Chapter 3816 Nearing Threat
Chapter 3816 Nearing Threat
At the end of a secluded valley, the land stretched out, surrounded by mountains. There stood a majestic palace at the end.
The palace contained three imposing floors, its architecture intricate with elegant spires and ornate carvings at the end. The palace's exterior gleamed in the sunlight, its marble reflecting its glossy surface.
The most striking feature was not the palace itself but the grand courtyard spanning several acres. There was a meticulously adored garden lying at its center where vibrant flowers of every hue blossomed. Winding pathways of polished stone meandered throughout the garden, leading to tranquil fountains that kept gushing out spirit water, forming ponds teeming with life.
Around the courtyard, many cultivators gathered.
Their robes were a variety of hues, making it apparent that they were not from the same power but different kinds of power. The air buzzed with a tremendous amount of energy as the cultivators here were at the Immortal Emperor Stage and Sovereign Stage or even above.
At the courtyard's far end, a grand staircase led to the palace's entrance.
A few people with graceful bearings all climbed up and entered the palace, coming into contact with a group of people who invited them and gestured for them to head with them together. Like this, many people went to the first, second and third floors above, being seated according to their status, cultivation and prowess.
On the third floor, powerful cultivators, immortals and transcendents alike had gathered.
In the center was a black-haired man wearing sapphire armor. His pupils were white, shining with a hint of purple, exuding similar undulations to the Transcendent Truth Eyes.
He was none other than Autarch Elluro Coldwing.
"Everyone," He addressed the crowd with an indifferent expression, starting to speak.
"You have all worked hard to arrest the inheritors, crossing countless hurdles in order to find them. Some inheritors are still at large but it is only a matter of time before we find them all. However, for those who are caught or surrendered, the punishment will be as follows…"
"Those who were caught will be imprisoned for a hundred thousand years to a million years depending on the severity of their actions. Those who surrender will be imprisoned for ten thousand years. This is the will of the Heavenly Guardian Consortium."
"Ten thousand years…"
Many murmurs erupted in the palace.
Some were glad that their inheritors who surrendered only had to spend ten thousand years while the others whose inheritors were caught were frustrated. The difference between surrendering and being caught was as big as heaven and earth. They wished their inheritors also surrendered but fate wasn't so good for them.
But still, there were also those who thought ten thousand years were too much.
All their inheritors were less than four hundred years old. To suppress them in this time frame was ruining their prime, no different from destroying their future.
They were about to protest but considering the original sentence was death, they could only sigh.
"From now on, all inheritors who have refused to cooperate will be treated as criminals and as such, will have an extreme bounty posted on their heads."
"…!"
Clamors broke out again.
"Damn it…!"
A scarlet-haired man smashed the armrest of the chair he sat on but he didn't dare to be loud and only muttered. He wore a luxurious crimson robe that was embroidered in majestic phoenix patterns.
This man was none other than Warren Auraflame, the Patriarch of the Fire Phoenix Clan in the Fire Phoenix Lower Realm.
He had sent numerous cultivators to catch the Fire Phoenix Clan's inheritors but they managed to escape time and time again and hide deeply. If they had only surrendered, then their punishment would've been severely low but now, there was no longer any chance of their sentence being reduced.
The time of surrender was over now that the Heavenly Guardian Consortium had given an official mandate. Now any inheritor who was willing to surrender will face the same punishment as those who were forcefully caught, which means Zenflame, Hirona and Sierra will have to face imprisonment lasting for five hundred thousand years at the very least.
That would certainly kill all their heroism and make them a husk of what they used to be.
It was not only Warren Auraflame who was feeling miserable as the others whose inheritors were still at large lamented to a great degree. This was a great loss to their realms.
"The Heavenly Guardian Consortium…"
"It's the alliance formed by all Heaven's Warrior Organizations, right?"
Abruptly, a person beside him asked, causing Warren Auraflame to nod.
"That's what I also heard, Ores. Apparently, sitting on top of the Heavenly Guardian Consortium is the Supreme One's first son and a few other Heaven's Warriors we have no idea about but they're all Empyreans or Autarchs at the very least."
Patriarch Warren Auraflame said to Orestes Temperas, the Patriarch of the Earth Dragon Clan in the Earth Dragon Lower Realm.
"Then there's no way to overcome this mandate."
Patriarch Orestes Temperas shook his head, his expression defeated.
He imagined that Rocksunder, Crystia and Noctis were all going to have a life full of suffering until they met their end.
If only they had surrendered, they could've gotten free-
"The Earth Dragon Clan and the Fire Phoenix Clan. As for your inheritors who had dealings with the Divine Emperor of Death despite their powers blocking them, the orders are to execute even if they were to surrender."
"What!?"
Patriarch Orestes Temperas and Patriarch Warren Auraflame both stood up, looking dumbfounded after they heard Autarch Elluro Coldwing's words.
"Starlight Jade Wolf Clan's Matriarch, Leora Verlight. Obsidian Crystal Turtle Clan's Patriarch Lombart Blackstone. Golden Crow Clan's Patriarch, Arata Sunborn. I haven't addressed the three of you personally before but now, I am pleased to say your inheritors will face the same fate as them since it has become clear that your three clans in the First Haven World have colluded with the Divine Emperor of Death."
"…!"
The three heads shuddered, clenching their fists while still sitting.
"Furthermore, the heads of the branch powers will be publicly executed."
"What? They formed the Central Primesky Alliance to protect themselves."
Matriarch Leora Verlight stood up and waved her hand, her eyes narrowing into tiny slits.
"That's right. They were attacked by the Fire Phoenix Clan's Zenflame Family and many others, so they were forced to protect themselves."
"This can't be blamed on them as people's lives are more important than-"
"Is that so?"
The other two heads, Arata Sunborn and Lombart Blackstone were vouching for them just when the latter was interrupted.
Autarch Elluro Coldwing turned to look at them coldly, "Then why are many claiming that Fenren Jadelight, Soaren Goldsun and Andiron Blackryst are personally friends with a calamitous star like the Divine Emperor of Death? It seems there are many cases where they willingly invited him to their powers and went to his place."
"Don't make me repeat it again. Arrest those three and publicly execute them and the people shall be spared. They're in your capital, right?"
Autarch Coldwing's gaze flashed purple, "Right?"
"Yes…"
The three of them uttered as they lowered their heads. They knew they couldn't lie in front of him. The pressure he exuded was too much to bear.
Autarch Elluro Coldwing nodded, his gaze transcendental as he looked into the distance.
"If they're truly friends, then the Divine Emperor of Death will emerge from his hiding place from what we heard about him. We will strike during that interval and crush him beneath the heavens using the might of our gathering."
He extended his hand and clenched his fist before he turned to look at them.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance to be blessed with karmic virtue from the heavens upon killing him. There are also sumptuous rewards but that all depends on your ability to kill him, so make use of this chance wisely."