Just then, on the central sacred stone platform, Li Qingshan, who had been quietly listening to everyone's conversations, slowly put down the teacup he hadn't finished drinking.
The jade cup touched the stone platform, producing a crisp, soft "ding" sound that was exceptionally clear in the silence, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Li Qingshan said loudly:
"What you fellow Daoists have said is all true."
He paused, then his tone, like a smooth yet chilling blade, subtly shifted.
"Beneath the vast sky of the Big Dipper, there is still a lingering gloom and an unresolved malignant tumor that has disturbed the cultivation world for countless ages, poisoning countless geniuses and heroes. It is truly a disgrace to our generation of cultivators and a deep-seated scourge shared by both the human and demon races."
"I'm sure you all know about what happened overseas seven days ago."
The temple was deathly silent, with only the faint rumble of the waterfall of immortal energy cascading down in the distance.
" Hell, the Human World."
Li Qingshan slowly uttered these two names, as if spitting out two blocks of ice that had stood for millennia.
He paused:
"These are not just enemies of Li Qingshan alone. Throughout the history of the Five Regions of the Big Dipper, these two venomous snakes have lurked in the shadows, specializing in assassination, subversion, creating chaos and fear, destroying geniuses, and disrupting the order of inheritance. Throughout history, countless talents and forces have suffered at their hands, their blood debts are countless."
"Today, I Severing the Dao the feat of severing my path, yet I still suffer this calamity. In the future, will all the talented disciples and outstanding figures of your clans present here, and even myself, be able to remain safe and unharmed?"
The calm question caused many people's expressions to change slightly, especially those forces that had grudges against the Assassin Divine Dynasty, whose faces darkened further.
"What the Eastern Exalt says is indeed true."
The first to speak was none other than the old emperor of the Jiuli Divine Dynasty, who had been resting with his eyes closed.
He opened his eyes, his gaze seemingly reflecting the passage of time and the changing landscape; his voice was aged yet carried the majesty of an emperor.
" The Assassin Divine Dynasty is a malignant tumor in the Big Dipper, universally condemned. However, its lineage is mysterious, its lair is hidden, and its actions are ruthless and without any bottom line. For tens of thousands of years, it has been besieged and suppressed by various parties, yet it always manages to rise from the ashes and is difficult to eradicate. I wonder what insightful comments the Eastern Exalt has made regarding this matter today?"
The old emperor spoke calmly, pointing out the key issue: it wasn't that he didn't want to suppress them, but rather that they were difficult to suppress and prone to recurrence.
Li Qingshan looked at the old emperor and nodded slightly:
"The old emperor's words are true. Precisely because it is hidden and vicious, like a malignant tumor clinging to the bone, ordinary encirclement and suppression will not be able to damage its foundation, but will instead provoke its frenzied revenge. Therefore, we must use thunderous force to wipe out its descendants, sever its lineage, and destroy all the foundations that may allow it to reignite."
"Exterminate their lineage? That's easier said than done."
A voice rang out; it belonged to Wang Yangzhan, the leader of the Yin-Yang Sect.
He raised his eyelids, and the Yang Fish on his black and white Daoist robe seemed to swim slowly.
" Human World Hell are scattered across the Five Regions, and may even extend beyond them. Their core inheritance sites are rumored to be protected by an unparalleled killing formation and profound secrets left behind by an ancient killing saint. A hasty full-scale purge might alert them, causing them to go completely underground, or provoke the killing saint to retaliate at any cost. Such a bloody storm would be a misfortune for the Big Dipper."
The words of Wang Yangzhan, the leader of the Yin-Yang Sect, represented the concerns of a considerable number of forces who feared that if they could not eradicate the sect completely, they would only get themselves into trouble and suffer endless, extremely vicious assassination attempts and retaliations.
The terror of the Assassin Divine Dynasty lies not only in its methods of killing, but also in its relentless and ruthless deterrent.
"Good."
The living fossil of the Ji Family also spoke slowly, his voice hoarse, carrying the vicissitudes of time.
