Supreme Lord Li Xin rose and bowed to Supreme Lord Gui Hai with clasped fists, then shattered the void and vanished.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, Hero Xin Qiji has slain Jia Bin, obtaining 4 million kill points!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, Hero Gao Xianzhi has slain Hao Chen, obtaining 4 million kill points!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, Hero Li Su has slain a Saint Lord realm creature Tuoba Zhang, obtaining 4 million kill points!"
"Ding! Congratulations to the host, Hero Xie Lüguang has slain Lei Ce, obtaining 4 million kill points!"
...
After the Grand Han Divine Dynasty's advancement grand ceremony concluded, countless beings were still reeling from the fall of the Four Great Saint Lords. As Supreme Lord Gui Hai and Supreme Lord Li Xin departed, Holy Lord Zi Li and Tai Shang felt that the place was a hotbed of trouble and could not linger. After offering their congratulations, they hastily withdrew.
Three hours later.
Civil and military officials entered the Xuanzheng Hall in succession, commencing the Grand Han Divine Dynasty's first court assembly.
Yang Hao, clad in imperial robes and wearing a crown, sat majestically on the dragon throne, calmly observing the civil and military officials below.
To his right, Crown Prince Yang Chen stood with a solemn expression.
Further down, civil officials, led by Li Si, occupied the left side of the hall, while military generals, led by Meng Tian, occupied the right side.
"Announce, the Chi Dragon of Wolong Abyss, grant an audience!!"
A loud cry echoed, and the Chi Dragon, kneeling outside the hall, felt his heart tremble, large beads of sweat quickly appearing on his forehead.
"Chi Dragon of Wolong Abyss, pays respects to the Divine Emperor!"
"Long live the Divine Emperor, ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"
Upon entering the hall, the Chi Dragon dared not lift his head.
"Rise!"
Yang Hao said.
"Thank you, Divine Emperor!"
The Chi Dragon rose and dared not move, fearing he might misstep and displease the Grand Han Divine Emperor.
The current Grand Han, having slain the Saint Lords of four major powers during a single ceremony, possessed a record sufficient to establish the Grand Han Divine Dynasty's position as the second-tier power in the western region.
"Divine Emperor!"
"The Demon Sea Swamp and the Thunder Cloud Hall, instigated by remnants of the Yaoguang Divine Dynasty and Haiyun Divine Dynasty, disrupted our Divine Dynasty's grand ceremony and even showed disrespect to the Divine Emperor in Chang'an City!"
"I believe we should dispatch troops to conquer and annihilate them!"
Meng Tian stepped forward, his tone filled with killing intent. The Chi Dragon trembled violently, feeling flustered and uneasy. *Has it started already?* he muttered inwardly.
"This minister seconds the motion!"
"This minister seconds the motion!"
"This minister seconds the motion!"
...
One military general after another stepped forward.
"Divine Emperor!"
Li Si, witnessing this scene, stepped out and bowed deeply to Yang Hao.
"The Demon Sea Swamp and the Thunder Cloud Hall attacked without cause and implicated remnants of two dynasties. These two reasons alone are sufficient grounds for our Grand Han to launch an attack!"
"However..."
"What is it?"
"Prime Minister, what are you hesitating about?"
Yang Chen frowned. *They've already attacked us, why is our Prime Minister hesitating?*
"Chen'er!"
Yang Hao's expression turned cold. Yang Chen wore a distressed look and had to desist.
"Divine Emperor!"
"Crown Prince!"
"This minister has no objection to dispatching troops to attack the Demon Sea Swamp and the Thunder Cloud Hall. However, I am concerned that the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty and the Taixuan Palace, these two powers are quite distant from our Grand Han, and Wolong Abyss lies between them, making it inconvenient for our army to march."
Li Si looked troubled. The current Grand Han had over twenty Great Saint realm heroes, enough to swallow these four powers whole, but he had to consider the travel time required for a large-scale conquest.
Wolong Abyss!
A region occupying sixty-seven Dao Provinces, a lawless territory where any power could interfere. Other powers were one thing, but what if the Qingxuan Immortal Dynasty, the Hengtian Immortal Dynasty, and the Zhulu Saint Sect intervened?
