The Grand Priest walked into the depths of Chang'an City without looking back. Behind him, Man Yun and Jian Chen also never spared Huangfu Yuze a glance.
"Clan Elder!"
Qian Xingsheng lowered his head, not daring to meet Huangfu Yuze's gaze.
"Hmph, let's go!"
Huangfu Yuze watched the receding figures of the demons and barbarians, his face ashen as he flicked his sleeve and departed.
...
The first day of the ninth month, in the sixth year of the Great Han Dynasty.
It was the day the Great Han Dynasty was to be promoted to an Imperial Dynasty. The Prime Minister, Li Si, stood calmly before Bixi, a faint smile on his lips, welcoming guests from all directions. Bixi, bearing the Human Emperor Tablet and nurturing the nation's destiny, had already ascended to the Venerable realm, his physical body terrifyingly robust.
The Human Emperor Tablet on Bixi's body pulsed with the might of the Human Emperor. Strands of golden fortune continuously nourished Bixi's physical form around the tablet.
"Elder of the Four-Eyed Clan from Tian Shen Mountain in the Northern Region, Huangfu Yuze, has arrived!"
At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a clear voice announced outside the Vermilion Bird Gate. The attendees in the Xuanzheng Hall plaza held their breaths, their eyes wide open, fixed on the Vermilion Bird Gate.
This promotion ceremony, organized by the Ministry of Rites, had not only invited representatives from countless tribes across the Eastern Wasteland Continent but also, naturally, received congratulations from other continental overlords, as the Great Han was a top-tier power in the Cang Yuan world.
Huangfu Yuze, with a smile, strode through the Vermilion Bird Gate. The first to greet him was Prime Minister Li Si of the Great Han Dynasty. Laws akin to the Heavenly Dao flowed behind him. Li Si, having cultivated diligently for months, had already reached the Venerable realm. His vast power subtly resonated with the Great Dao of Cang Yuan, and with every movement, he could summon divine lightning from the heavens.
"What a grand gesture!"
As Huangfu Yuze, accompanied by Qian Xingsheng, walked forward slowly, his gaze shifted to Bixi behind Li Si. His voice became increasingly wary, "A Venerable carrying the tablet, suppressing the nation's destiny. The Human Emperor of Great Han truly possesses immense spirit!"
"Huangfu Yuze greets the Prime Minister of Great Han!"
"A small gift from the Four-Eyed Clan, a congratulatory offering for the Great Han's promotion to an Imperial Dynasty!"
Within a few breaths, Huangfu Yuze regained his composure, smiled, and bowed slightly to Li Si, speaking politely.
"A pair of Blood Eyes from the Four-Eyed Clan!"
A Ministry of Rites official behind Li Si received the congratulatory gift from Qian Xingsheng and announced loudly to the plaza.
"What?"
The powerful figures of some tribes residing in Xiling Prefecture (formerly Xiling Imperial Dynasty) changed their expressions. "Blood Eyes of the Four-Eyed Clan, that is an extraordinary item. Legend has it that only a Four-Eyed Clan martial artist who has reached the Venerable realm, upon their demise, can drop a Blood Eye."
"These eyes show signs of ancestral reversion. A martial artist with great fortune can comprehend the Four-Eyed Clan's combat techniques within these eyes!"
"Remarkable!"
"Thank you!"
Li Si accepted the Blood Eyes with a smile. The Great Han Dynasty was filled with heroic figures, each possessing countless combat techniques. He did not place much importance on minor skills.
"Demon Lord Xin Yin of the Western Region's Demon Clan has arrived!"
Soon after, Demon Lord Xin Yin, with a stern face, led Demon Lord Tian Gan and others through the Vermilion Bird Gate and entered the Xuanzheng Hall plaza.
"The Demon Clan!"
Li Si frowned slightly. Since Yuan Tiangang's exploration of the four directions and the destruction of more than ten giant teleportation formations of the Demon Clan, it could be said that the current Great Han had not only shattered the barbarians' backup plans but also those of the demons.
