"The defense of Baishang Pass now rests entirely on you and your father. Do not let down. The safety of the Central Plains hangs upon the survival of this single pass—"

Shi Yue's thick brows immediately shot up. He glanced at Emperor Yuanchen, noted the unwavering neutrality on his face, and then bowed low, "Naturally! My father has been in the military his entire life; he understands warfare. Da Qian has few soldiers, and our dynasty has already amassed a million troops at the vital junction of Baishang Pass. Holding this position should be no difficult task. However, my father did commit an offense against the law by falsely issuing an imperial decree to forcibly summon the armies of the various provinces. My father will, of course, present himself to Your Majesty to beg forgiveness afterward."

Emperor Yuanchen listened quietly, his expression suggesting a faint, knowing smile as he watched the young man before him.

It must be said, this youth was much like Zong Shou—a figure whose innate talent and martial prowess surpassed his contemporaries.

Not only was his martial path no less impressive than Zong Shou’s, but his achievements in the Outer Regions were similarly comparable.

This time, he had personally rescued Yin Yu from Zong Shou’s clutches. Yet, the true motive remained unknown.

Was it genuine, unwavering loyalty? Or an unwillingness to see Da Shang fall and the Central Plains fall into the hands of Da Qian? Or perhaps a desire to leverage his own talent to command the regional lords?

All were uncertainties—

Then there was Shi Qianli, who, with a single forged edict, had nearly stripped the Jiangnan region bare of its military strength.

What audacity! In former times, he would have ordered Shi Qianli’s head taken immediately. He would have used the opportunity to confiscate all of the Shi family’s fiefdoms and annihilate the entire clan.

Yet, at this moment, not only could he not punish the offense, but he had to offer appeasement instead.

It was precisely because Shi Qianli had managed to block Baishang Pass in time that Da Shang was afforded some sliver of life, some flicker of hope.

Moreover, Shi Yue had just saved his life—

However, the Shi family head, who used to be so meticulously compliant and dared not overstep his bounds in the slightest, now dared to act this way.

It was likely because he calculated that Da Shang, in its current state, could not afford to discipline him and could only rely upon him.

This man and his clan deserved utter ruin!

"What offense is there? We owe the preservation of the Da Shang foundation to your father this time. That decree of your father’s is filed with the Inner Palace and the Ministry of Rites; it is no forged edict at all—"

Yin Yu waved a hand dismissively, as if unconcerned.

"Your father now bears the responsibility for the safety of the Southeast. It is best for him to have proper authority. Carry this decree for me: Shi Qianli is loyal and devoted to the state, excelling in military affairs, and fully capable of this great task. He shall be appointed Grand General who Pacifies the South, holding command over the military affairs of seven provinces including Gannan and Ganxi! His headquarters will be at Baishang Pass, granted the privilege of bearing the Imperial Banner and establishing a prefectural administration with the authority of the Three High Officials! As for you, Shi Yue, remain by my side. I am sorely lacking personnel here. I will need someone to attend and guard me on the journey back to the capital—"

Shi Yue was startled again, filled with astonishment. Bearing the Imperial Banner granted the power to execute officials below the third rank without imperial consent.

And establishing a prefectural administration with the authority of the Three High Officials allowed one to set up their own headquarters and appoint bureaucrats.

Combined, these powers were akin to establishing a minor court, and thus were rarely bestowed upon external ministers.

He had never imagined Yin Yu would be so magnanimous, entrusting military power over seven provinces entirely.

Once determined to win someone over, he was clearly not petty, delegating immense authority without hesitation—truly worthy of being a formidable ruler.

Yet, Shi Yue could also faintly sense a thread of suspicion in the Emperor’s tone, extremely subtle yet present.

The final sentence was clearly a probe.

However, this was unavoidable. This was the only method he could use to persuade his father to take such a risk. This was the only strategy that could preserve Da Shang.

At that time, he had no time to consider the Yuan Chen Emperor's potential reaction.

