"Though many years ago, the title of great emperor in the Five Heavens became an empty name as the power of the Emperor Artifacts declined."
"They no longer had the power the Five Emperors once possessed to sway the fate of an entire heaven and freely wield Heavenly Dao Edicts."
"They could only barely draw upon the power of the Emperor Artifacts to help the Five Heavens resist the chaotic energy from the Land of Chaos and invasions by Otherworldly Evil Gods."
"But even so, as long as an Emperor Artifact remained intact, no one dared question the power of a great emperor."
After hearing Emperor Youyun's voice, Heavenly Lord Shihu offered this explanation without turning his head, amid Xiahou You's and Xiahou Qingyuan's puzzled gazes.
Xiahou Qingyuan immediately frowned and said:
"Third Uncle, are the Emperor Artifacts you speak of divine artifacts like our Jade Balance Mountain's Mountain-Guarding Clan Artifact, which can briefly grant their owners the power to wield Heavenly Dao Edicts?"
Heavenly Lord Shihu nodded silently.
Seeing this, Xiahou Qingyuan's and Xiahou You's expressions changed at once.
They had originally thought that the current Five Emperors were all puppets of the various Immortal Mansions and Immortal Alliances, possessing titles without substance.
They had never expected that a camel starved to death was still bigger than a horse-even the great emperors who inherited the throne today still possessed power at the pinnacle of Shangqing's upper and lower realms.
Then Emperor Youyun continued:
"Young friend Taiping, you rose to prominence at Youyun Heaven's Qilin Assembly, and you once received the protection of Emperor Youyun's fortune."
"You also have close ties with several of Youyun Heaven's great Buddhist temples."
"You and I even met once at Youyun Pavilion back then. Thus, I would ask that you grant me this small