Outside the Nanli Palace, a middle-aged man with a high-crowned cap and broad belt approached quickly, slowing his pace as he neared the palace gate. After tidying his attire, he addressed the maid at the gate, "Please inform the Princess that Divination Order Ji Yuan requests an audience."

The maid responded with a "Please wait" and then disappeared behind the palace gates with surprising speed, demonstrating her considerable cultivation.

Shortly thereafter, the maid returned and said, "Her Highness is waiting for you at the Nanming Pavilion. Please follow me."

The Divination Order followed the maid into the palace, past the Vermilion Bird Hall, to the more residential rear. After passing through a long corridor, the Nanming Pavilion was in sight.

Two maids in red clothes took over as guides, leading the Divination Order into the pavilion, where a wave of Flame Qi hit him in the face.

The Nanming Pavilion was a grand structure with three floors and a verandah, with three bright and three hidden levels. The highest was designated the main pavilion, each level named after the Vermilion Bird Seven Constellations. The entire building was twenty zhang tall; with seven levels in total, its internal space surpassed many palaces, currently filled with Flame Qi from top to bottom.

’The Princess’s cultivation has reached the pinnacle of the fourth rank; advancing to the third grade should be assured. In the past, the third grade was enough to hold the situation, but alas...’

Though the Divination Order was of the fifth-rank, his own Yi Dao cultivation endowed him with exceptional perception. Instantly sensing the depth of the Princess’s aura, this thought flashed through his mind.

’The Mandate of Heaven no longer favors our clan.’

With this thought crossing his mind, the Divination Order followed the maid to the top floor of the main pavilion to pay his respects to the Princess.

The main pavilion was spacious, with star constellation patterns engraved on the four walls. Behind a crimson curtain, the Princess sat meditating, and the Divination Order could only glimpse a blurred figure.

"Your Highness."

The Divination Order saluted, saying, "The restrictions in the Imperial City have been strengthened since last night. May I ask, has Jiang Sikong returned to the Divine Capital?"

Although Jiang Li left secretly, after such a long period, certain people would naturally not remain unaware, especially given the abnormal changes in the Yin Law Department, the spread of the Star Domain within the Imperial City, and the Emperor Dao Fruit finding a new master.

With the Emperor returning to the palace, it was natural for the previously restored restrictions to be stirred. Though no longer possessing the Emperor Dao Fruit, Jiang Li could still assume command of the restrictions laid with the "Oral Heavenly Constitution."

As someone responsible for Star Observation, the Divination Order was naturally the first to notice the change in the restrictions, hence his special visit to see the Princess.

"You do seem particularly concerned about this matter." From behind the curtain came the Princess’s slightly husky, amused voice, tinged with displeasure.

"The safety of our clan is at stake; I dare not take it lightly," the Divination Order replied respectfully.

"You’ve become increasingly adaptable... It seems Earth Uncle’s death has motivated you."

The Princess chuckled lightly, "You guessed correctly; he indeed returned last night. Since the Suhua Palace is destroyed, he stayed at the Nanli Palace for the night."

Hearing that Earth Uncle was dead, the Divination Order’s spirit was shocked.

Though he had sensed Yin Qi leaking within the Divine Capital and the possible changes in the Yin Law Department, upon hearing Earth Uncle’s death, the Divination Order couldn’t suppress his terror.

Earth Uncle’s death, coupled with the Emperor Dao Fruit acquiring a new master, sealed the fate of the grand situation, marking the end of the Ji Family’s era.

Upon hearing Jiang Sikong stayed in the Nanli Palace, the Divination Order couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief.

It seemed the Princess still harbored protective intentions for the royal clan, willing to make sacrifices. And that Jiang Sikong also had no intention of utterly annihilating them.

The Divination Order didn’t think too deeply; he only felt that this overnight stay signified Jiang Li’s intent.

"I understand," said the Divination Order.

He planned to relay the news to the clan elders to calm their hearts.

The Princess, of course, knew what the Divination Order had realized. She let out an indeterminate laugh and said, "Do you truly understand? Is this alone enough to set the Ji Family at ease?"

