Lu Yin’s eyes flashed. Apparently, Liuying Zishan had indeed been under some sort of controlling force, but who was controlling her? Out of everyone he could think of, the only people who were proficient enough with spiritual force to control her were the members of the Daynight clan. Could it have been them?

***

A gloomy voice rang out in a dark place. “Why is it gone? Even the memories can’t be transmitted back. How strange.”

***

Lu Yin did not feel very comfortable with Liuying Zishan anymore, as she had been appointed as the Commander of the Allied Forces. And since the appointment was so new, there was no way for him to replace her anytime soon. Over the next few days, Lu Yin continued to hide in Liuying Zishan’s mansion to observe her, until he felt certain that there were no problems with her.

She had most likely been controlled by that ball of light, but now that Lu Yin had absorbed it, she should have broken free from its control. But that did not mean that the person who had been controlling her would not act again. Lu Yin decided to check in on her every once in a while from now on.

In fact, he rather looked forward to meeting that person acting against Liuying Zishan again, as he would appreciate it if they gave him a few more balls of light to absorb. With the Stonewall Scriptures, he was not afraid of those attacks in the least.

One day, Lu Yin contacted Elder Lohar. This day marked nearly four months since Lu Yin had last entered the Daosource Sect's ruins, and the Innerverse and Outerverse had already been separated for twenty one months.

“This junior pays his respect to Senior.” Lu Yin smiled.

Elder Lohar laughed. “Kid, you won’t do anything unless there’s something in it for you. Speak up—why are you looking for me? I’ll make one thing clear first: I have no interest in the Outerverse’s squabbles.”

Lu Yin rearranged his expression. “Elder is correct. This is indeed about the Outerverse’s conflicts, but it is not related to the struggles between weaves. This is related to the Technocracy.”

Elder Lohar’s expression instantly changed. “What do you mean?”

Lu Yin solemnly explained, “This junior took a trip to the Daosource Sect's ruins, and there, I met with the White Knight. She informed me that the Sixth Mainland has gained a certain level of control over the Technocracy’s Master Brain and that they may pass through the Technocracy to invade the Outerverse.”

Elder Lohar’s eyes went wide. “Is this for certain?”

Lu Yin shook his head. “Nobody can say what’s for sure if the events have not taken place yet, but the White Knight shared this information with this junior, and I didn’t dare be neglectful. Thus, I contacted Senior the moment I left the Daosource Sect's ruins.”

Elder Lohar muttered to himself for a moment and then spoke to Lu Yin in a serious tone. “Kid, you did well. I got it. But you must not spread this news to anyone else out of fear of inciting panic.”

“Rest assured, elder. This junior understands.”

Elder Lohar nodded. “I’m relieved with how you’ve handled this matter. I will go and investigate this.”

“What should this junior do to prepare beforehand? Otherwise, as soon as the Technocracy invades, the entire Outerverse will face a disaster,” Lu Yin said.

Elder Lohar replied, “Stock up on supplies. Everything else can be discussed after the Hall of Honor investigates this matter.”

The elder then immediately ended the call.

Lu Yin lowered his gadget. He had done what he could, and now, everything else depended on luck. If the Sixth Mainland really did invade the Outerverse through the Technocracy, then the first place to suffer would be Endless Weave. The invasion would start in the westernmost stretches of the Outerverse and then travel east. It would be an unavoidable calamity, and their best hope was that the Innerverse would be able to place more pressure on the Sixth Mainland.

Lu Yin smiled bitterly, as he knew that he was overthinking things. The Innerverse was already finding it difficult to even defend itself.

The Sixth Mainland was invading the Innerverse on one side, and attacking the Astral Beast Domain on another. Its remaining forces were gathering to invade the Outerverse, which showed how terrifyingly deep its foundation went.

Lu Yin did not know how the Ten Arbiters were faring in the Daosource Sect's ruins. It had been four months since he had last entered that place, and it was time for him to take another look.

On Shenwu Continent, the imperial palace in Mingdu had been spruced up quite a bit. Ming Zhaoshu could formally stay there, but he hadn’t. Instead, he continued to summon Bei Hong to the Reverent King’s Residence.

“How do you feel about your trip out into the universe?” Ming Zhaoshu asked.

Bei Hong emotionally responded, “The universe is truly vast, and my Shenwu Continent is just a grain of sand within it. Your Majesty has foresight, and you had our Shenwu Continent integrate into the outside universe. Otherwise, we would lose all of our rights one day.”

