When the Nine States' Twelve Treasures were all gathered, a towering column of light erupted and instantly submerged the entire Qiantang Province.
As the "Divine Artifact Master," Tao Qian immediately possessed unimaginable authority and power.
At least in Qiantang Province, at that moment, he had no rivals.
Life and death were at his disposal!
He was omnipotent!
With a single thought, he could determine the life and death of thousands of Extraordinary Beings.
It was also at this moment that incredible Records began to surge in Tao Qian's mind.
"All Nine States' Twelve Treasures have been gathered... The artifacts have recognized their master!"
"This artifact was originally a core Fragment of the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique, possessing the power to annihilate all beings."
"The artifact is expanding, having already covered the whole territory of Qiantang Province and is now spreading to neighboring provinces."
"There is a price to pay for activating this artifact."
"But it is possible to disperse and mitigate the price by using other Fragments... Currently, no other Fragments are available..."
...
As the Records flooded in, Tao Qian also clearly understood what he could now do.
Slaughter!
The slaughter he had always wanted to conduct could now be accomplished.
At least within Qiantang Province, he could eradicate some specific targets, even if they were not present before him.
At this very moment, the people from the other Seventy-One Provinces were all watching Qiantang, watching the figure standing in the sky, like an "Innate Divine Spirit."
Everyone was curious about what changes had befallen Master Tao after gathering the Nine States' Twelve Treasures and what supernatural powers he possessed.
And Tao Qian himself, at this time, was also looking at a key Record in his mind, pondering his decision.
"All Nine States' Twelve Treasures have covered Qiantang; within this range, no Extraordinary Beings, whether alive or dead, can escape annihilation."
"If the restrictions are ignored and extinction is forcibly carried out, the price cannot be exempted—each kill must pay with a life."
"If the conditions of the Forbidden Technique are adhered to, part of the price was originally exempted... now it can be fully exempted."
Upon seeing the final sentence, Tao Qian felt there was nothing more to consider.
The so-called annihilation conditions, set by the Ancestor Dragon, were imprinted within all Fragments of the Forbidden Technique.
Only those Extraordinary Beings committing evils such as "wrongdoing," "amassing on a large scale," "committing genocide against the Human Clan," "cannibalism," etc., could minimize the price of their eradication.
If not met, annihilation could still be forced.
The price would then be to take a life for every life taken.
Brutal and straightforward, this was exactly what Tao Qian desired.
He also knew that the whole world was watching him, including those powerful forces stirring with anticipation.
A demonstration was necessary; otherwise, it would be impossible to rally those Great Sects or to fully stir the deep desires of billions of mortals.
To truly make an impact, the ironclad facts had to be displayed.
Moreover, Master Tao had been enduring for far too long.
Without any further ado, Tao Qian, like a divine being at that moment, raised his hand and invoked with the Round Light Technique a vast scenario of annihilation across Qiantang that met the criteria.
Using methods from the Sects such as the Divine Ear and Ting Di, it was broadcast in front of all the people of the world.
Such supernatural powers that could observe the entire province's movements with a single thought were naturally also a feature of the Nine States' Twelve Treasures.
"In Wuyu County, on Yellow Water Mountain, there were eight beasts—a tiger, a cow, a deer, a pig, a snake, a sheep, a fox, and a mouse—who had become spirits and sworn brotherhood, collectively cultivating the Cannibal Scripture which required devouring humans. These beasts demanded the county supply them with people, initially being picky wanting boys and girls, but as their appetites grew, they required adults... The once populous city of 300,000 had been reduced by these eight beasts to mere hundreds, with nearly empty homes."
"Several months ago, a Ghost Clan infiltrated Qiantang. This clan's members, all Painted Skin Ghosts numbering two hundred, would consume the flesh of a person they chose, wear their skin and replace their lives. This clan, always craving novelty, would change skins periodically—shortest being three days and longest a week... In just three months, this clan wandered around the cities of Qiantang and devoured at least several thousand people."
"Outside Tong County, there was a river called Fuchun River, originally a beautiful spirited river, but half a year ago a group of ferocious Water Clan moved in, led by a Three-eyed Blood Flood Dragon claiming to be the Fuchun River God. Violent by nature and fond of eating humans, it frequently used spells to disrupt the river and destroy boats, often coming ashore to feed... In just half a year, nearly ten thousand people had perished."
"This person, an Evil Cultivator named Zhang Zian self-styled 'One-legged Immortal,' was born of a human man and a female mountain demon. Naturally lascivious, in his youth he found a scroll of 'Lustful Immortal Scripture' in a cave, thus attaining his method. If it were only thus, he would have merely been a Heterodox lecher. However, his nature was vicious: not only did he use Secret Techniques to harm women, but he also tortured them terribly afterwards, cutting out hearts and gouging breasts, truly more beast than man."
"Yangfo Temple, this temple is a Demon Sect, its abbot having old ties with the Lian Sha Arhat from the Demon Buddha Temple, using Lian Sha's influence to establish sub-temples in several cities and counties of Qiantang, treating believers like pigs and dogs. Once their money was extorted, they began to extract their souls, Essence Blood, etc., regardless of age or gender... Since their arrival, tens of thousands have suffered."
...
One after another, one incident after another.
Unfolded densely before Tao Qian.
Simultaneously, they were also revealed to the people of the world.
At this very moment!
Including the people of Qiantang itself, the Mortals and half of the Cultivators from the Seventy-two Provinces were engulfed in rage.
