Chapter 91: Immortal Dynasty Edict, The Human Realm Decides Together

On the day the Immortal Dynasty's edict descended, nine golden suns appeared in the sky of the Human Realm.

Nine suns hung suspended in the air.

The earth grew scorching.

River water levels dropped.

Countless commoners looked up, fear instinctively rising in their hearts.

This time, it was not the Heavenly Patrol.

It was not Hei Xuan.

It was not a probe by some Daoist lineage.

It was the Upper Realm Immortal Dynasty.

The edict spread like a sky-curtain, its text covering ten thousand li:

"The Human Realm below has defied Heaven and offended superiors, destroyed the Gate and raided prisoners; the crime is unforgivable."

"Within one hundred days, surrender Jiang Che, offer the Sword Vein, abolish the Council Hall, and re-establish the Heavenly Gate."

"Otherwise, the Immortal Dynasty will issue the Ten Thousand Worlds Punishment of Rebels Edict."

"The entire Human Realm shall be entered into the register of criminals."

This edict was heavier than any threat before it.

It did not seek to kill only Jiang Che.

It sought to condemn the entire Human Realm.

The Human Assembly Hall convened urgently.

This time, even the representatives who loved to quarrel most fell silent.

What did the Ten Thousand Worlds Punishment of Rebels Edict mean?

The Old Prisoners told everyone:

Once issued, all Upper Realm powers attached to the Immortal Dynasty, Sky-Hunting World Travelers, Ascended Slaves, and Ten Thousand Worlds Merchant Caravans could strike against the Human Realm.

The Human Realm would no longer face a single Heavenly Gate.

It would face the Upper Realm order itself.

Someone proposed delaying.

Someone proposed negotiation.

Someone else asked in a trembling voice:

"What if we surrender the Sword Master?"

The moment the words left his lips, all eyes in the hall fell upon him.

That person's face turned deathly pale.

"I... I didn't mean we should truly surrender him, I was just asking..."

Jiang Che sat in the gallery, his expression calm.

"You may ask."

The hall grew even quieter.

Jiang Che rose.

"The Immortal Dynasty wants me, but also the Sword Vein, the Council Hall, and this spirit of the Human Realm that refuses to kneel."

"Surrendering me alone will not end it."

"They will demand a second, a third, until the Human Realm becomes a pasture once more."

Gu Chongming said in a deep voice, "Then we fight?"

Jiang Che did not answer directly.

He looked at the representatives filling the hall.

"This time, it should not be I who declares war."

Everyone was stunned.

Jiang Che said:

"The Upper Realm has condemned the entire Human Realm."

"Then let the entire Human Realm answer."

Gu Chongming understood.

Three days later, the Council Hall issued the Joint Decision Edict to the world.

Every province, every commandery, every city, every township must hold a public assembly.

There was only one question:

"When the Immortal Dynasty's edict arrives, does the Human Realm surrender or resist?"

This was not mere formality.

Answers from all regions would be sent to the Capital City, recorded by the History Camp.

Whatever the result, Jiang Che would respect it.

When the message spread, the world was shaken.

Some cursed the Council Hall as mad.

Such a great matter, left for the common people to decide?

But the New System was created precisely for this moment.

Han Zhou replied first.

"Resist."

White Bone Pass replied:

"Resist."

Luo'an replied:

"The Altar is not yet cold; we will never kneel again."

Western Desert replied:

"The rain was reclaimed by the Human Realm; we will not return it."

Southern Border replied:

"As long as the Green Bamboo Well remains and the Demon Well is gone, we resist."

East Sea replied:

"The Water Gate was shattered once; let it be shattered a second time."

The Jinling Literary Assembly was reconvened.

Lu Guanlan, Head of White Deer Mountain, cast his voice personally:

"If scholars speak of surrender at this hour, their books may be burned."

Jiangnan also replied:

"Resist."

Of course, some places feared.

Some remote small towns replied hesitantly.

Someone asked:

"If resistance fails, what becomes of the children?"

The Council Hall did not call them cowards.

Qin Su replied personally:

"It is likely fear in the heart."

"If you still choose to resist, please write 'fearful, yet resisting'."

Finally, on the sixtieth day of the hundred-day period, the result of the universal decision was sent to Capital City.

Ninety-seven percent: resist.

The remaining three percent were mostly not surrender, but rather "fearful, not knowing how."

Gu Chongming handed the result to Jiang Che.

Jiang Che looked at it for a long time.

Then, he raised his head to gaze at the Heavenly Edict in the sky.

"The Human Realm has answered."

He drew the Green Bamboo Sword.

The Green Bamboo Sword fully revived.

The sword light was clear, brimming with bamboo intent.

Jiang Che struck with a single sword.

The Heavenly Edict cracked open.

Golden characters scattered across the sky, shattered.

But this time, after the sword light, it was not only Jiang Che's voice.

Capital City, Han Zhou, Luo'an, Western Desert, Southern Border, East Sea, Jiangnan, Northern Border—ten thousand people shouted simultaneously:

"Resist!"

Nine golden suns trembled.

For the first time, the Upper Realm Immortal Dynasty heard the answer of the entire Human Realm.

Not a single rebel.

Not a group of Sword Cultivators.

But an entire world of the Human Realm.

Deep within the Immortal Dynasty, that massive golden figure spoke coldly:

"In that case."

"After a hundred days."

"World-Extinguishing."