"Take a look, everyone!"
Within the cave-heaven of Xiong Chi, the first cave master of Huoyun Cave, Sikong Cheng nervously took the important intelligence from the Eastern Desolation Continent into his hands.
"Cave Master, this..."
Sikong Cheng quickly flipped through the pages. The intelligence recorded nothing but the bloody conquests of the various legions of the Great Han Dynasty.
The Xiling Imperial Dynasty and the Nantian Family had successively fallen. The western territories of the Chiye Imperial Dynasty were completely lost. The Huoyun Cave of the Myriad Beasts Realm was completely surrounded by the Great Han Dynasty, becoming an isolated force within the Great Han Dynasty's territory.
"Cave Master, the patriarch of the Sword Clan, the top Venerable Jian Dong, has fallen!"
Sikong Cheng's eyes widened in disbelief. Even the powerful Jian Dong was slain by the Great Han army. In the entire Eastern Desolation, besides Emperor Chi Ye, Ancestor Chi Ye, and Jian Chen, who else could withstand the sharp edge of the Great Han's might?
"Is Fei Ying Dong properly settled?"
Xiong Chi weakly raised his hand, looking nervously at Sikong Cheng. On that day, Fei Ying Dong had forcefully descended upon Huoyun Cave and, at the realm of a top Venerable, had injured Xiong Chi, who was also a top Venerable.
In a few breaths, Xiong Chi felt the vastness of the Great Han Dynasty. The Great Han Dynasty, stepping on the shoulders of the elder top forces of the Eastern Desolation such as the Xiling Imperial Dynasty, the Nantian Family, and the Sword God Holy Land, had become the supreme overlord of the Eastern Desolation Continent.
With four top Venerable realms and a million Heavenly Martial troops, sweeping through the Sword God Holy Land and the Chiye Imperial Dynasty was only a matter of time.
"Cave Master, have you truly decided to protect the foundation of Huoyun Cave and not submit to the Great Han Dynasty?"
Sikong Cheng organized the intelligence and handed it to Ji Hongwen beside him. Looking at the worried Xiong Chi, he sighed, "Cave Master, in our entire Huoyun Cave, after the battle a million years ago, our foundation was lost. Fortunately, it is thanks to the Cave Master's protection that Huoyun Cave has survived until today."
"The opportunity of a million years is approaching, and a catastrophe is about to befall the Cangyuan World. We have no power to stop this world that is about to go berserk."
"The fall of the Xiling Imperial Dynasty, the Nantian Family... for every top force that perishes, a new force rises powerfully."
"The Great Han Dynasty possesses four top Venerables. Cave Master, do you truly believe that we, or even the Eastern Desolation, or indeed the various forces of the Cangyuan World, are seeing the true Great Han Dynasty?"
Sikong Cheng turned to Ji Hongwen and said softly, "Cave Master, we are all old. Even someone as young as Ji Hongwen needs to consider choosing a physically vigorous body. But what about us?"
"The Great Han Dynasty is different. Yang Ye, Xu Chu, Fei Ying Dong, and the others, these top Venerable realm experts, which one of them doesn't have a sky-high vitality and a lifespan of ten thousand years? In this world, who dares to claim dominance before them!"
"The Great Han Human Emperor is no more than thirty years old, yet he is already in the Nascent Divinity realm. How monstrous is this? Even the Demon Ancestor of the previous generation might not have been this formidable!"
"The Great Han Dynasty's four top Venerables have lifespans of ten thousand years. As long as they are here, they can protect the Great Han Dynasty's prosperity for a million years!"
"Sikong Cheng, do you think I don't know what you're saying!"
Xiong Chi's voice carried a trace of sorrow and indignation. He looked at Sikong Cheng and Ji Hongwen, his voice trembling, "Huoyun Cave was established by me. It occupied a realm of the Eastern Desolation Continent, how glorious was that."
"But now, the talent within is dwindling, and the foundation is lost. Yet Huoyun Cave is ultimately something I watched grow. How can I bear to abandon it?"
"Cave Master, you've become foolish!"
Sikong Cheng roared angrily, startling Ji Hongwen behind him, who flinched in fear. Who was Xiong Chi? He was the sky of Huoyun Cave. How could the second cave master speak to him like this?
