Just past midnight, a smile spread across Ling Cangqiong's face as he strode out of the Imperial Mausoleum and headed straight for his palace in the Imperial Palace.
"The Ancestor agreed!" Ling Cangqiong murmured, his voice brimming with barely contained excitement.
With the Ancestor's approval, all his worries vanished. He could act without restraint, with confidence to spare—as if he feared no one and would be damned if he did.
At the thought, Ling Cangqiong nodded to himself, thinking,
Good. This will greatly tip the scales in our favor.
But just as Ling Cangqiong had settled into his seat, Li Fan appeared below him like a ghost, dropping to one knee with a grave expression.
"Your Majesty, we've just received urgent intelligence. People from the Netherworld Pavilion made a covert move and ambushed Shadow One. Shadow One has fallen..." Li Fan's voice was low and hurried, each word striking Ling Cangqiong's heart like a heavy hammer.
The Netherworld Pavilion!
It was a notorious assassin organization in the Northern Profound Region, one whose name struck terror into all who heard it.
They had carried out countless assassinations with ruthless methods. Even Cave Reality Realm experts had met their end under their surprise attacks.
At news of Shadow One's death, the joy still lingering on Ling Cangqiong's face froze. A moment later, shock and fury took its place, disbelief filling his eyes.
Shadow One had been by his side for years, never leaving him from the days when he was still the Crown Prince. He had been like Ling Cangqiong's right hand. How could his sudden death not tear at his heart?
"Damn the Yantian Sect, the Nine Nether Sect, and that Blood Wolf Mercenary Group!" Ling Cangqiong ground his teeth, hatred surging within him.
He knew full well that those factions had surely helped bring about Shadow One's death.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!" Li Fan ventured cautiously, afraid of stoking Ling Cangqiong's fury further.
"Hmph!" Ling Cangqiong drew a deep breath, forcing down his anger and swiftly regaining the calm resolve of an emperor.
"By my decree, have the Four Directions Merchant Association give its full support to the Imperial Family's war effort. Once this matter is settled, the association may become an officially recognized merchant association of the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty, and the dynasty will fully support its businesses throughout the realm. I'll make them understand that cooperating with the Imperial Family brings boundless rewards."
"Also, inform Xinghui Academy that if it gives its all to assist the Imperial Family, it may be elevated to a national academy after the war. From then on, all those who enter the court as officials must first study at Xinghui Academy. This will improve the overall caliber of the court's officials and bring the academy unparalleled glory. Surely they'll give us their full support."
"Then inform King Zhenbei that he must immediately send twenty thousand troops from the King Zhenbei Army to reinforce us. The King Zhenbei Army and the King Zhenyao Army have two hundred thousand soldiers between them, so sending twenty thousand shouldn't be difficult for King Zhenbei. Tell him that defending the homeland is his bounden duty."
Though the King Zhenbei Army and the King Zhenyao Army had two hundred thousand soldiers between them, they were stationed at different strategic locations, guarding the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty's frontier defenses.
But the situation was critical, and Ling Cangqiong knew he had to call on the King Zhenbei Army if he wanted a better chance of facing the threats on all sides.
And draw out every demon and snake!
"Then have fifty thousand soldiers from the Nantian Army continue to resist the enemy on the front lines alongside the Divine Guard Army, while secretly ordering another ten thousand troops to come to Tianyan City."
"Make absolutely sure the operation stays secret. Don't alert the enemy."
Li Fan accepted the order and was about to leave to relay the commands when Ling Cangqiong spoke again. "Keep a close watch on the Nine Nether Sect, the Yantian Sect, and the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group—and find out who gave the Netherworld Pavilion the contract!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Li Fan replied respectfully. He turned and hurried away to carry out the series of orders Ling Cangqiong had issued.
Ling Cangqiong watched Li Fan leave, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.
He swore to himself that he would wipe out every faction plotting to overthrow the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty and make them pay a heavy price for what they had done.
He knew how grave the situation was, but as emperor, he would never retreat. He would lead the Great Yan Imperial Dynasty through this crisis and restore the empire to its former glory.
After Li Fan left, Ling Cangqiong sat alone in the palace, lost in thought.
Shadow One's death was only the beginning. The battles ahead would be even more brutal and difficult; for all he knew, the First Guardian might meet the same fate.
"Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince has slain another powerful enemy on the front lines." Shadow Two appeared silently at Ling Cangqiong's side, his expression cold as he delivered the report in a flat voice.
Ling Cangqiong heard this and curled his lips into a cold smile. "Hmph. I wonder just how high they intend to prop up Ninth Brother."
In his mind, Ninth Brother was a pawn the Nine Nether Sect had planted within the Imperial Family. His repeated slaying of powerful enemies was clearly meant to raise his reputation.
At the thought, Ling Cangqiong narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "Send word to Ximen Qing. Have him contact the Thousand-Faced Illusion Lord in secret and find out exactly what Ninth Brother's ultimate plan is."
Ling Cangqiong had already imagined the worst-case scenario: a coup.
The enemy might seize on some sudden incident to have Ninth Brother lead his men in a coup, giving them a pretext to raise troops and rebel.
After all, the Second Prince had already gone this far. And now there was the Ninth Prince...
Could this be it?!
Just as the rumors claimed, there was a treacherous minister at His Majesty's side.
Ling Cangqiong had already told the Imperial Ancestor of this suspicion.
When one of the Imperial Ancestors heard the news, he flew into a rage.
To contend with this complicated and dangerous situation, he had specially dispatched an Ancestor at the Ninth Level Dharma Idol to the battlefield.
This expert would secretly monitor the course of the battle and also coordinate with the First Guardian, supporting one another in combat.
Shadow Two nodded at once and replied in a low voice, "Yes. According to the report, in ten days a Secret Realm left behind by a Cave Reality expert will appear in Yunzhou."
Yunzhou was home to many of the court's civil officials' lineages. Prime Minister Li Fan's family was there as well.
Ling Cangqiong's expression was cold, his gaze brooking no dissent as he issued his order. "Go there yourself. If you find any resources in the Secret Realm, bring them all back."
He paused, his voice growing even colder. "At the same time, relay my decree: the civil officials' lineages must send every cultivator they've secretly raised to the battlefield. Anyone who dares disobey will receive no mercy. I'll make an example of them first and wipe out their entire households!"
Shadow Two's kneeling form trembled slightly.
"I... accept your decree."
Before the words had even faded, Shadow Two's form dissolved into Black Mist and vanished.
At the border of Flame Continent, a thousand li of land lay barren.
Ling Xiao held a Gilded Dragon Spear. Blood dripping from its tip hissed into wisps of blue smoke as it struck the scorched earth.
Behind him, three thousand soldiers formed the Heavenly Dipper Battle Array, a moving wall of steel. Wherever they passed, cultivators' corpses piled into mountains.
"Your Highness!"
"Burning Flame Guards from the Yantian Sect have appeared on the eastern flank!" The deputy general pointed toward the horizon with his bloodstained saber.
In the distance, a hundred cultivators clad in crimson-flame armor charged forward in formation. The air seemed to boil in their wake, twisting violently.
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