"Esteemed ones, the auspicious hour has arrived. Present the Human Ancestor's decree!"
"Dong!"
With a resonant bell chime, Ye Feihong, holding the Human Ancestor's decree, appeared in the center of Yangnan City. He unfurled the decree, its densely packed golden characters floating in the void, becoming undeniably clear to every living being of the human race.
"All of you, observe closely. By the Human Ancestor's decree, the Human Race Grand Ceremony commences now. Regardless of seniority, lifespan, or cultivation level, all may participate in this grand era of humanity. Please be seated, the ceremony begins!"
Ye Wei stood up from his throne, surveying the surroundings. Here gathered the most gifted beings from all factions of the human race. The next era of humanity rested upon these assembled individuals. More importantly, he was focused on ensuring the helm of the human race remained in the hands of the Ye family.
As Ye Wei spoke, ethereal music filled Yangnan City. Exquisite beauties emerged from all directions, converging in the center to dance gracefully. Their sleeves fluttered as maidservants placed spirit herbs and beast fruits on tables before each distinguished human.
Countless human beings were immersed in this final moment of peace, gazing at the stunning figures, the spiritual energy flowing through the air, and inhaling the wondrous fragrances of spirit herbs and beast fruits. The grand ceremony had begun, the prelude to the contest for the Human Race Co-Lord. It calmly stirred the hearts of innumerable human beings.
"Esteemed ones, the Human Ancestor has descended with a decree to re-elect the Human Race Co-Lord. However, no precise instructions were given, and my Ye family dares not arbitrarily decide the rules. Today, the Great Yin Immortal Emperor, Liang Fang of the Yun clan, and Yang Chen, the Crown Prince of the Great Han Divine Dynasty, have all gathered in Yangnan City. Representatives from all influential factions of the human race are present. Let us now discuss how this position of Human Race Co-Lord shall be contended for."
Ye Wei raised his wine cup, looking towards the Great Yin Immortal Emperor, Liang Fang, and Yang Chen. Ye Feihong and Ye She also raised their cups, their gazes fixed on the three.
"Regarding the contest for the Human Race Co-Lord, in my opinion, it must be swift. With wars erupting across planes, we must unify all factions of the human race as soon as possible!"
The Great Yin Immortal Emperor's expression was calm as he swept his gaze over Ye Wei and the other two, speaking coldly.
"I concur!"
Yang Chen raised his wine cup. Only after he spoke did Liang Fang raise his, adding his agreement.
"Since it is so, to prevent any planar shifts and to consolidate humanity's strength quickly, we shall dispense with formalities. In a word: the strong shall rule!"
Ye Feihong's eyes were fixed on his wine cup, a killing intent blooming within them. With a crisp sound, the celestial music ceased, and countless human beings were instantly jolted awake, their gazes uniformly fixed on the four grand palaces before them.
Yang Chen smiled faintly and tapped his finger. Liang Fang, far away, immediately nodded slightly and bellowed, "Stop the chatter! What's with all the talk? Let's fight directly. Whoever has the stronger fist becomes the Human Race Co-Lord. Affairs of the court are complex; I have no time to waste with you all!"
"Hmm?"
The expressions of Ye Wei, the other two, and the Great Yin Immortal Emperor turned cold. The Yun clan Immortal Dynasty had seized all the limelight recently. Nearly a third of the Eastern Remote Region had fallen into the Yun clan's hands, and the calls for the Yun clan to elect the Human Race Co-Lord were growing louder among the human factions. This posed a significant threat.
"Esteemed ones, the current situation is turbulent. While we speak, the Southern Marsh, Eastern Remote Region, or even the Central Plains are like a sea with rising winds and surging waves. This matter must be decided promptly!"
Yang Chen took a sip of fine wine, speaking with a slight smile.
"Since everyone has no objections, Third Elder, please summon the Heavenly Palace!"
"Summon the Heavenly Palace!"
Ye She roared towards the countless human beings in Yangnan City with all his might.
"Boom!"
A terrifying aura erupted from the direction of the Immortal Gate, instantly engulfing all of Yangnan City. Streams of golden light shot up from the ground, and a fearsome tremor swept across the entire human realm with lightning speed, even extending towards the territories of the Great Yin Immortal Dynasty and the Yun clan Immortal Dynasty.
In Yangnan City, its inhabitants felt a boundless divine power at this moment. This sensation was incredibly real, as if an ancient era had reappeared. From the Immortal Gate, three thousand li away, a powerful fluctuation instantly projected onto the skies above Yangnan City.
A golden barrier suddenly appeared above Yangnan City, with strands of golden divine power interweaving in the air.
In less than a moment, a massive, milky-white arena materialized. The arena itself and its surrounding area were enveloped in a faint, light-blue halo. Simultaneously, across the entire human realm, from city to city, these milky-white arenas materialized in the sky. Divine radiance continuously spread, and countless light-blue halos traversed the void. In the territories of the Great Yin Immortal Dynasty, the Yun clan Immortal Dynasty, and even in the distant Western Frontier's Great Han Divine Dynasty, above Chang'an City, those colossal milky-white arenas appeared.
"What is that??"
Within Chang'an City, countless citizens of the Great Han stopped in their tracks, gazing at the milky-white giant arena in the void, pulsing with ancient, desolate energy.
"What is this?? Why would something like this appear above Chang'an City??"
Innumerable citizens looked up at the heavens, observing the nine-tiered steps. A light-blue formation, like a thin film, enveloped the massive milky-white arena. At a certain moment, the light-blue formation dissipated, unleashing a terrifying gale filled with ancient and desolate energy, making countless beings feel an immense sense of distance.
Boom!
Directly in front of the milky-white arena, streams of golden divine light shot skyward, piercing the heavens. These golden divine rays began to intertwine, forming a colossal stone monument. As the golden divine radiance receded, the monument revealed itself to be a deep jade color, with two large characters clearly engraved upon it.
Heavenly Palace!
When the Immortal Lord ruled humanity, grand competitions were held every thousand or ten thousand years. This Heavenly Palace was that arena. Only those who emerged victorious in this arena would gain the attention of the Immortal Lord, and some might even become members of the Immortal Lord's guard. In those days, several individuals in the Yun Hai Guard hailed from this very arena!
Rumble!
The phantom milky-white arena materialized in the void, accompanied by thunderous roars. Despite being a phantom, it made countless human beings feel a terrifying sense of dread. Its fearsome killing intent was enough to annihilate dozens of Dao Provinces.
"Drip~"
"Drip~"
On the milky-white arena, blood-red stains suddenly appeared, followed by several figures standing upon it. A surging killing intent shattered the void for ten thousand li.
Figures appeared and disappeared in rapid succession, their numbers unknown. Within a single breath, they vanished. Those phantom figures who appeared on the arena must have been peerless prodigies of their time!
"Citizens, the Human Race Grand Ceremony officially commences. The phantom milky-white arena appearing in the void above Chang'an City is a projection of the contest for the Human Race Co-Lord. Let us witness together the dawn of a new era!"