Your Majesty, It's Time to Retreat

Wang Hao raised his right hand.

Heaven-Prisoning Earth-Overturning Palm!

First Palm!

Boom!

The energy of heaven and earth suddenly sank.

The underground chamber seemed to be gripped by an invisible giant hand.

The black palm imprint slowed ever so slightly.

Second Palm!

The surrounding energy surged like a tide, rushing upward against the current.

Third Palm!

Illusory images of mountains and rivers emerged.

Fourth Palm!

The auction hall's floor split apart, and countless formation patterns were forcibly shattered.

Fifth Palm!

Behind Wang Hao, the faint shadows of the Great Xia people praying appeared.

An old farmer looked up.

A soldier gripped his blade.

A child raised a wooden sword.

A woman knelt before a lamp, praying for her emperor's safety.

The power of their wishes flowed like a golden river of stars, winding around Wang Hao's body.

Everyone was shaken to the core.

This was no ordinary imperial aura.

This was the people's will.

A protective divine ability formed from the wishes of the masses themselves.

A Yellow Springs Martial God muttered, “How can such a tyrant possess such overwhelming power of the people's wishes?”

Beside him, Elder Taiyin instinctively replied, “Could it be that, in the eyes of the common people, he isn't a tyrant?”

The Yellow Springs Martial God fell silent.

Those words made everyone extremely uncomfortable.

Sixth Palm!

The veins on Wang Hao's arm bulged as he pushed his Martial God, Second Layer cultivation to its absolute limit.

The black palm imprint conjured by Old Man Heitian was forcibly held back.

Seventh Palm!

Boom!

The two forces collided, and a crack stretching a thousand zhang appeared beneath Heitian City.

Countless martial artists were sent flying.

Zi Yuan vomited blood on the spot.

Old Man Heitian's phantom wavered, and for the first time, shock appeared in his eyes.

“A Second-Layer Martial God can actually block one of this old man's attacks?”

Wang Hao grinned.

“It isn't over yet.”

Eighth Palm!

As this palm descended, it seemed as though the heavens themselves were turning upside down.

A crack split across the black palm imprint.

Wang Hao's blood and qi churned violently, and a thread of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Yet his eyes shone even brighter.

His hot blood was burning.

His battle intent was roaring.

He was calculating.

He was shameless.

His mind was more devious than a sieve was full of holes.

But that didn't mean he couldn't fight.

On the contrary—

Wang Hao was very good at fighting.

It was only that whenever he could scheme his way out of something, he couldn't be bothered to throw a punch.

Ninth Palm!

The final palm of the Heaven-Prisoning Earth-Overturning Palm struck forth.

Nine palms in succession—heaven and earth were imprisoned!

Rumble!

The black palm imprint shattered completely.

Terrifying shockwaves swept in every direction.

Old Man Heitian's phantom was forced half a step backward.

It was only half a step.

Yet the entire scene fell deathly silent.

A Second-Layer Martial God had forcefully clashed with an attack from a Half-Step Transcendent.

Although the latter had attacked through a distant phantom,

although the latter's condition was half-decayed and half-alive,

this was still enough to shake the entire Dark Lands.

Wang Hao stood before the shattered stone chamber. His robes were stained with blood, but his back remained straight as a spear.

He raised a hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

“Half-Step Transcendent.”

“You're nothing special.”

Those words were far too arrogant.

So arrogant that everyone's scalp went numb.

Old Man Heitian laughed out of extreme fury.

“Good.”

“Very good.”

“Today, this old man will personally emerge from his coffin and see how many more palms you can withstand.”

The bronze coffin on the ninth level opened with a thunderous boom.

An even more terrifying aura awakened.

All of Heitian City began to tremble.

Countless cultivators in the city looked up in terror.

They saw dark clouds circling above the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, forming a gigantic vortex.

It was as though a demonic god that had slept for countless years was crawling out of its coffin.

The Demon Lord's expression darkened.

“Wang Hao, he's going to attack with his true body.”

Wang Hao nodded.

“I know.”

Yin Jiuyou hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, we must retreat!”

But Wang Hao merely looked toward the auction platform.

There, the remnant map of the Nine Provinces' dragon veins was still suspended in midair.

Although the various factions were shocked by Wang Hao's identity, their eyes were still drawn irresistibly toward the remnant map.

That item was far too important.

It was so important that even Wang Hao's appearance could not make them ignore it.

Wang Hao suddenly smiled.

He raised his hand and summoned the Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda.

The ancient pagoda hung in the air, its lightning patterns glowing brightly.

The doors of the pagoda opened one level at a time.

One level.

Two levels.

Three levels.

Until the eighth level.

A thunder phoenix cried out, illuminating the darkness.

Everyone assumed he was about to attack Old Man Heitian.

But Wang Hao abruptly turned the pagoda around.

“Go.”

The thunder phoenix did not pounce toward Old Man Heitian.

Instead, it flew toward the remnant map of the Nine Provinces' dragon veins at the center of the auction platform.

