Chapter 1 The Emperor's Command

"Our Xia imperial clan, inheriting the bloodline of the ancient Pangu world's imperial clan 'Xia', unified this great world long ago and ruled it for eons. I have also studied under my master, who once said... in terms of the strength of fortune, my Great Xia Dynasty world ranks first among the dozens of great worlds under my master's tutelage. Fortune converges, the Three Realms tremble, and some extraordinary heroes are to be born. The likelihood of their birth in my Great Xia Dynasty world is very high!" The black-robed emperor mused.

"My master is an existence who grasps the Heavenly Dao, one of the most supreme great beings in the Three Realms. Even my master worries that the Three Realms are about to undergo great upheaval... If I am careless, I fear the Xia imperial clan will be wiped out."

He understood clearly.

His master was a true pinnacle great being in the Three Realms, commanding dozens of great worlds, of which the Great Xia Dynasty world was but one.

As for the Heavenly Emperor?

The Heavenly Emperor merely managed some order in the Three Realms; his authority was not much higher than that of the Great Xia Emperor, let alone compared to his master. Existences like his master were the true overlords controlling the fate of the Three Realms. In the past, there had been upheavals in the Three Realms, and the Heavenly Emperor had been replaced several times. Who became the Heavenly Emperor was decided by supreme great beings like his master through deliberation.

"Since an existence like my master is worried, then his disciples, like me, might perish in this calamity."

"I must be extremely careful, cautious and prudent."

The black-robed emperor was an existence who had lived from the ancient world to the present. In those days, he led his tribe from the ancient world to the 'Great Xia Dynasty world', then fought against the indigenous gods and demons, contended with other tribes, and finally unified the realm. He was no pushover.

He knew well how to survive a great catastrophe.

"I must befriend more powerful beings of the Three Realms."

"Even better if some powerful beings of the Three Realms are willing to serve me. Thus, my fortune will naturally surge."

"This Immortal Fate Convention may well give birth to future powerful beings of the Three Realms."

The black-robed emperor's gaze was deep and unfathomable.

Suddenly—

A figure appeared in the distance on the clouds. He wore a bright yellow robe embroidered with a pattern of a yinglong. His facial features were soft, and his eyes were like stars. He was Prince Qi, an existence at the Celestial Immortal level.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." Prince Qi bowed respectfully.

"Prince Qi, during my absence, has anything important occurred?" the black-robed emperor said. Normally, the emperor's clansmen and ministers managed the realm; only truly major matters were reported to the emperor.

"Your Majesty is aware that Prince Yan became a Celestial Immortal. As for other matters... nothing significant has happened. The Great Xia Dynasty is generally peaceful," Prince Qi said respectfully. The death of Shaoyan Nong? Even if it were the current Yunshen Gong, let alone the next, it would be a trivial matter, not worth reporting to the Great Xia Emperor.

Of course, if a Celestial Immortal like Xuanji Patriarch died, that would be worth reporting.

"Mm." The black-robed emperor nodded. "The Immortal Fate Convention is a few months away. Do you have any special news regarding it?"

"The Immortal Fate Convention?" Prince Qi was startled.

The Immortal Fate Convention was held once every three hundred years.

For cultivators with relatively short lifespans, it was almost a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for the lofty Great Xia Emperor, in his immensely long and ancient life, the convention every three hundred years was quite frequent. He might go into seclusion for tens of thousands of years and usually paid no attention to the convention, leaving it to a few Celestial Immortals under his command.

Having Celestial Immortals preside was already considered high enough in rank.

"If I must say what's special about this Immortal Fate Convention..." Prince Qi pondered, recalling an intelligence report from Tianbao Mountain, and said, "There is something special. In past conventions, some truly proud peerless geniuses chose not to attend. But this time, many renowned peerless geniuses have come one after another. In terms of quality, this convention should be considered very high."

Peerless geniuses did not necessarily attend the Immortal Fate Convention.

Due to personality, temperament, or cultivation methods, many would not come. For instance, the Slacker Daoist had originally not intended to come.

"Oh?" The black-robed emperor nodded slightly. Indeed, everything had signs.

Invisible fortune converged.

This Immortal Fate Convention was a place where fortune gathered. Those peerless geniuses would instinctively want to come, because those who shone brightly would receive more fortune's blessing, and their future achievements would be limitless.

"I will personally preside over this Immortal Fate Convention," the black-robed emperor declared.

"Personally?" Prince Qi was astonished. "This convention is held every three hundred years and is not important. Why would Your Majesty personally preside?"

The black-robed emperor nodded: "Yes, I will personally preside. I will also increase the rewards for this convention tenfold or a hundredfold."

"Tenfold or a hundredfold?" Prince Qi's heart trembled.

