104: I'll give you three days, or I'll slaughter your entire city!

A few days later...

On a desolate tidal flat on the Eastern Shore of the Endless Dead Sea.

"Buzz—"

Space distorted, and twenty figures appeared out of thin air.

Leading them were Elder Xu Zhen, a Body Integration Stage expert of the Xu Family, and Granny Hua, a Body Integration Stage Elder of the Hundred Flowers Palace.

Behind them, eighteen Void Refinement Stage Cultivators stood with steady auras, their eyes filled with unconcealed arrogance.

"Ugh..."

A young Cultivator from the Xu Family had just landed when he bent over and began to retch.

"The Spiritual Qi here is truly filthy! It's like a pool of stagnant water that hasn't moved for ten thousand years; even the smell makes me want to vomit!"

"This is the Eastern Desolation?" On Granny Hua's wrinkled face, a look of disgust appeared. "What a godforsaken place."

Xu Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, his Divine Thought sweeping across a thousand miles, his lips curling into a contemptuous smirk.

"The strongest is only at the Soul Transformation stage. As expected, they are a bunch of ants raised in a pigsty."

"Alright, don't waste time," he spoke indifferently. "How shall we proceed?"

A Xu Family Cultivator stepped forward and said respectfully, "Elder Xu, in my humble opinion, we can split up and infiltrate the major Sects of the Eastern Desolation, or blend into the markets and Jianghu to slowly investigate the whereabouts of that Myriad Dao Divine Sect."

As soon as he finished speaking, a female Cultivator from the Hundred Flowers Palace sneered.

"What a joke! What is our status? To deal with a bunch of country bumpkins from the Eastern Desolation, we need to infiltrate? We should just strike at their doors and interrogate them one by one. Who would dare refuse?"

"That makes sense!"

"Taking direct action is the simplest way!"

Everyone chimed in, all suggesting simple and crude methods.

"All of you, shut up."

Xu Zhen barked impatiently.

He looked at Granny Hua and asked, "What is your opinion?"

Granny Hua said slowly in her raspy voice, "Why go through all that trouble?"

"To catch the bandits, first capture their leader. Find the strongest power in this Eastern Desolation and seize them. Make them mobilize the strength of the entire Eastern Desolation to search for us."

"We only need to sit and drink tea."

Hearing this, a flash of approval crossed Xu Zhen's eyes.

"Not bad. This method saves time and effort."

"Furthermore, put out the word. If that Myriad Dao Divine Sect does not hand over the secret treasure, we will slaughter every living being in the Eastern Desolation."

"I want to see if they want to be shrinking turtles or the eternal sinners of the Eastern Desolation."

"Using the hearts of the people and public opinion to force them out. Brilliant!" Granny Hua clapped and laughed.

The two looked at each other, both seeing cruelty and mockery in each other's eyes.

This was the acting style of the great Sects of the Central State.

As for the lives of the billions of beings in the Eastern Desolation?

Who cared?

"Let's begin."

Xu Zhen casually pointed at two Qi Refining Stage Loose Cultivators who were picking up shells by the sea in the distance.

Before the two Loose Cultivators could react, their bodies flew uncontrollably toward Xu Zhen.

"Immortal... Immortal, spare our lives!"

The two were scared to the point of their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, immediately kneeling and begging for mercy.

"I ask you, who has the final say in this Eastern Desolation now?" Xu Zhen's voice was devoid of emotion.

"It's... it's the Great Zhao Dynasty! Now the entire Eastern Desolation has submitted to Great Zhao!"

"Great Zhao Dynasty?" Xu Zhen raised an eyebrow. "Where is the imperial palace?"

"In... in Tianjing City! To the west, keep going west!"

"Very good."

Having obtained the information he wanted, Xu Zhen flicked his finger.

"Bang! Bang!"

The two Loose Cultivators turned into two clouds of blood mist before they could even let out a scream.

"Let's go to Tianjing City."

Twenty streaks of light soared into the sky, tearing through the clouds and whistling toward the west... Tianjing City, the Imperial Palace Hall.

Retired Emperor Zhao Zheng was discussing with a group of ministers how to develop the livelihoods and popularize basic cultivation methods in the newly established counties.

