Tianxu Imperial Capital, the capital of one of the nine ancient imperial dynasties, the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty.
As the imperial capital of a grand ancient imperial dynasty, it was naturally the most prosperous place within the dynasty and one of the most bustling cities on the entire Ancient Divine Continent, with a daily flow of over ten million people, exceptionally thriving.
Everything appeared so peaceful.
Yet the world knew that everything had actually changed. Decades ago, a coup had occurred in the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty, shocking the entire Ancient Divine Continent.
At that time, blood radiance pierced the heavens above the imperial palace, accompanied by terrifying phenomena that affected a wide area. Countless palaces collapsed, large sections of the imperial city crumbled, the imperial capital's forbidden army was fully deployed, and commoners suffered heavy casualties—a day of bloody sorrow.
That day, over a dozen super-powerful experts at the Saint Treasury Realm perished, including major figures at the Saint Lord-level, all members of the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty's royal family. The losses were severe, directly halving the living strength of a great ancient imperial dynasty.
It was later learned that this was all a conspiracy. A powerful branch of the Tianxu royal family, taking advantage of when the Heavenly King ancestor and some key core forces had gone to the Ancient Emperor Continent on the other side of the Chaotic Sea, had planned for years to seize imperial power and rule the vast ancient imperial dynasty.
In the end, to suppress the bloody chaos, the main lineage of the Tianxu royal family proactively contacted the Ancient Divine Palace, requesting support. Their request was granted, and the rebellion was successfully quelled, preserving the Tianxu royal family's imperial authority.
As repayment, the Tianxu royal family agreed to allow the Ancient Divine Palace to establish branch temples throughout the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty and have the people worship the Ancient Divine.
This matter caused a stir at the time, with many feeling something was amiss.
Because the branch that launched the bloody coup had always been loyal supporters of the orthodox main lineage of the royal family, enjoying high trust from the main lineage and holding great power within the dynasty. Throughout history, they had never rebelled; some had even served as the dynasty's sovereign, yet never attempted to seize complete control.
Moreover, a crucial reason was that the main royal lineage possessed the dynasty's primary foundational strength, left by the Heavenly King ancestor before his departure. Even with the most powerful Heavenly King ancestor gone, it was sufficient to suppress any rebellion, fearing nothing.
Although that branch was powerful and had produced Saint Lord-level figures over generations, it was still far inferior to the main royal lineage. Considering all factors, a coup and rebellion seemed unlikely.
Furthermore, the main royal lineage itself was capable of suppressing the rebellion. Why seek help from the Ancient Divine Palace and offer such immense rewards? This puzzled many.
However, the main royal lineage later came forward to dispel rumors, claiming that branch had long harbored rebellious intentions, plotting for many years, only held back by the Heavenly King ancestor's presence. Moreover, that branch controlled some terrifying weapon capable of destroying everything, forcing them to ultimately seek the Ancient Divine Palace's aid.
Precisely because of this, the price paid was that in the following decades, numerous branch temples of the Ancient Divine Palace were rapidly established across the vast imperial dynasty's towns. Essentially, every moderately important town had an Ancient Divine Palace branch temple, with statues of the Ancient Divine erected, urging people to worship the Ancient Divine.
Moreover, the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty not only did not resist but later implemented policies solely to assist the establishment of Ancient Divine Palace branches and the spread of worship of the Ancient Divine.
This faintly hinted at an unusual flavor.
It was known that every great nation was established to gather Faith Power and fortune. As for that mysterious power of wishes, it was exceedingly rare and difficult to obtain.
However, no ancient kingdom would easily hand over these two to others, especially such an ancient imperial dynasty. Allowing the establishment of Ancient Divine Palace branches and permitting people to worship the Ancient Divine was equivalent to stripping the imperial dynasty of most of its Faith Power and even fortune. No one would do such a thing.
Yet the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty did precisely that, inevitably making people feel strange.
Especially some truly attentive individuals who secretly investigated discovered an astonishing fact.
Following that coup, although the main royal lineage emerged victorious, they gradually faded from public view in the subsequent years. New, unfamiliar powerhouses appeared, and it was discovered that among them were experts from the Ancient Divine Palace who gradually took control of the dynasty's authority.
This was something the nine great imperial dynasties of the past resisted, yet now it had become tacitly permitted.
All signs seemed to prove that some shocking conspiracy was being laid out in the shadows. Those attentive individuals felt the terror of the colossal entity behind the scenes and immediately withdrew from their investigations.
