Chapter 416: Chapter 416

"Huh, the ’Celestial Ranking’ has changed!"

"Who is this Qin Wudao? He’s incredibly strong; he shot straight to third place!"

"I remember he used to be ranked above one hundred. Just a short while ago, he was in eleventh place. How did he make such a huge leap?"

Within the Four Regions, many Martial Artists noted the change in the Celestial Ranking with surprise, their gazes filled with envy and jealousy.

Qin Wudao’s name once again resounded far and wide.

In a mysterious canyon, the Soul Martial Ancestor stood on a stone cliff, looking up at the changes in the ’Celestial Ranking,’ his thick, black, sword-like eyebrows involuntarily knitting together.

Qin Wudao, do you truly possess a special physique, or not?

After a long moment, the Soul Martial Ancestor’s puzzled voice drifted into the distance.

The Eternal Temple had investigated Qin Wudao’s background dozens of times. While much was clear as day, many details seemed illogical.

For example, the experts from the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court?

For instance, how did Guo Jia come back to life?

And why had Qin Wudao’s Cultivation Realm advanced so rapidly?

An ordinary prodigy shouldn’t be able to surpass someone with a special physique in terms of Cultivation Realm. Even Kunlun Taoist, who achieved immortality with an ordinary body in ancient times, was suppressed by contemporaries with special physiques for a long time.

But intelligence from the Eternal Temple indicated that Qin Wudao did not possess a special physique!

Only one special physique could emerge in a Domain!

The East Ancient Domain had produced the ’Sun Divine Body,’ which Qin Wudao later killed. This seemed to corroborate the fact that Qin Wudao did not possess a special physique.

"Men, prepare yourselves. I’m taking a trip to the East Border!"

The Soul Martial Ancestor lingered on the stone cliff for a moment, then commanded loudly into the empty Void.

The Void rippled, and a man in a black robe emerged. He spoke hesitantly, "My Lord, the Pavilion Master has ordered that due to the recent fierce battles between the Eternal Temple and other major forces, it is best for your safety if you do not go out!"

The Soul Martial Ancestor looked displeased upon hearing this but said nothing more, merely returning to his cave dwelling to cultivate.

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"It seems Qin Wudao has many secrets!"

In the Nine Sovereigns Saint’s Court, Eastern Question sat in a majestic palace, his eyes gleaming. He bellowed, "Someone, bring Feng Conglong to me!"

A black-robed figure appeared, saluted respectfully, and then vanished mysteriously.

A moment later, Feng Conglong, dressed in a grey robe, entered the grand hall. He bowed respectfully and said, "This humble servant pays his respects to Your Majesty!"

Eastern Question offered a faint, amiable smile. He held considerable respect for ministers who were also at the Origin Great Emperor Realm, so he asked in a tone of consultation, "My dear minister, I want you to go to the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court and obtain the method of resurrection!"

If he could control the method of resurrection, it would grant him a heaven-defying opportunity.

It could even allow the Nine Sovereigns Saint’s Court to unify the Middle Region and dominate the Four Regions.

"As you command!" Feng Conglong acknowledged the command without another word.

Despite his powerful cultivation, he still adhered to the conduct expected of a minister and would not disobey the emperor’s command.

Moreover, he was very interested in the resurrection method controlled by the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. Being able to resurrect the dead—did that imply eternal life?

"Bo Zhong, come to Query Peak at once to see me!"

At the Saint Heaven Institute, the Seek Dao Elder flew back from the frontline battlefield. Landing on Query Peak, he sent a message using his soul power.

Bo Zhong was a powerful expert from the Second Era, possessing peak Ten-thousand-year Emperor cultivation!

From a distant mountain peak, a streak of grey light tore through the air, heading towards Query Peak. Terrifying Sword Qi erupted, causing the Void itself to tremble and show faint signs of collapsing.

Once he landed on Query Peak, a formation boundary materialized around it, preventing any external observation.

A few minutes later, Bo Zhong left Query Peak, heading towards the East Border.

The method of resurrection!

The Seek Dao Elder stood on the mountain peak, fists clenched, his eyes burning with fervor, along with a hint of nostalgia and hope.

He missed Han Shuo, the institute’s prodigy who had made him so immensely proud—his beloved descendant. If he could obtain the method of resurrection, he could bring Han Shuo back to life. Then, in the struggle for the Immortal Path, the Saint Heaven Institute might still have a chance.

In the days that followed, numerous powerful Martial Artists emerged from the major holy lands, all streaking through the sky towards the East Border. Though their movements were uncoordinated, they evidently shared the same objective.

Among them were people from the Eternal Temple!

What would their arrival bring to the already war-torn East Border?

「The Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court.」

「The Imperial Study.」

Qin Wudao had just emerged from seclusion and had not yet had a moment’s rest when Zhuge Liang and the others arrived at his door, their expressions grave, as if something calamitous had occurred.

"What’s wrong?" Qin Wudao asked curiously.

"Your Majesty, the three major powers have begun to move against the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court!" Zhuge Liang replied somberly.

Xiao He, Guo Jia, Wang Yangming, Yuan Tiangang, Jia Xu, Li Ru, and the others all stood with furrowed brows, their faces etched with deep concern.

"Have they mobilized their armies?" Qin Wudao asked, inwardly startled. An alliance of the three major powers would exert immense pressure on the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. After all, behind these three powers stood the Holy Lands of the Middle Region.

Ten-thousand-Beast Saint’s Court!

These three factions were all formidable Holy Lands. With the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court’s current strength, it could contend with any single one of them, but not an assault from all three simultaneously.

"Not yet. The three major powers have imposed an economic blockade, prohibiting any merchants from traveling to the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. Simultaneously, they have severed our trade routes and placed merchants of the Qin Dynasty under house arrest!" Zhuge Liang explained, his expression grim.

The rapid development of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court had been largely fueled by stable commerce, which generated substantial tax revenue. Foreign trade was particularly vital, accounting for thirty percent of the Qin Dynasty’s income.

If commerce is disrupted, a large number of merchants will face bankruptcy, directly impacting the nation’s stable progress.

"Is there a solution?" Qin Wudao raised an eyebrow; he now understood why Zhuge Liang and the others were so anxious.

He too understood the critical importance of commerce to the nation. If it were disrupted, many initiatives could not proceed, especially the current expansion of the academies, which demanded vast sums of money.

"There is!" Guo Jia replied gravely, "Through war, we can shift the economic problem into a military one. However, judging by our current situation, we are not yet prepared for war!"

Qin Wudao fell silent, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the tabletop.

This alliance of three major powers... if they weren’t careful, it could drag the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court into an abyss.

Originally, his plan was that after the three major powers occupied the Kylin Territory, internal conflicts would surely arise among them. Then, the Qin Dynasty would launch an attack against one of the factions.

The three major powers themselves were not terrifying; at most, they possessed three Ten-thousand-year Emperors.

What was terrifying were the factions backing these three powers—they had to have at least three Origin Great Emperors!

But... What puzzled him was why the three major powers would join forces against the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court. If it were merely their own decision, it would be manageable. He feared, however, that it was a decision made by the powers behind them. If so, the situation was truly dire.

"Prepare earnestly for war!"

After a moment of contemplation, Qin Wudao did not issue an immediate order to mobilize for war.

"As Your Majesty commands!" The ministers bowed in acknowledgment.

Just then, Xu Chu entered the Imperial Study. He held a piece of intelligence, which he handed to Qin Wudao, saying in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your Majesty, this was sent by Zhang Jiao’s people..."

Qin Wudao’s spirits lifted, and he hurriedly opened it.