"Sighing, Gu Xichen said earnestly, I know you four finally forged your personalized Natal Artifacts and you’re eager to show them off. But please, my four esteemed sirs, this isn't the Asian Dao Alliance. Even if you stripped naked and ran through the streets here, no one would know who you are! Ugh, what’s there to show off? What’s there to show off? Get down to actual business!"

The four brothers of the Mo family cried out in surprise and hurriedly grabbed the corpses of the Doko soldiers lying on the ground, hastily stripping off their combat uniforms. Clumsily, after much effort, they managed to put on the heavy, fully sealed combat suits. The Mo brothers reluctantly fondled their newly refined Natal Treasures for a while before swallowing them whole. Only Mo Lishou’s small 'Zhao Shu' creature couldn't be swallowed; he let the nimble little thing perch on his shoulder instead.

Gu Xichen let out a sigh. Why were these famous figures so long-winded?

Yet, Gu Xichen was genuinely envious of them!

It was only during the period the four Mo brothers were cultivating within Gu Xichen's Violet Mansion that they managed to utilize the vast amounts of innate materials collected in subspace to forge incredibly potent Natal Artifacts for themselves. Normally, with their current cultivation level, it would be impossible for them to refine Innate-grade materials. However, they somehow figured out how to drive the Haotian Pagoda hidden within Gu Xichen's Violet Mansion. Although they only managed to elicit a tiny, insignificant fraction of the Haotian Pagoda’s power, the Pagoda was a supreme treasure that could strike terror even into the heart of True Monarch Taiyin, making the forging of a few Natal Magical Artifacts for them an easy task.

"Sigh, they all have Natal Artifacts, and I don't even have one yet... Looks like I need to quickly find a way to assemble a set of useful gear for myself!"

Gu Xichen watched with slight annoyance as the Mo brothers swayed about in their combat uniforms, curiously preening and showing off. Why was it that the Ranlin Seal Gu Xichen forged using Innate-grade materials couldn't be activated at all, yet these four, whose current strength was weaker than his, could wield their artifacts with such ease? Could it all be thanks to the Haotian Pagoda? Gu Xichen felt he needed to thoroughly study these strange treasures he possessed.

Shaking his head and sighing again, Gu Xichen rippled his body, causing his Daoist robe and crane cloak to morph into the style of the Doko combat uniform. He then used the power of his Pure Jade Dao Crown to slightly alter his features. In a quick transformation, he became an ordinary Doko soldier, shouldering a heavy particle cannon and standing to the side.

Horme, Xin Jia, and the others also donned the Doko combat uniforms. Each grinning, they exchanged a few chuckles or smiles, hefting the Doko warriors’ weapons. A mechanized mobile unit of over five hundred Doko Federation special forces was suddenly assembled... It had to be noted that the quality of the Doko Federation's combat uniforms was quite good; even Xin Jia’s enormous frame didn't manage to tear them apart. The highly elastic uniforms perfectly encased their extremely muscular bodies.

Mo Liqing put on Pinkle’s uniform, which bore the insignia of a Doko general. He smiled at Gu Xichen, then flickered his body in place, instantly transforming into Pinkle's appearance. Mimicking Pinkle, he waved his hand forcefully and shouted loudly, "Brothers, follow me to the City of Glory, let’s make a big score!"

"Excellent!" Gu Xichen smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. "That's the exact effect I want!"

The muffled sound of gunfire rang out again. Gu Xichen mercilessly wiped out every Doko Federation citizen in the chancery district.

A blast of Taiyin Xuan Yan incinerated the corpses and military equipment on the ground to ash. This Doko Federation special forces unit boarded the maglev combat vehicles and set off down a forest path.

Today was the day Princess Fuya Ming of the Yafike Kingdom would renounce her claim to the throne, handing over all her power to Prince Daogen. According to the customs of the Yafike Kingdom, any transfer of royal authority—whether legal or illegal, voluntary or forced—all royal transfer ceremonies would be held in an open-air venue south of the City of Glory. This venue was set into the ground like a massive bowl, with descending tiers of steps leading down to the edge of the arena, which had a diameter exceeding five hundred meters. The seating surrounding the venue could accommodate three hundred thousand attendees for various grand ceremonies, serving as the location for all important Yafike Kingdom rites and meetings.

Paved with pale purple crystal, smooth as polished obsidian, a knight statue stood in the center of the arena, approximately ten meters tall, cast from precious metals. This knight wore heavy, intricate armor, holding a longsword shaped like flowing water, and rode a horse resembling the unicorns of Earth legends, charging forward while swinging its sword. Hidden within the statue was some kind of energy shield generator, projecting a silver wave of light several meters thick that enveloped the knight and his mount. The light continuously swirled and undulated, making the knight appear majestic and divine.

