Ruler of Shiguo is closely tied to the Ancient Flame Kingdom’s royal family. For all I know, Divine King Luo He might even side with Shiguo.” The Jiugang Marquis was deeply uneasy.

In such chaos, he had no power to resist.

His fate depended on the two nations, and on Luo He’s stance.

“No matter what, Divine King Luo He is someone who values bonds.” The Jiugang Marquis had watched Luo Feng grow up in Huyang City.

“Jiugang,” came a sudden transmission from the Ruler.

The Jiugang Marquis was startled and responded respectfully, “My Lord.”

“I intend to reclaim your Jiugang Chaos State,” said the Ruler of Yuguo. “You may exchange it for another Chaos State deeper within Yuguo. Would you agree?”

The Jiugang Marquis was taken aback, but quickly replied, “Of course I would. However, the large city within my Jiugang Chaos State, Huyang City, belongs to Divine King Luo He. I only control part of the Jiugang Chaos State.”

“I know. I plan to use Shijiang Chaos State for the exchange,” said the Ruler of Yuguo.

“Shijiang Chaos State? That’s… it’s much larger than my Jiugang Chaos State, and far richer in resources,” the Jiugang Marquis replied. “But I do not have the right to exchange Huyang City.”

“This exchange is also Brother Luo He’s intention,” the Ruler of Yuguo said.

The Jiugang Marquis’ heart trembled.

Brother Luo He’s intention? Divine King Luo He had sided with the Ruler?

“The will of the Ruler and Divine King Luo He—naturally, I agree,” the Jiugang Marquis said.

“Good.” The Ruler of Yuguo promptly cut the transmission and moved on to contact the next Chaos Realm cultivator.

…

“Your Tianshui Chaos State, I intend to reclaim. I can compensate you with 300 billion Cosmos Sand and a large city in the heart of Yuguo. Do you accept?” the Ruler of Yuguo contacted the Tianshui Marquis. “Of course, if you choose to leave Yuguo, this compensation will no longer apply.”

When Chaos Realm beings were granted territory, the premise was eternal service to Yuguo.

Once one left Yuguo, they would automatically lose ownership of their fief.

“I am naturally willing to serve Yuguo. I am willing to exchange my fief for 3 trillion Cosmos Sand and a large city,” said Marquis Tianshui. Although leaving Yuguo granted him freedom and greatly reduced the danger, he would also lose access to these resources.

“Good,” replied the Ruler of Yuguo, who immediately contacted the next Chaos Realm.

Three trillion Cosmos Sand might seem like a lot, but each Chaos State produced an immense amount every era—between residence fees and numerous heaven-and-earth treasures, it could easily amount to over a hundred million Cosmos Sand per era.

A Chaos Overlord usually had a vast clan, so at the very least, they were granted one large city. Without it, sustaining the family would be difficult.

“Now that Shiguo has launched a full-scale invasion, I must at least exchange for a substantial amount of resources first,” Marquis Tianshui pondered. “In the future, a single large city will barely support my clan and subordinates. As for myself, I’ll probably receive nothing. These 3 trillion Cosmos Sand… will be everything I have for cultivation in the countless years ahead.”

“If I choose to leave Yuguo in the future, then according to the rules, I will have to return half of the 3 trillion Cosmos Sand.”

Marquis Tianshui weighed his options.

Not every Lord Hou had a complete Chaos State as their fief. It was also possible to choose a portion of resources and a large city.

Joining a nation came with great benefits.

Leaving, likewise, came with a price.

Under dire circumstances, the Ruler of Yuguo successfully reclaimed all ten Chaos States. Aside from Jiugang Marquis, who was reassigned to a more fertile Chaos State deeper within Yuguo territory, the other Lords Hou were only eligible to exchange for “3 trillion Cosmos Sand and a large city” or to choose to leave.

Among the remaining nine Lords Hou, six chose to exchange for resources, while three opted to leave.

Those three Chaos Realm territories had been completely overrun by Shiguo. Forced to relocate their entire families, they had little hope for Yuguo’s future and decided to seize the opportunity to sever ties entirely.

As for resources? By joining another kingdom, they could still gain them.

“We’re leaving. Shiguo is clearly more powerful, and the Heavenly Kun Ruler has more allies. Even if Yuguo survives this time, it will surely decline in the future.”

“This 3 trillion Cosmos Sand is not easily obtained! One must fight for it with their life, and if they want to leave in the future, they’ll have to return half… Better to choose a safer place.”

With that, the three Chaos Realm beings took their families and departed.

Naturally, the Ruler of Yuguo did not obstruct them. After all, the conditions for departure had been made clear when the Chaos Realms were recruited. Divine Kings would not easily break such publicly declared promises.

