Along with the voice stepped forth a middle-aged man in silver armor, gripping a long spear adorned with crimson tassels, emerging from the night.

Those crimson flames illuminated the entirety of Jinling City as if it were day, staining the silver armor on the man's body a deep red.

His aura was overwhelming; though a hundred zhang separated them, the spear intent had already locked onto Kong Rui’s nascent spirit. The surging vital energy pressed down firmly upon the Celestial Altar.

"So, your goal in causing chaos tonight was actually me!"

Kong Rui suddenly realized that the dozen or so great fires scattered across the night were merely a diversion, intended to draw the attention of the powerful cultivators from Great Qian and the Cang Sheng Dao Sect.

From beginning to end, these people's true target had been him, Kong Rui.

He felt no tension, yet after a moment of thought, Kong Rui remained puzzled: "For just one man, such an elaborate setup, such a price—it doesn't seem worth it?"

The dozen fires in residential areas seemed simple, but under the strict defense of the Qian military, the man opposite him must have utilized countless connections and powerful allies, incurring heavy sacrifices afterward.

And he, Kong Rui, was merely a low-ranking Director of the Stellar Observatory, utterly useless to Jinling's defenses.

Mingrixuan twitched the corner of his lips, wondering if the authorities were simply blind to the reality.

The silver-armored middle-aged man casually explained, "How is it not worth it? With Mr. Kong Rui in our grasp, surely your honored daughter back at Baisheng Pass will carefully reconsider the future for you two father and daughter!"

Kong Rui started; so it was about Kong Yao. He had almost forgotten that detail. Judging by the situation, they intended to capture him to use as leverage against Yao'er.

This move struck right at his vital weakness.

Given Yao'er's nature, she would never betray Zong Shou. But if anything happened to him, she would be consumed by guilt, perhaps even follow him in death.

A flicker of anger rose in his heart, but Kong Rui quickly calmed himself, finding the entire affair utterly absurd.

"Why this? What benefit is there for your Yang family to rebel now? If you return to the rule of Great Shang, do you truly believe Emperor Yin Yu will tolerate you? You should know the current political climate of Great Shang. Conversely, Great Qian has not caused your Yang family undue hardship. The outcome of the Shang-Qian conflict is yet undecided. Isn't Marquis Yue Ning's action today terribly risky?"

This man’s title in Great Shang two thousand years ago was Marquis Yue Ning; his name was Yang Sheng, one of the core figures of the Yang family of Jiangnan.

The silver-armored man walked forward step by step, and the spiritual barrier outside the Celestial Altar emitted a series of sharp 'crackling' sounds.

Although protective formations were set up around the Altar, they were only meant as a last resort. Against a Saint-tier expert such as himself, they were like a thin sheet of paper—easily torn apart without effort.

"Not caused undue hardship? A fine 'not caused undue hardship' indeed!"

Marquis Yue Ning’s face was laced with mockery. "Since Great Qian took control, the territories under the Yang family's command have been reduced by a full seventy percent. Ninety percent of all appointed family members have been dismissed. Business operations have also become exceedingly difficult. Is this what you call 'not causing hardship'? As for Great Shang, since His Majesty Yuan Chen requires the Yang family to exert effort, there must have been promises made, and some price will naturally be paid—"

Kong Rui frowned slightly. "Land redistribution is a core policy of Great Qian! But it is not outright plunder; it is purchase at equivalent value. Our treasury is currently limited, so payment is temporarily delayed. His Majesty has always kept his word to the letter, revered as a sage in this age, admired by all. How could he break faith with you! As for dismissing officials, do not present your family's decadent profligates to shame us. In the future, officials will be chosen by the people. Given the Yang family's local prestige and influence, this should be effortless. As for commerce, that is truly beyond help. Your Yang family is accustomed to brute force and dominance; combining official power with business, legitimate commerce is naturally difficult. You need to find truly capable people—"

"Silence!"

Yang Sheng let out a cold shout, forcefully cutting off Kong Rui's words.

"No matter how nicely you put it, in the long run, my Yang family will disintegrate within a few hundred years! It's just a matter of sooner or later. Now that His Majesty Yuan Chen holds the Twelve Bronze Men, why should the Yang family meekly wait for death?"

Kong Rui fell silent. This Marquis Yue Ning had indeed hit upon the crucial point.

Zong Shou's methods were like cutting flesh with a soft knife. These aristocratic families might maintain their positions initially, but in a few hundred years, they would inevitably vanish.

"Can you not answer?"

Yang Sheng took another step forward, now only ten zhang from the Celestial Altar.

Only the final layer of the spiritual barrier still held him back.

"Why bother persuading further? Since we have resorted to blades and soldiers, there is no room for reconciliation between my Yang family and Great Qian. If Kong Rui willingly surrenders and causes no trouble, I, Yang Sheng, can guarantee I will not harm a hair on your head unless absolutely necessary."

As he spoke, he saw Kong Rui shake his head with a peculiar expression, then turn his gaze toward the strange cultivator opposite, who wore a nine-ridged star crown and robes of crimson cloud feathers.

While trying to identify the man, Kong Rui noted his attire suggested he might be a Daoist sorcerer.

Then he heard Kong Rui ask, "Do you know the identity of the person before me?"

Without waiting for Yang Sheng to reply, Kong Rui stated the answer himself: "This gentleman is called Mingrixuan. He is a legendary ancient Daoist sorcerer, whose achievements are second only to Xu Fu. However, when it comes to the path of calculations and divination, he was the foremost authority ten thousand years ago. Marquis Yue Ning has likely heard of him?"

