Liu Xuande had just issued an imperial edict, and Cao Mengde closely followed.
Without waiting for the crowd to react, the imperial edict of the third emperor also appeared.
This time, everyone was not surprised. Since Xuande and Mengde had issued theirs, the third was likely to be Sun Zhongmou.
Indeed, it was this person.
However, it was precisely because of this that it sparked more discussions.
"Now this is strange. Although these three emperors indeed shared a fate, they were enemies during their reigns. Why are they now joining forces to support one person?" someone remarked.
"There must be some unknown secret between them. The influence of Si Xixin has risen greatly," another commented.
"Quickly count, how many founding emperors stand behind Si Xixin and Zhang each?"
"Four against eight, such a disparity?"
"Doesn't this mean Si Xixin is destined to win? Why do all the past emperors support this person? Could it be due to the support from the Si Family?"
While the world was abuzz with discussions, Master Tao turned his head to reply to the two previous questions from Yuann Mingzhen.
This Devil Concubine, no one knows how many spies she had planted among the Alchemists, the secrets related to her were truly all-encompassing.
But as she was about to speak, she suddenly saw Tao Qian's face burst with uncontrollable delight.
After all, she was once an Empress herself, with the support of the Three Saint Emperors behind her. Although she had lost the "Spring and Autumn Chariot," she was still a Child of Fortune.
Seeing Master Tao's reaction, others speculated.
Silently casting a spell, she peered into the torrent of Human Dao and her face also revealed joy.
Without waiting for her to speak, Tao Qian had already acted.
Although he had been upstaged entirely, Tao Qian still saw himself as the Hidden Dragon Heavenly Pride competing for supremacy.
He unreservedly stepped forward and through the Spirit Mirror Crystal Balls, he proclaimed to the seventy-two provinces:
"The Twelve Emperors of Alchemists have gathered!"
"The Treasure Vaults are now open!"
"The Heavenly Mechanism has arrived, and the time has finally come to rebuild the Ancestor God Forbidden Technique Longevity Barrier."
"The All Treasures have spirit; do not delay any further."
"Listen to my command, return to the Heavenly Track, and protect All People once again."
...
Tao Qian now commanded the land of five provinces, controlling the Nine States' Twelve Treasures, the Investiture of the Gods, the Yin Yang Life and Death Talisman, the Ancient Demon-Slaying Sword Tomb... and other Ancestor God Treasures.
In every respect, he was qualified to do so.
But without the cooperation of Zhang Jinluan, Si Xixin, and Yu Yanshi, Tao Qian still could not rebuild the Barrier.
However, the timing of his intervention was too perfect, and his excited actions that seemed to claim credit and treasures prompted the Three Saint Emperors and other qualified Talent warlords to instinctively follow without a chance to think.
And so, in this instant.
Heaven, Earth, and Humanity worked together!
They were born!
The seventy-two provinces, every province, every corner, even some territories of the Outer Domain.
All erupted with "boom" after "boom," releasing a plethora of Divine Radiance.
Visible to the naked eye, it was everywhere.
Each beam of Divine Radiance represented an Ancestor God Fragment, hidden anywhere, deep within mountains, streets and alleys, Immortal Palaces, Demon Caves... they could take any form, be weapons or household utensils, even a broom or an inconspicuous pebble.
Originally, because Divine Treasures concealed themselves, without a predestined person, no matter how one searched, it was all in vain.
But at this moment, they all revealed themselves.
In the Southern and Northern Provinces, not a single place was left untouched by the Divine Radiance and treasure light piercing the clouds.
The Ten Thousand Treasures displayed their sanctity!
This was a spectacle never seen before, never happened before in this realm.
The appearance of these vast treasures, even cultivators from the Cavernous Mystery Realm and Ultimate Happiness Realm could not help but feel an unstoppable greed and desire to possess them.
In different eras, the common people may live ten lifetimes without ever seeing one.
Now, however, they saw them.
Moreover, some commoners with unusual Fortune, upon seeing these treasures, all began to have special feelings.
Like in a territory called "Chen State,"
There was a fat man named Yuan Xiangcheng, standing dazed in his courtyard, looking at a Divine Treasure suspended in mid-air.
That item was a bronze Tiger Talisman.
The murderous Divine Radiance it released made all living beings within thousands of miles, whether humans or animals, feel an impending catastrophe. They knelt submissively, daring not make any rash move.
But he was quite different. Even though he had not yet touched it, merely standing and watching,
Within his spirit, inexplicably, information arose like prophecies about the future:
"This treasure is called 'Ancestor Dragon Talisman.'"
"The Divine Treasure disguised itself as a piece of rusty scrap metal, buried within your courtyard."
"In one month, after you write the phrase 'The wild dragons lie in hibernation, the Central Plains deer are plump' in your yard, the Tiger Talisman will reveal its true form and acknowledge its master."
"It will not only bestow upon you the Military Family's Great Book of Destiny, but it will also grant you supreme power over killing and warfare abilities. With this treasure, you can contend with other Talents of this world for domination..."
As these pieces of information continuously emerged,
This man named Yuan, his eyes gradually reddened, his breath became short, and his mind was filled with endless longing.
Slowly reaching out, he tried to grab the Tiger Talisman.
But at that instant, Divine Radiance exploded, the Tiger Talisman ignored him completely, flying straight towards the north.
Before leaving, one last piece of information came: "The Ancestor Dragon Talisman senses that someone has inherited the Ancestor Dragon's war avatar, the Northern Land warlord Zhang Jinluan; hence it acknowledges him as its new master and is flying to the Northern Land to aid Zhang Jinluan in rebuilding the Ancestor Dragon's Army of Killing and the Forbidden Law Barrier."
