In front of the main temple.

The long boat stopped.

Zhongshan Changhong said, "Follow me," and then he took the lead and entered the great hall.

Seeing this, the others said nothing and followed him inside.

Upon entering the great hall.

Zhongshan Changhong was the first to bow: "Greetings to Our Emperor, greetings to the Dongxuan Divine King!"

The others who entered the great hall also bowed.

"You may dispense with the formalities."

The Candle Emperor’s authoritative voice sounded.

Everyone straightened up.

Shen Changqing looked at the majestic figure sitting above; it was his first time facing this emperor of the Zhongshan Clan directly.

It was different from being in the White Jade Sect.

Back then, the Candle Emperor was just a shadow, far less intimidating than seeing the real person in person.

In comparison.

Zhongshan Dongxuan beside the Candle Emperor seemed to have lessened in might.

"You may withdraw now."

"Yes!"

Zhongshan Changhong bowed and left.

Afterward, the Candle Emperor looked at Shen Changqing and the others: "I believe each of you gained considerable opportunities upon entering the Divine Forge Platform, but only you know how much your strength has truly improved.

As logic dictates, those who can enter the Divine Forge Platform are eligible to compete for the Divine Mandate Platform in the Zhongzhou Continent.

But regarding the Divine Mandate Platform, you probably have many uncertainties, so this emperor will clarify it for you this time."

As the words fell.

Everyone was attentive, adopting a posture of serious listening.

"When the Divine Mandate Platform appeared is beyond research, but it has a pattern—it emerges once every thirty thousand years. However, this situation is not fixed; whenever an era of great contention opens, the Divine Mandate Platform will emerge.

An era of great contention can be understood as a time when the Heavens Myriad Clans flourish.

Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but as we enter an era of great contention, whether you’re in the God Realm, Divine King Realm, or above, your cultivation will progress faster than before.

Therefore, in this era, geniuses are the cheapest."

"True geniuses are those who can leave their names on the Divine Mandate Platform."

"The Divine Mandate Platform is located in the Zhongzhou Continent and consists of three parts: one is the Sky-Piercing Road, two is the Divine Mandate Platform, three is the Divine List.

By walking the Sky-Piercing Road and ascending the Divine Mandate Platform, one can leave their name on the Investiture of the Gods.

Anyone who leaves their name on the Investiture of the Gods will receive the Destiny Enhancement of the Heavens, greatly benefiting your future cultivation.

Among them, walking the Sky-Piercing Road also brings significant opportunities, but what one gains depends entirely on their own fortune."

Sky-Piercing Road!

Divine Mandate Platform!

Investiture of the Gods!

In the sparse words of the Candle Emperor, they seemed to witness a glorious era.

"A million years ago, our clan suffered defeat in an era of great contention; our only Divine Lord fell, and from then on, we declined. Now that the era of great contention has opened again, our clan must seize this opportunity.

You all are the hope of our Zhongshan Clan; should you leave your name on the Divine Mandate Platform, it would be most excellent."

"However..."

"There is something this emperor must remind you of, the Sky-Piercing Road allows only entry and not exit. Once you forcefully enter the Sky-Piercing Road, you must clear it; there is no possibility of quitting midway.

Unlike the Ascension Tower, the Sky-Piercing Road only has nine layers."

"Nine layers of the Sky-Piercing Road, each cultivator will encounter different dangers. According to the records of our Zhongshan Clan, the strongest encountered by those in the God Realm entering the Sky-Piercing Road approaches the level of a Heaven and Earth Divine King.

But this is entirely probabilistic; some strong individuals find it particularly easy to traverse the Sky-Piercing Road, while others must possess combat power to match a Divine King."

"Thus, though you have the qualification to enter the Sky-Piercing Road, you must be fully prepared. Once you enter the Sky-Piercing Road, there is no going back; if you cannot ascend the Divine Mandate Platform, you can only perish there."

The Candle Emperor’s expression remained calm.

Yet his words caused some to change their expressions slightly.

Among the geniuses present, some had a certain understanding of the Divine Mandate Platform, while others were completely ignorant.

Now.

From the Candle Emperor’s words, they gained a comprehensive understanding of the Divine Mandate Platform.

At this point.

The emperor of the Zhongshan Clan continued: "However, as long as you can leave your name on the Divine Mandate Platform and do not perish midway, you will definitely become a Divine King and possibly a Divine Lord.

Additionally, there is an invisible rule about the Divine Mandate Platform.

That is, the weaker the Realm of those who ascend the Divine Mandate Platform, the greater the benefits they receive, so if you can confidently enter the Divine Mandate Platform at a low Realm, it is most desirable."

Upon saying this.

The Candle Emperor glanced deeply at Shen Changqing, the implication self-evident.

Other cultivators also turned their gazes towards Shen Changqing.

What constitutes a low Realm cultivator.

Those eligible to enter the Divine Forge Platform are generally at the Tenth Layer of the God Realm, and he is the only one at the Seventh Layer of the God Realm.

"Of course!"

"If you’re not completely confident, it’s best to raise your Realm to the utmost before embarking on the Sky-Piercing Road, which would be much safer. After all, compared to other benefits, leaving a name on the Divine Mandate Platform is much more rewarding."

The Candle Emperor added.

As the words finished.

Shen Changqing cupped his fists and asked: "Dare I ask, Your Majesty, if the benefits of entering the Divine Mandate Platform are indeed so great, would there be any older generation strong beings among the Heavens Myriad Clans who have endured for tens of thousands of years just to wait for the emergence of the Divine Mandate Platform to participate?"

It is not to say that the older, the stronger the power necessarily is.

But putting oneself in another’s place.

If there were beings like Zhongshan Xia, strong enough to deliberately suppress their Realm without breaking through, the accumulation over tens of thousands of years would be extraordinarily terrifying.