Yang Sheng's expression gradually cooled. While others might not know of the Hermit Mingrixuan, someone from one of the Five Great Clans like himself had certainly heard the name—it rang like thunder.

Was this person truly Mingrixuan? And what was he doing here?

But then he heard Kong Rui chuckle faintly, "The Hermit intends to serve the Qian Dynasty, acting as the State Preceptor to protect His Majesty. Kong Rui has already agreed to introduce him—"

The smile held no warmth, naturally lacking any sign of panic or distress; it was filled with mockery.

Yang Sheng was inwardly shocked and startled. Mingrixuan? State Preceptor?

The legendary Hermit Mingrixuan was the pinnacle master of divination in the world.

Eight thousand years ago, his predictions of the future and deductions of the past were almost never wrong. This earned him a fearsome reputation that shook the Five Continents of the Cloud Realm.

Such a figure, who could discern fortune and misfortune, why would he choose this moment to serve the Qian Dynasty—a dynasty beset by internal strife and external threats in a difficult time?

Wait! Besides the art of calculation, this man's martial strength before the Cloud Barrens was equally formidable! Nearly catching up to peerless Saint-tier powerhouses like Xu Fu and Long Ying!

With this man here, then he—

Then the cultivator in feather robes and a star crown also turned his head with an equally odd expression.

"Are all of you from the Yang family merely imbeciles?"

This single sentence caused a terrifying shock to surge through Yang Sheng. It wasn't just the words, but the surrounding vital energy suddenly felt viscous.

Spiritual power agitated, breath circulation was momentarily severed. This was the Way of Destiny!

Yang Sheng's pupils contracted sharply. He subconsciously recalled the words of an elder uncle describing Mingrixuan’s Divine Secret of Fate: If a man is unlucky, he can even choke to death while drinking water!

At this moment, the flawless immortal power within his body was teetering on the brink of running rampant. The most unlikely scenario was occurring within him.

For a moment, he was immobilized, able only to stare blankly at what was before him.

"Truly as you say, courting death! Given His Majesty's temperament, the Yang family of Jiangnan is likely facing total annihilation?"

As Mingrixuan spoke, he treated the once mighty aristocratic clan as if it no longer existed.

"Not necessarily!"

Kong Rui laughed, unconcerned. "His Majesty upholds the law, especially the statutes he himself has established. He will not arbitrarily implicate others, nor will he act without cause. However, since this is the grave crime of rebellion, whatever fate befalls the Yang family, no one will have grounds for complaint."

"The Law? In other words, as long as one is his subject and does not violate his statutes, one can remain perfectly safe, no matter how much they offend him?"

Mingrixuan seemed deep in thought. Seeing Kong Rui smile without speaking, he understood the answer and immediately chuckled lightly.

"Even the Saint Emperors of antiquity lacked such magnanimity! No wonder he is acclaimed as the Sage Monarch of this age."

He sighed again. "What a pity. They were only a few days away. They rushed to jump out before the outcome was decided. If they had waited a while longer, they could have demanded a higher price. This one misstep has brought about the disaster of extermination. The entire Yang family is utterly foolish—"

Yang Sheng exploded in rage upon hearing this, yet he remained utterly incapable of moving an inch. His spiritual sense could no longer control the vital energy throughout his body.

Not only were his physical body’s immortal powers conflicting and escalating, but the same was happening within his nascent spirit. His Dao foundation was fluctuating, and his Sea of Consciousness was shaking violently.

Gradually, thin streaks of blood began to seep from his seven orifices.

Kong Rui looked toward the opposite side with an expression of astonishment and confusion.

Mingrixuan, however, remained calm and detached, saying lightly, "Do you know what I practice? The ancient Divine Method of Measuring Heaven and Determining Fate?"

Seeing Kong Rui nod, Mingrixuan continued, "Measuring destiny and determining fate is my specialty. Therefore, on the fourteenth day of the seventh month of the first year of Shenwu, here at the Jinling Celestial Altar, Yang Sheng, former Marquis Yue Ning of Great Shang, shall perish due to Dao foundation obstruction!"

As the word 'perish' sounded, a large mass of blood instantly burst from Yang Sheng’s mouth and nose.

Kong Rui was also slightly stunned. He knew that the Hermit Mingrixuan was the world's most supreme powerhouse, a Half-Step Ultimate Realm master. His strength was just below the Ultimate Realm.

But Yang Sheng, for all that, was an early-stage Saint, achieving sainthood in three thousand years—his innate talent was not weak. How could he possess no power to resist before Mingrixuan?

It was as if life and death were pronounced with a single word, something even those Ultimate Realm Venerables might not possess.

Had he invited this man into Great Qian for fortune or disaster?

"Don't overthink it; it's merely guiding the momentum!"

Seemingly sensing Kong Rui’s thoughts, Mingrixuan explained concisely. "This man's fated lifespan was actually only seven days remaining. I have only slightly moved forward the time of his demise. Did Overseer Kong not say that stirring up trouble in Jiangnan at this time is not necessarily defying Heaven? Mingrixuan is merely using this man's life to test that theory. If it proves true, the toll on my lifespan will be negligible—"

Kong Rui's eyes immediately brightened: "So, in other words—"

Mingrixuan nodded. "Great Shang is fated to perish in seven days, so Yang Sheng will certainly meet a tragic end! In short, Yin Yu's time is short. It just remains to be seen how His Majesty will execute it!"

Yang Sheng, listening nearby, felt monumental waves crashing in his chest! Great Shang perishes in seven days, and his own life ends in seven? How could this be possible?

The Yang family also had those skilled in star observation, but their calculations yielded results entirely different from these two. At this time, Emperor Yuan Chen should have been at the zenith of his power!