Observing the four people coldly, Sword Emperor sighed softly, "The reason why Zhao Cheng's cultivation backfired may be due to our sudden attack, interrupting his practice and leading him to demonic path, resulting in the backlash of the technique. If we are disturbed in our cultivation just like him, wouldn't we easily follow the same disastrous path?"
"So, Sword Emperor, what do you suggest? Kill everyone who knows about this, especially that Zhuo Fan?" A glint of coldness flashed in Ghost Emperor's eyes as he proposed.
Shaking his head slowly, Sword Emperor's eyes gleamed with wisdom, "Treating the symptoms and not the root cause is meaningless. Even if we kill Zhuo Fan, the Lu family may still know, and besides the Lu family, there's no one overseeing the Demon Emperor's domain. This will cause chaos, inevitably attracting the investigation of the Holy Mountain. Moreover, Holy Mountain has long planned to replace the Eight Emperors. Can we really eliminate Holy Mountain? Obviously, we are not yet at that point!"
"So, what do you suggest then?"
"Based on Zhao Cheng's cultivation, practicing the Yin Ming Technique has two key points. First, it takes a long time and requires continuous uninterrupted cultivation. This demands us to live in seclusion, hiding in a place where no one can find us. Second, it requires numerous cultivation materials, which contradicts the first point since we need to go to populated places to collect them. But doing so would expose our whereabouts, just like Zhao Cheng!"
"Then... let's start a war, just like Zhao Cheng! We Five Emperors can pretend not to cooperate, engage in chaotic battles, and collect cultivation materials unnoticed during the war!"
After exchanging glances, everyone nodded in agreement. It was a clever idea, probably devised by the right-hand man of the Demon Emperor, Zhuo Fan.
But as they considered it further, the Seductress Emperor shook her head, "No, even if others don't know, Zhuo Fan, as the initiator, will figure it out, and that's not safe. But if we eliminate him, as Sword Emperor said, it's too complicated and will draw even more trouble from the Holy Mountain. Besides, Holy Mountain has already stated that the Eight Emperors should not cause trouble recently. Zhuo Fan acts recklessly only because he has reached an agreement with the Sixth Holy Mountain. We don't have such privileges!"
"So, what should we do?"
Impatiently waving his hand, Ghost Emperor said, "This won't work, that won't work. Are we just going to give up on such a peerless technique?"
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Sword Emperor chuckled coldly, "With an imperial-level inheritance, only fools wouldn't cultivate it. It's just a matter of whether you are willing to give up your current status!"
"What do you mean?"
"Still the same thing. To cultivate this technique, the prerequisite is to live in seclusion. Only you should know, and nobody else, even among ourselves. To be honest, we all have our own thoughts, and we are wary of each other. Since today is a farewell, let's not contact each other anymore, to avoid mutual harm. It's better this way, isn't it?"
Eyelids lightly twitching, everyone exchanged glances, revealing a knowing smile and nodding slightly, "Alright, this is safer. But what about the materials?"
"You are all Eight Emperor experts with vast domains. Collect the materials from your own domains!"
"Collect materials from our own domains?"
Frowning, the Seductress Emperor exclaimed, "Large-scale disappearances of people will cause panic, and Holy Mountain will pay attention. Moreover, the Holy Mountain will notice!"
A trace of a wicked smile appeared on Sword Emperor's lips, "This is what I want to warn you about. Do you have the courage to give up the position of the Eight Emperors? Once chaos arises, and with numerous people disappearing, it will cause panic and turmoil in the local domain, attracting attention. Do you still want to be the Eight Emperors? Once the people lose trust, even if you are strong, no one will follow you. Does anyone in the world want to be with a group of cannibal demons?"
His eyes gleaming with naked malice, Sword Emperor burst into laughter, "Hahaha... don't blame me for being blunt. Now that we are going to cultivate this divine technique, we must become demons who eat people. Whether it's the righteous path or the demonic path, achieving the emperor realm requires sacrifices. Using millions of people as cultivation materials should be enough. From now on, we just need to advance toward the emperor realm, and do we still need to worry about the position of the Eight Emperors? By then, even Holy Mountain won't matter to us. The future Holy Domain will belong to us, the Five Emperors. How about it?"
Sword Emperor painted a grand blueprint for everyone, captivating them all.
Soon, everyone's eyes also flickered with a sinister light, nodding slightly in agreement. Shortly after, they began transcribing the technique. After that, they clasped their fists, bid farewell to each other, and swiftly returned to their respective sects. No one turned back to look at each other.
Because, as they said, this farewell marked the end of the Eight Emperors and the rise of the Five Emperors. The next time they meet, they will be the rulers of this world, hahaha...
Whoosh!
In an instant, Zhuo Fan arrived at the place where Zhao Cheng disappeared, looked in the direction the five people left, and then glanced at the ashes of Zhao Cheng. A faint smile crossed his lips.
"Foolish child, these five old guys have taken the bait too. They will join you soon. Ah, the grudges from five thousand years ago will soon be resolved. Hehehe..."
A light laughter, and Zhuo Fan took a step, disappearing instantly.
A month later, on the construction site of the reconstructed Tianmo Mountain, Li Jingtian suddenly arrived in front of Zhou Fan, bowed respectfully, and said with a smiling face, "Manager Zhou, as you expected, the territories of those Five Emperors are in complete chaos. A large number of people have disappeared night after night, and no one knows what happened. Everyone is in a state of panic. As for the Danxia Sect and other sects, they have completely closed their doors and disappeared. The people seeking help can't find the Eight Emperors or any of their subordinates. At this point, they are all in chaos, like headless flies, hehehe!"
