“...as long as you capture and kill Ji Fuyao, you can directly obtain her complete Memory Image.” A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the assembled elders. The key was the Cangyuan Stone. This artifact, inscribed with the unique Dao patterns of the Silent Destruction Sect, could absorb the target's spiritual memories. It could only be opened via a secret art; attempting to forcefully break it would cause the Cangyuan Stone to self-destruct, annihilating the Memory Image within.
The Silent Destruction Old Man turned to Elder Qianyun. “Elder Qianyun, you are responsible for distributing the Cangyuan Stones outside the Forbidden Zone. At the same time, issue the Silent Destruction Sect's Must Kill Order!”
Elder Qianyun nodded. “Understood.”
The Silent Destruction Old Man spoke in a chilling, deep voice.
“This time, I shall release a heaven-shaking bounty, targeting only the Grand Dao Sect's Azure Mystery Peak!” He sneered. “Though the White Robe Great Emperor's influence is vast in the Southern Wilds, a great reward inspires great courage! When the bounty is merely an Attain Emperor Opportunity, people will be tempted. When it is a high-star Great Emperor Opportunity, cultivators in the Southern Wilds will dare to take risks. When the reward is a Nine-star Great Emperor Opportunity, they will dare to ignore the White Robe Great Emperor entirely! And when the reward is a Half-step Supreme Opportunity... they will become suicidal zealots!”
The voice dropped, and the elders were profoundly shocked. The Silent Destruction Old Man was offering a Half-step Supreme Opportunity! This news would surely ignite chaos across all states in the Southern Wilds.
Elder Qianyun immediately contacted the various factions the Silent Destruction Sect supported in the Southern Wilds, using major merchant guilds to disseminate the message and circulate large quantities of Cangyuan Stones.
Within a single day, the Silent Destruction Sect's bounty shook the entire Southern Wilds. Major merchant guilds across the states rushed to publish the decree, using spiritual runes to project massive, glowing lists onto their tallest towers.
“Bounty for the head of the White Robe Great Emperor: Half-step Supreme Opportunity!”
“Bounty for the head of Ji Fuyao: Half-step Supreme Opportunity!”
“Bounty for the head of Ye Chen: Attain Emperor Opportunity!”
“Bounty for the head of Chen Changsheng: Profound Venerate Opportunity!”
“Bounty for the head of Lu Xuan: One Low-grade Spirit Stone!”
An additional condition was that anyone who killed a member of Azure Mystery Peak must use the Silent Destruction Sect's Cangyuan Stone to extract their Memory Image.
All cultivators—human, foreign, and demon—were wildly excited. The Silent Destruction Sect, a major power from the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, was clearly declaring an eternal war against the Grand Dao Sect!
Everyone gasped. “A Half-step Supreme Opportunity! That is an immense gesture!”
“If obtained, a Nine-star Great Emperor could directly step into the Half-step Supreme realm!”
“They even put a bounty on the White Robe Great Emperor this time!”
Everyone stared at the list. While they might risk their lives for the other bounties, the reward for the White Robe Great Emperor was too dangerous. Who in the Southern Wilds would dare attack the White Robe Great Emperor? Perhaps only those Supreme Factions that possessed ancient heritage would have the audacity.
Evidently, Ji Fuyao’s bounty was the most tempting. As the White Robe Great Emperor’s senior disciple, her reward was also a Half-step Supreme Opportunity!
Everyone’s gaze shifted to the bottom of the list, pointing at Lu Xuan’s bounty and collapsing into laughter.
One Low-grade Spirit Stone?
Anyone attempting to kill Lu Xuan would be making a definite loss! The cost of fueling a spirit boat just to Traverse the Void to the Grand Dao Sect would require spending massive amounts of High-grade Spirit Stones, far outweighing the reward.
“Lu Xuan's bounty is purely there to fill space!” people roared with laughter. “I can't believe even the magnates in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone know the great name of Lu Xuan now! Hahahaha!”
Instantly, the powerful experts across the states were in an uproar. This bounty was too alluring.
However, the White Robe Great Emperor had previously warned the states that if anyone dared to use their superior strength to bully the younger generation, he would kill them without mercy. This caused some hesitation.
But the Half-step Supreme Opportunity was too tempting; it was worth the risk! If they could kill Ji Fuyao and somehow evade the White Robe Great Emperor’s wrath, their faction would surely rise to prominence.
As the bounty decree spread, undercurrents began to surge across the states. Ji Fuyao was currently outside the Grand Dao Sect, annihilating a Heavenly Net Hall Branch. This was the perfect opportunity! Strike while the iron was hot!
Faced with such a heaven-defying reward, they were willing to gamble everything. In the shadows, some factions were already preparing, while others waited, observing the situation.
***
Supreme Profound Sect.
Yuan Qingzi was currently performing the Great Emperor Dao Pattern Baptism for Nangong Baixue, Chu Yuan, and others. Upon hearing the news of the bounty, his lips curled into a slight smile.
