The negotiations lasted a full eight months, an unimaginably protracted affair.
The envoys of the All Heavens Forces spent a great deal of time finally managing to press the terms down to about eighty percent of the initial asking price set by the human race. The condition regarding a Sovereign-level divine city was rejected, exchanged instead for other supreme treasures.
Only then did the human race reluctantly agree.
It could be said that all the All Heavens Forces were in immense pain, having paid a tremendous price. In return, the human race promised to release the suppressed powerhouses of the All Heavens Forces in three months, granting them freedom. This was also Ye Chen's intention.
"Good. Our various races will quietly await the human race's release of our people. We shall take our leave now!"
The envoys of the major forces piloted their divine ships and departed from the Qin Clan's Emperor Realm.
What the All Heavens Forces did not know was that those who had been suppressed long ago had already become Ye Chen's slaves, their divine souls enslaved, forever incapable of betraying Ye Chen.
However, due to the command of their master Ye Chen, these slaves could not disobey orders and would not reveal the fact of their enslavement. Everything remained as before. Unless an Ancient Monarch meticulously searched their divine souls inch by inch, delving deep within, even an Ancient Monarch would be unable to detect it.
Gazing from afar as the enslaved powerhouses of the All Heavens Forces departed in a grand procession, Ye Chen revealed a cold smile. "All Heavens Forces, since you still covet my human race's Heaven-Fall Mausoleum, this time I will make you truly understand the devastating price of offending my human race."
When the powerhouses of the All Heavens Forces gradually returned to their respective races, it was discovered that aside from their somewhat weakened auras and the fact that the many supreme treasures on their persons had been stripped away, they were basically unharmed. This also allowed the major forces to breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, these powerhouses were the true backbone of their respective forces, indispensable.
"Hmph, human race. We originally thought these negotiations would drag on for decades or even a century before you were willing to release the powerhouses of our various forces. We never expected success in just eight short months. Although we paid a tremendous price, rest assured, this time we, the various forces of the All Heavens, will seize the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum no matter what."
The Emperor Clans and Immortal Clans of the All Heavens, as well as the Ancient Monarchs native to the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, all revealed threads of sinister chill as they gazed toward the Qin Clan's Emperor Realm in the Eighth Heaven Ancient Domain.
Without another word, they expended numerous elixirs, divine spiritual sources, cave heavens, and blessed lands to allow the returned, suppressed supreme powerhouses to recover quickly.
The All Heavens Forces were preparing themselves, their powerholders arming up, making the best preparations once more to attack the human race.
And this time, it would undoubtedly be the final war.
Faced with the human race, which had repeatedly made outrageous demands and extorted a huge price, the All Heavens Forces no longer held back. This time, they would sweep through with thunderous force, reclaiming all they had lost.
The Ten Heavens Ancient Domain seemed to have returned to its former tranquility.
Yet all living beings, numbering in the billions, could feel the terrifying great storm brewing beneath this calm, causing them all to tremble.
Second Heaven Ancient Domain, Cosmic Heaven City.
At the central mansion floating in the sky above this immortal ancient city left behind by a generation's Ancestral God, a figure stood aloft in the air. Layer upon layer of resplendent radiance cascaded around his body, as if encircling all heavens, transcendent and supreme.
It was precisely the Cosmic Heaven God King.
Behind him, several aged figures silently appeared, standing there. They were all old antiques at the half-step Divine King level.
At this moment, one old antique slowly spoke, carrying a trace of admiration. "Chieftain, over a decade ago, when the human race invited several members of our Cosmic Heaven Clan to enter the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum for enlightenment, this old one was still full of anticipation, hoping to gain enlightenment and break through within, increasing my hopes of becoming a Divine King by a fraction or two. Yet you stopped us. At the time, this old one was very puzzled. Now, I finally understand. You, Chieftain, saw far enough ahead, knowing the human race would eventually reach its peak and then decline. Otherwise, if our clan had gone then, it would have been akin to forming an alliance with the human race, ultimately placing us in opposition to the myriad races of the heavens."
Over a decade ago, at the height of the human race's glory, remembering the Cosmic Heaven Clan's past help to Ye Chen, they had granted several spots to this clan, allowing them to enter the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum to cultivate using these quotas.
Several half-step Divine King old antiques had been quite excited at the time, hoping to use this to increase their chances of breaking through the Divine King shackles. However, they were all stopped by their chieftain, the Cosmic Heaven God King, who said there was no hurry and it wouldn't be too late to wait a while longer.
Never did they expect that in just over a decade, the human race would undergo such a drastic change, reaching its peak and then declining. Peerless Monarch, Worldless Emperor Lord, and most of the other peak powerhouses had successively left, returning to the Sealed Universe.
Therefore, they felt a sense of retrospective fear. If not for the Cosmic Heaven God King's far-sightedness, they would have long been tied to the same rope as the human race, unable to escape even if they wanted to.
Moreover, facing those Emperor Clans and Immortal Clans, a mere Cosmic Heaven Clan was only a slightly stronger King Clan. To annihilate them would require no effort at all.
The Cosmic Heaven God King sighed.
This clan, known as Cosmic Heaven, was a clan capable of deducing the workings of the Heavenly Dao and divining fate.
The Cosmic Heaven Ancestral God of that generation, an Ancient Monarch, had left behind immortal, glorious achievements for resolving the Dark Blood Era precisely because he excelled at divination, still celebrated to this day.
