Chapter 40: The Imperial Examination Begins_1
「Heavenly Fire Domain!」
It lay to the northwest of the Qin Empire, its area nearly equivalent to the East Ancient Domain, yet its power was considerably greater. This disparity stemmed from the Holy Fire Sect’s unification of the domain thirty thousand years ago.
Pope Duan Wanjiang sat upon his throne, clad in a long red robe. His skin, hair, and beard were all a fiery red, and his eyes, in particular, seemed to burn with blazing flames. An oppressive aura, like heavenly fire descending upon the world, filled the entire grand hall. "According to intelligence," he began, his voice resonating through the hall, "the Qin Empire in the southeast has unified the East Ancient Domain, greatly increasing its power! Their Crown Prince, Qin Wudao, possesses a special physique, has completed the eighth-rank Nirvana, and has the bearing of a future emperor! Fellow bishops, do you have any effective strategies?"
Below him stood the Saint Heir, Duan Yonghui, shrouded in black flames, his aura unsettling to the core. Anyone who met his gaze for too long would feel as if their very soul was on the verge of being devoured.
Further back stood ten bishops in robes of various colors, their expressions indifferent, each exuding a potent aura.
"Your Holiness, in my humble opinion, the Qin Empire has only just unified the East Ancient Domain and is internally unstable. This presents us with a rare opportunity!" Yan Jiannan, the Cardinal in Red, stepped forward and bowed slightly, a hint of battle intent in his eyes.
He was a staunch hawk, always advocating for external expansion. However, to their north lay the Changeable Mansion, where a Saint expert was in residence, so they dared not invade. To their west were the Ghost Tomb Ruins, an accursed and desolate place unsuitable for life, and thus, impossible to invade. To their east was the Wuling Domain, whose strength was comparable to the Heavenly Fire Domain. However, it had numerous allies, making an invasion unfeasible. The only remaining direction was the southeast, towards the East Ancient Domain. Its strength was relatively weak, making it a viable target for invasion. However, the Qin Empire was a tough nut to crack, and the Holy Fire Sect had failed to gain any significant advantage in their previous clashes.
"The Qin Crown Prince, having reached the eighth-rank Nirvana, poses a significant threat. For the safety of the Holy Fire Sect, he must be eliminated!" declared Jiang Tiansheng, the Cardinal in White.
"Your Holiness, we second the motion!" The remaining eight bishops stepped forward in unison, all supporting the call to battle.