He Li, along with the divine army sent by the Divine Lord of Si’an, five demon kings, and Xia Min’ao, headed towards the central battlefield.
On the way, Xia Min’ao said, "The situation at the central battlefield isn't good. The Desolate King intends to increase support for the central battlefield. Divine Lord Shentu, Divine Lord Yiyao, and Xia Yeqi are facing five Desolate Lords, and they are struggling a bit."
"Five Desolate Lords?"
He Li sneered, "The balance of the central battlefield has already been broken. Sending me there now is clearly a death sentence."
"But they didn't expect you to have been promoted to Divine Lord," Xia Min’ao said.
He Li shook his head, "But I am not invincible. Even if I can handle most situations now, a clay pot is not immune to breaking, and a general is not immune to dying on the battlefield. Life and death are not things I can decide."
"I think the Desolate King intends to change the battlefield dynamics, consolidate the four surrounding battlefields, and increase investment in the central battlefield. Moreover, this isn't a sudden move; it should have started years ago when I arrived at the battlefield and entered the southern theater."
After a moment of thought, Xia Min’ao said, "You mean... the Divine King and the Desolate King are both targeting you?"
He Li's eyes narrowed slightly. He turned to look at Xia Min’ao and smiled, saying, "Min’ao, from the moment I was born on Earth, many things were already decided."
Xia Min’ao's smile faded, and he looked at He Li blankly.
He Li smiled brightly and said magnanimously, "Don't look at me with pity. I don't care. People have to live. Becoming a god means taking on more responsibility, and for that responsibility, I will fight to the death."
He Li paused, chuckled to himself, and murmured softly, "Isn't a person's life all about living for others?"
"There are those who live for me, and those who die for me. It's the same for me."
Xia Min’ao patted He Li's shoulder.
He Li shook his head and reached out to rub Xiao Lan's ear.
Xiao Lan looked up at He Li, who smiled dotingly.
Central Battlefield.
Divine Lord Shentu received divine texts from the Divine Realm, waved them away, and looked at Divine Lord Yiyao and Xia Yeqi sitting to his left and right. He said, "He Li has been promoted to Divine Lord and has now been transferred to the central battlefield.
Divine King Kuduo was killed while suppressing the Barbarian Ancient Town God and was swallowed by the river of time.
The Desolate Race intends to withdraw troops from the surrounding battlefields and deploy them to the central battlefield. Following Divine Lord He Li, more Divine Lords will be sent to reinforce the central battlefield.
I intend to divide the central battlefield into three sectors, each led by one of us Divine Lords. What do you two think?"
Divine Lord Yiyao did not speak but looked at Xia Yeqi. Divine King Xia Kuduo's promotion to Divine King and He Li's promotion to Divine Lord were both significant events for the Yu Ling Divine Race. Therefore, the division of the central battlefield depended on Xia Yeqi's decision.
Xia Yeqi raised his eyes from his silence, glanced at Divine Lord Yiyao, and then at Divine Lord Shentu, saying, "I have no objections."
Divine Lord Shentu breathed a sigh of relief. The Yu Ling Divine Race was arrogant, and Xia Yeqi was a prime example of their pride.
However, Xia Yeqi continued, "The divine army and the demon race that He Li brought must all be given to me, and the Divine Realm God of Huai Xi must also be transferred to me."
Divine Lord Yiyao's heart skipped a beat. Xia Yeqi was protecting He Li's reputation. He turned to look at Divine Lord Shentu, as the central battlefield was ultimately under Divine Lord Shentu's command.
"Certainly. That was my intention as well. The Divine King's wish is to protect He Li's life during the war, and I am confident in entrusting him to you. It is only reasonable for those demon kings who followed He Li to also be placed under your command," Divine Lord Shentu agreed without hesitation.
Xia Yeqi stood up and left the council hall without acknowledging the gazes of the two Divine Lords and dozens of Realm Gods.
Divine Lord Shentu felt no awkwardness. Xia Yeqi had ignored him even when he was a Realm God, and now that he was a Divine Lord, it was already a great show of respect that he was sitting below him.
At the entrance of the council hall, Huai Xi, who had successfully advanced to the Two Dawns Realm and was a Realm God, had been waiting for a long time.
"Is He Li coming?"
Xia Yeqi paused and nodded at Huai Xi, saying, "He has been promoted to Divine Lord. From now on, you are no longer under Shentu's command; you are transferred to mine."
Xia Yeqi walked forward, then stopped again, looking back at Huai Xi. "If you have feelings for He Li, say so early. Don't wait, and don't be like those two idiots from the Eastern Battlefield."
Huai Xi nodded slightly and watched Xia Yeqi's retreating back. After a moment of struggle, he asked, "What if he doesn't want to?"
"Why wouldn't he want to? How could he not?"
Xia Yeqi left without looking back.
Huai Xi lowered his eyes, feeling as if He Li had taken a step forward, and he had fallen far behind. He used to have to look down to see He Li; now, even looking up, he could barely see him.
Huai Xi stood at the entrance of the council hall, looked up at the sky, and sighed softly.
...
"The arrogant Yu Ling Divine Race," Divine Lord Shentu shook his head helplessly.
Divine Lord Yiyao glanced at Divine Lord Shentu and said, "After all, they are a remnant tribe from the Barbarian Ancient Era. Their temperament is different from ours, which is normal."
As Divine Lord Yiyao finished speaking, he asked, "Xia Yeqi, Xia Min’ao, He Li. Among the younger generation of the Yu Ling Divine Race, apart from Xia Fuling who is guarding the north, they are all gathered together.
Are we protecting the Yu Ling Divine Race?"
Divine Lord Shentu said lightly, "Haven't the battlefields already been divided?"
Divine Lord Yiyao looked at Divine Lord Shentu, a chill running down his spine. So, this was the purpose of dividing the central battlefield. Then, what would happen to the battlefield he was responsible for?
Shentu seemed to have seen through Divine Lord Yiyao's thoughts and said, "Divine Lord Yiyao, please rest assured. The Divine Race Expeditionary Army under my command will be transferred to you."
"Thank you, Divine Lord Shentu."
"It's nothing."
The calmer Shentu made Yiyao more fearful and worried. Shentu was from the Divine King's faction, and now the Divine King and the Yu Ling Divine Race were in a near-open conflict.
The twelve divine races within the Divine Realm had also taken sides, and many supported the Yu Ling Divine Race. His own Yong Divine Race's clan leader intended to support the Divine King, but Yiyao leaned towards neutrality. If necessary, the Yu Ling Divine Race was still trustworthy.
"I will take my leave now. If Divine Lord Shentu needs anything, you can send a mental message, or if there is a battle, we can wait for Divine Lord He Li to arrive," Divine Lord Yiyao said as he stood up.
Divine Lord Shentu grunted, "If there are any developments, I will inform Divine Lord Yiyao immediately."
The central battlefield had been divided into three sections by Shentu.
Not long after, the divine army led by He Li passed through the Desolate Race's defense line and arrived above the divine camp on the central battlefield.
"The Divine Lord guarding the central battlefield is Divine Lord Shentu, right?" He Li asked, looking at the divine camp on the planet below.
"That's right. He is at the peak of the He Yu Realm, and his strength is second only to Divine Lord Yu Qiang among all the guarding Divine Lords."
After Xia Min’ao finished, he added, "He is from the Divine King's faction. His position in the Divine King's heart is equivalent to that of your subordinate."
"I understand," He Li nodded. "So, he's the most trusted brotherly arm."
...