"Thank you for the recognition, Ancestor." Xia Tianming slightly lowered his head and agreed.

His gaze remained on Xia Tianming, as according to the rules, during the competition for the throne, life and death could be determined!

Seeing Xia Tianming's murderous intent, Xia Tianming couldn't help but shiver, leaning further behind Xia Donghai.

"Tianming, you are already the victor. Donghai is right; with one less Martial Sovereign in our Great Xia Empire, our strength diminishes."

"You've already killed four Martial Sovereigns from the Lingxiao Pavilion. Even if it's just to vent your anger, it should be enough."

"Your talent is extraordinary; in the future, you will also be the Summer Emperor ruling the Empire. You must consider the Empire more and not act so willfully."

The Seventh Xia Emperor stepped forward, patted Xia Tianming on the shoulder, and said in a deliberately kind manner.

"Since even the Ancestor speaks for him, I'll let him go." Xia Tianming's cold gaze was on Xia Tianming, and the murderous intent in his eyes gradually disappeared, receding to the depths of his heart.

He could see that Xia Donghai was determined to protect Xia Tianming.

Moreover, with the Seventh Xia Emperor speaking on his behalf, the other Xia Emperors would certainly not agree to let him resort to deadly force.

It didn't matter.

After all, the competition for the throne was over, and Xia Tianming's matter couldn't escape!

Xia Feng quickly stepped forward and handed Xia Tianming the elixir for recovering from injuries.

The grandfather-grandson duo immediately treated the Tier Seven Upper Grade Spirit Gathering Pill and Heart Cleansing Pill like candy, chewing loudly.

The battle for the throne ended, and as the victor, Xia Tianming turned his head coldly, looking down at the ministers.

The ministers below the Emperor Dragon Platform looked at the unparalleled Xia Tianming and then glanced at Xia Tianming, who was in a sorry state.

Their expressions were somewhat complex.

Xia Tianming lost, which meant...

The Xia Emperor of the Great Xia Empire was about to change.

These people were all sly foxes; the entire system of the Empire was executed by them, and one couldn't handle that without some wit.

Previously, they supported Xia Tianming because Xia Tianming had power. It wasn't like no one doubted the truth of the imperial son's succession back then; it just wasn't necessary.

Whoever could give them more benefits, whoever looked more like the winner, that's who they'd follow.

The previous imperial son at Earth Tier First Layer and the current Xia Emperor at Earth Tier Seventh Layer — even a fool would know whom to choose.

But what no one expected was that Xia Tianming actually lost.

His loss caught everyone off guard.

After the shock, their first reaction was to start calculating their own situation.

The nobles and ministers who held significant power and had good relations with Xia Tianming couldn't help but feel tense.

Everyone knew that with a new emperor came new ministers. With Xia Tianming as the new Xia Emperor, would he settle scores with them?

Those treacherous ministers who previously flattered Xia Tianming now felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles, trembling uncontrollably.

Just now, when Xia Tianming raised his arm to rally, they were the ones shouting the loudest.

Especially Zhang Guohai, the head of the Supervision Temple.

After his son had a conflict with Xia Tianming at a noodle shop, he had even sent two honored guests from his household to cause trouble for him.

This incident had made quite a stir in the Capital City. Among the elite circles, most people were already aware of the issue between Xia Tianming and Zhang Guohai's eldest son.

Once a favored figure in Xia Tianming's circle and a highly praised Zhang Guohai, he now seemed to have turned into the source of a plague, avoided by everyone.

Within a ten-meter radius, his vicinity was deserted, and noble ministers moved away from him, afraid of any association with him.

Zhang Guohai couldn't help but roll his eyes and fainted on the ground.

"Tianming."

At this moment, the Ten Great Xia Emperors, including Xia Donghai, gathered around Xia Tianming.

The Seventh Xia Emperor looked at the Void Cauldron in front of him, eyes flashing with a touch of greed, and smiled at Xia Tianming, speaking in high-sounding words.

"You are someone with great fortune, and to unexpectedly obtain a genuine Divine Weapon in the northwest corner of our Great Xia Empire."

"Divine Weapons are rare indeed. None of us, who have lived for 230,000 years, have ever been close to such a weapon."

"As a bloodline of the Xia Family, surely you hope our Empire will produce a true Martial God, correct?"

"This Void Cauldron should be loaned to us ancestors for observation for a time, and returned to you after breakthroughs are achieved."

The other Xia Emperors moved closer to Xia Tianming, nodding in agreement.

"That's right, Tianming. We've been at Celestial Tier Ninth Layer for a long time; this Divine Weapon is our only opportunity to breakthrough."

"Honored ancestors..."

Xia Tianming bit his lip, knowing all too well the adage that a commoner with a treasure is in peril.

Divine Artifacts are significant matters, and unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to reveal it.

During his battle with Xia Tianming, he tried his best to control the Void Cauldron, not allowing it to reveal too much of its power.

Yet, when faced with Xia Tianming, who exploded using the Nine Orifice Exquisite Heart, if he didn't use the Void Cauldron with full force, he would've been annihilated.

Even though he prevailed over Xia Tianming, the details of the Void Cauldron were exposed as well.

The words from the Ten Great Xia Emperors sounded nice — borrowing for observation and breakthrough.

Xia Tianming wasn't a fool; he knew that once he handed over the Void Cauldron, he would never get it back.

The Ten Xia Emperors moved closer to Xia Tianming, and all ten of them stared heatedly at the Void Cauldron.

By now, their greed was completely undisguised.

If not for the fact that Xia Tianming was their junior, and had won the throne of Xia Emperor before all the ministers, they might have already taken action.

"What's the matter, Tianming, could it be... you are unwilling?"

"Since you bear the name Xia, you should know that the Empire's interests are paramount!"

"After acquiring the Divine Artifact, instead of thinking about elevating our Great Xia Empire to the Divine Domain, are you filled with thoughts of safeguarding your interests, Xia Tianming!!"

The Eighth Xia Emperor, a bald burly man, radiated a sharp gleam in his eyes. His tone shifted from unfriendly at first, to later scolding in rage.

A domineering green Spiritual Qi appeared on his body, and with eyes filled with the fury of thunder, the Eighth Xia Emperor seemed as though he might erupt at any moment.

Xia Tianming furrowed his brow, hesitating, unsure.

He knew this matter couldn't be resolved so easily this time.

The Eighth and Seventh Xia Emperors had lived long lives, and they could be said to be in their twilight years now.

If they couldn't break through to Martial Sovereign within the next ten thousand years, their lifespans would soon reach their limits.

No matter how glorious and powerful they were in life, they would ultimately become a pile of yellow earth, ending up like the first six Xia Emperors.

Xia Tianming watched as the Ten Great Xia Emperors began to pressure Xia Tianming to hand over the Void Cauldron, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of delight.

Truly, heaven leaves no path closed to a person!

He was originally unwilling, having schemed for a millennium to ascend the Xia Emperor's throne. Why should he hand it over after only a few decades?

Xia Tianming brought a Divine Artifact to compete for the throne, and although he won, the Void Cauldron also placed him at a disadvantage!

Success due to the Divine Artifact, failure also due to the Divine Artifact.

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