Tao Qian's open strategy was to use the Human Dao Torrent to rally support from the Cultivation World for himself, crafting his image as the new Ancestor Dragon.
Everyone understood that once Master Tao came into power, the Alchemists would undoubtedly perish.
Under such immense pressure!
Whether the Alchemists chose to support Si Xixin or Zhang Jinluan, they still had to open the Treasure Vault and establish a Barrier.
As long as the Barrier's Forbidden Technique returned, the many wars bound to erupt would shift from the Mortal World to the Cultivation World.
Thus, Tao Qian's goal would be achieved.
But at that moment, there seemed to be no key progress.
...
Just as Tao Qian was pondering whether something had gone wrong, Yuann Mingzhen, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly transmitted a message:
"Brother Tao, Mingzhen has received a secret message from an Alchemist spy."
"The twelve old monsters have now split into two factions and are arguing; it's still the ancestors of the Li Family and the Liu Family who disagree."
"Li Wanshou said he knows your prowess and wants to immediately open the Treasure Vault to support Si Xixin as the new Ancestor Dragon and help him establish a new Forbidden Law Barrier. Once accomplished, it won't take long before they can overturn the Nine Provinces Barrier you currently possess."
"Liu Pei, on the other hand, opposes the reconstruction of the Barrier, and even if it's really necessary, he would choose Zhang Jinluan over Si Xixin."
After Yuann Mingzhen finished, Tao Qian's expression immediately grew more grave.
It's irrelevant which side the Emperor of the two Alchemist factions supports.
What's truly crucial is to coerce these old monsters into reconstructing the Barrier.
Should they continue their dispute, once the Human Dao Torrent weakens, Tao Qian's reality will immediately be exposed.
By then, all would be lost.
The few people in the room all understood this point.
The Qingjing Old Monk seemed to have anticipated this, and at that moment he solemnly sighed:
"It seems there is no other way."
"My child, I know what worries you. The Spirit Treasure Sect indeed has a taboo against not getting involved in the turbid qi of the Human World, the poison of fortune, thus it never partakes in supporting the Human Emperor."
"You fear that because of you, causing the Spirit Treasure Ten Thousand Immortals to descend the mountain might lead to a tragic outcome, just like what happened to the Primordial Sect in the past."
"Such an outcome is indeed possible."
"But we have not yet reached that stage, so how about this, let me issue an invitation on your behalf, asking the Spirit Treasure Ten Thousand Immortals to come down from the mountains to stroll around Qiantang. There are no shortages of Uncle-Masters and Aunt-Masters within the mountain gate who owe you small karmic debts; putting together a grand show shouldn't be difficult."
"Those dozen or so old monsters from the Alchemists, their brains already corrupted and addled, will definitely think that our Spirit Treasure Sect intends to support your ascent."
"Panicked, they will surely open the Treasure Vault and do all they can to rebuild the Barrier for self-preservation."
Hearing this, Tao Qian opened his mouth, intending to refuse his Master.
But glancing over, he suddenly saw the old monk wink at him, and while he was still puzzled, he first heard his Master's transmitted message:
"Be quiet, boy, don't speak recklessly."
"You're also squandering heavenly gifts; knowing full well that the little lady beside you has powerful backing, instead of sweet-talking her into helping, you only know to avoid suspicion, how could you accomplish great things like this."
Outwardly, Duobao's tone then shifted.
This time, it seemed like he was talking to Yunrong.
"Actually, performing the play for real is also possible."
"Our Spirit Treasure Sect does not like to assist in Human Emperor affairs, but that doesn't mean you, Tao Qian, can't become the Human Emperor."
"In fact, you have a considerable karmic affinity with the imperial throne."
"Didn't Yunrong's master, Grandma Taizhen, say she fully supports you? If she would go to the Outer Realm to beseech that Tribulation Immortal, you would easily ascend to that position, knowing that the Ancient Three Saint Emperors managed to claim their thrones with that being's support."
Unintentionally said, the listener had intentions.
Yunrong, already worried about her husband, immediately showed a moved expression upon hearing this.
