Heaven's Changes Are Nothing to Fear, Our Ancestors' Ways Are Nothing We Must Follow, and Others' Opinions Are Nothing to Worry About!

Dai Yunzhao pulled back the blanket and stood up from his wheelchair.

"I can't do that. Whether they're border troops or the Imperial City Guards, they're all soldiers of the Star Luo Empire."

"The towns along the way are home to my people. This isn't something we can squander just to win a moment of pride between you and me, father and son."

The Star Luo Emperor's hand dropped heavily.

The more virtuous and outstanding Dai Yunzhao proved himself, the more it showed that the emperor had been wrong before.

But...

His worries about the bloodline ran too deep!

The Star Luo Emperor looked at Dai Yunzhao before him.

"What do you plan to do? Have father and son kill each other within the palace walls?!"

Dai Yunzhao showed no sign of battle intent. He had even ordered Shadow to stop where he was.

He walked forward step by step and supported the Star Luo Emperor's arm.

It had been six or seven years since father and son had walked any distance like this, supporting each other.

Dai Yunzhao spoke softly. "Father, I know you're worried about the bloodline, but I have my own plans."

"Rest assured. If I'm no longer here in the future, Star Luo's successor won't have a muddled bloodline either."

The Three Great War King Martial Souls within Dai Yunzhao's body could all be passed down.

Once Dai Yunzhao reached Level 90, all three would become bloodline Martial Souls.

Though the Star Luo Imperial Family would no longer possess the Evil Eye White Tiger, it would gain an even more powerful War King Martial Soul!

He knew words alone weren't enough. The Star Luo Emperor would only truly understand once Dai Yunzhao's children were born.

The Star Luo Emperor let out a sigh.

He had no other choice now.

Dai Yunzhao was his only son left.

The Star Luo Emperor spoke. "Most of the families in court support your eldest and third brothers. Once you take the throne, how will you deal with those treacherous ministers?"

Dai Yunzhao's voice remained calm. "There are no treacherous ministers. They are all loyal ministers. To be loyal to Star Luo is to be loyal to me, Dai Yunzhao."

With Dai Yunzhao supporting him, the Star Luo Emperor walked forward step by step.

"People in court are still uneasy. How will you settle their fears?"

Dai Yunzhao drew a breath.

"I'll marry a daughter of the Zhu Family and make her empress. The officials will keep their posts as they are, and the palaces will go unrepaired for five years. Everything else will remain unchanged. The border generals will all be raised one rank in nobility. The people will be exempt from taxes for three years, and the border troops will be given time to recuperate."

The Star Luo Emperor was utterly astonished by Dai Yunzhao's words.

Whenever an emperor of Star Luo had ascended the throne, he had invariably acted with bold, sweeping force, displaying his military might.

In an empire built on military power, their ruler had to be able to fight—indeed, he had to be the strongest of them all!

Yet every word Dai Yunzhao spoke pointed toward the path best suited to Star Luo's development at this moment.

Dai Yunzhao's voice was soft. "I'd wanted to remain crown prince. After all, I'm only a Soul Elder. But father, sons, and brothers have come to this, so I have no choice but to take the throne."

The Star Luo Emperor nodded.

But his eyes were still filled with astonishment.

He still had doubts.

"You won't awaken the Evil Eye White Tiger again, so you don't need to marry a daughter of the Zhu Family."

Dai Yunzhao gave a helpless smile.

"The Zhu Family and the imperial house have intermarried for many years. We can't suddenly kill the donkey after it's done its work. People would think the Dai clan cold and unfeeling."

"The imperial household has no private affairs. It's only a marriage, and it will put everyone at ease."

"We can't chill people's hearts over a little thing. In business, you have to do what makes the most sense."

The Star Luo Emperor drew a breath. The heavy burden he had carried for so many years suddenly felt lighter.

Yet his brows remained furrowed.

"Yunzhao, if you had the Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul, I would have killed your brothers with my own hands."

"Enough. From now on, I can no longer interfere in what you do. I have only one wish: when I go to face our ancestors, I want to do so with a clear conscience."

Dai Yunzhao waved a hand.

"There's nothing to fear. At worst, when the time comes, we'll go down there and kowtow together, father and son."

The Star Luo Emperor came to a halt.

His hand had already closed around Dai Yunzhao's.

"Now that the great throne is in your hands, what will you do if Star Luo undergoes a great upheaval and criticism crashes over you like a tide?"

Dai Yunzhao didn't care.

He was going to take the throne, and he didn't care what the outside world thought of him.

So what if he didn't have the Evil Eye White Tiger Martial Soul?

He would give them his own answer.

"Father, changes in Heaven are nothing to fear, our ancestors' ways are nothing we must follow, and others' opinions are nothing to worry about!"

As those three sentences fell, the Star Luo Emperor's soul felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.

He took Dai Yunzhao by the hand and led him forward, step by step.

"How many men do you have in Star Luo City?"

Dai Yunzhao spoke softly. "The patrol troops' military token is already in my hands. I've taken over the entire city defense."

The Star Luo Emperor nodded.

"At tomorrow morning's court session, I'll announce the decree and pass the throne to you. You must refuse three times and yield three times before accepting the throne!"

"Xiong Ao and the others will build support for you at the border. Bring Zhu Zhuqing and her sisters back as soon as possible to steady the great families."

"Don't worry about the others. I'll keep them in check for you."

At last, father and son prepared to hand over power.

Dai Yunzhao had prepared for the worst from the very beginning.

But the Star Luo Emperor had still chosen the better path.

After returning from Three Gorges Pass, Dai Yunzhao had Shadow carry him at full speed through the night back to Star Luo City.

The city's defenses had already been quietly purged and restaffed. Xiong Ao had sent over the list of names.

With no direct route to pledge their loyalty to Dai Yunzhao, those men could only pass word through Xiong Ao.

The Star Luo Emperor waved a hand.

"Guards! Go invite these men into the palace. I have something to tell them."

The Star Luo Emperor handed over a list.

Every name on it belonged to a staunch supporter of the eldest prince!

Even after the eldest prince, Dai Weisi, had died, they had remained determined to fight Dai Yunzhao to the bitter end.

If they'd had any real power, they would have already stepped forward and demanded to lead troops against Dai Yunzhao!

Now the Star Luo Emperor was inviting them into the palace for tea.

To anyone watching, it looked as though he meant to entrust them with important duties.

But Dai Yunzhao knew exactly what this was: the Star Luo Emperor was removing those thorns for him.

It would be easy enough to pin crimes on these men. Dying within the palace walls was nothing out of the ordinary, either.

The Star Luo Emperor patted Dai Yunzhao on the back.

"Go wash up. When you wake tomorrow morning, the Star Luo Empire will still be the Star Luo Empire."

"You'll wake up as emperor, and I... will step behind the scenes!"

The Star Luo Emperor was decisive enough.

With Dai Yunzhao now his only option, he chose to tear down everything he had built up for Dai Weisi.

Everything he did next would be to clear the way for Dai Yunzhao!

Only Dai Yunzhao and Shadow remained where they stood.

The Star Luo Emperor had already walked far away.

Shadow's voice rose softly. "Looks like your prediction was right. Your father doesn't want the palace walls stained with blood again."

Dai Yunzhao nodded.

"This is the best choice Father could make. Shadow, remember to do what I told you!"

The Star Luo Empire was in the midst of a transfer of power, and the situation was so turbulent. They needed to put some pressure on the outside world.

Dai Yunzhao had long prepared a great gift for everyone under Heaven!