“Excellent. With this reward, the stream of people attempting to assassinate Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen will be endless! The Silent Destruction Old Man's 'Borrowed Knife Strategy' is truly brilliant!”
Sect Master Wei Qianhan's eyes gleamed darkly. “Not only that, but the Silent Destruction Old Man is actively making enemies for the Grand Dao Sect! It's killing two birds with one stone. This is an Open Conspiracy.”
Yuan Qingzi stroked his beard and chuckled. “Indeed! Although the Silent Destruction Sect cannot step out of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Zone, the Grand Dao Sect similarly dares not step in. In the future, the Grand Dao Sect will continuously make enemies on all sides, eventually offending all the major powers in the Southern Wilds.” The Sect Master Wei Qianhan’s mood instantly improved.
***
The Yao Family.
Yao Baili secretly entered Sin Valley and relayed the news to Yao Liuli. Yao Liuli’s eyes filled with worry. “Chen’er, what should we do? An Attain Emperor Opportunity bounty will surely tempt countless Saint Kings, Half-step Emperors, and Quasi-Emperors to take the risk.”
Yao Baili reassured her. “Chen’er should be fine. He is still at the Grand Dao Sect, and besides, provoking the White Robe Great Emperor just for an Attain Emperor Opportunity is incredibly unwise.”
Yao Liuli's delicate body trembled. “I hope so.”
Shortly after, Yao Baili returned to the Yao Family main hall. Old Ancestor Yao Quan issued a secret decree, ordering the Yao Family's Great Emperors and Death Warriors to move against Ji Fuyao.
Yao Baili was stunned. “Old Ancestor, please reconsider!”
Old Ancestor Yao Quan snapped, “Silence!”
***
Grand Dao Sect, Azure Mystery Peak.
Lu Xuan, Chen Changsheng, and Ye Chen were enjoying a meal at the stone table. Chen Changsheng, ever the nervous one, relayed the Silent Destruction Sect's bounty list.
Lu Xuan paused, picking up a piece of Golden Crow Stewed Spirit Mushroom. “Huh? My head is only worth one Low-grade Spirit Stone?”
Ye Chen frowned, confused. “Why is Senior Sister's bounty a Half-step Supreme Opportunity, but mine is only an Attain Emperor Opportunity?”
Chen Changsheng was utterly dumbfounded. What the actual hell is this brain circuit? he thought, exasperated. Shouldn't we be worried about Senior Sister's life right now?
Chen Changsheng looked at Lu Xuan. “Master, perhaps we should recall Senior Sister immediately. Annihilating a Heavenly Net Hall Branch is secondary!” This was a Half-step Supreme bounty! Countless desperate fanatics would rush to kill her!
Lu Xuan remained completely Calm and Collected. He waved a dismissive hand. “It's just a trifling bounty. I have been keeping an eye on Fuyao. If a Two-star Great Emperor attacks, or even a Three-star Great Emperor, I will not intervene. But if any high-star Great Emperor dares to make a move, I will kill them without hesitation!”
Ye Chen grew excited. “This is the true crucible of life and death! Master, why don't I leave the Grand Dao Sect too? I want to temper myself in this desperate situation!”
Chen Changsheng stared blankly. He was utterly speechless. I'm surrounded by lunatics!
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “If you wish to leave the Grand Dao Sect, wait until after the Great Emperor Dao Pattern Baptism. By then, you should have broken through to the Profound Saint realm. That will be the perfect time for some tempering.” Ye Chen nodded, his face flushed with excitement.
Lu Xuan patted Chen Changsheng's shoulder, chuckling. “Old Third, you and I are perfectly safe right now! Even if we left the Grand Dao Sect and were recognized, nobody would bother us.”
Chen Changsheng found himself completely unable to argue.
***
Chenzhou.
Ji Fuyao, clad in a flowing crimson dress, was a vision of destructive beauty. Her Emperor Weapon, the Heaven-Rending spear, had just instantly killed a Half-step Emperor.
Splat! Blood sprayed everywhere. The spear moved like a golden dragon, sweeping across the land. Beneath the cold moonlight, its metallic gleam was stained crimson.
An incense stick later, Ji Fuyao and her loyalists had annihilated the Heavenly Net Hall Branch in Chenzhou. On the ground, the slaughter was so immense that the blood was Flowing to Float Shields.
Ji Fuyao ordered Wang Man and Qing Yan to collect the cultivation resources from the branch. Wang Man and Qing Yan bowed respectfully. “As you command, Empress!”
Just then, Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes narrowed, a trace of solemnity crossing her exquisite face. She sensed a faint, almost imperceptible killing intent emanating from the many local factions that had been assisting her campaign.
Hmm? She was puzzled. What had happened?
Suddenly, a grey-robed man in the Saint King Realm shot out, fixing his gaze on Ji Fuyao. “Empress Fuyao, I challenge you to a life-and-death duel at the Saint King Realm! Neither of us shall use an Emperor Weapon. Do you dare accept?”