128: To rebuild our nation, we must employ both kindness and severity!

Seated in the main position was Xu Changyang, the Sect Master of Xuanjing Sect.

He was an old man with a sinister face.

At this moment, holding a wine cup, his face was full of smugness and disdain.

"Brother Yuan is right!"

Xu Changyang drained the Spirit Wine in his cup, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

"What is that Chen Xu? Nothing but a bumpkin from South Spirit Prefecture who got lucky! He relied on a few powerful Magic Treasures and fortunately slaughtered the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

"Does he really think he can command our entire Central Prefecture?"

"It's simply wishful thinking!"

He stood up, surveyed the hall, his voice growing more arrogant.

"He gave us a three-day deadline? Now, the three-day deadline is almost here! Not only did we not go, but we're also holding a grand banquet here! What can he do to us?"

"The law doesn't punish a crowd!"

Xu Changyang spoke again, enunciating each word: "Chen Xu just finished killing the Heavenly Sword Sect, does he still want to slaughter one-third of the Sects in our Central Prefecture? He wouldn't dare!"

"He needs us! He needs us to fight against the Demonic Path for him!"

"Therefore, we only need to unite and refuse to obey his orders! In the end, he can only grudgingly accept it! He might even have to persuade us with kind words and try to win us over!"

"By then, his so-called Alliance Leader will be the biggest joke in the entire Cultivation world!"

"Well said!"

"Sect Master is brilliant!"

"Hahaha! Let him be a bare-bones commander!"

"Come, come! Let's drink this cup together! To the utter humiliation of that brat Chen Xu!"

For a time, the main hall was filled with arrogant laughter and echoing approval.

These Old Ancestors, accustomed to throwing their weight around, were completely incited by Yuan Zhenshan and Xu Changyang's words.

Arrogance and prejudice... made them completely forget how the Heavenly Sword Sect was annihilated, and also led them down a one-way road to Yellow Springs.

And the Xuanjing Sect dared to be so arrogant, naturally not just because of a simple phrase, "The law doesn't punish a crowd."

Their greatest confidence came from their mountain-protecting Formation.

The "Mystic Light Myriad Mirror Formation."

This Formation was an ancient wondrous Formation; once activated, it could reflect all techniques and form a world of its own.

Even if a true Soul Transformation Cultivator were to arrive, breaking through this Formation would be no easy feat.

They had calculated precisely.

Even if Chen Xu wanted to act, he would inevitably pay a huge price.

And having just annihilated the Heavenly Sword Sect, with his own immense consumption, he would absolutely not risk mutual destruction with them just to establish his authority.

This was the true reliance of Xu Changyang, the Sect Master of Xuanjing Sect, and Yuan Zhenshan, the Grand Elder of Badao Sect, and others, who dared to openly defy orders and hold a grand banquet!

...At midnight, the final moment of the three-day deadline.

On Heavenly Sword Peak, the distant sound of the bell.

Rang out once more.

Dong—!

The bell's chime echoed across the silent plaza.

This sound made the hearts of all the Sect Masters and Elders who had come to submit tremble violently.

The deadline had arrived!

Inside the main hall, that figure seated on the Alliance Leader's throne.

Having remained silent for three days and three nights.

Finally moved.

Chen Xu slowly stood up.

His eyes seemed to pierce through mountains and rivers, seeing the celebratory banquet within the Xuanjing Sect, seeing those ugly and ridiculous faces.

"Sir..."

Murong Zhuyun, who was beside him, wanted to speak.

Chen Xu did not look at her, merely said faintly.

"Wait."

As his voice fell.

His figure flickered, and he vanished into thin air from the throne.

There was no tearing of space... no Spirit Qi fluctuations.

He just disappeared so abruptly.

Murong Zhuyun looked at the empty throne, a storm raging in her heart... Xuanjing Sect, Main Peak Hall.

The atmosphere of the banquet had reached its peak.

Everyone was flushed with drink, spirits high.

"Hahaha! Midnight has passed! That brat Chen Xu is indeed a paper tiger who doesn't dare to even fart!"

"I told you! He dared to kill the Heavenly Sword Sect, but does he dare to kill all of us?"

"All bark and no bite! What kind of South Prefecture Overlord, he's just strong on the outside but weak on the inside!"

Sect Master Xu Changyang and Elder Yuan Zhenshan, among others, raised their wine cups high.

Celebrating unrestrainedly.

