Origin Lake, Heart Island.

  Lu Fan sat in the Thousand Blades Chair, leaning on the railing. Wind fluttered his plain robes; a simple jade crown bound his flying hair.

  He held a chess piece between index and middle fingers, thumb tapping rhythmically.

  “Finally, someone’s the first to eat the crab...”

  He smiled. Liu Yuanhao’s assassination of Dantai Xuan—he’d seen it all.

  The Overlord severed all Imperial Dragon Qi, letting Dantai Xuan unify it, becoming world lord.

  With Imperial Dragon Qi shielding, even a ninth-turn Golden Core cultivator might fail to harm him.

  Possessing it, Dantai Xuan walked the Human Emperor Path...

  What was the Human Emperor Path? The path of myriad people—gathering hearts, enlightening the world.

  The Spiritual Pressure Chessboard floated before Lu. Pinching a piece, his eyes gleamed faintly.

  Then, it fell on tengen, enlivening the board.

  Not the yin-yang setup from Heaven’s Might.

  He played against himself.

  In idle moments, Lu chose self-duels.

  “Human Emperor Path... isn’t a cultivation path; cultivators can’t walk it.”

  Lu murmured, leaning back.

  Yet it wasn’t weak. At grand completion, a non-cultivator Human Emperor’s roar could shatter great cultivators’ dao hearts.

  That was the terror.

  Pity... non-cultivators couldn’t seek longevity.

  Even with Imperial Dragon Qi and spiritual qi aid, hard to endure ages.

  Perhaps a flaw.

  But...

  Lu smiled, placing another piece.

  The path could inherit, generation to generation—only needing to uphold people’s hearts, earn myriad support.

  As long as hearts endured, Imperial Dragon Qi guarded the emperor.

  Of course...

  If hearts scattered, qi unstable—a dynasty shifted.

  New Human Emperor Path born.

  Lu placed pieces repeatedly; board fell, eyes brilliant, as if perfecting something.

  ...

  Hooves thundered.

  Dawn’s light tore the horizon, surging like tides, covering earth.

  Tai Ridge.

  Xue Tao galloped in armor, face grim.

  Reaching the summit, seeing collapsed pavilion—face paled, blood drained.

  But relief: afar, guards surrounded Dantai Xuan.

  “My King!”

  Xue Tao knelt, face full of fear and blame.

  He’d planned everything—missed Liu Yuanhao’s mad assassination.

  Northern Xuan King dead? Chaos not just Northern Commandery—whole world.

  Overlord just beheaded, alive but Xiliang in uproar.

  Northern Xuan King too...

  Five Phoenixes would quake.

  Dantai Xuan flushed, waved Xue Tao up.

  “Not your fault...”

  “Liu Yuanhao daring Tai Ridge surprised this king too. Fortunately, Imperial Dragon Qi shields, counters Black Dragon evil—they walked into the net.”

  Dantai Xuan beamed.

  Once resentful as immortal-fate-severed.

  Now, he felt too strong.

  Qi shielded; one roar nearly killed a Body Storage Black Dragon Guard.

  How was he this awesome?!

  “Human Emperor Path...”

  Dantai Xuan’s eyes shone.

  Epiphany struck.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Young Master Lu extracted black dragon qi for Imperial Dragon Qi—Great Zhou dynasty fortune; dragon qi its inheritance.

  As Great Xuan lord, inheriting half—represented Great Xuan’s people.

  Now, Overlord severed; he unified, Emperor Dragon Seal complete—represented all under heaven.

  Suddenly...

  Dantai Xuan frowned faintly.

  Pressure felt.

  After sensing Human Emperor Path’s might, worry surged—immense duty.

  Not just power—responsibility.

  Accountable to myriad people.

  Fail stable world—what face to walk the path?

  “My King! Found it.”

  As Dantai Xuan pondered, a Xuanwu Guard rushed joyfully from ruins.

  Held half-reviewed exam scrolls from Great Xuan Academy students.

  Dantai Xuan took them, exhaling relief.

  Xue Tao, seeing king alive, stone lifted from heart.

  From other commander: king’s prior dominance—Imperial Dragon Qi shielded, wounded Liu Yuanhao, roared a Black Dragon Guard to death.

