A Rapid Path to Power!
The Great Cang Imperial City, the Hall of Diligent Governance.
The night was deep, and the light from the ever-burning lamps cast a dim yellow glow inside the hall, also casting long shadows of the two people inside onto the cold, smooth gold brick floor.
Zhao Xuanji sat upright behind the sandalwood dragon desk, the star chart and fortune scroll spread out beside him not yet put away. The scarlet marks and calculation lines on it seemed to carry a kind of glaring irony.
He stared at the deep blue figure standing with his hands behind his back, calm and almost indifferent, not far in front of the dragon table, his chest rising and falling slightly.
His usually composed face showed an unusual seriousness and—a hint of anger that was forcibly suppressed.
"Suspend the plan?"
Why?!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear in the silent hall, carrying a heavy sense of questioning, each word striking the heart.
Because things have changed.
Qi Yun slowly turned around, his gaze calm, meeting Zhao Xuanji's sharp eyes, which contained shock, confusion, and even a hint of offense.
He remained unmoved by the other party's imperial power, his tone as calm as still water, yet carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"[The Azure Gate Heaven's Will] is probably Non-Self previously thought; there may be deeper secrets behind it."
Based on the current plans, even with me as a variable, the success rate is still not high, perhaps even negligible.
He paused, looked directly into Zhao Xuanji's suddenly constricted pupils, and said, word by word.
"Taking action rashly is not a chance to fight for a life."
It seems they are courting death and will suffer a complete defeat.
"How much longer do we have to wait?" Zhao Xuanji's fingers tapped unconsciously on the edge of the dragon table, producing a dull thud that revealed his inner turmoil.
"True Person Qi, are you aware that for the sake of the 'Awakening of Insects,' our Great Cang royal family, in alliance with many like-minded individuals, has been secretly plotting for generations?"
How much effort was put into it?
How many internal doubts and objections were suppressed?
The year 60 is approaching, and the shift in celestial phenomena is already evident; let us pause here for now.
His voice grew lower and lower, carrying a heavy tone that was almost one of sorrow.
The success or failure of a matter has no absolute relation to the length of time it takes.
Furthermore, strategizing and planning are for the purpose of winning.
"Since you already know the odds of winning are slim, why force it?" Qi Yun interrupted him, his tone still calm.
He stopped looking at Zhao Xuanji and turned his gaze to the deep night outside the hall. He slowly raised his right hand, and in his palm appeared a crystal pearl about the size of a longan, with a pure white-gold color and a shimmering light flowing inside.
Zhao Xuanji fell silent, leaning back slightly into the large dragon throne, but his gaze never left Qi Yun.
The flames of the eternal lamps inside the hall flickered in his eyes.
It reflects the complex thoughts churning within.
Suspend the plan?
This means that the preparations of the past few centuries, the forbearance and sacrifice of countless people, and even the almost desperate belief may all need to be readjusted or even overturned and started anew.
This is by no means an easy task, and it will likely trigger unpredictable internal and external shocks.
However----
His gaze swept over Qi Yun, and the image of Mo Wenxuan returning, still filled with lingering fear and barely concealed awe, involuntarily flashed through his mind—
"Your Majesty, that True Person Qi is unfathomable!"
The arrival of Master Haoyue of the Moonflower Sect was as imposing as the sun burning the heavens. The subordinates thought they were doomed—but Master Qi—he only made one move!
That True Person Bright Moon Haoyue—was utterly annihilated! Not a trace of his body remained, not even his Divine Soul was left!
Mo Wenxuan's words, along with his deathly pale face and the fact that his Divine Soul had not yet healed, now echoed in Zhao Xuanji's mind with unparalleled clarity.
With every gesture, he could annihilate Yang Spirit!
If these words had not come from Mo Wenxuan's mouth, and if his injuries to his Divine Soul had not been genuine, Zhao Xuanji would never have believed them.
The Yang Spirit is already the visible pinnacle of cultivation in the Azure Gate Realm.
Enough to establish a sect and exert influence over a region.
Such a person was so easily dismissed by this individual?
This level of strength has exceeded his original expectations of the "variables," reaching a level that he finds difficult to fathom and even frightens.
That's why he didn't immediately turn hostile when Qi Yun proposed the "suspension plan."
Because he knew that this seemingly young and unfamiliar Daoist priest possessed the power to overturn his understanding and even overturn the chessboard.
To cooperate with such a person is like asking a tiger for its skin.
Absolute caution is required, and even—a certain degree of compromise.
The silence in the hall lasted for about half a cup of tea's time.
There was only the occasional faint crackling sound of the lamp wick popping.
Finally, Zhao Xuanji slowly exhaled a long breath, the intense emotions in his eyes gradually subsided, and he regained the composure and calmness befitting an emperor.
He spoke in a deep, slightly hoarse voice. "What is the hidden story that True Person Qi spoke of?"
