Chapter 327: Eastern Domain Map

Chapter 327: Eastern Domain Map

January 23rd, 2025

News of Gu Qingfeng stepping down as the Manor Master of Gu Family Manor and passing the position to Gu Shengxing spread like wildfire.

In an instant, the Nine Realms were shaken.

The Gu Family Manor was no longer the same as before.

The change in leadership of the Manor Master was akin to a shift in imperial power.

Many court officials, in particular, seemed to sense an unusual undercurrent in this matter.

There was no other way to see it.

The position of Manor Master of the Gu Family Manor was incredibly sensitive.

Now that Gu Shengxing had taken over, it was only natural for people to speculate.

"Father has entrusted Xing'er with the Manor Master position. Could there be some hidden intention behind this decision?"

In the imperial study, Gu Yang held the intelligence report in his hand, his expression slightly taken aback.

Before him, Gu Yi, the leader of the secret service and commander of the Brocade-clad Guards, watched and listened attentively, remaining silent and seemingly oblivious to Gu Yang's words.

These topics were too sensitive for just anyone to chime in.

Gu Yi understood this well.

Gu Yang didn't expect to get any answers from Gu Yi anyway.

Holding the report, Gu Yang pondered for a moment, his mind already forming some ideas.

"In recent years, the position of Crown Prince has remained vacant, causing discontent among the court officials."

"It seems that this matter must be decided upon sooner rather than later!"

Appointing a Crown Prince would help stabilize the imperial power and ensure the longevity of the dynasty.

However—

Gu Yang had been discreetly assessing the situation and hadn't made a hasty decision.

After all, cultivators had long lifespans.

Appointing a Crown Prince too early might not be a good thing.

It was hard for anyone to endure waiting for a few thousand years in the position of Crown Prince.

But—

The position of Crown Prince couldn't remain vacant indefinitely.

As long as the position remained undecided, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary thoughts among the princes and royal grandchildren.

Consequently, open and hidden struggles for power would become inevitable.

In fact, with the royal bloodline growing stronger, this problem had gradually become more apparent.

However, with Gu Yang currently suppressing the world and Gu Qingfeng at the peak of his power, no chaos had erupted.

Everyone knew that as long as Gu Qingfeng and Gu Yang were alive, no one else had the qualifications to vie for the throne.

At this moment, upon learning about the situation at the Gu Family Manor, Gu Yang decided to put this matter on the agenda.

"Xing'er entered the path of cultivation through martial arts and received the inheritance of a great Confucian from the Primordial Era. In terms of actions, he lacks the decisiveness and ruthlessness of his predecessors, but he makes up for it with his gentleness and benevolence.

He may not be able to revive a declining dynasty, but he can certainly maintain a stable one."

One month later, various factions gathered at the Gu Family Manor to congratulate Gu Shengxing on becoming the third Manor Master of the Gu Family Manor.

The first Manor Master was Gu Qingfeng.

The second was Gu Yang.

And now, the third was Gu Shengxing.

These were the three Manor Masters of the Gu Family Manor.

There was no need to elaborate on the first Manor Master.

He was renowned as the strongest in the End-Dharma Age, causing the appearance of the Emperor's shadow in the Qin Imperial City. The Ancient Qin Clan referred to him as the future Emperor.

As long as he didn't meet an unexpected demise, he was destined to attain the Dao and become an Emperor in the next Great Contention Age.

As for Gu Yang, although he wasn't on par with Gu Qingfeng, he had established a top-tier imperial dynasty.

In less than a century, the Divine Martial Empire had become a renowned name in the Eastern Domain.

Now, Gu Shengxing was also exceptional.

He entered the path of cultivation through martial arts, cultivated his Literary Heart, and revived the glory of the ancient Confucian Way. At less than a hundred years old, he had already reached the fifth tier of the Daoist Palace Realm.

With such talent, he was comparable to the top geniuses of the ancient clans.

It could be said that all three Manor Masters of the Gu Family Manor were true prodigies.

Moreover, anyone with insight could see that as long as Gu Qingfeng remained alive, the Gu Clan was destined to become an Emperor's lineage.

By establishing a good relationship with the Gu Family Manor now, they were indirectly showing goodwill towards the Gu Clan.

This approach had only benefits and no drawbacks.

For this grand ceremony, not only did Gu Yang personally attend, but Gu Qingfeng also made an appearance.

Half a month later, the fervor finally subsided.

...

In the imperial study, Gu Qingfeng and Gu Yang appeared.

"Father has been in seclusion for eighteen years. I'm sure your cultivation has improved significantly," Gu Yang asked tentatively.

Gu Qingfeng replied, "There has been some progress. As long as the ancient beings from the Primordial Ancient Land don't emerge, I should be able to handle them."

"What exactly is inside the Primordial Ancient Land?" Gu Yang couldn't help but ask.

Gu Qingfeng had obtained the Immortal Elixir from the Primordial Ancient Land, but Gu Yang wasn't entirely clear about what else was inside.

