196: Jiyin Island

“System! Will the Breakthrough of the emperor fruit bring about the Great Tribulation of Proving the Dao?”

Holding nine emperor fruits in his hand, Xu Qing was ready to use them immediately.

“The emperor fruit in the Host’s hand is an emperor fruit, not a Dao fruit. The path taken is an alternative path to becoming an Emperor. Although his combat power is not weaker than a Proving the Dao Great Emperor, his path forward is cut off, so there will be no Great Tribulation of Proving the Dao.”

Xu Qing was relieved to hear this. This way, he could safely give them to Xu Ming and the others.

However, there were only nine emperor fruits, so he struggled with the selection of candidates.

Xu Ming and Xu Liang would certainly be among them.

After much thought, Xu Qing drew up a list of the remaining seven people: Xu Song, Xu Jie, Xu Lin of Scripture Depository Hall, Xu Bai of Treasure Depository Hall, Xu Shu, Master of Tianfu Vein, Hai Dagui, and the six members of Dark One.

This involved three halls, two branches, and one Sect, encompassing the Clan's Hall, Branch, and Guard, the three major organizations.

Soon, the nine people were summoned to a certain place in the Ancient Time Land.

“Clan Chief, may I ask why you have summoned us?” Xu Ming asked, puzzled.

“There is an Opportunity!”

As he spoke, Xu Qing took out nine emperor fruits and placed them before them.

The moment they saw the emperor fruits, the eyes of the nine people became fervent.

Xu Qing smiled and said, “These are emperor fruits. They can allow living beings to Breakthrough to the Emperor Realm!”

“Great Emperor!!!”

One stone stirred up a thousand waves.

Unspeakable shock appeared on the faces of the nine people simultaneously.

“Clan Chief, you… what did you say?” Xu Liang asked, somewhat uncertain.

“It is the Great Emperor!”

“The fruits before you represent a Great Emperor. There’s nothing strange about it. The Universe is vast, and a Great Emperor is not the strongest. Above him, there are even more powerful existences.”

“Below a Great Emperor, all are ants, but when one reaches the Great Emperor, facing the heavens directly, a Great Emperor might not be as powerful as imagined!”

Xu Qing’s words shattered the worldview of the nine people.

They had always believed that a Great Emperor was the Dominator of this world, an existence that ruled an era.

In countless ancient texts, it was stated how difficult it was for a Great Emperor to Prove the Dao.

How many Prodigies throughout history had fallen, how many forces and races had been annihilated for the sole purpose of contending for that unique Great Emperor position.

But now, a single fruit could allow them to become such an existence. How could they not be shocked?

“Choose a Great Dao you wish to follow. The power contained within the emperor fruit will allow you to comprehend the power of the Great Dao within it.”

“Additionally, these are nine Low Grade Emperor Weapons. They are my gift to you for your Breakthrough to the Emperor Realm!”

Xu Qing then handed them nine Low Grade Emperor Weapons.

“We will not fail the Clan Chief’s expectations!”

The nine people were overjoyed and accepted the emperor fruit and Emperor Weapons.

“I await your return!”

Xu Qing said with a smile.

The nine bowed again and then left.

Xu Qing’s eyes were full of anticipation, but he knew that while the Xu Family now had no shortage of high-end combat power, their mid-to-low-end combat power was too scarce.

“I wonder how that kid Qian Duoduo is doing?”

Xu Qing thought of Qian Duoduo.

But what he didn’t know was that Qian Duoduo was preparing a grand gift for him.

Ancient Martial Emperor Continent!

As Wu Xingqiong issued his call, the strong individuals and Disciples of the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect who were outside returned one by one.

Even the Mansion Masters of various mansions were recalled.

At this moment, all the forces of the Ancient Martial Emperor Continent sensed an impending storm.

Recalling that the Demon Soul Holy Land and the Feng Family were annihilated a few days ago, the finger of blame pointed towards the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect, and the latter did not clarify the situation in the subsequent days.

It was clear that the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect was most likely the one who took action.

Now, recalling their strong individuals from outside, their purpose was even more obvious.

Those neutral forces successively recalled their external members, while the forces belonging to the Extreme Yin Holy Land side were also rapidly retracting.

The Extreme Yin Holy Land is located on Jiyin Island in the Guze Sacred Mansion. More than sixty percent of the entire Sacred Mansion is covered in lakes, and the forces within mostly reside on islands.

