Lin Jiufeng had said that the world was going to become chaotic.

Sure enough, three days after Emperor Yuan said that he wanted the nine vassal lords to would come to the imperial capital to celebrate the birthday of the Empress Dowager.

The vassal lords sent out official letters unanimously.

The content was very simple, saying they were sick and they would send their children to the imperial capital to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday.

But they couldn't go themselves.

As soon as the letters arrived, the whole nation was in an uproar.

The nine vassal lords had united and resisted the imperial power.

Of course, they were already allied together against the imperial power in the past.

But it was all in private, they still showed some respect for the imperial power on the surface.

But this time, the remaining fig leaf was completely torn off, the nine vassal lords weren't giving the imperial power any respect at all.

It was as if they were unanimously pointing at Emperor Yuan's nose, saying…

It has only been ten years since you succeeded to the throne, and a youngster like you thinks that you can already fight against us?

Your old man, your grandfather, and the founding emperor of your family all didn't have this ability, what makes you think you do?

With the reply of the nine vassal lords, the covert battle amidst those with power intensified.

Everyone in the world became nervous.

Rumors flew here and there, and some people speculated that Emperor Yuan was getting ready to mobilize his army to launch an expedition against the nine vassal lords.

Some also said that the nine vassal lords had also assembled their own heavy troops and were preparing to fight back against the imperial power.

These rumors coming from all walks of life sounded logical as if the Yuhua God Dynasty was about to be divided into two in the very next moment.

The whole nation started shaking!

Like a tall building that could fall at any moment!

…

Within the territory of the Yuhua God Dynasty, one of the nine vassal lords was the Zhao Family. Their ancestors followed the founding emperor of the Yuhua God Dynasty in building the nation and had made great achievements. As a result, they were titled—Grand Duke Zhao.

The Zhao Family managed a province by themselves.

At Grand Duke Zhao's mansion, many people had gathered tonight.

Nine people were seated around a round table.

These nine people were the nine contemporary vassal lords.

Behind them stood their confidants.

"Emperor Yuan has really gone mad, this time. To think that he would actually dare to make a move on us. He's really seeking his death." Grand Duke Zhao coldly snorted.

The titles they had were hereditary, and they were already used to being the kings in their territories. Therefore, they didn't want to go to the imperial capital to surrender their wealth and comfortable lifestyle to Emperor Yuan.

"Who is going to teach this new emperor a lesson and let him know how powerful the vassal lords are?" A man with a hooked nose sneered.

"This Emperor Yuan is ambitious and wants to fully control the nation. But he didn't ask if we agree to this," said a potbellied vassal lord.

"The time for us to rebel has not yet arrived."

"With the great changes happening to the world's energies, and with the abundant accumulation of spiritual energy, the major forces are all lying dormant. That is what we should do," A scholar-like man said.

"Of course, I know that the time hasn't arrived yet. The recovery of the spiritual energy hasn't reached its peak yet, it's just the beginning. If not, then I would've already led an army to rush into the imperial capital to cut off the head of this whimsical emperor." A muscular martial artist coldly shouted.

"Then… how should we teach Emperor Yuan a lesson?" An old Grand Duke asked.

"Just poison him to death and save us the hassle," Grand Duke Zhao said directly.

"Zhao Guogong, if you choose to poison him, then I can only choose to assassinate him," The man with the hooked nose smiled and said.

"What are you two doing? Competing with each other?" The potbellied vassal lord boisterously laughed.

"Since King Tianying wants to bet with me, that's fine. Let's see which one of us succeeds first, whether Emperor Yuan will die under my poison or your assassination." Grand Duke Zhao also laughed and didn't mind at all.

Instead, he regarded the death of Emperor Yuan as a bet.

"King Tianying, there is a Martial Sage following Emperor Yuan. This Martial Sage once killed The Among Flowers Sect's Patriarch and is supporting Emperor Yuan. Otherwise, he wouldn't even dare to remove us, the vassal lords," The scholar-like man said.

"Of course, I know that Emperor Yuan has a Martial Sage, but do you think that he's the only one who has a Martial Sage in this world?" King Tianying sneered.

The other eight vassal lords simultaneously chuckled.

The ancestors in their families have all reached the realm of the Martial Sage, this was why they weren't afraid of Emperor Yuan trying to remove them from power.

