Chapter 487 - 486: Writing the Proclamation

Chapter 487: Chapter 486: Writing the Proclamation

While they were talking, the group arrived at the Lingyun Sect’s grand reception hall.

"Please!" Yuan Huaitian said, gesturing for the Great Tang Emperor to enter.

Emperor Li did not stand on ceremony, striding in with the Empress.

As a sign of respect, the Great Tang Emperor and the Empress were escorted to the seats of honor at the head of the dais.

Sect Leader Yuan, Master Xuan Ji, and Sect Leader Wan took the seats to the side of the dais.

The Great Tang Emperor accepted the honor without demur. His bearing was incredibly majestic, and his every move was like that of the Celestial Emperor himself on a royal tour.

Instead of feeling any resentment, everyone felt that he truly was the Celestial Emperor, possessing the might to look down upon all living beings in the world.

"Kun Hai has set up an array in the North Spirit Ruins. He must be plotting something. I wonder what insights Your Majesty has on this matter?" Sect Leader Wan asked Emperor Li, who was seated at the head of the hall.

"We will go and ascertain the situation for ourselves," Emperor Li said without the slightest hesitation.

"Oh!" Hearing this, Sect Leader Wan was taken aback. She felt a surge of excitement, yet she was also nervous.

From the way Emperor Li spoke, if they investigated and confirmed Kun Hai’s plot, a battle would be inevitable.

They desperately wanted to stop Kun Hai, but the thought also filled them with apprehension.

’A powerhouse of that caliber isn’t someone ordinary people can hope to oppose!’

Even as a Divine Mansion Realm expert, Sect Leader Wan felt a sense of unease.

"Very well. We will follow Fellow Daoist Li’s arrangements," Yuan Huaitian said, a glint in his eyes. "But I wonder, does Fellow Daoist Li have a detailed plan?"

"First, we will summon the cultivators from every sect in the Southern Wilderness to the North Spirit Mountain Range and launch a crusade against the Evil Demon!" Emperor Li declared, his gaze sweeping over them with immense authority.

"Second, we will issue a written crusade declaration to be proclaimed throughout the land, so that every last one of the Southern Wilderness People knows what is happening!"

His voice resounded through the great hall, stunning the Elders of the Lingyun Sect.

Even Yuan Huaitian and Master Xuan Ji couldn’t help but exchange a look.

"Summoning the cultivators of every sect to the North Spirit Mountain Range to crusade against the Evil Demon is feasible. However, wouldn’t proclaiming this to the entire world be... unwise?" Sect Leader Yuan had his reservations. If the Southern Wilderness People learned that even their top powerhouses had no confidence in defeating the Evil Demon, wouldn’t that cause morale to shatter?

At that point, he feared many would defect and join the Evil Demon.

The situation in the Southern Wilderness would spiral out of their control.

This was precisely why, after discovering Kun Hai setting up his grand array, Yuan Huaitian and Master Xuan Ji had not revealed the full truth. They had only informed the other Sect Leaders, telling them to wait for the Great Tang Emperor’s arrival before discussing things further. They were afraid of causing a collapse in morale, which would lead to the sects of the Southern Wilderness imploding on their own.

That was why they had serious doubts about the Great Tang Emperor’s plan to announce it to the world.

"Heh, you all worry too much," Emperor Li said with a smile, his expression then turning serious. "The crisis facing the Southern Wilderness is a crisis for the entire world. It is a crisis for its countless millions of people, not just for the few of us here. Therefore, resolving it is not a task for us alone. It will require our countless millions to join hands and work as one to defend the Righteous Dao."

"As for the few who defect to the enemy out of fear, pay them no mind. People are good and evil, cowardly and brave."

Emperor Li spoke, enunciating every word. "What we need are those strong and courageous souls, those who do not fear death, to join hands with us and resist the enemy."

"Countless millions joining hands?"

"This struggle between the righteous and the demonic is a battle between supreme powerhouses. Ordinary people are weak; they can barely protect themselves. How could they possibly influence the situation?"

Everyone in the hall was utterly astonished.

Emperor Li’s words were beyond their comprehension.

Even Ling Fei felt a flicker of curiosity.

’In his view, the current conflict truly was a battle between the strongest of the strong.’