His heart was clear; as a subject of Da Shang, he would do his utmost. Even if the Emperor suspected him, having a clear conscience was enough.

Still, he was not a rigid, life-risking loyalist. Should circumstances force his hand, raising a banner of rebellion would not be difficult for him.

"I thank Your Majesty for this immense favor! With Shi Yue here, no petty villain will dare disturb Your Majesty. However, I still request Your Majesty urge the Imperial Guards and the Inner Palace Retainers to arrive swiftly. Shi Yue alone may miss something."

After completing a bow, Shi Yue rose. He noticed that Emperor Yuanchen now appeared as if he had aged ten years. His face was etched with countless wrinkles, radiating deep weariness and fatigue.

Shi Yue frowned, hesitant to speak, yet wanting to say something. He considered mentioning that the losses were not only confined to Da Shang. The losses incurred by the great aristocratic clans and regional governors were no less severe.

At this moment, most of these factions probably wished for stability in Da Shang.

Though seemingly precarious, if managed correctly, this was a rare moment when the entire Da Shang realm could unite in spirit.

But for him to say such things felt presumptuous.

While he hesitated internally, he saw Yin Yu wave his hand, appearing utterly dejected and exhausted.

Shi Yue recognized that Emperor Yuanchen’s condition was indeed poor and could only withdraw from the main hall.

In truth, he himself had countless matters to handle. For instance, the provisions for the seven hundred thousand troops under Nan Fengyun Lu. And how to arrange the warships and soldiers still stationed beyond the borders.

He truly did not have much time to spare contemplating the Yuan Chen Emperor.

After Shi Yue left, Yin Yu’s expression remained grim and ashen. Only a flicker of relief crossed the depths of his eyes.

Hearing the young man's words, it seemed he truly harbored no intention of holding the Emperor hostage to command the regional lords. He possessed some measure of loyalty after all.

Yet, while his immediate safety was assured, the moment he recalled the catastrophic loss of Da Shang’s one hundred and eighty million formidable troops in the Southern Border, he was overcome with utter despair.

No fighting spirit could be kindled within him.

He glanced again to his side, and Yin Yu felt an overwhelming sense of desolation. In the past, he could summon his trusted ministers to discuss any difficult matter. Now, he was truly a solitary man. There was no one to whom he could entrust his innermost thoughts, nor anyone who could alleviate his worries.

If Grand Preceptor Chong Xuan were still here, if Gao Ruo had not fallen into the hands of the Qian army—

As he pondered this, a profoundly familiar voice drifted in from outside the door.

"Why has Your Majesty fallen into such despair? To lose all spirit—this does not suit Your Majesty—"

That voice?

Yin Yu paused slightly, looking toward the hall entrance. Standing there, smiling faintly, was a Daoist priest. His appearance and demeanor were identical to the deceased Chong Xuan, yet he appeared to be only about twenty years old.

"Preceptor? You are not dead?"

After this exclamation of surprise, Yin Yu suddenly realized: "Is this truly the Spirit Splitting Art of the Eight-Nine Refinement?"

His eyes were filled with shock and uncertainty; he knew this profound technique of the Qi Refiners.

However, the primordial spirit split by this method had no primary or secondary distinction.

The deceased Chong Xuan was loyal to him, but the one standing before him might not be so.

As if perceiving Yin Yu's thoughts, Chong Xuan walked in while speaking calmly, "Your Majesty need not worry. Though this Chong Xuan is not that Chong Xuan, he is still deeply connected to the fate of the Da Shang dynasty. Even for his own sake, this Chong Xuan will certainly exert every effort to assist Your Majesty!"

Yin Yu shook his head, pondering carefully. At this moment, Da Shang, and he himself, truly possessed nothing worth coveting.

