"There is no need for further discussion, superintendent."
Xia Yunqiu’s demeanor remained as usual, seemingly unaffected by the combined pressures of the various powers.
Her gaze fixed on the Void Refining True Monarch in the very front, who resembled a purple Great Sun, Xia Yunqiu authoritatively questioned him:
"May I ask Ziyang True Monarch, is today’s incident the will of the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens?"
As she spoke, the eyes of the more than twenty Void Refining True Monarchs present all converged on Ziyang True Monarch.
This Ziyang True Monarch was the master of the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens from the previous era of the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, who would have broken through to the Tao Harmony Stage had it not been for the limits of heaven and earth, and he also held the highest status among the many True Monarchs present.
Ziyang True Monarch responded calmly, "This is not the will of any one force, but the general trend of the Primal Chaos Realm. Why should the Female Emperor go against the trend?"
"Very well!"
Xia Yunqiu’s eyes swept over the powers present and turned to the five God Honors representing the Five Great Divine Systems:
"If the honorable God Honors are willing to withdraw, Great Xia is willing to offer the secret treasure of incense from the Great Yin Imperial Dynasty ten thousand years ago, along with a hundred years of incense offerings from Great Xia."
A God Honor from the Vast Sea Divine Lineage sneered:
"Great Xia’s hundred years of incense offerings? Since you cannot even protect yourself today, what use is the promise of incense offerings? We might as well take it by force."
Xia Yunqiu’s expression remained unchanged as she turned to look at the four divine beings in the crowd with dragon heads and human bodies.
"If the Four Waterways Dragon Palace is willing to withdraw, I am willing to relinquish the Mortal Emperor’s Dragon Qi back to the Dragon Tribe, to help the Four Waterways Dragon Palace rebuild the Dragon Gate."
As soon as her words fell, a Dragon Tribe True Monarch sharply said:
"At the beginning of the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, Great Xia repeatedly oppresssed our River Ji Dragon Palace, and even usurped the position of the River Ji Dragon Sovereign with the might of the Supreme Taoist.
And now you think you can dismiss us with just the Mortal Emperor’s Dragon Qi?"
The leading Yellow River Dragon Palace True Monarch then said coldly after a silence:
"If Great Xia is willing to grant the Aquatic Tribe the autonomy of their own incense offerings, the Four Waterways Dragon Palace may withdraw from today’s affairs."
"Impossible!"
Xia Yunqiu firmly rejected the proposal.
The power from incense offerings was itself a shackle placed upon the Four Waterways Dragon Palace; without this layer of restraint, given the nature of the aquatic tribes of the Four Waterways, they were capable of anything.
Xia Yunqiu had no intention of remedying the present issue at the cost of creating problems that would plague them for a millennium.
The River Ji Dragon Palace True Monarch sneered coldly, "You speak without sincerity; is this the attitude of Great Xia?"
Xia Yunqiu didn’t speak but instead turned her gaze beyond the present world, towards deeper realms.
As the luck of humanity coiled before her eyes, she could clearly see another domain of the Netherworld set apart from the current world.
At this moment, more than a dozen powerful Netherworld Demon Gods had descended upon the land of the Yin World projected by Jing Province territory, and none were any less formidable than the Void Refining True Monarchs.
Xia Yunqiu said aloud, "Great Xia once had a pact with the Netherworld; I hope that you can assist us!"
A ghostly deity with a green face and fierce fangs replied mercilessly, "Your so-called Netherworld pact is nothing more than an agreement made with those two humans."
A ghostly deity covered in crimson shook its head and said:
"What right does a mere human have to represent the Netherworld in signing a pact with Great Xia?"
A ghostly deity shaped like a mountain of flesh laughed heartily while patting his belly:
"It doesn’t count! It doesn’t count!"
Xia Yunqiu fell silent, well aware that the Netherworld’s refusal stemmed not only from the old demons’ animosity towards the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird.
More importantly, Great Xia had lost too much territory to provide the Netherworld with sufficient incense offering willpower. These Netherworld deities had likely already established intricate connections with the various powers to maintain their divine positions.
At this time, the Great Xia Dynasty seemed laid out on a dinner table, just waiting for the various powers to take up their knives and carve it up completely.
"What does the Female Emperor think?"
Ziyang True Monarch’s voice rose once more.
After pondering for a moment, Xia Yunqiu solemnly said:
"May I have three days to consider?"
"Three days?" Ziyang True Monarch laughed, his smile full of derision that saw through it all.
"Does the Female Emperor seek to delay, waiting for the Supreme Taoist to arrive?
Let me tell you the truth, the Supreme Taoist had already gone to the Qilian Mountain Range a month ago and has been confronting the Five Great Demon Emperors outside the Qilian Demon Realm for an entire month. It’s impossible for him to break free in the short term."
"And even if the Supreme Taoist truly suppresses the Five Great Demon Emperors, what then?"
There were as many as twenty-seven Void Refining True Monarchs present, each one of them representing a grand force that was well-known throughout the Primal Chaos Realm, and even the Supreme Taoist would have to step aside if they arrived in person.