He only knew that the Primordial Ancient Land was connected to an imperial clan.

Beyond that, there was no more information.

Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng merely uttered two words.

"Emperor!"

"Emperor?!"

Gu Yang's expression changed dramatically.

"There's an Emperor alive in the Primordial Ancient Land?"

This news was completely unexpected to him.

Gu Qingfeng spoke, "There are ancient Emperors sleeping within the Primordial Ancient Land, and not just one. As for how many Emperors exist there, even I cannot tell you."

"However, these Emperors are all slumbering within the City of Life, seemingly waiting for a certain moment, and will not easily awaken."

"But if these Emperors were to emerge, I fear the Primeval Wastes would face unpredictable changes!"

In Gu Qingfeng's opinion, these sleeping Emperors in the Primordial Ancient Land were definitely not that simple.

However, with his current abilities, he had no way of uncovering such secrets.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yang fell silent.

After a long while, he asked again.

"If there are Emperors sleeping in the Primordial Ancient Land, are there also some in the other forbidden ancient lands?"

"There might be, or there might not be. But you don't need to worry too much. These ancient Emperors will not appear before the arrival of the Great Contention Age."

"When the Great Contention Age arrives, the Emperors will not be out of reach!"

Gu Qingfeng smiled indifferently, and his words made Gu Yang feel inexplicably reassured.

He didn't question why Gu Qingfeng had such confidence.

He only knew that Gu Qingfeng never spoke without reason.

If he said it, then he must have a basis for his words.

Subsequently, Gu Yang opened his mouth, "The Shenwu Imperial Dynasty has been consolidating for over a decade, with its strength gradually increasing. The Nine Realms within are stable, and the influence of the Return-to-Origin Empire in the Divine State has been minimized."

"Especially in recent years, the remnants of the Return-to-Origin Empire have been significantly reduced!"

The Divine State that Gu Yang mentioned was the original 373 prefectures under the Return-to-Origin Empire.

Now, for the sake of easier management, Gu Yang had renamed it the Divine State.

Over the years, the Shenwu Imperial Dynasty had continuously dispatched large armies to station in the Divine State, suppressing all forces and cultivators who dared to challenge the dynasty's rule with overwhelming force.

This was why the Shenwu Imperial Dynasty was able to completely control the vast Divine State in just over a decade.

"The malevolent spirits in the Primeval Wastes are causing more and more trouble."

"There are rumors in the world that the appearance of these spirits may be related to the ancient catastrophe that occurred in the Primordial Era!"

"Our Shenwu Imperial Dynasty's foundation lies in the Nine Realms, but once the catastrophe erupts, it will be difficult for us to remain unaffected!"

"Therefore, I believe that only by advancing to an Imperial Dynasty, or even the rumored Divine Dynasty, can we have the true foundation to withstand the catastrophe!"

Gu Yang's words did not surprise Gu Qingfeng.

"Do as you see fit. With the emergence of malevolent spirits and the onset of chaos, it may be as you say; the reappearance of the ancient catastrophe in the Primeval Wastes is an inevitable event."

"The disappearance of the Dynasty of the Supreme One should also be related to these malevolent spirits."

"Striving to enhance our strength is ultimately not a bad thing..."

If the Shenwu Imperial Dynasty had the opportunity to advance to an Imperial Dynasty, Gu Qingfeng would support it.

Although Gu Qingfeng had been in seclusion for these years, he could still see the chaotic situation from the Attribute Panel.

Many of the assassins sent out had encountered ambushes by malevolent spirits and countless had perished.

From this, it was evident that the chaos caused by malevolent spirits in the Primeval Wastes was much more severe than before.

What's more, Gu Qingfeng had even received news about the Deceptive Emperor.

Indeed, it was the Deceptive Emperor! After the battle in Ancient Moon State, the Deceptive Emperor had suffered heavy injuries and escaped. After leaving the Central Domain, he went into hiding in the Southern Domain to secretly recover.

If it weren't for an assassin encountering the Deceptive Emperor and ultimately perishing at his hands, Gu Qingfeng wouldn't have known that the Deceptive Emperor was hiding in the Southern Domain.

Thinking of this, Gu Qingfeng said, "Additionally, I've received news that the Deceptive Emperor from the Central Domain's Ancient Moon State has appeared in the Southern Domain, secretly gathering strength, and plotting to unleash a catastrophe of malevolent spirits there.

"You can spread this news secretly."

"Could it be that the Deceptive Emperor didn't die?"

Gu Yang's face was filled with shock.

He had also heard about this malevolent spirit.

During the battle in Ancient Moon State, it was said that the four Emperor's Dominions had taken action, with four Saint King Realm ancestors carrying four Imperial Troops, joining forces with his father to attack Ancient Moon State and attempt to slay the Deceptive Emperor.