They mocked Chen Xu's weakness, mocked the "cowards" who had rushed to Heavenly Sword Peak to submit at the first opportunity.

They even began to discuss how to unite with other Sects who were still observing, to completely sideline this nominal "Alliance Leader."

Making him the laughingstock of the entire Cultivation world!

"Do you see? Everyone!"

Xu Changyang, the Sect Master of Xuanjing Sect, drunkenly stood up, placing one foot directly on the table.

He surveyed the hall, his face full of arrogance.

"This is the so-called South Prefecture Overlord! He doesn't even dare to fart!"

"Tomorrow! We will unite with the Badao Sect and make him obediently hand over the position of Alliance Leader to this old man!"

"Hahaha! Well said!"

"Sect Master Xu is mighty!"

"Make him roll back to South Spirit Prefecture!"

The entire hall instantly erupted into deafening laughter.

The laughter was filled with disdain and contempt for Chen Xu.

They seemed to have already seen... Chen Xu's pathetic appearance, scrambling out of Central Prefecture under their combined pressure...

However, just as the laughter reached its peak.

Boom!!!

An indescribable, terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon the entire Xuanjing Sect!

The laughter abruptly ceased!

Inside the main hall, everyone's smiles.

Instantly froze on their faces!

The wine cups in their hands clattered, simultaneously falling to the ground, shattering into dust.

Including Sect Master Xu Changyang, whose cultivation had reached the Late Nascent Soul Stage, and Yuan Zhenshan, the Body Cultivator of Great Perfection Nascent Soul Stage with a powerful Physical Body, their expressions all drastically changed the moment they felt this pressure!

"En... Enemy attack!!!"

Xu Changyang's drunkenness vanished without a trace in that instant!

He roared, his face no longer showing any of its previous arrogance or smugness, instantly turning solemn.

"Activate the mountain-protecting Formation! Quick! Quickly activate the Mystic Light Myriad Mirror Formation!!!"

He immediately roared, his voice filled with terror.

He didn't need to give the order.

Within the Xuanjing Sect, the Disciples on duty had already been scared witless by that pressure.

They frantically poured Spirit Qi into the Formation's core!

Buzz—!!!

The next moment, the entire Xuanjing Sect's ten-thousand-mile mountain range violently vibrated!

Tens of thousands of brilliant golden lights shot up from various peaks, buildings, and even deep underground!

Those mirror lights intertwined and converged in the air, instantly forming an enormous.

Giant light barrier shimmering with colorful glazed light.

Completely enveloping the entire Xuanjing Sect's mountain gate!

Naturally, it was their greatest reliance!

The Mystic Light Myriad Mirror Formation!

Seeing the grand Formation successfully activated, Xu Changyang and Yuan Zhenshan, among others, finally calmed down a little.

"It... It's Chen Xu! He actually dared to come!"

"So what if he came! With the Mystic Light Myriad Mirror Formation, he won't be able to harm us in the slightest!"

"That's right! It's a good opportunity to let him witness the foundation of our Xuanjing Sect!"

Everyone forcibly suppressed the fear in their hearts.

Shouting with false bravado.

As if this sturdy grand Formation gave them courage... And at this moment, a figure in green robes slowly appeared high above the colorful light barrier.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent.

A pair of calm eyes coldly glanced at the dazzling mountain-protecting Formation below.

Which was said to be able to reflect all techniques.

The next second.

Between his eyebrows, that incomparably noble golden mark.

Flashed and disappeared.

An imperial majesty, like a sovereign ruling the world and controlling humanity, descended with a roar!

Chen Xu slowly spoke, his voice not loud but clearly entering the ears of every person within the Xuanjing Sect.

"By the name of the Human Emperor, I command—"

"This land of mountains and rivers, obey my command!"

The moment his voice fell!

Buzz—!!!

The Mystic Light Myriad Mirror Formation, which had just been activated, was dazzling with light, and its power had reached its peak.

Actually, at this moment, it suddenly paused!

Immediately after!

Under the ghostly gazes of everyone in the Xuanjing Sect.

Those tens of thousands... of brilliant precious mirrors that should have been facing outwards.

Actually, all turned their direction!

No longer facing outwards!

But inwards!

Just like what happened at the Heavenly Sword Sect, it was exactly the same.

Tens of thousands of destructive beams of light, easily capable of annihilating Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Reached their peak at this moment!

Then, they all aimed at the inside of the Sect.

