Chapter 878: Covenant of All Under the Heavens

Within the Heavenly Palace, Yu Fuli exuded a relaxed and carefree demeanor, as if the battle against the heavens in ten days' time was just a minor affair. Many senior officials couldn't help but be puzzled by his composure, but Xiao Nanfeng understood what was happening. Yu Fuli was bringing himself to a state of optimal balance. Only in such a state could he unleash his full power.

Yu Fuli chatted with the officials for a while longer, then called out, "That's enough for today. Court is dismissed."

"Long live the Heavenly Emperor!" the officials chorused, bowing once more.

"Dismissed," Yu Fuli announced.

"Understood, Your Majesty!" the officials replied respectfully.

They bowed again, then retreated from the Heavenly Palace in an orderly manner.

Typically, Yu Fuli was the first to leave after court. Today, however, he remained seated on his throne. He would be the last to leave.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Yu Fuli, who sat tall and erect on the throne. He wanted to speak with him, but ultimately took a deep breath and suppressed his thoughts. He said nothing and left with the others.

Back at the Hall of Martial Aspects, Xiao Nanfeng summoned the three other Cardinal Aspects again.

"Eastern Aspect Xiao, aren't you going to leave? Why have you summoned us here anew?" one of them asked curiously.

"Do you believe that all the empires and divine empires will genuinely cooperate with the Heavenly Emperor during his battle against the heavens?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

The other cardinal aspects frowned.

"Logically, the Heavenly Emperor is fighting the heavens for the good of all mankind. No one should refuse to support him—but we have to remember that the heavens left a group of saints behind ten thousand years ago. Though they've been in hiding ever since, they may well act in secret," one Cardinal Aspect said.

"That's true. Now that you mention it, several emperors and an Immortal Emperor in the west seem to be connected to a certain saint," another Cardinal Aspect added.

"Eastern Aspect Xiao, are you worried that some emperors and Immortal Emperors won't cooperate with His Majesty?"

Xiao Nanfeng nodded. "We who form the Hall of Martial Aspects are responsible for overseeing the world on behalf of the Imperial Court. Our intelligence network is unparalleled. There are forces out there like Dayin that serve as saints' pawns. I'm concerned that the saints might manipulate these forces to disrupt the Heavenly Emperor's plans at a critical moment."

"What do you propose we do?"

"I'd like to issue a proclamation in the name of the Hall of Martial Aspects to all divine empires, empires, holy lands, and Immortal sects: a Covenant of All Under the Heavens."

"Oh?"

"The covenant would stipulate that, during the Heavenly Emperor's fight against the heavens, all emperors and Immortal Emperors must fully comply with his commands. Any refusal to cooperate will be considered a crime against all under the heavens. In such cases, the rest of the world are duty-bound to execute them on the spot as enemies of the world at large. The Hall of Martial Aspects will initiate this covenant, and the entire world shall bear witness to it," Xiao Nanfeng proposed.

Xiao Nanfeng's approach was uncompromising. It would force full cooperation through a public agreement under threat of death.

The world's powers would be bound into a unified force for Yu Fuli, a compact of law. Yu Fuli had been too lenient; he invited the cooperation of the leaders of the world, but it was only that: an invitation. Xiao Nanfeng intended to formalize the agreement and ensure that no one could back out.

The cardinal aspects glanced at each other. One by one, they nodded.

"I am in support."

"I approve."

"I approve as well!"

The three Cardinal Aspects were in agreement.

With unanimous support, Xiao Nanfeng continued, "Then there's no time to lose. We have ten days to mobilize all our resources and collect signatures from the world's strongest. This will make this covenant a powerful deterrent and threat.

"Understood!" the three cultivators replied in unison.

Meanwhile, news from the grand assembly spread rapidly across the world.

Immortal Emperors and emperors across the world frowned gravely upon learning of Yu Fuli's plans.

Though many rulers were ambitious and power-hungry, Yu Fuli's plan to confront the heavens directly for the sake of all life earned him widespread respect.

When Yu Fuli's summons reached them, they responded without hesitation.

Word of his proclamation spread from rulers to their subjects, as well as the manifold sects and holy lands across the world.

Within a single day, the world's most powerful figures had learned of the news. A heavy atmosphere settled over the world.

Many trembled with fear at the thought of only having ten days to live, but knowing that Yu Fuli, hegemon of the era, stood before them gave them a sliver of hope.

Perhaps this time would be different. Perhaps this time, Yu Fuli could succeed.

