Chapter 452: Bai Zi (4K)

The changes in the Qingxu Sword Sect were merely a microcosm of the shifting tides in the sectarian lineages across the two hundred great continents of the southeast.

In the year that followed, the situation across the two hundred great continents of the southeast gradually became clear.

After the Great Xia Dynasty dispatched formal imperial envoys into the Red Zhang Mountains of Lingzhou, the attitude of the Qingxu Sword Sect became clear, preparing to collectively align with the Great Xia Dynasty.

Prior to this, the Five Elements Immortal Sect had already openly declared its stance, accepting the garrison of the Great Xia Dynasty, completely changing its allegiance, and becoming a subordinate sect under the Great Xia's governance.

After the Five Elements Immortal Sect declared its stance, dozens of great continents in the southeast, north, and western regions successively announced their incorporation into the Great Xia territory; within them, numerous mundane dynasties, as well as medium and small sects, existed as vassals within the Great Xia Dynasty.

The Five Elements Immortal Sect possessed a degree of high autonomy and enjoyed various privileges.

Equivalent to the chief among the feudal lords of the various provinces.

After the Five Elements Immortal Sect declared its stance, half a year later, negotiations between the Qingxu Sword Sect and a portion of the Great Xia Dynasty's envoy team finally concluded, and the Qingxu Sword Sect similarly declared its stance, willing to be incorporated into the Great Xia Dynasty's territory, becoming a vassal sect of the Great Xia Dynasty in the southeast, accepting supervision by the Great Xia Dynasty's envoys, while simultaneously paying tribute and taxes to the Great Xia Dynasty at regular intervals.

After the Qingxu Sword Sect submitted, the over fifty great continents under its control simultaneously declared allegiance to the Great Xia Dynasty; the various great and small sects within were willing to accept the nine-tier, twelve-level sect system established by the Great Xia Dynasty.

Simultaneously, they submitted their sectarian registration documents to the Great Xia Dynasty and entrusted part of their sectarian inheritance to the Great Xia Dynasty's Society and Gods Dao Palace, while retaining only a portion of the core inheritance.

This rapid alignment clearly caused the Great Xia dragon veins to swell.

Above Haojing City, the magnificent dragon energy continuously gathered and swelled; under this convergence of dragon energy, the Great Xia Red Dragon became exceptionally active.

Even those lesser gods with weak cultivation and low-level cultivators could feel the terror of that roaring Red Dragon's dragon soul.

The dragon energy prohibition began from the Eastern Continent, initiating a wave of expansion, overflowing toward the southeast two hundred continents, suppressing the power of demons and evil gods.

Many powerful figures from the immortal sects and Dao lineages could feel the renewed descent of the dragon energy prohibition.

This was a major event not seen in many years.

However, as long as they possessed the official registration documents issued by the Great Xia Dynasty, and their disciples' names were recorded on those documents within the sect, they naturally need not worry about interference in their cultivation.

On the contrary, with the protection of the dragon energy prohibition, the danger of being eroded by external demons and evil gods could be greatly reduced.

But for those who had never obtained identity registration documents and followed the heterodox paths, it was difficult.

Without identity registration documents, they would be regarded as enemies by the Red Dragon's dragon soul and the Nine Tripod Boundary, and would be suppressed on their own, unable to exert more than fifty or sixty percent of their cultivation.

The closer one was to the Eastern Continent, the harsher the suppression.

……

Haojing City, Hall of Containing the Origin

Zhang Jian's brow glowed with intense imperial aura, dragon energy circulating, the mandate of the human emperor, the mandate of the state and gods emperor—one pattern, one standard radiated brilliant light, as if two great suns floated in the sea of his primordial spirit consciousness; Zhang Jian seized the opportunity to also infuse the authority of the state and gods Dao into the earth, controlling the land authority over the southeast two hundred great continents' territory, completely integrating it into the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State and Gods.

Thereafter, any immortal or god stepping into these territories would be equivalent to actively treading upon the divine domain of the State and Gods Emperor.

Within the divine domain, Daoist powerhouses were nearly like creators of the world.

Similar to how he, as a State and Gods Emperor seated in the divine domain, would only grow stronger.

Zhang Jian's gaze fluctuated; at this moment, within his body, a treasure was continuously swallowing and absorbing the dragon energy between heaven and earth, imperial energy nourishing itself.