The atmosphere in the entire hall was lively, filled with a flourishing spirit.

Suddenly!

"Boom—!"

An indescribable, terrifying pressure descended from the sky like the heavens were collapsing!

The entire Imperial City shook violently!

The sturdy glazed tiles of the palace were instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks!

Inside the hall, except for Zhao Zheng, all the ministers, regardless of whether they were civil or military, or their level of cultivation, were pinned to the ground in an instant, vomiting blood and unable to move!

"Where is the Emperor!"

A cold and haughty voice, like a divine decree, exploded over the Imperial City.

"Get out here and kneel to welcome us!"

"How audacious!"

Zhao Zheng was furious!

As the Lord of the Eastern Desolation and a Void Refining expert, when had he ever suffered such humiliation!

His figure flashed as he rushed out of the hall, suspended in mid-air.

Above the Imperial City, twenty figures stood quietly.

The aura on every person was unfathomable.

Especially the two Elders at the head, a man and a woman; their mere presence caused space to distort, as if heaven and earth could not bear their existence!

Body Integration Stage!

And there were two of them!

Zhao Zheng's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

What a terrifying lineup!

People from the Central State?

"You are the Emperor of this place?"

Xu Zhen looked down at Zhao Zheng, his gaze like he was looking at an ant.

He saw that Zhao Zheng could actually barely stand under the pressure of himself and Granny Hua, which was somewhat unexpected.

"Void Refining Initial Stage? Interesting. This barren land can actually grow a few decent weeds."

"Increase the pressure," he said indifferently.

The eighteen Void Refining Cultivators behind him stepped forward simultaneously.

Eighteen streams of pressure, combined with the pressure of the two Body Integration Stage experts, formed a destructive torrent that pressed down hard on Zhao Zheng!

"Puff!"

Zhao Zheng was hit as if by a heavy blow, his body trembling violently as a mouthful of golden blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

The National Fortune Golden Dragon let out a mournful cry behind him, its light dimming by several degrees.

He felt his bones breaking inch by inch!

No!

If this continued, he would be crushed to death!

A flash of determination crossed Zhao Zheng's eyes.

At this critical moment, his hands quickly formed a complex hand seal, and the Imperial Dragon Qi in his body burned madly without reservation!

"In my name, with the national fortune as the guide!"

"Imperial Dragon Formation, rise!"

"Roar—!"

A dragon's roar that shook the nine heavens sounded from deep beneath Tianjing City!

In the next second, a golden pillar of light that pierced through heaven and earth rose from the Imperial Palace!

Within the light pillar, a golden divine dragon composed of endless runes and array lines spiraled out, enveloping the entire Tianjing City!

The terrifying pressure that was enough to crush mountains and rivers hit the golden dragon's shield and actually vanished without a trace, like a clay ox entering the sea.

"Hmm?"

For the first time, a look of surprise appeared in Xu Zhen's eyes.

The eighteen Void Refining Cultivators behind him were even pushed back a step by the counter-force of the array.

"Ancient Dragon Protection Array?" A flash of greed crossed Granny Hua's murky eyes.

"No, that's not right. It's just a replica, but its core contains a trace of true intent. It can block five full-strength attacks from the Early Integration Stage... This Eastern Desolation is a bit strange."

Xu Zhen's face was somewhat unsightly.

He thought it would be an easy task, but he didn't expect this small city to have such a turtle shell.

He snorted coldly and looked at the pale-faced Zhao Zheng in the city.

"I'll give you three days."

His voice spread throughout the entire Tianjing City.

"Find everyone from the Myriad Dao Divine Sect and have them bring that spatial secret treasure to meet me here."

"Three days later, if I don't see them..."

"I will slaughter a city."

"Until there are no more living people in this Eastern Desolation."

After speaking, he waved his large sleeve and led the group away, turning around without any hesitation.

Leaving only that bone-chilling threat echoing over Tianjing City.

In front of the hall, Zhao Zheng forced his body to stand, looking at the streaks of light disappearing into the horizon, his face ashen and his fists clenched tightly.

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his body swaying.

Trouble is brewing!

---

PS: It's hopeless, the data hasn't grown at all.