  Xue Tao’s eyes burned.

  Their king—truly qi-blessed sovereign.

  Then heat faded; killing intent rolled.

  “Liu Yuanhao gravely wounded—order all Xuanwu Guards, city-wide hunt! Capture the villain!”

  Xue Tao bellowed.

  Orders spread; Xuanwu Guards exploded out.

  ...

  Liu Yuanhao leaned on straw hut, breathing ragged like bellows.

  This time... huge loss.

  Never thought Imperial Dragon Qi this strong.

  “Dantai Xuan...”

  Blood from mouth/nose—backlash.

  Dao intent assault failed; qi rebounded, intent slashed.

  Without kicking away the Black Dragon Guard, that azure dragon might’ve blasted him dead.

  “This grudge... Liu Yuanhao remembers.”

  Covering blood.

  Staggered up.

  Flicked white flame, burning bloodied straw—erasing traces.

  Dragged wounded body, hid deeper.

  Must escape the city.

  Xue Tao returned with army.

  Stay—trapped forever.

  But at hut door—whistling air sensed.

  No Golden Core Heavenly Lock, no divine sense—but instinct crisis.

  Clanging armor.

  Xuanwu Guard squad arrived, led by Xue Tao.

  Xue Tao gripped spear, eyes icy scanning.

  Smelled blood—cut off here.

  “Search homes; say capturing felon.”

  Xue Tao ordered.

  Tai Ridge city new, but with Great Xuan Academy, goods influx—more common folk.

  Thus, many civilians.

  Xuanwu Guards strong, but under Dantai Xuan’s rules—dared not rampage.

  Guards knocked doors; sleepy folk saw armored Xuanwu—jolted awake.

  “Officers, please—search freely!”

  Cooperative.

  Thanks to Dantai Xuan’s rule—stable lives.

  Xue Tao’s killing aura softened before them.

  Search smooth.

  Footsteps neared.

  Liu Yuanhao’s body iced.

  Burst out silently—hut couldn’t hide.

  Xue Tao sensed airflow shift.

  “Who!”

  Spear pointed, roared.

  Ground exploded; pursued.

  But Liu Yuanhao swift; Xue Tao sensed only flow, reached hut—empty.

  Liu Yuanhao endured wounds.

  Hid in grand courtyard.

  Xue Tao followed instinct; Xuanwu Guards rushed in.

  Owner baffled.

  Xue Tao explained; cooperative, search began.

  Xue Tao’s eyes sharp, scanning.

  Long after, Guards returned—shook heads, nothing.

  Xue Tao cold; gripped spear, spiritual qi surged in, smashed ground.

  Qi waves spread...

  Long after, dissipated.

  Xue Tao squinted, led Guards away.

  Owner respectfully saw off.

  Xuanwu Guards’ fame in Great Xuan—who dared provoke?

  Where’d Liu Yuanhao go?

  Courtyard...

  Secluded latrine pit below.

  To evade hunt, survive—Liu Yuanhao discarded dignity utterly.

  ...

  Wolong Ridge.

  Situation shifted greatly over time.

  Tianyuan cultivators flooded in.

  Original Five Phoenixes family rules shattered by influx.

  Tianyuan had many: Qi Condensation, Foundation, Golden Core—all levels.

  Five Phoenixes resources stirred insatiable greed.

  Qi Condensation via Dragon Gates—70% speed boost!

  Foundation via Trial Tower—50%!

  Golden Core via Nine Prisons...

  Five Phoenixes’ cultivation path paved perfectly—enviable!

  争夺 inevitable.

  Of course, Tianyuan powerhouses knew limits.

  Dared not overstep.

  Four Holy Lands sent only Golden Core disciples to Nine Prisons; others stayed Dongyang.

  Reason clear to many: feared White Jade Capital. Though Zhou Haisheng nearly slew Overlord without intervention—signaling true seclusion.

  But Five Phoenixes was White Jade Capital’s home.

  Overdo—White Jade Capital returns, perhaps reckoning.

  Thus...

  Tianyuan cultivators rarely killed; oppressed via strength duels, forcing Five Phoenixes to yield resources.

  Trial Tower, Foundation site.

  Limited slots—originally families, Great Xuan, Xiliang breakthrough spots.

