The three-hundred-year deadline approached, and every faction was ready for the second meeting. The anticipation was so great that most people did not care that the Blood Earth–one of the six Forbidden Lands–disappeared after a visit from the Heavenly Emperor.
Anyway, the Western Pure Bliss Land was dealt with by Feng Heng, so people began to believe only a few Forbidden Lands would survive this era.
With the second meeting approaching, people waited with bated breath. They hoped and feared this meeting would be as world-changing as the first one. In the past three hundred years, they have experienced the benefit of the Heavenly Court's rule.
They wish the Heavenly Emperor would bring them even more benefit. Of course, some worry about drastically improving the Dao Opening Sect's military and political power. Sadly, such a thing was inevitable and could not be changed.
The day of the meeting:
Everyone stood in the throne room, calmly waiting. Everyone arrived earlier and slowly waited without any signs of impatience. Then, at the allocated time, Wang Wei slowly walked into the room and sat in the chair.
"The officials have seen Your Majesty the Heavenly Emperor."
The voices of thousands of people echoed in the room. Many people did a ninety-degree bow, while those with sufficient strength only saluted with a slight bow.
"At ease," said Wang Wei with a chuckle. He did not take the fact these people referred to themselves as his official to heart. So far, only Wu Ming and a few devil cultivators have habited the court.
Although many were tempted, they seemed to come up with an agreement to continue and wait. However, Wang Wei did not care since time was to his advantage.
While these factions were still indecisive, his Dao Opening Sect was taking full advantage of the court's benefits.
Wang Wei looked at everyone before landing on Xu Shi's.
'A unique Emperor Soul? It should be tempered using Primordial Energy,' analyzed Wang Wei. 'Her strength should have reached the 3-Fold Battle Realm, with the potential to ascend to the 4-Fold Realm.'
Wang Wei could tell Xu Shi was in the process of creating a unique Body Refining Technique; to be precise, she will complete the one she was already cultivating. Once she succeeds and achieves 40 Infant Fiendgod Force, she will enter the 4-Fold Battle Realm.
'A unique technique. From now on, the Academy will have an Insurgent Technique similar to the Ancient Desolate Body Refining Scripture.'
After briefly checking on Xu Shi, Wang Wei did not pay much attention to the others. In such a short period of 300 years, they did not make much improvement–even with the current benefit of the court. Most of these Eternal Level Powerhouses were saving their merit for later use.
Xu Shi made such rapid improvements due to her Time Dao. Like Wang Wei, she has more time to cultivate than everyone else.
"As much as I would love to chat and form a bond between Emperor and Officials. Unfortunately, only a few of you are pleasing to look at. So, let's be direct. Do you have anything to notify me?"
No one cared about the Emperor's rude words. They had already done a character analysis on him and knew he was the type of person who could use societal rules and etiquette to his advantage or directly disregard them.
Furthermore, they also knew the reason for his words. As expected, Patriarch Mo walked to the front.
"The people in the West have been enlightened by the Emperor's words and decided to correct our ways," said Patriarch Mo while bowing. "To repay the Emperor's kindness, we have brought an offering."
Although the Emperor can break the proper etiquette and rules, he could not. Otherwise, these other factions will use such an act against him and the devil cultivators.
With a wave of his hand, a large black cauldron shone with golden lights in the middle of the room. Myriad eyes, full of greed, were directed at it, but no one dared act.
Wang Wei raised his hand, and the cauldron rushed to his hand, shrinking to palm size before arriving. He checked the merit inside and nodded in satisfaction.
"I have to say, Mo Patriarch, you are quite the capable official," commented Wang Wei, not hiding his appreciation for the latter. In such a short time, the man devised a way to save the devil race from extermination. Furthermore, he used the most ruthless and efficient method possible.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the compliment."
"I'm glad I did not have to annihilate you and the devil cultivators. If your plan of betraying the world and introducing a foreign Emperor to deal with me were put in motion, I would have massacred every last one of you."
