At this moment, Qingxuan and Taihuang’s faces were filled with extreme complexity and solemnity. Upon arriving, they glanced at the Compassionate Daojun and the black spot, then stood silently to one side.

In the very next instant, Zhu Xi followed closely behind, standing alone on the other side. Zong Shou felt a slight surprise, knowing that this Scholar Zhu must have suppressed his injuries through some method. However, his cultivation had indeed fallen. Previously, his cultivation was only second to Xiuguan Compassionate. Now, at best, he was only equal to Taihuang, perhaps slightly superior.

Nearly all the Highest Realm Saint Venerables of the Cloud Realm had gathered here. Zong Shou could even sense the divine power traces of those few God Venerables from beyond one world.

After a moment of confrontation, the black spot finally made a move. A figure materialized from within. It couldn't strictly be called a 'human,' yet it possessed limbs. However, its appearance was indistinct. No, it was better described as featureless; its skin was also black. Not the dark skin of the Night Demons, but rather something encompassing everything, like black sludge. It exuded the stench of decay, mixed with a hint of chaotic aura. Compassionate paused upon seeing this, then sighed: "It turns out Your Excellency is not from this domain, but a cultivator from another region. No wonder Xi Zi said the only thing you fear is the Twelve Nation-Guarding Bronze Men forged by the Qin Emperor. I wonder if you hail from the last destroyed realm, or if you traversed here from elsewhere?"

Zong Shou was also inwardly startled; whether a cultivator from another domain traversed the boundary or came from a previously destroyed realm, they must possess cultivation above the True Realm. Fortunately, this person was clearly not recognized by this heaven and earth. The Great Dao did not accept him; no matter how powerful he was in his previous realm, here he was only at the level of a Half-Step True Realm. He vaguely perceived that the chaotic divine decree emanating from the Twelve Nation-Guarding Bronze Men affected this person particularly significantly, far more than anyone else. His Dao was fundamentally a Great Dao law that was incompatible with this world, relying only on his boundless, vast cultivation to barely sustain himself. Now, disturbed by the Chaotic Divine Decree, he became increasingly unstable. He couldn't even fully coalesce his own form. Yet, even so, this individual could maintain his realm at the verge of the Half-Step True Realm.

"That Eternal Method of yours is ultimately an externally imposed enhancement. Even with the Zuan Cultivation and the Law-Endowing Wings, you cannot solidify your foundation. Do you truly wish to decide life and death with me here? Perhaps after this, there will be no more Dao of Sentient Life in the world?" The black 'figure' finally spoke, its voice grating like two rusted gongs rubbing together, profoundly unpleasant.

Xiuguan remained completely unconcerned and calmly countered: "And what state are you in? These two battles—the fall of Senior Brother Xi Zi and the death of Xun Zi—have compounded your injuries. Do you expect to emerge unscathed? Why have you remained inactive for these eight thousand years, allowing my junior nephew to rise and burst onto the scene?" The person referred to was, naturally, Zong Shou.

Zong Shou was filled with uncertainty. Had this person truly sustained injuries? Injuries that hadn't healed in eight thousand years? Compounded injuries? That was right; with Xun Zi's strength, he should have only caused a minor injury to this individual. However, to achieve silence, without alarming the other Highest Realm Saint Venerables to offer aid, even a Half-Step True Realm cultivator would have to pay some price. What mattered most was the backlash from the Will of Heaven and Earth. The collapse of the Cloud Realm eight thousand years ago, the shattering of countless continents sinking into the sea, were all consequences of the battle where Xi Zi died. Although this person hid behind the scenes and did not strike directly, having been involved in the karma, he was inevitably resented by this world. And the Will of Heaven and Earth in the Cloud Realm could be considered an avatar of this realm's will, and the most powerful one at that. Zong Shou suddenly understood why this person, despite possessing the strength of a Half-Step True Realm, dared not reveal himself to contend directly with Xi Zi.

"For that World-Opening Divine Artifact, I have waited in the Cloud Realm for a full thirty-seven thousand cycles. I watched this world, from its very beginning as the Primordial Star Membrane, observe the proliferation of the myriad races, the rise of the Ape race. I saw the Dragon and Phoenix clans dominate heaven and earth, and then watched the descendants of the Ape race once again claim supremacy over the Cloud Realm." The black shadow spoke plainly: "Back then, I could not bear it and secretly lent a hand to your human race. I never expected that in the end, your lineage would become the calamity in my destiny."

