From beyond the heavens, Sui Zhimeng looked down. Below her was the image of a young man effortlessly wiping out his enemies as though it were nothing more than routine. She muttered to herself softly, "That brat really is something… kills people without blinking, then brazenly claims someone else's name."
Han Ming only smiled faintly, his golden eyes sweeping across the crowd before him. These were all geniuses from the Holy Land of the Immortal River. Some were even high-ranking figures who held countless secrets. But they had chosen to betray their land, and Han Ming knew full well who was behind it all Ye Lin, the favored child of the Will of Heaven.
After being captured by Wu Zhao only days earlier, Ye Lin had surrendered himself without resistance. The moment he returned, he used his status and influence to whisper lies into the ears of the Holy Land's disciples. As the Will of Heaven's chosen one, even a few persuasive words were enough to earn their blind loyalty. Truly, the Will of Heaven held immense sway. But in the end, that was just an excuse. The truth was that their hearts were simply too weak. And those who could be so easily swayed… were not worth keeping.
[Name: Ye Lin]
[Age: 20]
[Identity: 7th Ranked Direct Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Son of the Ye Clan Leader of the Black Flame Continent, Son of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Golden Core Stage 6]
[Special Physiques: Nine-Colored Heavenly Flame Body (Emperor Level), Bloodline of the Dark Dragon (Emperor Level), Heavenly Demon Body (Emperor Level)]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Loyalty: -30]
Han Ming glanced over Ye Lin's information and shook his head slightly. So this was the so-called beloved of the Will of Heaven… even after falling under Wu Zhao's control, he still remained this powerful.
He thought for a moment, then said aloud, "System, change the loyalty stat to Affinity."
The system responded promptly.[Confirmed.]
[Name: Ji Yiren]
[Age: 26]
[Identity: Peak Master of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of Destiny]
Cultivation Level: Half-Emperor Stage 3]
[Special Physique: Sword Origin Body (Emperor Level)]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: 65]
.....
[Name: Wang Fangxian]
[Age: 19]
[Identity: First Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of the Supreme Elder of the Immortal Blossom Holy Land, Daughter of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Saint Stage 1]
[Special Physique: Rainbow Venom Emperor Body (Emperor Level), ???]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: 38]
Han Ming shifted his gaze away from the system interface and looked toward the beautiful black-haired girl standing before him. She was the one Ji Yiren had sent to represent Celestial Bamboo Peak during the disciple selection ceremony. But he had never spoken to her directly before. In fact, he didn't know anyone from Celestial Bamboo Peak all that well.
[Name: Shen Yuehua]
[Age: 18]
[Identity: Second Direct Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of the Emperor Clan Leader Shen, Daughter of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Heaven's Cavern Stage 9]
[Special Physique: Pure Yin Emperor Body (Emperor Level), ???]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: 25]
.....
[Name: Mei Jingya]
[Age: 16]
[Identity: Third Direct Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Soul Fusion Stage 8]
[Special Physique: ???]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: 15]
.....
[Name: Shangguan Tingting]
[Age: 12]
[Identity: Fourth Direct Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Golden Core Stage 9]
[Special Physique: ???]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: 18]
.....
[Name: Feng'er]
[Age: 9]
[Identity: Fifth Direct Disciple of Celestial Bamboo Peak, Daughter of Destiny, ???]
[Cultivation Level: Nirvana Stage 9]
[Special Physique: Bloodline of the Holy Light Phoenix (Level ???), ???]
[Potential: 10 Stars]
[Comprehension: 10 Stars]
[Luck: ???]
[Affinity: 35]
.....
Han Ming looked at them with a flicker of amusement.
"So… which part of this is supposed to be shocking?"
The system cut in immediately as its gaze landed on Feng Er, who currently appeared in the form of a duck.
[This world is insane… even a duck can be a Daughter of Destiny?!]
While Han Ming let his thoughts wander, a faint smile curved his lips. Without warning, an overwhelming killing intent surged from his body, erupting like a storm. An aura at the level of a Great Emperor swept across the grassland without mercy.
The oppressive pressure tore through the very air. Cracks rippled across the ground with a faint shattering sound. The expressions of the core elders and ancestral figures twisted in terror. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably, paralyzed by fear. They had already witnessed Han Ming slay countless Great Emperors before, but had assumed he had been taken down by the many attacks he had suffered earlier.
