137: With the grand gathering of all races underway, is the human race being targeted?

Three days later.

Central State, Yaochi Holy Land.

This was one of the oldest and most beautiful pure lands in the Central State.

Enveloped in celestial mist year-round, with immortal herbs and divine flowers everywhere, legend had it that the Queen Mother of the West once held banquets here to entertain the gods.

But today.

This tranquility and harmony were completely shattered by surges of soaring Demonic Qi and wild, primitive auras.

"The Golden Family has arrived!"

"Blood Phoenix Mountain makes its entrance!"

"The Master of Qilin Cave arrives with gifts!"

...Accompanied by one high-pitched announcement after another.

One after another, massive Ancient Creatures with terrifying auras descended upon this Human Race Holy Land, riding demonic clouds and tearing through the Void Realm.

There were Golden Lions with wings on their backs, their bodies burning with golden flames.

There were Blood Phoenixes as large as mountains, their entire bodies cast from blood-colored Divine Gold.

There were even Primordial Qilins treading on auspicious clouds with dense scales... each was a terrifying being that had once existed only in myths and legends!

Each represented a Primordial Imperial Clan that had once ruled over this world!

They had come.

They brought with them an innate arrogance and an unconcealed... contempt for the Human Race.

"Tsk tsk, so this is the so-called Holy Land of the Human Race? The Spiritual Qi is decent, but it's just too petty."

A Golden Lion spoke in human tongue, its voice resonant and filled with disdain.

"Indeed, compared to our ancestral lands, this place is practically a thatched hut."

Another Blood Phoenix agreed, its blood-colored eyes filled with provocation.

The Disciples of the Yaochi Holy Land listened to these grating remarks, their faces flushing red with anger, yet they dared not speak out.

Because.

These Ancient Creatures were too strong.

Any one of them picked at random possessed a cultivation no weaker than a Holy Land Elder!

Not to mention that behind them stood several Archaic Ancestor Kings whose auras were as vast as abysses, causing one's Divine Soul to tremble at a single glance!

Those were... terrifying existences comparable to Human Race Sages!

The assembly was held within the 'Yaochi Heavenly Palace' at the very center of the Jade Pool.

When the representatives of the various Human Race Holy Lands entered the great hall with apprehensive hearts.

Everyone's expression instantly darkened.

Inside the vast Heavenly Palace, the seats were already filled with guests.

However, every single seat was occupied by those variously shaped Ancient Creatures.

They were feasting on spiritual fruits and drinking divine brew in large gulps, talking loudly and acting as if no one else was there.

But the seats that should have belonged to the Human Race... had been removed.

Only a patch of... empty ground was left in the corner.

It was as if to say:

You are only fit to stand.

"This is going too far!"

A hot-tempered Human Race Holy Lord was about to explode on the spot.

But he was held back firmly by the old man beside him.

"Endure."

"Today, we are here to negotiate, not to fight."

"The situation is stronger than us; we must bow our heads..."

Helplessness.

Frustration.

Humiliation.

All the Human Race representatives could only suppress their fury and stand silently in the corner, like a group of prisoners awaiting judgment.

Finally.

When everyone had arrived.

An Ancestor King from the 'Golden Family' sitting in the main seat slowly opened his eyes.

His golden eyes swept across the room, and a terrifying pressure crashed down!

"Today, I have summoned you all for only one thing."

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance.

"Dividing the territory."

"We, the Ancient Myriad Races, have slumbered for hundreds of thousands of years. Now that we have awakened, we shall naturally retake control of this world."

"Of the ninety-nine main Dragon Veins in the Central State, we want ninety."

"The remaining nine are granted to you humans; it should be enough for you to eke out an existence."

"Furthermore, from this day forth, the Human Race shall become a... vassal race to our Myriad Races."

"Every year, you must offer one hundred thousand young boys and girls to the various Imperial Clans as... blood food."

Boom!

As soon as these words were spoken, it was like a sudden thunderclap!

All the Human Race representatives exploded in outrage!

"What?!"

"You want us to cede Dragon Veins? And you want us to offer children as blood food?!"

"You... you are simply delusional! This is too much!"

"Do you really think our Human Race has no one left?!"

"Silence."

The Golden Ancestor King simply spat out two words.

An even more terrifying pressure crashed down!

Poof—

The Human Race Holy Lord who had shouted the loudest was struck as if by lightning on the spot, violently coughing up a mouthful of blood as his aura instantly withered.

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence once again.

Everyone was furious but dared not speak.

This was... absolute suppression of strength!

The Golden Ancestor King nodded with satisfaction, seemingly enjoying this feeling of total control.

His gaze swept over the faces below, filled with humiliation and anger, and the corners of his mouth curled into a cruel arc.

"Of course."

"I am not an unreasonable person."

"The reason I make this request is also because... among your Human Race, there have appeared a few... disobedient 'insects'."

He paused, his voice suddenly becoming icy.

"I heard."

"Not long ago, there was a force called the 'Kaoshan Sect' that was very arrogant?"

"Not only did they wipe out a vassal Dragon Clan of my Yao Race, they even dared to... eat the Dragon Clan's crown prince?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Everyone's eyes simultaneously shifted toward an empty spot in the corner.

That was where the Kaoshan Sect's seats should have been.

But they hadn't come.

"Not only that."

Another Ancestor King from 'Blood Phoenix Mountain' spoke with a cold sneer.

"I heard that the Sect Master of that Kaoshan Sect even calls himself the 'Heavenly Emperor'?"

"He even sent an extremely arrogant... challenge letter to our Myriad Races?"

"Hehe..."

"A country bumpkin from the Eastern Wastelands dares to arrogantly claim the title of 'Heavenly Emperor'?"

"Truly... seeking death."

The Golden Ancestor King slowly stood up, his golden eyes filled with a judgmental intent.

"Today, we shall set the rules for you humans... in front of the whole world!"

He suddenly slapped his throne, his voice like a great bell echoing through the clouds!

"That Kaoshan Sect that ate the Dragon crown prince must... be exterminated!"

"Not a single soul, not even the chickens or dogs, shall be spared!"

"As for that arrogant and ignorant Li Daoxuan, who calls himself the 'Heavenly Emperor'..."

He paused, a flicker of extreme cruelty and playfulness flashing in his eyes.

"Cripple his cultivation, break his limbs, and put him in chains!"

"In three days, he shall kneel before my Myriad Dragon Nest to... atone for his crimes to the deceased Dragon crown prince!"

...The news, as if it had grown wings, instantly reached the Kaoshan Sect.

Inside the main hall.

Li Daoxuan was lying on a rocking chair, listening to Xiao Chen's report.

When he heard the final phrase "kneel and atone."

His eyes, which had been half-closed, slowly opened a crack.

"Hehe..."

A light chuckle echoed in the hall.

The laughter was very soft.

Yet it made the surrounding air feel as if it had frozen at that moment.

"Make me..."

"Kneel?"

Li Daoxuan slowly sat up.

He glanced at the bright sunlight outside the hall, then at his Disciples nearby, who were already trembling with rage, their eyes almost spitting fire.

A... very "kindly" smile appeared on his face.

"Sure."

"It seems your Master has been too low-key lately, so much so that any random cat or dog dares to shit on my head."

He stood up and brushed off non-existent dust from his clothes.

"Disciples."

"Let's go."

"To the Jade Pool."

"Today, Master will personally teach them..."

"What it means to... respect the elderly and love the young."