Although they knew the truth, they consciously played dumb, because it was too terrifying. If discovered, it could lead to clan extermination, as no one in the world could oppose that colossal entity.
In fact, as time passed, the other nine ancient imperial dynasties faced similar problems—either coups, struggles for the throne, or other factors—ultimately seeking support from the Ancient Divine Palace.
At this point, even the dullest person understood what was happening.
The Ancient Divine Palace had gradually taken over the nine imperial dynasties, controlling their authority. Invisibly, the entire Ancient Divine Continent had fallen under the Ancient Divine Palace's rule.
This was unimaginable in the past. Previously, the nine imperial dynasties, each with their own Heavenly King ancestors, formed a united front. Although individually none could match the Ancient Divine Palace, the unity of the nine ancient imperial dynasties made the Ancient Divine Palace quite wary, never truly unifying the world.
But now, after the nine imperial dynasties' Heavenly Kings followed the Battle Saint King away, the Ancient Divine Palace subtly seized the dynasties' authority. Everything happened so swiftly, so silently like a fine rain moistening the earth, that many didn't even realize it had been accomplished.
Moreover, the nine imperial dynasties, having lost their Heavenly Kings, were fundamentally incapable of resisting the most ancient power that had dominated the continent for countless years.
Furthermore, not long ago, the nine imperial dynasties jointly announced that from now on, no one was to worship any other, only the true supreme deity—the Ancient Divine!
Even the various major powers across the world were to erect statues of the Ancient Divine within their own forces. Anyone daring to disobey would face the most terrible punishment.
Within just a few days, several forces with Saints overseeing them were directly razed to the ground on trumped-up charges for defying the Ancient Divine Palace's decree, including the overseeing Saints, utterly annihilated overnight.
The world felt a chill.
The various major powers across the world knew the Ancient Divine Palace was no longer that transcendent ancient power; it had become forceful and domineering.
The world's experts sighed helplessly; henceforth, the world would have to bow at the feet of the Ancient Divine Palace, heeding its commands.
Although many in the world were unwilling, with even the nine imperial dynasties taken over, what force, what person could oppose the most ancient Ancient Divine Palace?
Suddenly, people thought of a heroic, imposing figure, so domineering and majestic, who once slaughtered until heaven and earth fell silent, made the nine imperial dynasties avoid his sharp edge, and forced the Ancient Divine Palace to retreat.
The Battle Saint King, a peerless genius from the outside world, who once single-handedly successfully opposed the Ancient Divine Palace.
He was a milestone-like peerless figure. Unfortunately, it was he who led the numerous powerhouses of the Ancient Divine Continent to the other side of the Ancient Emperor Continent. Now, decades had passed with no news, making people sigh. He had likely perished in the Chaotic Sea like the sages of past ages.
As time passed, the world gradually accepted the fact of the Ancient Divine Palace ruling the world.
This day was like any other, equally calm, with people numbly worshiping the Ancient Divine as usual.
Yet on this very day, when everything seemed settled, a drastic change occurred.
Boom—
Outside Tianxu Imperial Capital, suddenly, strands of supremely powerful auras exploded, overwhelming the sky and covering the entire Tianxu Imperial Capital.
Faintly visible, above the imperial capital, space shattered. Figures appeared there, each enveloped in supremely powerful auras, rumbling and shaking the entire Tianxu Imperial Capital, capturing everyone's attention.
When people truly perceived these individuals, everyone gasped in shock. Among these dozen or so people, all were experts at the Saint Treasury Realm, and at the very least, they were overlord-level existences. Their auras were vast and majestic, each like a deity descending to the mortal world, awe-inspiring.
And when people got a clear look, everyone was dumbfounded.
Because these were all the royal powerhouses who had left the imperial dynasty in the past, known to the world. For instance, the person at the front right was clearly a Saint Lord-level prince of the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty who had been away for many years, holding great authority within the dynasty.
He and several other Saint Lord-level experts of the imperial dynasty stood behind an even more supremely powerful and invincible existence, who looked very familiar, identical to the founding ancestor depicted in the dynasty's statues—none other than the imperial dynasty's Heavenly King ancestor.
Seeing this scene, the entire city was struck dumb, accompanied by waves of shock and awe.
The entire city was shaken, the whole world astounded!
The imperial dynasty's powerhouses, absent for decades, had returned not only intact but each having grown stronger, directly descending upon the imperial palace.
At this moment, the imperial dynasty's Heavenly King, leading the powerhouses who had left in the past, returned and coldly declared, "This sovereign has returned. Why have you not come out swiftly to welcome us?"
