Chapter 29: An Emperor’s Might, Words Become Law—Who Would Dare Disobey?

Returning from the Cang family, Xiao Xuan descended upon the Xiao family plaza. With a casual wave of his hand, he dumped the looted treasures into the center of the square. They piled up like a small mountain, dazzling the eyes and radiating an array of exotic glows.

Treasures that would fetch astronomical prices in the outside world seemed beneath notice to Xiao Xuan. He merely swept a faint glance over them, leaving behind a crowd of Xiao family disciples to gape at the resources.

Having long endured lives of hardship, the Xiao disciples were filled with shock. They stared wide-eyed at what looked like mountains of gold and silver, unable to look away.

"Ancestor, are all these treasures truly ours?" a young disciple asked cautiously, his eyes shimmering with disbelief. His voice trembled, as if he feared this might be a dream from which he would soon awaken.

"That’s strange," another disciple remarked, following up with a perplexed look. "These heavenly treasures are still stained with fresh, steaming blood. They don't look like they were just mined. Could it be that they were snatched after a slaughter?"

"Young man, cultivation is all about fate," Xiao Xuan replied, wearing a "benevolent" smile. His expression was gentle, his voice filled with patience, as if he were instructing a junior. "The Xiao family and these treasures are destined to be together. How can you call it snatching by slaughter?"

It was difficult to reconcile this "benevolent" image of Xiao Xuan with the man who had just gone on a killing spree, eradicating the entire Cang family and refining the quasi-emperors of the Cang and Wu clans into raw quasi-emperor essence. At this moment, Xiao Xuan appeared as saintly as a living Bodhisattva, a complete departure from the image of the Yama he had projected earlier.

"Indeed, the Ancestor is right! These treasures are destined for our family. With them, the Xiao clan can finally return to the ranks of the Eastern Wasteland’s imperial lineages!"

"We’ll never have to beg other clans for cultivation resources again. This feels incredible!"

The surrounding disciples nodded in succession, a flash of realization crossing their eyes as they excitedly embraced the implication of Xiao Xuan's words.

"Every one of these spiritual herbs is of supreme quality! With these, our cultivation speed will skyrocket; we won't be stuck at bottlenecks like before, unable to break through!" another disciple shouted, waving a herb in excitement.

"You fool!" a Xiao family elder barked suddenly. "With herbs this precious, who would waste them on breaking through bottlenecks? They are meant for saving lives! If we had these before, so many of our kin wouldn't have perished!"

A young female disciple gently touched a piece of divine source emitting a warm, gentle light, her eyes full of adoration. "This piece of divine source is pure in quality and rich in energy. It’s a rare treasure; even wearing it on one's person can enhance cultivation. I never dreamed I would see a piece of divine source in my lifetime, let alone touch one!"

"Move all of this inside; it all belongs to the Xiao family," Xiao Xuan said, his heart a complex mix of emotions as he watched their unbridled joy.

Spiritual herbs and divine sources were standard for an imperial family. Seeing his own kin treat them as if they were alien wonders left a bitter taste in his mouth. It was his own fault; when he had guarded the Heavenly Abyss long ago, he had taken almost all of the Xiao family’s imperial-tier resources, leading to their decline.

Following their ancestor's command, the people dared not rush in, fearing they might damage the precious items. They continued to sort through the pile with meticulous care. In the blink of an eye, the disciples were each holding a collection of resources—from spiritual herbs to immortal metals, from divine sources to rare treasures. Every face was filled with incredulous joy, as if they still could not believe the reality before them.

"Is... is this all real? How could our Xiao family possess so many treasures?" a young disciple asked, his voice trembling with excitement as he gripped a hundred-year-old medicinal king that exuded a faint fragrance.

"Haha, brother! This was all looted from the Cang family by Emperor Xiao Xuan! The Cang family was one of the wealthiest in the Eastern Wasteland! Now, all these treasures belong to us!" another disciple responded proudly, shaking a piece of gold-shimmering immortal metal.

"Ancestor Xiao Xuan’s actions have not only brought us abundant resources but have also re-established the Xiao family's prestige in the Eastern Wasteland. These treasures are enough to help us rise again!" an elder said, gazing at the disciples with pride.

"I have lived for so many years and never seen so many treasures gathered in one place," an elderly clansman remarked with emotion. "Emperor Xiao Xuan is truly the savior of our Xiao family!"

The Xiao family plaza was filled with laughter and exclamations, sweeping away the previous air of despondency. These rich resources not only gave the disciples hope for their cultivation but also revitalized the morale of the entire family.

"Ancestor, these resources..." Xiao Qingtian looked at the scene in disbelief, his voice trembling.

"These were merely looted from the Cang family. They are just an appetizer," Xiao Xuan replied with a slight smile.

"So many resources... and they are just an appetizer?"

Xiao Qingtian was stunned by the statement. They had already eradicated the Cang family, severed their lineage, and wiped out their entire clan—if this was just an appetizer, what kind of "main course" would follow? Was he planning to find an even more powerful imperial clan and wipe them out as well?

Just as Xiao Qingtian was filled with uncertainty, the entire Eastern Wasteland was suddenly enveloped by a vast, peerless power. This force was released by Xiao Xuan; an Emperor is the first among all under the Heavenly Dao, and covering the entire Eastern Wasteland with his own strength was no difficult task.

"I am the Great Emperor Xiao Xuan. Any other imperial clan in the Eastern Wasteland that does not wish to follow in the footsteps of the Cang family must deliver ten不死 (undying) herbs, ten types of immortal metal, ten types of imperial secret arts, and one hundred thousand catties of divine source within ten days. There will be no grace period. Imperial dignity must not be insulted; bear the consequences yourselves."

Carried by this power, Xiao Xuan's voice resounded through the heavens, reaching every corner of the Eastern Wasteland. Whether from the peaks of high mountains or the depths of valleys, whether in bustling human cities or remote tribal villages of the demon race, every living creature heard him clearly.

More importantly, Xiao Xuan's voice carried a trace of imperial power, possessing an unquestionable majesty, as if it were an inescapable decree of fate.

The sky of the Eastern Wasteland seemed to freeze at that moment. All sound ceased, leaving only Xiao Xuan's voice echoing between heaven and earth. Countless living beings stopped what they were doing and looked up at the sky, their faces etched with shock and awe.

A living Great Emperor is the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao; his words are law. Who dared to defy him?