If I don't give it to you, you cannot take it. Understood?

The sudden upheaval in court had settled the once-disputed succession once and for all, like a coffin lid nailed shut.

After all, who dared contest the throne with a Saint Realm cultivator? Especially when that cultivator was already sitting on it.

Throughout history, there had only been precedents of Saint Realm cultivators rebelling and seizing the throne. Who would provoke such a powerhouse for no reason?

How was that any different from courting death?

The entire hall was extraordinarily quiet. One could have heard a pin drop.

Everyone had originally thought this court session would have three leading figures: the empress dowager, the chancellor, and the grand general who defended the nation.

Those three led their respective factions, and their subordinates controlled most of the power at court.

After this session, their influence would grow even stronger.

The second prince suddenly charging into the fray with his formidable strength had already caught everyone off guard.

Now, however, the new emperor, Li Chen, proved even more invincible. Neither the chancellor nor the grand general dared speak, and even their breathing was cautious.

All schemes, plots, and factional struggles were nothing but drifting clouds before absolute strength.

After all, if they pushed him too far, the new emperor, Li Chen, could slaughter everyone present and replace them with an obedient batch.

The officials here had no need to consider whether Li Chen would dare do it. If he truly did, no one could stop him.

"Second Brother," Li Chen said to Li Xian, who stood trembling below the throne.

"Your... your subject is here." Li Xian was badly frightened as well and immediately dropped to his knees.

How could he dare call himself Li Chen's second elder brother now? He had already bowed his head and acknowledged himself as a subject.

Remembering how he had just defied the new emperor and declared that he alone deserved the throne, he broke out in sweat.

He knew that if Li Chen chose to make an example of him now, no one could save him. Besides, he was in the wrong.

He had failed to claim the throne, and now he might lose his life as well.

"Only what I bestow upon you belongs to you. If I don't give it to you, you cannot take it. Understood?"

"Your subject understands. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."

Only after seeing every civil and military official fall silent did Li Chen show a satisfied expression.

Originally, Li Chen had felt that he might not be qualified to be emperor, so he had not particularly wanted to speak.

But after the second prince's declaration, Li Chen instead thought, If I don't become emperor, who will? Is anyone stronger than me?

"That concludes today's court session. The first person on the left and the first on the right, come to my imperial study this afternoon."

This time, when Li Chen rose to leave, truly no one dared utter another word.

The officials respectfully saw him off. Even the empress dowager only dared leave after Li Chen was gone.

As for the second prince, Li Xian, he remained kneeling in the great hall.

In the end, the minister of rites helped the second prince to his feet, giving him a way to step down gracefully. Only then did he feel able to leave.

"Your Second Highness, you came at an unfortunate time today. Why don't we return first and make our plans carefully?"

After they left the palace, the minister of rites could tell that his master could not swallow this humiliation. Afraid he would cause trouble, he began soothing him.

Li Xian had schemed for so many years and finally waited long enough for the crown prince to die suddenly. How could he willingly give up now?

He had indeed been frightened in court and had only knelt before Li Chen to save his own life.

Now that he had left the palace, his courage swelled again.

"You're right. I can't remain in the imperial capital now either. I must bring my master here. Only a Saint Realm cultivator can deal with another Saint Realm cultivator!"

The reason Li Xian possessed such strength was that he had become the disciple of one of the greatest powerhouses of the age.

He had rushed over immediately after receiving the minister of rites' secret message, bringing nothing with him, and had consequently suffered a crushing setback at Li Chen's hands.

I really do need to plan carefully now. Sooner or later, the throne will be mine!

On his way out of the imperial capital, Li Xian simply could not understand why his sixth brother's cultivation was so high.

His hold on the throne wasn't even secure before. After what I said, it became secure instead!

Damn it! With him playing it like this, I've become his fucking stooge!

Meanwhile, on the frontier of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty.

The vast army resembled a rolling black ocean, surging forward with magnificent momentum.

Sunlight spilled across the iron armor, reflecting dazzling rays. Every shield and every spear seemed to bear the courage and glory of countless warriors.

This army was undoubtedly a victorious force, advancing toward the distant imperial capital with unstoppable momentum.

Every fortified pass along their route opened the way for them.

As a young commander of the Heavenly Strategy Dynasty, the third prince wore a military uniform trimmed in gold, displaying both his noble status and an inviolable authority.

His face was resolute, his eyes deep and sharp. His military cap held the hair above his brow neatly in place, exposing his broad forehead and lending him an even more heroic air.

A faint smile hung at the corners of his mouth, the composure of someone who already held the throne in his palm.

The third prince thought, So what if Second Brother ran faster and returned first? Once my army reaches the gates of the imperial capital, won't the throne still be mine?

Who would dare withstand the might of an army?

This was the truth the third prince had learned through his many years of trials on the frontier.

That was why he had taken control of this elite army early on, waiting for his opportunity to ascend.

The old emperor was dead, and no one remained who could keep him in check.

So what if you've made progress in cultivation, Second Brother? Surely you couldn't have reached the Saint Realm?

Riding his mount, the third prince was considering how, after taking the throne, he would have the court historians record his accession as a lawful succession.

A messenger appeared ahead, spurring his horse onward.

The third prince's subordinates instinctively moved to stop the messenger and protect their commander.

But he waved for them to remain calm. This was one of his men, presumably bringing a report from his subordinates in the imperial capital.

The messenger brought his horse to a halt before the third prince, then dismounted and respectfully handed him a letter.

The third prince opened the letter with a frown. He had an uneasy premonition, but its contents astonished him even more.

"Withdraw! Return to the border!"

The third prince immediately issued the order.

Within this army, his words were imperial decrees.

While directing the withdrawal, his deputy asked curiously, "Your Highness, what happened in the imperial capital?"

After holding back for quite some time, the third prince gave a bitter smile and said, "Sixth Brother hid his strength well. He's actually in the Saint Realm. He even scared Second Brother off as soon as he returned."

Originally, he had not intended to say anything, hoping to keep morale steady. But everyone would hear about this sooner or later, so he might as well tell them himself.

At those words from the third prince, his deputy did not even dare respond.

What? The new emperor, Li Chen, was actually in the Saint Realm?

No wonder the third prince did not dare go to the imperial capital.

If the report had merely said that the new emperor, Li Chen, had reached the Saint Realm, the third prince would never have believed it.

He would even have suspected that those people in the imperial capital had thrown up a smokescreen to stop him from returning.

Who could reach the Saint Realm at such an age? This was not an era of great contention.

But even Second Brother, with all his strength, had been frightened into fleeing. That was enough to prove that Sixth Brother's strength was truly terrifying.

The third prince had withdrawn his army because the Saint Realm was the one thing he feared.

A Saint Realm cultivator might not be able to kill this entire army, but he could certainly kill the prince amid its countless soldiers.

How could the third prince not be afraid?

He could not understand it either. Wasn't Second Brother the most gifted prince of their generation?

He had even taken a formidable Saint Realm cultivator as his master.

How could Sixth Brother, who had always behaved himself, be stronger than Second Brother?

Li Chen had merely revealed a little of his strength, and he had frightened the second prince into fleeing the imperial capital overnight and made the third prince call off a military coup.

At that moment, however, Li Chen was back asleep in his bedchamber, while two senior court officials waited in his imperial study, trembling with fear as they awaited his arrival.