At those magnificent buildings!

At those Cultivators who were still in the main hall, their faces blank and bewildered!

"This... no..."

"No! This is impossible!!!"

Xu Changyang, the Sect Master of Xuanjing Sect, looked at this incredible scene.

His entire being was stunned.

His face changed drastically again.

Horror almost overflowed from his eyes.

The mountain-protecting Formation that he believed could absolutely not be breached!

Actually... actually, with just a single word from the other party.

Turned into a butcher's knife aimed at himself?!

It was actually exactly the same as the scene at the Heavenly Sword Sect back then?!

"Formation! The Formation is out of control! Stop it! Stop it!!!"

Yuan Zhenshan's burly body suddenly trembled.

However, it was no use.

When Chen Xu's Human Emperor's decree was issued.

The control of this land of mountains and rivers had already changed hands!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The next second!

Tens of thousands of destructive light beams crashed down!

It was naturally a one-sided slaughter without any suspense!

The magnificent main hall, under the first wave of light beams, couldn't even withstand a single breath.

It was instantly pulverized into dust!

Inside the main hall, those Nascent Soul Ancestors who were just moments ago spouting grand theories and clamoring to make Chen Xu lose face, even if they used Magic Treasures to resist!

But they were still frantically obliterated under those world-destroying light beams!!!

"No—!!!"

Xu Changyang looked at this hellish scene, his Dao Heart on the verge of collapsing.

He frantically burned his Nascent Soul, trying to escape with his life!

But he horrifyingly discovered that the entire space of the Xuanjing Sect.

Had already been completely sealed by the out-of-control grand Formation!

No way to ascend to heaven, no door to enter the earth!

He could only watch, with wide eyes, as those light beams, which had once allowed them to prosper for ten thousand years in Central Prefecture.

Shot towards him in an overwhelming torrent!

Despair!

Indescribable despair.

High above the sky.

Chen Xu looked down at the Xuanjing Sect below, mercilessly slaughtered by its own Sect's grand Formation, turning into a sea of fire and ruins in just a few breaths, and let out a cold snort!

Then, in the utterly horrified and terrified gazes of Xu Changyang and Yuan Zhenshan, among others, he left behind a single sentence that echoed throughout Central Prefecture.

"My Alliance Leader's command: those who disobey, die."

As his voice fell.

He no longer looked at the mountain gate that was destined to be erased from the map.

He turned, took a step.

And his figure once again disappeared into the vast night.

The mountain gate of the Xuanjing Sect, on the map of Central Prefecture.

Was once a beautiful land of mountains and rivers stretching for ten thousand miles.

Now, however, it had become a gigantic, glazed, scorched crater.

Above the scorched earth, there was no longer any trace of life.

The Sect was gone.

Everyone was dead.

This news spread to every corner of Central Prefecture within the short span of an incense stick's time.

On the peak of Heavenly Sword Peak.

Dead silence.

On the plaza, hundreds of Sect Leaders and Elders from various large Sects in Central Prefecture, after receiving the news, collectively fell silent.

The color drained from their faces at a visible speed.

One by one, they froze in place, completely numb!

No one knew who started it.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

All the Cultivators who were still standing, no matter how high their status or how strong their cultivation, at this moment, their legs went soft, and they all knelt down in unison!

A dense mass of people knelt, filling the entire plaza.

They pressed their heads against the plaza's floor tiles.

Their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

They had completely lost the courage to even look up towards the main hall.

Xuanjing Sect!

That was a powerful Sect, just like Heavenly Sword Sect, with a Legacy of tens of thousands of years and profound foundations, ranking among the top ten in Central Prefecture!

Its Sect Master, Xu Changyang, was a well-known Late Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator!

Its mountain-protecting Formation, the “Xuangguang Myriad Mirror Formation,” was even rumored to be able to reflect all techniques.

Even a Soul Transformation Old Ancestor would find it difficult to break through!

But now?

It was gone!

From the moment that Alliance Leader left, until the news returned.

How much time had passed!

A Sect with a Legacy of ten thousand years, along with dozens of Nascent Soul Ancestors and tens of thousands of Disciples within it, was just… completely wiped from this world!

At this moment, everyone truly understood.

What kind of terrifying existence they were facing!

The law doesn't punish the masses?

United as one?

In the face of absolute power, these were all vulnerable!

It was also at this moment… no one dared to hold onto any shred of luck.

Because they had completely understood.