"Greetings, Prime Minister of Great Han. I have long heard that the Human Emperor of Great Han wields immense imperial authority, suppressing countless tribes in the Eastern Wasteland, and even the Barbarian Emperor has suffered hardships. Indeed!"
Demon Lord Xin Yin spoke calmly, his eyes narrowed. Beside him, Demon Lord Tian Gan bowed and presented a generous gift.
"Please!"
Li Si's expression remained unchanged, his aura undiminished. He gestured in greeting.
Demon Lord Xin Yin's expression shifted slightly, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. The Great Han Dynasty was indeed a place of hidden talents. A mere first-level Venerable could withstand his vast demonic energy and remain composed. Bixi, the Venerable behind him, also kept his eyes closed, dispelling all demonic energy.
He glanced at Li Si, then headed towards the viewing platform. The fact that the Barbarian Emperor, the Demon Clan's sworn enemy, had bowed his head showed the Great Han Dynasty's power.
"Grand Priest of the Barbarian Clan has arrived!"
Another loud announcement. By this time, all three top overlords of the Cang Yuan world had arrived.
Dressed in coarse linen, the Venerable aura of his entire being merged with the void. He appeared like an ordinary person, with no fluctuations of elemental energy, seeming to possess a state of unity between man and nature.
Upon seeing the Grand Priest, Demon Lord Xin Yin's face darkened, and a trace of panic flashed in his eyes.
"I greet the Prime Minister of the Great Han Dynasty!"
The Grand Priest approached Li Si, bowed slightly, his voice ancient, like that of a kind old man next door.
"Li Si greets the Grand Priest!"
When Li Si saw the Grand Priest of the Barbarian Clan, a flicker of unease crossed his eyes. He had seen top-tier Venerables before, but the Grand Priest possessed a danger he couldn't articulate.
That feeling wasn't like that of the myriad tribes in the Cang Yuan world. It seemed to come from the void, or perhaps from non-existence, ethereal and unfathomable.
A cold light flashed in the Grand Priest's eyes, with a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected to find such a person in the Cang Yuan world who could sense even a trace of his true depth.
The Grand Priest's background and origins were known only to the Barbarian Emperor in the Cang Yuan world. The Barbarian Clan's rapid rise after the previous Demon Ancestor ascended to the Supreme Hall, sweeping across the Southern Region Continent and rivaling the Demon Clan for tens of thousands of years, was crucially aided by one person: the Grand Priest. It could be said that without the Grand Priest, there would be no present-day Barbarian Wilds.
It was not that the Demon Clan feared the Barbarian Clan, but rather, they feared the Grand Priest!
The Grand Priest smiled slightly and spoke softly, interrupting Li Si's divine sense, "A humble gift, congratulating the Great Han Dynasty on its promotion to an Imperial Dynasty!"
Li Si snapped back to reality, smiled slightly, took the congratulatory gift from Man Yun, and personally led the Grand Priest to a seat on the viewing platform.
As they walked, Li Si probed again. A void enveloped him once more, impenetrable, indiscernible. He then let out a bitter smile and shook his head.
It seemed the Barbarian Clan was not as simple as they appeared. Although the walk hadn't taken much time, Li Si had been observing the expressions of Huangfu Yuze and Demon Lord Xin Yin.
Huangfu Yuze kept his head down, his lips trembling. Demon Lord Xin Yin, on the other hand, was pale, his demeanor suggesting great fear of the Barbarian Grand Priest.
Demon Lord Xin Yin possessed the terrifying combat power to contend with the Barbarian Emperor. Although he was eventually defeated, Xin Yin did not fear the Barbarian Emperor and even wished to challenge him again. As the third strongest in the Demon Clan, on par with Demon Lord Tian Si, such a powerful Venerable was surprisingly terrified of the Barbarian Grand Priest.
It was truly strange.
"Please!"
Li Si said softly, escorting the Grand Priest to his seat on the viewing platform, then heading towards the Xuanzheng Hall to await the auspicious hour.