Most emperors and Immortal Emperors pledged their support.

However, some weren't so steadfast. In one corner of the world, an emperor sat in contemplation after sending an emissary of the Imperial Court away. His expression flickered with uncertainty.

"What troubles you, my lord?" a woman beside him asked.

"The saint once promised me that, if we refuse to assist Yu Fuli when he's fighting the heavens, he'll petition the heavens to spare us from the calamity of the era."

"What? Was that a promise from a saint?" the woman exclaimed.

"Indeed. I have to decide which side of history I want to stand on."

"What are your thoughts, Husband?"

"In all of history, none have ever overcome the heavens. I have my doubts regarding Yu Fuli's chances, but I can't fully trust the saint, either. If he goes back on his words, I'd be left with nothing."

"What should we do, then?"

"There are a few days left. Let me think," the man said.

Similar debates were playing out across the world as saints worked to sway rulers to their side. These saints, eager to curry favor with the heavens, sought to disrupt Yu Fuli's plans by turning rulers against him.

Quite a few leaders around the world were tempted by the saints' machinations.

Just then, the Hall of Martial Aspects issued its Covenant of All Under the Heavens. The Hall of Martial Aspects had spies across the world, and naturally understood the positions of the leaders of various forces.

As the Hall of Martial Aspects issued its covenant, its agents prepared to gather signatures from the world's most powerful figures.

In a certain divine empire's capital, it was only when an Immortal Emperor saw an old official bring out a copy of the Covenant to him that the Immortal Emperor realized that the official reported to the Imperial Court itself.

Even so, his eyes lit up upon reading the Covenant.

"Very good. I will uphold this Covenant. I shall dispatch my strongest cultivators to oversee nearby divine empires and empires and ensure that they remain loyal to Yu Fuli."

Meanwhile, in another empire, an emperor read the Covenant in surprise. "I will sign this covenant. I accept the oversight of other forces during this calamity."

In a holy land, a hierarch glanced at the disciples arrayed before her and exclaimed, "The Heavenly Emperor fights for all of mankind. Those who betray him deserve to die. Disciples, you shall head to the divine empires and empires in our vicinity. Execute any who dare to defy this covenant."

Within a sect, a sect master stated, "I have signed this covenant. I shall be heading toward nearby empires shortly. All those who betray the covenant, I shall take down myself."

Similar pledges echoed across the land.

The covenant united the world's powers into a single front, leaving no room for hesitation or betrayal.

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Even rulers tempted by the saints' promises saw the writing on the wall. Surrounded by overseers both external and internal, they knew that betrayal would result in immediate death.

With the covenant, the saints' plans crumbled. Would-be traitors knew that they would be killed on the spot if they didn't obey Yu Fuli's orders.

The Covenant was meant to forge a unified front against the heavens. It had spread across the world; the strongest cultivators of the empires would gather to witness how their own emperors and leaders acted.

The Covenant had forced the hands of all those who would otherwise have allied with the saints. With the Covenant, none could retreat or shrink back.

The saints' plans crumbled as the world stood firmly behind Yu Fuli, bound by the common cause of survival.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, in a suffocating atmosphere of anticipation.

The entire world prepared for the coming battle. The Sieve of Heaven was deserted. Even the palace's servants had been dismissed, leaving Yu Fuli alone in the Heavenly Palace.

The strongest cultivators of the world had dropped everything they were doing as they awaited for the heavens' descent, for the apocalypse and the looming end of the era.

Xiao Nanfeng stood at the gates of Yongding's palace.

The Divine Emperor left secluded cultivation and stood at the gates of Shenfeng's palace.

Liu Miaoyin left secluded cultivation and stood at the gates of Dajing's palace.

Everyone waited patiently.

Within the Heavenly Palace, Yu Fuli sat on the throne, his eyes closed as he waited for the end to come.

Suddenly, Yu Fuli's eyes opened wide and looked into the heavens. Golden light radiated from them, piercing through the clouds and into the void.

With a deafening boom, a sound reverberated across the world.

"The heavens have returned," Liu Miaoyin murmured, her expression grave.

"It begins again," the Divine Emperor murmured, her eyes flashing with killing intent.

Dark clouds began to gather across the world, enveloping the Sieve of Heaven and the continents to the North, East, South, and West.

The skies darkened as an overwhelming pressure descended upon the land. The essence of the heavens' power caused the souls of all beings to tremble. Countless mortals collapsed to their knees in their august presence.

The heavens had returned.