The vast arena, capable of seating three hundred thousand people, was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Two hundred thousand members of the Yafike Kingdom's elite and one hundred thousand soldiers under Prince Daogen filled every available space. In a distant stretch of forest, a mechanized mobile unit, including three hundred light armored vehicles, stood ready, awaiting Prince Daogen's command.

One hundred kilometers from the venue, nestled in a mountain hollow, lay five first-class warships belonging to Prince Daogen, hidden from the Kingdom's Council and covered thickly with fallen leaves and dry grass, maintaining radio silence. If necessary, Prince Daogen would deploy these five first-class warships to swiftly encircle the entire venue.

Everything was foolproof. Prince Daogen was confident that even if Fuya Ming had any schemes, facing such an immense military force, she would have no chance!

Dressed in a magnificent robe of deep red embroidered with gold, and already impatiently wearing a golden crown, Prince Daogen stood tensely in the very center of the arena, his back resting against the base of the knight statue behind him, projecting an air of calm composure with his eyes slightly closed. Only he knew that both his legs were trembling; without leaning on the statue behind him, he wouldn't even have been able to stand steady! His heart hammered rapidly, flooding his brain with blood, causing his vision to intermittently darken.

Survive today, get through this hurdle, and he would be the true King of Yafike!

As soon as he accepted the Scepter of Authority and ascended the throne under the witness of the three hundred and sixty Kingdom Elders and all the citizens of the realm, Prince Daogen would legally become the sole master of the Kingdom. Armed with his vast military might, he could then smoothly demand that those ancient, cunning Elders surrender control of the planetary defense system!

Prince Daogen pursed his lips with satisfaction. He had played a small trick today: not only was he broadcasting the ceremony through the Kingdom’s news channel to all his subjects, but he had also connected the signal to the Star Alliance’s public news network. Approximately zero-point-seven percent of Star Alliance news channels would be broadcasting this historic moment of Prince Daogen becoming the King of Yafike to perhaps trillions of Star Alliance citizens.

Once he legally became the sole master of the Kingdom, he could immediately demand the Elders relinquish the authority that rightfully belonged to him during the ceremony! In front of so many Star Alliance citizens, those cunning old foxes who valued appearances would never refuse his demands. To them, what use was controlling the planetary defense system if they couldn't command the ground forces? It would be better to trade it for certain benefits with him!

Once he controlled the planetary defense system, Prince Daogen would immediately order the expulsion of Pinkle and the others from the Doko Federation!

"If you intend to play the puppet masters, you must be prepared to pay the price in blood and lives!"

Clenching his fist tightly, Prince Daogen’s left hand rested on the pommel of the sword at his waist. The pommel was custom-made; inside it was the activation switch for a personal energy shield generator. Should any unexpected event occur, with a slight movement of his finger, a heavy energy shield would fully envelop him. In such a sudden situation, unless Fuya Ming was driven mad enough to order the main cannons of her warships to fire, no one could harm a single hair on Prince Daogen’s head.

"All clear!" The commander controlling the civilian stands in the venue sent back a signal of normalcy.

"All clear!" The commander controlling the noble stands in the venue likewise sent back a signal of normalcy.

"All clear!" This was the commander of the first defensive line outside the venue.

"All clear!" The commanders of the second, third, fourth, and fifth defensive lines outside the venue also sent back confirmation signals.

"The Elders have arrived!" a voice cried out joyfully. The arena immediately erupted in clamor, and the tens of thousands present rose to their feet to applaud and pay tribute to the Elders of the Yafike Kingdom.

Three hundred and sixty aged figures, clad in white robes, wearing white floral wreaths, and holding ancient wooden staves, entered the venue surrounded by a large retinue of guards. They ignored Prince Daogen and instead paraded around the arena like a flock of proud roosters. Wherever these Elders passed, they waved to the populace, and the citizens of the Yafike Kingdom showered them with copious white petals, cheering them enthusiastically. Even some of the soldiers responsible for security cast aside their firearms and rushed to the edge of the arena, grabbing handfuls of white petals from their pockets to throw toward the Elders.

In an instant, the arena devolved into chaos, a messy scene that turned Prince Daogen’s face green with anger.

"Unacceptable, utterly unacceptable!" When Prince Daogen saw that even the officers under his command, tasked with controlling the viewing stands, had abandoned their posts to welcome the Elders, he jumped up and stomped his foot in fury. "Damn it, I should execute his entire family... Oh, no, the populace would object to that... I should exile them... Oh, no, the subjects would call me too cruel... Then, I shall banish them! Let these damned fools leave the Yafike Kingdom! An officer who deserts his post is not a good officer!"

Prince Daogen vented his rage inwardly, but he was utterly helpless regarding this situation. These Elders held deeply entrenched traditional power within the Yafike Kingdom; even if he became the true king in the future, he could only placate these old fossils; he couldn't truly do anything to them.

He could only take out his frustration on his subordinates.