The major families in the city held their own vested interests, with the Huangfu and Murong families focusing the entirety of their power within Tianshui City. The scions of the great houses within the Imperial City concurrently held important positions within the military ranks.

The conspiracy between Huangfu Yue, the Murong family, and the Tu family to strike against Ji Changkong and Gu Dan was inherently clandestine; outsiders had no way of knowing the details. Those scions of the major families serving as Imperial City guards were not involved in this matter.

Gu Dan was known throughout the Shuiyun Kingdom by the epithet of 'Sage.' When the Huangfu family moved against him, they naturally dared not be too overt, thus refraining from deploying the full might of the imperial authority.

However, the widespread declarations of the Huangfu family’s malice by masters from the Chen and Duan families, coupled with the arrival of numerous powerhouses from Xuanyuan Valley, instantly threw the entirety of Tianshui City into turmoil. As these various pieces of news spread throughout Tianshui City, the scions of the families loyal to the state suddenly felt lost, unsure of whom to trust.

It was at this critical juncture that Gu Dan abruptly manifested above the Imperial Palace in Tianshui City, uttering only a single sentence: "The Huangfu family deserves death." Instantly, those wavering scions of the great families were filled with righteous indignation and immediately viewed the Huangfu family as their sworn enemy.

In the Shuiyun Kingdom, Gu Dan's prestige far surpassed the influence wielded by the Huangfu family. Once he spoke, no one remained hesitant. In that instant, the entire Shuiyun Kingdom rose up to denounce the Huangfu family.

The Huangfu family, the Murong family, and all the factions involved in the plot instantly became the sworn enemies of every Tian Shi in the Shuiyun Kingdom. Tian Shis roamed the streets, faces contorted with anger, and upon encountering anyone from the Huangfu or Murong families, they attacked without hesitation.

Because of Gu Jiego's decree, the Huangfu and Murong families became reviled outcasts, hunted by all.

With Huangfu Tong and Tu Bazi already dead, Murong Tu having barely escaped as a fragmented explosion of his body, and Huangfu Yue fleeing using a secret art of the Huangfu family, these clans suddenly lost their pillars of strength. Under the combined efforts of Xuanyuan Valley, the Chen family, the Duan family, and other allied forces, many participants connected to the Huangfu and Murong families were executed throughout Tianshui City.

The Yuehua Sect, which had previously maintained neutrality, also began to join forces with the Chen and Duan families following Gu Dan’s declaration. With these major powers united, the Huangfu and Murong families lost any remaining capacity to strike back. Some were killed, others fled, and for a time, the Shuiyun Kingdom’s palace grounds were filled with cries of reprisal and strewn with corpses.

The common folk, hearing the clamor of killing in the streets, even joined in the frenzy. They revered Gu Dan as a divine being, and during festivals, they would even bow in supplication toward the direction of Tianshan Mountain. Upon hearing that the Huangfu family had dared to strike against the protector god in their hearts, their fury erupted. While they were incapable of directly attacking members of the Huangfu family, they still acted spontaneously, shouting insults loudly at anyone they saw belonging to the Huangfu or Murong clans.

Within a single day, the Huangfu and Murong families suffered massive casualties, with many dead and wounded. Even though Ji Changkong had commanded against indiscriminate slaughter, these families were almost entirely wiped out. Aside from the elderly, the weak, the sick, and the disabled, almost no high-level experts from these great families managed to escape.

Chu Shanxin, who had come from the Chu family, either sensed trouble beforehand or simply vanished before the fighting even began. Prime Minister Wang Bai and the inhabitants of the Prime Minister's Residence had been entrusted by Huangfu Yue to guard the outskirts of Tianshui City, monitoring incoming powerhouses while also sweeping up any who tried to flee the city.

However, when the masters from Xuanyuan Valley and the Chen family launched their massive incursion, Wang Bai secretly led the Wang family forces back into the city. Shortly after entering, he heard Huangfu Yue’s specific signal emanating from the Dead Water Prison. Upon seeing the unique signal, Wang Bai immediately knew the situation was unsalvageable. Following their prior agreement, Wang Bai took a portion of his hidden strength and secretly departed through a secret passage, meeting up with Huangfu Yue before quietly disappearing.

When Ji Changkong, along with Mu Luo, Gui Rong, Gui Hai, and their entourage, stormed the Prime Minister's Residence, they found nothing but servants; not a single member of the Wang family remained. Wang Bai, Jiu Lingxue, and Huangfu Jingwei had vanished without a trace.

