At Zhongchuan Xian's words, everyone throughout the Imperial Capital's expressions changed slightly.
Faced with the outright refusal of the major first-tier cultivation factions, how could the Central River Empire possibly remain indifferent? If Zhongchuan Xian said he would give everyone time to consider, there was only one possibility: he was about to reveal his trump card.
If you refused, then he would force you to agree. That was Zhongchuan Xian's logic.
With the strength the Central River Empire had displayed so far, it indeed exerted considerable pressure on these first-tier cultivation factions. However, it would still be difficult to crush every first-tier cultivation faction using those forces alone.
It was precisely because the leaders of these first-tier cultivation factions had seen this that they refused without hesitation.
But what if the Central River Empire continued raising the stakes?
At that moment, many gazes fell upon Prince Gong. Clearly, Zhongchuan Xian had just meant for Prince Gong to reveal some of their trump cards.
"Hmph, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit. Just wait until the Central River Empire reveals its trump card and blinds your dog eyes!" a Great Ascension cultivator who had submitted earlier sneered.
"Exactly. The Central River Empire has stood on this continent for so long—how could it not have trump cards? Submit early, and you might still get some benefits. When the time comes, even a little leaking through the Central River Empire's fingers will be enough to keep us second- and third-tier cultivation factions well fed," another person said mockingly.
Seeing this, the factions that had already chosen to submit all let out cold, mocking laughter.
They waited for the Central River Empire's trump card, waiting for the moment those who had refused to submit would be slapped in the face.
"I've never