Having finished reciting the message, the person couldn't help but reveal an expression full of disappointment.
He sighed continuously, feeling for no apparent reason as if his destiny had been forcibly altered; the future he foresaw at the moment he saw the tiger talisman was the true future.
Yet now, everything had changed.
While Yuan Xiangcheng was caught between anger and helplessness, he was unaware that at this moment, within the seventy-two provinces, countless others with similar experiences reacted differently—some with indignant resistance, while others with relief and fear.
As for Tao Qian, the "instigator" of it all, he gazed upon the Divine Treasures that were chaotically flying around the seventy-two provinces,
With an undeniable joy upon his face, he heaved a huge sigh of relief and said,
"It worked!"
"The original catastrophe of the Human Dao was indeed due to these Ancestor God Fragments. They would instinctively choose a nearby Child of Fortune to acknowledge as their master and drive them to contest the world."
"It would have consumed a hundred years, resulting in the death or injury of over a billion people, to ultimately decide upon a new True Dragon Emperor."
"Now, the catastrophe will surely be shortened... even to the point of being eliminated."
As Tao Qian thought this,
His hands did not cease their movements, for he too was a possessor of great fortune.
At this moment, naturally, many Ancestor God Treasures were coming to pledge themselves to him, acknowledging him as their master.
Similarly, others like Yuan Yanshi, Zhang Jinluan, Si Xixin, Hong Fu, and even Yuann Mingzhen had treasures coming to them in varying amounts.
At this time, the most popular were undoubtedly Zhang Jinluan and Si Xixin.
With a great quantity of Ancestor God Fragments pledging to them, they too began to release Forbidden Law Barriers like Tao Qian had before,
Swiftly enshrouding their territories—one province, two provinces, three provinces... It should be noted that the provinces these two owned far surpassed those of Master Tao.
The most critical point was—
These two were fully supported by the Twelve Emperors of Alchemist.
The weight of those numerous treasure vaults was, in reality, not any less significant than the Ancestor God Fragments scattered across the provinces.
Combined, Tao Qian, who initially had the advantage, was easily overtaken within a few hours.
If one were to observe from the Outer Realm at this very moment, they would distinctly notice
That this realm, originally as full of holes as a sieve, was gradually being mended.
Piece by piece, indestructible Forbidden Law Barriers descended from above, enveloping vast provinces within them.
Within that atmosphere, the owners of Forbidden Law Barriers had the power to dictate the life and death of all creatures and objects within.
How formidable were they?
Before this, Master Tao had already demonstrated publicly.
A simple erasure—
No matter how numerous, as long as they violated the "erasure conditions," they would be eradicated by the formed Forbidden Law Barrier.
To incite even greater dread in the Evil Cultivators and Demons, the means of eradication could be chosen at will.
Most of them were comparable to the most horrific punishments known in the world.
In an instant, within the seventy-two provinces, Demons and Evil Cultivators who had committed countless murders, along with Deceitful Objects and Evil Gods, began to suffer misfortune, their deaths and injuries unspeakably severe.
Meanwhile, the billions of people who realized what was happening wholly entered into a celebratory mood.
Almost every province, city, market, and county... wherever the Human Clan resided, began to celebrate.
Could it be that the sudden and world-view reshaping disaster was coming to an end?
...
While the common folk celebrated, the warlords of the Northern Land—who were inherently like demons—and their vast supporting forces all plunged into panic.
There was no need to worry about the south, as it was Primordial Sect territory.
The Northern Land, with its several tens of provinces, was initially dominated by the three major forces of Zhang Jinluan, Si Xixin, and Hong Fu, and more recently stirred up by the meddling Tao Master.
The forces and territories of warlords like Song Tiecheng, Yelü Lushan, and Wu Shaozu had already been continuously eroded.
Now, they were heading towards a dead end even more directly.
The expansion of the Forbidden Law Barrier didn't care for any Divine Power or Extraordinary Army.
If there were enough "Magical Treasures," no agreement from the original owners of the provinces was needed. Without even waging a war, a mere thought could take over and begin the eradication of the original owners.
It didn't take long for the first unfortunate example to emerge.
Yelü Lushan!
This baddie was also a Great Demon.
Not only did he have formidable Cultivation, refined numerous Demon Treasures, and mastered Ancient Demon Powers, but he also commanded countless brutal soldiers. Not to mention the numerous Demon Sects, Heterodox, and even Evil Demons from the Outer Realm rushing to his support.
His territory was adjacent to that of Zhang Jinluan.
Originally, after many clashes, Yelü Lushan might have been at a disadvantage, but he could still stand firm.
Until an hour ago!
Zhang Jinluan, following Tao Qian's example, made a grand oath that called for Treasures to pledge to him, on top of obtaining numerous treasure vaults.
Within half an hour, the Barrier he rebuilt had entirely enveloped the land of his ten provinces.
However, he didn't immediately eradicate all qualified Evil Cultivators and Demons. Instead, he directly expanded the Barrier into Desert North Province.
Despite Yelü Lushan's frenzied resistance, using all his trump cards,
It was futile!
There was no meaning!
As the dazzling Divine Light swept over the entire Desert North Province,
"Human Dao Soul Refining!"
Zhang Jinluan, mimicking others before him, immediately activated the Array that covered the entire province, refining Yelü Lushan and his Demons into nothingness.
PS: More to come.
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