A single sword strike cleaved the mountain peak, an act none of them, even with their full might, could achieve. What's more, it was merely a casual blow from Human King Mang, whose power fluctuations seemed unstable, suggesting he had only recently awakened and hadn't fully mastered his primordial energy. Yet, this single, effortless strike had stunned everyone. The might of a Transcendent expert was truly terrifying!
"Ah!!"
The sword's arc severed Soulbreak Cliff, its blade directly sweeping past Zhang Zicheng, slashing towards the heavens. The sky above the Spirit Prison Abyss tore open, clouds ripping apart as if the sword could cleave through the nine heavens!
"Ah!!"
Zhang Zicheng's right arm was gone, his heart still visibly pounding within his chest, blood gushing out in a torrent.
"Swish!"
Zhang Zicheng swiftly seized Princess Han Yue of Loulan and vanished in the blink of an eye toward the horizon, his speed breathtaking. He was clearly fleeing for his life!
Human King Mang's eyes glinted with icy light as he watched the direction of Zhang Zicheng's escape: "Zhang family, you brought ruin and destruction upon our nation. This debt must be settled!"
Human King Mang surveyed the crowd, noting their cultivation realms. They were far from the prosperity of ten thousand years ago. Only the four individuals from Great Han possessed exceptionally potent life force and blood energy, vastly superior to the martial cultivators of the current Tian Yue.
It seemed that after a fatal blow ten millennia ago, Tian Yue had been left riddled with holes. Despite ten thousand years of self-preservation, the primordial energy in the void remained as sparse as ever.
"Bixi, will you guard a territory, or will you join me in a bloody battle!"
Human King Mang’s gaze fell upon Bixi before him, his eyes filled with paternal affection.
"Bixi, I wish to accompany Human King, and fight bloodily in all directions!"
Bixi's eyes were crimson. His father had been the guardian beast of the Xuanyuan Dynasty. After his death, he had willingly shouldered the monument pavilion for Human King Mang's sacred virtue. Bixi, having received Human King Mang’s favor for millennia, had grown weary of his monotonous life. The blood within him had completely ignited the moment he saw Human King Mang.
"Hong'er!"
King Chu, Liu Hong, immediately approached Human King Mang, kneeling before him, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"I have said it before, I have no ambition for this empire. Now, I only wish to settle the grievances of ten thousand years. As for the power of Tian Yue, you shall all compete for it yourselves!"
With that, he sat upon Bixi's back and vanished from Soulbreak Cliff.
"Buzz~~"
A voice echoed from all directions: "In this life, I have failed my wife and children, I have failed the wishes of past Human Kings, and I have failed the countless lives of Tian Yue!"
"Regardless of who ultimately sits upon this throne, may they dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to strengthening the people of Tian Yue and protecting the lineage of Tian Yue!"
,,,
,,,
"Human King!!"
"Old Ancestor!!"
"Roar!!"
"Roar!!"
The King of Chu and the ten million demonic beasts of the Spirit Prison Abyss wept.
Yu Chigong and Wang Baobao exchanged a glance, then led Yao Li and Mao Xiang, their forms soaring towards the Great Han's Chang'an City!
The King of Chu slowly straightened his body, gazing at the receding silhouettes of Yu Chigong, Wang Baobao, and the other two. Then, with the support of the onlookers, he began to walk towards the Chu kingdom. This Great Han would be his final rival. Loulan had already lost its eligibility. With the emergence of Human King Mang, the Zhang family behind Loulan would surely crumble.
On the fifteenth day of the second month of the first year of Great Han, the secret treasures of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, sealed for ten thousand years, abruptly ended. Numerous martial artists who emerged from the Xuanyuan Dynasty's secret treasures, laden with abundant resources, rapidly headed towards their respective kingdoms and sects. Su Dan Novel Network.
On the sixteenth day of the second month of the first year of Great Han, as martial artists returned to their various nations and sects, news about the Xuanyuan Dynasty's secret treasures within the Spirit Prison Abyss swept across the land. It was revealed that Human King Mang, who had suppressed his lifespan for ten thousand years, had orchestrated a millennia-long game for a single long-cherished wish. The roles of the Chu kingdom and the Loulan kingdom became definitively clear.
