After Xu Zimo’s gaze swept across the crowd, it fell upon the rulers of the major imperial lineages.
He chuckled lightly. “Now then, how should I deal with you?”
“Since we have done wrong, we are willing to accept punishment,” Heavenly Phoenix Empress stepped forward first and spoke.
“Look at you lot, none of you has the courage of a single woman,” Xu Zimo shook his head. “And yet you shout about eradicating demons and defending the Grand Dao, wanting to save the world? I think when true calamity comes, you’ll be the first to run faster than anyone else.”
Hearing this, everyone lowered their heads in shame, but no one dared to refute him.
“I have only one question,” Xu Zimo said.
“Was it really so-called ancestors sending dreams, or descending doubts, that made you unite to kill me?”
“In our Ancient Phoenix Empire, it was an edict left behind by our ancestor, the Phoenix Emperor,” Heavenly Phoenix Empress replied.
“In our Great Qian Dynasty as well,” others answered one after another.
Xu Zimo looked at these people. For the most part, it was indeed their ancestors’ decrees. They didn’t seem to be lying.
“In truth, not all factions targeted you,” Grandblade Ancestor cautiously said.
“At least from what I know, in the thirty-six empires of the Northern Continent, only some had such intentions. Most kingdoms actually didn’t care about this matter.”
“Our Southern Continent was the same,” another person added.
There were countless imperial lineages on the Primordial Heartlands, but this incident involved only a portion of them.
Of course, even a portion still numbered in the dozens, an astonishing force.
As for why these Grand Emperors did this, Xu Zimo couldn’t know for now.
He could only wait until he went to the Outer Heavens, where they would naturally meet, and then he could ask.
“You may leave,” Xu Zimo waved his hand at the crowd.
“Let us go?” They were all stunned at his words, almost unable to believe it.
“Yes, I’ll let you leave,” Xu Zimo nodded. “As for the consequences of this incident, how you atone will be up to you. I’ll give you seven days. After that, bear the consequences yourselves.”
Xu Zimo’s meaning was simple: how to apologize, he wouldn’t dictate. They could decide themselves.
He had given them a chance. If after seven days their form of apology didn’t satisfy him, then the consequences went without saying.
Hearing this, they knew it wouldn’t end so easily.
A massive bleeding of resources was inevitable, but to what degree, they would have to discuss among themselves.
There was only one requirement: Xu Zimo had to be satisfied.
“Honored one, in seven days we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer,” Heavenly Phoenix Empress replied seriously.
Then she left with the Ancient Phoenix Empire’s people.
Other factions began to leave one after another as well.
As for the rogue cultivators who had come to participate, Xu Zimo turned to the Dark Primordial Race, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
He spoke a single word: “Kill.”
The meaning was clear.
These rogues could not be spared. There had to be a bloody price so that some would learn fear.
This was also a warning to the imperial lineages.
A precedent, their corpses still hung in the ruins of Baili City.
Rogue cultivators were different from the imperial lineages. The sects could not run. Their roots were fixed in place.
A sect with millions of years of history could not just abandon everything.
But once rogues were let go, with the vastness of the Primordial Heartlands, they could easily disappear.
Moreover, the imperial lineages acted on the decrees of their ancestors to kill him.
What were these rogues doing it for?
To grab a share of spoils? To join the commotion?
From every angle, rogues could neither offer meaningful compensation nor be controlled. They were the perfect example to make with killing.
At Death God Qin’s command, the Dark Primordial Race charged down.
The slaughter began, but Xu Zimo’s eyes remained indifferent.
Death God Qin and the God Emperor descended from the sky.
“Long time no see,” Xu Zimo smiled.
“Though you helped me in this battle, it also benefits you. Your Divine Gate, and your Dark Primordial Race too, can both re-emerge into the light.”
“Yes, at least in your era, no one dares to provoke us,” Death God Qin sighed.
“As for the future, that is not for us to worry about. Later generations will have their own fate.”
“God Emperor, how much longer can you stay?” Xu Zimo asked.
A Grand Emperor’s time in the Primordial Heartlands was limited. Once that time was up, they would be forcibly repelled and required to ascend.
Before, the God Emperor’s destiny had been broken, so he wasn’t affected.
But now that he had revealed himself, he would surely attract the attention of the Dao.
“Don’t worry, I can last until you bear the Heaven’s Will,” the God Emperor smiled.
Xu Zimo looked up at the horizon. The Heaven’s Will had already condensed to about ninety percent. He murmured, “Soon. Very soon.”
“By the way, help me deliver a message to the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground,” Xu Zimo said.
“In this incident, apart from the Baili Imperial Clan, they were the ones who jumped the most. Tell them to bring me the corpse of Lu Changhen as apology. Otherwise, I will personally descend upon their Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground. Let’s see for myself this so-called number one power of the Overlord Region.”
“The people of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground are prideful. They likely won’t agree,” Death God Qin said with a smile.
“With five emperors in one lineage, they have the capital for arrogance,” the God Emperor snorted.
“But it depends on who they are facing. The era has changed. This is not their era. Even if emperors descend, they’ll have to obediently watch.”
Death God Qin nodded slightly, indicating he would deliver the message.
At that moment, Lin Ruhuo approached, directing a few Divine Gate members who were pressing forward a middle-aged man.
Xu Zimo looked carefully. The man’s hair was disheveled, at first, he didn’t even recognize him.
It was none other than the Baili Imperial Clan’s patriarch, Baili Chengfeng.
“Brother Zimo, during the battle just now, the Baili Imperial Clan’s several old ancestors have already fallen,” Lin Ruhuo laughed heartily.
“Only this old thing, hiding off to the side pretending to be dead, I found him.”
“Hahaha... Patriarch Baili acting like this, it doesn’t match your reputation,” Xu Zimo shook his head in disappointment.
“Earlier, on the arena stage, I saw you high-spirited, talking about eradicating demons, defending the Dao, and bringing light to the world.”
“Young master, Xiao’er has already died at your hands, and our Baili Imperial Clan has been destroyed by you. I beg you to spare me a life,” Baili Chengfeng said in embarrassment. “I’ll do whatever you want.”
“The patriarch of the Baili Imperial Clan I had in mind wasn’t like this,” Xu Zimo smiled faintly. “There’s only one explanation. On the surface, you beg me for mercy to drag out your life. But in truth, your heart is bent on revenge, isn’t it?”
He laughed. “Your performance is quite good, but the hatred in your eyes can’t be hidden.”
He was all too familiar with that look.
Wasn’t he the same in his past life?