Wan Lei really didn't want to answer Wan Qingyi's question; it was obvious even to a fool.
Not to mention anything else, when it came to contributions to the Lei Feng Realm, Wan Lei far surpassed Wan Qingyi.
Even if your merit in destroying the Xie Yue Sect was immense, it was still an internal conflict within the Lei Feng Realm. However, Wan Lei had legitimately resisted an alien invasion and even killed Immortal Realm demons. They simply couldn't be compared.
"Stop dwelling on these things. I'll let you have the honor of calling for everyone to rise and speak."
Wan Lei rolled his eyes.
Fortunately, the people below kept their heads down and didn't see his disrespectful behavior.
"This was supposed to be my role anyway."
After finishing his telepathic communication, Wan Qingyi spoke majestically to the crowd below.
"Rise, everyone."
"Thank you, Ancestral Thunder Emperor!!!"
The billions below, some on the ground, some on mountains, some in the air, all stood up in unison, their gazes fixed on the figures in the sky.
"I, your emperor, left the Lei Feng Realm over fifty thousand years ago. In those years, the Immortal Realm and the Demon Realm were constantly at war, so I was unable to find the time to return and see you all.
I also know that you have suffered greatly during these years.
The demon race repeatedly invaded our Lei Feng Realm, causing widespread devastation, misery, and countless casualties among our people.
It was you who resisted tenaciously, who refused to yield, who eliminated traitors and slew demons. Your merits are all remembered in my heart.
Today, I, along with the second-generation Thunder Emperor, have returned and slain three Demon Emperors. We bring their heads to comfort the spirits of those who died in battle."
"Thank you, Ancestral Thunder Emperor!"
Many people below began to weep.
In the battle seven or eight years ago, almost all cultivators in the Lei Feng Realm had participated. Each of them had friends or family members who had died in that war. Hearing the Ancestral Thunder Emperor speak like this, the grievances and sorrows in their hearts erupted.
"You have suffered greatly. Now that I have returned, everyone will be rewarded!"
Wan Qingyi's words surprised Wan Lei slightly. Given the old ancestor's stingy nature, he was actually willing to bestow spiritual stones and treasures as rewards to these billions of people?
This was a huge expenditure, Ancestor.
Then, what happened next left Wan Lei quite speechless.
Wan Qingyi unleashed his Sacred Dao domain, enveloping the entire Thunder Emperor Hall, bathing everyone in his Sacred Dao radiance.
So, your reward is to let others witness your radiance?
Suddenly, everyone below showed expressions of excitement.
"I... my cultivation has broken through! My cultivation, which hadn't advanced in five hundred years, has broken through!"
"I have obtained a divine ability, a powerful one! Now I don't have to fear my enemies."
"I have received a Dao technique. What kind of Dao technique is this? I suddenly feel my understanding of lightning has strengthened."
"This is the light of the Great Dao! I have hope of becoming an immortal!"
In the entire Thunder Emperor Hall, everyone except Wan Lei had benefited to some degree.
Everyone, filled with renewed excitement, prostrated themselves once more, thanking the Ancestral Thunder Emperor.
Wan Lei also pondered what benefits he could offer others. He didn't have a Sacred Dao, so bestowing spiritual stones and treasures wasn't practical. But he couldn't let the ancestor hog all the glory.
Suddenly, an idea struck Wan Lei. Hadn't he recently compiled and collected many cultivation techniques, divine abilities, pill recipes, secret arts, and the like? He could simply replicate them and distribute them to the Lei Feng Realm; it would be a highly profitable endeavor.
"Everyone."
Wan Lei finally spoke.
People looked up and towards the second-generation Thunder Emperor, anticipating Wan Lei's bestowal of rewards.
"I have only been in the Immortal Realm for a few years. I am not a sage, nor do I possess a Sacred Dao, so I cannot instantly help all of you to break through your cultivation or grant divine abilities and Dao techniques.
After all, he is the ancestor, a Three Yang Sage. I also depend on the ancestor's blessings."
"Hahahahaha..."
Laughter erupted from the crowd below.
"However, during my years in the Immortal Realm, I have managed to collect quite a few Immortal Realm divine abilities, techniques, pill recipes, and secret arts. I also have some treasures, which are quite good.
My family is poor, so I cannot give them away for free. I will place these items in the Thunder Emperor Hall. Those who participated in the war can come to the Thunder Emperor Hall and claim a suitable divine ability, technique, pill recipe, or treasure based on their merits.
Those without merit can also purchase them. Don't worry, they won't be too expensive. I am doing this for the sake of making our Lei Feng Realm stronger and developing it better."
These treasures obviously couldn't be given away for free. If they were treated the same as those who had done nothing, wouldn't those who had contributed feel disheartened?
Why should those who fought and bled receive the same treatment as those who did nothing?
While the Ancestral Thunder Emperor bestowed boundless grace upon the world, Wan Lei, as the current Thunder Emperor, had to consider the sentiments of the people.
The audiences and worship ceremonies concluded, and the people began to return to their homes in batches. Wan Lei and Wan Qingyi flew towards the main hall of the Thunder Emperor Hall and landed in front of it.
"Ancestor."
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty, may you be blessed with longevity."
The assembled crowd greeted them.
Among them, a white-haired old man, tears streaming down his face, knelt on the ground and tremblingly called out,
"Your unworthy descendant, the current patriarch of the Wan family, Wan Yangfan, pays his respects to the Ancestor."
"Wan family descendant Wan Hongxin pays his respects to the Ancestor."
"Wan family descendant Wan Honggong pays his respects to the Ancestor."
...
Earlier, everyone had paid their respects to the Ancestral Thunder Emperor. Now, it was the descendants of the Wan family paying their respects to their own ancestor.
Those who knelt down were all members of the Wan family.
"All of you, rise."
Wan Qingyi waved his hand, and all the Wan family members stood up. Wan Yangfan lowered his head with shame.
"We are unworthy of you, Ancestor. Over the years, the Wan family has declined further and further. It was only when Lei'er appeared that he led the Wan family to rise again. However, the Wan family's foundation is far inferior to that of fifty thousand years ago. You must be disappointed."
"It is not your fault. Blame it on me for having a useless son and accepting six good disciples."
Upon hearing this, Old Fang and the other Fang family members lowered their heads in shame.
Their Fang family was also one of the families of those six unfilial disciples.
Now, the other five families were gone, while their Fang family had benefited from the war, acquiring a large amount of territory and becoming even stronger.
"There's no need for you to lower your heads. The Fang family performed admirably this time, and I am not here to demand accountability."
Wan Qingyi strode forward.
"Come, let's go back and see the Thunder Emperor Hall. I haven't been back for fifty thousand years. I wonder what the Thunder Emperor Hall I founded back then looks like now."
"As you command."
Among the elders of the Thunder Emperor Hall present, Wan Hongxin and Old Fang were the most senior. They were the first to run towards the main hall of the Thunder Emperor Hall and pushed open the door.
When they had seen both generations of Thunder Emperors arrive earlier, they had closed the hall doors, waiting for the Ancestral Thunder Emperor to return before opening them.
After all, with the Thunder Emperor present, if he did not enter, who else was worthy of entering the Thunder Emperor Hall?
This greatly distressed the four little ones. They had come here specifically to explore the Thunder Emperor Hall, but the attraction was closed. They couldn't even buy a ticket.