  A Tianyuan Nascent Soul led disciples.

  Negotiated with family heads; set qualification battles outside Tower.

  Victors enter.

  Family heads raged inwardly, but Nascent Soul pressure—couldn’t refuse.

  Battles brutal.

  Families crushed; only Beiluo’s Dragon Blood Army iron warrior blood-fought one slot.

  Battle showed Five Phoenixes the gap.

  Just beginning.

  Tianyuan eyes turned to eight Dragon Gates.

  Gates aided Qi Condensation—vital stage, contested; many Tianyuan forces coveted slots.

  ...

  Liu Yuanhao lived.

  Hid ten days in courtyard latrine; seized chance, controlled owner, slipped during lax patrols.

  Black Dragon Cult crippled.

  All Black Dragon Guards dead; remaining cultists hid—no response to calls.

  Great Xuan’s wave nearly doomed him.

  Cult ruined.

  Hate burned.

  No place in world—so planned beyond Tianhan Pass.

  Heard vast lands outside; perhaps rise again.

  But before leaving—not letting Dantai Xuan off easy.

  Spread Dantai Xuan possessed Imperial Dragon Qi.

  Exaggerated its power vastly.

  News reached scattered Tianyuan powerhouses.

  Seemed to open hope path for dead-end tops.

  After spreading, Liu Yuanhao smiled coldly, vanished in Tianhan Pass desert sands.

  Before, leaving with cult hard.

  Now alone—easy.

  ...

  Mo Ju returned.

  Dantai Xuan laughed, emerged from pavilion, grasped Mo Ju’s hand.

  Mo Ju in scholar robes, bowed.

  “My King, you can still laugh...”

  Mo Ju grave; from Nine Prisons return, knew Dantai Xuan’s shine.

  Imperial Dragon Qi; one roar slays Golden Core—rumor, but chilling.

  Before, qi effects unearthed—Mo Ju unworried, even joyful.

  Now... heavy.

  As Liu Yuanhao said: times changed.

  Dantai Xuan’s qi now coveted by many Tianyuan Nascent Souls.

  Key to breaking shackles.

  “Liu Yuanhao’s nonsense, exaggerating till this king’s embarrassed.”

  “Qi shields, Nascent invulnerable; one roar shatters Golden Core... this king isn’t that strong—just roared a Body Storage to grave injury.”

  Dantai Xuan laughed.

  Mo Ju helpless—times like this, still posing?

  “Now, Five Phoenixes cultivation weak, suppressed by Tianyuan. White Jade Capital deters excess, but... My King, some dead-end Nascent old monsters may break rules for breakthrough.”

  “Minister from secret realm: Tianyuan second-rate ‘South Dou Mountain’ Nascent Supreme Elder leads team to Great Xuan. My King... dangerous.”

  Mo Ju serious.

  Dantai Xuan’s smile faded; eyes sharp.

  Waved confidently.

  “Borrow Imperial Dragon Qi to break shackles?”

  “They don’t understand Imperial Dragon Qi, Human Emperor Path...”

  “Come—empty-handed return.”

  Dantai Xuan calm.

  Mo Ju frowned—not worried that, but Supreme Elder rule-breaking for breakthrough.

  “Haha, Ju, happy news: Old Mo messaged—Brother Jiang agreed to emerge, en route.”

  Dantai Xuan joyful.

  Jiang Li retired; Dantai Xuan lamented long—now return, delighted.

  Mo Ju nodded—unsurprised.

  “General Jiang emerge—as expected. World storms, Five Phoenixes weak, chaos comes—no one untouched. Good.”

  “My King, ‘South Dou Mountain’—prepare worst.”

  Mo Ju inhaled.

  But mid-talk...

  A Xuanwu Guard rushed gravely.

  “My King!”

  Respectfully handed letter.

  “Below Tai Ridge, top cultivators lead arrival—they say Dragon Gates to the capable; divide cultivation slots!”

  Guard urgent.

  Words changed Mo Ju’s expression.

  Didn’t expect such speed.

  “My King, they... came.”

  Mo Ju solemn.

  Hearing demand for Dragon Gate slots...

  Dantai Xuan’s smile... gradually vanished.