What Chong Xuan said held a degree of credibility. But—

"I still fail to understand. The fate of Da Shang is already in decline. Even by my estimation, the dynasty has at most ten or twenty years left. Whether you are a Daoist master or a Qi Refiner, you should steer clear of Da Shang at this time. Even if you left me, I would not blame you. Why remain?"

"The fate of the dynasty has declined? Your Majesty has already sunk to such despair?"

Chong Xuan smiled inscrutably, completely unconcerned. "In Chong Xuan's view, it is far from settled. After the battle at the Plain of Fallen Gods, Zong Shou issued five major edicts to inform the world. Has Your Majesty seen them?"

As he spoke, Chong Xuan presented a scroll to Yin Yu.

"Five major edicts?"

Yin Yu’s heart stirred. Being confined here in the Su Bei Governor’s Residence, his access to information was indeed limited.

Shi Yue had arranged for messengers to gather news, but consumed by despair, he had no heart to look at any of it.

He reached out, took the scroll, and unfurled it. After reading carefully, Yin Yu's brow furrowed deeply.

"What nonsensical ramblings are these?"

Subsidizing farmers? Has Da Qian gained too much tax revenue?

Since he took office, the Da Shang dynasty had always maintained a surplus but dared not squander it, accumulating reserves in the treasury for times of famine or necessary military campaigns.

Judging by Zong Shou's governance, it seemed he feared the national treasury's money wouldn't be spent fast enough.

Is this an attempt to win the hearts of the people?

A Celestial Realm cultivator in the Cloud Realm, if so inclined, could slaughter tens of millions in a single year. What power did those insignificant farmers and ants possess?

Only the latter few edicts were understandable.

"Mandating that officials and gentry pay taxes equally? Redistributing all the land in the realm? Zong Shou has become entirely arrogant!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Yin Yu's eyes. Others might not know, but the Five Great Clans and the various noble families would never agree to this.

"Summoning scholars from across the realm to critique the various philosophies of the Confucian School. To evaluate the merits and judge the faults of Confucianism? Is Zong Shou trying to drive Sage Zhu himself into a desperate corner?"

These two edicts alone temporarily severed Zong Shou's possibility of advancing into the Central Plains in the short term.

They alienated the powerful families and gentry of the Central Plains and extinguished any hope of reconciliation with Confucian Master Zhu.

His spirit lifted slightly, and Yin Yu's vitality recovered somewhat. But immediately, he shook his head, and the fire in his eyes vanished.

"It’s useless! Although Zong Shou is young and reckless, and this grand victory has inflated his arrogance leading to such foolish moves, it offers no real benefit to Da Shang."

Da Shang was merely clinging to life now. With Zong Shou as a fierce external enemy, the great aristocratic clans might still unite to resist.

But once the great clans recovered their strength, it would only be a matter of time before the various regional governors turned on each other, plunging the world into chaos.

At this critical juncture, who would still spare a thought for the Da Shang imperial court?

Chong Xuan’s lips curled again: "Does Your Majesty still remember the matter of the Qin Emperor's Tomb? If the Twelve Bronze Men that Suppress National Destiny can be obtained, not only can Da Shang secure peace, but even counterattacking Da Qian would not be a difficult feat!"

Yin Yu abruptly stood up, his expression shifting between dark and bright.

Chong Xuan’s face was alight with an evil, charming smile: "I believe my split soul must have also informed Your Majesty. To open the tomb gate requires the blood of one thousand eight hundred infants born at dawn, or the blood sacrifice of one hundred and twenty thousand men!"

Yin Yu looked lost, wavering indecisively.

"My split soul is dead. The map of the tomb chamber he held must now be in the hands of the Da Qian monarch. Your Majesty has little time left to hesitate—"

Chong Xuan paused suddenly. Seeing Yin Yu's gaze fixed upon him, he chuckled: "It is Zong Shou; he has already led one hundred thousand iron cavalry to attack the Sixth Spirit Prefecture, Demon Spirit Mountain! This Holy Lord truly refuses to suffer a loss. The Demonic Sect is in trouble!"