"By then, with the Grand Festival as the foundation, we will be able to connect with the incense offering magic domains of All City Gods and retake control over the world’s major trends!"
At this point, Xu Yankuan’s speech carried a rare trace of excitent.
During the seven days of preparations for the Grand Festival, he and Emperor Xia used a number of unconventional thods to expedite the process.
The three great families of Guyue County were just an insignificant microcosm; to implent the City God incense offering, the number of killings unleashed by the provincial military forces in just seven days was unimaginable.
Inside and outside the Imperial Capital, the capital court was filled with complaints and grievances, and the reactions of the major sects outside the Imperial Capital were even more intense.
If the powerful experts of the sects hadn’t entered the Secret Realm Square-Inch, and only a portion of the cultivators remained at the sects’ locations outside the Imperial Capital, Jing Province would have likely already plunged into turmoil.
In the midst of such internal and external threats, Xu Yankuan had completed the preparations for the Grand Festival; the difficulties of which were known only to him.
Upon the throne, Xu Yankuan’s words seed to have recalled Emperor Xia’s consciousness; that profound gaze once again rested on the figure of the Taichang, the leader of the Nine Ministers.
"Preparations are complete?"
Emperor Xia’s voice carried a hint of wistful loss, his gaze falling into a montary daze.
"Xu Qing, do you think I was wrong to expend such great cost for the preparations of the Grand Festival?"
On hearing this, Xu Yankuan imdiately jolted upright and quickly bowed his head lower.
Emperor Xia’s original concessions to the Netherworld and the powerful clans within Great Xia over the position of City God had already sparked considerable dissent among the court officials.
And these recent days, to suppress those Trialists who might leave the Secret Realm Square-Inch, the mobilization of the Four Great Legions to impose martial law in the Imperial Capital, and the provincial military’s massacres of local families, had all brought about widespread uproar within and outside the court.
Even the ministers and nobles who usually supported Emperor Xia offered remonstrances, only to be flatly rejected by Emperor Xia.
Several ministers with a firm stance went so far as to risk their lives to remonstrate with the Emperor, only to be thrown into the dungeon to await their fate, creating instability within and outside the court.
All of this was solely to ensure the smooth progression of the Grand Festival.
In such a hostile environnt, even the proud Emperor Xia couldn’t help but harbor so doubts.
Xu Yankuan naturally didn’t dare to offer any rash advice on this topic.
Although he now held great power, able to decide the fate of powerful families with a single word, his authority even surpassing that of the three excellencies.
However, Xu Yankuan was well aware that all he possessed was but a castle in the air; once this affair ended, should Emperor Xia’s attitude change, his fate might not be any better than that of those local tycoons.
To safeguard himself, he needed to be as cautious as possible and avoid expressing any opinions on these matters.
Emperor Xia glanced at the silent Xu Yankuan, his eyes taking on a touch of displeasure.
He was naturally aware of Xu Yankuan’s thoughts, but since he still needed the Taichang at this mont, he didn’t want to press too hard.
Changing the subject, Emperor Xia asked Xu Yankuan:
"How is the progress of interrogating the cultivators who have left the Secret Realm Square-Inch?
Why have there been no Trialists erging from the Secret Realm in the subsequent six days?"
Xu Yankuan let out a sigh of relief and hastily responded:
"After interrogations from all sides, those cultivators didn’t seem to hide anything about the rules of the Secret Realm.
However, in the past two days, as the last batch of cultivators, they confird news that the Supre Taoist is suspected of clashing with an unknown powerful expert within the Secret Realm.
In that confrontation, both the Supre Taoist and the unknown powerful expert demonstrated strength beyond Spirit Refining, and it was due to the impact of their battle that this last batch of cultivators, seeking self-preservation, chose to voluntarily exit the trial."
Upon hearing the na of the Supre Taoist, Emperor Xia’s eyes focused sharply:
"From where does the one who clashed with the Supre Taoist co? Do they know the outco of their fight?"
Xu Yankuan shook his head: "The battlefield where they clashed is a place not even a Spirit Refining True Being would dare enter lightly, and only Qi-training cultivators who were affected knew of it, unaware of the specifics.
However, feedback from various quarters suggests that the unknown powerful expert likely cos from one of the 10 Great Grotto Heavens Sacred Lands."
Emperor Xia pondered for a mont, then scoffed: "If the last batch of cultivators withdrew voluntarily because of the clash between the Supre Taoist and the unknown powerful expert,
perhaps the absence of Trialists exiting from the Secret Realm afterwards is also related to their battle."
