“Our Primordial Sacred Land agrees.”
“The Tai Shi Sacred Land also concurs.”
The Purple Void Palace of the Kunlun Holy Land nodded in agreement, along with other sacred lands and prestigious families expressing their positions.
Should the Immortal Realm be attacked by the great Demon Lords and Demon Clan Tribes, every sacred land and prestigious family would inevitably be caught in the calamity, hence their willingness to comply with the orders of the Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Emperor was pleased with everyone’s stance and continued, “I wish to divide the Lower Realm into nine Immortal Domains, corresponding to the Nine Heavens, each led by the eight Divine Palaces and the Kunlun Mountains’ Purple Void Palace. Once the great battle is imminent, the nine Immortal Domains, upon command, shall unite to defeat the Demon Lords and the Demon Clan Tribes bewitched by them.”
As soon as the words of the Heavenly Emperor fell, all the sacred lands were in an uproar, immediately communicating in secret.
Even Lin Xuantong furrowed his brows.
Lu Changsheng saw the excessive reactions of the sacred lands and fell into contemplation.
He knew the concerns of the leaders and elders of the various sacred lands.
Although the Heavenly Court ruled over the Immortal Realm, ever since the second ancient war, many strong individuals from the Ancient Celestial Court descended to the Lower Realm, establishing sacred lands, prestigious families, Immortal Dynasties, and remaining unaffected by the Heavenly Court’s water – the court also found it difficult to interfere in the internal affairs of the sacred lands and prestigious families.
Now, the Heavenly Emperor desired to divide the Immortal Realm into nine Immortal Domains, with the eight Divine Palaces taking charge of one each, and another controlled by the Kunlun Mountains’ Purple Void Palace.
This way, the eight Divine Palaces would have a reason to intervene in the affairs of the sacred lands and prestigious families they govern.
“Daoxuan, what’s your opinion?”
Lin Xuantong, among others, wanted to know the stance of the Kunlun Mountains’ Purple Void Palace.
Although the Purple Void Palace could also preside over one Immortal Domain, the various sacred lands have always looked to the Purple Void Palace for cues on how to act.
Now, with the Heavenly Court aiming to lead an allied army of the Immortal Realm composed of the great sacred lands, prestigious families, and Immortal Dynasties, the power structure of the Immortal Realm would undoubtedly change.
Daoxuan True Sovereign spoke indifferently, “Facing a great enemy, we should not dwell on past conflicts. Our Purple Void Palace agrees.”
“This…”
Although some of the sacred lands in attendance were on guard, since the Purple Void Palace had spoken thus, they found it difficult to reject the proposal of the Heavenly Court.
The power of the Heavenly Court was far greater than that of any single sacred land.
“Our Mount Taihua has no objections.”
Lin Xuantong expressed Mount Taihua Sacred Land’s stance.
Given the power of Mount Taihua Sacred Land, there was not much that could change.
“It can only be this way.”
One after another, the various sacred lands and prestigious families consented.
Since the last great battle between the Heavenly Court and the Demon Lords, countless ages had passed, and no one knew to what extent the Demon Chiefs of the Demon Realm had increased their cultivation levels.
Some of the Demon Lords and Demon Clan Tribes even had affiliations; if the forces of the Demon Realm and Demon Realm united to invade the Immortal Realm, without the leadership of the Heavenly Court, the great sacred lands had no chance of victory.
Thus, the sacred lands all made concessions.
“Apart from the central Immortal Realm, the east, south, west, and north are each divided into two Immortal Domains.”
“The Miluo Palace, to preside over the central Immortal Realm.”
“The Mysterious Lady Palace, to preside over the northwestern part of the Immortal Realm.”
“The Three Pure Ones Palace, to preside over the northeastern part of the Immortal Realm.”
“The Purple Void Palace, to preside over the southwestern part of the Immortal Realm.”
“The Wuming Palace, to preside over the southeastern part of the Immortal Realm.”
…
The Heavenly Emperor made arrangements one by one, with each of the eight Divine Palaces and the Purple Void Palace taking charge of the sacred lands, prestigious families, Immortal Dynasties, and sects within an Immortal Domain, preparing for the impending catastrophe.
“In this great assembly of the Heavenly Court, I also wish to see the talents of the young generation from the Divine Palaces, sacred lands, and prestigious families, to see if there are any capable of confronting the calamity.”
The Heavenly Emperor waved his hand and the scenery within the Lingxiao Hall changed, bringing everyone to an independent space within the hall. In the middle was a Martial Arts Platform with a barrier around it.
Within the Martial Arts Platform, an independent domain was formed, which would not affect the spectators.
A Golden Armor Heavenly General oversaw this martial exchange: “This exchange is open to those with Dao Bone within a million years of age.”
“Firstly, the exchange is for making friends through martial arts, and must stop upon making contact, without harming lives.”
“Secondly, each sacred land, prestigious family, and Immortal Dynasty shall send forth two individuals. Each Divine Palace shall correspondingly send forth two people. For fairness, the number of individuals from the Heavenly Court’s palaces shall be equal to those from the sacred lands, prestigious families, and Immortal Dynasties. Smaller palaces need not send any representative.”
