After Kongjing fell, the once-clear sky suddenly grew dark with clouds, and a fine misty rain began to fall. A chill wind blew steadily across the land.
As the rain descended and the cold wind swept through, an inexplicable sorrow filled the air. Many felt a heaviness in their hearts, and so were overco with the urge to weep.
The tens of millions of cultivators who had witnessed the scene stood dumbfounded, struck as if by lightning.
Only as the sorrowful drizzle fell and the bone-chilling wind blew did they begin to awaken from their trance, as if waking from a long dream.
"Why did it suddenly start raining… and grow so cold?"
"This… this is Heaven's mourning. Our clan's ancient records state that each Emperor possesses their own Dao. When they perish, Heaven itself grieves for all beings. Rain falls, and sorrow descends."
"Yes, I once traveled across other continents and had the rare chance to witness the fall of an Imperial Realm cultivator. The signs were exactly like this."
"If that's the case, then Master Kongjing truly was in the Imperial Realm. And for Patriarch Fang to slay him with a single blow… he too must be an Emperor."
"Hsshh! Are you saying… Patriarch Fang has already beco an Emperor?!"
"No wonder he remained unfazed beneath Master Kongjing's pressure—he's also in the Imperial Realm!"
"Everyone thought Kongjing was the first Imperial Realm expert in Cangzhou since ancient tis. But clearly, Patriarch Fang must've broken through earlier—otherwise, the power gap wouldn't be so overwhelming."
"Patriarch Fang 's talent is simply divine."
"He's not just the greatest genius in Cangzhou's history—he may be the greatest in the entire Tianyuan World!"
In an instant, the entire martial arena erupted into a frenzy.
None of them had anticipated that not only was Master Kongjing an Imperial Realm powerhouse, but Fang Ting was as well—and clearly far stronger.
They had unexpectedly witnessed a clash between two Imperial Realm beings—an unimaginably rare and precious experience.
Strictly speaking, though, it wasn't a true battle. Fang Ting had slain Kongjing in a single strike—it was a one-sided slaughter.
And yet, the Fang family mbers remained calm, as if this outco had long been expected. In their eyes, the fight had ended before it even began—it was rely that the world was only now catching up.
Fang Chen sighed. "I never imagined the fall of an Imperial Realm expert would bring about such a phenonon."
Even though the Tianyuan World contained over a thousand continents, Imperial Realm experts were few and far between. The death of one was exceedingly rare—an event most would never see in their lifeti.
"This bald donkey may be the shortest-lived Emperor in all of Cangzhou," Fang Qiufeng said with a grin.
Tensions between the Buddhist sect and the Fang family had already reached the brink of open war. In such circumstances, Kongjing's death invited no sympathy—only mockery.
Fang Luo and Fang Hao's eyes burned with desire—for power. They yearned for the day when they, too, could step into the Imperial Realm.
Crown Prince Fang Kong was already thinking about how to govern the Western Region and purge all remnants of the Buddhist sect's influence.
As for Yin Xianhong, she had already departed. Having witnessed the clash and the death of an Emperor, she gained a flash of insight. At the Ninth Layer of the Saint Realm, she rushed to enter secluded cultivation, hoping that this newfound clarity might shorten her path to the Imperial Realm.
The calm composure of the Fang family only confird one thing to the outside world: Fang Ting had already beco an Emperor long ago, and his clan had known it all along. They had always placed absolute confidence in him.
Fang Ting's instant slaying of Kongjing defied all expectations.
As the saying goes, so rejoice while others grieve.
The Buddhist sect now stood in collective disbelief.
They had assud that Kongjing, as a pseudo-Emperor, would easily triumph. None had imagined that Fang Ting was also in the Imperial Realm—and vastly stronger.
Just monts ago, they had still been fantasizing about their impending victory. And in the blink of an eye—they had lost.
The disparity was too great. It felt like falling from the heavens into the abyss of the underworld. The psychological shock left them stunned and hollow.
They stood frozen, like lost souls.
And it wasn't just the defeat they couldn't accept—it was the price they now had to pay.
According to the wager, with the Buddhist sect's loss:
All monks above the Dharma Aspect Realm must leave Cangzhou—forever forbidden to return.
All monks below that realm must secularize and return to lay life.
All cultivation thods, legacies, and resources must be surrendered.
The price was staggering.
Even if they retained so survivors, the loss of core legacies and vital resources ant that starting over elsewhere would be almost impossible. Their future was bleak.
Fang Ting lowered his gaze toward the Buddhist monks.
"You have three days. Fulfill the agreent—or die."
His voice wasn't loud—but to the monks, it was like thunder from the heavens, blasting through their souls.
They recoiled in terror, their very spirits shuddering.
Several of the senior monks could no longer hold back their rising blood and qi.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft!!"
Blood sprayed from their mouths.
The Buddhist sect had ruled the Western Region for over a hundred thousand years. Their strength far surpassed the other three regions. They had dread of spreading Buddhism across all of Cangzhou and establishing a Buddhist nation.
And now, they faced utter ruin.
Unable to accept the reality, they vomited blood. Their spirits and soul essence suffered heavy damage. They aged before everyone's eyes—and so even had their lifespans shortened.
Had the Fang family lost, the price they would've paid would have been just as devastating. This had always been a fight to the death.
Fang Ting's sparing of their lives was already a rcy.
So he showed no sympathy. With a cold glance, he turned and walked away.
The Buddhist sect's people all hung their heads, like mourners at a funeral, and quietly departed.
Only now did the crowd rember the monuntal wager between the two factions—and they sighed in astonishnt.
"That bet… was too much. From now on, there will be no Buddhist sect in Cangzhou."
"Yeah—and worse, they have to surrender all their legacies. That's a total severing of their chance to rise again."
"No need to pity them. They simply weren't strong enough."
"This battle, while not involving as many beings as the ancient Buddhist-Demon war or the chaotic conflicts between humans and beasts, has an even greater impact."
"Yes—after this battle, Cangzhou belongs wholly to the Fang family."
"With the potential of their scions, the Grand Qian Dynasty may one day ascend to beco an Imperial Court—the twenty-first hegemonic power of the Tianyuan World!"
Across the thousand continents of the Tianyuan World, only twenty forces were ranked as hegemonic powers.
Among them were:
The divine beast clans who claid descent from immortals.
Immortal sects that had endured since the Desolate Age.
Archaic families with unfathomable heritage.
And Imperial Courts that ruled vast swathes of territory.
To beco an Imperial Court, the bare minimum requirent was dominion over an entire continent—along with many other formidable qualifications.
Though the Grand Qian Dynasty still had a long journey ahead, it had already taken its first thunderous step.
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