"Jiu You? Didn't Jiu You perish beneath the Heavenly Tribulation of the Great Emperor?
Ye Yun's words shocked everyone present.
Who was Jiu You? He was the last victor of the previous Emperor's Road contention. Although he failed when facing the Great Emperor's Heavenly Tribulation, no one could deny his power that suppressed the Ten Directions. Yet now, the Lord of the Ten Directions Empire on this new Emperor's Road claimed that the one who attacked was Jiu You?
Was this possible?
Countless beings were swept by a tempestuous wave of shock.
"For countless ages, life has been but a fleeting dream. Young one, take this maiden and spare my kin, would you?" a faint voice echoed throughout the scene. The endless yellow clouds in the sky dispersed, transforming into river water from the Yellow Springs. From afar, it resembled a golden ribbon draped across the heavens for ten thousand miles.
"Hmph! Jiu You, you have traversed the Emperor's Road before. You should know its rules, shouldn't you? What is the price!" Ye Yun said leisurely, ignoring the Yellow Springs River.
The Emperor's Road demanded only a forward march, with no room for compromise with subordinate forces along the journey. This was one of the reasons Ye Yun had urged Yue Xia and the others to conquer the Ninth Starfield in the shortest possible time.
For the less time they had, the less room Yue Xia and the others would have to compromise with those forces. Of course, it couldn't be denied that the desire for greater rewards was also a factor.
...
As Ye Yun's words fell, the entire secret realm fell into silence, save for the gasps of the Nether race members kneeling on the square. Ye Yun's current imposing aura was too overwhelming; they doubted if they could survive it if he unleashed his full might.
"Young friend, our Nether race has dwindled from a hundred billion to a mere eighty million, precisely because we refuse to suffer losses and never compromise. While you may have unified a cosmos with unparalleled might before the second year, that does not mean you can act with impunity within my Master's domain."
"Young friend, if you retreat now, our Nether race will unconditionally withdraw from any disputes when the Human race walks the Emperor's Road. How about it?"
Jiu You's voice was soft, his emotions undetectable. However, all races heard the concession in his words, a significant one.
Though the Nether race appeared in decline now, their numbers scarce in the cosmos, it did not mean their strength was wanting. With Jiu You still present and their vast reserves, given sufficient time, their chances of a resurgence were incredibly high.
"Little Jiu, why must you go through such trouble?" Not only Qi Ren, but all the Nether race members wore bitter expressions.
They had once been so proud, and now? If their ancestor had not appeared, they would likely have all perished under Ye Yun's earlier strike.
However...
"Jiu You, are you jesting? Do you think the Nether race will ever have the chance to tread the Emperor's Road again?" Ye Yun looked at the colossal bronze coffin and sneered.
The Emperor's Road, did he truly believe anyone had the right to walk it? Throughout history, countless beings had achieved the status of quasi-emperor, yet none had tread the Emperor's Road. There had to be reasons for this.
"What does the Nether race possess now? Aside from your lingering influence, what qualification do you have to speak of walking the Emperor's Road again?"
The cosmos harbored countless races, each with its own destiny. The Nether race had experienced its peak only once. To produce another who could tread the Emperor's Road was no easy feat. Even if they poured all their resources into cultivating Xiao Tong, one of the three great constitutions of the Ten Directions, it might not be enough for her to qualify for the Emperor's Road.
And what of the Human race?
With himself present, with the 'Heavenly Dao' present, and with the scheme Ye Yun had laid out, even if no one could initially tread the Emperor's Road, countless powerhouses would emerge! At that time, even Great Emperors would have to show respect to the Human race.
It could be said that the existence of the Heavenly Dao provided Ye Yun with an opportunity to reap benefits from all beings in the Ten Directions. Even a fraction of these benefits falling into the hands of a single player could cultivate them into a terrifying overlord. Wang Chen was an example, Zhou Ningdong was another, and the entire Dragon Palace was the same. If Ye Yun willed it and acted ruthlessly, the rise of the entire Human race could last for at least trillions of years!
How could a Human race that grew stronger every day compare to the declining Nether race?
"Young friend, why be so overbearing? State your conditions." Jiu You clearly knew Ye Yun was not easily fooled, and his Nether race had indeed erred.
"The Nether race enters my annals, enters my army! When I rule, I can grant you eternal peace and endless glory! Agreed?" Ye Yun, clad in purple imperial robes, moved without wind, his aura surging like a blazing sun.
"Do I, Jiu You, have any other choice?" After a long silence, Jiu You's voice arose amidst the immense pressure.
"No!" Ye Yun's words were utterly indifferent, and even the observing factions sensed something profound in his statement.
Although Jiu You had failed his tribulation, as long as he remained, he was the pillar of the Nether race. Most importantly, his strength was undeniable. Once he recovered from his injuries sustained from the Heavenly Tribulation, he would at least be a quasi-emperor, and one capable of fighting multiple opponents! Of course, this was contingent on healing the damage inflicted by the Great Emperor's Heavenly Tribulation.
The Great Emperor's Heavenly Tribulation was no ordinary tribulation; the damage it inflicted was not of the law but of the minor dao. Such injuries were almost irreparable within the Ten Directions. This was why Jiu You had sealed himself within the bronze coffin and submerged it in the Yellow Springs Lake, with Qi Ren guarding him.
"While cleansing the lightning dao with your Yellow Springs法則, you attempt to refine this minor dao. I see you as a determined individual, and I do not wish to see you perish here. Otherwise, with your current strength of only high-stage Extreme level, you would not even have the资格 to negotiate with me!" Ye Yun said, his divine sense pressing down. The Yellow Springs River suspended in the air instantly shattered into tens of thousands of segments and collapsed entirely.
Indeed, Jiu You had been tormented by the dao injury for countless years, his strength having plummeted to the high-stage Extreme level. However, as a victor of the Emperor's Road, he possessed countless hidden trump cards.
Everyone awaited Jiu You's answer, especially the members of the Nether race, whose hearts were filled with complex emotions.
If they refused, the entire Nether race might face extinction. If they agreed, it meant they would become vassals of the Human race, with no possibility of ever treading the Emperor's Road as long as the Human race endured.
Time ticked by, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy with killing intent, emanating from both Ye Yun and Jiu You.
"Alas..."
After a long pause, a voice filled with utter helplessness echoed through heaven and earth.
Boom...
The door of the coffin slowly opened, and a majestic figure rose from within. The world was instantly filled with an infinitely domineering sharpness. This supreme will, however, rapidly dissipated.
"Your humble servant, Jiu You, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"