460: The Supreme Lord of the Humane Palace

The five Immortal Monarchs were powerful to outsiders, but to him, even this Dao body could easily suppress them. However, this Half-Ancestor was very strong.

He was much stronger than the likes of the Burial Sea Dragon Turtle. If he hadn't guessed wrong, this person could definitely suppress Dao Ancestors, truly worthy of being the Palace Master of the Humanity Palace.

From this, one could also see the Human Race's foundation. Even Venerable Qingzhu was not qualified to possess a throne, so these seventy-two thrones must belong to those above the Immortal Monarch Realm.

"How dare you!"

A cold shout exploded from the Resentful Soul Throne, sounding like Nine Heavens thunder, carrying an unyielding majesty.

"Mere junior, why do you not kneel when you see the Palace Master?"

Above the throne, a hazy figure was shrouded in chilling ghostly Qi, with thousands of resentful souls wailing around him, as if a single thought could drag one into endless purgatory.

"Hmph!"

Xu Qing's eyes suddenly turned cold, a sharp glint appearing in their depths, like a drawn sword!

"Swish! Swish!"

Two streaks of Sword Qi shot out from his eyes, dazzling like a pouring galaxy, instantly tearing through the gloom and striking directly at the throne!

"You dare—!"

The figure on the throne was enraged, ghostly Qi surged, and thousands of resentful souls shrieked as they lunged forward, sweeping in like a black tide, attempting to devour the Sword Qi and Xu Qing's group!

However—

"Whoosh!"

Wherever the Sword Qi passed, the resentful souls melted and dispersed like snow meeting scorching sun!

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the figure on the throne was violently struck by the Sword Qi, its ghostly Qi dispersed, and it crashed heavily against a palace pillar!

Everything happened in just a few breaths.

Once the dust settled, the entire Humanity Palace was dead silent.

"Whoosh—"

Above the Resentful Soul Throne, the hazy figure reformed, ghostly Qi surging around him, but without its previous might. He silently watched Xu Qing, the wariness in his eyes undeniable.

With just one probing attack, he understood—the person before him was not to be lightly offended!

The figures on the other four thrones were equally silent, their hearts churning with shock. Who could have imagined that a junior who had Cultivated for less than a thousand cycles had already reached their level?

"The world says that the Blade Monarch, one of the Xu Family's twin stars, is a peerless True King capable of clashing with an Immortal Overlord. Seeing him today, I realize the world's words are all mistaken."

The voice of the supreme figure came, like a great bell.

His gaze was piercing, looking directly at Xu Qing, and he spoke solemnly: "If you are willing, I, Ji Changge, sincerely invite Fellow Daoist to be a Grand Elder of the Humanity Palace!"

"What?"

The figures on the five great thrones were startled, their auras trembling.

Only powerhouses above the Half-Ancestor Realm could serve as Grand Elders of the Humanity Palace!

Could it be... Their gazes towards Xu Qing had completely changed.

They did not doubt the Palace Master's words. The Palace Master had long reached the Immortal limit, even suppressing three Dao Ancestors, and could Breakthrough to Dao Ancestor at any time.

But the Palace Master wanted to push Body Refining to its Immortal limit before Breakthrough, so he had been suppressing his Realm.

Therefore, he would never be mistaken about Xu Qing's cultivation!

But how long had Xu Qing been Cultivating?

Being able to Cultivate to the Immortal Monarch Realm had already shocked them, but they hadn't expected that he wasn't an Immortal Monarch at all, but in the Half-Ancestor Realm.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. He had only intended to make a show of force, but he hadn't expected such a reward.

A Grand Elder of the Humanity Palace held a higher status than the Humanity's Three Stars (Sun, Moon, Star) Elders, and the five individuals on the thrones belonged to the Humanity's Sun Order Elders.

The Grand Elder of the Humanity Palace held a transcendent status, and putting aside other benefits, it would greatly benefit the Xuanhuang Merchant Guild.

"Qing is already of the Human Race. To dedicate my efforts to the Human Race, there is no objection!"

He responded loudly, his voice clear and resonant like a sword's hum.

"Good!"

Ji Changge was overjoyed, and a stream of light flew out from his sleeve.

Xu Qing raised his hand to receive it. This was a token, similar to the Humanity Star Token, but on its front, the sun and moon shone together, accompanied by thousands of stars.

This was precisely the Humanity Palace Grand Elder Token!

"For the Tianyang Competition, I'll entrust it to Grand Elder Xu!"

Ji Changge's gaze swept over Xu Liang and the others. Although he couldn't discern their ages, none exceeded a thousand cycles, meeting the requirements. As for Xu Qing... he actually hoped that he wouldn't participate.

A Half-Ancestor under a thousand cycles might become a pillar of the Human Race in the future!