This new Alliance Leader not only possessed unfathomable strength but also had unpredictable methods.

He was decisive to the extreme.

He truly had… the power to destroy a Sect by himself!

And, he truly dared to!

On the plaza, there was dead silence, only the gasping and teeth-chattering sounds of these Nascent Soul Cultivators… In this extremely oppressive atmosphere.

Chen Xu, who had just returned, arrived at the front of the plaza.

His expression was calm, his eyes indifferent.

It seemed as if he wasn't the one who had just annihilated a Sect.

Soon, his gaze calmly swept over the thousands of Nascent Soul Cultivators kneeling in a dense mass below.

Wherever his gaze fell, everyone buried their heads deeper, and their bodies trembled more violently.

No one dared to meet his gaze.

“All of you, rise.”

Chen Xu spoke indifferently.

Only then did everyone, trembling with fear as if granted a great pardon, scramble up from the ground.

One by one, they lowered their eyes and dared not even breathe loudly.

Chen Xu did not utter a single word of nonsense.

He simply waved his hand gently towards the empty center of the plaza.

Rumble—!

A loud bang!

The entire Heavenly Sword Peak shook!

A massive treasure vault, deeply hidden beneath Heavenly Sword Sect's main Spiritual Vein and sealed by countless Restrictions, was actually moved out of the ground by him with supreme great magic power!

The vault's great door burst open with a roar!

The next second!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

Mountains of Spirit Stones poured out!

Countless Magic Treasures and Medicinal Pills shot out like stars!

Thousands of Cultivation Technique Jade Slips.

Converged into a long river!

Endless treasures light soared into the sky.

Almost completely illuminating the night sky above Heavenly Sword Peak!

Heavenly Sword Sect's accumulated foundation of tens of thousands of years.

At this moment, it was displayed without reservation before everyone!

Hiss—!

On the plaza, gasps of cold air rose and fell.

Everyone's breathing.

Became incredibly rapid at this instant.

They looked at the terrifying resources that would drive any Sect insane.

Their eyes instantly turned red.

Exaggerated! Too exaggerated!

Heavenly Sword Sect, indeed worthy of being the former largest School in Central Prefecture.

Its foundation was simply beyond their comparison.

It was also at this moment that they all shivered, suddenly realizing that a Sect with such a foundation had been annihilated by Chen Xu before them.

What this represented was already self-evident.

However, Chen Xu's move left them stunned.

What did this Alliance Leader intend?

Why would he display Heavenly Sword Sect's tens of thousands of years of accumulation before them?

As everyone harbored different thoughts, Chen Xu's voice sounded again: “Heavenly Sword Sect is now history, and its resources shall be used by my Righteous Path Alliance.”

His voice was still calm, but it made everyone's heart skip a beat.

Wh-what?

Used… by the Righteous Path?!

Could it be… this new Alliance Leader!

Before they could ponder further.

The next moment, Chen Xu raised his hand and pointed towards the Illusory Sound Immortal Sect's contingent, towards that beautiful Sect Master, Liu Ruyan, who was the first to pledge allegiance.

“Illusory Sound Immortal Sect, being the first to submit, shows commendable loyalty.”

“These three High Grade Spiritual Veins, a million Top-Grade Spirit Stones, and a hundred Magic Treasures, belong to your Illusory Sound Immortal Sect!”

Boom!

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Ruyan's mind instantly went blank!

She was completely stunned.

Three High Grade Spiritual Veins!

A million Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

This… this was almost equivalent to her Illusory Sound Immortal Sect's century of accumulation!

She had only made the simplest choice, taking a gamble.

She hadn't expected the reward to be so generous!

After a brief moment of daze, she immediately regained her senses.

“Thud!”

Liu Ruyan did not hesitate for a moment and knelt down again.

Her enchanting figure was very alluring.

She bowed deeply to Chen Xu: “Thank you, Alliance Leader! All of Illusory Sound Immortal Sect, from top to bottom, are willing to go through fire and water for the Alliance Leader, to brave any danger, even death!”

This scene directly stimulated everyone present.

One must know, these things given to Illusory Sound Immortal Sect, if given to any of their Schools, could cause their Disciples' cultivation to skyrocket! And the School's strength to significantly increase!

Who wouldn't be envious of this?

Immediately after, Chen Xu named several other Sects that had arrived at Heavenly Sword Peak earliest and displayed the most respectful attitudes.