The history of the Extreme Yin Holy Land can be traced back to the ninety-seventh era of the Middle Ages. When it was first established, it was merely a small sixth-grade Holy Sect, but now, it has endured thirteen eras without falling, making it an ancient Holy Land.

At the deepest part of Jiyin Island, there is a magnificent ancient architectural complex. At the center of this complex, within a grand hall that stands taller than the other buildings, over a hundred powerful individuals with formidable auras are currently seated.

The weakest among these powerful individuals were all in the Saint King Realm, and each one represented a powerful Holy Land force.

However, these usually imposing strong individuals now wore solemn expressions.

“What does the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect intend to do with this action? Could it be that they want to make a move against us?”

A cold-faced, purple-robed middle-aged man said with a gloomy expression.

If an outsider were to see this person, they would be greatly alarmed, because this was Zi Ze, the Holy Land Master of the Ziyao Sacred Ground in the Gu'lan Sacred Mansion. The Ziyao Sacred Ground is a second-grade Holy Land, and its power is no weaker than the Demon Soul Holy Land.

Normally, in all past gatherings, a person of his status would not speak, but today he could not hold back and was the first to speak.

The reason was that the Demon Soul Holy Land and the Feng Family were destroyed. These two families were no weaker than them; in fact, the Feng Family even surpassed them, but now the Feng Family was gone.

On the side of the Extreme Yin Holy Land, there were twenty-three second-grade Holy Lands, but only three could compare with the Ziyao Sacred Ground. Now that two had been destroyed, the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect was clearly making a fool of them.

“Fellow Daoist Yin Ji, tell us, is the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect going to make a move?”

As Zi Ze’s voice fell, an unremarkable old man opposite him also spoke.

This person was the Yin Puppet Holy Master. As he spoke, everyone’s gaze turned towards the black-robed middle-aged man at the head of the table, who was resting with his eyes closed.

This black-robed middle-aged man was the Extreme Yin Holy Master.

Hearing the Yin Puppet Holy Master’s words, the Extreme Yin Holy Master had no choice but to open his eyes, revealing a pair of sinister pupils that sent shivers down one’s spine.

“Everyone, don’t panic!”

The Yin Puppet Holy Land specialized in refining Puppets from corpses, and within its Sect, there were several half-step Saint Monarch Puppets. Their strength was second only to the Extreme Yin Holy Land, with the only weakness being the lack of a Saint Monarch Grandmaster. Therefore, the Extreme Yin Holy Master dared not be negligent.

Hearing his words, the various faction leaders couldn’t help but show puzzled expressions.

It had come to this point, how could they not panic?

Taking in everyone’s expressions, the Extreme Yin Holy Master smiled, “According to my informant in the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect, a certain force recently targeted the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect, intending to make them submit. Unfortunately, that old undying Wu Luo refused!”

“Subsequently, news spread that the strong individuals of the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect were recalled. As for the Demon Soul and Feng families, they were simply unlucky; they were annihilated by that force as a ‘gift’ to the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect!”

“So, everyone, there’s no need to panic!”

“This…”

Understanding the reason, the various forces couldn’t help but exclaim in an uproar.

“Fellow Daoist Yin Ji, who is this force? Could it be those two families?”

Zi Ze asked with a solemn expression.

“I don’t know who it is specifically, but I have already sent people to make contact. If we can win them over to our side, then the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect…”

The Extreme Yin Holy Master gave a sinister smile.

As these words came out, everyone was shocked!

“Fellow Daoist Yin Ji, that side?”

The Yin Puppet Holy Master frowned.

“This is the Holy Master’s intention!” the Extreme Yin Holy Master said with a smile.

Everyone felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.

“Everyone, don’t relax too much. Regardless of the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect’s objective, whether that force comes from the other two families or a Sect from outside the territory, no one can let down their guard.”

“That old undying Wu Luo doesn’t have much time left. He could go berserk at any time within these three hundred years. After you all return, keep your Disciples in check.”

“If, within these three hundred years, you anger the other party, and they come knocking, don’t blame us for not helping you!”

The Extreme Yin Holy Master reminded them.

Those gathered in this grand hall were, in fact, all harboring ulterior motives.

After the Ancient Martial Emperor Sect was annihilated, they naturally dared not contend for the Emperor Sect Legacy, but as an ancient and long-standing force, even a small amount of its possessions would be enough for these forces to absorb.

The Extreme Yin Holy Master only wanted a group of cannon fodder; as for whether they lived or died, it had little to do with him.

And he also had his own calculations!