Jiang Chen's words struck like a thunderbolt to a sleeping man, instantly shattering that thin barrier within the Panlong House Lord. Countless insights regarding the Emperor realm flooded into his martial world all at once.
The Peacock Emperor smiled and said, "Young man, your master truly takes me aback. A mere eight words, and they've produced a new Emperor-realm powerhouse. Panlong, congratulations."
The Panlong House Lord's voice trembled, "Your Majesty, Young Lord... I—this subordinate is truly about to break through. I can already feel the insights knocking at my door. They seem unstoppable, tearing that barrier apart."
"Haha! The eighth Emperor of our Glazed Royal City has finally appeared after a thousand years!"
The Peacock Emperor's tone brimmed with gratification. The emergence of a new Great Emperor under his Peacock Sacred Mountain was undoubtedly heartening news for the mountain.
"Your Majesty, I humbly request to borrow the sacred grounds of Peacock Sacred Mountain for a period of secluded cultivation lasting several days."
"Go find Illuminated Emperor Yunzhong — he will make the arrangements." The Peacock Emperor naturally would not refuse. Breaking through to the Emperor realm was a critical stage, and returning to the mundane surroundings of the Panlong House Lord's manor would clearly be inappropriate. After all, the environmental requirements for an Emperor-realm breakthrough were extremely demanding.
Moreover, most critically, the celestial phenomena accompanying such a breakthrough were incredibly spectacular. If it occurred in a mundane location, it might very well uproot the entire Panlong manor.
This was something neither the Peacock Emperor nor the Panlong House Lord wished to see.
The Peacock Emperor sighed lightly, "It seems my departure plans will have to be delayed once more. And you, young man — your own plans to venture out will likely need to be postponed a few days as well."
The Panlong House Lord's breakthrough to the Emperor realm was now all but certain. At most, he would need three to five days of secluded cultivation, followed by another three to five days of stabilization — seven days at the fastest, half a month at the slowest. Once he emerged, a new Great Emperor would be born.
The birth of a new Great Emperor was naturally a momentous event for the Glazed Royal City — the first in a millennium. The new Great Emperor's coronation, the bestowing of a title, and the establishment of an Emperor-level sacred ground — all of this required a grand celebration.
As the master and young lord of Peacock Sacred Mountain, the Peacock Emperor and Jiang Chen naturally could not be absent.
At a time like this, they had to throw their support behind the Panlong House Lord and build momentum for him. After all, the Panlong House Lord had risen from the ranks of their Peacock Sacred Mountain lineage. Even after becoming the new eighth Emperor, he would still be branded with the Peacock Sacred Mountain label — still one of their most die-hard allies.
Three days later, deep within Peacock Sacred Mountain, a brilliant pillar of light suddenly shot skyward into the clouds. Thunder rumbled as countless beams of auspicious radiance descended from the heavens, colorful clouds swirling and auspicious birds filling the sky.
The powerful celestial phenomena blanketed the skies above Peacock Sacred Mountain, drawing the attention of all directions and radiating outward for tens of thousands of miles.
Throughout the Glazed Royal City's territory — every great nation, every city, including the dojos of all seven Great Emperors — everyone was stirred. Every gaze turned toward Peacock Sacred Mountain.
"What's happening? Celestial phenomena?"
"Such powerful celestial phenomena — could someone at Peacock Sacred Mountain have broken through to the Emperor realm?"
"These are definitely the phenomena that only come with the Emperor realm. The phenomena from breaking through to the Illuminated Emperor realm wouldn't even be a fifth as powerful."
"Someone at Peacock Sacred Mountain breaking through to the Emperor realm? Who? Could it be Illuminated Emperor Yunzhong?"
"That can't be, surely? There haven't been any reports recently that an Illuminated Emperor at Peacock Sacred Mountain was close to breaking through."
"What's really going on?"
"Let's go take a look!"
The nearby powerful figures could no longer sit still. The birth of an Emperor-realm powerhouse was a once-in-a-millennium event.
When something like this occurred, even those at the Great Emperor level could not remain at ease.
Before long, the area outside Peacock Sacred Mountain's gates was packed with powerful figures from every direction. Apart from the Shura Emperor, who felt his dignity precluded him from rushing over, the other five Great Emperors all arrived.
The Azure Sea Emperor, in particular, wore an extremely conflicted expression, furrowing his brow as he watched the celestial phenomena over Peacock Sacred Mountain that showed no signs of dissipating.
"Those really are the phenomena of an Emperor-realm breakthrough. The closer you get, the more evident it becomes," the Jiemi Emperor sighed. "Who would have thought that someone at Peacock Sacred Mountain would break through to the Emperor realm? Truly a place that hides dragons and crouching tigers."
The Jiemi Emperor was, after all, one of Peacock Sacred Mountain's staunchest allies, and he was the first to voice his admiration.
The Nian Emperor, his expression composed yet tinged with gratification, remarked, "Peacock Sacred Mountain is brimming with talent, as befits the foremost power in the Glazed Royal City over the last five millennia. The Glazed Royal City's dominion belongs to none other than the Peacock Sacred Mountain lineage."
These words sent a sharp pang through the heart of the Azure Sea Emperor, the Shura Emperor's steadfast ally. This was truly not good news for them.
The Shura Emperor's ambitions had already suffered setback after setback — that was bad enough.
Now, on top of everything, an Emperor-realm powerhouse had emerged. The silence of a thousand years had been broken, and the Glazed Royal City was about to witness its eighth Emperor.
For the Shura Emperor, whose ambition was to seize control of the Glazed Royal City, this was an even greater blow.
The Zhenyue Emperor chuckled, "We seven Great Emperors have long stood at heights where few can follow. Finally gaining a fellow traveler — now that is something truly worth celebrating."