477: The battle for legitimacy

Central Region, Dao Zang Academy.

Xing Tianao cast his gaze, deep as an ancient abyss, toward the distant south—the Great Wilderness of the Southern Region that had been silent for eons.

Just moments ago, a fluctuation of an ancient and majestic will, originating from the world's Origin, was like a stone cast into the lake of his heart, causing this powerhouse standing at the Peak of the Human Dao to suddenly tense up.

"An aura that has been dormant for endless ages is awakening now?"

After a long while, he withdrew his gaze, but his brow was furrowed even tighter; a sense of unease, far exceeding that of ordinary events, quietly crept into his heart.

"Troubled times..."

He murmured to himself, his voice carrying a rare gravity. "The sky of Xuanhuang is likely to change starting from the south."

Almost at the same time his words fell—

Southern Region Great Wilderness, the former site of the Myriad Demon Ancestral Court.

The Bronze Ancient City hung high in the sky, its pressure overawing the universe.

As all living beings were struck with terror and the eyes of the world gathered there, that grand Dao-sound rang out once more from the center of the ancient city.

Cold and majestic, devoid of the slightest emotion, it spread clearly to every inch of land in the Southern Region.

"Decree of the Demon Court: Our Demon Court returns to the world to govern the myriad races and redefine the heavens and earth."

"All those of Yao Race Bloodline are limited to three days to come before the gates of the Demon Court and swear allegiance; you shall receive the protection of the Orthodoxy and share in the Mandate of Heaven."

"Those who fail to arrive within the time limit shall be regarded as rebellious seeds, stripped of their Yao status, and their forms and spirits shall be annihilated!"

The decree was handed down like a ladle of ice water poured into a boiling oil pan; the entire Southern Region went silent first, then completely exploded!

"Ancient Demon Court? It's actually the Ancient Demon Court!"

In various parts of the Southern Region, some 'old fossils' of the Yao Race, who possessed extremely ancient legacies and vast knowledge, woke up from their slumber one after another, letting out cries of disbelief.

They immediately became the source of information, explaining to their clansmen and the outside world what those four earth-shattering words meant.

In the ancient era, it was not the Human Race that was supreme; instead, the myriad races governed Xuanhuang!

Later, the Human Race gradually flourished, contending with the myriad races and producing several Great Emperors in succession, becoming the protagonists of Xuanhuang.

The myriad races were forced to retreat to the Southern Region, where they formed the Demon Court to resist the Human Race!

Later, the Xuanhuang world underwent a great change, the emperors path was severed, and the Demon Court went into seclusion and sealed itself away. Unexpectedly, after endless years, they have returned at this time!

And the Yao Race currently living and multiplying on the lands of the Southern Region were precisely the branches of the myriad races from eons ago who, due to impure Bloodlines, staying behind to guard their ancestral lands, or various other reasons, were unable or unwilling to follow the Demon Court into seclusion.

They had struggled to survive and evolved through arduous trials over the endless years.

They had carved out their own era on this land, establishing a new order and Dynasties.

"No wonder there is such power; this is the return of the Orthodoxy, coming to reclaim authority!"

It was the supreme Orthodoxy that had long since vanished in the legends of the Yao Race!

And this decree announcing the governance over the myriad races was like a giant boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly sweeping across the entire Xuanhuang Great World and raising monstrous waves in the hearts of all factions.

This was no longer a simple internal conflict of the Yao Race, but a forgotten, dark history belonging to the Human Race that seemed to be attempting a comeback!

Within the major Holy Lands, Ancient Sects, and Divine Dynasties of the Human Race, alarm bells rang out long and loud!

"Govern the myriad races? What arrogance!"

A Holy Land Sect Leader slammed the table and stood up, his hair and beard bristling, his eyes filled with piercing cold light.

"The matters of the ancient past were settled long ago!

They were previously driven to the Southern Region by our Human Race to live in a corner.