In previous conventions, only the top three were granted an immortal-grade magic treasure.

What about this time?

"Issue an order to all feudal lords, sects, and schools across the realm," the black-robed emperor said calmly. "Tell them that I am very interested in this Immortal Fate Convention and will personally preside. They must arrange for the most outstanding disciples within their feudal states, sects, and schools to attend."

"An order?" Prince Qi was even more astonished.

Attendance was usually voluntary.

"Prince Qi, you are aware of the upheaval in the Underworld decades ago," the black-robed emperor said, looking at Prince Qi.

"Yes, I know the Six Paths of Reincarnation collapsed. But what does that have to do with the Immortal Fate Convention?" Prince Qi vaguely sensed something, but due to his limited vision, he still did not fully understand. However, he realized that the upheaval in the Underworld was the reason the emperor valued this convention.

Since that was the case, he could not be negligent.

"I will issue the order immediately," Prince Qi quickly replied.

"Mm, the Immortal Fate Convention will begin on the sixteenth day of the first month," the black-robed emperor decreed.

"As you command," Prince Qi responded.

...

Soon, with the Great Xia capital as the center, the news that 'the Great Xia Emperor will personally preside over the Immortal Fate Convention and orders all feudal lords, sects, and schools to send their most outstanding disciples to attend' spread rapidly throughout this great world. All feudal lords on the endless land, and even the great powers in the boundless seas, received the emperor's command!

"Personally presided over by His Majesty?"

"The last time His Majesty presided over the Immortal Fate Convention was when he annihilated the rebellious Dong'e clan and others, which was eons ago. The time before that was the very first convention. Why does His Majesty want to preside over this one again?"

For a time, all the great feudal lords, major sects, and schools were uneasy.

They did not care about the lives of their Wanxiang disciples; even if all died, it would only create a gap of a few hundred years, and new geniuses would emerge afterward.

But they worried about the intentions of His Majesty the Great Xia Emperor—the true emperor who controlled the fate of the entire great world!

His personal presence and order...

This was significant.

"Ancestor, His Majesty presided over the first convention and the one after the Dong'e rebellion. This is the third time. There must be a reason."

"Enough, don't overthink. What status does His Majesty have? Can you fathom his thoughts? Even if he orders the young geniuses of our clan to die, we must obey. Go, have the top three Wanxiang true persons among the younger generation of our clan attend the convention. As for the others, let them decide voluntarily."

...

"Recall the three holy sons and prepare them for the Immortal Fate Convention."

"Yes, Holy Lord."

...

"For our Qitian Sect, the top five among the ten great disciples must attend this convention. As for the others, let them decide voluntarily."

"Yes, Grand Elder."

...

Not a single truly powerful force in the Great Xia Dynasty world dared to disobey. Those who received the order were all powers on the same level as Anchan Beishan. As for the Black-White College? It was not even qualified to receive the order.

...

Another winter arrived, and the snow shone brightly under the sunlight.

Ji Ning, Wei Chi Xiyue, Yu Wei, Mu Zishuo, Cangjiang Zhenren, and the Slacker Daoist were all together, drinking immortal wine, feasting on seafood, and chatting freely.

"The imperial decree has come down," Wei Chi Xiyue said with a smile. "This Immortal Fate Convention will begin on the sixteenth day of the first month, just over a month from now."

Every convention was held in the first month.

"While wandering in the Great Xia capital, I heard people at a restaurant discussing that the top three of their sect's nine great disciples had come, and that geniuses from other sects had also arrived. It seems an extraordinary number of geniuses are coming this time," Mu Zishuo said excitedly, holding a beast-headed wine cup.

"According to intelligence I purchased from Tianbao Mountain, waves of geniuses are converging on the Great Xia capital," Yu Wei said solemnly.

Wei Chi Xiyue laughed: "It seems you don't know enough. In fact, His Majesty the Emperor will personally preside over this convention. To curry favor with His Majesty, the feudal lords, sects, and schools will naturally bring their finest geniuses."

"His Majesty personally presiding?" Ji Ning, Yu Wei, and the Slacker Daoist were all astonished.

"This news is known to all the great feudal lords, and some peerless genius disciples have probably been told, but they dare not spread it lightly," Wei Chi Xiyue said. "I'm telling you, but don't pass it around."

"Of course."

Ji Ning and the others were still in shock.

The Great Xia Emperor?

The existence who ruled this great world? The one standing at the very pinnacle?

Ji Ning and the others grew even more expectant.

As time passed, more and more geniuses arrived in the Great Xia capital. Some who had originally not planned to come were tempted by the sheer number of geniuses and rushed over.

In the blink of an eye, it was the sixteenth day of the first month.