"What we represent is the grand force of the Primal Chaos Realm, and no one can defy it!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
The indifferent voice seemed to traverse through layers of space, echoing above the skies of Jing Province.
As the space within the mirror violently shattered, a figure clad in white, resembling an immortal with hands clasped behind the back, stepped out from the void.
"Since when... can you represent the grand force of the Primal Chaos Realm?"
Shen Yuan’s gaze swept over the many Void Refining True Monarchs present; without any Divine Skill pressure, he nevertheless inspired a chill in the hearts of the powerful experts gathered there, causing them to subconsciously step back and avoid his gaze.
"Supreme Taoist, how could you be here?"
The arrogance on Ziyang True Monarch’s face had completely faded, and a subtle sense of panic rose in his eyes.
To the outside world, the Qilian Demon Realm seemed to be guarded only by the Five Great Demon Emperors, but Ziyang True Monarch, the former headmaster of the Little Clarity Void Grotto Heavens, knew better than anyone the terrifying traps hidden within the Qilian Demon Realm.
With the entire Qilian Demon Realm as a sacrificial offering, there was a Tao Harmony Demon Saint at the Peak Stage and a Tao Harmony Taoist Doyen bringing forth the 10 Realms Soul Pursuit altar.
Such a lineup was enough to annihilate the majority of forces in the Primal Chaos Realm.
Yet, even with such a deadly trap set by the Supreme Taoist himself, it failed to take effect, and the Supreme Taoist appeared in the Great Xia Imperial Capital nonetheless.
"Could it be that he never entered the Qilian Demon Realm?"
Just as this thought arose in his mind, Ziyang True Monarch heard a whisper that seemed to be just inches away.
"What are you afraid of?"
Ziyang True Monarch suddenly awoke from his reverie to find that Shen Yuan, who had crossed from the void, had already approached him, his gaze low and full of profound meaning.
The numerous Void Refining True Monarchs that had been circling around Ziyang True Monarch transformed into beams of light and fled from the place, their eyes filled with uncontrollable panic.
Only the few True Monarchs from the five powerful divine systems and from the Dragon Palace of the Four Waterways remained, though a sense of fear flickered in their eyes.
The Yellow River Dragon Palace True Monarch gritted his teeth and said loudly:
"He’s no longer the Supreme Taoist from ten thousand years ago who dominated the era; facing the Five Great Demon Emperors of the Qilian Demon Realm and failing to defeat them after a long siege, we no longer need to fear anything!"
No sooner had the words fallen, a round object fell from the void before Ziyang True Monarch.
It was an ancient head that exuded a nearly corporeal Taoist charm, and with the emergence of the head, it seemed as if the scene of a setting sun was about to unfold before them.
"A Tao Harmony destroyed body, this is Demon Saint Cang Wu!"
Ziyang True Monarch recognized the origin of the head in a single glance and could no longer suppress the shock in his heart.
"What? Demon Saint Cang Wu?"
"Does that head belong to Demon Saint Cang Wu, was it the Supreme Taoist who killed him?"
The words of Ziyang True Monarch exploded like a thunderbolt in the area, causing an uproar among the many Void Refining True Monarchs.
Originally, their fear of the Supreme Taoist was based on the various legends from ten thousand years ago and the battle achievements from a few years back, and deep down, they did not believe the Supreme Taoist could threaten over twenty Void Refining True Monarchs present.
But now, the head of a Demon Saint that had survived for ten thousand years laid before them, thoroughly making everyone present realize the reality at hand.
Prior to arriving at the Imperial Capital, all parties had received news that the Supreme Taoist was still locked in a standoff with the Five Great Demon Emperors within the Qilian Mountain Range.
Yet, in merely a few hours’ time, the Supreme Taoist had accomplished the feat of slaying a Tao Harmony Demon Saint, and he himself was completely unharmed.
As the thoughts of the many True Monarchs were swirling, a sudden spatial fluctuation appeared in the crowd, and without any hesitation, the Dragon Tribe True Monarch from the River Ji Dragon Palace tore open a Space Rift and attempted to flee.
If there was anyone among the various forces present who had a profound grievance against the Supreme Taoist, it was undoubtedly the River Ji Dragon Palace.
Moreover, by taking the lead and speaking out earlier, the outcome of a conflict with the Supreme Taoist was uncertain, but the True Monarch from the River Ji Dragon Palace would certainly be the first to be settled with; only by fleeing might there be a sliver of a chance for survival.
"A very smart choice."
Shen Yuan watched the opened Space Rift, his eyes revealing a hint of admiration.
"However, futile!"
Earthly Destroyer-Pot Sky was activated!
The Space Rift, which would have been his escape to safety, turned into a horrifying void storm. The powerful forces capable of creating realms expanded in an instant, effortlessly crushing the Dragon Tribe True Monarch who had tried to flee.
Then, Shen Yuan’s gaze surveyed the many True Monarchs present.
"You have come here... do you wish to return the power of your states?"

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