Everyone's gaze fell on Yang Bi.

Yang Bi smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty possesses the West King Jade Seal and the Map of Mountains and Rivers, with Lady Houtu holding the fort, King Yan supporting, and all Fifty Provinces responding. Thus, Your Majesty's claim to the throne is rightful and inevitable. If the Twelve Families cannot disrupt Your Majesty's coronation, they will be seen as rebels without a cause. Therefore, the Twelve Families will surely attack on the day of Your Majesty's coronation."

He looked around and asked, "Can they break Imperial Capital's defenses?"

"They cannot."

Zhuge Jian said, "With Lady Houtu guarding this place and the Yin Yang Two Realms as solid as a fortress, Lady Houtu can summon deities from everywhere to aid us anytime. Paired with King Yan, Supreme Emperor, Five Lords, Zhu Imperial Teacher, Jue Yangzi, Liu Daoist, and Your Majesty's four esteemed disciples, all are immensely powerful figures. Even if the Twelve Families have numerous masters, they cannot conquer the Imperial Capital."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The Twelve Families have many masters, but so do we. Among us, several are in the Mahayana Realm. In terms of combat power, we are not inferior to them.

Yang Bi asked, "Can the masters of the Imperial Capital conquer other families?"

Li Tianqing replied, "One-on-one, it's easy; no family can withstand the masters of the Imperial Capital and the elites of Red Mountain Hall. However, since the Yan Family's demise, the Twelve Families have been on high alert. We can create Little Heavenly Realms for easy travel, and they can equally create Upper Realms for the same convenience. We have Immortal Artifacts, and they have Immortal Artifacts too! Hence, attacking any one family means attacking all twelve. Even if we win, it would be a pyrrhic victory, with significant losses!"

He referred to the strength of Heavenly Pond Country in his statement of a pyrrhic victory.

Only with Heavenly Pond Country's masters can we simultaneously contend with the Twelve Families!

Du Yiran nodded gently, "The power of Immortal Artifacts sweeps the battlefield, turning everything to ashes."

Yang Bi pondered, "If we attack these families while their masters assault the Imperial Capital, could we win?"

Everyone was momentarily stunned, gradually understanding his intent.

Yang Bi elaborated, "Your Majesty will remain here for the coronation, unchanged, leaving Lady Houtu and Little Yama to guard the place while others follow my orders. On the day Your Majesty assumes the throne, shall be the day we vanquish the Twelve Families."

The Heavenly Fox hesitated, "If the Twelve Families are determined to kill Your Majesty, can Lady Houtu and Little Yama hold them off?"

Yang Bi smiled slightly, "Perhaps not. Your Majesty and Lady Houtu might fall to their siege. But as soon as news of the attack on the Twelve Families reaches them, they'll surely scatter, some continuing to attack and others rushing back to aid."

His smile turned a bit bitter, "I've commanded them before and know their ways well. Even with my guidance, they often fail to follow orders, let alone without me."

While others hesitated, Chen Shi suddenly smiled and said, "Good! Let's go with Yang Bi's plan, and I'll be the bait!"

"Your Majesty's wisdom," Yang Bi bowed.

Chen Shi slowly glanced over each face, saying gravely, "Years ago, Yang Bi managed the Upper Realm. The ancestors of the Thirteen Families entrusted him with the power to mobilize the Upper Realm's full force against Despair Slope. Yang Bi acted excellently, nearly killing Zhong Wuwang, because an ancestor went against his orders, leading Zhong Wuwang to utilize the Heaven Listeners to find the Upper Realm, ending in defeat. The Upper Realm disintegrated; millennia of planning destroyed in an instant."

His voice carried a hint of menace: "Now I entrust Yang Bi with all power, everyone must follow his commands. Anyone acting independently, even my father, will face execution! I urge you all to remember, united in purpose, stride forward together!"

Everyone responded in agreement.

Only Chen Tang sullenly scratched his nose.

Chen Shi rose, saying, "Each of you prepare. Yang Bi, come with me."

Yang Bi followed him out of Wenyuan Pavilion, intentionally falling a step behind.

Chen Shi looked back and smiled, "I haven't yet declared myself Emperor, why so cautious? Even as Emperor, I don't consider myself superior. Speak normally."

Yang Bi stepped forward with a smile, "Thank you."

Chen Shi glanced at him, "Thank me for what?"

"For Your Majesty's trust."

