Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 135 The Immortal Sects Bow Down, Imperial Power Is Unsheathed

Chen Xuanqing's face, contorted with anger and humiliation, froze completely upon hearing the words, "This world belongs to the Xiao family!"

It wasn't that he had never seen royalty before, nor that he had never experienced the majesty of the imperial court.

But in the past, those so-called imperial relatives and high-ranking officials were all very polite and courteous to these Golden Core sect masters.
Who has ever dared to so blatantly throw the word "imperial power" in his face?
This is no longer just a humiliation.

This is a declaration of an order that the immortal sects have forgotten for far too long.
Within the territory of the Great Li Dynasty, imperial power surpasses that of the immortal sects!
Xiao Beichen ignored the Qinglan Sect Master, who was already disheartened, and turned his gaze to Meng Xihong.

The coldness that kept people at arm's length dissipated somewhat, replaced by a complex gaze that mixed scrutiny and approval.

"Your name is Meng Xihong?"

"Yes." Meng Xihong replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, his mind racing.

The intentions of this Prince of Zhenbei are unclear; whether he is a friend or an enemy remains uncertain.

"Your idea that 'everyone can reach the heavens' is quite interesting." Xiao Beichen strolled to the edge of the platform, his gaze sweeping over the tens of thousands of burning eyes below. The immense power of will that was gathered from mortals was pure and vast, and even he felt a slight unease.

"I wish to visit your Tianyan Sect with my own eyes."

He stared at Meng Xihong, speaking slowly and deliberately.

"Let's see if your little spark can really start a conflagration."

Upon hearing this, Yun Songzi, who was standing next to Meng Xihong, frowned almost imperceptibly.

Meng Xihong's heart sank.

This is a test, but more importantly, it's a probe.

Refusing is seen as a sign of guilt, and everything done before could be interpreted as "harboring malicious intentions," thus incurring wrath.

To agree means to expose one's sect and some of its secrets to the imperial court without reservation.

The Tianyan Sect finally managed to escape from being a pawn, but is it about to become a pawn on an even bigger chessboard in the blink of an eye?
Meng Xihong was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

“If Your Highness wishes to see, then of course you may.” He met Xiao Beichen’s gaze frankly. “Our Tianyan Sect acts with integrity and uprightness; there is nothing to hide. However…”

He changed the subject.

"Before going to the sect, I have a question I would like to ask Your Highness."

"Speak," Xiao Beichen said with great interest.

"What makes you think that a single imperial edict can make a Golden Core sect leader submit and willingly become cannon fodder in the Northern Territory?" Meng Xihong asked, voicing the doubts in the minds of most people present.

"Imperial edicts are dead, but people are alive. Chen Xuanqing can simply comply while disobeying, or even resort to desperate measures. I don't believe he has any integrity whatsoever when it comes to cultivators who wantonly slaughter mortals."

This is an extremely bold question, and even somewhat offensive.

The low-ranking sect leaders on the ship, as well as the tens of thousands of mortals, all pricked up their ears and even held their breath.

They also wanted to know why!
Upon hearing this, Xiao Beichen not only did not get angry, but laughed instead, his laughter carrying a hint of arrogance.

"Good question. It seems you're not just a reckless fool who only knows how to bury himself in cultivation."

He stretched out his hand, not pointing to the ethereal sky, nor to the earth beneath his feet, but rather pointing towards the tens of thousands of mortals on the shore of the Yunmeng Marsh.

"You immortal cultivators cultivate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, seeking personal transcendence. But my Great Li Dynasty cultivates the human destiny of these hundreds of millions of people!"

"What is the destiny of humanity?" Xiao Beichen's voice became powerful and resonant, like the clash of metal and stone. "It is the yearning of the people for a full meal during famine; it is the people's expectation for peace during war; it is the belief of every commoner to live and thrive in peace!" "This power is invisible and intangible, yet it truly exists! It gathers the destiny of the nation, transforms into a true dragon, and protects my Xiao imperial family."

"My elder brother, the Emperor, is the one who holds the destiny of the Great Li Dynasty in his hands!"

