When the news of Chiyou’s tragic death reached the Southern Heaven, the Emperor of Flames (Yan Emperor) could not hold back his tears. The tears he shed were for Chiyou, but they unknowingly awakened a giant’s ambition. This giant was Xingtian, the martial minister of the Emperor of Flames. Xingtian had a passion for music and had composed songs such as Fuli Qu and Fengnian Ci in honor of the Emperor of Flames’ birthday. During the war between the Yellow Emperor and the Emperor of Flames, Xingtian had stayed behind to defend the southern territories.
When Chiyou raised his army for a northern campaign, Xingtian was eager to join the battle but was stopped by the Emperor of Flames. Now, hearing of Chiyou’s death and witnessing the sorrow of the Emperor of Flames, Xingtian could no longer contain his grief and anger. A mysterious voice seemed to call him to the north, urging him to challenge the Yellow Emperor directly.
With a shield in his left hand and a battle axe in his right, the giant silently left the Southern Heaven, embarking on a one-way journey. He knew that the path he had chosen would lead to his end, but he was resolute. He wanted to prove, with his courage and blood, that no one could mock the Emperor of Flames, and that his descendants and followers should never be humiliated.
Xingtian traveled alone, slaying enemies with unstoppable force, cutting through all opponents in his path. None of the Yellow Emperor’s generals could match his might. He pressed on until he reached the South Gate of the Heavenly Court, where he called out for a duel with the Yellow Emperor.
When Xingtian finally stood before the Yellow Emperor in the palace, even the experienced Yellow Emperor was surprised. He had never realized that the Emperor of Flames had such a formidable warrior under his command. As a seasoned general, the Yellow Emperor was calm and composed. Despite feeling unsettled inside, he picked up the Kunwu sword and prepared for battle, thinking to himself: “The warriors of the Emperor of Flames are all rebellious. This man is particularly bold, coming alone to challenge us. If I do not strike decisively, it will be hard to maintain control over the southern territories.”
The two combatants clashed fiercely in the skies, their swords and axes flashing like lightning. The heavens darkened, and the earth trembled. The battle raged from the Heavenly Court to the mortal realm, finally reaching the Western Changyang Mountain. This mountain was the birthplace of the Emperor of Flames, and not far from where the Yellow Emperor was born. Both combatants felt the weight of their respective histories as they fought on this sacred ground.
Xingtian, as a loyal servant of the Emperor of Flames, was fighting to restore what he believed was rightfully theirs. The world, he thought, should belong to the Emperor of Flames, but now it had been seized by the Yellow Emperor. He had to take back what was lost. On the other hand, the Yellow Emperor, seeing the prosperity and happiness of his people, did not want that peace to be shattered. The two fought on with ever-increasing intensity, neither willing to give up.
The battle continued for several days without a clear victor. Growing anxious, the Yellow Emperor decided to use a trick. In the heat of the battle, he suddenly shouted, “Five Tiger Generals, why are you not helping me capture this monster?”
Surprised by the sudden cry, Xingtian momentarily loosened his grip on his battle axe. In that instant, the Yellow Emperor’s Kunwu sword struck Xingtian’s neck. With a mighty crash, Xingtian’s massive head fell to the ground, sending a shockwave through the earth, leaving a large crater in the mountain.
However, Xingtian was a god, and even without his head, he did not die. Panicked, he began to search frantically on the ground for his severed head. He grasped at trees and broke branches, shattered rocks, and stirred up dust. He even tore up the earth in his desperation. His head, however, was right beneath his feet.
The Yellow Emperor, fearing that Xingtian might reattach his head, quickly struck again with his sword, splitting Changyang Mountain in two. Xingtian’s head rolled into the mountain, and the mountain quickly reformed, trapping his head inside.
Hearing the sounds of the earth closing, Xingtian realized his head had been buried. Enraged, he stopped searching for it, picked up his axe and shield, and stood up once again. Now, with his two nipples as eyes and his navel as a mouth, he continued to fight. The Yellow Emperor did not dare approach him and left, knowing that Xingtian was no longer the same opponent.
From that point on, the giant, now known as Xingtian, continued to fight on, his battleaxe always raised in defiance. As a symbol of his unyielding spirit, he became known as the God of War. To this day, he is said to still appear near Changyang Mountain, battling unseen foes with his mighty axe, a never-ending struggle for honor and revenge.