"As a beneficiary of the family’s grace and obligations, being born and raised within the family, it is only natural for me to give back to it."

Yuan Chengliang said earnestly, "So when the time comes, I am willing to lay down my life for the family, to anger some and befriend others... to entertain some and quell the ire of others."

"If it is the Heavenly Mandate’s will, both my brother and I are ready to die."

"Death, huh..." Prince Zhong looked at him, raising an eyebrow. He lifted his wine glass to toast the other, "I didn’t expect you to be so resigned to death."

"Of course." Yuan Chengliang straightened his back, a sense of pride in his voice, "Our family has sheltered us from storms for thirty thousand years without replacement. So, if we must face the turbulence stirred by the Heavenly Mandate, losing some senior members and kneeling in submission is but a small matter."

Prince Zhong laughed and drained his cup, praising, "You are truly loyal."

"Of course, we are loyal." Yuan Chengliang replied without hesitation, then shifted the topic, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes as he glanced once again toward the direction of the Divine Beheading Platform, "If possible, I too hope that Gu dies, but there’s no need for such a grand execution..."

"Besides, it’s said that Gu Yunzhi doesn’t get along well with his granddaughter. Killing him might even please the Lord of Heavenly Destiny?"

As he spoke, he consoled himself, "That Gu Yeqi, following the Lord of Heavenly Destiny, might never return to Da Chen."

"Who can say otherwise."

Prince Zhong smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

He knew, as did the Four Great Families, that Gu Yunzhi, who possessed the ’Southern Dipper Life Infusion,’ was the only bloodline capable of replacing the Four Great Families.

It was because Gu Yunzhi ’gambled’ decades ago that his family line was destined to end.

This time, Gu Yunzhi’s arrival in the capital was a strategic move; all parties wanted to negotiate regarding the sudden appearance of the unbroken bloodline of Gu Yunzhi.

Although negotiations had not yet started, the answer was clear—Gu Yeqi must remain permanently outside of Da Chen, eternally staying in the Bright Mirror Sect.

The blood of the Gu Family must never return to Da Chen.

If they cannot accomplish this, the Four Great Families will not compromise.

Who knew that the Cang Lin brought by Gu Yunzhi would boldly act in such a manner, directly conflicting with the Four Great Families... This was tricky indeed, but also an excuse.

Taking advantage of Da Chen’s law to kill a troublesome person, the Yuan Family still plans to hide behind Da Chen’s back.

"Even now, still believing in Da Chen, truly... loyal."

With emotion in his heart, Prince Zhong turned his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Yuan family’s halls, looking toward the dawn appearing on the horizon.

As the light grew brighter, it gradually illuminated the entire Shenjing.

Light shone upon the imperial throne.

"Your Majesty, what do you think?"

As the light crept up to his cheek, Grand Preceptor Hong slowly spoke, breaking the silence.

His voice was old yet steady, "General Gu’s fate rests in your words."

"His crimes do not warrant death, indeed, he’s done nothing wrong."

"If you were to intervene now, and seize this opportunity to suppress the Four Great Families, you could reclaim some authority. This not only allows you to ally with that Heavenly Mandate, even we could be demoted by you, with our powers reclaimed."

He slightly bowed, his posture humble, "In the face of the Imperial Court’s majesty, ultimately, we are but ministers."

From the throne came a soft chuckle.

"Grandmaster, can’t resist anymore?" Xuan Mingyu’s voice came, carrying a hint of amusement, "Your test is so blunt, it seems you’ve learned something, thus you can’t be bothered to disguise."

"Just a little while ago." Grand Preceptor Hong straightened, no longer concealing the glimmer in his eyes, "I communicated with the Shangxuan Sect."

"We know... that in the North Mysterious Sacrifice Continent, a Heavenly Mandate will surely arise."

He paused, enunciating each word, "And perhaps, not just one Heavenly Mandate."

He fell silent.

And Xuan Mingyu remained silent for a while, too.

"Your Majesty." After the silence, Grand Preceptor Hong’s voice sounded again, "If you were the Heavenly Mandate, faced with this situation, what would you do?"

"If." Xuan Mingyu whispered, "If I were the Heavenly Mandate."

"While you were performing, my subordinates had already started removing some key Earth Pulse Nodes. The Imperial Court’s technology may seem formidable, but in the face of the Heavenly Mandate, it is full of holes."

With a scan of his Divine Sense, Grand Preceptor Hong’s complexion changed slightly.

He sensed that several covert central nodes of the Shenjing Earth Vein Array had been secretly altered, without anyone knowing when it happened.

The Heavenly Official Seals of those dead lower officials had been stolen, impersonated, and continually replicated and propagated, occupying other officials’ authority ports.

The Heavenly Officials of the Great Chen Dynasty didn’t lack such technology, but it was never this smooth or seamless... Undoubtedly so, even if the technical hard power is close, the refinement direction is different; the formations of the Huai Xu Realm are not as refined nor specialized in information decryption as the technology of the Tianyuan Realm.

"So, how did you aid An Jing?" Grand Preceptor Hong asked gravely, "What is he planning to disrupt?"

Xuan Mingyu looked at the Grand Preceptor in surprise, as if he had heard an inconceivable question, "Why are you asking me? How would I know what An Jing intends to do?"

"And why do you think I would assist An Jing?"

"Because you are the Heavenly Mandate."

The old Grand Preceptor’s eyes were sharp as he gazed at the Emperor, "Though how you managed to evade our surveillance and execute your plans is unknown, the truth remains."

"You have always been stirring things up, and we did not stop it because, in essence, we are allies. We aim to thwart the Holy Ancestor, and you also want to stop him."

"Yet fundamentally, we are different. You wish to destroy everything, while we seek change."

"Therefore, when An Jing arrives, you are bound to assist him, using his power to destroy the shackles upon you, gaining freedom and strength... We all know it, everyone knows it."

"Just as Gu Yunzhi seeks to use the Heavenly Mandate’s strength to avenge us, just as the Yuan Family wants to weaken the Imperial Court with the Heavenly Mandate’s might, just as we intend to utilize the Heavenly Mandate against the Holy Ancestor, and just as you desire to use the Heavenly Mandate’s power against us."

"The Heavens are the greatest force; who wouldn’t leverage Heaven’s Will? The Heavenly Mandate, by existing thus far, is the greatest change, the greatest upheaval, and opportunity."

With that, Grand Preceptor Hong slowly closed his eyes, "The Shangxuan Sect and we have shared intelligence, we know everything."

"So, Your Majesty, do tell, what exactly do you wish to destroy? Or rather..."

"Everything?"

Silence. Surprise. Realization.

Then, a voice rang out.

"Which Heavenly Mandate... do you think I am?"