City of Ancient Emperors

City of Ancient Emperors . . .

"Thousand Transformations, after the passage of countless years, your growth is nothing short of remarkable. I find myself unable to contend with you, yet you shall not emerge victorious against me either," boomed the commanding voice of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. The titans in the sky were locked in a breathtaking standoff, their power evenly matched.

"Nevertheless, with your current strength, you remain unqualified to claim the six westernmost prefectures from my grasp. I am not the sole Immortal Emperor within my Eastern Sage Immortal Sect," he declared, sending ripples of astonishment through the people of the Emperor City. The revelation that the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect housed additional Immortal Emperors left them reeling—could one of them be among the legendary paragons who had transcended mortal limitations?

"I am well aware of this fact. But why the rush? Allow me to demonstrate what I've brought to the table," responded the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord. Silence hung heavy in the air before the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor continued, "Very well. As expected, you have come prepared. However, even if I were to grant you governance over the six prefectures, how would your dominions withstand the might of my Eastern Sage Army? You must understand one crucial point: the moment you assume control of the six prefectures, you declare war upon my Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Naturally, my Eastern Sage Army would embark on a punitive expedition to reclaim those territories."

"Your forces may be newly assembled, but my Eastern Sage Army will tread over them with impunity. The outcome will be naught but the annihilation of the frail and inconsequential. After my prolonged rule over the thirteen prefectures, my influence runs deeper than you can fathom. Your hastily assembled forces will prove no match for me. How many Immortal Kings and Immortal Foundation Experts do you believe will willingly pledge allegiance to you?" challenged the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.

In the realm of immortality, wars adhered to a unique code of conduct. If the pinnacles of two separate powers were unequal, the stronger would naturally hold dominion. The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor exemplified this, as the mightiest figure across the thirteen prefectures. Despite most of the local powers not falling under his direct control, they still deferred to his authority, recognizing him as the de facto ruler of the region.

However, when both powers possessed experts of equal strength—such as the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor and the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord—if the latter wished to reallocate territory within the thirteen prefectures, he needed the qualifications to negotiate with the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor. Unless the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor could overpower and drive him away, the negotiation table would be the path to a mutually beneficial accord. Failure to reach such an understanding could incite dire consequences if the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord retaliated in a fit of rage—an outcome too calamitous to fathom.

If the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor were to agree to the division, and if the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord could successfully marshal his own forces, it would mark the birth of a new rivalry in the immortal realms. Under such circumstances, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor could give the order for his troops to march and invade the six prefectures. However, there was a strict rule: the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor could not directly attack the location where the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord had established his base. In turn, the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord would be prohibited from intervening in battles among forces beneath their level.

The hierarchy of combat would begin at the lowest level, with only immortal emperor existences clashing at the very end. To prevent a catastrophic scenario where immortal emperors would directly slaughter the lower-level forces, this rule was firmly upheld in the immortal realms. Violating this rule would escalate the feud between the two sides to a death grudge, where one party would relentlessly pursue the other's destruction. Typically, no one sought to find themselves embroiled in such a dire situation.

"You needn't fret over that," assured the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord.

"Thousand Transformations, even if you claim the six prefectures but lack a substantial force, wouldn't it render your victory meaningless? If your intent is to merely humiliate me for past events, doesn't that seem rather undignified given our respective statuses?" scoffed the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, his tone carrying a cold edge.

"Let's agree on a time limit of a hundred years. If, within a century, the forces I have assembled prove insufficient to match your army, I, Thousand Transformations, will voluntarily cede control of the six prefectures and swear never to set foot in the thirteen prefectures for the rest of my life," proposed the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord. Negotiations required both parties to compromise and arrive at a mutually acceptable agreement.

As two immortal emperor figures, their temperaments were exceptional, and they would not engage in meaningless endeavors.

"Just a hundred years?" queried the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor.

"A hundred years," affirmed the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord. Their aerial conversation bore the semblance of a chat between old friends, devoid of hostility. Yet, every word they exchanged resonated deeply with the hearts of those in the Emperor City and at the immortal banquet. The outcome of their deliberations would impact everyone across the thirteen prefectures.

Moreover, from the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor's tone, it seemed that he had agreed to relinquish control of the six prefectures to the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord for a century.

Silence prevailed in the air, as the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor weighed his decision. To him, a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord's request did not seem overly burdensome. After all, their earlier battle had ended in a draw, signifying that his opponent possessed the authority to negotiate the division of the thirteen prefectures. Such was the prerogative of those who stood at the pinnacle.

"I agree," declared the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor with a firm resolve. "The six westernmost prefectures: Cloud, Thunder, Rock, Yue, Supreme Moon, and Western Desert, will be entrusted to you for a span of a hundred years. During this century, should you assemble your forces or establish a sect, my troops will take action against you. Furthermore, within three months, I shall issue an order for the withdrawal of all those affiliated with my Eastern Sage Immortal Sect from these territories. However you choose to govern these six prefectures will be entirely your prerogative."

The words of the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor reverberated through the entire Emperor City, casting a profound silence upon it.

