Nine Venoms Sect Founder
Chapter 20: Ten-Thousand Sect War Declaration

"Strange...why am I hearing voices? My brain must have gotten wrecked by the stele. No other explanation," Harun reasoned as the system's eccentric voice rang in his mind, and ignored both the newcomers and voice to focus on the pages of mnemonics that flooded his brain.

"Wait, he's ignoring me? Why is he ignoring me? This is incorrect. Hey listen up, I'm your system! The Supreme Founder System! You need to get in and learn the gist of your job! Speak, damn it!" The system caterwauled within Harun's mind, but to no avail. It was as if in that moment, Harun had reached anatman—putting him above all worldly matters. Regardless of how the system squealed, it couldn't disturb Harun's inner peace, and soon ran out of fuel.

"Boss, sir, Your Grand Magnificence, please open your heart to your humble servant and let's cooperate," the system changed its tune.

"Ha, there's really someone. My brain is occupied by a sycophant. Or did I rub elbows with so many pricks that my mind created an alternative persona to glorify me? Must be so…" Believing he cracked the mystery, Harun was about to again ignore the system when..."There's a golden token in your brain," it used its killing mace. Skeptical, Harun studied his brain with his Divine Sense and realized that, indeed, a golden token now stood embedded within.

Alarmed, Harun considered surgically removing his brain or possessing a fresh body. But as if expecting the thoughts, the system said, "and regardless of where you go, as long as you still have a body of flesh and blood, the token will follow you. To get rid of me, you only have two options:

A) Get destroyed in body and soul. Whoever nuked you will receive the token.

B) Complete the Main Quest.

If you don't believe me, we can try," the system said, and though Harun remained somehow skeptical, he was forced to accept that a new entity had somehow found its way into his brain. Meanwhile, the 33 Heavens top deities' eyes locked on the spatial crack and the three men that emerged from it. The first hid behind a shroud that seemed cast by the Dao, the second, an old monk stood on top of a blooming lotus with golden Sanskrit flying around him, and the third, a child Daoist alternated between life and death.

On the scene, besides Golden Crow, none could recognize those three's appearances. However, by relying on their clans' records, the deities could guess their identity.

"The Three Primevals," Dilnaz whispered. In the 33 Heavens' history, each time a God-Emperor claimed the Imperial Seal and obtained the Mandate of Heaven, the Three Primevals appeared to give their congratulations and have a meeting with the new emperor. No one knew what they discussed, what cultivation base those three possessed, or where they came from. However, the succeeding emperors all treated them with courtesy, making many believe that they should at least be Demi-Emperors. Or perhaps, just perhaps, true Dao Emperors!

The three's Divine Senses swept the gathered deities, lingering on Dilnaz and Golden Crow before staring at Harun. Those three aside, they didn't pay anyone on the scene much attention. Beyond, however, they spotted several existences worth noting.

"Agiri, the third God-Emperor, died without an heir. Of the current officials and divine princes, none is qualified to claim the Imperial Seal and shoulder the Mandate of Heaven. Your ambitions and aspirations are irrelevant. In cultivation or heart, you do not have what it takes," the Shrouded Primeval started, and instantly, from high-ranking officials to imperial kin, all were incensed.

Those Primevals had not even spent a minute in their land that they were already berating them. Could there be a more flagrant display of disrespect? But while many wanted to quibble, in fear of the other party's unknown strength, they didn't dare risk their necks.

"Still, the Mandate must have a master. For the sake of the 33 Heavens, someone must shoulder this responsibility. We've therefore set up a trial to ensure that from your lot, man or woman, someone rises and proves worthy of the Imperial Seal.

Race and background hold no weight. Good and evil are irrelevant. The will and abilities you forge through this trial shall speak for themselves," the Shrouded Primeval explained, and as expected, his words made the deities' eyes stretch to absurd length while their ears twitched, as if to make sure that they didn't hear wrong.

More than the others, Dilnaz's eyes trembled. With one word from those outsiders, the title of imperial kin no longer held any weight. All were free to fight for the crown—putting the rightful house at the same level as any pretender. If she allowed this to pass, a chaotic future awaited them all. For once, Dilnaz considered relying on the Golden Crow Ancestor, believing that the ancient deity would never permit the occurrence of such a thing.

However, Golden Crow seemed calm and unbothered—as if he not only expected but wished for the events to take this turn. Through the ancient deity's eyes, Dilnaz realized that despite her empress rank, there were many truths and agreements she wasn't privy to. Ultimately, having only cultivated for over 200,000 years, she was too young. With Agiri's coronation having taken place over 900,000 years before her birth, there was too much she didn't witness. Only those sealed fossils could enlighten her.

In tandem, the Three Primevals waved their hands, conjuring 9,999 silver tokens. A few flew into some of the present deities' brains, the others, however, went beyond, seeking hosts to bury themselves into. At the exception of Golden Crow, all instantly forgot who received the 9,999 tokens.

"Ten-thousand people were selected to hold Sect Masters Tokens. 9,999 silver tokens and 1 golden token. The silver tokens have no special ability and only give you an official position in the trial. The golden token is your true target, holding many unique functions that will assist its owner in building an invincible sect.

Each token owner represents a sect. As such, if you don't own one, hurry up and create or conquer it. But whether or not you possess a token, your task is to snatch the golden token from its host, and either exterminate or subjugate all silver token owners. At the end of this game, one sect master must hold all the tokens to proclaim himself the 10,000 Sect Sovereign. The Imperial Seal will subsequently fall in his hand, enabling him to claim the Mandate of Heaven.

We hereby announce the 10,000 Sect War.

Loot, coerce, deceive, charm, plunder. Leave a blood sea in your wake if you please. Use whatever means you fancy. So long as in the end you wield the 10,000 tokens, this Realm and its trillions of lives are yours!"

The Shrouded Primeval proclaimed, ushering the true beginning of the Anarchic Era.