This time, when they incorporate the grassland territories, each of their powers will have the opportunity to obtain a significant piece of land as their own fiefdom.
However, despite the vastness of these grasslands spanning millions of miles, only a few places truly catch the eye of these great powers.
"What, Mr. Xue, do you plan to be my neighbor?" Zhao Baiyang smiled at the corner of his mouth.
Xue Wuheng's face turned cold, he sneered, "As the leader of my cult, I'd like to keep as far away from you as possible so as not to be dragged into your mess."
Although they are referred to as the Demonic Cult, the cult has remained quite stable for several centuries, rarely causing disturbances in the world of martial arts.
But Zhao Baiyang is very different. Since his fame began, or rather since he made his debut, he has never been overcome by complacency, stirring up countless disputes within the martial arts community.
It is no exaggeration to say that before Pei Xuanjing made his debut, the person most capable of causing trouble in the martial arts world should be Zhao Baiyang and his Mire Sect.
Facing this kind of individual, although Xue Wuheng cooperates with him, he would absolutely not choose to base the Demonic Cult in the grasslands next door to him.
At present, the strength of the Demonic Cult has not yet fully recovered to its peak. What they need most is to recuperate and store up their energy. If they are neighbours with him, and one day there is an issue, they are bound to be implicated.
Zhao Baiyang was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head lightly and said with a smile, "Mr. Xue might be too cautious, after all, you are the famous master of the Demonic Cult!"
"Hehe." Xue Wuheng did not bite, only sneering at him.
Zhao Baiyang didn't care and mentioned the location he wanted to select.
In fact, he knows that this is all just a joke. Under no circumstances would their bases be situated close together. Because both parties understand that they are like two hedgehogs. Although they can huddle together for warmth, if they approach too closely, the effect will be opposite.
Apart from these two discussing where to select their domains, the rest of the major powers are also doing the same.
The factions of the Taoist School, the Family Alliance, as well as the second-tier powers in the Jianghu, and distinguished martial artists who have accomplished great deeds all do the same.
Even the Buddhism School, which normally pretends to be uninterested in worldly matters, has now set aside its composure and begun planning its territory.
After all, the benefits this time are too tempting. No power or individual would willingly give up this opportunity, as they do not know if there will be a second chance if they miss this one.
At this moment, everyone is eyeing this vast prairie, eager for a piece of the pie. At the same time, they are also secretly wary, worried that the Great Ming imperial court, tempted by the enormous profits, will renege on their promises.
As for Mr. Wu, once he has handled his affairs, he shows no concern for their allocation of benefits, he's not interested in these profits. After getting a guide from Wang Bo'an, he embarks alone to enter the pass and head towards Shenxiao Mountain.
As far as he is concerned, nothing at present compares to the upcoming transaction with Pei Xuanjing. If he can leverage the influence of this number one person in the world, his significant cost to return to his ancestral land early will reap some benefits.
As for the Xue Hanyi siblings and Mu Binghua, they didn't leave. After all, Pei Xuanjing had not invited Mu Binghua to follow him again, so it would seem a bit intentional to follow him now.
The Xue Hanyi siblings finally escaped from Pei Xuanjing's clutches and naturally wouldn't walk right into his trap. According to their initial agreement with Pei Xuanjing, as long as they abide by the rules, they won't be targeted.
Moreover, Pei Xuanjing has already delayed them for four or five years. Now, with their current strength, even if they face two people at the Spirit Realm Third Level, there wouldn't be much of a gap. The threat they pose has also lessened significantly, so there's no need to be particularly vigilant.
Shenxiao Mountain has regained its former glory over the past decades, especially after the convening of Shenxiao's grand assembly. Pei Xuanjing displayed his godly might, single-handedly fighting with more than a dozen Spirit Realm experts, and subjugating the Xue Hanyi twins, which made him famous throughout the world.
At this moment in Great Ming, you may not know the name of the emperor, but if you don't know about Shenxiao Mountain, then you are not a martial artist of the Divine Continent.
In fact, there is no need for a guide. You can find the direction to Shenxiao Mountain just by asking around.
After half a month, Mr. Wu finally arrived at the base of Shenxiao Mountain.
And when he arrived at the foot of Shenxiao Mountain, Tao Rong had already arrived.
"May I ask if you are Mr. Wu of the Witch Deity Teaching? I am Tao Rong, an elder of Shenxiao Mountain. I was ordered by our leader to receive you." Said Tao Rong.
He was sent by Pei Xuanjing to welcome Mr. Wu. Regarding this mysterious powerhouse from the top power in Sky Wasteland, Tao Rong wasn't too humble, his language was neither humble nor arrogant, and his progress was measured.
