Hearing Zheng Qizi's suggestion, Lucas contemplated thoughtfully. "Take action? Good idea! The forces of both the jianghu and imperial court have gathered at Dachan Temple. If I subdue them all, the entire Middle Thousand World would fall under my control."
Zheng Qizi: "Indeed! Especially those two Kings of Artifacts—they're the most valuable treasures. Though they're mere wreckage now, they should be recoverable, right? Repairing a King of Artifacts must be far less challenging than creating one from scratch."
Lucas: "Certainly! In the original timeline, both the Good Fortune Boat and the Eternal Kingdom were eventually restored. But with my presence, they need not follow their original fate."
Lucas smiled slightly as he stepped across space, deliberately canceling his aura concealment and appearing before everyone present.
"Who is that?"
His sudden appearance startled the gathered crowd—an unidentified powerful figure materializing from nowhere.
The unfathomable aura emanating from Lucas openly revealed his immense strength. The unexpected arrival of such a formidable unknown on the battlefield naturally provoked anxiety among all present.
"Who are you, sir?"
A middle-aged man wearing a dragon robe appeared, his soul body suspended in mid-air across from Lucas. He addressed Lucas with a deep, commanding voice.
"Me? I'm the one who's come to stop your fighting, and the one who's come to conquer you all."
Lucas replied calmly, his smile unwavering.
" conquer us? Such arrogance!"
The middle-aged man in the dragon robe bristled with anger upon hearing these words. Without further exchange, he struck out with his palm. A powerful surge of energy shot forth, hurtling toward Lucas.
In the chat group:
Zheng Qizi: "This is Emperor Dagan? He doesn't seem particularly impressive!"
Xiao Xuan: "Could he have failed to perceive the Group Leader's true power?"
Dongfang Yuechu: "Either he's too weak to sense the Group Leader's full capabilities, or he's too arrogant to recognize how vast the heavens truly are. Either way, attacking the Group Leader so impulsively reveals his fundamental flaws."
Lucas: "Don't be too harsh on him—he possesses some genuine talent. Besides, as an emperor, he must maintain his dignity!"
Han Fei: "Indeed! Group Leader was rather direct, announcing his intention to incorporate them immediately upon arrival. Ordinary people would find such declarations offensive, let alone an emperor."
Uchiha Madara: "Though this Dagan Emperor shows excessive confidence against the Group Leader, I admire his courage. If he lost his resolve to fight merely because an opponent seemed unfathomable, that would be truly pathetic."
Zheng Qizi: "That makes sense! He commands the Central Plain Dynasty as emperor. If he lacked even the courage to test an opponent who merely appears powerful, then the successor of the ancient Good Fortune Dao that once dominated the world would be utterly spiritless."
Lucas: "Your assumptions are incorrect! Although the royal family obtained the Good Fortune Dao inheritance, it wasn't received by the emperor before us. Specifically, Prince Yang Pan, currently a young man, is the Good Fortune Boat's true owner."
Zheng Qizi: "His son obtained the Good Fortune Dao inheritance? Impressive! One person obtains the Dao and the entire family ascends to heaven—the emperor is truly fortunate! Where is his son? I want to see what the Good Fortune Dao successor looks like."
Lucas: "At the Imperial Army's center, do you see those two imposing young men? One wears a dragon-patterned robe while the other wears golden dragon armor. The young man in the dragon robe is Yang Pan, Prince of Great Gan, possessor of the Good Fortune Boat."
Xiao Xuan: "This individual reminds me strongly of Hun Tian. They seem cut from the same cloth. If the Good Fortune Dao selected such a successor, perhaps that's not particularly encouraging."
Lucas: "Yang Pan does share similarities with Hun Tian, but significant differences exist. Primarily, Yang Pan isn't as cold-hearted—he values fundamental friendship!"
Golden Lion Shiki: "No way! I didn't expect to encounter such a familiar plot I haven't seen in ages. His friend must be the young man in golden dragon armor?"
Zheng Qizi: "That's the legendary armor left by ancient Sage Emperor Pan Huang—the Tianshi Dragon Armor. Only pure martial arts practitioners can wear it. Though the young man wears golden dragon armor, I'm unsure if he belongs to the royal family."
