"If you truly wish to acquire the fortune of the Federation, then go and convince the other Speakers. If they all agree, I will have no objections."

Regarding Xuanqing’s change in attitude,

Ji Wuxing was noncommittal.

With the boost from the nation’s fortune, his every action was equivalent to representing the Human Race. Even if someone at the Refining God Limit were here, he would feel no fear.

"In that case, I’ll trouble you, Xuanqing, to summon them here. I will personally ’persuade’ them!"

...

「A few hours later, on Daoist Mountain.」

"The Saint Emperor of the Taixuan Dynasty? You want us to submit to you?"

Wang Jing, Lei Bao, and Meng Ke had rushed over immediately after receiving Xuanqing’s message.

However, what they hadn’t expected was the presence of an unfamiliar young man.

And the very first words out of this person’s mouth were a demand for their submission.

After Xuanqing’s explanation, the three of them understood the situation.

However, they did not speak immediately, instead exchanging glances.

Looking at the young man standing with Xuanqing, they never would have thought he was actually the Saint Emperor of the Ten Thousand Years Dynasty.

’Still, why does this situation feel so familiar?’

The three of them, Abbot Wang Jing of the Golden Buddha Temple included, mentally cursed Xuanqing’s long-dead family several times over.

’That guy... nothing good ever comes from him summoning us.’

But for all their internal cursing, as Refining God Venerables, each one was exceptionally shrewd and naturally wouldn’t let it show.

"Amitabha. Since this is for the sake of all the world’s people, and it is Lord Xuanqing who speaks of it, I naturally have no issue!"

Wang Jing was the first to speak, firmly stating his position.

"This matter has nothing to do with me!"

Xuanqing added coolly.

Hearing this, Lei Bao and Meng Ke, who had been about to voice their agreement, stopped short.

Even Wang Jing’s brow furrowed slightly.

’They had originally thought this was Xuanqing’s idea, just like last time.’

’But now it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.’

"Enough. I know that you must be dissatisfied with a sudden demand for your submission.

So, how about this: you all attack me at once. If you can so much as injure me, we will forget this ever happened!"

Ji Wuxing chuckled.

His tone overflowed with arrogance and confidence.

As he spoke, he took a step forward.

His figure transformed into Flowing Light and departed from the area.

"This is your monastery, after all, Xuanqing. A fight here could harm innocents. Let’s find a more suitable location!"

The others exchanged a look and gave chase.

...

「A few minutes later.」

Above the surface of a boundless, azure sea.

Their figures hovered in the air.

"Make your move!"

Ji Wuxing said nonchalantly.

The three of them—Lei Bao, Wang Jing, and Meng Ke—exchanged a look.

Their Powers of the Heart met, and their discussion was concluded.

Once again, it was Wang Jing who spoke.

"In that case, allow me to test you. If you can withstand a single technique of mine, the three of us will willingly submit! We will honor you as our Emperor!"

It was simple: among the three of them, he was the strongest.

He pressed his palms together before his chest and closed his eyes.

A faint golden light appeared in the void, soft and warm like the first light of dawn.

The light gradually gathered, growing brighter and brighter, as if a sacred power was surging within it.

The next instant, a golden Buddha statue, looking as if it were cast from solid Gold, manifested behind him.

The Buddha statue was adorned in a magnificent Kasaya, its fabric covered in delicate, exquisite patterns that seemed woven from innumerable stars.

A halo of light shone behind its head.

The instant it appeared, the air filled with the faint sounds of innumerable voices chanting sutras.

"A single flower blooms, a single leaf dances. A Buddha appears, a world is born. The wheel of Sumeru turns eternally!"

Wang Jing’s ancient voice rang out.

The gear-like halo behind the Buddha’s Dharma Aspect, which resembled a Giant Dragon, began to spin with insane, Extreme Speed, expanding as it emitted waves of deep, rumbling noise.

Immediately after, enormous illusory wheels of light appeared one after another, like mysterious totems awakening from primordial times.

They were so immense they seemed poised to blot out the entire sky.

Suddenly, as if unable to withstand the speed of its rotation, the massive construct of light wheels shattered with a deafening BOOM.

In that instant, a resplendent light exploded like a firework, transforming into an incredibly terrifying torrent of Buddha Light that rained down like a deluge.

It shrouded the entire world in a sacred, yet breathtaking, radiance.

The muscles on Lei Bao and Meng Ke’s faces twitched as they watched this unfold.

Their bodies flickered as if teleporting, putting even more distance between themselves and the attack.

’Is this... bald monk really putting his life on the line?’

The intense danger they felt from this technique was a secondary concern.

What was most important was the Buddha Light and the chanting. It felt as if they could forcibly convert a person, implanting the urge to take refuge in the Buddha.

And this was the effect on them, Refining God Venerables.

If an ordinary Qi Dao Grandmaster, or even a common person, were to see this, they would likely be converted in an instant.

They felt it so strongly, but for Ji Wuxing, who was directly facing the technique, the sensation was even more profound.

"Excellent! Excellent!"

Images of his own endless rebirths flashed before Ji Wuxing’s eyes, trying to drag him into an eternal cycle of Reincarnation.

The visions were incredibly lifelike, and a flood of unfamiliar memories surfaced along with them.

It felt as if he had truly been cast into the cycle of Reincarnation.

His gaze sharpened!

"This technique is impressive, but it’s still not enough to deal with me."

As he spoke, a sliver of golden light shot from his eyes.

He completely ignored the hymns and the Buddha Light, raising his fist and unleashing a punch.

"I am the Celestial Son! Heaven’s will is my will! Celestial Son Dragon Fist!"

A golden light flashed on his fist as he threw the punch.

The roar of a golden dragon echoed through the void.

In the next second, space itself seemed to twist in the wake of his punch. The immense power kicked up the sea, sending monstrous waves hundreds of meters high churning in all directions.

The Buddha Light blanketing the area was instantly extinguished.

PFFT!

A mouthful of blood sprayed out.

Wang Jing staggered backward, the Buddha Dharma Aspect behind him dissipating. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Well?"

Ji Wuxing stood with his hands behind his back.

His gaze was calm.

"Amitabha, we are willing to submit!"

Wang Jing activated his Secret Martial Arts, suppressing his injuries.

He intoned the Buddha’s name.

The moment the words left his mouth,

an immeasurably vast amount of the nation’s fortune converged and poured into Ji Wuxing’s body.

In an instant,

under the astonished gazes of the others,

Ji Wuxing’s body was enveloped in a ball of golden light.

His aura, originally at Middle Stage Dharma Form, began to climb steadily.

Dharma Peak... Early Stage of Divine Phase, Middle Stage Divine Phase, Divine Image Limit...

A few seconds later, the light receded.

Ji Wuxing’s figure was revealed.

A trace of regret appeared on his face.

"So close!"

As he said this,

his gaze turned to Xuanqing.

His pupils turned a pure golden color.

This was a Divine Technique he had awakened as his power grew.

It allowed him to see and absorb ethereal things like personal fortune and the nation’s fortune, as well as certain baleful energies.

"Xuanqing, I’ve only obtained three-fifths of the Xia Federation’s national fortune. You yourself carry only one-fifth. Where is the last fifth?"

Ji Wuxing’s brow furrowed.