That was his natal spirit treasure, the Dragon Chant Sword; within this sword, the sword soul had seemingly fully formed, spirituality transformed into a dragon shape, the sword body covered in blazing imperial energy and dragon energy, with faint splendor of Daoist laws bursting forth.

It was gradually transforming toward becoming an immortal treasure.

Moreover, unlike ordinary immortal treasures.

It had been forged with the 《Holy Virtue Sword Purification Method》, containing the essence of a Holy Virtue Great Dao law, thus being a sword of the Imperial Dao.

Zhang Jian's vast primordial spirit consciousness sensed the dragon energy gradually flowing through over a hundred continents, the Great Xia dragon veins swelling, a hint of a smile appearing at the corners of his eyes.

With the scale of the Great Xia Dynasty, digesting two hundred continents was somewhat strained.

But he, using the authority of the State and Gods Emperor, digested the two hundred continents and took the opportunity to cover them with the power of the Nine Tripod Boundary, which was effortless.

The Nine Tripod Boundary first covered these continents; regardless of whether the 'feudal lords' within were willing or not, they would ultimately only be able to gradually submit under the governance of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"It's just a pity that the number of powerful cultivators nurtured by the Great Xia Dynasty has temporarily not kept up, so we can only resort to the ancient enfeoffment system, greatly enfeoffing feudal lords!"

Zhang Jian's smile gradually faded.

Reinstating the ancient enfeoffment system was also a helpless move.

We could only first stabilize the situation, then gradually deal with these enfeoffed feudal lords, weakening their authority.

Zhang Jian gazed upon the illusory map condensed from magical power before him.

Currently, among the two hundred continents, the three major hegemons—Five Elements Immortal Sect and Qingxu Sword Sect—had successively submitted to the Great Xia Dynasty, leaving only the last hard bone, the Profound Extreme Sect, and some continents occupied by neutral sects.

However, after the Five Elements Immortal Sect and Qingxu Sword Sect submitted to the Great Xia Dynasty, the Profound Extreme Sect stood alone and could not endure for long.

Once the Profound Extreme Sect submitted, the other neutral sects would naturally no longer be able to remain 'neutral'.

Zhang Jian did not continue to personally oversee this matter, but instead entrusted it to Zhang Zhang, and commanded the Patriarch of the Dongxiao Teaching, the Taiyin Immortal Maiden, and the Deyang Old Ancestor to assist.

With so many powerful figures deployed, Zhang Zhang would surely face no problem.

A hint of a smile appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes; he believed that after the two hundred great continents were incorporated into the Great Xia territory, when he next performed the ancestral sacrifice, there would surely be some surprises.

However, good things need not fear being done too hastily.

He still had patience, waiting for the auspicious day when the two hundred great continents would be completely incorporated into the Great Xia territory.

……

Zhang Jian pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze to another matter.

The Ji family, and the Qi family.

These two families had previously attempted to seize a marriage alliance, and this matter was not yet over.

Now, he had finally freed his hands, and naturally wanted to take good revenge.

As for how to take revenge, he prepared to pull in some strong cultivators from the Tongshan Dao lineage to act together.

To discuss and formulate a 'program'.

The ancestral land of the Qi family

A towering holy statue stood in the ancient Holy King Temple, that being the Qi family's ancestor, the ancient Holy King White Emperor.

The White Emperor was achieved in ancient times; it is said he was a descendant of the Yellow Emperor, the primordial ancestor of the ancient Holy Kings.

But the primordial ancestor of the emperor was called the Hundred Sons, with numerous descendants, among whom the most outstanding branch was precisely the Ji lineage.

The Ji clan had produced holy kings in both the ancient and medieval eras, and had even once led the human race.

The Ying clan, however, was another branch, and to some extent the two holy‑king houses still shared a blood relation.

But with the passage of time, and as many ancestors departed one after another after the Medieval War, that connection gradually faded.

Yet they remained allies in the traditional sense.

At this moment, standing before the White Emperor's holy image, an elderly man in splendid robes, his face withered, leaned on a staff, his eyes holding a hint of silence.

In his gaze, he saw only the candles before the White Emperor's holy image flickering and shifting, as if dimming in the wind.

The appearance of such an omen in the ever‑burning lamp before the White Emperor's holy image was clearly an ill omen.

Moreover, many spirit tablets before the White Emperor's holy image had been stained with a layer of gray‑black.

This change only deepened the worry.

After a moment, Ying Qiao spoke slowly.