"Indeed, it is I. Thank you for your trouble." Mr. Wu replied.
Pei Xuanjing's previous move revealed that Pei Xuanjing didn't just cultivate both body and qi, but was a powerhouse who cultivated three paths.
The Witch Deity Teaching just happens to be very proficient in the path of Refining Spirit, so he wasn't surprised that Pei Xuanjing knew about his arrival.
"Please follow me!"
Under Tao Rong's leadership, Mr. Wu ascended Shenxiao Mountain and entered a grand hall on the mountain.
"Please rest here for a moment. The leader will be here soon."
"Many thanks, Elder Tao."
Tao Rong nodded and then left.
Mr. Wu quietly sat on a chair in the hall, his eyes slightly closed, thinking over things in his mind.
Along the way, he gained more and more information about Pei Xuanjing and formed a clearer understanding of this man's character.
Ever since he had risen to prominence, Pei Xuanjing had been decisive in his killing, but he distinguished between grievances clearly, valued promises, had never broken his word, and was not a man of many tricks. Of course, he absolutely couldn't tolerate deception, otherwise it would provoke his thunderous wrath.
From the way he behaved, Mr. Wu was sure that if he really chose to cooperate, then this national teacher would indeed be a good partner to cooperate with.
"A mortal divine dynasty, this is something many kingdoms, ancient countries, and even imperial empires in Sky Wasteland have been trying to achieve for a long time but could never achieve. It's unthinkable that someone in the ancestral land might be close to achieving it." Mr. Wu thought to himself.
The plan for a mortal divine dynasty is simple to say but difficult to implement. Many forces in Sky Wasteland have this type of strength, but they dare not actually attempt it because they all have various reservations.
Because the plan for a mortal divine dynasty, reputedly a method close to Becoming Immortal, has attracted the covetous gazes of countless people and forces, it has also caused a catastrophe that swept across countless forces and countless powerhouses throughout the ancestral land.
But the catastrophe that occurred in Tang Dynasty thousands of years ago was too enormous. Countless powerhouses fell during it, and who knows how many ancient forces were extinguished because of it.
Given such a precedent, even though the remaining various powers later left the Ancestral Land for the Sky Wasteland, they still held deep reservations about this matter, and very few news disseminated among the people.
Furthermore, to prevent making the same mistakes again, they agreed that this matter should not be brought up again, and that the plan of Divine Dynasty should not be implemented.
Although this solution may seem unpalatable, it has been handed down in order to prevent such a catastrophe from recurring.
However, they probably did not expect that the very thing they refrained doing in the Sky Wasteland – has already been started by someone in the Ancestral Land.
Moreover, this person has formidable strength and influence, and has almost completed all preparations. It only takes a few more steps to carry out this plan.
"Perhaps, when those ancient powers return, they will be dumbfounded in the face of a true Divine Dynasty." Mr. Wu chuckled to himself.
However, the existence of such a Divine Dynasty may also provoke the fear of all ancient powers, making it the target of all arrows.
Nothing can be foreseen.
These are things that even Mr. Wu cannot predict. Until that day arrives, no one would dare to assert.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting."
The voice of Pei Xuanjing broke Mr. Wu's reverie.
He rose to his feet, and said with a smile: "You're too modest."
Both of them seated themselves. After Tao Rong served tea, he respectfully withdrew.
"Your speed is truly beyond my expectations." Pei Xuanjing began with a smile.
Mr. Wu smiled back, saying: "It's simply a reflection of my eagerness to work with you."
"Haha, such compliments make me feel embarrassed," Pei Xuanjing modestly replied, shaking his head.
Mr. Wu added, "There are countless individuals who aspire to cooperate with you in this world, and I have not exaggerated in the slightest."
He was not complimenting, but stating the truth.
Considering Pei Xuanjing's current status and strength, there were undoubtedly countless people who wanted to cooperate with him.
Leaving the far-fetched examples aside, wouldn't Mu Binghua of Heart Moon Lake and the siblings Xue Hanyi of the Da Xue ancient country want to deepen their cooperation with Pei Xuanjing?
They just gave up due to the lack of items of sufficient value to offer!
Had it not been for Pei Xuanjing's intention to implement the Divine Dynasty Plan, and his fortunate possession of some related information, he would not have had the opportunity to sit here to talk about cooperation with Pei Xuanjing.
Otherwise, if his request had been anything else, he, being utterly destitute, wouldn't have been able to offer anything in exchange. Thus, the conversation about cooperation would have been futile.
After all, there was no any prior relationship between them, and one can't possibly talk about trade without offering something concrete, as nobody would trust that.
Pei Xuanjing nodded and said, "I appreciate your sincerity."
