After Xu Zimoâs gaze swept across the crowd, it fell upon the rulers of the major imperial lineages.
He chuckled lightly. âNow then, how should I deal with you?â
âSince we have done wrong, we are willing to accept punishment,â Heavenly Phoenix Empress stepped forward first and spoke.
âLook at you lot, none of you has the courage of a single woman,â Xu Zimo shook his head. âAnd yet you shout about eradicating demons and defending the Grand Dao, wanting to save the world? I think when true calamity comes, youâll be the first to run faster than anyone else.â
Hearing this, everyone lowered their heads in shame, but no one dared to refute him.
âI have only one question,â Xu Zimo said.
âWas it really so-called ancestors sending dreams, or descending doubts, that made you unite to kill me?â
âIn our Ancient Phoenix Empire, it was an edict left behind by our ancestor, the Phoenix Emperor,â Heavenly Phoenix Empress replied.
âIn our Great Qian Dynasty as well,â others answered one after another.
Xu Zimo looked at these people. For the most part, it was indeed their ancestorsâ decrees. They didnât seem to be lying.
âIn truth, not all factions targeted you,â Grandblade Ancestor cautiously said.
âAt least from what I know, in the thirty-six empires of the Northern Continent, only some had such intentions. Most kingdoms actually didnât care about this matter.â
âOur Southern Continent was the same,â another person added.
There were countless imperial lineages on the Primordial Heartlands, but this incident involved only a portion of them.
Of course, even a portion still numbered in the dozens, an astonishing force.
As for why these Grand Emperors did this, Xu Zimo couldnât know for now.
He could only wait until he went to the Outer Heavens, where they would naturally meet, and then he could ask.
âYou may leave,â Xu Zimo waved his hand at the crowd.
âLet us go?â They were all stunned at his words, almost unable to believe it.
âYes, Iâll let you leave,â Xu Zimo nodded. âAs for the consequences of this incident, how you atone will be up to you. Iâll give you seven days. After that, bear the consequences yourselves.â
Xu Zimoâs meaning was simple: how to apologize, he wouldnât dictate. They could decide themselves.
He had given them a chance. If after seven days their form of apology didnât satisfy him, then the consequences went without saying.
Hearing this, they knew it wouldnât end so easily.
A massive bleeding of resources was inevitable, but to what degree, they would have to discuss among themselves.
There was only one requirement: Xu Zimo had to be satisfied.
âHonored one, in seven days we will definitely give you a satisfactory answer,â Heavenly Phoenix Empress replied seriously.
Then she left with the Ancient Phoenix Empireâs people.
Other factions began to leave one after another as well.
As for the rogue cultivators who had come to participate, Xu Zimo turned to the Dark Primordial Race, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
He spoke a single word: âKill.â
The meaning was clear.
These rogues could not be spared. There had to be a bloody price so that some would learn fear.
This was also a warning to the imperial lineages.
A precedent, their corpses still hung in the ruins of Baili City.
Rogue cultivators were different from the imperial lineages. The sects could not run. Their roots were fixed in place.
A sect with millions of years of history could not just abandon everything.
But once rogues were let go, with the vastness of the Primordial Heartlands, they could easily disappear.
Moreover, the imperial lineages acted on the decrees of their ancestors to kill him.
What were these rogues doing it for?
To grab a share of spoils? To join the commotion?
From every angle, rogues could neither offer meaningful compensation nor be controlled. They were the perfect example to make with killing.
At Death God Qinâs command, the Dark Primordial Race charged down.
The slaughter began, but Xu Zimoâs eyes remained indifferent.
Death God Qin and the God Emperor descended from the sky.
âLong time no see,â Xu Zimo smiled.
âThough you helped me in this battle, it also benefits you. Your Divine Gate, and your Dark Primordial Race too, can both re-emerge into the light.â
âYes, at least in your era, no one dares to provoke us,â Death God Qin sighed.
âAs for the future, that is not for us to worry about. Later generations will have their own fate.â
âGod Emperor, how much longer can you stay?â Xu Zimo asked.
A Grand Emperorâs time in the Primordial Heartlands was limited. Once that time was up, they would be forcibly repelled and required to ascend.
Before, the God Emperorâs destiny had been broken, so he wasnât affected.
But now that he had revealed himself, he would surely attract the attention of the Dao.
âDonât worry, I can last until you bear the Heavenâs Will,â the God Emperor smiled.
Xu Zimo looked up at the horizon. The Heavenâs Will had already condensed to about ninety percent. He murmured, âSoon. Very soon.â
âBy the way, help me deliver a message to the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground,â Xu Zimo said.
âIn this incident, apart from the Baili Imperial Clan, they were the ones who jumped the most. Tell them to bring me the corpse of Lu Changhen as apology. Otherwise, I will personally descend upon their Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground. Letâs see for myself this so-called number one power of the Overlord Region.â
âThe people of the Immortal Extinction Sacred Ground are prideful. They likely wonât agree,â Death God Qin said with a smile.
âWith five emperors in one lineage, they have the capital for arrogance,â the God Emperor snorted.
âBut it depends on who they are facing. The era has changed. This is not their era. Even if emperors descend, theyâll have to obediently watch.â
Death God Qin nodded slightly, indicating he would deliver the message.
At that moment, Lin Ruhuo approached, directing a few Divine Gate members who were pressing forward a middle-aged man.
Xu Zimo looked carefully. The manâs hair was disheveled, at first, he didnât even recognize him.
It was none other than the Baili Imperial Clanâs patriarch, Baili Chengfeng.
âBrother Zimo, during the battle just now, the Baili Imperial Clanâs several old ancestors have already fallen,â Lin Ruhuo laughed heartily.
âOnly this old thing, hiding off to the side pretending to be dead, I found him.â
âHahaha... Patriarch Baili acting like this, it doesnât match your reputation,â Xu Zimo shook his head in disappointment.
âEarlier, on the arena stage, I saw you high-spirited, talking about eradicating demons, defending the Dao, and bringing light to the world.â
âYoung master, Xiaoâer has already died at your hands, and our Baili Imperial Clan has been destroyed by you. I beg you to spare me a life,â Baili Chengfeng said in embarrassment. âIâll do whatever you want.â
âThe patriarch of the Baili Imperial Clan I had in mind wasnât like this,â Xu Zimo smiled faintly. âThereâs only one explanation. On the surface, you beg me for mercy to drag out your life. But in truth, your heart is bent on revenge, isnât it?â
He laughed. âYour performance is quite good, but the hatred in your eyes canât be hidden.â
He was all too familiar with that look.
Wasnât he the same in his past life?