Just as Ye Yunfei was heading towards the Golden Crow Sect headquarters, unusual phenomena simultaneously manifested in the ancestral temples located within the headquarters of many great powers across five worlds: Juntian World, Xuantian Continent, Qianmo Small World, Feixian Continent, and the Demon Realm. Over these temples, a command token descended from the sky, radiating divine light and unleashing terrifying energy fluctuations that shook the entire headquarters.
"Immediately hunt and kill a being named Ye Yunfei! He who captures Ye Yunfei, or slays him, shall be richly rewarded!" a voice brimming with authority emanated from the token.
"What is happening?"
The upper echelons of these great powers gathered within their ancestral temples, looking upon the dazzlingly bright token with hearts trembling with fear, not daring to approach because the aura emanating from it was far too fearsome.
"Look! There is a single character 'Emperor' on the token! This... this is a Heavenly Emperor Decree! Within the Three Thousand Major and Minor Worlds, only the Three Great Heavenly Emperors have the right to issue such a decree!"
Suddenly, these power's leaders noticed the single large character—Emperor—etched onto the token. The Heavenly Emperor Decree was a legend within the Three Thousand Worlds. It was said that each of the Three Great Heavenly Emperors had numerous follower sects and clans across many major and minor worlds. Whenever the Three Great Heavenly Emperors had a command for these subordinate forces to execute, they would issue a Heavenly Emperor Decree.
When a Heavenly Emperor Decree appeared, all sects and powers across all worlds must comply with the order, lest they face punishment from a Heavenly Emperor. For the majority of the great powers across the Three Thousand Worlds, punishment from a Heavenly Emperor meant the eradication of their entire sect! Therefore, no power, no being dared disobey a Heavenly Emperor Decree.
One could say that when a Heavenly Emperor Decree was issued, all beneath the heavens would bow in submission!
"So a Heavenly Emperor has issued a decree!" After recognizing the token, the leaders of these great powers finally understood what was happening and felt relieved.
"We humbly welcome the Heavenly Emperor Decree! We will certainly execute the command and hunt down the being named Ye Yunfei!"
Led by their sect leaders, the upper echelons of these great powers bowed respectfully towards the decree token.
On that day, it wasn't only the great powers within the five worlds of Juntian World, Xuantian Continent, Qianmo Small World, Feixian Continent, and the Demon Realm that received the decree. Many great powers in numerous other worlds also received it.
Very quickly, the news spread.
A Heavenly Emperor had issued a decree to hunt and kill a being named Ye Yunfei!
Once the news circulated, it stirred up commotion across many worlds. A Heavenly Emperor was actually issuing a Heavenly Emperor Decree, targeting a single being within the Three Thousand Worlds! Such an event was without precedent and left people utterly baffled. Because in everyone's minds, a Heavenly Emperor was the supreme sovereign of the world, standing above all beings, holding the power of life and death. If he wanted someone dead, he could simply kill them directly. Why bother issuing a decree?
"Could it be that this Ye Yunfei is so powerful that even a Heavenly Emperor might not be able to easily deal with him?" some speculated.
"Nonsense! Heavenly Emperors are the highest sovereigns of the world, peerless under the heavens! There simply cannot exist a being a Heavenly Emperor cannot handle! Most likely, this Ye Yunfei is far too cunning and has gone into hiding. That's why the Emperor issued a decree," someone immediately refuted.
"That shouldn't be the reason. Heavenly Emperors possess boundless magical powers and omnipotent divine abilities. If an Emperor wanted to find someone, it's estimated that no being within the Three Thousand Worlds could escape. I reckon there must be some reason making it inconvenient for that Emperor to personally deal with Ye Yunfei, hence the decree! Or perhaps, the Emperor simply disdains acting personally, so he issued a decree ordering everyone else to hunt him down!"
Yet another voice chimed in to argue.
In any case, with the decree's issuance, the name Ye Yunfei began to spread across many worlds, attracting endless speculation and discussion among countless beings.
Within the Demon Realm.