It was also for this reason that he was targeted by several Sovereign-level Beast Gods of the Primordial Ancient Domain, ultimately falling.
Over a decade ago, the Cosmic Heaven God King had deduced some heavenly secrets. Although unclear, he could know that the human race was about to face an unprecedented great calamity. Therefore, he did not go and also stopped his clansmen from going.
The Cosmic Heaven God King gazed into the distance and sighed softly. "This time, the human race released those supreme powerhouses too early. If they had delayed for several more decades or even a century, it would have been better. They would have had more time to cultivate enough supreme powerhouses within the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum to have the strength to fight against the All Heavens Forces."
Regarding this, the Cosmic Heaven God King could not help but sigh.
"If the human race truly faces great difficulty and hardship, although we cannot help openly, we should help secretly as much as we can," the Cosmic Heaven God King instructed.
The several half-step Divine King old antiques, though puzzled as to why they should still lend a hand at this point, held deep respect for this chieftain from the bottom of their hearts, recognizing his long-term vision. They all nodded in agreement.
"Human race, I hope you can survive this calamity."
The Cosmic Heaven God King sighed inwardly.
Crimson Blood Lake, territory of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan.
Gu Jiuhua, Gu Qingyang, Gu Qingshan—father and sons—naturally learned of the news from the outside world, knowing of the terrifying crisis the human race was about to face, far surpassing the scale of the alien races from before.
This time, Gu Jiuhua directly proposed lending aid to the human race. Unsurprisingly, he received unanimous opposition from the clan's elders.
Faced with the overwhelmingly superior alliance army of the All Heavens Forces, a mere Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan, which even lacked a Divine King, helping the human race now would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot—utterly futile and a suicidal act.
However, Gu Jiuhua's will was firm. Unwilling to drag down his own clan, he directly abdicated his position as chieftain, advising the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan to immediately take refuge within the Dragon Tomb World. Under the protection of the Crimson Blood Dragon Emperor's old body, even an Ancient Monarch would not dare to force entry lightly.
Gu Qingyang insisted on following. Gu Qingshan was the same.
Gu Jiuhua originally wanted them to stay behind; they were the future hope of the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan. But both sons were resolute, determined to follow.
Regarding this, Gu Jiuhua could only nod helplessly in agreement.
Before leaving, a will transmitted from the Dragon Tomb World summoned Gu Jiuhua.
"I pay my respects to the Ancient Ancestor!"
Gu Jiuhua kowtowed and paid his respects before the tomb of the Crimson Blood Dragon Emperor.
Boom—
From within the massive dragon tomb, the Crimson Blood Dragon Emperor's old body pointed out a beam of crimson light that fell upon Gu Jiuhua, directly dissipating within the latter's body. It said, "Go. If a Sovereign-level battle truly erupts, you may shatter this crimson token. This seat will intervene for the human race once."
"Ancient Ancestor!" Gu Jiuhua was shocked. The newborn divine soul born from the Dragon Emperor Ancient Ancestor could only survive within the Dragon Tomb World. Once it left, there was a high chance the divine soul would shatter and annihilate.
The Dragon Emperor's old body said, "You need not ask more. Just go."
"Yes!"
Thus, Gu Jiuhua left the Dragon Tomb World.
Not long after, the will of the Dragon Tomb World transmitted fluctuations. "Ancient Ancestor, why help the human race like this?"
The Crimson Blood Dragon Emperor's old body said, "The human race will not truly face calamity. Back when the human Supreme One left, he left behind contingencies. A Supreme One naturally considers things far enough ahead. These All Heavens Forces are merely clowns making a scene. This intervention is also a gesture of goodwill released toward the human race."
Deep within the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion Master.
Upon learning of all this, his expression was grave, yet unexpectedly firm. "Old Brother, last time I failed to heed your words and help the human race. But this time, I will gamble once, standing on the side of the human race."
Within the Ten Heavens Ancient Domain, everyone felt the tense atmosphere, the sense of an impending storm. Aside from the Emperor Clans, Immortal Clans, and numerous King Clans attacking the human race, there were still quite a few top-tier forces that did not get involved.
A starved camel is still bigger than a horse, let alone the human race, which had once produced a Supreme One. They dared not easily involve themselves.
However, there were also some King Clans hoping to take advantage of the situation, to obtain some spots for enlightenment within the Heaven-Fall Mausoleum, choosing to join the alliance of the All Heavens Forces.
There were also some forces, like the Cosmic Heaven Clan, the Crimson Scale Demon Dragon Clan, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, and others, choosing to help the human race either openly or secretly. But these were ultimately in the minority. After all, over ninety-nine percent of people did not look favorably upon the human race, not believing they could survive this calamity.
At the same time, anticipating that the All Heavens Forces would inevitably launch the most fearsome war, although the human race had confidence and corresponding contingencies, they did not take it lightly. They also feared that this war might employ some unknown, terrifying trump cards.
The human race's many powerholders were also making urgent preparations.
With the many treasures extorted through outrageous demands from the All Heavens Forces, the human race could develop rapidly in a short time.
Led by multiple Quasi-Sovereigns, they inscribed formations. Divine Kings took action, preparing numerous war weapons.
The entire Emperor Realm was set into motion.
The human race's Ten Great Imperial Sons and Daughters had long since returned to their respective secluded cultivation sites to resume closed-door cultivation, continuing to undergo the constant tempering of the imperial legacies left by their forebears, hoping to advance further and contribute more power in the even more fearsome great war to come.