Old Man Heitian's expression changed dramatically.

“Stop!”

The people from the sacred grounds and demonic sects also cried out in shock and anger.

“Don't!”

Wang Hao smiled.

“I hate it most when people tell me something is forbidden.”

Boom!

The thunder phoenix collided with the remnant map of the dragon veins.

Of course, Wang Hao had no intention of destroying it.

The thing was far too valuable.

It would be a waste to ruin it.

The thunder phoenix merely shattered the seals surrounding the remnant map.

In the next instant, the map erupted with ten thousand zhang of golden light.

A vast aura of dragon veins shot into the sky, piercing straight through the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, through Heitian City's grand formation, through the dark clouds, and illuminating the entire Dark Lands.

High above the heavens, the faint images of nine golden dragons circled in the air.

Their roars shook the Eight Wastelands.

At that moment, every powerful figure in the Dark Lands opened their eyes.

Deep within the twelve sacred grounds of the Central Continent, ancient halls trembled one after another.

Within the nine great demonic sects of the Land of Sin, one ancient monster after another awoke from slumber.

The remnant map of the Nine Provinces' dragon veins had appeared.

Heitian City had been hiding a forbidden treasure.

The sacred grounds and demonic sects had gathered at the auction house.

This was exactly the effect Wang Hao wanted.

An explanation?

An investigation?

Calm deliberation?

From this moment on, none of it mattered anymore.

Because everyone had witnessed the aura of the dragon veins soaring into the sky from Heitian City.

And within Heitian City, the sacred grounds and demonic sects were engaged in a bloody battle.

Wang Hao turned around, his voice rolling out like thunder.

“Everyone.”

“Heitian City has colluded with unknown forces and secretly concealed the remnant map of the Nine Provinces' dragon veins, intending to throw the foundation of our world into chaos.”

“As the Emperor of Great Xia, I shall uphold justice on behalf of Heaven today.”

“Who agrees?”

“Who objects?”

The entire scene fell silent.

Not because they agreed with him.

But because his words were simply too shameless.

You were the one who had incited this chaos, and now you were standing up to uphold justice on behalf of Heaven?

Yet the remnant map of the dragon veins was real.

Heitian City's sealed-off auction house was real as well.

Old Man Heitian had truly attempted to silence everyone by killing them.

When these truths were pieced together, Wang Hao's shameless declaration somehow gained a trace of justification.

Elder Taiyin's eyes flickered.

The Yellow Springs Martial God remained silent.

The Sword Ruins Martial God tightened his grip on his sword.

Ghostly flames danced in the eyes of the White Bone Martial God.

They all understood.

There was no longer any way to peacefully resolve what had happened today.

Now that the remnant map of the dragon veins had appeared, whoever retreated first might be branded as an accomplice of Heitian City.

Whoever seized it first might obtain an opportunity of unimaginable magnitude.

Old Man Heitian finally emerged from the ninth level.

Half of his body was covered in flesh, while the other half was black bone. In his hand, he held a black wooden staff.

With every step he took, ripples spread through the void.

He glared at Wang Hao.

“You destroyed the centuries-old foundation of Heitian City.”

Wang Hao shook his head.

“It wasn't destroyed by me.”

“It was because your Heitian City refused to repay its debts.”

Old Man Heitian was so furious that he began to laugh instead.

“This old man has lived for eight hundred years.”

“I have never seen anyone as shameless as you.”

Wang Hao was very modest.

“Old man, your experience is simply lacking. Don't blame yourself.”

Old Man Heitian raised his black wooden staff.

“Die!”

Boom!

A Half-Step Transcendent attacked with his true body.

As the staff descended, the darkness transformed into a raging torrent that surged toward Wang Hao, crushing everything in its path.

The Demon Lord finally made his move.

He stepped forward, and the aura of a Martial God at the peak erupted from him.

Demonic energy spread out like an abyss, standing between Wang Hao and the incoming attack.

“Old bastard, your opponent is me.”

Old Man Heitian sneered.

“A peak Martial God dares to stop me?”

Black flames burned in the Demon Lord's eyes.

“If I were at my peak, killing you would be no harder than slaughtering a dog.”

Old Man Heitian's gaze sharpened.

“You are not an ordinary Martial God of this world.”

The Demon Lord did not answer.

He threw a punch.

A great sun of demonic energy rose into the sky.

The dark torrent collided with the demonic sun, and the upper half of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion exploded in an instant.

Countless stones flew into the sky, only to be ground into dust by the golden light of the dragon veins.

Wang Hao looked toward Yin Jiuyou.

“Start collecting the balance.”

Yin Jiuyou froze.

“Now?”

“Now is when things are most chaotic.”

Wang Hao said it as though it were only natural.

“That makes it the perfect time.”

Yin Jiuyou drew a deep breath.

“This subject understands.”

He blurred into motion, leading the Shadow Guards toward the Myriad Treasures Pavilion’s treasury.

Xue Wuhen followed.

Han Shanyue followed as well.

The New Emperor Sword had originally wanted to watch the fighting.

