Overthrow Dali, Reshape the Universe

The image surfacing in his mind was Wei Donglai attaining the God of Heaven and Earth, then sailing away over the sea with effortless grace.

Above the Great Wei imperial palace, Wei Donglai stood in white robes atop the Forbidden Peak.

In the void, dark light flickered, thunderous seas churned, brewing a cataclysmic tribulation.

"Boom!!!"

Thunder shook the heavens, echoing across the world. With that earth-shattering roar, nine heavenly tribulations coiled like flood dragons, poised to strike Wei Donglai standing atop the Forbidden Peak.

Facing such a world-ending tribulation, ordinary cultivators would activate their techniques, summon their treasures, guard themselves with all their might, and struggle to find a sliver of survival amid the thunder.

Wei Donglai showed no fear. He activated the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture, nine Fortune Dragons coiling around him, then surged toward the thunderous seas in the void with a momentum that swallowed mountains and rivers.

Above the thunderous seas, those nine heavenly tribulations carried the might to annihilate the world, but with the nine Fortune Dragons shielding him, no calamity could approach his body, unable to harm Wei Donglai in the slightest.

Relying on the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture, Wei Donglai not only weathered the nine heavenly tribulations but severed the thunderous seas themselves, defying the Age of Dharma's End to attain the God of Heaven and Earth against all odds.

Ye Jing felt like an observer standing beyond the river of time, calmly watching Wei Donglai endure the entire process of that world-shaking tribulation.

Especially the moment when Wei Donglai executed the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture—every move and stance brimmed with profound essence, deepening Ye Jing's understanding.

[You have fully comprehended all the mysteries of the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture.]

Hearing the system's prompt, Ye Jing slowly opened his eyes.

Unlike past elation, there was little joy in Ye Jing's gaze this time.

This Wei Donglai truly lived up to his reputation as the undisputed foremost figure of Great Wei over thousands of years—his talent was indeed peerless, able to create a technique like the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture.

Still, this method didn't align with his own path.

The Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture used the emperor's aura to replace national fortune, drawing the entire nation's destiny into oneself, thereby allowing the user to command the might of a whole country.

In the Age of Dharma's End, with the world's constraints, breaking through to the God of Heaven and Earth was unimaginably difficult. Wei Donglai's move was to siphon Great Wei's national fortune, thus shattering this heavenly tribulation.

Though somewhat opportunistic, it was still enough to astonish the ages.

But to use the emperor's aura in place of national fortune, one would best become the Supreme Emperor. Five hundred years ago, Wei Donglai could defy heaven to attain the Dao and perfect the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture.

First, Wei Donglai was the ruler of Great Wei at the time. Second, Great Wei under his hand had reached its zenith, with national fortune at its thickest.

Neither of these had anything to do with Ye Jing. He only wanted to stay quietly in the Hanlin Academy, steadily improving his strength day by day.

Besides, Dali was already teetering on the brink of collapse, its national fortune waning like a river at sunset—far from meeting the conditions to cultivate the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture to perfection.

Unless a new dynasty emerged, there might be some slight possibility.

Though the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture didn't suit Ye Jing's path, it was still a complete cultivation technique, immensely helpful for advancing his cultivation.

The Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation, the Pill King's Precious Mirror, and the Indestructible Golden Body he had previously comprehended mostly enhanced his combat power, offering no help in raising his cultivation level.

The original owner had only been a rookie at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and the Ye Manor wasn't a martial arts clan. Ye Jing only knew some cultivation knowledge about the Qi Refining Realm and the Innate Realm.

Beyond that, realms like Grandmaster, Great Grandmaster, or even the Peak of Humanity were beyond what the original owner could access.

Now that he had comprehended the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture, he had a detailed understanding of the Grandmaster Realm and beyond.

Ye Jing was already at Innate Perfection. With a technique to boost his cultivation in hand, he only needed to go into seclusion to break through to the Grandmaster Realm.

But Ye Jing didn't choose to break through in the Hanlin Academy. Breaking into the Grandmaster Realm would cause disturbances, easily exposing him within the academy. He had to find a very quiet place.

After compiling Wei Donglai's deeds and submitting them to the Censor for review, with no issues found, Ye Jing tidied up the somewhat messy desk and left the Hanlin Academy.

Weaving through the alleys, Ye Jing's expression shifted slightly. Having comprehended the Imperial Pole Dao Proving Scripture, he now understood the key to breaking through to the Grandmaster Realm.

He only needed to return and go into seclusion for a while to reach the Grandmaster Realm.

With the top-tier techniques he mastered—the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation and the Indestructible Golden Body—once he broke through to the Grandmaster Realm, he would undoubtedly top the Grandmaster Ranking.

His strength would rival a Great Grandmaster at the initial stage, making him a notable figure even across all of Dali.

Just as Ye Jing was immersed in the joy of nearing the Grandmaster Realm, a sudden voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Brother Ye! Brother Ye!!!"

Ye Jing stopped and looked toward the source of the voice, his expression instantly shifting.

"Brother Hu, you're being hunted by the Law Enforcement Department—how dare you show your face!"

"If they catch you, it's a death sentence."

Quick as a flash, Ye Jing grabbed Hu Jie and pulled him into an abandoned courtyard. After confirming no one was around, he scolded him sternly.

"Brother Ye is right. I won't be so reckless again."

Hu Jie solemnly bowed to Ye Jing, then explained, "But Brother Ye, I had a reason today."

"As brothers, I came specifically to say goodbye."

With Hu Jie hunted by the Law Enforcement Department, the Imperial Capital was no place to linger. Ye Jing didn't doubt it and asked with concern.

"What are your plans from now on, Brother Hu?"

Hearing this, Hu Jie's face lit up with excitement: "Brother Ye, King Zhennan will definitely rebel. Dali will fall into chaos."

"I plan to gather a force, join King Zhennan, and overthrow Dali's tyranny."

"What did you say? You want to rebel?"

Ye Jing's eyes were filled with intense shock. If not for the circumstances, he would have nearly cried out in surprise.

He never imagined Hu Jie would be so wildly ambitious as to seek the overthrow of Dali, a dynasty that had stood for a thousand years.

"Exactly, Brother Ye. Yesterday I spread the word, calling Emperor Li incompetent and dim-witted. To my surprise, it stirred such a fervent response from the common folk of the Imperial Capital. It seems the people of Dali are all fed up with this brutal regime."

"Brother Ye, I see an opportunity here. Dali is an aging lion, barely clinging to life. One fatal blow, and it will come crashing down."

Hu Jie's eyes gleamed with sharp determination, as if he could already see the empire crumbling.

"But Brother Hu, Dali has stood for a thousand years. Its foundations are unfathomably deep. Even King Zhennan, commanding three hundred thousand elite troops, may not truly shake its roots."

"You are merely a scholar, your cultivation only at the Xiantian realm. Compared to a colossus like Dali, you're nothing but an ant trying to shake a tree."

"Overthrowing Dali—how impossibly difficult would that be?"