The various major forces in the city held their breath, for the imperial dynasty's powerhouses of old had returned one by one. How would the Ancient Divine Palace's powerhouses, now controlling the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty's authority, face this?
A group of powerhouses flew out from the imperial palace. They were not royal family members but unfamiliar faces, though some were recognizable as experts from the Ancient Divine Palace. Seeing this, their expressions changed, and they immediately activated the imperial palace's heavenly curtain, which inverted like a bowl, covering the entire imperial palace in defense.
Many witnessed this scene, their expressions shifting. Many sensed the taste of an impending storm; a fierce battle was likely about to unfold.
Heavenly King Tianxu gazed coldly at the completely unfamiliar powerhouses within the palace. The group of Tianxu Imperial Dynasty powerhouses behind him also changed expressions, understanding now.
Heavenly King Tianxu spoke indifferently, "Open the heavenly curtain, and I will spare your lives. But if you still wish to stubbornly resist, then this sovereign will not mind unleashing a massacre."
The Ancient Divine Palace powerhouses in the palace paled but snorted coldly, "Who are you, daring to impersonate Heavenly King Tianxu and the royal family? They all followed the Battle Saint King to the Ancient Emperor Continent; they cannot be on the Ancient Divine Continent."
Hearing this, many also felt there was some truth to it. After all, historically, even Heavenly Kings who went to the Ancient Emperor Continent, once entering the Chaotic Sea, basically never returned. Now, after just a few decades, Heavenly King Tianxu and the others had returned, inevitably surprising people—it was too fast.
Heavenly King Tianxu snorted coldly, "So it truly is those people from the Ancient Divine Palace, who launched a coup and seized my imperial dynasty's authority while this sovereign was away."
A Saint Lord from the Ancient Divine Palace snorted, "I don't understand what you're saying. My Ancient Divine Palace has always remained aloof from worldly affairs. Our entry into the imperial palace is merely to assist the royal family. As for you, who knows what deities you are, daring to impersonate Heavenly King Tianxu and other powerhouses of the Tianxu Imperial Dynasty. Do you intend to launch a coup and seize the imperial dynasty's authority?"
Hearing this, even others in the imperial capital frowned. The Ancient Divine Palace had fallen to such a level, now slandering the true royal family.
But none dared to refute, fearing retaliation from the Ancient Divine Palace. After all, the current Ancient Divine Palace was not like before; it had become much more forceful and domineering, willing to unleash slaughter at the slightest disagreement, having already erased several powerful forces.
"How laughable." Heavenly King Tianxu's expression grew even colder. "I never expected you people from the Ancient Divine Palace to resort to mere sophistry. Do you truly not know what happened on the Ancient Emperor Continent on the other side of the Chaotic Sea?"
This made the Ancient Divine Palace powerhouses change color. They naturally knew these were the genuine Tianxu Imperial Dynasty royal family and were equally puzzled as to why they had returned so quickly.
After all, the Chaotic Sea was exceptionally perilous. Throughout the ages, aside from their Ancient Divine Palace's ancient Great Sage, no one had successfully returned. How had they returned? This had always made them curious.
Regarding news from the Ancient Emperor Continent, they knew nothing.
Yet they stiffened their necks and snorted coldly, "We don't know who you are, but you should know we represent the Ancient Divine Palace. That ancient Great Sage of our palace has now emerged. Do you truly dare to oppose that supreme Great Sage of our Ancient Divine Palace?"
These words made the world pale. That supreme Great Sage of the Ancient Divine Palace was still alive? Hadn't he passed away?
That was the supreme Great Sage from the ancient era who truly successfully crossed the Chaotic Sea and returned, powerful beyond description. If he truly still existed in the world, would there be any match for him?
Yet Heavenly King Tianxu merely smiled coldly, as did the other imperial dynasty powerhouses. "Even if that immortal Great Sage appears today, it will be useless. In this world, there is no one who cannot deal with him."
They possessed their greatest trump card—
The Battle Saint King, master of the peerless great sect Holy Domain, who feared nothing.
The Ancient Divine Palace powerhouses only sneered coldly. They did not believe anyone in the world could match the Ancient Divine Palace's Great Sage, not even that invincible old knight from the Demon God Ruins.
Although Heavenly King Tianxu's expression remained unchanged, he secretly transmitted a message to the royal family behind him: "Send word to Saint King Your Highness. The imperial capital is unusual; some changes may arise."
The royal family powerhouses behind him changed color but complied, using the communication jade token left by the Battle Saint King to send the message.
Heavenly King Tianxu sighed softly. He sensed a great storm was about to descend!