The current Grand Han could not contend with the three major powers of the western region; it would be like throwing an egg against a rock!
"This minister agrees!"
Changsun Wuji stepped forward: "Wolong Abyss is in chaos, any power can interfere. For us at present, it is very inconvenient for our army to march out of Wolong Abyss. If we cannot pass through Wolong Abyss, then our Grand Han cannot attack the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty and the Taixuan Palace."
"Divine Emperor, although our Grand Han can have our generals traverse the void and descend upon the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty and the Taixuan Palace, these two powers have vast territories, and a million-strong army cannot keep up. Even if we dispatch strong individuals to eliminate them, it would be disadvantageous!" Su Dan Novel Network
"Wolong Abyss is currently a mere chicken's rib to us!"
"This minister believes that if a suitable method is not found, we should not undertake a long march to attack the Taixuan Palace and the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty."
"Regarding the Dragon race within Wolong Abyss, this minister believes we can dispatch the Imperial Guards to handle it cautiously, transferring them in batches."
Fa Zheng shook his head.
Yang Hao frowned. Wolong Abyss had a vast territory but very few inhabitants. Even the entire Dragon race numbered no more than ten thousand. Occupying it would yield little faith value, and might even offend the three overlords.
"Divine Emperor!"
"I have a method that can assist the Divine Emperor's million-strong army in crossing Wolong Abyss!"
The Chi Dragon spoke: "Within Wolong Abyss, there are quite a few giant teleportation arrays. When the Dragon race declined, they still possessed some strength to resist. Our ancestors laid down several giant teleportation arrays back then, but later, as the Dragon race became scarcer and scattered, unable to form an army, those teleportation arrays were mostly abandoned."
"Oh!"
"Can you pinpoint their locations accurately?"
Yang Hao's eyes flashed with divine light.
"Yes!"
The Chi Dragon replied hastily.
"Good!"
Yang Hao rose with joy: "The ten thousand beings of Wolong Abyss, I can promise them entry into the Grand Han territory, but this matter must be carried out in secrecy and not be exposed."
"Thank you, Divine Emperor!"
The Chi Dragon bowed his head in pain. *So many years! So many years! Our race can finally escape that abysmal sea!*
"Yuzhou is too conspicuous. You will go into Dao Province, and this matter will be handled by Zhang Jiao. Ensure they are properly settled!"
Yang Hao pondered for a moment and then commanded.
"Yuan Tiangang, you will accompany the Chi Dragon back to Wolong Abyss to activate the teleportation arrays first."
"Li Si!"
"This minister is here!"
Li Si's body trembled instantly.
"Draft an imperial decree!"
"The Grand Han Divine Dynasty's promotion ceremony concerns my imperial dignity. The Demon Sea Swamp, the Thunder Cloud Hall, the Taixuan Palace, and the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty, their Saint Lord level beings forcibly intervened, disrespecting me immensely!"
"I hereby solemnly declare to all directions!"
"War against the Demon Sea Swamp!"
"War against the Thunder Cloud Hall!"
"War against the Taixuan Palace!"
"War against the Tianyuan Divine Dynasty!"
Boom!
Yang Hao flicked his finger, and five imperial tokens appeared in the hands of Meng Tian, commander of the Qiongqi Legion; Zhang Liao, commander of the Vermillion Bird Legion; Xie Lüguang, commander of the Jinni Legion; Cao Wei, commander of the White Tiger Legion; and Gao Xianzhi, commander of the Qilin Legion.
"This minister Meng Tian!"
"This minister Zhang Liao!"
"This minister Xie Lüguang!"
"This minister Cao Wei!"
"This minister Gao Xianzhi!"
"We respectfully obey the Emperor's command!"
The five stepped forward, their voices resounding throughout the Xuanzheng Hall, stirring the blood of all the civil and military officials present.
"Attack!!"
Boom!
Yang Hao drew the Xuanyuan Sword with a clang. The sword's light swept across thousands of miles! The sword light flowed like a river for a thousand miles!
Dragon Qi surged, vast and mighty!