"According to the ancient records of the Ji Family, in ancient times, several families joined forces to try to eradicate an important branch altar in the Human World. As a result, not only was their operation thwarted and they suffered considerable losses, but in the following hundred years, the core disciples and elders of those families who participated were repeatedly assassinated by mysterious forces, suffering heavy casualties. In the end, they had no choice but to compromise and tacitly acknowledge its existence. Such underhanded tricks are impossible to guard against."
The robust elder of the Jiang Family snorted coldly, his voice booming like a bell:
"Should we throw the baby out with the bathwater? Should we let them run rampant for fear of retaliation? Even members of my Jiang Family have fallen at their hands. Such cowardly and ruthless beings, who specialize in extermination, should have been swept into the dustbin of history long ago! How arrogant the Heavenly Court was in the past, and where is it now?"
"Please rest assured, Lord Jiang."
The headmaster of the Purple Mansion Holy Land spoke with a gentle voice, yet it carried a soothing Daoist charm.
"It's not out of fear, but rather a need for careful planning before taking action. Since the Eastern Exalt has brought this up, he must already have a plan in mind. I wonder how exactly he will act with 'thunderous force' and how he will 'sever their foundation'? How will all parties cooperate? This is not a matter for one family or faction; it involves many people and requires careful consideration."
The leader of the Dao Yi Holy Land also nodded in agreement:
"Brother Zifu is absolutely right. Eradicating the Assassin Divine Dynasty is a righteous act, and we should certainly support it. However, the details of the planning, the coordination of forces, the sharing of intelligence, and even how to prevent a counterattack afterward all need to be discussed in detail. It is by no means something that can be accomplished overnight."
Several prominent figures spoke in succession. Although they did not explicitly oppose the extermination efforts, their words revealed caution, concerns, and doubts about the feasibility of specific plans.
This is a mature and prudent statement, and it aligns with the mindset of most forces. While it's acceptable to shout slogans of support, to take real action, especially one that could backfire, requires a clear path and sufficient safeguards.
"Even if the Eastern Exalt succeeds," Wang Yangzhan, the leader of the Yin-Yang Sect, said again, his voice tinged with doubt.
"How can we ensure that all parties act simultaneously without leaking information? Among the more than one hundred forces present, it's hard to guarantee that none of them have secret dealings with the Assassin Divine Dynasty, or that any of their members have been infiltrated by them. Even the slightest leak would alert the enemy, causing all our efforts to fail. In that case, who could withstand the Assassin Divine Dynasty's frenzied retaliation? My Yin-Yang Sect does not want to be an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire."
These words were extremely sharp, even somewhat scathing, directly pointing out the issue of trust. People didn't completely trust each other; who could guarantee that no one was secretly tipping off the Assassin Divine Dynasty?
Upon hearing this, many representatives of various factions changed their expressions slightly, especially those with unclear historical records, whose eyes flickered.
For the first time, Li Qingshan's gaze, tinged with obvious coldness, fell upon the face of Wang Yangzhan, the leader of the Yin-Yang Sect.
The gaze wasn't sharp, yet it caused the Yang Fish Dao patterns swimming around the latter to pause, as if frozen by an invisible chill.
"I have invited you all here today not to discuss whether or not to annihilate them, but to inform you that my mind is made up, and so is Jade Pool's. This battle will inevitably take place."
He paused slightly, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping across the entire area once more, lingering particularly on the Yin-Yang Sect and the Ji Family.
"Now, I have only one question for you all,"
Who agrees?
Who objects?
As soon as he finished speaking, the Ancient Land of Dao Source fell into a deathly silence.
Even the roar of the waterfall of celestial energy seemed to fade away at this moment.
Everyone held their breath.
This is not a negotiation, this is an ultimatum! This is the final choice!
Led by the newly King, Li Qingshan, who stands firm in the Divine Forbidden Zone and possesses overwhelming ferocity, and supported by the ancient holy land of Jade Pool, the group, with its righteous cause and iron-fisted methods, forces all forces present to choose sides at this moment!
