474: I'll destroy your country!

At the Ancestral Temple, Star Observation Platform.

Xu Sanyan stood on the wall, facing the night wind, coldly watching a squad of Jade Dragon Guard walk by beneath him.

The heavily guarded Imperial Palace was like an unpopulated land to him, and the renowned Jade Dragon Guard seemed like mere chickens and dogs, not worth mentioning.

Whoosh—

The night wind blew, and Xu Sanyan’s figure vanished from the wall, as if he had merged with the wind, hidden in the night.

The Imperial Palace was divided into three parts: front, middle, and back. The Golden Luan Hall was at the very front, where all officials attended court.

The middle section included the Imperial Study, the sleeping quarters, etc., and the Star Observation Platform and Ancestral Temple were also located here. The back section was where the consorts resided. This was the general layout of the Imperial Palace.

The Star Observation Platform was an octagonal pavilion, covering a considerable area. It had three levels, covered by a Formation, and was guarded by personnel dispatched by the Sect Affairs Department. Without permission, outsiders absolutely could not enter.

Xu Sanyan hid in the shadows, silently staring into the distance. After much comparison, he speculated that the Gan Country’s Dragon Vein was most likely suppressed here.

This was because the defenses here were the most stringent, and the Cultivators guarding it were also of a higher Realm.

Just then, the main gate of the Star Observation Platform opened, and a golden light spilled out from the crack. An old man then walked out from within.

Taking advantage of the brief opening, Xu Sanyan quickly glanced inside, but only saw an overflowing light, making it impossible to see anything else.

Then, a gap opened in the Formation, and the old man walked out, quickly heading towards the Imperial Study.

Xu Sanyan narrowed his eyes. He couldn't discern the old man's Cultivation Realm, indicating that this person's Realm was not much worse than his own. The Imperial Palace indeed harbored hidden Dragons and crouching tigers; he couldn't afford to be careless.

Although he had a high probability of determining the location of the Dragon Vein, now was not the time to act.

It would be best to find a way to quickly unravel the Formation, absorb the Dragon Vein, and strive for a Breakthrough to the Saint Realm in one go. If so, all would be well.

But if he were discovered while breaking the Formation, the situation would be dire, so he had to plan carefully to ensure nothing went wrong.

Xu Sanyan meticulously examined the Formation covering the exterior of the Star Observation Platform. Although he didn't recognize this Formation, he could tell its profound complexity. To break it would require a significant amount of time. It would be best to find another method, to break it from within.

He still needed to rely on the Demonic Seed to control more Cultivators from the Sect Affairs Department, so they could dismantle the Formation for him when the operation began.

Having made up his mind, Xu Sanyan gradually concealed his figure, disappearing without a trace.

...

...

A month later, a piece of news suddenly broke out, spreading throughout Central Continent, its shockwave a hundred times more intense than Xu Sanyan’s previous city massacre.

Inside the Golden Luan Hall,

The Qian Emperor instantly lost his focus, staring blankly at the memorial in his hand, unsure of what expression to make.

Great Master Yuanchi was dead.

The generations of Tianyi Fumo Temple were arranged according to “Yuan Ming Jing Zhi, De Xing Fu Xiang.” There was only one Great Master of the 'Yuan' generation still alive, and that was Yuanchi, one of the five Saints of Central Continent.

And now, not a single one of the 'Yuan' generation remained.

“How is that possible…?”

The Qian Emperor murmured, sitting on the Dragon throne, almost doubting his own eyes. But the words were clearly written on the white paper, leaving no room for error.

A Saint died?

A Saint actually died!

“Your Majesty…?”

The ministers below, seeing the Qian Emperor's troubled expression, tentatively inquired.

The Qian Emperor slowly raised his head and casually tossed the memorial down. Yuan Zongtong, Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, picked it up and opened it. His pupils instantly constricted, and his hands trembled in disbelief, “This, this… ”

The memorial was passed around, and the hall fell into a dead silence. This was an outcome no one had anticipated. A Saint had acted, yet not only failed to stop the Mist Sea from spreading, but was also lost within it.

