For millennia, the Wei Yang Dynasty has seen its national strength wane. Knowing they could not contend with the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, they continued to resist the ancient wilderness for the human race in their own way!
Yang Hao followed the sound and looked towards the Empress of Wei Yang. He saw that her jet-black, lustrous hair was gently bound by a crown. Her imperial robe, adorned with five-clawed golden dragons, still accentuated her graceful, proud figure. The skin exposed to the air was as white and lustrous as jade carved from sheep fat.
Clad in imperial robes and enveloped in dragon's might, she exuded an aura that dwarfed mountains and commanded seas, the imperial presence of the Human Emperor. Unlike other Human Emperors, hers was a contained, yet powerful aura, interwoven with a hint of feminine grace. Her demeanor was ethereal, like a celestial being from the heavens!
Her clear, light blue eyes flickered slightly. Standing tall and slender, she loomed over the assembled lords of the imperial dynasties, exuding a majestic and imposing presence!
Her gaze was unlike Ling Xuan's delicate demeanor; the Empress of Wei Yang was covered in an aura of authority. Yet, between her brows, a subtle feminine beauty still resided.
The Empress of Wei Yang!
Yang Hao's heart trembled slightly, but his expression remained unfazed. Concealed by the Nine Cauldrons of Fortune, none of the lords of the imperial dynasties present could discern Yang Hao's true cultivation level.
The Empress of Wei Yang. If one were to speak of the most respected figure among the billions of martial artists in the human lands of the Southwest Region, it would undoubtedly be the Empress of Wei Yang standing before them. A woman had taken up the mantle of a dynasty's ruler, hoisted the banner of the human race, and forced the other imperial dynasties to bow their heads.
"My King, the Empress of Wei Yang's cultivation is at the eighth level of the Heaven Merging realm. The elder beside her is a peak Heaven Merging realm expert!" Wang Yue's voice, wrapped in primal energy, reached Yang Hao's ears.
"Empress of Wei Yang."
Yang Hao, with a faint smile, nodded towards the Empress of Wei Yang. Eighth level Heaven Merging, a peak Heaven Merging expert. Since arriving in the Southwest Region, she was, aside from the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, the only high-level Heaven Merging realm expert to emerge from an imperial dynasty.
Even the Human Emperor of Da Yan was only at the sixth level of the Heaven Merging realm!
It seemed that Da Han's understanding of the Ten Great Imperial Dynasties was still insufficient!
This scene caused a flicker of murderous intent to flash in Yan He's eyes. The Wei Yang Dynasty was a stumbling block for the Human Emperor Palace's unification of the Southwest Region. And this newly risen Da Han Dynasty was not to be underestimated. It was likely that, besides the Empress of Wei Yang, only the Human Emperor of Da Yan had the capability to suppress Da Han.
If Da Han and Wei Yang were to join forces, they would undoubtedly become a power that could dominate the Southwest Region!
He quickly stepped forward, a smile on his face, and said, "Esteemed lords, since everyone is here, let us proceed with opening the Human Emperor Canon!"
Yang Hao looked up slightly and let out a cold sneer. While he was unaware of the origins of the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, the fact that an invitation came from a peak Heaven Merging realm expert told him that this Human Emperor Palace gathering was no simple affair.
The records from previous holy wars indicated that the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace were only involved in broad strategic oversight; it was almost impossible to see them in the heat of battle. Ten thousand years ago, the Ten Great Imperial Dynasties boasted many peak Heaven Merging realm experts, but now, within a single dynasty, such as Blood Sun, Da Yun, or Qing Cang, and even Sheng Yuan, one could hardly find a single Heaven Merging realm cultivator at the seventh level.
The reason behind this was self-evident!
"Esteemed lords, Elder Han awaits within!"
Yan He's expression darkened, killing intent flashing in his eyes as he surveyed the assembled lords.
The Human Emperor of Da Yan immediately chuckled, "How dare we keep Elder Han waiting? Please lead the way!"
"Indeed, indeed! How can we allow Elder Han to wait long!"
The lords of the imperial dynasties engaged in pleasantries. Although the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace originated from them, they were also incredibly distant, so much so that no information about them could be found.
However, out of basic respect for the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, they smiled apologetically. Yang Hao, standing nearby, shook his head. If only these people knew the cultivation levels of the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, they would surely be petrified.
Ridiculous!
Truly ridiculous!
Above their heads, there had always been a parasitic tumor, sucking their blood, yet they remained oblivious. Relying solely on the directives issued when the Human Emperor Palace was founded, they charged headfirst into every holy war. How tragic!
He subtly turned his head and saw that the Empress of Wei Yang's eyes were filled with undisguised killing intent as she stared at Yan He.
"Esteemed lords, please!"
Yan He glanced at the Empress of Wei Yang, then let out a cold snort and led everyone towards the main hall of the Human Emperor Palace.
"King of Han!"
"Please!"
The Empress of Wei Yang smiled. Da Han's powerful rise, its thunderous subjugation of all directions, and its absorption of Da Yun and Blood Sun – had it not been for the intervention of the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace, forcing Da Han to temporarily retreat under the pressure of the human lands, then Sheng Yuan and Qing Cang would likely not be present here today.
Such a formidable dynasty, she had to draw it to her side to jointly confront the ten elders of the Human Emperor Palace. Otherwise, in years to come, Da Han would suffer the same fate as Blood Sun and Da Yun.
Moreover, with the ancient seal on the verge of shattering, the human lands of the Southwest Region were about to face unprecedented changes in ten thousand years. She, Wei Yang, needed powerful allies like Da Han.
Yang Hao smiled and nodded slightly, walking alongside the Empress of Wei Yang as they ascended the towering, cloud-piercing steps.
Wang Yue, Li Bai, and the elder followed behind. Led by Yan He, the group finally reached the main hall of the Human Emperor Palace after a short while.
Yang Hao stood amidst the clouds, as if he could grasp the reins of the world with a mere reach, surveying hundreds of miles of mountains and rivers. The Human Emperor Palace stood amidst the clouds, enshrouded in mist. Under the sunlight, the grand hall radiated a dazzling golden light, as if entering a divine realm.
"Esteemed lords, please!"
Yan He extended his palm and walked towards the rear of the hall. This action made the Human Emperor of Da Yan's eyelids twitch. He suddenly asked, "Behind the Human Emperor Palace lies a chasm tens of thousands of feet deep. What is your intention?"
At this moment, the lords of the imperial dynasties also furrowed their brows. The Human Emperor Palace had only this one main hall, with no other structures. This hall soared into the clouds, serving merely as a symbol of glory. Except during holy wars, almost no martial artists ever set foot here.
What was Yan He's intention?
"Heh heh, esteemed lords, this Human Emperor Hall was opened by my master. Without the command of the Human Emperor Palace Master, one would not be able to utilize this hall. Please, proceed!"
Yan He sneered, looking at the assembled lords as if they were country bumpkins.
Yan He passed through the main hall and saw a tombstone without any inscription standing behind it. It was plain and devoid of any primal energy fluctuations.
"Disciple Yan He reports to my master!"
Yan He knelt on one knee and solemnly bowed deeply towards the inscriptionless stele. Suddenly, the stele was enveloped in golden light, and a golden vortex, resembling a teleportation array, a golden passage, manifested!
"This is!!"
"This is a realm within a realm!!"
The lords of the imperial dynasties were all shocked, their eyes gazing in horror at this golden passage. The Human Emperor Palace had stood here for ten thousand years. Everyone knew of this inscriptionless stele, but no one knew that it contained a realm within a realm!