"Brother, since Huoyun Cave was established, Sikong Cheng has not called you 'Brother' in a long time."
"Your and my responsibility for the death of the third brother cannot be denied. But now Huoyun Cave is at a time of life and death. If it's not the Great Han Dynasty, it will be the Sword God Holy Land, the Barbarian tribe, or even the Demon race."
"Huoyun Cave is destined to perish. Brother, you must not continue to be so stubborn."
"The Great Han Dynasty is no longer the Great Han Dynasty of the past!"
"It is already the supreme overlord of the Eastern Desolation Continent, the supreme overlord, Brother!"
"Look, look at me. In my entire Myriad Beasts Realm, an entire realm, there are only four or five Venerable experts. And top Venerables, there is only you, Brother!"
"The Xiling Imperial Dynasty is destroyed, and the Nantian Family is also destroyed. The next one will be either Chi Ye or the Sword Clan, Brother. Wake up! The current Great Han Dynasty is not something you and I can contend with."
"Fei Ying Dong, holding the Imperial Decree of the Great Han Human Emperor, personally came to Huoyun Cave, just to preserve the last shred of dignity for Huoyun Cave. Brother, if you refuse this time, the next will be the iron-clad army of the Great Han Dynasty."
"At that time, it will be truly too late, and the foundation will be gone!"
Sikong Cheng shouted with all his might, his eyes misting over as he looked at Xiong Chi, whose lifespan was nearing its end and whose primordial spirit was disintegrating. Where was the spirit and pride of a million years ago?
How could a withered old man break the cauldrons and sink the boats to save the weak Huoyun Cave?
"Currently, the Great Han's top Venerable expert, Fei Ying Dong, is in Huoyun Cave. If you, Brother, do not comply with the Great Han Human Emperor's wishes, we may not even see today's sunset."
"Brother!"
"Brother is tired, Brother is truly tired. Huoyun Cave is no longer a product of this era. The current Eastern Desolation belongs to Yang!"
"Humph, humph, humph, hahahaha, hahaha!"
Xiong Chi burst into laughter, his eyes filled with ancient sorrow and indignation. He swayed and stood up, patting Sikong Cheng's shoulder, and said softly, "Ji Hongwen, transmit this Venerable's final decree!"
"Huoyun Cave and the Myriad Beasts Realm shall immediately submit and pledge allegiance to the Great Han Dynasty!"
"Yes!"
Ji Hongwen prostrated himself on the ground, his eyes bloodshot, tears welling up.
...
"Imperial Decree of the Great Han Human Emperor!"
The next day, outside the great hall of Huoyun Cave, Fei Ying Dong held the Human Emperor's decree and looked at Xiong Chi, Sikong Cheng, and the other high-ranking officials of Huoyun Cave opposite him.
"Bang~~"
"Xiong Chi, Sikong Cheng, Ji Hongwen!"
"Greetings to the Great Han Human Emperor!"
At that moment, outside the great hall, the high-ranking officials of Huoyun Cave, led by Xiong Chi, knelt down with their foreheads touching the ground.
"Imperial Decree!"
"The Great Han Emperor is deeply pleased that Huoyun Cave has complied with the general trend. Huoyun Cave may continue to exist, with the freedom to choose its territory. Xiong Chi shall still be the first cave master of Huoyun Cave!"
"Huoyun Cave is hereby incorporated into the Great Han Dynasty, with a status equivalent to that of the Daoist sect and the Alchemy Hall. Xiong Chi is conferred the title of Second-Class Baron of the Great Han Dynasty, and Sikong Cheng is conferred the title of Third-Class Baron of the Great Han Dynasty!"
"Lord Xiong Chi, accept the grace!"
Fei Ying Dong smiled and put away the imperial decree, looking at Xiong Chi, Sikong Cheng, and the others kneeling to receive the imperial favor.
"This subject, kowtows to thank Your Majesty for your grace!"
Xiong Chi cried out excitedly. He had not expected the Human Emperor to preserve the foundation of Huoyun Cave. Although Huoyun Cave no longer ruled an entire realm, the preservation of its name was enough to save face.