“Transmit my order: capture the members of the Qingzhou Ye Family! Immediately! Move now!”
Upon hearing the command, the Black Robe Great Emperor bowed respectfully to Gu Lang Great Emperor. “Understood!”
The other Great Emperors present also followed the plan, stepping out of the main hall one after another.
Gu Lang Great Emperor slowly rose from his high seat and immediately flew toward the long-distance teleportation array in Yinzhou.
Capturing the Ye Family to force Ji Fuyao to enter Yinzhou alone—this plan was only half complete. How to escape afterward was the most critical part!
Before long, Gu Lang Great Emperor arrived at the teleportation array site. He had already halted all transport here under the guise of upgrading the formation patterns. The sole purpose of this formation was to ensure his safe departure with Ji Fuyao. Moreover, once he left, all the teleportation arrays would self-destruct to prevent the White Robe Great Emperor from pursuing him.
Gu Lang Great Emperor began inspecting the formation. Several Emperor-tier Array Masters from Yinzhou had been heavily rewarded and had been working day and night to reinforce the Great Emperor Formation Pattern Fragment, even embedding the power of a Hall Master’s Decree into the array. This made it strong enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Nine-star Great Emperor.
At this moment, the Array Masters were meticulously checking the patterns. Seeing Gu Lang Great Emperor descend, they immediately bowed in respect. “Gu Lang Great Emperor, the formation patterns are now foolproof! We guarantee it with our heads!”
Gu Lang Great Emperor nodded. “Excellent. Follow me and receive your reward.”
Hearing this, the Array Masters followed Gu Lang Great Emperor into a nearby pavilion.
Gu Lang Great Emperor’s lips curled into a slight smile. “You all know what this formation is for, don’t you?”
A grey-robed elder replied, “It is likely that Gu Lang Great Emperor is planning a major operation and intends to use this to leave…”
Before he could finish, Gu Lang Great Emperor swept his hand, and a terrifying divine light shot toward the grey-robed elder.
“Pfft!”
The grey-robed elder instantly dissolved into a mist of blood! His Form and Spirit Destroyed, he died instantly!
Seeing this, the other Array Masters were horrified and quickly backed away. “Gu Lang Great Emperor, we swear we will keep your secret!”
Gu Lang Great Emperor sneered. “Only the dead can keep a secret.”
As his voice fell, the remaining Array Masters were enveloped by an immense force. They had no time to react, turning into pools of blood and dying utterly and completely.
Gu Lang Great Emperor collected their Storage Rings, let out a cold snort, and immediately left the pavilion.
“Boom!”
Behind him, the pavilion instantly collapsed, turning into dust.
***
Blackflame Mountain Range.
Inside the Fuyao Imperial Palace, Ji Fuyao sat upon the Imperial Throne, her beautiful face cold and solitary. The assembled magnates had been enthusiastically discussing the preparations for the Fuyao Dynasty’s grand ceremony. However, the atmosphere instantly froze when news arrived of the Tianyuan Old Ancestor being severely wounded and besieged.
If the Grand Dao Sect was already in peril, how could a mere nascent Fuyao Dynasty hope to rise?
The Tianyuan Old Ancestor was gravely injured, and the White Robe Great Emperor was now being targeted by Foreign Magnates and Monster Race Magnates! It was only a matter of time before these powerful enemies descended upon the Blackflame Mountain Range. This place was rapidly becoming a death trap.
One by one, the leaders of the major powers who had intended to form an alliance rose to leave the hall.
A middle-aged man bowed slightly. “My apologies, Empress Fuyao. My Feng Family in Fangzhou needs to reassess the strength of the Fuyao Dynasty. We shall take our leave for now!”
Another black-robed elder made no attempt to conceal his contempt. “I think this so-called Fuyao Dynasty will collapse before it’s even established. Let’s disperse!”
Ji Fuyao’s expression remained icy as she watched them.
Wang Man, however, roared, drawing his Emperor Weapon. He glared at the black-robed elder. “What the hell are you saying?! Are you looking to die?!”
The black-robed elder was completely unafraid. He looked at Ji Fuyao and laughed mockingly. “I suggest that this Empress Fuyao, who has yet to attain the Emperor Realm, also leave the Blackflame Mountain Range quickly and return to the Grand Dao Sect. Otherwise, when the Foreign and Monster Races arrive, the Blackflame Mountain Range will likely be washed in blood!”
Veins bulged on Wang Man’s face, and he gritted his teeth. “I’d like to see who dares to leave today without the Empress’s permission!”
At this, many of the departing factions began to shout back.