The emperor only had a single Martial Sage cultivator, he had no chance of winning against the nine Martial Sages on their side!

"Since this is the case, then we shall let the people of the world see our abilities. Let's increase the stakes a little bit. Out of the nine vassal lords, whoever kills the emperor first will win," Grand Duke Zhao stood up and said.

"I have no problem with this, but what's the bet?" King Tianying agreed without hesitation.

"Let's gamble on the token of the Holy Master of the demonic sects."

"This token is split into many parts, whoever gathers them all can obtain the treasures left behind by the Holy Master."

"I know that everyone has a single piece in their hands."

"The other eight shall unconditionally hand over the token to the winner."

Grand Duke Zhao smiled as he said.

A strange light flashed in his eyes.

He had his own motives.

Use the death of Emperor Yuan as a bet, start a competition between them, and then obtain the Holy Master's tokens.

As for whether he could win or not, he was very confident.

The others pondered for a moment. Then, they nodded in agreement one by one.

Following this, the nine vassal lords each went to the imperial capital through their own means to kill Emperor Yuan.

The gamble on the death of Emperor Yuan officially started.

This group of people didn't place the empirical power, Emperor Yuan, and the Yuhua God Dynasty in their eyes at all.

…

Forbidden City, Central Hall.

Emperor Yuan was sitting with an exhausted look on his face.

In front of him stood an old man.

He was looking at Emperor Yuan with a complex look on his face.

"Too hasty,"

The old man said the same words as Lin Jiufeng, thinking that Emperor Yuan's operation was done hastily.

Emperor Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "Grandpa Emperor, the vassal lords have become an unsolvable problem, and they cannot be restrained anymore. I must take this opportunity to eliminate them."

"But you are unwise to offend the nine vassal lords at the same time." The old man sighed.

He was the Emperor two generations ago, Emperor Yuan's grandfather.

After he abdicated, he began to cultivate in seclusion until he reached the Martial Sage Realm due to the increase in the world's natural spiritual energy.

His existence was what gave Emperor Yuan the confidence to act.

The imperial family's own Martial Sage.

Including Nameless, Emperor Yuan had two Martial Sages in his camp at this moment.

Other than that, he also had an army of one million soldiers and countless other powerhouses in the royal family.

This was why Emperor Yuan dared to take the risk and declare war against the nine vassal lords.

"Grandpa Emperor, I'm running out of time," Emperor Yuan said with a tired face.

The old emperor's face changed.

He reached out his hand and grabbed Emperor Yuan's wrist, his True Qi probing into Emperor Yuan's body.

"You practiced that evil cultivation technique?"

The old emperor looked at Emperor Yuan in anger.

Emperor Yuan smiled helplessly. "Grandpa Emperor, I need power."

"You are muddled. Did you already forget that your father died when he was only fifty years old because of practicing this evil cultivation technique? How could you also follow in his footsteps?" The old emperor said with heartache.

To the public, the death of his son, the last emperor, was because he had encountered problems in his cultivation along with the illnesses that he had garnered due to the stress of handling state affairs.

All of these combined resulted in his situation being untreatable.

But the truth was that the previous emperor tried to solve the problems of the nation by forcibly practicing the evilest cultivation technique in the royal family for the sake of power.

However, he failed and it resulted in his untimely death.

Originally, the old emperor had sealed the evil cultivation technique after his son's death. No one else was allowed to come close to it, but Emperor Yuan secretly accessed it unbeknownst to him.

"Grandpa Emperor, even though there is a problem in my cultivation, I haven't achieved anything yet after cultivating this technique. That is why this time, I must sweep away this stubborn illness of the Yuhua God Dynasty that has existed for hundreds of years."

Emperor Yuan stood up firmly and said in a deep voice.

"Child, is it worth it?"

The old emperor looked lovingly at his grandson, who was also his successor to the throne.

"For the dignity of the royal family, for the continuation of the Yuhua God Dynasty, for my great reforms, for the people of the world to live and work in peace and contentment…"

"I have no regrets even if I die," Emperor Yuan firmly said.

"Besides, I also have one last move."

Emperor Yuan's gaze fell in the distance, towards the Cold Palace where Lin Jiufeng was in.

However, he wouldn't bother Big Brother unless there was absolutely no other choice.