Cai Yuan couldn't help but grumble inwardly; every time he returned, this person was always the most enthusiastic spectator. In truth, if this Sovereign truly disapproved and wished to intervene, which of the dignitaries in Qiantian Mountain would dare act presumptuously before him? Whether by his own hand or by summoning the garrisoned troops from outside, he could put an end to this farce immediately. He had long since discerned that Zong Shou was largely permissive of the brawl erupting in the Council Hall. Even Chuxue was looking sideways at her young mistress with evident disdain. Zong Shou, utterly oblivious to being scorned by the two, sighed with a truly splitting headache: "This is utterly indecent! Aren't they afraid of becoming a laughingstock? If they have the energy for brawling, they’d be better off spending it on the battlefield! Well, Uncle Cai’s mastery of those hard-body cultivation arts is truly remarkable."

The two beside him immediately looked over, their faces brightening with excitement. They watched as Cai Yuan suddenly erupted into a frenzy, shattering every chair and table surrounding him. The man who had struck him moments before was kicked flying by Cai Yuan's powerful leg. Apart from still looking somewhat dazed, the rest of his body was entirely unharmed.

At this point, it was not just the council members; some of the spectators had also jumped down to join the fray. And in one of the viewing stands, the faces of the silver-armored girl and the Li-surnamed commander had long since become utterly strange. "Those two are the chiefs of the Wind Bear and Iron Tiger clans of Qiantian Mountain? Hmph, and they call themselves court ministers? To openly fight and brawl like common villagers? Where is the decorum of officialdom? Truly a barbaric land!" The silver-armored girl frowned, scrutinizing the direction of the dais, and shook her head in the same manner. "This Zong Shou... he does not look like a ruler..."

She had barely finished speaking when the exact same sentiment echoed from nearby. "This youth does not look like a ruler! What right does he have to hold command over the Thirteen Provinces of Donglin? Looking at Yue Guanyun and Xiong Ba, their incompetence has only served to make this pup famous." The silver-armored girl instantly turned toward the speaker with surprise in her eyes. It was the young nobleman she had encountered at the tavern. However, the voice that had just spoken belonged to a blue-robed middle-aged man beside him. The young nobleman merely shook his head slightly, offering no comment, and stated calmly, "Yue Guanyun, Xiong Ba, and Feng Nu still possess some ability. His Highness the Demon King's measures from two years ago were indeed remarkably sagacious and powerful. To be accepted as a disciple by Elder Dragon Shadow, his aptitude must also be top-tier. It's just that now..."

He left the rest of the sentence unspoken. The young nobleman paused, and then he too glanced sideways toward this direction with a hint of wariness. The silver-armored girl smiled and withdrew her gaze. Possessing an extraordinary ability, even with spiritual barriers protecting her, it was often difficult to evade her hearing. Though eavesdropping was improper, it was unavoidable; they were simply too close. Then, she heard the Li-surnamed commander beside her speaking with a deeply furrowed brow and a wry smile: "My Lord Commander! I am now beginning to doubt my own judgment. With such absurdity in this young man, even with the support of my Great Shang, I fear he is merely mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall, unfit for the main stage. Perhaps we should pay a visit to Dragon Elephant City shortly; the one in the east, though ambitious, is surely preferable to Qiantian Mountain." The silver-armored girl nodded without speaking. Watching the supposed 'councilors' fighting in a chaotic mess below, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. In her heart, she found herself vaguely acknowledging the situation here. Yet, upon careful thought, she could not pinpoint the reason for this approval. After a moment of contemplation, she mused thoughtfully, "Qiantian Mountain truly lives up to its name as a nation founded on martial prowess; everyone loves the martial path and possesses a certain spirit. The combat strength of the various tribes from the four directions all surpasses that of our Great Shang subjects—there must be a reason for this."

Beneath the main desk in the Council Hall, Zong Shou remained utterly unaware that the few people on the viewing stand had definitively branded him a foolish ruler. He continued to shake his head: "I am currently quite worried about the future prospects of this Council Hall. If things continue like this, where will refinement remain? I truly wonder if establishing the council system back then was right or wrong..." Hearing this, Ren Bo’s expression became solemn: "My Lord, why speak such words? When I could not see clearly before, I now believe His Highness’s actions were nothing short of the most brilliant!" Noticing Zong Shou turn his head in surprise, Ren Bo chuckled softly and continued, "Even the most sagacious of monarchs cannot be without error. History records many heroic sovereigns in their prime who became muddled due to ruling too long or reaching old age. Often, the founding kings were full of talent and strategy, but their successors fell short. However, due to the selfishness and greed of the world, no ruler throughout the ages has been willing to restrain their own power as His Highness has..."

