Xu Zimo slowly stood up.

He smiled and said, “Everyone, don’t be nervous. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Xu Zimo.”

“This is our Imperial Ancestor,” Willow Ancestor quickly added.

The crowd erupted in commotion.

In recent days, the Imperial Ancestor of the True Martial Sacred Ground had become a stir across the entire region. Everyone knew the name, though almost no one had ever seen him. His strength was unquestionable, he had destroyed the Ancient Dragon God-Empire and rebuilt the True Martial Sacred Ground, and for that reason, countless rumors surrounded him.

Now that he had appeared in person, everyone stared with surprise. They looked at Xu Zimo carefully. Indeed, no one recognized him, not even those familiar with the True Martial lineage.

Yet moments ago, he had merely coughed, and over a hundred million corpse-soldiers had exploded. They didn’t know how he did it, but that didn’t matter. His power was undeniable.

Now, every gaze in the hall was fixed on him.

Xu Zimo spoke lightly. “I’m glad everyone came today to congratulate our True Martial Sacred Ground. But for those with ill intentions, I have a simple principle. Friends are welcomed with wine and meat; wolves are greeted with guns.”

As soon as he finished, the Southern Fist Emperor was already eager to jump out. He stepped forward and shouted, “Imperial Ancestor, what you said is rather inappropriate. We traveled all this way for the sake of the True Martial Sacred Ground. Sometimes unpleasant words are necessary for your good. As the saying goes, harsh advice benefits the listener, bitter medicine cures the illness. Don’t you agree?”

He continued, “I personally think joining the Yue God-Clan would be great for True Martial. Since you are the Imperial Ancestor, you should have the authority. Why don’t you say a few words?”

“You’re the one barking the loudest,” Xu Zimo said, narrowing his eyes. “Do you really enjoy being a dog that much?”

Hearing that, the Southern Fist Emperor was instantly displeased. “Boy, mind your words. You might bring calamity upon this newly established True Martial Sacred Ground!”

“You think you’re qualified to threaten me?” Xu Zimo snorted.

He raised a single finger and pressed down.

The Southern Fist Emperor’s expression changed. Spirit energy surged violently around his fists, power roaring like an ocean storm as he struck upward.

Thunderous booms shook the sky. The heavens shattered; the void trembled.

To the onlookers, that small fingertip seemed to transform into a vast mountain, suppressing everything. The sky dimmed, the sun itself paling beneath its pressure.

The Southern Fist Emperor leapt into the air. His fists roared like enraged beasts as he struck again and again at the descending finger. It was useless. The finger suppressed all. His body sank lower as pressure mounted.

His face twisted. Behind him, his true fate manifested, an enormous hand.

Some found it strange. A hand as a true fate? But upon closer look, it was no ordinary hand. The power inside surged fiercely, overflowing with vast immortal essence.

It was an immortal’s hand.

Immortal radiance poured from it without end.

“An immortal?” someone exclaimed.

“He truly gained great fortune, he actually comprehended an immortal’s hand.”

Another voiced doubt, “But… what is an immortal, really?”

Opinions differed. Some believed only those from the Heavenly Court’s Immortal Gate could be called immortals, land immortals of absolute power. Others claimed immortality required attaining the Infinite Dao. No standard had ever been formally agreed upon.

Yet as that boundless immortal hand appeared, none could deny the awe it stirred.

But even as the hand pressed forward, Xu Zimo’s finger did not slow.

“Immortal?” Xu Zimo chuckled disdainfully. “Even if a god came today, I would slay him. If an immortal came, he would kneel. And you think a mere remnant hand can stop me?”

The immortal hand erupted with power, struggling fiercely against Xu Zimo’s finger.

Explosions shook the entire territory. Onlookers retreated rapidly, unable to withstand the shockwaves. They gave space for the clash.

But Xu Zimo now stood as a Sage Monarch. His opponent was merely a Grand Emperor.

To put it bluntly, even if the immortal hand’s real owner were here, it wouldn’t matter.

Despite its brilliance and desperate resistance, the outcome had been decided from the beginning.

With a thunderous detonation, the immortal hand was swallowed whole. The Southern Fist Emperor screamed in terror as his body was annihilated, erased entirely.

Only his panicked expression lingered in everyone’s mind.

A resounding explosion shook the imperial palace. Silence followed, long, suffocating silence. No one dared speak.

At last, someone’s trembling voice broke the stillness. “T-that… a Grand Emperor… just died. Like that.”

“He’s dead, no doubt.”

“What realm is the Imperial Ancestor of the True Martial Sacred Ground? Is the sect truly about to rise again?”

Whispers spread.

Xu Zimo laughed softly. “Don’t freeze up. A small mouse shouldn’t ruin the mood. Sit down and eat.”

After he spoke, he lifted his gaze toward the sky, where the Seven-Star Emperor stood. The man was completely stiff, cold sweat soaking him from head to toe. His mind had gone blank.

As a Grand Emperor himself, he knew he was stronger than the Southern Fist Emperor, slightly. But that single finger… that instant death… it had terrified him.

“Run.” He didn’t hesitate. He tried to tear open the void to escape. But when he activated his arts, he realized the void itself had been sealed by Xu Zimo.

His strength wasn’t even close to breaching it.

Before Xu Zimo, he was as weak as an ant. Fighting was impossible. Even escape was impossible. His life and death rested entirely in the other man’s hands.

He slowly turned around, knees buckling. He fell to the ground before Xu Zimo, kneeling, ignoring the watching crowd entirely.