On this day, the Beimang Mountain Range trembled. The Azure Cloud Sect, the number one righteous sect of the Great Zhou Dynasty, was completely wiped off the map of Great Zhou within half an hour. The main peak collapsed, their lineage was severed, and the blood of thousands of disciples flowed like a river, leaving no survivors.
The news, like a category ten hurricane with wings, swept frantically across the entire territory of Great Zhou at an inconceivable speed.
Those hidden sects and martial arts aristocratic families—who were usually aloof, feigned compliance with the Great Zhou imperial court, and even secretly accumulated power to grab a piece of the pie in troubled times—all fell into a deathly silence upon receiving this top-secret intelligence.
In an ancient temple deep in the mountains, a Demonic Cult Master who had just broken through to the Eighth Realm of Martial Arts and was preparing to leave the mountain to realize his grand ambitions, was so frightened after hearing his subordinate's report that the teacup in his hand smashed to pieces. The arrogance on his face vanished instantly as he roared at his subordinate, "Pass down my orders! Seal the mountain! Completely seal the mountain for a hundred years! If anyone dares to step half a foot outside the mountain gate, I will personally skin them alive! Also, immediately send someone to the capital to deliver half of the rare treasures in our cult's treasury to the current Emperor. Say it is a small token of our cult's appreciation, and wish His Majesty a long and prosperous life!"
Similar scenes played out continuously across the mountain gates of all the major factions in the world.
The iron-blooded fangs displayed by the Great Zhou imperial family, capable of tearing heaven and earth apart, completely silenced all the ambitious schemers who tried to fish in troubled waters and thought imperial power was waning. Those notorious bandits who had been running rampant in the martial world and had been wanted by the imperial court for over a decade were so terrified upon hearing the news that they tied themselves up overnight and voluntarily surrendered to the local magistrate, terrified that a moment's delay would bring upon them the imperial ancestors' sect-extermination package.
For a time, the entire martial world of Great Zhou was surprisingly quiet, as well-behaved as docile sheep.
At this moment, all factions were ruthlessly pinned to the ground, forced to recognize a cruel reality: as long as the old monsters of the imperial family lived for another day, the world of Great Zhou still belonged to the Wang family! For anyone who dared to challenge the imperial power, the ruins of the Azure Cloud Sect would be their ultimate fate!
The capital, the residence of Zhang Wuji, the Second Minister of the Cabinet.
When the top-secret intelligence of the Azure Cloud Sect being razed to the ground by the imperial ancestors was delivered to Zhang Wuji's study, this leader of the aristocratic families, who usually remained unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, trembled. The secret letter fluttered lightly to the ground.
"It's over..." Zhang Wuji's legs gave out, and he collapsed directly into his armchair, looking as if he had aged ten years in an instant.
He had originally thought that Wang Hao going to the imperial tomb was just a bluff, or at most, he would invite one or two ancestors to intimidate the court. Who could have imagined that this little tyrant would actually cry out all the royal ancestors at once, and their first move would be a thunderous, sect-exterminating strike!
"Skysoaring Realm... A full five Skysoaring Realm mighty figures! And led personally by Emperor Wuzong of Zhou!" Zhang Wuji only felt his throat go dry. With the imperial family possessing such terrifying foundations, how could their aristocratic families even compete? Any overt or covert political schemes appeared pale and laughable in the face of absolute martial power.
...
Meanwhile, the patriarchs of the twelve great aristocratic families of Great Zhou could no longer sit still. They rode the fastest flying beasts overnight, secretly arriving in the capital to gather in Zhang Wuji's secret chamber.
In the Cabinet duty room, the Chief Minister Zhuge Huaijin was first shocked, then overjoyed after hearing the news.
Zhuge Huaijin was so excited that he paced back and forth in the duty room. "With such a terrifying imperial foundation as backing, who would dare to obstruct the new policies of Great Zhou? This Taxation Bureau, this commercial tax, I am definitely pushing them through! Let me see which aristocratic family still dares to trip us up from behind!"
Zhuge Huaijin's back instantly straightened. He immediately summoned the officials from humble backgrounds, preparing to ride this wind and launch the fiercest political charge against the aristocratic family forces.
Deep inside the imperial palace, in the Sweet Spring Hall, Wang Hao was lying comfortably on his dragon throne, listening to Yu Huatian's report on the world's intelligence.
Hearing that the patriarchs of the twelve aristocratic families had secretly entered the capital, Wang Hao was not only unconcerned but positively elated.
"Hahaha, good! Perfect timing!" A wise light flickered in Wang Hao's eyes.
He stood up from the dragon throne, looking at the churning sea of clouds outside the hall, and began to frantically analyze the situation in his mind. Great Zhou had been established for a thousand years. In this long span of time, had there never been a Child of Destiny like Ye Chen, who had a halo over his head and could pick up divine martial arts just by walking around?
There absolutely had been! And more than one!
But why did Great Zhou still stand tall?
