New Yu Era, March 15, 1333

A piece of explosive news seemed to have spread across overnight.

The martial artists of the world were all boiling with excitement.

Hou Yuxiao, the National Teacher of Great Yu, will open the treasure vault of Yu Shenzong in the God Capital, inviting all in the world to enter the vault together to seek Shen Zong's legendary treasure.

No one knows how the news got out, nor does anyone care how such news spread across the world overnight. Everyone's focus is entirely on the content of this news.

The most crucial point, of course, is Shen Zong's treasure vault.

Throughout Shenzhou's history, if one were to select the most legendary figure, it would undoubtedly be Yu Shenzong. He unified the universe, bringing the thirteen regions of the world under Great Yu's rule. This one achievement alone is worth a place in the annals of history for countless generations, not to mention the many legendary stories about Yu Shenzong, which are far more than this one.

Richest in the world, unparalleled through the ages, creator of the Divine Dynasty, Shenzhou's greatest emperor... Each of these titles alone is rare in the world. When so many titles gather upon one person, it's even more incredible.

Such a figure, leaving behind the Shen Zong treasure vault.

Who wouldn't be tempted?

The key point is, there are rumors that the Shen Zong treasure vault contains opportunities that could allow a Saint to advance further. This makes people even more frantic.

And the circulated news says that Hou Yuxiao wants to open the vault publicly, inviting everyone to enter together to seek Shen Zong's legendary treasure...

Overnight, masters from all major forces across the thirteen states of the world swarmed like mad to the God Capital. Though Shenzhou is vast, it cannot withstand the speed of these masters. After all, it's the Shen Zong vault. Considering even Saints cannot resist the temptation, those daring to come to the God Capital now have a minimum cultivation level of the peak Fragmented Realm.

At their pace, let alone overnight, it only takes a few hours for them to reach the God Capital. Thus, the God Capital, initially bustling due to the Great Yu restoration, became even more lively.

Because the Jin army and horses were still active in the five regions of Zhongzhou, the God Capital had kept its city gates tightly closed for some time, enforcing a curfew inside the city. However, by the morning of the fifteenth, the city gates were opened.

Of course, even if the city gates weren't opened, ordinary armies couldn't stop these top martial artists. Even though Great Yu currently has nine Sub-Saints of Martial Dao, they couldn't stop so many, not to mention there are Martial Dao Saints among these people!

......

In the Yu Divine Palace, the officials stood arranged left and right, Jiang Yuyun sat high at the head, Hou Yuxiao stood at his side, only three meters away.

Below, left and right, leading the ranks were Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping. Behind them, three martial artists with equivalent aura were standing, namely Zhou Xuan Kai, Ying Tianyu, Dong Daokang, Li Ziyu, Shen Yuanfu, and Ding Bufan who had surrendered some time ago.

The six had Sub-Saint Realm of Martial Arts cultivation, and they brought a considerable number of sect members, greatly solidifying the respected positions in the newly restored Great Yu court, though not as significant as Hou Yuxiao's three, they held important positions.

Obviously, the crowd was discussing something when suddenly a Jinjia Soldier jogged inside from outside the palace gate. Upon entering, ignoring everyone else, the soldier directly knelt before Hou Yuxiao, respectfully stating:

"Report to the National Teacher, Jing Yuanxiu, and True Man Yu Tian, have all arrived!"

Jiang Yuyun, seated high on the throne, gazed at Hou Yuxiao's back, and a deep hatred flashed momentarily in his pupils. In the palace, none of the others showed any reaction, evidently accustomed to it.

"The last two Saints have arrived."

"Sikong Xingzhou and Fahai, Emperor of Jin and Zhuge Yuan, Zhang Ruoxu and Wei Xuheng, Zhao Yulong and Li Tingzong, Xun Mu and Meng Qu, Demon Void True Person and Demon Origin True Person, other sacred lands, all sent two Saints. How come Haoran Holy Sect and Wanjian Holy Sect only sent one each, even though Lian Jinghong and Jing Yuanbu didn't come?"

"Jing Yuanbu and Lian Jinghong haven't shown up for many years. Isn't there already speculation outside, claiming the two might have actually dispersed their armies? Their absence this time, could it confirm this rumor?"

"This... may not necessarily be true."

...

Hou Yuxiao's expression remained calm, but his heart was not as relaxed as his face. Listening to the discussions in the palace without missing a word.

Currently, Shenzhou has only eight sacred lands left, six of which sent two, plus True Man Yu Tian from Haoran Holy Sect, Jing Yuanxiu from Wanjian Holy Sect. Now in God Capital, the number of gathered Saints reached an astounding fourteen.

He wasn't clear on how many Saints each sacred land precisely has, but from the current situation, he could basically infer.

The Six Saints of Great Jin are known publicly as the world's top sacred land, without any hiding situation. If there was hiding, then Great Jin's power could really dominate the world.

New Moon Cult has three, Sikong father and daughter, plus Fahai.

The Academy has two, no secret there; Qinjian Villa with Zhao Yulong, Qin Fan, Li Tingzong; both Wanjian Holy Sect and Haoran Holy Sect have two, but each sent only one; Liangzhou is still in battle with Fenling Emperor. Though the Demon Derivation Holy Sect's two Saints dared to come, proving Liangzhou must surely have a Saint detained there, so Demon Derivation Holy Sect has three Saints; Ziqing Holy Sect sent its two generations of sect masters, naturally keeping one stationed in the sect, so they too should have three Saints.

Calculating like this, the Eight Great Sacred Lands have twenty-four Martial Dao Saints, and at this very moment, fourteen are assembled in the God Capital, exceeding half of them.