"Hmph! It was likely that Golden Crow Emperor again. Who knows why that human devil cultivator named Ye Yunfei has provoked him, making a venerable Heavenly Emperor stoop to issuing a personal decree against him. However, this 'Ye Yunfei' of the Seventh Demon Realm isn't one of our true demons; he's a human devil cultivator. So, if the Jinwu Heavenly Emperor wants to kill him, let him. I won't interfere."
The Demon Lord of the Demon Realm was secluded in cultivation. Upon receiving the news, he opened his eyes, his gaze turning towards the Seventh Demon Realm and settling upon that human devil cultivator named Ye Yunfei for a moment before speaking to himself.
In truth, this Demon Lord was not afraid of the Three Great Heavenly Emperors, but unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't casually provoke conflict with them.
"Still, I hadn't realized that within our Demon Realm, there also exist forces aligned with the Jinwu Heavenly Emperor. I'll need to keep a closer eye on these powers in the future. Should I discover they are harming the interests of the Demon Realm, even if they are under the Jinwu Heavenly Emperor's banner, I won't be polite."
The Demon Lord added calmly.
On that day, the great powers across various worlds that received the Heavenly Emperor Decree were, for the most part, forces with connections to the Three Great Heavenly Emperors. Before attaining the status of Heavenly Emperor, each of the Three Greats had traveled extensively across the myriad worlds of the Three Thousand, establishing relationships with many forces and beings. Some had even personally founded sects and clans. Within the ancestral temples of these forces, Soul Power imprints or auras of the Three Greats were enshrined. When a Heavenly Emperor issued a decree, it would follow these enshrined soul imprints or auras, traversing vast stretches of time and space to descend upon the ancestral temples of these related forces.
At the same time, in Feixian Continent.
Within the headquarters of the Golden Crow Sect.
The sect leader stood before the ancestral temple accompanied by a large group of high-ranking elders. Just moments ago, a Heavenly Emperor Decree had suddenly appeared above their temple, its voice demanding that the Golden Crow Sect hunt down a being named Ye Yunfei.
"Sect Leader, I've heard that when a Heavenly Emperor issues a decree, they normally only do so to their affiliated subordinate forces. This decree must have been issued by the Great Emperor Jinwu. This proves that the Great Emperor Jinwu acknowledges our Golden Crow Sect! It confirms that behind our Golden Crow Sect truly stands a Heavenly Emperor!" A sect elder spoke excitedly to the sect leader. It wasn't just the elders; all the Golden Crow Sect's upper echelons were brimming with excitement at that moment.
"The ancient texts within the archives have long recorded it clearly enough. Our Golden Crow Sect indeed has ties with Great Emperor Jinwu; there is no mistake about that," the sect leader replied with a pleased smile, nodding.
"Sect Leader, not long ago, a human youth named Ye Yunfei provoked both the Sword Emperor Pavilion and the Heavenly God Palace, causing half-emperor experts from both powers to personally move against him. The Ye Yunfei that the Great Emperor Jinwu orders us to hunt down is surely that same human youth! That brat truly has no fear of the heavens! Not only did he provoke the Sword Emperor Pavilion and the Heavenly God Palace, he even managed to provoke the Great Emperor Jinwu!" A red-robed elder beside the sect leader spoke up.
"Regardless of the reason, since the Great Emperor Jinwu has issued a Heavenly Emperor Decree, we only need to execute it. Send down my order. From this moment forth, devote all efforts to hunting Ye Yunfei!"
The sect leader declared slowly.
In Feixian Continent, apart from the Golden Crow Sect, several other great powers also received Heavenly Emperor Decrees demanding Ye Yunfei's pursuit. These powers likewise issued their own orders to hunt him down. Ye Yunfei already possessed a bit of a reputation in Feixian Continent, so these great forces were aware of his existence.
Three days later.
"Master, the Golden Crow Sect headquarters lies directly ahead." Ye Yunfei suddenly received a mental message from Hu Miao. During these three days, Ye Yunfei had entrusted Hu Miao with piloting the flying boat while he himself remained secluded in cultivation within the Phantom Tower. As a result, Ye Yunfei was still unaware of the recent events concerning the Heavenly Emperor Decree.
Upon receiving Hu Miao's message, Ye Yunfei emerged from within the green flying boat. He gazed far ahead and indeed saw a grand sect headquarters.
It was precisely the Golden Crow Sect headquarters!