"This..." The Divination Order bowed his head, "I do not understand."

"The Celestial Map," the Princess answered for him, "with the Emperor’s transfer, the Celestial Map should also be handed over. It was initially agreed by the Ji Family and Jiang Family that only the Emperor could wield it."

The Divination Order’s lowered eyes widened with shock upon hearing this.

The Celestial Map, a Second Grade Daoist Artifact, was also the foundation for the Emperor’s rule over the land.

The Emperor could unilaterally determine the fate of Heaven and Earth, not only due to supreme strength but also because of the Celestial Map stored within the Imperial City.

"This matter..." The Divination Order hesitated, "I will inform the clan elders to hand over the Celestial Map."

"Before handing it over, will you hide the Map of Mountains and Rivers?" the Princess said indifferently, "You should know what hand over means. While the Celestial Map is indeed the foundation of imperial power, without the coordination of the Map of Mountains and Rivers, it cannot directly control local Earth Deities. Since submission is chosen, hand over everything honestly. Otherwise, there lies a path to demise."

As she spoke, the Princess thought to herself that these clan members had not given up and still dreamed of a comeback.

The Emperor’s lifespan was limited; at the end of a sixty-year cycle, the opportunity for the Ji Family might come. With the Map of Mountains and Rivers in hand, the Ji Family would have significantly more chances for a reversal.

They didn’t understand that without surrendering the Map of Mountains and Rivers, they wouldn’t even live to see sixty years, let alone stage a comeback. Moreover, the times had changed; who could say what sixty years in the future would hold?

The Divination Order was still hesitating, knowing that the clan members had yet to fully abandon hope.

Being the royal family for so many years and having power usurped, who would resign willingly? Perhaps in a world where power doesn’t rest on the individual, the Ji Family would have its share of rebellion.

The Divination Order reluctantly said, "The Map of Mountains and Rivers was acquired by our clan; the Jiang Family does not know of its existence, nor does the Gongsun Family Master. Jiang Sikong should not be aware of it. Our clan can fully conceal this item..."

He wisely refrained from uttering, "This belongs to the Ji Family," instead emphasizing Jiang Li’s ignorance of the artifact.

If Jiang Li became aware of the item in the Ji Family’s possession, regardless of ownership, the Ji Family would be forced to relinquish it. Concerning Jiangshan Mountains, the Emperor never hesitates to take tough measures, indifferent to the humane aspect of his rule.

However, without Jiang Li’s knowledge of the item, there remained room for maneuver.

"The Feng Family is not completely gone,"

The Princess softly said, "Don’t think that Feng Manlou, after so many years in the palace, never sought the Map of Mountains and Rivers. Others might not know who seized part of the Feng Family’s heritage, but surely the Feng Family does? Were it not for the interconnection between the Map of Mountains and Rivers and the Celestial Map restraining each other, it might have been gone long ago."

The Map of Mountains and Rivers was taken from the Feng Family by the Ji Family.

Or rather, more bluntly put—seized covertly.

Though Feng Family members might not be sure whose hands the Map of Mountains and Rivers fell into, they only needed to confirm who gained the Feng Family’s heritage. Finding the Map of Mountains and Rivers would not be difficult—for a Great Venerable, that is.

Upon realizing this, a cold sweat quietly broke out on the Divination Order.

Blinded by greed, he hadn’t considered the obvious: the Great Venerable wouldn’t keep their secret confidential.

"The Former Emperor has been dead for a long time and should be buried," the Princess said. "Before the Former Emperor is laid to rest, I hope to see you voluntarily hand over the Forbidden Technique to open the Cave Heaven, or else I will inform Jiang Li and let him take action."

The Former Emperor’s burial...

This meant Jiang Sikong was about to ascend the throne.

The Divination Order naturally understood what the Former Emperor’s burial signified, and hearing it from the Princess implied her agreement as well.

The decision facing the Ji Family now was whether to persist in resisting Jiang Li or finally submit faithfully.

The time remaining for the Ji Family was limited.