Without concerning herself with anything else, she promptly responded, "Brother, wait here for me, I'll return to the mountains right away to implore Grandma to ask the Ancestor Master…"
Yunrong moved swiftly, fortunately, Tao Qian was prepared.
The moment his Master spoke, he knew his naive sister would take it seriously and immediately intercepted her first.
Are you kidding?
Having married her disciple, yet still asking her to go to the Outer Realm to request the Ancestor Master's help in elevating him to the Human Emperor's throne?
Even while sponging off someone, there was no way like this.
Tao Qian was arguing with Yunrong, while glancing towards another young woman by his side.
Indeed!
He then realized it as well.
Master didn't want him to coax Yunrong for help, but Yuann Mingzhen.
This Devil Concubine, for so long lacked presence.
But Tao Qian remembered then, she was also a major support.
The reason was simple, her backing was the Ancient Three Saint Emperors.
If truly compared, among all contemporary talents competing for the throne of the Human Emperor, she was the strongest.
Yuann Mingzhen, who once was known as "Empress", was naturally among the smartest in the world.
With just one look at the performance of this master and disciple, she immediately understood their intentions.
Inevitably, she gave Master Tao a stern glance.
After carefully pondering for a while, she spoke earnestly to Tao Qian,
"Mingzhen can go to the Outer Realm and request a 'Three Saint Emperors Divine Decree'. It cannot directly support you to become Human Emperor, and I think you wouldn't want it directly either."
"But it can make everyone develop the wrong impression, such kind of forceful pressure, those old monsters among the Alchemists certainly can't withstand it."
"However, once this happens, you will certainly become the target of public criticism."
"Be it Zhang Jinluan, Si Xixin, or even Yu Yanshi… all will harbor undeniable hostility towards you."
"Because you schemed against the Alchemists and took charge of such a major event, you naturally have a deadly tribulation waiting ahead for you."
"After you receive the Three Saint Emperors Divine Decree, the intensity of your deadly tribulation will be even greater, I'm afraid you really might end up dead and vanished in cultivation."
"Master Tao, do you still want me to go…?"
After Yuann Mingzhen finished speaking, she thought that Tao Qian in front of her would ponder for a bit.
But unexpectedly, he didn't hesitate at all; he even nudged her from behind.
At the same time, he urged repeatedly, "If only you said you had this method earlier, go quickly and return quickly."
Having gotten her answer, Yuann Mingzhen looked deeply at Tao Qian for another moment.
Then, she turned around and immediately transformed into the ancient Heavenly Phoenix Dharma Form, a figure with the head of a person and the body of a bird.
She somehow used a Magic Skill and really broke through the Void, heading to the Outer Realm.
…
After Yuann Mingzhen left, the torrent of the Human Dao continued, with major forces continuously emerging to support Master Tao.
However, contributions of divine treasures gradually ceased.
The expansion speed of the Forbidden Law Barrier controlled by Tao Qian slowed down once again.
In total, it now covered around the size of four provinces.
By present outcomes, it was enough to satisfy anyone.
Within the range of the Forbidden Technique, Tao Qian had the power to grant life and death over evil cultivators committing crimes; in a few more days, Sui Chaozi would also deliver the "Governance Divine Machine," along with an army of mechanical troops.
Although it did not eliminate or shorten the Human Dao tribulation, there still would be a hundred years of chaotic war, and over a billion people would die.
But Tao Qian's contribution had been significant.
Others would have been satisfied.
But Tao Qian did not feel that way, his eyes fixed deadly on the Sea of Fortune, scattered across seventy-two provinces, a vast number as immense as the stars in the sky called "Forbidden Technique Fragments," each fragment being a treasure.
Tao Qian had now obtained many treasures, including fragments from the "Nine States' Twelve Treasures" that could immediately transform into a barrier core of the Forbidden Technique.
But compared to the complete Forbidden Technique, it still fell far short.
"Just a bit more!"
"Just forcing the Alchemists to bleed profusely, to piece these fragments back together, forming a new Longevity Barrier, a net of Ancestor God that will scoop out all those demonic remnants."
On the surface, Tao Qian maintained his composure.
Deep down, however, signs of boiling were gradually emerging.