"Since that's the case, today I would like you to bring out the things that you mentioned earlier. As long as they are valuable enough, I will agree to the initial terms."
"If what you bring out is not enough to fulfill those two conditions, but yet proves useful, I will provide the corresponding compensation as a price. How does that sound?"
Pei Xuanjing stated his demands straightforwardly, then waited for a response.
Currently, he did not know the extent of the information the other party held, nor whether it would be useful to him. Therefore, he was unable to make a proper judgment whether it would be worthwhile to make the trade.
However, once you hear the information and find it lacking, you can't just forget about it. Therefore, you must provide some compensation.
Although this might appear as if he is at a slight disadvantage, it seemed the only option available. If the other party does not agree, then there is nothing to be done.
Mr. Wu, after listening to this, smiled even more and agreed, saying, "If you insist, who am I to refuse?"
Ultimately, neither party could determine exactly how much information the other held, or whether there was any overlap. If there was too much repetition, the value would naturally diminish.
The method proposed by Pei Xuanjing had already done the best he could to protect his own interests. Although it put him at a slight disadvantage, his attitude was commendable, proving that he genuinely sought a fair trade.
The most important point was that the other party's performance was largely consistent with the information he had obtained, allowing him to believe that once the trade was concluded, the other party would truly stick to the agreement.
Pei Xuanjing gestured and said: "Then I'm all ears."
"Excellent!" Mr. Wu nodded slightly and began speaking, "The Divine Dynasty, it originally stemmed from an idea envisioned by the Ruler of the Ancient Human Race. They wanted to enthrone the spirits of those who died for the human race as Gods, allowing them to exist forever, master the rules of Heaven and Earth, and bless the human race…"
Unfortunately, this plan was never actually implemented. The specific reasons behind this are unknown, with only bits and pieces of information left behind, of which even Mr. Wu knows very little.
The dynasties and empires of the later generations all attempted to truly implement this plan in order to make their empires last forever.
It can be said that since ancient times and before the Tang Dynasty, every dynasty or empire that dominated the world had once tried to put this plan into action. However, whether they were successful, no one knows.
"Huh?" Pei Xuanjing raised his brows, asking in confusion, "According to the information I have, didn't those formidable imperial dynasties all fail and collapse? Otherwise, if any dynasty or empire had succeeded, why would they willingly give up their empire and allow their royal dynasty to be destroyed and replaced by others?"
Hearing Pei Xuanjing's confusion, Mr. Wu gave a mysterious smile and asked, "With countless powerful figures in the Cultivation World and the top powers all being guarded by the ultimate figures of the Nine Realms of Spirit, these forces can last for tens of thousands of years. And as for the existence that can dominate these forces and establish an imperial court, can they really be so easily destroyed?"
Pei Xuanjing nodded silently. The words did indeed make sense.
This world is different from the world in his previous life, where even the wisest rulers would inevitably decay and fall after their death, and subsequent generations would eventually succeed in overcoming their dynasties and empires.
Given the existence of so many top powers in this world, the founders of empires and dynasties that could dominate the world must have extraordinary strength and exceptionally long lives. Their control over their empires and dynasties far exceeded the ordinary. How could such empires and dynasties easily fall and be overthrown by others?
There must be some hidden secrets involved. After all, no one is willing to give up power and the empire they have established easily.
Pei Xuanjing heard Mr. Wu say, "Not to mention other aspects, take the Da Xue ancient country of the Sky Wasteland realm for an instance. Originating from the vassal states of the Heavenly Zhou era, although its power has never truly reached its peak, it has persisted for millions of years. If they were able to endure, wouldn't other empires and dynasties do the same instead of easily falling?"
He turned to Pei Xuanjing, revealing an extremely covert piece of information even in the Sky Wasteland: "Since a few thousand years ago, after the downfall of our ancestral land, these major powers could choose to leave their ancestral land and seek a new world that is suitable for survival. What about those empires and dynasties that once dominated the world? A conjecture has always existed. A certain restraint on the lifespan of the empires' and dynasties of our ancestral land exists. When their lifespan was about to end, they chose to leave?"
Whoosh!
Mr. Wu's words astounded Pei Xuanjing, making him suddenly enlightened, with a feeling of sudden insight.
He had always been perplexed about why the world of cultivation's empires and dynasties were so easily destroyed and replaced by new ones, considering the existence time of these empires. Even from the founding of the dynasty to its demise, many strong pioneers should still have existed. So why did none appear till the end?
Now, this answer undoubtedly provided Pei Xuanjing with a reasonable explanation. It also reminded him of some information from his past life, leading him to a similar conjecture.
"Could it be imagined that for all the dynasties and empires that had unified the world, they all faced mysterious constraints? If they were unable to fulfil certain conditions, or if they exceeded a certain time, they would be targeted by Heaven and Earth. So those dynasties chose to leave this world to escape disaster?" Pei Xuanjing voiced his speculation.