But in the end, the Deceptive Emperor managed to escape after suffering heavy injuries, and his whereabouts became unknown.

After that, many forces, led by the Ancient Qin Clan, had been relentlessly hunting down the Deceptive Emperor, repeatedly discovering his hiding places and engaging in fierce battles.

Unfortunately, the Deceptive Emperor's methods were truly unfathomable.

Every time the Ancient Qin Clan was surrounded and hunted down, they would ultimately let their target escape.

Not only that, but the Ancient Qin Clan also suffered losses and casualties in these pursuits.

Later, this incident infuriated the Ancient Qin Clan to the point where they were willing to sacrifice Imperial Troops in blood rituals to completely eradicate the Wicked Emperor.

In that battle, the Wicked Emperor disappeared without a trace.

Gu Yang had always believed that the Wicked Emperor had been slain by the Ancient Qin Clan, but now, upon hearing Gu Qingfeng's words, he realized that the situation might not be as simple as he thought.

"How could the Wicked Emperor be so easily killed? Even the Dynasty of the Supreme One couldn't erase his existence, which shows how bizarre and powerful this malevolent spirit is!"

Gu Qingfeng shook his head.

He wasn't very clear about the Ancient Qin Clan's affairs.

However, Gu Qingfeng could be certain that the Wicked Emperor was definitely not dead.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yang fell silent for a moment before speaking, "To spread this news, we must have substantial evidence. Otherwise, it will be difficult to gain the attention of those powers."

"You don't need to say more. Just spread the word that the Wicked Emperor is in Huangyan Prefecture, Yunze State, Southern Domain. Let the forces in the Primeval Wastes know!"

Gu Qingfeng believed that once this news spread, these powers would, to some extent, make their way to Huangyan Prefecture.

As long as they entered, they would discover the Wicked Emperor's whereabouts.

Seeing Gu Qingfeng's resolute attitude, Gu Yang didn't say anything more. Following his instructions, he ordered the Brocade-clad Guards to secretly spread the news.

After Gu Qingfeng left, Gu Yang's expression was complex.

"It seems the power my father possesses is even more terrifying than I imagined. The Ancient Qin Clan couldn't find the Wicked Emperor, but my father, after eighteen years of seclusion, knows his whereabouts like the back of his hand."

Thinking of this, Gu Yang's heart was filled with shock.

Fortunately, this power was in the hands of his father. If it were in the hands of someone else, Gu Yang would have been unable to sleep or eat in peace.

After all, all the powers believed that the Wicked Emperor had perished, and even the Ancient Qin Clan held this belief.

However, not only did Gu Qingfeng know that the Wicked Emperor was not dead, but he also knew that he was hiding in Huangyan Prefecture.

Such means were truly shocking.

With this thought, Gu Yang turned to look at Gu Yi, who was standing before him.

"Send someone to Huangyan Prefecture to investigate if the Wicked Emperor is truly there!"

"As you command!"

Gu Yi bowed and accepted the order.

Gu Yang waved his hand, signaling for Gu Yi to withdraw.

Immediately after, he waved his sleeve, and a red circular disc appeared.

As Gu Yang's power flowed into the disc, countless shadows appeared.

Upon closer inspection, these shadows formed a map of the entire Eastern Domain.

All the mountains and rivers were shrunk a million times, condensed into this small space.

"The Eastern Domain has 108 states, each with 3,600 prefectures. This vast territory is boundless compared to the Divine Martial Empire's current holdings, which are minuscule in comparison!"

Gu Yang gazed at the map, where two faint rays of light represented the Nine Realms and the Divine Realm.

It's worth mentioning that the Divine Realm was named by the Divine Martial Empire and was not recognized by other Eastern Domain powers.

Therefore, the Divine Realm couldn't naturally join the original 108 states, becoming the 109th state.

This was a normal occurrence.

The 3,600 prefectures in each state had been established since primordial times.

Even if some powers occupied a state or half a state and made changes, once that power was destroyed, everything would return to normal.

Unless the Divine Martial Empire could one day become the second Dynasty of the Supreme One, dominating the entire Primeval Wastes, they could then independently divide the five domains and states.

But for now, the Divine Martial Empire couldn't achieve such a feat.

In the vast Eastern Domain map, the territory occupied by the Divine Martial Empire was just the tip of the iceberg. If one were to consider the entire Primeval Wastes with its five domains, it would be even less significant.

Subsequently, Gu Yang's fingers drew in the air, and light emanated from the Nine Realms, instantly connecting with the Divine Realm.

Along the way, numerous territories were devoured and assimilated by the light.

In just a moment, the Divine Martial Empire's territory expanded several times over.

"The Divine Martial Empire's current task is to completely connect the Nine Realms and the Divine Realm, using them as a base to expand the empire's territory.

Once this step is completed, the empire can further expand outward.

For now, the court's task is to suppress all the forces that hinder the empire's progress!"

With this thought, a murderous intent appeared in Gu Yang's eyes.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end