"After learning from Zhao Cheng's lesson, the best way for them to practice in peace is to gather people and leave. Now that the leaders are gone, we can easily take control of the Eight Emperors' territories!"
With a slight smile, Zhou Fan ordered, "Elder Li, go arrange manpower and prepare for an attack... no, why attack? Just go take control. Our Luo family should have experience dealing with local powers, right?"
With a grin, Li Jingtian patted his chest and assured, "Manager Zhou, rest assured. You'll see. In half a month, without spending a single soldier, we'll take control of the entire territory of the Eight Emperors. Once the Dragon Clan gathers their forces, we can confront the Holy Mountain confidently, hehehe!"
Nodding with a light smile, Zhou Fan waved his hand, instructing him to proceed.
But before he could set off, there was another sound of breaking air, and the figure of Chou Yanhai instantly appeared in front of them.
"Oh, Old Chou, why are you here?" With a hint of curiosity in his eyes, Li Jingtian patted him on the shoulder and smiled.
Rolling his eyes, Chou Yanhai ignored him, only came in front of Zhou Fan, bowed respectfully, and said with a solemn expression, "Manager Zhou, three young people from the Holy Mountain have come, specifically requesting to see you. They are waiting at the main base of the Luo family!"
"Three?"
Raising his eyebrows, Zhou Fan pondered for a moment and asked, "What's their strength?"
"At the peak of the Emperor Realm!"
"Oh, most likely they've come to take over the position of the Eight Emperors!" Understandingly nodding, Zhou Fan murmured, "The Holy Mountain is sending young people to take over secular matters for the first time, still not at ease. They sent three people to test the waters. Now that the Gamble Emperor and Eagle Emperor are dead, leaving two positions vacant openly, and the news of the death of the Demon Emperor hasn't been released yet, I estimate that the Sword Emperor and the others are hiding for safety and won't release the news hastily. So, the remaining young person is probably the one who wants to replace the current Eight Emperors!"
"Humph, finally got those old guys to run away, freeing up such a large territory. Instead of appreciating it, these Holy Mountain youngsters are here to pick up what's readily available. It's really unreasonable. I'll go twist their heads off!"
Hearing Zhou Fan's words, Li Jingtian's face turned angry, and he was about to set off in a hurry. However, Zhou Fan waved his hand to stop him, saying, "Old Li, calm down. It's nothing. Just a few inexperienced guys. What's the big deal? I'll talk to them and dismiss them with a few words. It's okay. If you really kill them, it will alert the Holy Mountain in advance, and that would be a big problem!"
"Oh, is that so?"
Slightly stunned, Li Jingtian hesitated, "But Manager Zhou, those Holy Mountain young masters, they are probably arrogant. Although they know nothing about coming down this time, they still have the ambition to achieve something. They value the territories they want, and I'm afraid they won't easily let them go. Is it not difficult to take territory from their hands?"
"Difficult? It's nothing. It's easier than taking candy from a baby. Hahaha..."
Unable to hold back, Zhou Fan burst into laughter. In his heart, he had long laid out plans. "You said they know nothing and only have lofty ambitions? Then, let's fulfill their ambitions, give them some achievements to show off. As for actual control, with our Luo family's centuries of operation, isn't it easy to capture it?"
Raising an eyebrow, the three men looked at each other and burst into laughter...
Following that, Zhou Fan accompanied Chou Yanhai back to the Luo family and went to meet the three noble young masters from the Holy Mountain.
Upon entering the main hall, they saw two young men sitting in the middle position, sipping tea with unfriendly faces, occasionally sneering, seemingly somewhat disdainful. Another person was sitting in the first position at the bottom, kicking his feet listlessly, and his eyelids were almost turning over.
Indeed, these were young masters. They came as guests to someone else's home, but they sat in the main position. They truly didn't consider themselves outsiders!
Muttering in his heart, Zhou Fan reluctantly squeezed out a smile, walked in lightly, and with a fist, he said, "Oh, distinguished guests from the Holy Mountain, I apologize for the delay. Please forgive me!"
"It's good that you know you're late. We've been waiting here for half an hour. You're too slow!" The young man in the main position sneered, disdainfully curling his lips.
With a radiant smile, Zhou Fan nodded in acknowledgment, "Indeed, I made a mistake. Why wasn't I born with two extra legs to run faster? I apologize for keeping the three young masters waiting. It's truly my fault!"
"Hahaha... Big brother, did you hear that? He said two extra legs. Can you imagine someone with four legs? I've grown up all these years and never heard such a funny joke!"
At this moment, the man sitting in the first position burst into laughter, and the other two followed suit, laughing heartily. Zhou Fan also smiled along.
The heavy atmosphere from before was instantly relieved.
Only in the backyard, where Lu Yunshang and other women were listening to the commotion, Lu Yunshang couldn't help but burst into laughter, "The Holy Mountain actually sent three dummies to take over the position of the Eight Emperors. Zhou Fan's words just now were clearly mocking them for lacking patience. They've already done their best to return quickly, but these people really took it as a joke and didn't realize the sarcasm."
"Ah, the Holy Mountain entrusts these dummies to manage the Sacred Domain. It's evident that they don't have the well-being of the common people in their hearts. How can such people be the highest level of the Sacred Domain, controlling the destiny of the Sacred Domain? It's really a pity for the fate of the people manipulated by these indifferent individuals..." Muxue Snow sighed, feeling extremely regretful for the fate of the common people manipulated by these indifferent individuals.