Mr. Wu's eyes gleamed, he nodded and said, "Perhaps there is such a possibility."
Pei Xuanjing frowned slightly, thinking that in the future, he might not only face the departed strong ones of the Sky Wasteland, but possibly even the ancient empires and dynasties.
No!
It's not the future; it's likely already happened.
A bold conjecture came to Pei Xuanjing's mind, his heart sinking abruptly.
After his first life simulation since ascending to the Spirit Realm, the world in which his projection was embodied, the World of Myriad Manifestations, also had a Great Tang Empire.
"Is there a connection between this Great Tang Empire and the historical Great Tang Empire of this world?" Pei Xuanjing thought to himself.
Suddenly he realized that the more power he acquired, the more mysteries seemed to appear before his eyes. It felt like being in a fog, with secrets lurking everywhere.
However, even if there was any connection between the Great Tang Empire of the World of Myriad Manifestations and that of the Daming World, there was no way to know. After all, he initially went to that world with the help of a simulator.
Even if he wants to find that world with his current strength, it is simply impossible. He could only jot this down secretly and wait until his strength increased in the future.
He set aside his miscellaneous thoughts and quietly waited for Mr. Wu to continue.
"I apologize for going off-topic. However, I believe this information would be useful for you, considering it's remarkably covert even in the Sky Wasteland."
Mr. Wu apologized, but his expression suggested otherwise. It seemed intentional, like he deliberately shared this information with Pei Xuanjing.
Pei Xuanjing didn't refute it, only smiled subtly and said, "Being able to casually discuss such hidden matters, indeed, suggests that you are not an ordinary person. It piques my curiosity about your origin and identity."
Indeed, after capturing the siblings Xue Hanyi, Pei Xuanjing wanted to acquire some information about Tang Dynasty's previous era from them.
Unfortunately, the result was not promising. Even though they are from established forces, they were unaware of the relevant information. They even told Pei Xuanjing that the information about the era before the Tang Dynasty in the Sky Wasteland belongs to forbidden knowledge—untouchable.
But such covert and even forbidden information came out so easily from Mr. Wu's mouth. It suggested more than just his origins from the Witch Deity Teaching, which was a more superior force than the Da Xue ancient country.
Thus, Mr. Wu is undoubtedly extraordinary, with shocking secrets hidden within him.
Honestly, encountering such a mysterious figure, especially one willing to form an alliance and trade with him, stirred doubt in Pei Xuanjing. He pondered whether he should engage in the proposed trade.
After all, if it involved a highly covert or forbidden matter, his current strength wouldn't suffice to handle it.
Unaware of Pei Xuanjing's hesitation, Mr. Wu, inadvertently carrying on with a calm demeanor, laughed and continued his narration, "Regarding the Divine Dynasty Plan on earth, although it's taboo for various forces and is not to be freely circulated, details about it are continually speculated and scrutinized. After thousands of years, a complete plan for this Divine Dynasty on earth has emerged."
"No wonder you are so confident," Pei Xuanjing jokingly replied. Although surprised, he didn't find it unexpected.
Some things that are more prohibited are more irresistible. Having the potential to relate to immortality, although the strong prohibitions forbid it, how could they easily give up?
Mr. Wu continued, "To establish the Divine Dynasty, apart from unifying the world and gathering sufficient Qi luck, the most crucial thing is to undertake a sacrificial ceremony!"
"Sacrificial Ceremony!" Pei Xuanjing frowned and asked, "Is there a principle to worshipping Heaven and Earth?"
"Correct. To mold the Sealing Heaven Altar, to worship Heaven and Earth, and to gain the favor of Heaven and Earth are crucial steps in establishing the Divine Dynasty," Mr. Wu said seriously. "But do you know, after the sacrificial ceremony of Heaven and Earth, Heaven and Earth will bestow the Golden Book and Jade Scroll? The quality of the Golden Book and Jade Scroll varies based on different levels of sacrifice."
"There are different levels to the Golden Book and Jade Scroll?" Pei Xuanjing asked, puzzled.
From the legacy passed down by the Shenxiao Sect, he knew indeed that once the Divine Dynasty was successfully established, it would be rewarded by Heaven and Earth with the Golden Book and Jade Scroll. However, he didn't know that there were different levels to the Golden Book and Jade Scroll.
After all, the Shenxiao Sect had planned for a long time, but they never succeeded, so they didn't know about this matter.
It seemed Mr. Wu, indeed was extraordinary. He possessed a lot of secret information, which made Pei Xuanjing more curious about him, and simultaneously, increased his wariness.