<h4>Chapter 699: Bountiful Harvest</h4>


    Tianyuan Pavilion!


    Zhongshan and Guishou stared coldly at each other, with Guishe standing by, unable to intervene.


    "Guilong? Zhongshan? Such audacity, within just a year, you''ve sidelined even me, the Supreme!" Guishou squinted his eyes.


    "Guests are wee, please have a seat!" Zhongshan suddenly changed his demeanor to a friendly smile.


    Guishou raised an eyebrow, feeling unable to keep up with Zhongshan''s thoughts.


    "Grandfather, please sit down!" Guishe stood beside, assisting.


    Turning to Guishe, Guishou said calmly, "Do you still consider me your grandfather?"


    "Guishe will always be your grandson, but personal matters and n affairs are separate. I cannot neglect the public for personal reasons. My disobedience was only to ensure the survival of the Xuanwu n!" Guishe asserted stubbornly.


    Upon hearing Guishe''s words, Guishou softened his expression. He sighed softly, "How do you know your choice is right? Why didn''t you discuss it with me?"


    "I''ve mentioned it to grandfather at least ten times, but at that time, grandfather seemed possessed and unwilling to listen. As for why I chose Guilong, after the battle in the Lingxiao Celestial Court, grandfather should understand it well in his heart!" Guishe raised his head.


    Frowning at Guishe, then ncing at Zhongshan, Guishou sighed again, "Ah, I won''t interfere anymore. With the Xuanwu n passed to your hands, I have fulfilled my duties to our ancestors."


    "Thank you, grandfather!" Guishe conceded.


    "Zhongshan, Snake''s decision haspletely severed ties with the Evesting Realm and aligned with Guilong. Take good care of him, or in the Grand Cosmos, I won''t spare you!" Guishou''s eyes turned cold.


    "Elder Turtle, rest assured. My word, Zhongshan''s word, has always been as solid as gold. As long as I''m here, the Xuanwu n will prosper!" Zhongshan affirmed.


    "Hmm." Guishou nodded, a hint of faint disappointment flickering in his eyes. Not disappointment in Zhongshan''s words, but in the realization that his journey had not led to what he truly desired.


    "I wonder if you came to me just for this matter?" Zhongshan inquired.


    "No, now that the Xuanwu n has joined Guilong and the Phoenix n has also joined Guilong, Guilong indeed possesses that kind of fortune. There are some things I can tell you now. I also hope that one day, you can learn the ancient divine arts, open up heaven and earth, and ascend to the Grand Cosmos." Guishou pondered.


    "Oh?"


    "This secret is something even Emperor Xuan Sha doesn''t know. It''s ancient, too ancient. Only we, the oldest of the demon beast races, know about it." Guishou continued.


    "Ancient secret?" Zhongshan was surprised.


    "In our Small Cosmos, in ancient times, there were saints who visited." Guishou exined.


    "Saints? Beyond Celestial Immortality, isn''t it impossible to enter the Small Cosmos?" Zhongshan frowned.


    "Beyond Celestial Immortality, it''s impossible, but saints can. Two saints entered this Small Cosmos, seemingly for the sake of contending for a technique called ''Heavenly Scriptures''. However, the might of saints is too great. They feared shattering this Small Cosmos and attracting boundless karma, so the saints did not act, but insteadpeted through the forces of the world. At that time, our Xuanwu n participated and was bestowed with abined formation, named the ''Four Phenomena Great Formation'', used to contend for supremacy!" Guishou recounted.


    "The Phoenix n was also like you?" Zhongshan furrowed his brows.


    "Yes, at that time, the Phoenix n was also a great n. Ourbined formation required the participation of four ns: Xuanwu, Phoenix, Dragon, and Tiger. When the formations of the four ns were activated together, it shook heaven and earth!" Guishou sighed.


    "Oh?"


    "You''ve already gathered Phoenix and Xuanwu. Finding Dragon and Tiger may be more difficult, but I''ll pass this formation diagram to you. I hope you will treat the Xuanwu n well!" Guishou took out a scroll.


    Staring at Guishou for a moment, Zhongshan nodded solemnly. "Thank you."


    On the side, Guishe didn''t quite understand what was going on, but Zhongshan grasped the situation clearly. Guishou''s intentions were sincere—a gesture of goodwill towards Guilong and the Xuanwu n. Now that the Xuanwu n had once defected, if Zhongshan were to abandon them as well, no faction in the Evesting Realm would be willing to ept the Xuanwu n again. Once betraying once, there would inevitably be a second time. Who would dare to ept them then? The fate of the Xuanwu n would be sealed.


    Guishou could have kept the formation diagram secret from Zhongshan. After all, gathering four demon beast ns was nearly impossible—a n in Dayong, another in Daqin—how could they unite? However, by handing it over to Zhongshan, it became his responsibility. It was also a way to increase the Xuanwu n''s leverage within Guilong.


    The Four Phenomena Great Formation?—


    In a city in the southern part of Shenzhou, inside a tavern.


    "Do you know? The courtiers collectively rebelled against His Majesty. His Majesty was actually killed at Nanwu Gate, and then the country''s name was changed to Guilong!" a man eximed in surprise.


