Chapter 750 - - The top ten list announced_1

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Duge was well-versed in the essence of painting a pie in the sky.

No matter how great others might be, it doesn’t have much to do with oneself; when the risks are so great that they outweigh the benefits, and could even endanger one’s life, anyone would shrink back, especially when the benefits are uncertain.

Yet, when one hears from a powerful being that they too could be great, their mindset begins to change subtly.

The lowest rungs of the Cultivation realm might occasionally see a lucky few rise abruptly, but most remain indistinguishable from the masses.

But if one were once a significant figure, without much effort, just needing to find the key, they could shine brightly once again…

Starting from zero to accumulate a treasure trove is a completely different feeling from finding the key to unlocking a treasure trove that belongs to oneself.

Here is a world of cultivation, where the idea of reincarnation is genuinely feasible.

Especially when there is a living example right before one’s eyes—Duge corroborated with iron-clad facts that he was the reincarnation of the Human Emperor.

Qing Yun and Qinghe were impetuously moved, agreeing to Duge’s request as if driven by some demon or god.

Under Duge’s orders, Qing Yun set out to make contact with the Demon King Lin Xiaotian;

Qinghe left to reach out to the West Peak Emperor, who was the closest to South Peak…

There were still a few fellow disciples left on Suspended Mountain in South Peak, but Duge needed them to stabilize the South Peak Emperor and did not disturb them.

As for the Emperors of East Peak, Middle Peak, and North Peak, they were too far away, and with Qing Yun and Qinghe’s traveling speed, it was impossible to reach them in time.

Duge also had no capacity to cope with several Emperors at the same time, so he had to give up on recruiting them for now.

However.

After Qing Yun and Qinghe had left, Duge arranged for the plans of the Human Emperor and the Twilight Calamity to be quietly spread.

Contain the Heavenly Statutes in Mouth requires belief from many to be activated; Qing Yun and Qinghe did not seem like ones to spread rumors, so this task had to be done by Duge himself.

His stage was only at the Unity Realm; without diminishing the Saint-level figures a bit, he always felt somewhat uneasy…

At this moment.

With less than two days left before the list’s publication, Duge had done all that he could; the remaining actions could only be taken after the list was announced.

…

“Your Majesty, Scholars from Dachu Country have come to our nation to study in groups, and they have been stopped by the border soldiers…”

“No problem, let them in. Have the Cultivators take them to Capital City, show them the Literary and Martial Hearts; all of the Human Race under heaven are one family. Once they awaken their Literary Heart, upon returning to Dachu Country, they will be the seeds of humanity…”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, there’s a rumor circulating among the populace that the Immortal Emperor and Daoist Ancestor have encountered the Twilight Calamity; the authenticity of this news is unknown; should we ban such rumors?”

“The Twilight Calamity does indeed exist. This matter is being spread by emissaries of Emperor Donghua, and there’s no need to mind it.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, as of today, New Moon Country has 153 individuals who have awakened the Literary Heart, 334 with the Martial Gall, creating 178 battle poems…”

“Compile the poems into a collected edition to be published, declare the existence of Literary and Martial Hearts to all under heaven. In the future, New Moon Country will give priority to those who embody Literary and Martial Hearts when selecting officials…”

…

Duge handled state affairs in an orderly manner.

And in distant Chu Country.

The matters of the Human Emperor Inheritance had finally spread, and anthologies of poems by ancient sages were circulating among the people, causing the hearts of literates and soldiers alike to flutter.

The public was abuzz discussing the Literary and Martial Hearts, filled with longing for the revival of the Human Race.

In Dachu Country, a talented individual named Qi Qingzhi, aspiring to the sages of the Human Race, was discussing the Literary Heart with a group of Scholars at Iron Plum Ridge. Suddenly inspired, he composed the poem “Mountaineering” and awakened his Literary Heart on the spot, with a blue literary aura eight feet high; stepping lightly as if in flight, he drew the Human Emperor matter to a climax.

It was only then that people realized that even without going to New Moon Country, by holding humanity in their hearts, they could also awaken their Literary Heart…

Those most panicked were the royal family of Dachu Country, for whom longevity was the ultimate dream.

The Literary and Martial Hearts turned this fantasy into reality, and even blocking it became impossible.

After all, managing a country still required the support of the scholarly class; without blocking the phenomenon, and as the number of literates and generals awakening the Literary and Martial Hearts increased, their control over the country would correspondingly weaken.

The Literary and Martial Hearts were linked to the Human Emperor, not to him, the emperor who had traitorously usurped the throne.

Being left with no choice,

Emperor Chu had to place his hopes in the Heavenly Court, as Dachu Country had vast territories.

Many divinities, such as Heavenly Master Zhang Qing and Spirit Official Song Renlong, who held positions in the Heavenly Court, had lineages here; bypassing Emperor Dong Hua and sending messages to the Immortal Court was quite easy for Emperor Chu.

To preserve his throne, Emperor Chu had no choice but to pin his hopes on the Immortal Court.

…

Within Dachu Country, the Alien Warriors lurking in the shadows and seeking opportunities to advance were ecstatic upon hearing of the rise of the Human Emperor;

Some made the same choice as Yan Zian, defecting to New Moon Country to follow the Human Emperor, while others chose to wait and see.

After all,

the Human Emperor’s power was weak; rashly heading to New Moon Country would mean no chance of survival if the Human Emperor fell.

They would wait and see—perhaps new opportunities would arise.

…

During these two days,

Qing Yun met with Demon King Lin Xiaotian, and Qinghe had also made contact with the West Peak Emperor.

Demon King Lin Xiaotian, having been itching from the news about the Human Emperor, immediately set off with Qing Yun for New Moon Country, eager to find out what the Human Emperor Inheritance truly entailed.

…

The West Peak Emperor, a vassal of Emperor Dong Hua, was stunned to hear his liege had obtained the Human Emperor Inheritance, intending to represent the Human Race against the Immortal Emperor. He was at a complete loss as to how to respond.

But with Qinghe coming to him directly, he had little choice but to refuse, and unwillingly tagged along with Qinghe to New Moon Country.

As Qinghe was a disciple of the South Peak Emperor, his personal visit to invite him meant, more likely than not, that the Human Emperor Inheritance was somehow connected with Emperor Dong Hua.

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