He added, "The establishment of the Council serves to bring many matters of Qiantian Mountain into the open for debate. Many conflicts of interest can be resolved in a more reasonable manner. The many powerful families in the city can also be at ease, no longer constantly fearing that their possessions will be arbitrarily seized. Although His Highness has diminished his own royal authority, many matters now fall outside his purview and must be borne by these councilors. There is a fierce fight in the Council Hall every three to five days; though often for personal gain, there are also many times when they genuinely strive for the people's welfare. Official decorum? Refinement? Heh! If the people of Qiantian Mountain can all be prosperous and secure, what use are these things? The civil officials of the Great Shang Dynasty certainly possess refinement and uphold official propriety! But most of them are responsible for their subjects living in misery. Often it is these refined and proper gentlemen who are utterly corrupt in secret, committing all manner of heinous acts. In summary, after careful consideration, this system of councilors brings enormous benefits! Sometimes, I have wondered if the Saint Emperors of the ancient Cloud Barrens era governed the world this way? Is the essence of our Confucian teachings inherently flawed, or has it been misinterpreted?"

Zong Shou raised an eyebrow, not expecting Ren Bo to spew out such a lengthy monologue. While praising the council system, he seemed to harbor deep resentment toward the central dynasty. It was worth noting that his Prime Minister apparently hailed from the Central Cloud Continent and had endured a period of unbearable suffering before encountering his 'Father King.' In truth, his motivation for establishing this Council Hall was not overly complex. It was mostly so that when he was absent, these councilors could act as a check on the cabinet. Purely out of laziness—ensuring that governance could continue smoothly even when he was not personally present.

Flattered by the praise, Zong Shou showed a façade of shame and awkwardness, "Prime Minister overpraises me; what virtue or ability do I possess to compare with those Saint Emperors?" Ren Bo, however, shook his head earnestly, "No overpraise, Prime Minister. To have served both His Highness and his father is the greatest fortune of my life! Even in the next life, I would willingly serve under His Highness, even as a mere running dog, for it is better than being in the Great Shang!" Zong Shou started, examining Ren Bo carefully, his expression darkening slightly with a surge of melancholy. Although the old Prime Minister appeared elderly, he was already quite old. A Martial Ancestor Realm cultivator could extend their lifespan by eighty years, meaning he had at most forty or fifty years left to live...

While lost in thought, Chuxue's sharp cry suddenly pierced the air: "Young Master, be careful!" Zong Shou startled and looked in front of him. Then he saw a dozen eggs flying simultaneously, heading straight for the area beneath his table. He hadn't noticed them before; they were now extremely close. He tried to dodge in haste, but it was too late. Two eggs struck him squarely on the head. With two wet splats, the egg white and yolk instantly splattered across his hair and face. Zong Shou’s face immediately turned ashen. He shot up, shaking the desk until it was completely pulverized into dust. Chuxue, who had been suppressing her laughter and secretly snickering, was now startled and quickly retreated far away, lest she incur the wrath of her Young Master, who had transformed into a human-shaped tempest. Ren Bo on the side also maintained a blank expression and silently widened the distance between them.

Throughout the entire Council Hall, the 'councilors' embroiled in their brawl sensed the shift in atmosphere. They felt an incomparably cold, sinister, and overwhelmingly oppressive aura enveloping the entire hall. Thus, they all ceased fighting and turned their heads toward the dais. When they saw Zong Shou overhead, with two shattered eggshells still clinging there, they were instantly struck with alarm, their faces slick with cold sweat. Even Hu Qianqiu and Cai Yuan were now silent and apprehensive, inwardly cursing whichever fool had thrown the eggs; they should have aimed them at someone else instead of provoking the Sovereign!

Zong Shou scanned the hall with a chilling gaze, his eyes then fixing on the direction from which the eggs had originated. He paused briefly. He saw Hu Zhongyuan and Chai Zhou wrestling in a heap. Besides these two, there was no one else nearby. He remembered that these two had been sitting in the spectator area moments ago. At some point, they must have jumped down, likely to support their fathers, and had ended up fighting each other. Zong Shou’s expression grew increasingly grim: "Which one of you two did this despicable deed?" Chai Zhou and Hu Zhongyuan, who had been fiercely engaged in their tussle, now realized the gravity of the situation. Hearing the question, they looked around, also leaping back in alarm, their faces bloodless. Without hesitation, they pointed directly at the other. "It was him!"

Zong Shou let out a cold snort, his eyes turning even more ominous, sweeping over the assembled officials below like knives. As his gaze passed over them, those councilors who had never met him fared relatively better. Some who had once fought alongside him in sieges across several provinces, or those who had descended into the Sea of Clouds, felt their legs turn to jelly and dropped to one knee. They thought secretly, How is it that after half a year, this Sovereign’s majesty has grown, and his imposing aura has become so terrifying? Even though he had voluntarily curtailed his own power, and despite not having managed state affairs for nearly a year, for some inexplicable reason, they held this young Demon King in even greater reverence. "Very well! I established this Council Hall for you to supervise the cabinet and help me sort through major policies! Instead, you neglect proper work daily, spending your time fighting in this hall. You’ve certainly learned a lot! If this continues, there is no need for the Council Hall; I might as well abolish it right now—" Hu Qianqiu and Cai Yuan instantly grew frantic. The assembled councilors turned pale as death. Ren Bo beside them also furrowed his brow and bowed slightly: "My Lord, please reconsider! Do not abolish this beneficial governance out of momentary anger!"