The Nine Dragon Incense Carriage swept across the Human Emperor Hall's territory, instantly dispersing the dense, malevolent aura that enveloped the area.
The Human Emperor Hall was built on the ancestral land where countless ferocious beasts converged. For a hundred thousand years, imperial dynasties had engaged in brutal struggles against these beasts here. After each holy war, the Hall Master of the Human Emperor Hall would order the territory sealed. This was because the area was suffused with a thick, baleful energy, a result of the accumulated corpses of billions. It was feared that malignant diseases might arise from such a place, and if they were to spread, they would surely endanger the human lands of the southwestern region.
"King of Han, I have been ordered by my master to await you here!"
As the Nine Dragon Incense Carriage traversed the void, a flash of blue light appeared. A slender man in blue robes, a subtle smile on his face, bowed slightly.
"Who dares to intercept the royal carriage?" Li Bai's face darkened with anger.
"I am Yan He, a disciple of the Tenth Elder of the Human Emperor Hall, Elder Han!" Yan He said with a gentle smile. His aura was calm and steady. Facing Yang Hao, he showed no subservience, nor the awe of a subordinate towards a superior. Instead, it was the respect between ordinary individuals.
Li Bai glanced at Yang Hao. Yang Hao, upon hearing this, did not open his eyes but merely lowered his head slightly.
"King of Han, please proceed!" Yan He stepped forward to lead the way. Although this Human Emperor Ceremony was initiated by the Hall Master of the Human Emperor Hall, Emperor Yan, the true intent originated from Elder Han.
Over the past hundred thousand years, the Tenth Elders of the Human Emperor Hall had come and gone, never showing themselves directly. Their decrees were always conveyed through their disciples. This time, however, was different. Elder Han, using the authority of Emperor Yan, the Hall Master, had invited various imperial dynasties, including the Great Han Dynasty. The seal was about to break, and the human lands of the southwestern region would be entirely connected to the Ancient Wilderness. The southwestern region would endure, and even surpass, the pressure previously faced by the Imperial Dynasties. This holy war would be a protracted continuation, and the future human lands would know no more hundred-year periods of peace.
Yan He led the way, winding through layers of mountains and ridges, finally arriving at a valley. This place differed little from the other territories of the Human Emperor Hall. In fact, the baleful energy here was the most concentrated. Standing there, one could barely see the sunlight from the heavens; the sky was shrouded in red, malevolent energy. The location of the Human Emperor Hall was a strategic point that monstrous beasts invariably sought to seize during every holy war. The battles fought here were the most ferocious, a veritable grinder of a million soldiers. In the three-month-long holy war, more than half the casualties occurred in this region.
"The Human King of Great Han, Yang Hao, has arrived!"
Before the Human Emperor Hall, nine five-clawed golden dragons of the seventh level of Heavenly Martial arts descended from the heavens, their roars shaking the void. The Great Han flag fluttered in the wind. Emperor Yan of Great Yan stared in astonishment at the nine five-clawed golden dragons in the sky. Five-clawed dragons had long been a legend in the southwestern region, yet the Great Han possessed such powerful beings, and nine of them!
With nine dragons as steeds, the imperial carriage, tens of feet behind, shimmered with ambient energy and rainbow bridges. Exquisite fragrances filled the air, accompanied by the songs of phoenixes and the flight of auspicious beasts as clouds supported the magnificent procession. The rulers of the various imperial dynasties were all awestruck. The name of the Great Han Dynasty had long resounded throughout the land. Great Han, by its own might, had absorbed two imperial dynasties and dominated the entire southwestern region. Now, it had even gained the favor of the legendary Tenth Elders!
Qing Cang Wang, hiding behind the ranks of the imperial rulers, appeared even more aged than during the war of imperial dynasties. He had been stripped of his imperial title by Great Han and relegated to the status of a dynasty. However, the foundation of his former empire still offered a slim chance of survival. He knew that the current situation in the southwestern region was tense. King Han, Yang Hao, to maintain stability, had not yet annexed Qing Cang.
As Yang Hao stepped out of the carriage, he rushed forward, hastily kneeling. "Qing Cang, a subordinate dynasty of Great Han, pays respects to my King!"
"My King, may you live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
The rulers of the other imperial dynasties watched the Qing Cang Wang kneel, their eyes devoid of disdain or mockery. Great Han's power was formidable, and even Emperor Yan of Great Yan had to consider it carefully, let alone the other dynasties.
"Rise," Yang Hao said softly as he descended from the carriage. Not annexing the Qing Cang Dynasty was a decision made after much deliberation with Yang Hao and his ministers, including Li Si. The southwestern region was facing an unprecedented crisis, more perilous than the collapse of the Imperial Dynasties. The seal had completely shattered, and the border, stretching for billions of miles from the northern boundary of the Qing Cang Dynasty to the southeastern corner of the Great Yan Dynasty, would be in direct contact with the Ancient Wilderness. The Qing Cang Dynasty, which Great Han had refrained from annexing, was intended to serve as a buffer zone against the Ancient Wilderness.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" The Qing Cang Wang immediately bowed and rose, coming to stand beside Yang Hao, acting as a humble attendant. Yang Hao casually placed his right hand on the Qing Cang Wang's clasped hands. At this moment, the Qing Cang Wang felt immensely proud. The name of Great Han was on par with the Great Yan Dynasty and the Wei Yang Dynasty. To cling to Great Han's coattails was a blessing of many lifetimes.
"King of Han!"
"King of Han!"
"King of Han!"
The rulers of the various imperial dynasties greeted him. Ying Zhong's expression was grim; he had the most direct experience of Great Han's might. Had it not been for the premature cracking of the ancient seal, his Sheng Yuan would have ceased to exist long ago. Yang Hao merely nodded, surveying the assembled rulers. This was his first time meeting the powerful figures who held sway over the southwestern region.
"King of Han!"
Just then, the Empress of Wei Yang emerged from a grand hall. Instantly, the rulers of the other dynasties took a step back and bowed slightly. Yan He, who had been leading the way, his face darkened. The retreat of the other imperial rulers was a gesture of pure fear and reverence for the Empress of Wei Yang. The Wei Yang Dynasty had produced three successive Human Emperors who had brought glory to their lineage, seeking neither fame nor fortune, but only to carve out a sliver of hope for the human lands of the southwestern region. This was not mere rhetoric; for a thousand years, the Wei Yang lineage had shed blood and sacrificed lives for the human lands, almost single-handedly carrying the banner of humanity. The current young Empress of Wei Yang possessed a majestic aura and acted with unwavering integrity. Upon her succession, she immediately declared that the Wei Yang lineage would defend human dignity to the death. Even if Wei Yang were reduced to a single inch of land, its soil would be consecrated with blood.
Yan He's darkened expression stemmed from the fact that the Wei Yang lineage had uncovered the secret of the Tenth Elders. The Wei Yang Dynasty had, in essence, broken away from the Human Emperor Hall, fighting the holy wars almost entirely on their own. However, the Tenth Elders had not intervened to punish Wei Yang. Wei Yang had carved out its own path, carrying the banner of humanity. This benefited the Tenth Elders immensely, as Wei Yang's dedication to the human lands did not conflict with their ambition to dominate the southwestern region. By forging its own path and shouldering the burden of fighting the Ancient Wilderness, Wei Yang had taken on nearly half the monstrous beasts, and its casualties had multiplied. However, what troubled the Tenth Elders was that despite its weakened state, the Wei Yang Dynasty remained a dominant force, and it still possessed top-tier Fusion Heaven Realm experts.