"Ancestors, could it be that Heaven intends to destroy my Ying clan?"

"Could my Ying clan have committed some heinous crime?"

Ying Qiao's eyes showed some fatigue.

Since ancient times, the Ying clan had never been this weak; even the sole celestial elder ancestor had met with misfortune.

And the Ying family's few traditional allies were either unable to protect themselves or unwilling to intervene.

But moments later, his expression turned resolute, his eyes fixed on the towering holy image, his gaze becoming steadfast and cold.

"Ancestors, no matter who seeks to destroy my Ying clan, I will make them pay the price!"

"Please, ancestors, protect and bless the Ying descendants so they may safely pass this tribulation, and at the same time annihilate our great enemy!"

He bowed slightly, then slowly walked forward to stand before the holy image.

Before the holy image were enshrined several ancient artifacts.

These artifacts flowed with a dense imperial aura, as if, once revived, they possessed the power to destroy gods.

This is the foundation of the holy‑king house, and also the holy relics left by the ancient holy kings.

Ying Qiao slowly raised his hands before a peculiar weapon before him; this peculiar weapon was entirely red‑gold in color, appearing merely as a relic left by an ancient tribe.

This is a golden halberd.

But upon grasping this golden halberd, a hint of fierce confidence appeared on Ying Qiao's face.

……

Da Huang Prefecture

The territory of Da Huang Prefecture borders the barbaric wilderness region.

Because it is near the barbaric wilderness, many foreign tribes dwell here, as well as some powerful ancient clans bearing the blood of primordial demon gods.

It is not that these ancient clans dislike other places, but rather their cultivation still follows the qi‑refining secret arts passed down from antiquity.

The ancient cultivation secret arts, inherited from demon gods, are naturally extremely powerful, but their demand for resources is also somewhat greater.

For they pursue the dual transformation of flesh and soul.

Thus, only the barbaric wilderness region, which retains its primordial appearance, still hosts many gradually vanishing strange flowers and exotic herbs.

Of course, they also require the bloodlines of many barbaric wilderness relic species from that region to perform various ancient demon‑god rituals, thereby enhancing their own strength.

The Great Yin Dynasty founded by the Ying clan is located here.

Zhang Jian, together with another four or five figures, slowly emerged from the depths of the void at this moment, looking down upon the territory of the Great Yin Dynasty.

"A Yu, you must still be as careful as possible later; a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Although the Ying clan has lost its sole celestial‑level elder ancestor, they still retain part of their foundation, not lacking in powerful holy‑king relics, so you must still be cautious!"

The Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch's expression was solemn.

Beside the Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch were another four true immortals whose bodies flowed with intense light of the immortal Dao laws.

This time, the Tongshan Dao lineage likewise bled heavily, mobilizing four true immortals at once.

However, most of these four true immortals are not from the Tongshan orthodox lineage; many carry intense demonic qi, or possess fierce divine power, likely being powerful guardians subdued by the second‑generation patriarchs.

Among them, one true immortal with a single horn on his head is Yi Dao.

"Your Majesty the Emperor, although the Ying clan's ancestor has fallen at your hands, the Great Yin dragon qi has not dispersed; we fear we cannot launch a direct strong assault!"

This single‑horned true immortal is named Kang Long True Immortal; it is said he is a mutant earth dragon king who attained the Dao, bearing dragon‑clan blood, possessing immense strength, and is the chief of the four great guardians.

Besides Kang Long True Immortal, there are also the Fire Crow True Immortal, the White Robe True Immortal, and another powerful foreign deity named the Three‑Eyed True God.

Zhang Jian nodded slightly, then merely smiled.

"You wait here; I will first go down to investigate!"

Zhang Jian's eyes were calm.

He clearly knew how difficult it is to deal with a strong cultivator of the holy‑king path who bears dragon qi.

He himself is an emperor who bears dragon qi.

However, he is now a divine‑path emperor of a realm, yet he does not fear the power of such dragon‑qi law prohibitions, especially since he himself is also the founding emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty.

But the Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch blocked him.

Zhang Jian's gaze swept over, looking somewhat strangely at the Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch.

The Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch drew a deep breath, then suddenly said.

"A Yu, as your teacher, I know that with the power you now wield, you perhaps have the ability to overthrow the Ying clan's holy‑king lineage, but I still hope you will show mercy!"

Upon hearing this, the four foreign true immortals beside him showed slight surprise in their eyes.

They exchanged glances.