That scene, though occurring far away in Qiantang,
such misdeeds and tragedies were happening in every corner of their world, similar in nature, unbearable and intolerable to witness.
When the first person, unable to bear it, flushed red with anger, roared out "Kill them," "Exterminate them,"
it seemed as if everyone was ignited.
In an instant, Tao Qian's mind roared, and he could hear nothing but the shouts for killing.
He then thought, and surprisingly the Nine States' Twelve Treasures still offered several options.
"Great Extinction Killing Life Divine Light, Human Dao Soul Refining Array, True Spirit Annihilation Divine Thunder... among other Divine Skills, all available to choose from, with varying consequences."
"Since all targets meet the annihilation conditions, the consequences can all be exempted."
Upon seeing these Records appear, Tao Qian immediately took action.
If the Forbidden Law Barrier formed by the Nine States' Twelve Treasures were to automatically choose, it might bring forth Divine Skills like the Great Extinction Killing Life Divine Light — swift and urgent, without any pain.
Unfortunately, such a function does not exist; it requires the controller to make a choice.
Therefore, the one chosen by Tao Qian was the most intense and direct — the "Human Dao Soul Refining Array."
It was in the next moment!
Accompanied by an incredibly vast Array, it emerged across various cities, counties, and even villages within Qiantang Province.
A terribly miserable wail, without any forewarning, rang through the air.
Many oddly shaped, ferociously brutal Evil Cultivators, whether willingly or not, all revealed their true forms.
Pervading the entire province was the Human Dao's fortune.
Instantly, it turned into torrential currents carrying infinite resentment from the Mortals, poisonous flames of retribution that penetrated the bodies of these Evil Cultivators.
In the first moment, it burned their bodies.
Then, their souls.
The following process was even longer.
Initially, the Mortals of Qiantang Province were frightened, but soon, the voice of Tao Qian echoed throughout the province.
"From today onwards, Qiantang Province will once again be under the protection of the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique and the Longevity Barrier."
"Any Demon and Alien Species, human or non-human, that gathers in great numbers to commit evil, or commits egregious acts like cannibalism, will be exterminated."
When these words resounded in everyone's ears,
The whole of Qiantang Province first fell silent, a dreadful silence.
Then, all the people of Qiantang realized what was happening, the stunned expressions on their faces gradually turned animated.
They watched with their own eyes as the past terrifying Evil Cultivators, who treated the Human Clan like pigs and dogs, felt despair. Were they being tortured? Soul refined?
And from now on, wouldn't they, the Mortals of the Human Clan without any extraordinary power, need not fear being treated as mere fodder?
Elation!
Cheers!
In an instant, all of Qiantang erupted into a festive atmosphere.
Regardless of age or gender, everyone cried and laughed like mad, cheering and jumping, overwhelmed by their emotions.
Many areas and cities saw hundreds of thousands, even millions, kneeling towards the provincial capital, roaring praises like "Long live Master Tao!" and so forth.
Everyone saw clearly, following Tao Qian's intervention,
There were indeed no more scenes of Evil Cultivators ravaging and consuming humans within Qiantang Province.
Those patch-like stains of corruption were erased by Tao Qian.
Qiantang had become tranquil like never before.
This dream-come-true imagery also made the people of neighboring provinces like Tiannan Province incredibly envious. Unfortunately, the Forbidden Law Barrier, formed from the Nine States' Twelve Treasures, slowed down after leaving Qiantang.
It would likely take a considerable amount of time to cover Tiannan.
Even so, many Evil Beings previously rampaging in Tiannan began to flee.
Originally, these Devils thought that with the fall of the Gao Family at the hands of Master Tao, they would be ecstatic, assuming they no longer had the Gao Family suppressing them, and Tiannan Province would be theirs.
Who would have expected?
This Master Tao was much more terrifying than the Gao Family.
The Gao Family, at most, subdued them and made them servants.
But Master Tao, he would take their lives.
In no time, not just Tiannan Province, but all neighboring provinces of Qiantang began witnessing a phenomenon of "Devils fleeing."
...
Tao Qian also felt some regret watching the slowly expanding Barrier, but he couldn't do anything, as the Nine States' Twelve Treasures was merely a fragment, far from the complete "Ancestor God Forbidden Technique."
Being able to form a Barrier that enveloped Qiantang was somewhat beyond Tao Qian's expectations.
"It seems, this will suffice."
"With the Primordial Sect initiating talks, coupled with the scenes just now, the momentum should start building."
With that thought, Tao Qian turned around.
His eyes, filled with Divine Light, seemed to gaze at everyone in the Seventy-Two Provinces.
Without waiting for him to speak, a torrent of never-before-seen Human Dao, overwhelmed by countless prayers and wishes, surged toward Tao Qian—and towards everyone in this realm.
Tao Qian, standing amid it, originally intended to go along and guide it.
But he quickly realized, with such a momentum, no guidance was necessary.
Any Cultivator connected to this world, be it Daoist, Buddhist, Demon, Devil, or from any Great Sect or minor sect, felt this moment deeply.
Billions of people!
Each one harbored an immense desire for the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique Longevity Barrier.
Anyone who could contribute would reap great benefits.
Human Dao fortune, merits, and blessings were all up for grabs.
...
As this torrent swept across the world, inside Gao Huan's cancerous Daoist Field in the Outer Realm.
Twelve Mutated Emperors!
At this moment, all were jolted awake.
PS: More to come.