The bloody stench still lingered over Tianxing City's plaza.
Blood Slaughter Divine King's corpse was still warm when several sharp-eyed Lu Family disciples dragged it away.
All that remained was a pool of dark-red blood, needling the nerves of everyone present.
Several hundred local powerhouses who usually commanded the winds and clouds now wished they could shove their heads into the cracks between the paving stones. Not one dared even breathe too loudly.
Yang Lingtian sat upon the Cold Jade Throne, his fingers tapping the armrest at irregular intervals.
"Tap, tap, tap."
Each heavy tap struck the hearts of everyone below.
"Since you're all willing to submit, let's talk about the rules."
Yang Lingtian's tone was calm, but no one dared mistake it for idle chatter.
"First, the Chaos Sacred Sect doesn't support idlers. Since you've joined my sect, fix those rotten habits of occupying a mountain and ruling yourselves."
"The existing structures of every sect and clan will be dismantled and reorganized according to cultivation and specialties into the War Hall, Pill Hall, and Artifact Hall."
Everyone below shuddered. He intended to sever their foundations completely, knead them into pieces, and swallow them whole.
Some people's eyelids twitched violently, their hearts bleeding. That had been their ancestors' legacy—was it really going to vanish just like that?
But after seeing how cleanly Blood Slaughter Divine King had died, who dared say no?
"Second." Yang Lingtian ignored the dazzling array of expressions below and continued.
"Since we're family now, resources will naturally be pooled."
"Each family may keep thirty percent of the items in its treasury for personal use. The remaining seventy percent must be delivered to Tianxing City within three days."
Seventy percent? That was practically cutting out their flesh! No, it was stripping their bones and sucking out their