"Because Great Zhou represents the Dao of Humanity!" Wang Hao deduced inwardly. "A Child of Destiny represents the Dao of Heaven, fed by the heavens. But Great Zhou, established for a thousand years, has condensed the human destiny and national fortune of billions of commoners! No matter how strong the Dao of Heaven is, can it be stronger than the will of billions of living beings in this mortal world? It might be stronger, but Great Zhou has always existed."
Wang Hao completely understood. As the Emperor of Great Zhou, he was the Human Emperor! Gathered upon the ancestors was the human destiny accumulated by successive generations of Great Zhou. When the two clashed, a thousand years of history had already proven it: Great Zhou still existed, which meant that humanity could conquer the heavens! The Dao of Heaven also had its limits, and the ancestors of Great Zhou had definitely killed their fair share of these so-called Children of Destiny in the past!
"If I hadn't transmigrated here, and that foolish tyrant of a father and the weak original owner of this body had squandered the people's support and scattered the human destiny, Ye Chen might have really been able to overthrow Great Zhou," Wang Hao sneered. "But now that I am here, the inner treasury is full, the people's hearts are gradually returning, and the national fortune is flourishing day by day. Coupled with my cheat system... Ye Chen, what do you have to fight me with?"
Thinking of the twelve aristocratic families gathering in the capital, Wang Hao's eyes instantly turned into two large gold ingots.
"These secular wealthy families control seventy percent of Great Zhou's wealth. Since you have delivered yourselves to my door, if I don't harvest you like a fresh crop of leeks, I would be doing a disservice to your long journey here!"
Wang Hao's brain worked rapidly, and an extremely massive and devious commercial harvesting plan began to take shape.
"Aren't they afraid of my martial power? Then I will give them a chance to 'buy peace with money'." Wang Hao sneered inwardly. He prepared to immediately list the remaining royal enterprises on the market.
"The limited edition red sandalwood dragon-chair sofas from the Royal Furniture Store, the Royal Liquor Industry featuring the 'National Brew 108' brewed by the Wine, Vinegar, and Noodle Bureau, the Royal Brocade Workshop presenting the 'Great Zhou Fashion' launched by the Imperial Wardrobe Directorate, the VIP annual passes for the Royal Theater under the Bell and Drum Office, and the specially supplied Royal Fruit and Vegetable Store cultivated by the Imperial Gardens Bureau..."
Wang Hao had even figured out the routine: first, spread the rumor that as long as one bought stocks in the royal enterprises, it meant they supported the Emperor's new policies and were loyal subjects of Great Zhou. Then, manipulate the stock market to drive the prices sky-high. When those twelve aristocratic families poured their real gold and silver in to show their loyalty, he would precisely cash out at the peak, delivering an ultimate, nuclear-level leek harvest!
"I not only want your power, but I will also win the very pants off your bodies!" Wang Hao smiled like a villain.
Right at this moment, the mechanical voice of the system suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! The host has successfully signed in at the Imperial Tomb, items are being distributed...]
[Ding! Intelligence updated: Because the royal family's hidden reserves struck with overwhelming force, the Twelve Noble Families are terrified and have gathered in the capital to discuss countermeasures. Grand Secretary Zhuge Huaijin's confidence has surged, and he has resolved to push the new policies forward at all costs.]
"Oh? It arrived?" Wang Hao thought, checking his system space.
He saw an item exuding an ancient and eerie aura floating quietly in the space—a Cursed Artifact: The Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda!
Wang Hao pulled up the item panel:
[Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda (Cursed Artifact Ranking: 56)]
[Appearance: A miniature nine-story black pagoda. The body of the pagoda is covered in scorch marks from lightning, and a purple lightning bead is inlaid at its peak. Faintly, the wails of thousands of lightning prisoners can be heard from within, accompanied by the muffled rumble of thunder.]
[Ability (Imprisoning Thunder as Weapons): This pagoda can actively absorb and imprison the power of lightning from heaven and earth. In battle, the pagoda doors can be opened to release the might of thunder. Floors one through nine correspond to a full-force strike from a martial artist of the first to ninth realm, respectively.]
[Side Effect: Activating this pagoda requires suppressing it with one's divine soul. As the number of uses increases, the backlash becomes extremely severe. Male users will become completely impotent, while female users will gradually become barren. Special Declaration: The system holder, Wang Hao, is exempt.]
Looking at this introduction, Wang Hao's face twitched. "This thing... how should I put it? It's a bit of a dud."
Although it could unleash a ninth-realm attack, the prerequisite was that he first had to absorb lightning of equal power to store inside! Where on earth was he supposed to find so much high-level lightning to strike it? This was clearly a seasonal artifact that depended entirely on the weather. During summer thunderstorms, he might be able to recharge it a bit, but in winter, was he supposed to use it as a heavy lump of iron to smash people over the head?
As for that side effect, Wang Hao didn't care in the slightest. He was immune anyway.
"Forget it, I'll just keep it as a decoration. It looks pretty intimidating, at least." Wang Hao casually tossed the Thunder Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda into a corner of his storage ring to gather dust.
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