This was why he had publicly invited him to become a Grand Elder.

Xu Qing nodded slightly, his tone firm: "Palace Master, rest assured, if our Clan cannot win the Dao Monarch category in this battle, then the Dao Monarch for these hundred epochs will be provided by my Xu Clan!"

He was not speaking idly. If they truly lost, the Xu Family would send people. It was a good opportunity to strengthen the Clan members, and a place like Tianyang Pass was where strong individuals were most likely to emerge.

He was going to Tianyang Pass anyway, and he would have the opportunity to look after his Clan members then.

Furthermore, it was a good chance to temper the Clan members at Tianyang Pass. Currently, the Xu Clan members' cultivation was improving too quickly; it was time for some proper tempering!

This was also why he brought the Clan's Prodigies along, to let them contend with the Prodigies of the Chaos Sea.

"Good! I wish Grand Elder Xu success in this battle!"

Seeing Xu Qing's confident expression, Ji Changge didn't say much more, but he was somewhat curious about the Xu Family's foundation.

Because the Xu Family was too peculiar, so peculiar that there was no record of such a Family appearing in the history of the Humanity Palace.

Currently, all they knew was that the Xu Family came from a small Dao Realm in the Eternal Continent, but how could such a Family appear in a place that didn't even reach the level of a grain of sand world?

He couldn't figure it out!

If the Spirit of Humanity hadn't shown that they were Human Race, he would have suspected if they were disguised foreign races.

However, there were also suspicions within the Palace that the Xu Family might be Human Race from outside the Eternal Dao Realm.

The Human Race did not only exist within the Eternal Dao Realm. In the past, many Human Race powerhouses left the Eternal Dao Realm, and it was not impossible that some powerhouses had branched out and thrived in the Chaos lands.

This was the only reason the Palace could explain their origin.

But no matter what, as long as they recognized the Human Race, it was a good thing for the Human Race.

After the incident at the Humanity Palace, Xu Qing and his group temporarily stayed at the Holy Temple.

Within the Holy Temple, Chaos Qi surged like a tide, and the Great Dao manifested, making it a Holy Land for Cultivation.

The Xu Family members all entered seclusion to digest what they had gained from this trip.

Xu Qing, on the other hand, occasionally guided his Clan members in their Cultivation, and at times discussed the Dao with the Holy Temple Elders, his demeanor calm and composed, already possessing the bearing of a Grand Elder.

Over five years, the Human Race Holy Temple became increasingly lively.

Various ancient Human Race Clans arrived, some King of Humanity Families came in ancient chariots pulled by golden-winged roc birds as mounts; some Sword Dao Families arrived with swords on their backs, each emanating a profound and powerful aura, their Sword Qi soaring into the sky, causing the Holy Temple's Formations to tremble slightly.

Ancient Families such as "Heavenly Sword Li Family" and "Xuanming Zhou Clan" were reclusive great Families within the Human Race, each with Dao Ancestors presiding over them.

For the many King of Humanity Families in the Three Emperor Domains and top hundred Sects like the Peerless Dao Sect, there were even Immortal Monarchs and Half-Ancestors presiding.

Forces like the eight great King of Humanity Families and the Three Associations even had Human Race Dao Ancestors presiding, which was the true foundation of the Human Race. Otherwise, how could they contend with myriad races and achieve the title of the first race?

At the same time, the "Prodigy Competition" held by the Human Race Holy Temple also entered its final stage.

This selection, which lasted ten thousand years, screened through hundreds of millions of Cultivators from all regions of the Human Race, with only a hundred ultimately standing out.

All of these were preparations for the Tianyang Competition.

It was clearly impossible for the Human Race Holy Temple to rely solely on the Xu Family to participate in the Tianyang Competition.

When the five-year period expired, the Holy Temple finally sounded the "Bell of Expedition."

Thousands of warships soared across the sky, their hulls inscribed with defensive Dao patterns sufficient to resist the attacks of Immortal Overlords. Xu Qing and his group boarded the Holy Temple warships and rendezvoused with the Holy Temple's representatives for this journey.

War drums rumbled, and horns blared.

"This journey to Tianyang Pass, let us uphold the prestige of our Human Race!"

Before their departure, Ji Changge personally appeared to see them off.

"Bones may break, but the spine must not bend!"

"As long as the flame of inheritance endures, the Human Race shall prosper forever!"

The shouts, like thunder, erupted from the first warship, instantly sweeping through the entire fleet.

Those bearing swords tapped their blades with their fingers, Formation Masters struck their armor with talismans, and even the young servants cowering by the ship's side wiped their faces and joined the shouts with hoarse voices.

The roar of sound shattered the clouds.

The mighty fleet tore through the Void Realm, advancing towards Tianyang Pass...