"The Hachiman Bow?"
Shan Lao cried out in amazement, quickly followed by ecstasy.
She hadn't expected that the Crow Tengu Tianshi'ao would actually carry this sacred artifact, which had been worshipped at the Hachiman Shrine for hundreds of years.
Having been worshipped and venerated for such a long period, this Border Relic transformed from the Stigma of ancient dragon deities had been undoubtedly endowed with Divine Nature, and its destructive power against Stigmas was terrifying.
"It's a pity there are no dragons left in the world."
The Crow Tengu raised the Hachiman Bow in his hands and couldn't help but mutter softly, his voice carrying a deep sense of helplessness and anger.
Yes, there were no dragons left in the world...
More than a hundred years ago, the Dongxia Genealogy completed the astonishing feat of the Ultimate Celestial Throughway. As a result, all Divine Nature related to the dragonkind of Dongxia was completely severed from the world.
But besides Dongxia, how many dragonkind across the Current Circumstances, the Border, and the various Hells would possess Divine Nature?
The Feathered Serpent God, supported by the American Genealogy and having no connection to Dongxia, lost not a single feather. Aside from this exception, however, what transpired was a catastrophe for nearly all others. The Divine Nature of all dragon deities—including Yinglong, Yellow Dragon, Azure Dragon, White Dragon, and even those worshipped by the Four Seas—vanished overnight.
This included many dragon deities of Yingzhou, which were demoted from their divine ranks overnight, reduced to the rank of Giant Snakes... Numerous river lords dissipated in a single night; those who survived either quickly changed their allegiance or struggled on their last breath. As a result, the Hachiman Bow also transformed from an authentic Divine Artifact to a Border Relic with a trace of Divine Nature...
How many dragon deities had their cultivated Divine Nature wiped out without a trace? After such a sudden calamity, where could the Yingzhou Genealogy even go to seek justice?
The Dongxia Genealogy's attitude was so determined, its actions so decisive, and its audacity so terrifying that nobody could stand in its way.
Do not stand in the way, for whoever does shall perish, or let all be consumed together in flames.
Seventy years of preparation culminated in one day, sweeping like a fierce firestorm, and was completed in an instant.
Even the Astronomical Society had no means to interfere with the Dongxia Genealogy's own 'domestic affair' afterward.
If you ask why, weren't all the dragon deities worshipped by Yingzhou, Myanmar, and all surrounding areas of Asia emanated from Dongxia's original Source?
When there was an advantage to be had from the opening of the Source, you did not refuse. Now that it's no longer open, you want to jump and vent your frustration? What kind of reasoning is that?
All those years of worship and cultivation, the gold strands pressed each year, had now merely become wedding dresses for others. The entire nation labored for a century, aiding Dongxia in achieving a groundbreaking feat: the Ultimate Celestial Throughway!
Apart from the Divine Nature of dragon deities harvested from all directions, the blood price paid by Dongxia itself was also staggeringly high. Not only did they forsake several paths of sublimation that could create a Natural Enemy, but even the previous Candle Dragon had to abandon its divine aspect, transforming into 'Zhujuyin'.
In the end, the immense Divine Nature, Stigmas, and Power that could have forged an extant deity fell into no one's hands. Instead, they became a genuine Dragon Vein, coursing below the nation's soil and radiating across the entire Border of Dongxia.
From that moment forth, 'there were no True Dragons left in the world.' That Power was generously bestowed upon every inch of Dongxia's territory and its members...
It was from that year that the Dongxia Genealogy witnessed the rise of what is now known as the Gold Generation.
It was not only the successive ascension of fourteen Fifth Stage individuals but also the expansion of numerous Hells and the emergence of sixteen large Borders. Even while the last Natural Enemy had not yet passed away, a new generation's Natural Enemy, Chu Hai, was already born.
In just those short ten years, the Dongxia Genealogy unexpectedly gained an unprecedented Dual Natural Enemy, completely suppressing the Russian Federation Genealogy and contending with the Rome Genealogy for the world's number one position, truly becoming the undisputed hegemon of the Current Circumstances.
When the talent explosion temporarily ceased, everyone thought that an expanded Dongxia Genealogy would take a breather to recover, but what followed was the coronation of the twelve-year-old White Emperor's Son... coupled with the bottomless foundation and various emerging talents that had been steadily rising over the years.
Prosperity followed by decline?
Decline, my ass!
In this world, it's only the principle where the strong grow stronger and the weak grow weaker!
If it were not so, the Hachiman Bow, which once decided Yingzhou's future for a millennium by breaking the fan of the six armies from a hundred miles away and severing the lifeline of the Ping clan, would not have been weakened to such an extent.
Just the thought of this, the deep-seated hatred within Tianshi'ao flared up from within his chest, and soon afterward, he realized the source of this intense hatred—the longbow in his hands.
Having detected the presence of the Dongxia Genealogy's Stigma, the longbow had become so enraged it could no longer hold back.
"Good, very good. With your help as my arm, this battle is sure to be won!"
Tianshi'ao heartily embraced that hatred, and then, a small, heavy metal hammer emerged within his chest.
With a mere shake, the hammer spat countless thunderous sparks that stung people's eyes.
This was the Miracle forged after combining his Soul, the Stigma of the Crow Tengu.
"Namu, Great Hachiman Bodhisattva, please assist me in achieving this martial fortune!"
He laughed loudly, spreading his arms.
And with that, thunderous roars filled the air.
At that moment, as the Crow Tengu's Stigma linked with the Hachiman Bow through Source Substance, two distinctly different Miracles seemed to originate from the same source. In his hands, they merged until only a dazzling glow remained, impossible for the naked eye to look upon directly.
It seemed to be a Longsword.
The design was ancient, but the form constantly morphed within the light of flames and thunder, until in the end, it made a sound like the tearing of both heaven and earth.
By combining the Hachiman Bow and the Crow Tengu's Stigma through a supreme secret technique of the Genealogy, he unleashed the most intense liberation of this Divine Nature, forging a true Miracle.
——Miracle Imprint·Building Guardian Thunder!
Or it could also be called, 'Ten Grip Sword'!
In that instant, as the Ten Grip Sword was raised and brought down, a gale surged, roaring mightily. Soon after, from afar, a thunderous whip lashed down, and a terrifying pillar of fire erupted from the earth, consuming everything.
Without needing Tianshi'ao to activate or infuse it with power, the Miracle Imprint independently drew upon the free Source Substance within Xiematai, continuously unleashing this power of annihilation.
As the flames rose in an instant, every pair of astonished eyes was illuminated by that brutal glow.
War had begun in that moment.
"All of you, support my assault!"