The unfortunate Xiong Kuohai returned to the Taihang Mountains. In his fury, he single-handedly killed two tigers within the mountains. He was spotted by Wu Yunzhao, who was hunting, and Wu Yunzhao became sworn brothers with Xiong Kuohai.
When Yang Guang traveled to Jiangnan, Xiong Kuohai accompanied Gao Taisheng and other rebel kings to ambush Yang Guang at Siming Mountain. He, along with Wu Yunzhao and Wu Tianxi, fought Yuwen Chengdu for a full day. Despite their combined efforts, they were still defeated by Yuwen Chengdu.
At the rebel kings' competition in Yangzhou, Xiong Kuohai represented Xiangzhou. However, by the time he arrived, the competition had already concluded, and Luo Cheng had claimed the top prize.
The Sui army directly dropped the thousand-jin gate, intending to kill all the rebel kings. Xiong Kuohai braced the gate with his bare hands, allowing the forces of various rebel kings to escape. However, due to hunger and exhaustion, Xiong Kuohai was crushed to death.
After closing Xiong Kuohai's file, Yang Hao gazed at the sixth layer of the Samsara Xuanhuang Pagoda, now completely enveloped in a golden stream of light. Indeed, all the heroes sealed on the sixth layer had now emerged, and the conquest of the Three Thousand Dao Provinces was nearing its end.
He raised his head slightly, looking towards the seventh, eighth, and ninth layers. The remaining three layers would surely house peerless heroes and unparalleled prodigies, who would then illuminate the Great Han Divine Dynasty's conquest in the Immortal Realm!
...
On the second day of the second month of the fortieth year of Great Han, a court session was held in the Xuanzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace.
"Effective immediately, the over seventy Dao Provinces within the Hun Family's territory will be designated as Yangzhou!"
"Effective immediately, the Seven Great Legions will continue to advance eastward to confront the Hong and Chu families, and eradicate the forces of the Hong family's four clans!"
Yang Hao's voice was filled with majesty. This time, no imperial edict was issued to the world. Instead, he directly utilized the nation's destiny, and his voice, emanating from the Xuanzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace, instantly spread throughout the vast Chang'an City. His dragon pronouncements, amplified by the nation's destiny, radiated outwards from Chang'an City as the center!
At this moment, anyone within the territory of the Great Han Divine Dynasty could clearly hear Yang Hao's voice!
"Long live the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!" Su Dan Xiaoshuo Wang
"Long live the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!"
"Long live the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!"
Thousands of races, billions of living beings, were moved and excited at this moment, bowing and kowtowing towards Chang'an City!
The Great Han Divine Dynasty had once again declared to all races that the eight great families of the Central Plains were not to be feared; their positions could be replaced. The Great Han Divine Dynasty, having trampled over the territories of the Jiangzuo families, the Hong family, and the Hun family, had become a dominant force that overshadowed the plane!
This was yet another display of the Great Han Divine Dynasty's national strength!
"Long live the Divine Emperor! Long live the Divine Emperor!"
Within the Xuanzheng Hall, civil and military officials bowed respectfully. At this moment, a hint of a smile appeared on everyone's face. Despite the recent overwhelming workload, their fatigue was swept away. They celebrated the Great Han at this moment!
Cloud Hao, who had submitted after the Cloud Clan Immortal Dynasty, Ye Fei of the Ye family... and so on. These local civil and military officials, from the bottom of their hearts, now acknowledged themselves as citizens of Han, and felt immense pride in being a part of the Great Han Divine Dynasty!
"Four paramount figures have fallen!!"
Ye Fei let out a faint sigh, shaking his head. The repeated immense shock had rendered him numb.
The countless officials present might not know how powerful a peak Chaos Dao Venerable figure was, but he was acutely aware that each of them had lived through an era. With a mere flick of their finger, they could alter the balance of power among the Three Thousand Dao Provinces. Perhaps with a single word, a paramount force could rise above the plane!
Yet, such powerful beings had been slain by the heroes of Great Han. Even with the combined forces of the Hun family and the Jiangzuo families resisting, the Great Han legions had uprooted them, completely eradicating them from the Central Plains. The Hong family's four clans, which had commanded awe for half an era, were now mere shells of their former selves.
"Rise!" Yang Hao smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Divine Emperor!"
The civil and military officials thanked him for his grace and bowed solemnly to Yang Hao. The officials then lined up, standing on either side.
Yang Hao's gaze swept across the civil and military officials. He said calmly, "My esteemed ministers, do you have any further reports?" As soon as his words fell, Prime Minister Li Si strode forward, bowed deeply, and respectfully said, "Your humble servant has an important matter to report!"
"Speak."
Yang Hao glanced at Prime Minister Li Si and spoke calmly.
"Divine Emperor, Commander Wei Xiaokuan led the Seven Great Legions to sweep through the allied forces of the Jiangzuo families and the Hun family. Two of the Hong family's four clans have been dealt with. Your humble servant believes that the current situation is completely under the control of our Great Han Divine Dynasty, and we can begin to sweep through the Central Plains!"
"The Seven Great Legions will continue to advance eastward to deal with the remnants of the Hong family's four clans. However, recent secret reports from the Brocade Guard and the Wang family's four clans have described a terrifying piece of news!" Li Si said respectfully.
Li Si was deeply worried. This matter might have already begun. With the demise of the Jiangzuo families and the Hun family, their cautiousness had turned into outright arrogance and shamelessness.
He understood very well why the Hong family's four clans were now aggressively harvesting. It was to awaken, or help the injured Candle Dragon to quickly recover to its peak, and once again plot for the world, using the blood of living beings.
"Speak?"
Yang Hao's expression remained unchanged. The twelve jade pendants of his imperial crown all emanated golden flowing light, with colorful star rivers swirling, appearing exceptionally majestic!
"Within the Chu family's territory, the living beings of various races across more than half of the land have vanished into thin air, leaving not even a trace of a corpse!"
Li Si exhaled softly and said respectfully.
"What do the Wang family's four clans say?" Yang Hao asked.
At this moment, the civil and military officials in the hall became nervous. Although the Hun family's territory was not vast, with over seventy Dao Provinces, the complete disappearance of living beings in more than half of its territory, while not particularly noticeable compared to the entire plane or the Western Territory, was still alarming. The Hun family's territory had been a place of prosperity for an era, and the races and beings living there were much stronger than those in the Western and Northern Regions. Their complete disappearance, without a single survivor and no trace of their bodies, began to make them uneasy.
"It's a blood sacrifice!"
"Blood sacrifice?"
Changsun Wuji and others slightly furrowed their brows, their expressions gradually turning grim. Blood sacrifice was a forbidden art that violated natural laws, utilizing the bloodlines and lives of billions of beings from myriad races to refine pure life essence, which would be used to repair the damage inflicted upon the Candle Dragon by the great formation over an era. This method, though seemingly cruel, was indeed the fastest and most effective way to restore power.
"Divine Emperor, the Wang family's four clans also reported that the main armies of the Hong and Chu families are rapidly disappearing. Within a few days, their strength has been reduced by two-thirds!" Li Si added again.
"My esteemed ministers, how do you think this matter should be resolved?"
Yang Hao's gaze shifted slightly. He looked at the civil and military officials standing in the hall. These four clans of the Hong family were likely desperate.