Xiuguan scoffed and shook his head slightly: "Your intentions are suspect! Whether it is sincerity or fear of the Four Directional Dragon Palaces and the Myriad Tribulation Phoenix Court remains to be seen." The black shadow ceased arguing upon hearing this, merely gazing with those 'eyes' molded from sludge toward Qingxuan, Taihuang, and Zhu Zi: "Then what say you three today? Will you stand idly by and watch me perish? Or will you join forces to assist me in balancing the Cloud Realm?"

Scholar Zhu smiled coldly, speaking without hesitation: "Since Xun Zi perished by your hand, and you are the mastermind behind the great catastrophe of the Cloud Realm eight thousand years ago, then Your Excellency is the sworn enemy of my Confucian School! As for the grievances between Zong Shou and the Great Qian, I will settle them myself later; you need not concern yourself."

Not just Xiuguan, but even Zong Shou was not the least surprised by this. Scholar Zhu’s foundation was built upon the righteousness he believed in. Scholar Zhu was already severely wounded in the battle at the Imperial Capital. Although he later altered his foundation, the core remained the 'Principle' Divine Art. And now, with great righteousness at hand, Scholar Zhu truly had no other choice. Otherwise, the Rites and Teachings of the Confucian School would lose the last shred of its destiny in the Cloud Realm and would no longer receive the protection of heaven and earth.

Taihuang hesitated slightly, while Qingxuan gave a bitter smile and addressed Compassionate: "Senior Brother Compassionate, this Daoist School was ultimately founded by the three of us. Daoist disciples still invoke the name 'Compassionate Daojun' when encountering others, and there are still sects within the school that believe in the lineage of Taiqing. I implore Senior Brother to show mercy, so that the billions of disciples in my teaching do not see their path cut off!"

"Ridiculous! Ridiculous! It was you Daoist friends who first harbored malicious intentions and lost your integrity. If you had spoken honestly with Dao Brother Xi Zi, waiting a little longer, without harming the origin of the Cloud Realm, why would Xi Zi have intervened? Ten thousand years ago, I was beguiled by trust. Ten thousand years later, I have understood: Xi Zi took that World-Opening Divine Artifact merely to draw out your true form. Given his nature, how could he value achieving the Dao through external objects? Compassionate and I have both sworn oaths never to touch that World-Opening Divine Artifact in the slightest."

Compassionate answered without directly addressing the person, then smiled toward Zong Shou, his eyes conveying inquiry. Zong Shou understood his meaning. After a brief thought, he spoke decisively: "Within a hundred years, I shall establish one hundred and one grand Daoist temples, one hundred and one Sword Steles, one hundred and one Schools of Sentient Life, one hundred and one Confucian Academies, and one hundred and one Institutes of Heavenly Craftsmanship across one hundred and one worlds under my governance, so that the people of all realms may know the prosperity of our Cloud Realm civilization! To make the people of ten thousand realms know our Cloud Realm figures, admire our Cloud Realm splendor, adopt our Cloud Realm script, and cultivate our Cloud Realm martial ways. Only then can the Great Qian under my rule achieve true and lasting peace."

As these words were uttered, the dozen or so Highest Realm Saint Venerables present were utterly astonished, all turning their gazes toward him. Compassionate was stunned, seemingly having not expected such an answer to emerge from Zong Shou’s mouth. Finally, he threw his head back and laughed boisterously, abandoning all composure: "Well said, to make the people of ten thousand realms know the prosperity of our Cloud Realm civilization! Such magnanimity is worthy of the Invincible Venerable of the Six Harmonies and Eight Wildernesses, the Lord of the Million Worlds!"

Scholar Zhu was also profoundly surprised, while Xu Fu, after a moment of thought, was the first to step forward: "I, Xu Fu, from this day forward, swear allegiance to Your Majesty as Emperor!" Qingxuan’s face flushed pale, but Taihuang sighed softly: "Such a person is indeed worthy to be the Supreme Sovereign of the myriad worlds! The Taiqing lineage of the Daoist School swears allegiance to Your Majesty as the Divine Emperor of the Cloud Realm!"

Scholar Zhu remained silent, but bowed in a solemn salute, signifying that although his personal enmity with Zong Shou remained unresolved, the Confucian School was willing to submit to Zong Shou as Emperor. Compassionate Daojun also retracted his smile: "The Sword Sect from now on shall certainly be the sword in Your Majesty’s hand. We are willing to aid Your Majesty in expanding across the realms!"

Zong Shou was momentarily stunned, looking at Xiuguan in astonishment. He saw the latter also smiling and bowing: "With the Divine Emperor justly enthroned, the Cloud Realm can finally cease warfare!" Zong Shou’s mind exploded with a deafening roar, going completely blank. Were the myriad Highest Realm figures gathered here today not for the Half-Step True Realm entity in the distance?