The decision to divide his dominion and bestow upon the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord six prefectures for a century was nothing short of astounding. What an indomitable spirit!

To those who stood at the pinnacle of power, their sects and clans were of secondary importance. Their own personal strength took precedence. Yet, the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor had nurtured the entire thirteen prefectures, fostering prosperity and growth. Now, with a single sentence, he was willing to divide and relinquish six of them. The audacity of such a gesture sent shivers through the hearts of those who heard it.

Qin Wentian, stationed on the ground below, was profoundly astonished. He had not anticipated that matters would resolve themselves so straightforwardly and peaceably. A single duel between immortal emperors, coupled with a few uttered sentences, had already secured the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord governance over six prefectures. However, had the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord been inferior to the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, he would not have even qualified to request a division and would have faced certain demise.

"Power is indeed everything," mused Qin Wentian in quiet contemplation.

In the skies, the two figures gradually descended. The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor cast his gaze over the immortal banquet's attendees and proclaimed, "As I've pledged, six prefectures shall be bestowed upon Thousand Transformations. All affected prefecture lords should return immediately to make preparations. You will temporarily relocate to the Eastern Prefecture while awaiting further instructions."

"We hear and obey, your Majesty," replied the six affected prefecture lords as they acknowledged the command. However, turmoil raged within their hearts.

This was particularly true for the prefecture lord of the Cloud Prefecture, the Idlecloud Immortal King. He had struggled for years to ascend to his current position, and his forces were situated in that very prefecture. His participation in the immortal banquet had initially yielded glory, with three of the top ten and two of the top three being from his Cloud Prefecture. Yet, the subsequent turn of events left him dumbfounded. His status as a prefecture lord was about to be revoked, and he would be relocated to the Eastern Prefecture, awaiting further instructions. In an instant, years of hard work and dedication vanished like mist in the wind.

The Idlecloud Immortal King couldn't help but sigh at the capricious nature of fate. Life was ever-changing, and destiny remained elusive.

His gaze then shifted to Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen. These two remarkable geniuses were disciples of the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord. How brilliantly would their future radiance shine? At the very least, they were destined to ascend to the ranks of immortal kings.

"The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord will be responsible for your return," Bai Wuya's voice resonated within their minds. His words sent a shiver through Qin Wentian's heart, and a puzzled expression crossed his face.

The revelation that the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord wasn't a member of their sect left Qin Wentian bewildered. As the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord canceled his thousand transformations technique and descended upon them, it became clear that he indeed lacked the familiar presence of a member of the Heavenly Talisman Realm.

For a moment, Qin Wentian's thoughts were thrown into disarray. Were all his previous assumptions wrong? How had the Heavenly Talisman Realm arranged for the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord to take them away?

Yet, he quickly composed himself. The Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord stood before them, addressing the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, "Eastern Sage, I'm here to take my people away."

"Since you've come in person, you may certainly take them with you," replied the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, his demeanor seemingly unaffected by the recent events. This response left Qin Wentian with newfound respect for him. He realized that he had underestimated those at the immortal emperor level. Their emotional states must have reached an unfathomably high level.

"Farewell, Brother Eastern Sage. I look forward to our next battle," the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord said with a smile.

"I share that anticipation," replied the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor calmly. In an instant, a powerful surge of energy enveloped Qin Wentian, Jun Mengchen, and Zi Qingxuan, surrounding them in a brilliant light. The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor took them away, leaving Mo Wen behind. Since they had already revealed their connection as fellow sect members, it was natural for them to leave together. However, Mo Wen's true identity remained a secret.

After their departure, the atmosphere at the immortal banquet grew heavy with silence. The Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor eventually broke the stillness, saying, "Let the banquet continue as planned."

"Yes, your Majesty," the attendees responded, though their hearts were no longer in the festivities. The Eastern Sage Immortal Sect had extended invitations to recruit new members, and very few had declined. Most had eagerly accepted the offer.

Among the top ten participants, Mo Wen had also chosen to join the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. Her potential had captured the interest of many immortal kings.

Bai Wuya observed silently. Although the Heavenly Talisman Realm had a rule against its members taking on disciples, he understood that Mo Wen had done so because she had accepted another mission from the Heavenly Talisman Realm. An exception to the rule could be made in her case.

Mo Wen's current mission had a covert twist - infiltrating the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect. As Qin Wentian, who had already departed, remained oblivious to this mission, a sudden voice echoed within his mind. The voice belonged to Princess Glaze, who was reaching out to him with crucial news about Qing'er.

"City of Ancient Emperors, where is that?" Qin Wentian wondered aloud. Princess Glaze informed him that Qing'er was currently located in the City of Ancient Emperors.

Beside Qin Wentian, the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord couldn't help but have a glint of sharpness in his eyes upon hearing these words. As he gazed at the top-ranked participant of the immortal banquet, a wry smile curled his lips, and he replied, "Once you return, immerse yourself in your cultivation. The City of Ancient Emperors is teeming with formidable adversaries, much like yourself!"