Without exception, they were all given extremely generous rewards.

For a time, on the plaza.

Sounds of grateful kneeling and thanks rose and fell.

The rewarded Sects were all overjoyed, and their gazes towards Chen Xu, besides awe, held a deeper hint of admiration.

Although this Alliance Leader Chen acted domineeringly, decisively, and even mercilessly.

But when it came to resources, he truly gave them out!

When there were things, he truly shared them!

As for those Sects that had been indecisive, feigning compliance while harboring dissent.

And only arrived late at the very last moment.

At this moment, their faces were pale, and they regretted it so much that their guts turned green!

Especially the Badao Sect Leader, he looked at the resources that had been distributed, resources that should have included a share for him.

His heart was bleeding.

Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a regret pill in this world… A slap, then a sweet date.

Chen Xu's method of combining both coercion and inducements left everyone dumbfounded.

At once, they understood even more clearly.

This new Alliance Leader not only possessed world-destroying power.

But also had the cunning and tactics of an emperor!

After dividing the “cake,” the intimidation and appeasement were complete.

Chen Xu's gaze swept across the entire scene once more.

This time, everyone's expressions had changed.

They knew that the real main event was coming.

“Starting today, I announce the second Alliance Leader's order.”

Chen Xu's voice made the entire plaza fall silent once again.

“All Cultivators above the Nascent Soul Stage from all Sects in Central Prefecture shall be reshuffled and reorganized.”

“Establish the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, four great legions!”

Boom!

As soon as this order was given, a storm surged in everyone's hearts once more!

Reshuffle and reorganize?

This… this was to completely strip them, the various great Sects, of their military power!

It was to gather all the top-tier power in the entire Central Prefecture.

All into the hands of the Alliance Leader alone!

This… a hint of unwillingness and resistance rose again in the hearts of some Sect Leaders.

However, when their gazes fell upon the Heavenly Sword Sect's treasure vault, which was still radiating brilliant light.

And then they thought of the Xuanjing Sect's mountain gate, which had already turned into scorched earth.

All their unwillingness instantly vanished like smoke.

Only a deep sense of powerlessness remained.

Even if they were unwilling, what could they do?

The mistakes of the past are lessons for the future!

Indeed, under Chen Xu's absolute power and his overt strategy of “combining coercion and inducements,” no one dared to object.

And no one could object.

Chen Xu looked at the reactions of the crowd below, his expression still unchanged.

All of this was within his expectations.

He continued to speak, announcing the appointments of the legion commanders.

“Murong Zhuyun, as the Azure Dragon Legion Commander.”

“The Badao Sect Leader, as the White Tiger Legion Commander.”

“Huanyin Sect Master Liu Ruyan, as the Vermilion Bird Legion Commander.”

“Myriad Beast Valley Master, as the Black Tortoise Legion Commander.”

This series of appointments once again made everyone's hearts tighten.

He had both his absolute trusted confidantes and also appeased the old forces that had submitted earliest, even entrusting important responsibilities to the unruly Badao Sect.

Balance, appeasement, division.

This Alliance Leader's cunning and depth of mind were truly unfathomable!

The Badao Sect Leader and Liu Ruyan, whose names were called, were first stunned, then overjoyed, and quickly stepped forward to kneel and express their gratitude.

They knew this was an opportunity given to them by the Alliance Leader.

If they seized it, they could soar to great heights.

If they failed to grasp it, their fate would be eternal damnation!

As Chen Xu's appointments concluded.

Four brand new battle flags, embroidered with Divine Beast totems, were tremblingly erected by the remaining Disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect in the four corners of the plaza.

When the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise banners, in the night wind on Heavenly Sword Peak.

First fluttered loudly.

Everyone realized… that Central Prefecture had completely changed.

An old era, defined by Sects.

Was declared ended tonight.

A new era, dominated solely by Alliance Leader Chen Xu.

Had already arrived!

However, just at this historic moment when the Righteous Path Alliance had just completed its initial integration and the old was giving way to the new.

A Cultivator, riding a sword light, rushed to the peak of Heavenly Sword Peak.

“Report—!”

For a moment, that loud voice shattered the newly established order on the plaza.

“Alliance Leader! Something terrible has happened!”

“Blood Fiend Sect… Blood Fiend Sect has blood-sacrificed Wangchuan City!”

The scout raised his head, his expression filled with terror: “In the city… three million Mortals…”

“Not a single one survived!”