Wang Hao looked at it.

“There’s sinister iron in the treasury.”

The New Emperor Sword vanished instantly.

“Master, I’ll scout ahead!”

Wang Hao nodded in satisfaction.

Just as expected.

When dealing with a glutton, there was no need to make empty promises.

All he had to do was mention food.

As for Wang Hao himself, he raised a hand and reached for the remnant map of the Nine Provinces’ dragon vein.

That single movement caused every Martial God present to change expression.

Elder Taiyin shouted angrily, “Wang Hao, the remnant map of the dragon vein isn’t something you can monopolize!”

The Yellow Springs Martial God also spoke in a sinister tone. “Emperor of Great Xia, leave the map behind!”

The Sword Ruins Martial God took a step forward.

“This object concerns the fate of the world. It must not fall into the hands of one person.”

The White Bone Martial God sneered.

“Why dress it up so nicely? Don’t you all just want to snatch it?”

Wang Hao looked at them, his smile bright.

“At last, you’ve gotten to the point.”

“If you want to take it, come and try.”

He reached for the remnant map with one hand.

With the other, he grasped a sword shadow left behind by the New Emperor Sword.

The Nine Heaven-Opening Swords.

First Sword.

Mountain-Splitting!

The sword light poured down like a heavenly river turned upside down, crashing toward the ground.

A Yellow Springs Martial God who had charged to the front paled and hurriedly summoned a soul shield.

Boom!

The soul shield exploded.

The Yellow Springs Martial God was sent flying, a wound deep enough to expose bone appearing across his chest.

With the cultivation of a second-level Martial God, Wang Hao had forcibly driven back a fourth-level Martial God.

The entire scene was shaken.

But that was not the end.

Wang Hao stepped through the void, his imperial robes billowing in the wind.

The Nine Heaven-Opening Swords’ second sword.

River-Severing!

The sword light swept across the battlefield, cleaving a gap through the Taiyin Cold Moon.

The Nine Heaven-Opening Swords’ third sword.

Earth-Rending!

The entire auction ground cracked apart, and the White Bone Corpse Puppets were shaken until they staggered about.

Wang Hao snatched at the map while fighting a whole group of opponents at once.

He had no intention of becoming entangled in battle.

Yet every sword he struck was domineering to the extreme.

Like an emperor wielding his blade, scattering ten thousand troops before him.

At last, everyone understood.

Wang Hao was not merely reliant on schemes.

The reason his schemes were so terrifying was that even after those schemes were exposed, he could still draw his sword and cut people down.

That was what made him truly unreasonable.

Outside Blackheaven City.

The golden light of the dragon vein grew brighter and brighter.

In the distant sky, terrifying auras were already crossing the void toward them.

The true powerhouses of the sacred grounds and demonic sects had been alarmed.

Wang Hao seized one corner of the remnant map.

Another corner was entangled in the Sword Ruins Martial God’s sword qi.

A third corner was held fast by the White Bone Martial God’s corpse aura.

The fourth corner had been frozen by Taiyin cold energy.

The Yellow Springs’ soul mist wound its way over as well.

Five factions fought over the map.

The remnant map trembled violently.

Wang Hao’s gaze turned cold.

“You dare fight me for my possession?”

The Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppression Pagoda in his palm trembled once more.

This time, the gate to the ninth level of the pagoda opened.

Purple lightning surged out.

A purple thunder dragon poked its head from within the pagoda.

Although this full-force strike from the ninth realm could now only be used twice more, Wang Hao did not feel the slightest bit of heartache.

Money was nothing more than a bastard.

Once it was spent, he could earn more.

Treasures were different.

If he waited too long to seize them, they would become someone else’s.

“Get lost!”

The purple thunder dragon roared as it burst forth.

Boom!

The lightning exploded.

Sword qi, corpse aura, cold energy, and soul mist were all blasted apart.

The Martial Gods of every faction were forced back at the same time.

Wang Hao seized the remnant map of the dragon vein and stuffed it into his storage space.

The entire scene fell silent for a single breath.

Then everyone’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Wang Hao threw his head back and laughed.

“Blackheaven City has been hiding forbidden items. You have all witnessed it with your own eyes.”

“This map will be held in safekeeping by Me for the time being.”

“If anyone has an objection…”

He raised his hand and pointed toward the direction where the Old Man Heitian and the Demon Lord were fighting.

“Take down Blackheaven City first, then we’ll talk.”

Everyone’s hearts trembled.

That was right.

The remnant map of the dragon vein was gone.

But Blackheaven City was still there.

The treasury of Blackheaven City was still there.

The Old Man Heitian was still alive.

And the Myriad Treasures Pavilion still owed everyone countless explanations.

The sacred grounds and demonic sects exchanged glances.

In the next instant, they almost simultaneously reached the same decision.

Take down Blackheaven City first.

Then seize Wang Hao.

Blackheaven City had finally gone from being a neutral black market to becoming everyone’s prey.

And that was precisely what Wang Hao had wanted.