“What? Is the Fuyao Dynasty planning to start a war with all of our states?”
At that moment, Ji Fuyao slowly rose from the Imperial Throne. Her fiery red dress seemed to burn like a raging inferno, and her voice was utterly devoid of emotion.
“Let them walk.”
With this order, the majority of the major powers swiftly departed, leaving only a handful of forces remaining.
Ji Fuyao looked at the few who stayed. “You may also leave.”
But the leaders of these remaining factions bowed deeply to Ji Fuyao. “Empress, we are willing to follow you.”
They were making a gamble! A gamble on the Grand Dao Sect, and a gamble on Empress Fuyao’s master being able to turn the tide. They were remnants of forces nearly annihilated by the Heavenly Net Hall in the past, and their only purpose in surviving was to see the Heavenly Net Hall destroyed. In the current Southern Wilds, only the Fuyao Dynasty possessed such fierce Willpower and potential.
Therefore, they refused to leave.
Ji Fuyao nodded faintly. “Very well. Then you shall stay.”
Wang Man and Qing Yan exchanged mysterious smiles. “Congratulations on making the correct choice! Unlike those chickens and dogs, those mere rabble!”
Foreign Magnates and Monster Race Magnates dare to approach the Blackflame Mountain Range? Ha! Peak Master Lu is right here! Peak Master Lu’s power is enough to bury the heavens, the earth, and all living beings. No matter how many come, they are only coming to die!
The remaining factions, seeing the calm, unwavering expressions of the Imperial Dragon Guards, couldn’t help but ask, “Is that White Robe Great Emperor truly fearless of the Foreign and Monster Race Great Emperors?”
The Dragon Guards replied, “Even if he carries the entire Blackflame Mountain Range on his back, he remains invincible in this world!”
These forces were shocked.
Wang Man and Qing Yan smiled faintly. “The time will come when you can witness his action for yourselves!”
Profoundly shaken, and having already chosen their side, the remaining factions immediately swore a Heavenly Dao Oath, submitting completely to Ji Fuyao.
Moments later, everyone withdrew from the main hall.
Ji Fuyao looked to the side and murmured, “Master, I have a bad premonition.”
Chen Changsheng immediately appeared, clad in a white robe, his face obscured by brilliant divine light. He perfectly mimicked Lu Xuan’s casual tone. “No matter. When the time comes, I will act.”
***
Qingzhou.
Qingcheng, Ye Family.
The Ye Family Old Ancestor and Patriarch Ye Changfeng gathered in the main hall for a discussion.
Patriarch Ye Changfeng said, “Old Ancestor, the news of the Grand Dao Sect’s Tianyuan Old Ancestor being severely injured and besieged is causing a huge stir. There are also rumors that Foreign Great Emperors and Monster Race Great Emperors are preparing to descend upon the Blackflame Mountain Range to attack Peak Master Lu. What should we do about this?”
The Ye Family Old Ancestor’s heart stirred, but he maintained his composure. “No matter. Since Peak Master Lu has said nothing, then everything is under his control.”
Ye Changfeng sighed with emotion. “This storm is truly too great! Even the Ancient Qin Family, a power as strong as they were, was annihilated by the Grand Dao Sect in a single day! The Grand Dao Sect certainly has deep foundations, but it cannot withstand the siege of so many Overlord-level Powers!”
The gathered Ye Family Elders nodded in agreement.
The Ye Family Old Ancestor declared, “However, Peak Master Lu is invincible! As long as he remains, the Grand Dao Sect will stand firm!”
Just then, a sudden, terrifying change occurred.
“Boom!”
“Crack!”
Above Qingcheng, the void tore open, and space warped violently! An incomparable, terrifying aura emanated from the spatial rift. Overwhelming Emperor pressure surged out like a reversing ocean, filling the entire region of Qingcheng. It felt like stars were falling and a hundred thousand mountains were descending at once.
Instantly, every cultivator in Qingcheng felt an intense dread. Their souls trembled, and their bloodlines could barely be suppressed, threatening to burst from their meridians!
Terror! Unfathomable power!
Everyone looked up at the void. What kind of powerful magnate was descending upon Qingcheng?
In the next instant, a massive, angular object appeared within the spatial rift, shining brilliantly like a rising sun. Following it, an ancient, formidable token materialized, suspended in the air. Its surface flowed with dazzling Dao patterns, like glittering stars, and an ancient, overwhelming aura permeated the world.
The ancient token flashed continuously, and two incredibly brilliant, archaic characters slowly emerged.
“Heaven! Net!”