Ming Zhaoshu answered, “My brother was narrow-minded, and he only knew about Shenwu Continent. Most people in the universe are not even aware that a place like Shenwu Continent exists. Not even all of Darkmist Weave is guaranteed to have heard of Shenwu Continent before, and it’s indeed too minuscule when compared to the entire universe.

“However, the strength of our Shenwu Continent should not be looked down upon. Otherwise, Lu Yin would not have had us represent Darkmist Weave and participate in the Great Eastern Alliance Conference.”

Upon hearing Lu Yin’s name being mentioned, Bei Hong voiced his worries. “Your Majesty, this Lu Yin… Is he reliable?”

Ming Zhaoshu replied, “I know what you are worried about. The child is wildly ambitious, and he has also hidden his trump cards well. However, his character has a baseline that he will not cross, he stands up for what he believes is right, and he will always keep his promises, which is the main reason why I chose to cooperate with him. If he was a different person, then even if his authority was even greater, I would not have chosen to cooperate with him, and I definitely would not have passed my daughter to him.”

Bei Hong nodded. "He is indeed popular, and he isn’t like the average leader. He values his comrades greatly, and he has placed limits on how he conducts himself. Your subject also felt this when I interacted with him during this trip. However, when it is time to be ruthless, he shows no mercy.”

Ming Zhaoshu looked at Bei Hong. “I can clearly tell you that, for Bei Qing, this is the chance of a lifetime.”

Bei Hong looked at Ming Zhaoshu.

Ming Zhaoshu continued, saying, “I’ve known you for decades, and I won’t lie to you. In the long term, it is much more beneficial for Bei Qing to stay in the Great Yu Empire. You can’t hope for him to become a native in the foreigners’ eyes if he is always trapped within the five sealing planets and ends up becoming a good-for-nothing aristocrat.”

Bei Hong nodded. “Your subject understands.”

Ming Zhaoshu looked up. “The five sealing planets protect Shenwu Continent, but they also seal Shenwu Continent off from the rest of the universe.”

Before Bei Hong left, he asked Ming Zhaoshu when the emperor would move into the imperial palace. Ming Zhaoshu did not give a straightforward reply, and merely said a single sentence in reply. “Ask Yan'er.”

Although it was just a short reply, it caused grief to well up within Bei Hong, as he knew that the man before him did not have much time left.

Due to Ming Zhaoshu’s iron fisted ruling, Shenwu Continent was currently seething with the discontent of the masses, and rebellions constantly broke out everywhere. During this period, in order to suppress these numerous rebellions, Ming Zhaoshu had executed millions of people, and the current Shenwu Continent was like a dormant volcano that could erupt at any moment.

In every corner, there were voices opposing Ming Zhaoshu’s reign, and there were assassins that entered the Reverent King’s Residence on a daily basis.

There were countless assassins hiding along the road that led from the Reverent King’s Residence to Mingdu’s imperial palace. All of them were waiting for Ming Zhaoshu to relocate so that they could carry out their assassination attempts.

The entire mainland had started to reject Ming Zhaoshu.

Within his study in the Reverent King’s Residence, Ming Zhaoshu bit his finger and wrote a letter with his own blood before sealing it and placing it on the table. It was addressed to Lu Yin.

He then looked towards an imperial edict on the other end of the table, which he had prepared for Ming Yan.

Ming Zhaoshu sighed and waved a hand, causing a map of the entire Shenwu Continent to appear before him.

“I’ve schemed for so many years, and yet, I am already in my twilight after barely enjoying the fruits of my labors. After a few more years pass, who will be able to answer as to whether or not my efforts were a success or a failure. Hahaha, let me give my final strength to Shenwu Continent. Yan'er, Father has failed you,” Ming Zhaoshu muttered as tears of blood flowed down from his eyes. He pulled out a sword and slit his own neck, decapitating himself. His head tumbled down and crashed onto the table, ultimately landing beside the imperial edict. In the end, the emperor’s gaze continued to be fixated on the map of Shenwu Continent as he died.

Thump thump thump

“Father, Daughter seeks an audience.”

Nobody replied, and Ming Yan knocked again, but there was still no reply. There was, however, a faint scent of blood leaking out from the closed study.

Ming Yan’s expression changed, and she shoved the door open, only to be met with a scene that nearly caused her to faint.

Standing behind her, Tang Si’s expression did not change, as he had already realized what had happened. He immediately knelt down. “Send off His Majesty.”