To agree means to join this unprecedented purge, to vow to fight together, to take risks, and to potentially share in the benefits of reshaping the post-war landscape.
To oppose is to stand against Li Qingshan, against Jade Pool, and perhaps even against all the "supporters" today.
The air seemed to freeze, and time seemed to stand still.
The old emperor of Jiuli gave Li Qingshan a deep look, slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, and his aged voice broke the deathly silence:
" The Jiuli Divine Dynasty agrees. We swear an oath to jointly attack, and will contribute three hundred elite troops, led by a royal uncle prince, to be at the command of the Eastern Exalt and Jade Pool, to simultaneously wipe out the identified strongholds within the Central Continent Plains."
The first major power to make its stance clear has been identified! And it's one of the four immortal dynasties of the Central Continent!
Immediately afterward, the robust elder of the Jiang Family, Master Jiang, slammed his fist on the altar, his voice booming like thunder. " The Jiang Family agrees! We swear to jointly punish them!"
" The Purple Mansion Holy Land agrees. We are willing to go," the Purple Mansion Sect Master followed closely behind, his tone calm yet firm.
" Dao Yi Holy Land agrees."
" Southern Ridge Heavenly Demon Palace, approved!"
The demon king laughed loudly, his voice shaking the surrounding area.
" The Divine State Dynasty approves."
" The Ancient Hua Divine Dynasty approves."
" Mount Sumeru in the Western Desert, Amitabha Buddha, it is our duty to subdue demons and protect the righteous path. I agree," the old monk said, his hands clasped together, his Buddha-like light gentle yet firm.
One after another, the forces that had previously been hesitant and raised various questions quickly expressed their opinions under the undisguised and powerful invisible intimidation of Li Qingshan.
The speed was so fast, it was almost rushed.
But no one dared to hesitate for too long.
On the central platform, the young man in black simply stood quietly, waiting with a calm gaze.
But beneath that calm lies a formidable aura forged from mountains of corpses and seas of blood, an oppressive force born of absolute power.
Before voicing any dissent, one must first weigh the consequences.
The Yaoguang Holy Lord glanced at Li Qingshan with a complex expression, then looked in the direction of the Queen Mother of the West at Jade Pool, and finally sighed softly:
" The Yaoguang Holy Land approves."
Soon, more than 80% of the more than 100 factions had clearly expressed their support.
The remaining forces are either smaller factions observing the moves of the giants, or groups like the Yin-Yang Sect and the Ji Family have yet to speak up.
All eyes, whether open or hidden, were on Wang Yangzhan, the leader of the Yin-Yang Sect, and that living fossil from the Ji Family.
The pressure is immense, weighing heavily on both sides.
The expression on the Yin-Yang Sect Wang Yangzhan's face, set against his black and white Daoist robe, appeared somewhat unpredictable.
He could sense the coldness hidden in Li Qingshan's calm gaze, and he could also feel the subtly coercive gazes cast by the surrounding forces that had already expressed their stance.
If we oppose it now, the Yin-Yang Sect will immediately become the target of public criticism.
Li Qingshan might not do anything on the spot, but afterwards, especially if the purge is successful and the situation is already set, the Yin-Yang Sect will inevitably be excluded from the core, and may even be punished later.
His throat bobbed, and his fingers trembled slightly inside his sleeve.
Finally, under that increasingly heavy, silent pressure, he took a deep breath and spoke in a dry voice:
"I approve of the Yin-Yang Sect."
After saying that, he seemed to have exhausted all his strength, closed his eyes, and stopped looking at anyone.
Only the Ji Family remains.
The living fossil of the Ji Family, that gaunt old man with white hair and beard, finally opened his eyes completely.
His eyes were exceptionally complex, containing a sense of vicissitude, wisdom, a hint of helplessness, and a hidden sharpness.
He looked at Li Qingshan, then slowly surveyed the representatives of the various factions who had already expressed their opinions.
He looked at Li Qingshan, then slowly surveyed the representatives of the various factions who had already expressed their opinions.