Now is the era of our Human Race; how can we allow these decaying ghosts to restore their rule and cause chaos?!"

"Prepare for war! From this moment on, the Sect enters its highest state of combat readiness!

Monitor the movements in the Southern Region day and night, and all Disciples abroad are to be recalled within a time limit!"

One command after another, filled with a killing intent, quickly spread from the centers of the major powers.

Panic and tension inevitably spread among the lower levels.

But for the big figures truly standing at the Peak of power, after the initial shock, what remained was more a cold anger at having their fundamental interests touched, as well as a cautious assertiveness based on their current strength.

"Hmph, if they honestly fought to the death in that tiny Southern Region, that would be one thing."

The head of an ancient family sneered, his knuckles tapping on the armrest of his jade chair, his gaze sharp as a knife.

"If they truly dare to step a single foot out of the Southern Region, attempting to reenact their ancient dreams, then we shall make them understand completely who the protagonist of this world is today!"

"Indeed, the times have changed. Our Human Race has flourished to this day, having weathered countless tribulations; how can our foundation be fathomed by ancient remnants?

If they are sensible, then so be it. If they are not, this Xuanhuang land wouldn't mind burying a few more ancient withered bones!"

An atmosphere of tense war preparation instantly enveloped all realms of Xuanhuang.

Powerful Divine Thoughts intertwined and probed at the borders of the Southern Region; the entire Xuanhuang Great World was quietly tightened like a bowstring due to the emergence of the Ancient Demon Court.

Dao Zang Academy, on the branch of an old tree in a secluded courtyard.

Xiao Hei's eyelids twitched slightly, and he opened his eyes lazily.

“Tsk...”

A faint sneer, almost inaudible yet seemingly able to penetrate the Soul, rang out in his mind.

"Govern the myriad races? Yao Race Orthodoxy?"

"A bunch of old antiques hiding in graves, afraid to see the light, crawling out to show off their might..."

He muttered one last line, blocked out all the noise from the outside world, and continued his nap.

Meanwhile, in the Southern Region, the moment of choice was cruelly placed before every Yao Race faction.

Those who chose to submit were not few.

Many Yao tribes with ancient Bloodlines who were unsuccessful under the current landscape, as well as some Yao who already had the Law of the jungle etched into their marrow and worshipped absolute power.

After a brief moment of shock and hesitation, they were conquered by the name of the Orthodoxy and the supreme might, and were even more fearful of the end result of being annihilated in form and spirit.

"The Demon Court is the ancestral court of all demons; what is wrong with submitting to the Orthodoxy? We are willing to go!"

An elderly White Ape Demon King led his entire tribe, taking the lead in bowing toward the direction of the Bronze Ancient City, moved to tears of excitement.

"Strength is respected! The Demon Court's strength is heavenly, and it possesses the title of righteousness; following the strong is the way to survive!"

A hook-nosed Demon King's eyes flickered, already tempted.

However, the ruling powers centered around the contemporary Demon Emperor fell into immense anger and struggle.

Inside the Yao Race Great Hall, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the eve of a storm.

"This is too much!"

The Demon Emperor, Yuan Tiangang, whose true form was a Heaven-Rending Magic Ape, smashed the black jade table beside him to pieces with a palm strike, his eyes crimson, his fury almost bursting forth.

"What bullshit Orthodoxy! My race has operated in this realm for tens of thousands of years to achieve today's status!

With a single decree, they want us to hand over our foundation and bow our heads in submission? On what grounds!"

The trusted Demon Kings and Elders under his command were also filled with righteous indignation.

"What my Lord says is exactly right! What Ancient Demon Court? They are nothing but deserters who fled from disaster!

Now that they see Xuanhuang recovering, they want to come back and pick the fruit? There is no such logic in the world!"

"We would rather be shattered jade than intact pottery!"

But there were also a few more sober Elders who showed deep concern:

"My Lord, please appease your anger! The Demon Court is powerful; perhaps we should temporarily deal with them superficially and then plan for the long term?"