"Ding! Congratulations to the host, the White Tiger Legion has successfully captured the north gate of the Demon Cloud Palace, gaining ten million killing points!"
"Hmm?"
Yang Hao put down the memorials he was holding. The imperial desk was piled high with them, most concerning the planning and construction of various prefectures and regions on the Northern Continent, as well as the implementation of Han Dynasty policies and laws.
"With the north gate of the Demon Cloud Palace conquered, the demise of the Western Continent's demons is not far off!"
Yang Hao said softly, looking at Li Si who was handling official business below. Li Si and other ministers immediately rose to congratulate Yang Hao.
"How is the investigation into the Barbarian Great Priest?"
Yang Hao spoke softly, looking at Mao Xiang, Yao Li, and Jing Ke beside him. He had a premonition that the Barbarian Great Priest was no ordinary being, exuding a subtle pressure. His elemental energy felt out of place with the countless martial artists from various tribes in the Cangyuan World.
At the Han Dynasty's ascension ceremony, he alone greedily eyed the Nine Cauldrons of Destiny. The nine-level Nine Cauldrons of Destiny had reached the pinnacle of this plane, imbuing the nation with immeasurable destiny.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Embroidered Uniform Guard under my command is spread across the Northern, Western, and Southern Barbarian continents of the Cangyuan World. We have gathered three thousand five hundred and forty-two pieces of information and data regarding the Barbarian Great Priest from various sources!"
Mao Xiang glanced at Yao Li beside him, his eyes slightly solemn.
"Your Majesty, the Dark Shadow Hall under my command has infiltrated shadowy places everywhere, gathering secrets from various major powers and countless tribes and clans. We have meticulously selected and compiled sixty-four thousand two hundred and thirty-one letters related to the Barbarian Great Priest!"
"After collecting it, we have jointly transferred it to the Eastern Depot along with the information and data found by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"
Yao Li's voice was ethereal and chillingly cold.
Yang Hao's eyes flickered as he surveyed the hall. Not seeing Wei Zhongxian, he nodded.
"Are the teleportation arrays in the major cities of the Northern Continent gradually taking shape?"
Yang Hao asked Li Si.
"Your Majesty, Yuan Tiangang, the Director of the Imperial Observatory, has established eighteen teleportation arrays on the Northern Continent, which are basically functioning normally!"
Li Si bowed slightly and reported respectfully. The recovery of the newly occupied territories was crucial and required utmost attention. It was vital for further consolidating power and establishing prestige.
"Very good!"
"With the north gate of the Demon Cloud Palace in our hands, we can next station our troops at the Demon Cloud Palace. The Western Continent's demons, this overlord of the Western Continent, must be properly dealt with."
"Your Majesty!"
At this moment, Wei Zhongxian hurried into the hall from outside and bowed.
"Dismissed. How is the investigation?"
"Your Majesty!"
Wei Zhongxian's expression changed, his demeanor solemn. "After reviewing the information and data from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Dark Shadow Hall, and conducting comprehensive investigations, we can barely find any trace of the Barbarian Great Priest's origins."
"Hmm?"
Everyone in the hall looked at Wei Zhongxian with concern. The Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Dark Shadow Hall were institutions capable of digging up the smallest details. How could they not uncover the background of a martial artist in the Cangyuan World?
"That's right. There is no record whatsoever of the Barbarian Great Priest's origins. In the records, the Barbarian Great Priest first appeared in the Cangyuan World as a top-tier Venerable."
"The previous Demon Ancestor emerged from the Hall of Supreme Beings. Over the sea, he killed a group of top-tier Venerables. As he was drawn by some force and ascended to a higher plane, a mysterious expert emerged from the same void."
"According to the preserved records of major powers such as the Celestial Demon Clan, Four-Eyed Clan, Barbarian Clan, and Demon Clan, the Barbarian Great Priest could freely traverse the void, and with a single glance, he deterred the previous Demon Ancestor, who had already entered the Hall of Supreme Beings. His strength was unfathomable!"
"This is also the fundamental reason why the Demon Clan fears the Barbarian Clan. Even the previous Demon Ancestor, who had entered the Hall of Supreme Beings, dared not suppress the Barbarian Great Priest. Your Majesty, this Barbarian Great Priest is likely at the pinnacle of martial arts."
"Can freely traverse the void?"
Yang Hao stood up gravely and paced the hall. He had long been aware of Guichen the Demon Lord dissolving into the void. Even Guichen, a top-tier Venerable, was powerless within the void. Yet, this Barbarian Great Priest could traverse it freely.
"Your Majesty, after the previous Demon Ancestor ascended to a higher plane, the Barbarian Great Priest spent a hundred thousand years, his footsteps covering the Northern, Western, Eastern Wilds, and Southern Barbarian continents, establishing close contact with countless tribes in the Cangyuan World."
"Wherever he went, he would stop and carefully observe the martial artists of the tribe. After ten thousand years of observation, the Barbarian Great Priest finally settled in Hèyún City in the Southern Continent."
"Tens of thousands of years later, an ultimate powerhouse emerged, leading the Barbarian tribe to sweep across the eastern part of the Southern Barbarian Continent, annexing countless tribes. In just a few tens of thousands of years, he unified the Southern Continent and reached the realm of a top-tier Venerable. That person is the current Barbarian Emperor!"
"The core seed of the continent has condensed, and the elemental energy of the Cangyuan World is declining, insufficient to support martial artists' cultivation. The Barbarian Emperor achieving the realm of a top-tier Venerable in this dark age is remarkable!"
Li Si frowned slightly. The condensation of the continent's core seed would drain four-fifths of the Cangyuan World's elemental energy. Achieving the realm of a top-tier Venerable in a period of scarce elemental energy was no simple feat.
"It's the Barbarian Great Priest!"
Fang Xuanling exclaimed urgently. As soon as he spoke, all eyes in the hall turned to him.
"Your Majesty!"
Fang Xuanling bowed respectfully. "To enable the Barbarian Emperor to reach the pinnacle of martial arts in an era of scarce elemental energy, only the Great Priest who emerged from the void could have done so."
"He can ignore the corrosive power of the void and deter the Demon Ancestor who held the origin of the Cangyuan World. It is likely that this Great Priest is either from a higher plane or is an ultimate powerhouse who also holds the origin of a plane!"
Yang Hao looked at Fang Xuanling and said in a deep voice, "The origin of a lower plane is a precious item for the cultivation path of a higher plane. It can complete the cultivation path. This Great Priest emerged from the void and entered the Cangyuan World. What would be worth him taking such a risk to come here? It is likely the origin of the Cangyuan World."
"Only this item could catch his eye. In the vast expanse of territory, what else is worth him crossing the void and forcefully descending to this realm?"
His words plunged everyone in the hall into deep thought. Much information about the Great Priest had been received, but it was all trivial, failing to uncover his true identity or intentions.
All current deductions were mere speculation. The Great Dao of this plane was incomplete, allowing only the attainment of the top-tier Venerable realm. However, even among top-tier Venerables, there were vast disparities in strength and combat power.
Yang Hao had long informed the ministers of the Military Council about the origin of the Cangyuan World. The Hai Shen Island in the higher plane had strategically positioned the Hall of Supreme Beings in the Cangyuan World to extract the plane's origin from martial artists, thereby completing their cultivation path.