Indeed, if Pine Crane Pills could be mass-produced, those pills alone would be enough to bring a great number of Imperial-realm powerhouses to Liuli Royal City's banner.
However, the raw materials for such a pill were the kind you could only stumble upon by chance. So while the Peacock Emperor found the idea a beautiful notion, it was destined to remain nothing more than a fantasy.
"Gentlemen, the emergence of our eighth Great Emperor is a momentous event for all of Liuli Royal City. Once Panlong the Great Emperor emerges from his seclusion, I intend to hold his coronation ceremony immediately, establish the Panlong Dojo, and bestow upon him the title of Titled Great Emperor. Surely no one has any objections?"
Obtaining the title of Titled Great Emperor was not merely a matter of reaching the appropriate realm — it also required recognition from other Great Emperors.
For a supreme power like Liuli Royal City, securing that recognition was naturally no great challenge. The city alone already boasted seven Titled Great Emperors.
So there would absolutely be no issue with Panlong's title recognition.
Of course, establishing a new Emperor-level faction was not something that could be wrapped up in a few days. The development of sacred grounds, the construction of a dojo, the expansion of influence, the spread of a title — all of these required time to accumulate.
Emperor Nirvana laughed. "The appearance of our eighth Great Emperor in Liuli Royal City is indeed a momentous matter. We Titled Great Emperors should naturally offer our full support. Brother Peacock, I have just one thing to say: if money is needed, I'll provide money; if people are needed, I'll provide people. I, Nirvana, won't so much as furrow my brow."
"Haha, this is truly a great occasion. Count me, Zhenyue, among the supporters."
Emperor Nian smiled. "My Nian lineage has always lived modestly, but when it comes to honoring the bonds of fellowship, we will certainly do our part."
Emperor Void-Slashing had been the seventh Great Emperor to emerge roughly a thousand years ago. When he had burst onto the scene, the other Great Emperors had rallied to his support. So it would be unconscionable for him not to show his support now.
"This is the tradition of our Liuli Royal City. Though my Void-Slashing lineage may not yet have deep reserves of strength, I will still do everything in my power to provide assistance."
Even Emperor Azure Sea, however unwilling, was compelled to make his position known. "Since it is tradition, my Azure Sea lineage will not be stingy about it."
The Peacock Emperor let out a hearty laugh. "Excellent! With Liuli Royal City united in purpose, why should we ever worry about a lack of fortune?"
With the visit of the five Great Emperors complete, word of Panlong the Clan Master's breakthrough into the Emperor realm spread to every corner of Liuli Royal City within half a day.
Even the most remote districts had learned of this momentous event.
The other supreme powers of the Upper Eight Domains quickly received the astonishing news as well. Everywhere, people marveled — Liuli Royal City's strength had grown once more.
Even among first-rank sects, Emperor-level powerhouses could be counted on one hand. A powerful first-rank sect might boast three or four.
A weaker one would have only two.
As for quasi-first-rank powers, they were backed by just a single Emperor-level figure. It was precisely the presence of that one Emperor-level powerhouse that qualified them as quasi-first-rank.
Of course, the Upper Eight Domains harbored many powerful factions. Apart from the eight first-rank sects, there were a handful of mega-powers on the level of Liuli Royal City and Danfire City as well.
Across the entire Upper Eight Domains, the total number of Emperor-level powerhouses, counted one by one, was something you could actually tally.
Leaving aside those reclusive Emperor-level figures who had withdrawn from the world, the Emperor-level powerhouses of all the great factions combined numbered no more than two hundred.
Even including those who had turned their backs on worldly affairs, along with the ancient, reclusive independent cultivator Emperors, the grand total still would not exceed three hundred.
Such was the state of affairs across the vast Upper Eight Domains.
As for the other Middle Domains, there was no need to even mention them. A single Middle Domain possessing one or two Emperor-level powerhouses was already considered extraordinary.
Moreover, the Emperor-level powerhouses in the various Middle Domains were almost all hermit patriarchs who had long since withdrawn from the world. They simply did not concern themselves with mundane affairs.
Take the Chiding Middle Domain, for example. Whether or not it harbored an Emperor-level powerhouse had always been a mystery.
Most Middle Domains left the world with the impression that their strongest inhabitants were merely peak Imperial-realm cultivators.
As for the Emperor realm — that was the stuff of legends. Whether Emperor-level powerhouses actually existed was something ordinary people simply could not say for certain.
Only when a Middle Domain faced an existential crisis would the truth come to light.
Sometimes, even then, it might not be revealed.
Because at the Emperor level, these powerhouses had already grown numb to worldly matters. Their minds were entirely consumed by the comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth, by the pursuit of ever-higher breakthroughs.
At the Emperor level, each person's thoughts and aspirations were different. But they all shared one thing in common: none was willing to let go of their comprehension of the heavenly laws.
That was their only path forward.
Comprehend the Heavenly Dao, and achieve the Heavenly Station.
Otherwise, once you reached the Emperor realm, you already stood at heights so lofty that the cold seeped in from every direction.
A force like Liuli Royal City, possessing eight Great Emperors, was a truly terrifying existence. Across the entirety of the human territories, it was unquestionably a top-three power.
The Panlong Clan, upon receiving this news, was beside itself with joy.