The long wait had finally arrived, marking the moment the Emperor's Mandate Seed would appear, causing countless beings across the ancient immortal land to stir.
For over two years, slaughter had been a constant on this soil. Though many beings had lost the chance to contend for the Emperor's Crown, this land held countless inheritances. Over several eras, numerous powerhouses had fallen here, leaving behind a vast number of immortal treasures, elixirs, and combat techniques.
"With all ninety-nine Emperor's Crowns claimed, the Emperor's Mandate Seed has appeared. This long wait is finally set to culminate in a revelry for the old land."
Outside, countless beings gazed towards the old land, watching as Emperor Sovereigns opened their eyes, their awakening sparking unrest among the myriad lifeforms.
"The Four Great Hegemonic Forces have yet to descend. Do they not covet the Emperor's Mandate Seed?"
A top-tier Quasi-Emperor scanned the surroundings. As in the past, the beings from the Four Great Hegemonic Forces had not shown themselves. Their presence had been absent for a long time, a fact that drew nods from numerous other Quasi-Emperors. The current four dominant forces of the Immortal Realm had risen during the mid-stage of the Nether Sea Era, their growth and expansion having been terrifyingly rapid.
They had surpassed and devoured many hegemonic forces of the Nether Sea Era, leading to the inexplicable demise of many powerful Immortal Emperors. Gradually, the Four Great Hegemonic Forces had seized control of the Immortal Realm's authority, a reign that continued to this day. They had never once participated in the contest for the Emperor's Mandate Seed within the ancient immortal land.
These four forces occupied an entire continent within the core region of the Immortal Realm. For ten thousand years, no powerhouse had been able to threaten their lofty status.
These four powers were the Ancestral Dragon Hall, the Ancient Emperor Clan, the Sky Horn Ant, and the Nine Nether Phoenix. These four hegemonic powers sat aloof, observing the ebb and flow of power across the Immortal Realm.
No one knew the true extent of their power!
Even the Vermillion Bird, an supreme overlord who controlled seventy-three Emperor's Mandates, had been marginalized by the Four Great Hegemonic Forces. The Azure Dragon, the Black Tortoise, and other powerful bloodline races had been systematically eliminated by them. The progenitor of Danxue Mountain had also met his end at the hands of the Ancient Emperor Clan.
"The Emperor's might here isn't the strongest, but it's not weak either. It's enough for me."
Within a section of the old land, Zhao Yun walked alone onto a territory. He took a deep breath. At the moment the Emperor's Mandate Seed appeared, Zhao Yun, Wang Zhongsi, and Guan Yu had separated, each with their own objectives. Wang Zhongsi, the most powerful among them, was constantly monitoring the aura of figures like Old Immortal Heavenly Corpse, ready to seize the most potent Emperor's Mandate Seed.
Standing on this land, Zhao Yun felt the pressure of the Great Dao. Faint, intermittent waves of Emperor's might guided him.
He walked for over half a day, following the faint Emperor's might. From afar, he saw a robust golden dragon exhaling a pure white gas resembling a long worm. All beings sensed a powerful surge of energy.
"Emperor's Mandate Seed!" Zhao Yun gazed at the white gas and murmured, "A second-grade Emperor's Mandate Seed. No doubt!"
He lowered his head and took out the white jade disk gifted by Danxue Mountain. It could detect the Emperor's might contained within an Emperor's Mandate Seed, thus determining its grade.
"This Emperor's Mandate Seed belongs to my Qiongqi lineage!"
"All beings, retreat now, and we shall spare your lives!"
From the northern sky, dozens of figures emerged. In the center of a chariot sat a figure in purple robes, eyes closed, positioned high above. Their calm breaths harmonized with the immortal energy of the land. The dozens of beings from the Qiongqi lineage were exceptionally powerful, with the weakest being at the first layer of Immortal Emperor. The arrival of dozens of Immortal Emperors was like a chasm separating heaven and earth, suffocating the surrounding beings.
Zhao Yun's calm gaze swept over them before returning to the Emperor's Mandate Seed. It was neither dragon nor serpent, just this white essence. Such a thing could lay the foundation for a being's path to enlightenment. The gift of the Great Dao filled Zhao Yun with caution.
If the Great Dao so feared certain powerful races, and if it stripped away good fortune once an emperor appeared, why did it preserve the ancient immortal land and leave behind Emperor's Mandate Seeds? Wasn't this akin to lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet?
Outside the ancient immortal land, all beings' eyes were fixed on the territory where Zhao Yun was. This was the first Emperor's Mandate Seed to appear; the other eight had not yet emerged. Gazing at the faintly pulsating white gas, the Quasi-Emperors' eyes glinted with cold light.
"A second-grade Emperor's Mandate Seed! The Qiongqi lineage is truly blessed with immense fortune. Without any powerful Immortal Emperors competing, these dozens of Immortal Emperors can suppress all in this land."
"Human Zhao Yun, he deserves it! To face the Qiongqi lineage and not retreat, heaven truly intends to destroy him!" A Quasi-Emperor from the Void Demon race, observing from the sidelines, was inwardly delighted. While the Golden Crow had emerged in the west of the Immortal Realm, with the Heavenly Monster Court being the most prominent, the Qiongqi lineage was not weak either. They were even more powerful than the Blade Sea Alliance in the southern Immortal Realm. Let alone Zhao Yun, even their Void Demon race and the Seven Star Pavilion, if allied, would likely have to evade the Qiongqi lineage.
Compared to the Quasi-Emperor, other beings paid little attention to Zhao Yun. The most dazzling gazes were focused on the beings of the Qiongqi lineage.
"Marquis Wu, the Qiongqi lineage is involved in the competition. I believe General Zhao should seek another opportunity!" said Heavenly King Lei Yuan with concern.
"No matter, it is merely the Qiongqi lineage. If General Zhao is willing, contending for a first-grade Emperor's Mandate Seed is not out of the question!"
Zhuge Liang said calmly, his feather fan stirring gently, as if everything within the ancient immortal land was under his control.
Originally, the team was to be led by Le Yi. However, Zhuge Liang believed this was a rare opportunity to understand the various forces of the Immortal Realm, and thus he requested to come, to investigate the foundations of the Immortal Realm's heroes.
Yet, Zhuge Liang's brow was furrowed with some worry. He had not seen the Four Great Hegemonic Forces of the Immortal Realm. Although he had no immediate plans for the core region of the Immortal Realm, knowing in advance would be beneficial for future planning and preparations for the Great Han.
"Heavenly King, why do these Four Great Hegemonic Forces not participate in the ancient immortal land?" Zhuge Liang asked softly.
"This!"
Lei Yuan opened his mouth but found himself speechless. He shook his head and said, "Perhaps they do not deem it worthy. There might be greater opportunities deep within the Ancient Star Road. The Four Great Hegemonic Forces have penetrated the core of the Ancient Star Road, and many powerhouses speculate this is the true reason for their enduring prosperity."
"I heard that your ancestor, from the Danxue Mountain lineage, was also a supreme overlord during the Nether Sea Era. What? You also know nothing about the depths of the Ancient Star Road?"
"Difficult!"
"Ancestor never ventured into the core of the Ancient Star Road. Not only my ancestor, but no giant from other races or forces has ever entered the core. Throughout history, only the current Four Great Hegemonic Forces have entered and returned safely!"