It turned out that the mysterious Loulan kingdom was supported by a family force from within an Imperial Dynasty. An Imperial Dynasty, that was a legendary nation, far superior to a mere kingdom, aloof and awe-inspiring. A mere family within an Imperial Dynasty had managed to establish such a formidable kingdom as Loulan on Tian Yue Island, dominating all others, demonstrating their extraordinary power.
Currently, in the eyes of all Tian Yue martial artists, although Human King Mang did not participate in the conflicts between nations, the Chu kingdom, with its deep foundations and the support of the numerous demonic beasts from the Spirit Prison Abyss, was poised to become the foremost power in Tian Yue.
Following the Chu kingdom, came the Great Han, the most radiant, powerful, and wondrous nation after ten thousand years. Established for less than half a year, it had already swept across the three northern great powers and annihilated the overseas sect, Lingyin Sect. The ultimate royal power of Tian Yue would likely be a contest between the Great Han and the Chu kingdom, though most martial artists leaned towards the Chu kingdom.
As for the final contender, the Loulan kingdom, it had lost its eligibility the moment Human King Mang emerged. Even the Zhang family behind the Loulan kingdom was no match for Human King Mang, let alone Loulan itself. Since Human King Mang left the Spirit Prison Abyss, his whereabouts had been unknown.
However, everyone believed that the moment Human King Mang reappeared would be the downfall of the Loulan kingdom.
On the sixteenth day of the second month of the first year of Great Han, in the Xuanzheng Hall of the Great Han's Chang'an Imperial Palace.
Yang Hao sat on the throne with his eyes closed, while below him, Yu Chigong, Wang Baobao, Zhangsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Wei Zhongxian, Mao Xiang, and Yuan Tiangang stood solemnly on either side of the hall.
"Your Majesty, your ministers learned from Human King Mang's tomb that to elevate a kingdom to an Imperial Dynasty, a King's Weapon is required to bear the nation's destiny. This weapon will allow the destiny to manifest as a dragon within it. Once the dragon's energy matures to a thousand feet in length, the entire nation can ascend, transcending the kingdom and becoming an Imperial Dynasty!"
Wang Baobao bowed deeply, reporting the matters within the secret treasures to Yang Hao in detail.
Upon hearing this, Yang Hao couldn't help but smile. After all this running around, he realized the best was already in his possession. The Nine Tripods of Destiny, the Imperial Seal of the Nation – were any of them not top-tier choices!
"For a kingdom to ascend to an Imperial Dynasty, it must participate in the Kingdom War organized by the Imperial Dynasty. Once victorious in this war, the ruler will receive a King's Weapon as a reward from the Human Emperor. The kings of the various nations can then use this King's Weapon to gather their national destiny and merge it into the weapon. When the dragon's energy grows to a thousand feet, the entire nation will ascend."
"It seems the kingdom gains immense benefits, but that is not entirely true. While the Human Emperor appears to bestow great advantages upon the kingdom, on one hand, it gains the Human Emperor's recognition and becomes a vassal of the Imperial Dynasty. On the other hand, it obtains the King's Weapon, allowing the kingdom to transform into an Imperial Dynasty."
Yuan Tiangang shook his head. Among those present, he understood the art of destiny the best. He listened with deep concern, and upon hearing Wang Baobao's words, he understood the Imperial Dynasty's intentions perfectly.
"Your Majesty, this King's Weapon originates from the Imperial Dynasty, and it is bound to siphon the destiny of the various nations. Ten thousand years ago, Human King Mang suppressed the eight great Imperial Dynasties. After ten millennia, which of these eight Imperial Dynasties can replace the Imperial Dynasty? Even the mighty Xuanyuan Dynasty at its peak was merely a subordinate of the Imperial Dynasty.
"Should the Xuanyuan Dynasty harbor any disloyalty, the Imperial Dynasty could manipulate its destiny, instantly disintegrating the dynasty's lifeblood, with but a wave of its hand!"