“`
“Third, during the spar, no elixir pills, talismans, or other external items may be used. Participants are allowed to use up to two magical treasures, and the highest grade allowed for these treasures is the eighth-grade Dao Artifact.”
“Fourth, no use of demonic cultivation skills such as possession or Heavenly Demon Dismantling Skills.”
“Fifth…”
The Golden Armor Heavenly General announced the rules for the sparring one by one.
The Everlasting Immortal transmitted a message to Lin Xuantong: “I see these rules are all tailored for the Heavenly Emperor’s son. This grand assembly by the Heavenly Court is firstly to strengthen their control over our Holy Lands and Prestigious Families, and secondly to let the Emperor’s progeny show off their might. Our great Holy Lands seem to gain no benefits at all.”
“That’s true.”
Lin Xuantong rarely concurred with the Everlasting Immortal’s view.
“With a Dao Bone talent that appears once in a million years, who can match the Emperor’s son?”
“I think in this spar, the Emperor’s son is bound to take the top spot.”
“It’s said that the Emperor’s son, like the Heavenly Emperor himself, possesses the Supreme Emperor Body, with boundless potential.”
“But I’ve also heard that when the Emperor’s son was in Qianyuan Cave Heaven, he was beaten badly by the confidant of the Hallucinatory Dark Demon Venerable, the Impermanence Demon Monarch… Could it be because of this incident that the Heavenly Emperor specifically organized this spar, allowing his son to shine?”
“Silence! How can you speak so carelessly about such matters? If the Heavenly Emperor’s divine skills extend to hearing our covert communications, you’ll bring disaster upon yourself.”
“Even if we are destined to lose to the Emperor’s son, if we can overpower the peerless talent from the hundred thousand Divine Palaces and seize second place, that would be enough to shake the entire Immortal Realm.”
“The talents from the eight great Divine Palaces are only next to the Emperor’s son. I think for us Holy Lands and Prestigious Families, not to mention contending for the second place, even if we can get half of the top ten spots, we would be fortunate.”
“To live in the same era as the Emperor’s son is truly the sorrow of our generation, forever overshadowed by a monstrous talent.”
The people from the various Holy Lands, Prestigious Families, and Immortal Dynasties whispered among themselves, discussing the potential rankings in the spar.
Although the various Holy Lands and Prestigious Families have chosen to cooperate with the Heavenly Court, they cannot let the Court look down upon them.
If they could seize half of the rankings from the hands of the talents of the hundred thousand Divine Palaces, the various Holy Lands and Prestigious Families would be able to hold their heads high.
Regarding the first place, all Holy Lands and Prestigious Families agreed it belonged to the Heavenly Emperor’s son by default.
Since the first place has been predetermined, the competition for the second place begins.
“The fools from the Lower Realm think that yielding the first place will suffice, but we of the eight great Divine Palaces intend to monopolize the top three positions, to show those unruly regions of the Lower Realm the strength of our Heavenly Court.”
Among the Wuming Palace, a man carrying a longsword upon hearing some Holy Lands and Prestigious Families discussing competing for second or third place, couldn’t help but sneer.
Each of the eight great Divine Palaces had two top experts enter the fray.
Among them, from the Heavenly Emperor’s lineage was Miluo Palace, with Emperor Ku and Prince Long as their representatives.
And from Mysterious Lady Palace, Three Pure Ones Palace, Wuming Palace, and other Divine Palaces, each had their own talents.
These talents from the Divine Palaces were all outstanding individuals who had emerged within the last million years.
From birth, the cultivation resources they consumed were in the billions.
“The talents from the Heavenly Court are very arrogant.”
Li Changye saw that most of the talents from the eight great Divine Palaces had a haughty attitude; they probably held little regard for the Holy Lands from the Lower Realm, after all, being born in the Heavenly Court, they considered themselves superior.
“Changsheng, Qinghan, rankings are secondary, just do your best.”
Lin Xuantong instructed his disciple and daughter.
Representing Mount Taihua Sacred Land were the two strongest individuals within a million years, Lu Changsheng, who possessed the Innate Taoist Body, and Lin Qinghan, who had inherited the Mount Taihua Goddess’s Dao Artifact. Thus, for this spar, these two were the representatives of their Sacred Land.
The Everlasting Immortal furrowed his brows; Changliu Mountain could only send Li Changye and another Holy Maiden as representatives now.
Representing Purple Void Palace in battle were Holy Son Yan Zhiqiu and the Kunlun Holy Maiden.
Xia Ningxue represented Guanghan Palace in the spar.
All participants drew lots.
The talents from the same Holy Land would not end up in the same bracket.
To prevent the strongest contenders from meeting too early and being eliminated, those who were defeated but possessed strong abilities were allowed to join a repechage.
The Heavenly Emperor did not intervene; the Golden Armor Heavenly General oversaw the entire process.
“One hundred and eighty-eight, that’s quite an auspicious number.”
Lu Changsheng drew a number that he considered to be quite satisfactory.
“`