Huangfu Yuan's Preparations

As a direct descendant of a top-tier aristocratic family, Du Tianshan was naturally far better informed than ordinary people.

He rose to his feet, his expression grave. "We have indeed received the news. And it is true that the Emperor wants to extend his life.

"The Emperor had been preparing for a long time. This Heaven-Sacrificing Grand Ceremony was no ordinary ritual—he intended to blood-sacrifice an entire city of people to worship the Heavenly Dao."

The courtyard instantly erupted into an uproar.

"What?! Blood-sacrificing an entire city?!"

An armored general shot to his feet, his face full of disbelief.

"Has the Emperor gone mad? Those are all his subjects!"

"He is courting the condemnation of the whole world."

Another middle-aged man in official robes shook his head, his voice heavy with grief.

"A city's common people number at least several hundred thousand.

"For the sake of extending his own life, he actually wants to use hundreds of thousands of lives to fill the pit... This... this is simply..."

He did not finish, but his meaning was already obvious.

Someone else slowly took up the thread, cold detachment coloring his voice. "Who could resist the temptation of eternal life?

"Besides, the Emperor had little Lifespan left to begin with. In his youth, he damaged much of his foundation while fighting for power and profit. Now that he was old, he feared death more than ever.

"It was only a pity that the people of the realm would suffer.

"After this, the Zhou Kingdom was afraid to fall into complete chaos."

Someone asked indignantly, "I wonder who gave the Emperor this Life-Extension Method. They are truly despicable!"

"And that Taiyi Dao Sect," another voice said with some dissatisfaction. "Couldn't they have stayed properly overseas? Why did they have to meddle in something