“Send off His Majesty.”

“Send off His Majesty.”

…

Ming Yan closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She tentatively stepped into the study and wept as she took Ming Zhaoshu’s head away. She then looked towards the letter and imperial edict that had been left on the table and picked up the edict. She glanced at it, and what she read caused her face to turn deathly white.

Before long, Bei Hong arrived and entered the study.

Ming Yan passed the imperial edict over to Bei Hong, and as he read through it, his grief became even more apparent with his changing expression. “Princess, according to His Majesty’s decree, this is his final wish for the empire.”

Ming Yan turned around so that her back was facing Bei Hong. She stared at Ming Zhaoshu’s erect corpse and then asked in a cold voice, “All that Father has been doing during this period has been an act, hasn’t it?”

Bei Hong lowered his head, but he did not reply.

“Father intentionally created dissent, and he focused all of the discontent onto just him, all for this day, correct?” Ming Yan shouted sternly.

Bei Hong half-knelt. “His Majesty did all this for the empire. Princess, please follow his last request and execute His Majesty’s decree.”

Ming Yan’s body trembled, and she had to support herself with a chair. Grieving, she spoke in agony, “Is the empire’s foundation really that important? For him to bear this eternal infamy? And for it to even be enforced by his own daughter?! Father is too cruel.”

Bei Hong sighed. “His Majesty’s ascension to the throne carried with it a great deal of unhappiness from many in our Shenwu Continent, and it also incited chaos to spring up everywhere. If this is not done, then the empire will likely be mired in civil war for the next hundred years. Princess, please follow the late emperor’s wishes and execute His Majesty’s decree.”

“Princess, please execute His Majesty’s decree,” Tang Si called from outside the office.

“Princess, please execute His Majesty’s decree,” a group of ministers who had all been loyal to Ming Zhaoshu shouted unanimously. “Princess, please execute His Majesty’s decree.”

“Princess, please execute His Majesty’s decree.”

…

Ming Yan closed her eyes. “Announce the imperial edict.”

Bei Hong finally relaxed, and he walked out of the study after hearing those words. He opened the bloodstained decree to read aloud, and his voice was transmitted throughout every part of Shanhai City. “Reverent King Ming Zhaoshu, for preposterous behavior, abuse, slander, rampant massacres, and inciting chaos, is condemned by his daughter, Ming Yan. Ming Zhaoshu has committed twenty eight grievous crimes. First, traitor to the nation… Twenty eighth, ignoring advice. On this day, Ming Zhaoshu will be sentenced to death, and this order will be carried out immediately. His Majesty’s daughter, Ming Yan, offers the emperor’s life to respect the heavens, honor the people, and atone for his crimes.”

As she listened to each criminal charge listed in the imperial edict, Ming Yan clenched her fists. Her fingernails were soon embedded deep within her flesh, and fresh blood dripped down from her hands. She did not feel any physical pain, only heartache. She had personally made her own father eternally infamous, and this heartache started to smother her.

Ming Zhaoshu had intentionally aroused the wrath of the masses and gathered it all onto himself. This had been done so that Ming Yan could represent the heavens and mete out judgement. Then, when she rightfully inherited the throne, she would also gain the goodwill of the people. Although this would stabilize Shenwu Continent, it required Ming Yan to take on the stigma of patricide. The Shenwu Continent would celebrate, and everyone would believe that Ming Yan had acted correctly, but to Ming Yan, this was an extremely cruel turn of events that her father had forced upon her.

She had to personally proclaim that her own father was an irredeemable criminal, and this made her heart feel incomparably sour, and she nearly choked from the emotion.

All this time, she had indeed been enduring torment, but Ming Zhaoshu’s torment had been even greater than her’s.

At this moment, it was like Ming Yan had grown up.

On Zenyu Star, Lu Yin suddenly stood up, and his expression drastically changed. “What did you say? Ming Zhaoshu is dead?”

En Ya had appeared before him, and her face was grave. “Yes, Ming Zhaoshu is dead, and Ming Yan has inherited the throne. She also announced an imperial edict condemning Ming Zhaoshu of twenty eight horrible crimes that also stripped away all of his achievements. This will leave his legacy as an eternal pariah in Shenwu Continent. This is clearly the path that Ming Zhaoshu paved for Ming Yan so that she could successfully inherit the Shenwu Empire while also receiving the goodwill of the masses.”