Patriarch Mo's body trembled as he felt a terrifying gaze weighing on him. Luckily, he never moved from his bowing position; otherwise, he could not fathom the fear of directly facing those eyes.
'How did he know our plan? Did someone betray us? No, with someone of his strength and Dao, it should be easy to divine the truth.'
"Your majesty, my actions back then were nothing but a moment of poor judgment. I promise it will never happen again."
Patriarch Mo knew it was pointless to deny what he did and would bring him even more danger.
"Is that so?" uttered Wang Wei softly. "However, I will feel more secure if I ensure such a thing won't happen again."
A river made of chains manifested behind him as Wang Wei mobilized his Grand Dao Source. Then, he said out loud for everyone to hear:
"Order: From now on, the tribulations of all devil cultivators will be 10 to 100 times harder than normal, judged based on their karmic sins.
"Disorder: Those who survive can wash away part of their karmic sins."
When Wang Wei finished his words, a scroll appeared before him before scattering between Heaven and Earth. The world trembled slightly, but only a few people detected this physical change.
However, every cultivator of Quasi-Emperor or above detected this new change. However, only Immortals and some Quasi-Emperors proficient in divination or calculation knew what had occurred.
Patriarch Mo's face became ugly as he received a transmission from the Insurgent that accompanied him. He knew the Myriad Emperor World's fundamental rules were forcibly changed, making it a hundred times harder for devil cultivators–or people with great karmic sins–to cultivate.
From the Supernatural Realm, cultivators must survive Heavenly Tribulations. But now, 99% of devil cultivators cannot enter the Supernatural Realm.
Patriarch Mo could see the future of the devil cultivators. The already weakened surviving factions will have to abandon most of their Emperor Scriptures that require blood, flesh, soul, or negative emotions to cultivate.
Cultivating disciples or elders will require more resources like Emperor Artifacts to protect them from Heavenly Tribulations. The rise of their future Heaven Chosens will be a hundred times harder.
'At least he left us some hope,' thought Patriarch Mo with a pain in his heart. Washing away karmic sins was extremely difficult, usually only possible through things like merit.
Now, as long as they survived Heavenly Tribulations, they can wash away some of their sins.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy," said Patriarch Mo. Everyone looked at this once ambitious man and secretly sighed. Today's representatives knew it would be virtually impossible for the devil race to thrive or prosper in this world. Their fate is sealed unless they can give birth to an unparalleled genius that could forcefully overcome the current low luck or destiny of the devil cultivators.
Many people secretly sighed in awe at the power of the Heavenly Emperor.
"You're dismissed," said Wang Wei, making Patriarch Mo secretly sighed in relief. He took a few steps back to return to the representatives' side.
Wang Wei finally focused on the representatives.
"The main topic of this meeting is the improvement of mortals' lives," declared Wang Wei before waving his hand to manifest a list. Everyone focused on the list, not missing a single point.
[1. Dao Opening Sect–10 trillion merit points.
[2. Great Jin Dynasty–856,000 merit points.
[3. Heavenly Tree Village–567,987 merit points.
[4. Emperor Enlightening Academy–507,876 merit points.
[5. Di Clan–489,008 merit points.
[6. Western Bliss Sect–434,675 merit points.
[7. Five Elements Balance Palace–345,876 merit points.
[8. Taiyi Profound Gate–320,565 merit points.
[9. Eternal Dream Sect–318, 678 merit points.
[10. Great Talisman City–285,897 merit points.]
The list was longer than these ten factions. However, the discrepancy between the top 10 was very noticeable. Furthermore, the difference between the first and second place made many people frown, wondering if the Heavenly Emperor was playing favorites again.
"I know what you're thinking, but I guarantee there is no fraud in this list," added Wang Wei. "As I said, the main topic of discussion is the livelihood of mortals. Now, I will show you the lives of the mortals in our territory so you will understand the list."
He waved his hand to show them how the mortals in their sect's Domains live. He showed them how they had developed a civilization unique to themselves.