“Brother Luo He, all ten Chaos States have been recovered. You may now take action,” the Ruler of Yuguo conveyed via the Causal Transmission Order.

“That was fast,” said Luo Feng, who opened his eyes while seated cross-legged in the tower of the City Lord’s Mansion in Huyang City. “Next, leave it to me.”

……

Shiguo advanced along the entire border between the two nations.

Fuzhen Chaos State, Fuzhen City.

“Rumble~~~” An overwhelming army of Eternal True God-level beings had arrived above Fuzhen City, their presence filling the city’s inhabitants with terror.

Three terrifying figures stood outside the city.

One of them stood as tall as a mountain, even larger than the vast Fuzhen City itself. His mere breathing stirred terrifying storms. Just seeing such a colossal being from afar filled the city’s inhabitants with dread.

The second figure was slightly smaller but still stood as tall as the city walls, surrounded by crackling thunder.

The last figure was the smallest, yet the crimson light radiating from him obscured the entire sky. His aura was the most terrifying of the three.

“Marquis Fuzhen, do you intend to block our army all by yourself?” The mountain-like figure laughed thunderously, causing Fuzhen City to tremble. The city’s garrison troops lost all will to fight.

On one hand, the enemy’s coalition army was massive; on the other, the three Chaos Realm powerhouses could attack at any time.

“Marquis Fuzhen, if you have the guts, come at us.”

“Haha, we’ve slaughtered our way here, and all Yuguo has done is retreat. How boring.”

The voices of the three Chaos Realm beings from Shiguo echoed across the heavens.

Inside the marquis’ residence—

Wearing a gray robe, Marquis Fuzhen watched the scene with fury and helplessness. His “Fuzhen Chaos State” was not among the ten Chaos States chosen by Luo Feng. Even now, he was reluctant to abandon the fief he had cultivated for countless years.

“The Ruler has yet to issue any orders, and the four Divine Kings remain silent,” Marquis Fuzhen sighed. “Forget it. There’s no stopping them.”

Suddenly—

Buzz!!!

An invisible force of the world spread across all directions.

“What is this?” Marquis Fuzhen was shocked.

"Who is that?" The three Chaos Realm powerhouses of Shiguo turned pale. The world force that enveloped them was completely undisguised—tyrannical and terrifying. Even the weakest lifeforms could feel the overwhelming suppression of this power.

The entire sky darkened.

At that moment, it wasn’t just Fuzhen City—an area billions of times larger was enveloped.

Shiguo had invaded a total of twelve Chaos States, and Luo Feng’s world force now covered them all! These twelve Chaos States were far apart, beyond the range of Luo Feng’s main body in his World Life Form state.

But Luo Feng had dispatched two incarnations.

Even with only one-thousandth of the energy reserve, each incarnation far surpassed his former Chaos Realm level. The world force within each incarnation was intensely dense, and naturally developed an inner world, capable of projecting over a range covering up to eight Chaos States.

World Life Form—one true body, two incarnations.

His world projection was enough to blanket all the invaded regions.

“Buzz—”

All invading forces from Shiguo, including thirty-five Chaos Realm beings, were entirely enveloped by the world force.

“What is that?” Countless beings looked up and saw the sky suddenly turn into chaos.

“This…”

Only the Chaos Realm beings could clearly see—it was an incomparably massive face.

That face was enormous—so vast it exceeded the perceptual limits of Eternal True Gods. Only Chaos Realm powerhouses could see the true features of the face.

It was Luo Feng’s face!

Luo Feng looked down upon the twelve Chaos States. His face was so massive that even regions beyond the twelve states—including some areas within Shiguo—could see it.

Just seeing it struck fear into the Chaos Realm beings!

“I am Luo He.”

The massive face that filled the skies of the twelve Chaos States spoke, its voice calm. “At the invitation of the Ruler of Yuguo, I am here to deal with Shiguo’s invasion of Yuguo.”

His voice rolled thunderously across the heavens of the twelve Chaos States.

“This… this…” All of Shiguo’s invading forces and Chaos Realm beings stared in fear. At that moment, they felt that Divine Lord Luo He was the absolute master of the twelve Chaos States!

“Rumble—”

At Luo Feng’s thought, it was as if the heavens themselves roared in fury.

All invading armies and Chaos Realm powerhouses were swept away by the world force, expelled from every large city, and flung into the wild lands beyond.

“You little invaders from Shiguo—I’m giving you one day to retreat from Yuguo. Anyone who remains after that won’t ever need to leave again,” said Luo He’s massive face as it gazed down coldly upon the weak.