Could it be related to that unusual event of that Heaven's Will?
He did not directly agree or disagree with the "suspension," but first asked for the reasons.
This is a subtle shift.
This means he has begun to seriously consider Qi Yun's opinion.
Qi Yun paused slightly as he stroked the precious pearl, but instead of answering Zhao Xuanji's question directly, he asked, "Does Your Majesty trust me?"
Zhao Xuanji's gaze sharpened slightly. "Why do you say that True Person?"
"If you trust them, Your Majesty, please go and find some people," Qi Yun said slowly, his gaze returning to Zhao Xuanji, his eyes calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.
"A select group of people with Higher Vehicle talent, temperament, and perseverance. The number of them does not need to be large, but they must be of high quality and reliable."
Cultivation level – It is best to start from the [Manifestation Realm] and progress to the [Object Manipulation Realm].
If one could attain the Yin Spirit Realm, even better.
Zhao Xuanji frowned. "What do you mean by this, True Person? Why are you looking for these people?"
"A feat of defying the heavens cannot be accomplished by the efforts of one or two people alone."
Even the most ingenious schemes require a strong army as a weapon."Qi Yun's words were like a stone thrown into the ground, stirring up waves in Zhao Xuanji's heart.
"I plan to personally train a group of people for you."
These people, in the future when we fight against Heaven, may become—truly invaluable spearheads.
Personally trained?
Will it become the spearhead for attacking the heavens?
Zhao Xuanji's heart skipped a beat!
Could it be that this True Person Qi possesses some Secret Method that can rapidly improve one's cultivation level and even break through bottlenecks?
Considering his strength in easily killing True Person Bright Moon, it's not impossible!
If a group of loyal and powerful assassins and experts can be trained, it will undoubtedly be a tremendous help to the "Waking of Insects Plan"!
It's far more reliable than rushing into action now and relying on those unpredictable allies!
But this will take time.
Is this why he suddenly suspended the plan?
"How long will it take for the True Person to arrive?" Zhao Xuanji's voice unconsciously lowered, carrying a hint of suppressed urgency.
Qi Yun pondered for a moment, then looked at Zhao Xuanji and slowly said, "At the shortest, ten years; at the longest, a full sixty years."
It depends on the person.
After mastering the key to "Yin Spirit Yang" in this realm, he conceived this idea.
He possessed a superior treasure, [Soul-Cleansing Elixir], crafted by the True Person Heisha, which nourished the Divine Soul.
If the Soul-Cleansing Elixir is used as fuel, and further supplemented with the Wield Myriad Laws Divine Ability Power for guidance and conditioning, then...
Furthermore, his possession of the Thunder Talisman allows him to avoid the limitation that one can only receive the baptism of thunder through the aid of [Heaven's Will].
It's entirely possible to quickly cultivate a group of Yang Spirit combatants!
Although such a hastily cultivated "Yang Spirit" is much inferior in terms of Dao Foundation, precise control over power, and future potential.
They are certainly not as genuine as the True Person Bright Moon, who cultivated step by step through arduous training and underwent true trials by heavenly lightning.
But so what?
The war against the heavens is inherently a matter of life and death.
What's needed is "combat power" that can step up at critical moments, generate sufficient numerical superiority, and execute key missions.
These hastily cultivated Yang Spirit spirit masters) may not be as effective as established Yang Spirit in one-on-one combat.
However, if they form large groups and are equipped with combined attack Formation Art and special Law Treasure, their effectiveness should not be underestimated!
If you can't win one-on-one, what about two-on-one, or even three-on-one?
A cycle of sixty years, at most a cycle of sixty years.
He was confident that he could build a force that would make any power, even the one who "replaced the Heaven's Will," take notice—the "Yang Spirit Legion"!
This is also the source of his confidence in proposing a pause on the plan and in significantly increasing the success rate when he actually takes action in the future!
Zhao Xuanji stared intently at Qi Yun, trying to glean more information from his calm eyes.
He saw confidence, he saw some unfathomable scheme, and he also saw a hint of—almost cold, ruthless determination to achieve one's goals by any means necessary.
He felt a chill run down his spine, yet his heart also fluttered with excitement.
Finally, he slowly rose from the dragon throne, and solemnly bowed to Qi Yun.
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, True Person."
"I will find the person as soon as possible."
He didn't ask for specific methods, nor did he question their feasibility.
This is a gamble based on strength and situation assessment, and yet another bet on this mysterious "variable".
Qi Yun nodded slightly, gently tossed the white-gold glass bead in his hand into the air, and then caught it.
"The candidates must be carefully selected."
This matter is top secret.
Outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, the night grew even deeper.
Inside the hall, a new plan was quietly taking shape.
The "Awakening of Insects" sword, which originally pointed towards the heavens, has temporarily concealed its sharpness and begun to silently forge a more deadly and secretive new blade underground.