"Huangfu Yue is truly not a simple man, leaving Wang Bai as this contingency plan. Now that they have escaped, the world is vast; finding them again will not be easy," Chen Qisen remarked after surveying Wang Bai's residence, his expression grim with evident regret.

"It matters not. Having lost their foundation in the Shuiyun Kingdom, they won't be able to jump around for much longer," Ji Changkong stated, his eyes holding a chill. "Once we stabilize the situation in the Shuiyun Kingdom, we can then figure out how to deal with these stragglers." "Changkong, the Huangfu family is finished. The populace is currently restless; we should establish a grand plan soon," Xiao Xing urged.

Ji Changkong frowned, feeling a measure of helplessness. He knew what Xiao Xing meant: the Huangfu family was gone, but the Shuiyun Kingdom had not fundamentally changed. A nation cannot exist without a sovereign for a single day; the Shuiyun Kingdom needed a new authority established to stabilize the national situation.

Yet, he harbored no ambition to claim the throne, nor did he wish to see the Ji family assume the role of royalty. If his Ji family did not become the ruling house of Shuiyun, and he, Ji Changkong, did not claim the throne, it seemed momentarily difficult to find a suitable candidate to maintain the state of affairs. "Let us return to the palace and discuss this thoroughly," Ji Changkong said after a moment of contemplation, waving his hand.

After the palace was purged, the assembled masters from the various families and sects who had joined forces against the Huangfu family gathered within the grand hall to deliberate the future structure of the Shuiyun Kingdom.

Representatives from the Chen family, the Duan family, the Yuehua Sect, the Ghost Sect, the Xiao family, the Ji family, and several sects from Blood Rain Mountain were all present. These were figures holding immense power, renowned in their respective regions. Now gathered together in the Imperial Palace, all gazes converged upon a single individual.

From that day’s battle, everyone understood the relationship between Ji Changkong and Gu Dan. Xuanyuan Valley’s deployment of numerous Bagua Tian Shis in the conflict had proven that the Valley’s current power far surpassed that of other families. Coupled with the bond between Ji Changkong and Gu Dan, without a word needing to be spoken, Ji Changkong was already the favored choice.

As everyone looked at Ji Changkong, they implicitly felt that if he were to claim the throne and the Ji family were to replace the Huangfu family’s status in the Shuiyun Kingdom, it would be the most natural progression. The Ji family was once the supreme power in the realm and could be considered to possess imperial lineage; moreover, some who cultivated in Xuanyuan Valley vaguely knew of the connection between Ji Xuan Yuan and the Four Great Guardians of this continent. Therefore, everyone felt that the Ji family replacing the Huangfu family was a logical step, and no one objected. Sadly, under the scrutiny of the assembly, Ji Changkong appeared troubled and downcast, looking as though he bore an immense burden. After a long silence, he finally spoke: "I have no interest in that position."

The moment these words left his lips, Mo Yunyi and the elders of the Ji family, like Ji Yuxing, immediately grew anxious, while some among the Chen and Duan families were visibly jolted, displaying expressions of intense interest. Few can resist the temptation of imperial authority.

"A country does not necessarily need to be ruled by a single family; I believe that path only invites disaster," Ji Changkong deliberated carefully, speaking slowly. "The Huangfu family is a living example. As the masters of the Shuiyun Kingdom, they naturally feared any sect replacing their position, which is why they relentlessly suppressed the rise of our Xuanyuan Valley at all costs. For a nation, this is absolutely not beneficial; it stifles the growth of other families and sects—it is merely a catastrophe for the country."

"My Ji family is not the most powerful family in the Shuiyun Kingdom right now. The Ghost Sect and the Xiao family are within Xuanyuan Valley, but they are not truly part of my Ji family. Even if our Ji family were to become overwhelmingly powerful and we took the position of rulers of Shuiyun, if the Ji family were to weaken in the future, the tragedy would inevitably befall us again..."

"For generations, a Xuan Yuan has emerged in our Ji family every few centuries. Yet, every time a generation of Xuan Yuan perished, our Ji family immediately became the target of all, attacked by the masses. The reason for this, I suspect, is precisely because our Ji family became too dominant, monopolizing too many resources, which invited utter destruction." "I do not wish for my Ji family to repeat this cycle after I am gone."

Mo Yunyi and Ji Yuxing, who had been utterly desperate when they first heard Ji Changkong renounce the throne, now exchanged contemplative glances upon hearing his reasoning, falling silent.

As elders of the Ji family, they were acutely aware that the family’s situation was exactly as he described. After each Xuan Yuan rose, they amassed experts and sought to increase the Ji family’s strength at any cost, attempting to prevent a future downfall. However, despite the efforts of previous Xuan Yuans, the outcome seemed consistently the same.