His words became law, bestowing titles upon mountains and rivers; a single word could determine the rise and fall of the spiritual veins of mountains and rivers; a single phrase could sever the foundation of a sect's blessed land!
And this 'Heavenly Edict' is the key to mobilizing this power!

Looking at the shocked Meng Xihong, he continued, "Why doesn't Chen Xuanqing dare to resist? His Qinglan Sect has been based in Qingzhou for hundreds of years. Its mountain gate, blessed land, and spiritual vein foundation are all under the protection of the Great Li Dynasty."

He himself was also granted an imperial title and enjoyed a position of worship, drawing nourishment from the nation's fortune to make elixirs.

This 'Imperial Edict' can reclaim what the dynasty bestowed, severing its connection with the fate of the nation.

And that 'Seal of the Northern Garrison' can trigger the accumulated karma he has accumulated from slaughtering mortals!
This mark is not merely to imprison the soul, but rather to ignite all his past sins by using the dynasty's humanistic destiny as a catalyst.

Once he harbors rebellious thoughts, karmic fire will burn his foundation of cultivation from within, scorching his soul until his soul is completely annihilated!
This was a judgment by royal power, a backlash from the tides of humanity, and the retribution for his own karma!

On another ship, an elderly sect leader with white hair and beard suddenly trembled, his teacup slipped from his hand and shattered, and he murmured in a trembling voice, "The ancestral master's last words, 'Immortals do not contend with the people, nor fight with the nation'... So... so it was true! We actually took our ancestor's words of protection as mere whispers in the wind!"

His disciples all looked ashen-faced.

For the first time in so many years, they truly felt the terrifying power hidden behind that seemingly weak dynasty.

“Therefore,” Xiao Beichen’s gaze swept over all the ships, “your immortal sects can be high above and aloof, and can remain detached from worldly affairs. But the premise is that you do not cross the bottom line of the dynasty, and even more so, do not shake the foundation of this human destiny.”

"Now, do you understand?" Xiao Beichen asked with a smile.

"Junior, I have learned a great deal." Meng Xihong bowed deeply, his heartfelt admiration evident in the gesture.

He knew that his previous perspective was too narrow.

This world is far more complex and more interesting than he imagined!
"Now that you understand, lead the way." Xiao Beichen flipped onto the Cloud-Stepping Lin and gestured for him to proceed.

"Senior Yun Songzi, I'd like to entrust the rest of the matter to you," Meng Xihong transmitted his voice to Yun Songzi.

Xiao Beichen's gaze shifted slightly, landing on Yun Songzi. His expression softened, and he said in a deep voice, "Thank you for your trouble, senior."

Yun Songzi pouted and replied irritably, "Get lost! Am I here to clean up your mess? You better remember this, you owe me."

When I get back, I must add another five thousand books to my Haoran Hall collection!
Rare and unique copies will be given priority! If you lose even one copy, this old Daoist will tear down the roof beams of your Tianyan Sect and use them as firewood!

Meng Xihong chuckled and then said to Xiao Beichen, "Your Highness, please come with me."

"I've heard that your Tianyan Sect's Path of Inquiry is quite profound. I'd like to try it myself, so let's enter through the main gate," Xiao Beichen added.

After saying that, a beam of azure light rose from beneath Meng Xihong's feet, soaring into the sky and flying towards the direction of the Yunmeng Great Marsh Valley.

Xiao Beichen smiled slightly, riding the Cloud-Stepping Qilin, transforming into a streak of light, and following behind him at a leisurely pace.

All that remained were a group of cultivators on the Yunmeng Great Swamp, looking at each other with different thoughts, and the Qinglan Sect's ship, carrying despair and resentment, slowly turning its bow.

A deadly plot originally aimed at the Tianyan Sect ended in such a dramatic way.

But everyone knows that this is just the beginning.

When the sword of imperial power, hanging over the heads of the immortal sects, is drawn for the first time and draws blood, the entire landscape of Qingzhou, and even the future of all immortal sects in the world, will be changed.

(End of this chapter)