Senju Tobirama: "Definitely not! If both young men shared the same family, Group Leader would never use 'friendship' to describe their relationship. He would instead reference brother-complex or sister-complex."
Golden Lion Shiki: "Shihahahaha! Who claimed family members must develop brother-complexes? Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui belong to the same family! Their relationship is based on friendship, not obsession."
Senju Tobirama: "Fair point. I was careless!"
Uchiha Shisui: "..."
Lucas: "The two young men aren't from the same family. The one wearing golden dragon armor is named Hong Xuanji. His relationship with Yang Pan is officially monarch and minister, but it transcends ordinary political bonds."
Pirate King Roger: "How close is their relationship?"
Lucas: "Yang Pan cultivates his soul, and to reach Yang God level, he requires a powerful body at human immortal level. Hong Xuanji primarily cultivates his physical body through martial arts and can contribute his body to Yang Pan."
Irisviel von Einzbern: "What touching friendship! No wonder Group Leader said their relationship exceeds normal boundaries."
Lancelot: "That's not necessarily exceptional. Dedicating one's body and even life for one's lord is something many knights would do."
Lucas: "Silence! You're a knight who harbored inappropriate feelings for your lord's wife. What qualifications do you have to speak on this matter? I believe you might dedicate your body to King Arthuria, but are your feelings absolutely pure?"
Lancelot: "..."
Speechless!
In the outside world:
Lucas waved his hand, unleashing pure white flames that instantly consumed Emperor Dagan's attack energy. The white flames then soared skyward, forming a rain of fire that descended upon the entire Central Plain area. The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame's power enveloped the region completely.
The Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame possesses three primary characteristics: burning, illusion, and purification. Lucas currently employed its illusion power, controlling all high-ranking court officials and martial arts experts present as they stood transfixed before him.
"Perfect!"
Lucas nodded with satisfaction as he surveyed the entranced figures.
Zheng Qizi appeared beside him and hesitantly asked, "Group Leader, what do you intend to do with them?"
Lucas grinned. "Naturally, I'll make the world a better place. I'm a good person. If you doubt this, ask the other group members—I've never harmed any member's world."
Zheng Qizi sighed with relief before asking, "Then what exactly are you planning?"
Lucas explained, "This newly established country's treasury is empty, which has attracted victorious ships and barbarian invasions from all directions. To maintain sufficient strength against these barbarians, the imperial court had to increase taxation on citizens. This isn't good—it's very bad!"
Lucas clapped his hands and continued solemnly, "Today's Dachan Temple represents a cancer for Middle Thousand World—this is undeniable. However, since they've earned some credit fighting demons and heretics, they won't face complete destruction."
"While they may escape the death penalty, they cannot evade punishment."
"The wealth accumulated by Dachan Temple must be confiscated, and their practice of collecting money from believers must be restricted. These monks don't understand how precious those few copper coins are to common people who work tirelessly for their earnings."
As Lucas finished speaking, a monk with pure white flames in his eyes stepped forward—the current Dachan Temple abbot. He calmly acknowledged Lucas's assessment and declared Dachan Temple's decision to follow Lucas's directives.
Zheng Qizi smiled. "Though this will severely diminish Dachan Temple's power, it's preferable to complete annihilation. Not everyone present is local—many come from barbaric lands in the four directions. Do you intend to use these scattered cultivators as spies?"
Lucas responded disdainfully, "Spies? With their meager strength, they don't warrant such low-level tactics. Actually, aren't there group members who wish to cultivate their souls? Both exercises and opponents are available here—those interested should register immediately."
Han Fei: "Group Leader, I want to visit the Yang God World to practice. Beyond cultivating soul skills, I need evenly matched opponents to hone my combat effectiveness. My world's power level is rather low—I couldn't find suitable sparring partners."
Dongfang Yuechu: "Count me in! The Fox Spirit World's cultivation techniques are somewhat basic for me. To reach the Third Young Master of Aolai Country's level, I require more advanced techniques and worthy opponents."
Lucas: "In that case, come join us! @Xiao Xuan, bring your Xiao Chen as well! Blind practice yields limited results—he needs actual combat experience. This world offers precisely the right opponents for him."
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