At that moment, across the surrounding seas, the eyes of rogue cultivators and disciples of small and medium-sized sects from more than a hundred archipelagos had changed.
They had originally come only to watch the upper sects battle, or had even been swept along by the powerful. Yet now they suddenly realized that the changing skies over the Gouwu Sea might not be a bad thing for them.
Under the old order of the Golden Scale Alliance and the Upper Eight Caves, they would forever remain bottom-rung sect cultivators, drafted, taxed, and driven at others' bidding.
The Demon Lotus Sect might be vicious, but it rewarded military merit and paid stipends. It even dared to openly display such things as Nascent Soul Formation Pills and spirit items imbued with rules.
The former Golden Scale Alliance had never displayed such things at all. It had even kept information about them tightly concealed.
Just as the cultivators' thoughts began to stir, Qing Chen suddenly raised his hand. The demon lotus mark in his palm transformed into a blood-black command talisman and hovered above Golden Scale Island.
"Today, I issue my first decree as Sect Leader."
Qing Chen's gaze was cold, his voice like a blade.
"From this day forth, all cultivators of the Demon Lotus Sect, its vassals, and its allies may spare no effort in exterminating the remnants of the Thousand Puppet Sect and Jiaogu Island. Leave not a single one alive."
"Any spirit stones, medicinal pills, Dharma artifacts, and spiritual materials obtained need not be surrendered."
"Any islands, ports, mine veins, and market wards seized shall belong to their conquerors. Once reported to the Demon Lotus Sect, they shall receive its protection!"
"Only secret techniques for body cultivators, puppet mystic arts, and methods of refining corpse puppets must be copied