Yang Bi replied, "Though I am a defeated general, having ruined the six-thousand-year scheme of the Upper Realm in my hands, lost to Zhong Wuwang. Yet, Your Majesty still trusts and entrusts me with life and fortune, that's why I express my gratitude."

Walking side by side, Chen Shi looked at the craftsmen planting trees by the road and said, "You should thank me, but not for this."

Yang Bi was momentarily stunned, puzzled.

Chen Shi explained, "Weren't you advising me against exterminating the Twelve Families root and branch? Now, I give you the power to decide, among the Twelve Families, who lives and who dies."

Yang Bi's body trembled slightly, overwhelmed with emotions. By the time Chen Shi had walked away, he regained his senses and hurriedly caught up.

"Minister Yang Bi, thank Your Majesty for your benevolence!" He bowed deeply.

Chen Shi laughed, "Just said we're friends, and now you call yourself a minister. This True King title, I don't like, always having others beneath me. Not good."

Yang Bi straightened his back, "With gains, Your Majesty inevitably faces losses."

Chen Shi commented, "When I was young, I wanted to be an Emperor, dragging a cannon found in the valley back to the village, dreaming of conquest, invading the Western Capital as a king. But growing up, I felt the True King title may not bring happiness, losing many friends."

Yang Bi smiled, "Many desire the throne but can't obtain it. Your Majesty, not yet twenty, rallied heroes through Red Mountain Hall, conquered with grand strategy. Who else would be True King but you?"

Chen Shi shook his head, "It's not my brilliance but the times nurturing change in people's hearts, and I simply seized the moment. The Twelve Families are easy, truly difficult is Despair Slope."

Yang Bi hesitated, "In my view, Despair Slope isn't the problem; it's the Heavenly Venerate. His strength approaches Taiyi Golden Immortal; if he acts, everything turns to ash."

Chen Shi raised his head to the sky, gazing at the twin suns, "Heavenly Venerate wields the True God from Outer Heaven as a weapon over the human realm, dangerously potent. Do we truly have the strength to confront him?"

Yang Bi's expression grew grave.

Against the Twelve Families, he had strategies aplenty, effortlessly devising plans to crush them.

But facing the Heavenly Venerate, he was at a loss.

After separating from Yang Bi, Chen Shi returned to Jiaotai Palace, where a large bronze cauldron stood, steaming with Immortal Energy, containing a dry bone, the remains of Wu Qi.

At this moment, the Witch Sacrificial Dao Pattern of the Undying Immortal Method grew clearer on Wu Qi's bones, even slowly developing connective membranes over them. Through which, tiny blood vessels were faintly visible.

Little Dun Fairy, inspecting Wu Qi's resurrection, noticed him, saying, "The Undying Immortal Method is remarkable, even promising resurrection after death."

"But too slow."

Chen Shi assessed Wu Qi's state, saying, "He's the only one who might stand against the Heavenly Venerate. I sense we won't have much time. The Heavenly Venerate grows impatient, eager to strike us down. I've never encountered such overpowering existence..."

Little Dun Fairy observed him, sensing the burden in his eyes.

She realized, Heavenly Venerate weighed heavily on Chen Shi.

This battle, must be won, not lost.

Defeat means no hope.

The Grand Sacrificer brought a child to the Imperial City, requesting an audience with Chen Shi, who welcomed them kindly, "Why adhere to formalities, Grand Sacrificer?"

The Grand Sacrificer said, "Your Majesty is the Divine Emperor; I am but a subject. As subjects greeting an Emperor, adhering to ancient courtesies is only right."

He paused, "Your Majesty, kindly inspect this child's roots?"

Chen Shi's gaze fell on the child, then approached, touching his bones, "Excellent roots. What's your name?"

"Chu Feng," the child replied.

Chen Shi laughed, "A fine name as well."

The Grand Sacrificer continued, "I'm here to inform Your Majesty, Chu Feng is about to achieve the Divine Embryo through cultivating the Profound Yin Nine Heavens Technique."

Chen Shi studied Chu Feng intently, "When he reaches the Divine Descent Realm, he can contaminate the True God with the Demon Path!"

The Grand Sacrificer smiled, "Then, all of West Bull New Continent shall transform into the Demon Domain, all evils eradicated. Your Majesty, await the good news."

Chen Shi watched as the Grand Sacrificer led Chu Feng away.

In the year of Jiajing 6648, third day of October, auspicious for coronation.

Inauspicious for wars.

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