Their surprise was not because the Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch, who usually roams unchecked as a killing star, had suddenly become 'merciful and lenient', but because the Slay‑Demarcation True Monarch seemed certain that this Eastern Continent Emperor possessed the power to destroy the Ying clan.

Frankly, in the eyes of the four foreign true immortals, although the Ying clan has lost a celestial elder ancestor,

its own foundation remains not to be underestimated.

If not for internal strife, the Holy King's Dao lineage would be nearly impossible to destroy from outside.

Yet the Slay Demon True Lord was unusually certain, which inevitably caused the four foreign True Immortals to feel a slight ripple in their hearts.

Zhang Jian, however, furrowed his brow.

"Master, what do you mean by...?"

Seeing his expression, the Slay Demon True Lord let out a slight sigh.

"To destroy the Holy King's Dao lineage is a tremendous karmic consequence; we may let the Holy King clan decline, but we cannot leave them without a single thread of incense!"

Glancing at Zhang Jian, the Slay Demon True Lord continued.

"This is also the opinion of the various ancestral uncles and elder uncles from beyond the realm!"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered, and he merely smiled.

"The ancestral masters are full of confidence in the disciple, but this time, perhaps they have overestimated the disciple!"

A faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

His form transformed into a streak of flowing light, heading toward the ancient capital of Great Yin.

The ancient capital of Great Yin is called Shenjing.

At this moment, the dragon aura was vast and magnificent; within, countless radiant lights converged, and countless cultivators revealed their traces within.

Such a grand spectacle, Zhang Jian had previously seen only in the ancient capital of Great Yu.

Zhang Jian was not at all surprised.

This foundational structure of the Holy King's Dao lineage, cultivated over countless years, naturally possessing such a presence, could not be matched by any other feudal dynasty.

Zhang Jian's pupils flickered; seven-colored divine light flowed around his body, as if he had transformed into a divine lotus sinking into the void, vanishing without a trace.

This was the second-tier innate method, the Golden Lotus Latent Breath Technique.

Upon reaching this level, this innate method involves not only the transformation of reality and illusion but also a portion of the profound mysteries of the Spatial Great Dao.

However, just before entering Shenjing City, Zhang Jian's eyes showed a slight anomaly; he noticed that the foundation of this Shenjing City seemed to be an extraordinarily peculiar immense immortal treasure.

Its entire body was permeated with intense dragon aura and imperial majesty.

Within, it formed its own void.

Anyone entering would suffer immense suppression.

If fighting inside, one would naturally be at a complete disadvantage.

As the Slay Demon True Lord said, a dead camel is bigger than a horse.

Even a broken ship has three nails.

This place differs from the old nest of the Five Elements Immortal Sect; compared to the numerous strict and strange Five Elements prohibitions, this place is even more dangerous.

Zhang Jian focused and activated his technique, still managing to infiltrate Shenjing, and following the direction of the dragon veins, he rapidly approached the core of the imperial palace.

After reaching the edge of the imperial palace, Zhang Jian, relying on his sensitive primordial spirit and divine sense, clearly sensed that the You family was indeed in decline.

Though the imperial palace appeared strictly guarded, internally, many powerful figures had relaxed their discipline.

Ultimately, peace had lasted too long, and they had gradually lost their vigilance.

Even though orders had been issued from above, most powerful cultivators were still practicing on their own, or attending to their own affairs, or drawing upon the countless incense powers silently transmitted from the void.

Moreover, the number of powerful cultivators was far inferior to that of the Yu family guards in the ancient capital of Great Yu.

Zhang Jian utilized the power of the innate method; whether his own spatial energy or the fusion of his vital energy with the Shenjing space beneath his feet, he circled within the imperial palace, and his gaze finally settled upon the Hall of Ultimate Extremes.

The Great Yin Emperor You Xiuwen was also an extremely powerful True Immortal, currently cultivating within the Hall of Ultimate Extremes.

Zhang Jian's form appeared outside the Hall of Ultimate Extremes; he glanced at the You family True Immortal cultivating the Holy King Great Dao within, and with his cultivation, slaying or suppressing the opponent would pose no difficulty.

But he knew that once he suppressed this You family emperor, it would surely startle the snake.

In his mind, he recalled the intelligence delivered by the Tongshan Dao lineage.

He knew that deep within the You family's ancient land, there seemed to be an old relic.

That old relic, if not dead, the You family would not yield so easily!