The Imperial Palace.
Taihe Hall.
From a distance, Taihe Hall was majestic and resplendent. Its multi-colored glazed tiles were arranged in perfect order, resembling long dragons lying in wait.
The curved corners of the roof were carved into monstrous beasts, and its four upturned eaves lent it an air of magnificence. Leading up to the hall stood seventy-two massive, crimson pillars, each intricately carved with dragons and phoenixes.
Viewed from afar, the great hall was solemn and stately, exuding an exceptionally somber and heavy aura.
The floor of the hall was paved with "golden bricks." These were special tiles crafted in Suzhou. Though not made of actual gold, they were still incredibly expensive. As the saying from Suzhou went, "one brick for half a tael of gold," a testant to their exorbitant price.
At the center of the grand hall, upon a raised dais, sat a glittering golden throne. It was forged entirely from gold, with two five-clawed golden dragons depicted soaring above it. A throne of such grandeur could only be commissioned by one person in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty: the Emperor.
For this was the Throne, a seat only the Emperor could occupy.
At this mont, a man brimming with Spirit sat upon the Throne. He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties, and his re presence exuded a natural authority that commanded respect without any display of anger. Such was his powerful aura that no one dared to look up, lest they disrespect the imperial might.
The man did not look old, yet the hair at his temples had already turned white. This was not a sign of premature aging; the man was, in fact, far older than he appeared.
The man on the Throne was none other than Yang Yu, the Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. He had already lived for two sixty-year cycles. Though his age was great, his cultivation as a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster ant he could normally live for another thirty or forty years. If his Martial Arts Cultivation were to break through again, he could even regain his youth.
Yang Yu had been Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty for a very long ti. He had outlasted countless ministers, watching as they succumbed to old age while he remained on the throne.
He had even seen several different n hold the title of Crown Prince.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the representatives sent by the major Sects from the Thirty-Two States have all entered the Capital City. They are now on their way to the Pharmacist Alliance. During their travels here, tensions were high among them, as if they were ready to draw weapons at any mont..."
An old eunuch reported the intelligence, his head bowed low.
This was Zhang Yu, one of the six chief palace administrators. He had reached the level of Inner Refining Five Viscera Perfection, placing him on par with the likes of Liu Xuan, the Sect Leader of the Cyan Yuan Sect. Yet, in the presence of the Emperor of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, he dared not even lift his head.
He was reporting on the various Sects, a task Emperor Yang Yu had assigned him with instructions to omit no detail.
"These Sects certainly know their place, showing up every three years. They never seem to tire of these petty ploys."
Yang Yu’s tone was laced with sarcasm, but his expression was utterly impassive.
As a long-reigning emperor, he rarely betrayed his emotions, unless it was a deliberate act. There was, of course, one other exception: when matters spiraled out of his control.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu bowed his head even lower, not daring to utter a word in response.
This was no ti for flattery. Having served Yang Yu for many years, he knew when to speak and when to remain silent. Besides, the Emperor’s remark wasn’t for him. It was directed at the four other n in Taihe Hall: Grandmaster Yan Hongwen, Grand Tutor Helian Guang, Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, and Grand Scholar Peng Kang.
These four n had all reached the highest echelons of the imperial court, and each had a different stance on the matter of the Sects.
"The Sects are parasites feeding on the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty! I propose we deal with these Sects once and for all. Eliminating them will surely make the Dynasty more stable and just."
Grandmaster Yan Hongwen had always advocated for suppressing the Sects, though his proposals had never been publicly accepted. What machinations took place in the shadows, however, was anyone’s guess.
If not for his status as Grandmaster and the fact that he never ventured outside White Jade City, he would have been assassinated long ago.
Powerful Sects and Noble Families existed throughout the Thirty-Two States of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, controlling all the Cultivation Resources in their respective territories.
If the Imperial Family had ever dared to openly move against these Sects and Noble Families, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty would have descended into chaos long ago.
Although the Great Zhou Imperial Family was the most powerful Sect in the Dynasty, it was not invincible. If the Sects from the various states were to unite, the Imperial Family could still be destroyed.
The preceding Great Yu Imperial Dynasty had been destroyed for this very reason, allowing the Yang Family to seize the throne and rise to power. And though the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s current situation was precarious, it still possessed the greatest power—this was the foundation of its rule.
"Grandmaster, I must disagree. The Sects in each state are a key force for maintaining local stability. As long as they do not ddle in the affairs of the Governnt Office, they can be tolerated."
"Look at them now, entering the Capital City. Are they not making a point to behave? That shows their reverence for the Imperial Family. As long as that reverence remains, there will be no issue."
Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen rebutted. The Great Zhou Imperial Family had always maintained a policy of conciliation toward the Sects, a stance that the Grand Protector shared.
"If we were to act as the Grandmaster suggests, the realm would likely descend into chaos."
Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen continued.
Although the Sects wielded great power in their regions, as long as they didn’t impede the operations of the Governnt Office, their actions were generally tolerated.
Grand Tutor Helian Guang and Grand Scholar Peng Kang remained standing, showing no intention of speaking. Their stances on the matter remained inscrutable.
"The realm belongs to the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, not the Sects. The Sects deserve to be exterminated."
Grandmaster Yan Hongwen shot back, his stance firm and unyielding.
"Grandmaster—"
"Enough!"
Just as Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen tried to retort again, he was cut off.
Yang Yu had spoken. As his voice fell, both Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen and Grandmaster Yan Hongwen ceased their argunt.
When the Emperor interjected, it ant he had reached the limit of his patience.
"The Pharmacist Alliance’s triennial Pharmacist Exchange Conference will proceed as scheduled. Grand Protector, you will oversee it. Ensure that there are no incidents."
Yang Yu looked at Grand Protector Sikong Wenwen, announcing his decision.
He had already made his decision before he even spoke; listening to their argunts was a re formality that would not sway him.
Grandmaster Yan Hongwen heard this and said no more. He understood this to be an imperial decree; further argunt would be futile and would only serve to displease Emperor Yang Yu.
A man who had reached such a high station was naturally adept at discerning the Emperor’s thoughts and temperant.
"At this Pharmacist Exchange Conference, have the Pharmacist Alliance attempt the Refining of the Earth Elent Supre Pill."
Yang Yu spoke again, and his words made a peculiar light flash in everyone’s eyes.
The Earth Elent Supre Pill had but one effect: to help a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster break through to the Martial Saint Realm.
When a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster breaks through to the Martial Saint Realm, their Lifespan nearly doubles. If the current Emperor of Great Zhou achieved this breakthrough, his Lifespan would increase once more, allowing him to rule for many more years.
Furthermore, with a Martial Saint presiding over the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, any factions plotting in the shadows would be forced to cease their activities. A Martial Saint was a National Guardian Level combatant, a power before which even the Major Sects would have to bow.
However, experts of the Martial Saint Level were exceedingly rare. It was rumored that the Great Zhou Imperial Family already had one such expert in its ranks—this was the true foundation of their power.
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