Chapter 972: Dyeing Kill Order

Hearing Gao Zhijian utter such words even at this point, Li Huowang suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of anger.

"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not sick!" Li Huowang abruptly stood up. "Do you believe me or not? If not, I'll go it alone!"

"I believe you," Gao Zhijian said, trying to calm Li Huowang. Then, he changed the subject: "However, this matter is too important for just the two of us to know. The White Lotus Saintess, along with the other Dragon Veins and the Si Tian Jian, must also be informed."

Li Huowang couldn't refute this reason; after all, it was a matter of global significance that certainly needed to be known by others. If everyone here could help him and become his allies, it would undoubtedly be more reliable than relying solely on Zhao Shuangdian and Qingwang.

These individuals were scattered across the land, and gathering them all in Shangjing City would have been extremely troublesome in the past. However, with Li Huowang, they were swiftly brought to the capital. Among them were not only Bai Lingmiao but also Dragon Veins from various nations, including the Abbot of Zhengde Temple, the Grand Master of the Mohist School, the Hall Master of Minglun Hall, the Six Grand Elders of Zoroastrianism, and the Sect Leader of the Luojiao. Representatives from all sects and factions arrived; practically every major organization in the world was present, unless they had exceptional circumstances.

Even the Grand Hall of Daliang, usually used for morning court, was now completely packed. The commotion caused by the Prime Minister was significant; anyone with eyes could naturally tell what was happening. Before Gao Zhijian spoke, everyone was quietly discussing the current situation, with many casting their gazes towards Li Huowang. After all, his identity as a "Heart-Elemental" was completely unmasked, openly displayed. However, compared to before, it was clear that no one dared harbor any ill intentions now. Their position below and Li Huowang's position above already demonstrated the shift in power.

As Gao Zhijian gently raised his hand, an old eunuch beside him waved a golden whisk in the air, signaling, "Silence." The hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Gao Zhijian on the dragon throne and the Dragon Vein Emperors on the other thrones, and the atmosphere in the entire hall immediately became extremely solemn.

"Today, I have summoned you all for a purpose I believe you already grasp: the world now stands at a precipice, facing life or death!" The hall was utterly silent, every person listening intently.

Gao Zhijian didn't continue speaking. Instead, he waited for a eunuch to bring a golden imperial decree, then picked up a brush and began writing as he spoke. "The world's military strategists have already sacrificed themselves. External enemies are coveting our lands. To protect the people and the world, I, as the Emperor of Daliang, hereby announce the activation of the Dyeing Evil Qi Order."

After uttering that last sentence, Gao Zhijian pulled out the Imperial Seal of Daliang and firmly stamped it onto the decree. The other Dragon Veins said nothing, but simultaneously rose and took out their respective national seals, stamping them onto the decree as well. But that wasn't all. All the emperors then dripped their own blood onto the imperial decree.

Such a grand display left many in the hall bewildered, not understanding its meaning. However, some long-lived individuals knew precisely what the Dyeing Evil Qi Order represented. An old woman, leaning on a phoenix-head staff and covered in ceramic blue-and-white porcelain-like cracked tattoos, asked with a trembling voice, "Your Majesty? Is it truly necessary? Even when the Dharma Sect caused such chaos, the Dyeing Evil Qi Order was not invoked. Must we resort to this method now?"

"The Dharma Sect? The Dharma Sect didn't even pass Qingqiu back then. Can that compare to the present situation?"

"Before, peace and tranquility prevailed, all thanks to the Si Tian Jian and Senior Brother Li bearing the brunt. Since we're no longer concealing the truth, I will tell you frankly today: that incident with the Dharma Sect was merely a scout's probe from the external enemy!"

Gao Zhijian's words weighed like a mountain on everyone's hearts. They might not have known other things, but they all knew the extent of the chaos caused by the Dharma Sect. If that level of crisis was merely a probe, then how powerful were these current external enemies?

Seeing the unease spread among the crowd, Li Huowang immediately stepped forward to calm everyone. "Don't panic! We can win! They're not as strong as you imagine. As long as we work together, we can definitely overcome this!"

"Brother Li," asked the Grand Elder of Zoroastrianism, seeing an opportunity, "by what authority do you say such things?"

"Me? What authority?" Li Huowang pulled out a waist token from his bosom and held it up. "I am Daliang's Si Tian Jian! How about that? Do I have the right to speak now?"

Gao Zhijian was clearly unaware of this news; he, like everyone else, looked at the waist token in Li Huowang's hand with surprise. The waist token belonged to Xuanpin, found within her corpse.

"They're nothing special! Their 'elephants' are about the same size as ours! There's no need to fear them!"

"No matter what happens next, bring out your ultimate hidden techniques! Let us unite, high and low, and find a way to eliminate them!"

Li Huowang's words didn't resonate deeply with everyone immediately, but with the endorsement of the Dragon Veins behind him, they clearly acknowledged his identity as Daliang's Si Tian Jian and the validity of his statements. With emperors from across the world simultaneously issuing a call to arms, everyone understood the immense weight of the situation. The global situation was now clear. Whether they could win or not depended on the final outcome.

After the imperial decree was issued, civil and military officials and all sects nationwide began to mobilize, rushing to implement the Dyeing Evil Qi Order. Even some evil cultivators, though not offering help, dared not cause trouble at such a critical time.

"Every citizen in the world must be 'dyed with evil qi'?" Li Huowang asked Gao Zhijian, who was on the dragon throne.

"Everyone," replied the solemn Gao Zhijian, his hands gripping the dragon heads on the armrests of the throne.

Li Huowang's voice began to tremble. "Even my fellow disciples in Niuxin Village!?"

Gouwa, Yang Xiaohai, Zhao Wu, Sun Baolu, Lu Xiucai, Chun Xiaoman – Li Huowang's past companions flashed one by one through Gao Zhijian's mind. But as a good emperor, he firmly reiterated his previous statement: "Everyone."

Bai Lingmiao had been dyed with the military's evil qi, and Lu Xiucai also had. Li Huowang knew the consequences of being dyed with evil qi. If everyone in the world were to be dyed with evil qi, it would practically be a man-made catastrophe. Li Huowang felt an unbearable constriction in his heart, yet he couldn't speak out. In such a global crisis, he decided to wait and see.

"Don't rush to use it," Li Huowang said in a low voice. "Save the Prime Minister's ultimate method for last. Only use it if we truly cannot fight them off."

They had finally gained allies, which should have been a good thing. Unfortunately, the cost of using these allies was far too heavy.

"Naturally. These are my people, this is my nation. I cherish them more than you do."

Just as Li Huowang opened his mouth to say something more, a woman's voice came from behind him: "It won't just depend on the common people!"