’No matter how many ordinary cultivators there were, they couldn’t withstand a single palm strike from one of those supreme experts.’

’A Divine Mansion Realm Powerhouse, for instance, could slaughter an entire city on their own!’

’So then, how powerful must a Daoist Palace Realm expert be?’

’Who could possibly contend with an expert of that level?’

"The struggle of an individual is but a minor path," Emperor Li said, shaking his head. "To be one with heaven and earth, to be one with the countless masses—that is the Great Dao."

"The struggle of an individual is but a minor path?" The moment these words were spoken, Yuan Huaitian froze, lost in deep thought.

The Elders beside him were also taken aback.

"Legend has it that in the Ancient Era, a Celestial Emperor could gather the fortune of the masses into their own body. When they unleashed the Celestial Emperor’s Technique, they were invincible," Master Xuan Ji said, his eyes narrowing slightly before a smile spread across his face. "Since Emperor Li wields the National Treasure Divine Artifact, I imagine he has gained some understanding of this. Heh, in that case, we shall follow Your Majesty’s lead."

Emperor Li’s words had sparked a realization in him.

In fact, the Buddhist Sect had a method that achieved a similar effect through different means.

However, in the present era, no one in their Great Sun Thunder Sound Temple had been able to master this technique, causing their lineage to gradually decline.

Now that Emperor Li had mentioned it, Master Xuan Ji recalled fragments of text he had once seen in some ancient scriptures.

"The Celestial Emperor’s Technique!" Hearing this, Sect Leader Yuan and the others nodded in understanding.

"In that case, we shall do as Your Majesty commands," everyone chorused.

"Rest assured, everyone. As long as we are united, we can repel the Evil Demon!" said Emperor Li.

"We await Your Majesty’s command!" the many Elders in the hall declared in unison.

’The Celestial Emperor’s Technique!’ Ling Fei’s face was filled with anticipation.

’From what Master Xuan Ji said, this Celestial Emperor’s Technique must be an unbelievably powerful, heaven-defying technique!’

After some further discussion, the people in the hall began to disperse.

The Empress exchanged a few words with the Eighth Prince.

Sect Leader Yuan and the others began sending messages to the leaders of the major sects.

Once the Sect Leaders of the various sects had received their messages, the Great Tang Emperor strolled out and ascended into the Void above the Lingyun Sect, preparing to write the crusade declaration.

When the Great Tang Emperor appeared, every disciple in the Lingyun Sect was stirred.

The might emanating from the Great Tang Emperor was overwhelming. An indescribable power gathered around him, making it seem as if the Celestial Emperor himself had descended to the mortal realm, forcing all to look up in awe.

Ling Fei was also gazing up into the Void.

Beside him, Lian Shuang and Shangguan Wan’Er also stood, quietly watching the Great Tang Emperor.

The Eighth Prince and the Third Prince watched with faces full of reverence.

This was their father, the Emperor, the Great Tang Emperor. They too were eager to see just how the Celestial Emperor would compose such a declaration.

Then, up in the Void, a light flashed in Emperor Li’s eyes. He turned his palm over, and a small, golden sacrificial altar appeared in it.

Golden light swirled around the altar, which was engraved with True Dragons and radiated a vast, boundless Celestial Might.

’What manner of Supreme Treasure is that?’ As the object appeared, the people of the Lingyun Sect watched with undisguised curiosity.

As the altar appeared, Emperor Li guided his palm, gathering True Dragon Qi and forming it into a Spirit Seal that he then infused into the golden platform.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Instantly, the golden sacrificial altar expanded, transforming into a massive platform ninety feet tall. A boundless Dragon’s Might erupted from it, spreading out in all directions.

"Decree of the Celestial Emperor, arise!" With a flick of a Hand Technique from Emperor Li, a Light Pattern flared on the altar, and what seemed to be a True Dragon roared as it shot forth.

The True Dragon then transformed into a scroll of yellow Holy Decree, which hovered in the Void.

"I, Li Shan, Son of Heaven, have received the Mandate of Heaven. I carry the fortune of the world and preside over its affairs. Today, an Evil Demon brings chaos to the land. Thus, I issue this decree!" As the yellow Holy Decree hovered in the air, a light flashed in Emperor Li’s eyes. His deep voice rang out, and the vast, majestic aura of the Celestial Emperor began to emanate from his body.