The silence lasted for a full ten breaths.
These ten breaths felt incredibly long.
Finally, the living fossil of the Ji Family slowly spoke, his voice hoarse with a sense of resignation, yet completely calm:
" The Ji Family approves."
"Cooperate with Eastern Exalt's actions."
With the Ji Family, the last heavyweight power, making their statement, all the participating forces on the Ancient Land of Dao Source unanimously agreed!
No one objected.
He nodded slightly and said calmly:
"In that case, let the Queen Mother of the West preside over the ceremony and together we shall establish a solemn oath of the Great Way."
The hazy figure of the Queen Mother of the West in Jade Pool became clearer from the celestial mist, and her ethereal voice rang out:
"Very well. Please, everyone, recite the oath with me,"
Ancient oaths echoed in the sky above the Ancient Land of Dao Source. More than a hundred auras, some strong and some weak, but all representing the pinnacle of power in the Big Dipper, soared into the sky, resonating with the laws of the Great Dao in the darkness, leaving an inviolable mark.
The vow is fulfilled.
This means that a net of heaven and earth, targeting the two ancient Assassin Divine Dynasty of Hell and the Human World, has been quietly woven deep within this Jade Pool Holy Land.
The conference did not immediately disperse, but instead entered a more specific stage of discussion and coordination on details.
But everyone knew that the most important tone had already been set in motion by that young man in black, in the most forceful manner, during that brief and extremely oppressive conversation.
The tide has turned, and the operation to annihilate the two Assassin Divine Dynasty is no longer a matter for Jade Pool alone, but a glorious righteous path that gathers the will of the heroes of the Big Dipper.
When Hell and the Human World are destroyed, those forces and individuals who secretly fueled the flames or even directly extended their black hands will be crushed into dust in the face of this torrent sweeping across the Five Regions, no matter how many schemes or how much foundation they possess.
Admittedly, in terms of absolute combat power alone, even if Gu Tianshu, a Great Saint, did not make a move, the Jade Pool Holy Land still possessed two Saint-level combatants.
Li Qingshan, the newly ascended Heavenly King of the Seventh Heaven, and the Ancient Saint who emerged from the depths of Jade Pool and was powerful enough to suppress destiny.
With such power and the Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon, destroying the core of the Assassin Divine Dynasty head-on would not be difficult.
The real challenge lies not in "destruction," but in "searching" and "eliminating."
The Assassin Divine Dynasty, with its lairs and strongholds scattered like stars in the sky, hidden among famous mountains and rivers, in the cracks of the Void, and even in the mundane cities. It is deeply intertwined with forces in various places, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences.
Without the intelligence support, regional blockade, and coordinated extermination provided by the local "snakeheads" and "territory-grabbing tigers" who are spread across the Five Regions and deeply rooted in their own territories, even a Saint-level combat power with unparalleled strength would find it difficult to eradicate their branches and roots in one fell swoop, and it would be very easy to leave behind the hidden danger of resurgence.
Moreover, those thirty-two Mighty Figure from various factions who concealed their identities during the brutal attack seven days ago were by no means without connections.
There must be some people from certain factions present who were either acting under orders, acting secretly, or having vested interests.
Even if it wasn't authorized by the main lineage's core, it's hard to escape the covert operations of branches, affiliated forces, or certain elders.
This Cause and Effect was sown long ago, awaiting reckoning.
Now, by leveraging the alliance to eradicate the Assassin Divine Dynasty, it is a logical step to consolidate intelligence and penetrate deep into the core of these shadowy organizations.
Searching for evidence and clarifying clues is not only necessary for suppressing bandits, but also a powerful tool for future reckoning with those scoundrels among our own ranks.
By acting under the righteous pretext of a united front and based on solid evidence, even when cleaning house and eliminating internal traitors, one can do so in a reasonable, justifiable, and convincing manner.
This is far more effective than having Jade Pool or Li Qingshan investigate alone in avoiding widespread panic and resistance from various factions within the Big Dipper.