Because the Ji family possessed too many worldly resources and enjoyed all the benefits, once a Xuan Yuan died, others coveted the power and wealth the Ji family controlled, leading to a massive coordinated attack. Though the Ji family was powerful, they could not stand against the entire world, often meeting a tragic end.

"I do not want the Ji family to follow the same path. I do not want my Ji family one day to become another Huangfu family, suppressing others relentlessly the moment another family gains strength. If this continues, I know my Ji family will offend everyone and ultimately meet a grim fate," Ji Changkong stated, his brow furrowed as his gaze swept across the faces of those present.

"No one dictates that a nation must be controlled by one entity. I have no desire for this position, and my Ji family does not wish to repeat the errors of previous generations. Therefore, I propose we devise a new strategy together," Ji Changkong paused. "We shall select capable individuals from various families to jointly guard this nation and maintain its continuity. How does that sound?"

"Similar to my Xuanyuan Valley, or the Blood Rain Alliance—let each major family send a representative. Each representative gets one vote, and major decisions are discussed and voted upon collectively. What do you think of this arrangement?"

This proposal caused the expressions of the assembly to shift. Their eyes gleamed, and the way they looked at Ji Changkong changed noticeably.

So young, yet capable of maintaining his composure in the face of such immense temptation. Not seeking absolute power, not monopolizing everything—this breadth of spirit was something none of those present could honestly claim for themselves.

"Changkong, if we truly implement this system, I guarantee that even after you are gone, the Ji family will not suffer the same fate," Xiao Poshuan affirmed with gravity. "You, young man, are truly unlike the Xuan Yuans of the previous generations!" "What do the rest of you think of my proposal?" Ji Changkong asked with a smile.

Not a single dissenting voice was heard; everyone nodded in agreement. Many rose to their feet and bowed respectfully to Ji Changkong. Deep down, they had all harbored concerns that one day the Ji family might become another Huangfu family, moving against their increasingly powerful clans. Now, seeing Ji Changkong remain unmoved by such a colossal prize and instead offering this solution, their fears were immediately laid to rest.

In that instant, everyone recognized that this generation’s Xuan Yuan of the Ji family was fundamentally different from the preceding ones. He lacked that aggressive dominance; to sacrifice such immense immediate benefits at such a young age was extraordinary.

"I, Chen Qisen, hereby swear that if the Ji family ever falls into decline, any person or force that dares to move against the Ji family will become the mortal enemy of my Chen family!" "I, Xiao Poshuan, swear that..." "Gui Rong swears..."

Suddenly, all the true leaders of the powerful families and sects involved in this affair stood up as one, following Chen Qisen’s lead, pouring out solemn oaths to bind themselves and their descendants.

Mo Yunyi and Ji Yuxing, witnessing these dominant powers of the Shuiyun Kingdom suddenly making such declarations, realized that the Ji family might be spared a disaster that had plagued them for millennia thanks to Ji Changkong’s words today. Mo Yunyi and Ji Yuxing exchanged a glance, and the lingering doubts they held slowly dissipated.

"Changkong, we could never have imagined you would choose this path. I believe that after this event, the Shuiyun Kingdom will not only recover but become even stronger," Chen Qisen expressed with sincere relief and emotion.

Ji Changkong smiled faintly, thinking that he genuinely had no interest in the throne anyway. If this action could truly guarantee lasting peace for the Ji family, then giving up these immediate benefits would only bring greater rewards in the future.

Perhaps due to the nature of his cultivation technique, which emphasized tranquility and natural flow, he was not as competitive or driven by pure utility as the Ji family’s Xuan Yuans before him, which allowed him to make this decision.

Considering this, Ji Changkong felt a deep, secret gratitude toward his maternal grandfather, Gu Dan. The Grand Void Secret Record had been imprinted in his mind since childhood; it was a technique Gu Dan had acquired from the Endless Star Domain. He might have long understood the responsibility and temperament of the Ji family’s Xuan Yuans, having pre-emptively placed the Secret Record within him, charting a strategy for both him and the Ji family.

"Then let it be decided. Here and now, let us finalize the strategy for the future of the Shuiyun Kingdom. From this day forward, all matters concerning the Shuiyun Kingdom shall be jointly decided by the representatives chosen by our major sects!" Ji Changkong concluded cheerfully.

At this declaration, everyone voiced their agreement, discussing the matter with great enthusiasm. Collective wisdom prevailed; these elders, having led their families for many years, possessed considerable experience in governance. Within a lively exchange, they quickly finalized all the specific details regarding the structure of the Shuiyun Kingdom.