Sun Moon Empire.
Imperial Palace.
Inside the Imperial Study.
Xu Tianran sat before his desk, reviewing the mountain of accumulated memorials.
As the candlelight flickered, the entire room seemed exceptionally quiet.
Until a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter."
As Xu Tianran's words fell, a figure slowly entered the Imperial Study.
It was Zhongli Wu, leader of the Holy Spirit Cult.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Zhongli Wu bowed slightly.
Xu Tianran raised his eyes to look at him. "How are the preparations progressing?"
Zhongli Wu fell silent for a moment before speaking. "They are mostly complete. By the way, Your Majesty, should we proceed with the interception and assassination according to the original plan?"
"Judging by the time, the exchange student delegation from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy should already be nearing the border."
"If we do not act now, it will likely be even harder to find another opportunity once they return to the Empire."
His voice was icy, devoid of the slightest emotional fluctuation.
After hearing him, Xu Tianran did not answer immediately.
He slowly set down the vermilion brush in his hand and rubbed his brow, a trace of weariness appearing on his face.
After a long while, as though something had occurred to him, he quietly said, "Cancel this operation."
Zhongli Wu's gaze shifted slightly as he asked in confusion, "Cancel it?"
Xu Tianran nodded.
"That's right."
"Now is not the time to make a move against them."
"Oh, and for the time being, have your Holy Spirit Cult keep a low profile. Do not act on your own again."
As he spoke, his gaze gradually deepened.
"It seems that the Consecration Hall and Mingde Hall are planning some major move."
"At a time like this, any unexpected development could affect our arrangements."
"Wait and