Before anyone could utter a word schk! a golden beam shot from Han Ming's fingertip, piercing cleanly through their foreheads without warning.
Boom! A deafening explosion rang out. The heads of the ancestral elders burst violently, splattering blood in every direction. But instead of souls escaping from their bodies, there was… nothing. They vanished entirely from existence. Their souls could not be reborn, for the fragments of their spiritual essence had already been extracted from the Soul Hall of the Holy Land of the Immortal River beforehand.
"Wait… Han Ming!" one of the guardian elders tried to speak, but before he could finish, his head exploded into nothingness.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
One by one, the bodies burst apart with thunderous force, their remains scattering across the hall as thick black smoke engulfed the area in an instant.
Han Ming didn't spare a single glance at the mangled corpses. He conjured a blade of light in midair and with a single slash, unleashed a massive sword wave that cut through the smoke in a blink.
Clang!
The radiant energy swept away the veil of smoke, revealing a towering wall of fire encircling a group at the center the traitors from the Heaven Bamboo Peak…
Everyone else be it ancestors, guardian elders, vice elders, or countless disciples had been wiped out entirely by Han Ming. Not a trace of their souls remained to be reborn.
Han Ming stared straight at the blazing wall of fire before him, then slowly lifted his gaze toward the sky, where a beautiful woman with vibrant crimson hair hovered in midair.
[Name: Hua Jinru]
[Age: 28]
[Identity: Former mentor of Ye Lin, Daughter of Fate, former head of the Alchemy Hall under the Myriad Ocean Chamber of Commerce]
[Cultivation Level: Supreme Emperor, Level 9]
[Special Constitution: Sacred Crimson Flame Body (Emperor Rank)]
[Potential: 10 stars]
[Comprehension: 10 stars]
[Luck: Gold]
[Affinity: -10]
In that very moment, cries rang out from among the few survivors.
"Elder Han... please, calm down. I think there must have been some misunderstanding between us!"
"Master Han! You should side with us. Young Master Wu will grant you countless resources and personally escort you to the Upper Realm!"
"Yes, Han Ming! If you continue to follow Mu Nansi, she'll only hold back your future!"
"That's right! She's just a demon... you're being used, throwing your life away for her without even realizing it!"
Han Ming raised an eyebrow, his voice echoing sharply.
"So soft-tongued, aren't you? Before seeing me, all of you ran your mouths like you were peerless geniuses above the heavens, wrapped in pretty masks, flattering with every breath. But now that you're face-to-face with me, you've shown yourselves to be nothing more than trash not even worth stepping on."
Immediately, Hua Jinru was about to act and assist those below, but Han Ming's expression turned cold.
"Come down!!"
BOOMMMMMMMMM!!
Hua Jinru's body was slammed down from the sky, crashing violently into the ground without the slightest ability to resist.
In that instant… a northern wind began to howl without warning. Behind Han Ming, a faint rumble echoed in his ears as enormous shadows stretched across the sky, blotting out the sun.
Several colossal airships were slowly approaching Han Ming. The pressure in the atmosphere thickened with each passing second. The banners of the Wu Clan flew high atop the main masts.
And it wasn't just a single airship… there were dozens more trailing behind. The airships of the Wu Clan's allies began arriving one after another, filling the skies. Flags of the Holy Land of the Immortal Blossom, the Ten Thousand Seas Commerce Hall, and various other factions allied with the Wu Clan all radiated oppressive force, pressing down upon the entire sacred region.
Han Ming stood still for a moment, gazing at the scene before him, utterly unfazed. Yet at the same time… he could feel it clearly. Above the heavens, the Heavenly Tao was watching him. Not merely observing but emanating a killing intent.
That killing intent tore through the sky, rending it apart. The clouds above the sacred peaks were sliced open in a long arc, a shapeless pressure more overwhelming than that of even a Great Emperor bore down upon Han Ming's body.
Han Ming simply lifted his gaze, eyes meeting the heavens, then slowly lifted the corners of his mouth into a smirk.
"Cut the theatrics. If you're so confident, then come down here. Stop barking to cover up your own worthlessness, you pathetic clown."