As he spoke, Emperor Xia couldn’t help but clap his hands.
"Well fought! The Supre Taoist has finally solved a big problem for .
If only the Supre Taoist and the Grotto Heavens Sacred Land’s powerful experts could perish together, then there would be no one left to obstruct the expansion of the incense offering magic domain."
Xu Yankuan remained silent, without offering any opinion.
Seeing this, Emperor Xia’s eyes showed a hint of boredom.
With a wave of his hand toward Xu Yankuan, Emperor Xia said in a deep voice:
"Since the grand ceremony is about to comnce, Minister Xu, you should go and make the preparations at once. Ensure that all the City God Furnaces are lit on ti."
"Yes!"
Xu YanKuan, holding the City God Registry, turned and walked out of the Mind-nourishing Hall.
As Xu YanKuan departed, the lighting within the entire Mind-nourishing Hall seed to grow several shades darker.
Emperor Xia remained seated on the throne, with shadows behind him undulating with a sinister rhythm. A hoarse voice slowly rose within the hall.
"Has he discovered anything?"
Emperor Xia casually picked up a piece of secret correspondence about Xu YanKuan and threw it into the brazier, his eyes turning profound as he said:
"Minister Xu is a smart man, and things have developed to a point where backing out is no longer an option.
No matter his personal desires, he will proceed according to my will.
Besides, the grand ceremony has not yet begun, and we still need Minister Xu of the Taichang to initiate the ceremony."
The hoarse voice seed to agree with Emperor Xia’s stance and then spoke again:
"There are still a few unstable elents within the Imperial Capital."
"Oh?"
"The supernatural beings left in charge of the Netherworld Manor, the head of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau who refuses to ’be tainted,’ and your daughter."
Emperor Xia paused for a mont and then said indifferently:
"The supernatural beings at the Netherworld Manor are just a few Spirit Transmutation beings. I have already dispatched three Colonels to be stationed around the manor, ready to suppress them at a single command."
"Though the superintendent does not wish to partake in this matter, he will also not stand against , for he too is part of this karma."
"As for Xia Yunqiu... that Supre Taoist secretly supporting her, igniting her Fire of Humanity, and gathering popular support for her – do you think I am unaware of his intentions?"
Emperor Xia’s gaze beca increasingly cold.
Picking up a blank Imperial Edict from the desk, Emperor Xia began to write.
With each character he wrote, he felt a disturbance in the dynasty’s fate, but his hands did not stop for a mont.
"Summon Guards Commander Hoe Shao for an audience."
A mont later, Guards Commander Hoe Shao, clad in armor, strode into the Mind-nourishing Hall.
"Hoe Shao pays homage to Your Majesty!"
Emperor Xia tossed the freshly-written Imperial Edict towards Hoe Shao without a trace of emotion in his voice:
"Heaven Traversing Princess Xia Yunqiu is conspiring with sects in secret, undermining the grand ceremony of the Capital City God, and shaking the foundations of the dynasty and the fate of humanity."
"By my command, strip Xia Yunqiu of her title as Heaven Traversing Princess, and present her with a cup of poisoned wine.
Should there be any resistance, execute her on the spot!"
Upon hearing this, Hoe Shao abruptly looked up at the Emperor on the throne, his expression chilly.
As a witness to the Netherworld Alliance eting, Hoe Shao had personally seen Xia Yunqiu desperately work to secure benefits for Great Xia.
Yet such a princess, who had made significant contributions to Great Xia, was eting her end with a cup of poisoned wine, which made Hoe Shao feel a chill deep in his heart.
"Guards Commander Hoe?"
Emperor Xia’s voice rang out again. Hoe Shao trembled, then gritted his teeth and said:
"Your humble servant accepts the decree!"
Respectfully holding the Imperial Edict, Hoe Shao turned and strode out of the Mind-nourishing Hall.
As Hoe Shao left, the hoarse voice resounded yet again.
"This Guards Commander Hoe clearly does not wish to lay a hand on Xia Yunqiu. By assigning him, are you not afraid he’ll let Xia Yunqiu escape?"
Emperor Xia shook his head.
"Hoe Shao’s role is only to convey the Imperial Decree with the authority of a Nine Minister, stripping her of her title. Xia Yunqiu, who carries the Fire of Humanity, cannot be easily executed by a re Imperial Edict.
I will not give her any chance to escape; therefore, the task of executing Xia Yunqiu shall be personally undertaken by you."
The hoarse figure seed surprised, and then a mocking laugh escaped his mouth.
"I will obey Your Majesty’s command!"
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