    "Of course we know. Who doesn''t know this now? Guilong is incredibly wealthy. They''ve even bought off the entire civil and military officials!" another person remarked.


    "Do you know anything? Buy them off? These ministers hand over countless spirit stones to Guilong''s imperial court every day!"


    "Really? Are these ministers so foolish? Handing over spirit stones, aiding Guilong''s rebellion, and now even Guilong''s army hase to take over!" another person eximed incredulously.


    "You don''t know about this?"


    "Please enlighten us!"


    "That''s because the Great Glory Trading Company was founded by Guilong the Emperor himself."


    "The Great Glory Trading Company? That Great Glory Trading Company?" someone gasped.


    "Of course, the Great Glory Trading Companyunched the Scenic Jade Disc, which sold like crazy. I''m just a second-tier member myself. How about it, any interest? I can take you in. As long as you''re willing, I guarantee you''ll earn 100,000 spirit stones a day half a yearter!"


    "100,000 spirit stones? Is that true?"


    The man narrowed his eyes. "Of course it''s true, and they''re all top-grade spirit stones. Do you think those ministers are fools? They can earn a million lower-grade spirit stones in a day. That''s a billion lower-grade spirit stones!"


    "But...!"


    "But what? With your measly shop, what can you achieve? Come with me. In the future, there''ll be more spirit stones than you can spend."


    ...Another imperial dynasty.


    "All members listen up! Today, headquarters sent someone. Let''s charge the Lord''s Mansion together. They blocked our path to wealth. They''ve cut off our spirit stone supply. Tell me, should we break through!"


    "Break through~~~~~!" Everyone shouted in unison.


    "Down with the corrupt officials!"


    "Down with the corrupt officials~~~~~!"


    ...Another imperial dynasty. Emperor''s study.


    "Your Majesty, what should we do? Most of the city lords have dered their allegiance. We''re left with only this court. The outside world is filled with opposition!" an anxious courtier asked.


    "Most? Aren''t there still a few left?" the Emperor asked angrily.


    "A few, those few were overwhelmed by the people!"


    "Father Emperor, in our neighboring kingdoms, the Emperor has been assassinated by courtiers. Father Emperor, beware of all court officials!"


    "Kill them all!"


    ...At another city.


    "Lieutenant, Guilong''s army is here!" a soldier shouted.


    "Quickly, open the city gates! All officials in the city,e with me to greet Guilong''s army!" the city lord eximed excitedly.


    "But, sir, is this really appropriate...?" the soldier frowned slightly.


    "Are you mad? Other city lords just need to wee Guilong''s army to upgrade their membership level. What level are you now?" The city lord red.


    "Upgrade a level? Yes, sir, I''ll go immediately!" The soldier hurried off.


    ...In the south, the atmosphere was thick with the influence of the ''Scenic Jade Disc''. Major imperial dynasties were also struggling. Guilong''s army effortlessly took over many empires.


    One, two, three,... eleven!


    In three years, Guilong''s imperial dynasty easily harvested eleven empires. By this time, the forces of the Three Great Heavenly Dynasties had almost all gathered here. The subjects were loyal to Guilong, not to the Three Great Heavenly Dynasties, so they did not have as smooth a path as Guilong.


    The remaining nine empires posed some difficulty in capture. After smoothly advancing, Guilong finally weed the long-awaited battles.


    Along the way, Guilong took down two more empires.


    In General Yiyans'' camp.


    "Marshal, why not let me continue? We could still capture at least one or two more empires!" Iron Blood eximed.


    "No need. Let the rest of the empires go. We have to give the Three Great Heavenly Dynasties some soup while we enjoy the meat. Use these empires to drain the Three Great Heavenly Dynasties of their fire. Otherwise, if we take more empires, we will really fight with the Three Great Heavenly Dynasties. In front of the world situation, one or two empires are nothing!" General Yiyans said solemnly.


    "Yes!" Iron Blood nodded.


    At this point, of the southern twenty-four empires, Guilong officially harvested seventeen. By seizing a single empire, it harvested seventeen empires, a great harvest that would be remembered throughout history.


    Inexhaustible fortune gathered towards the Lingxiao Celestial Court, growing more and more, with the immense fortune illuminating the entire sky. Even at night, the Lingxiao Celestial Court was as bright as day.


    A massive empire, an empire with more fortune than any heavenly dynasty, the First Empire of all time!


    In the Tianyuan Pavilion.


    Zhongshan looked at his counselors.


    "Shuijing, these talents selected through the imperial examinations have been screened. Their loyalty is assured. Send them to various major cities we''ve taken over to assume key positions as quickly as possible!" Zhongshan said in a deep voice.


    "Yes!"


    "Your Majesty, we''ve swallowed these empires, but the influence of pyramid schemes is too great. I fear it will cause even greater destruction in the future. When should we abolish it?" General Yiyans asked worriedly.


    After pondering deeply for a moment, Zhongshan said solemnly, "Wait another year. Within that year, the talents identified through our imperial examinations will rece all senior members'' positions of power. By then, we''ll enter the final stage of the Great Whale Swallow n—decapitate and take the pce!" Zhongshan dered in a deep voice.


    "Yes!"