However, according to the news relayed by those who accompanied him, Great Master Yuanchi did not die at the hands of that Blood-Flesh Giant, but rather at the hands of a woman. That woman only killed Yuanchi and did not trouble anyone else, which is why the news was able to be transmitted back.

“Gentlemen… what do you think we should do next?”

The Qian Emperor lowered his eyelids, his voice hoarse, his gaze filled with determination, as if he already had an idea in mind.

None of the ministers spoke, as they had all guessed the Qian Emperor's intention.

Relocate the capital!

As things stood, the only option was to temporarily avoid the brunt of the crisis. The Mist Sea was steadily expanding outwards, and given the current situation, the Imperial City would eventually be affected. If they didn't plan ahead, disaster would strike, and it might be too late.

At this moment, the most pressing issue was no longer Luan Yun Mountain, but the Mist Sea. The Mist Sea concealed countless demonic creatures, some of which were as powerful as Saints. If they were to break free, the harm caused would far exceed that of the Blood-Flesh Giant from Luan Yun Mountain. Fortunately, those demonic creatures could not leave the Mist Sea, otherwise Central Continent would have long since fallen into chaos.

Relocating the capital was a monumental undertaking. The capital was the heart of the country; a single move would affect the entire body. It was by no means a simple matter of moving house.

If this matter was not handled well, it could lead to national turmoil and sow the seeds of future disaster. The Qian Emperor did not want to bear the blame, so he hoped someone would step forward to propose it, allowing him to agree naturally. This way, someone else would share the blame, and he would be less burdened.

But none of the ministers present were fools; no one wanted to be the first to speak, so they all lowered their heads, pretending to be quails.

The Qian Emperor looked down from his high position, scanning the room. No one dared to meet his gaze, so his heart turned cold, and he called out a name,

“Song Qian, you always have the most ideas. You tell me what we should do now.”

One of the ministers stepped forward, his face filled with trepidation, and knelt down, “Your Majesty, this, this subject…”

After a long silence, anger flashed in the Qian Emperor’s eyes. At crucial moments, there wasn't a single person who could share his worries!

Filled with disappointment, the Qian Emperor no longer placed his hopes on others. He suddenly stood up and declared in a stern voice,

“I have made up my mind. We will relocate the capital!”

As long as he lived, the Gan Country would surely rebuild its glorious era!

“Hahahahaha…”

Suddenly, a mocking laugh rang out, “Relocate the capital? No need for the trouble. I’ll send your country to its demise!”

“Boom!”

As soon as the words fell, there was a deafening roar. Instantly, the heavens and earth trembled, the wind and clouds changed color, and the octagonal Star Observation Platform exploded into pieces. The raging winds carried shattered stones that rained down like raindrops, revealing the blazing golden light curtain hidden within, and the golden Dragon phantom circling inside the light curtain.

Countless profound runic seals flowed in layers upon the light curtain. At the very top, a seal flew, pressing firmly on the golden Dragon’s head. This object was precisely the Imperial Seal, the supreme treasure used to suppress the national destiny!

The Formation outside the Star Observation Platform had already been broken. A golden light shot out from the Star Observation Platform, instantly illuminating the entire sky. The sky at this moment was like a layer of golden foil, incredibly spectacular, causing all the citizens of the city to look up in awe, their eyes filled with wonder.

However, even more eye-catching was a figure floating above the Imperial Seal. The golden light pillar seemed to have gilded him with a layer of divine gold, and the golden Dragon circling beneath his feet willingly bowed its head. At a glance, he possessed a hint of divinity.

“Hahahahaha…”

Xu Sanyan burst into wild laughter. Behind him, the crimson Heavenly Dao Imprint appeared. For a moment, scarlet and brilliant gold intertwined, the two colors merging, filling the world with an eerie aura.

“Break!!”

The Heavenly Dao Imprint suddenly flared brightly, crimson light gushing out, crashing down onto the Imperial Seal beneath his feet!