Seeing the dark clouds gradually gathering above the imperial palace, the sky dimming little by little, everyone believed the National Master’s prayer was taking effect.
“Old Xuan, are you alright?”
Noticing the elder’s unusual state beside him, Ye Xichen asked with concern.
“…I’m fine, no need to worry.”
Old Xuan took a while to recover, finally dispelling Ye Xichen’s doubts.
“So, have you checked the Emperor’s cultivation level?”
Old Xuan shook his head helplessly.
“No, it’s impossible. His divine sense is too powerful. Just one glance at him, and decades of cultivation were instantly wiped away.”
Ye Xichen was shocked beyond words.
“The Emperor’s strength is actually this formidable?”
“I can’t say for certain. For now, I only know his divine sense is unfathomable. His exact strength remains unclear. But I suspect he’s stronger than anyone here.”
Old Xuan said gravely.
The long-standing suppression of the imperial family by the Five Great Clans was common knowledge in the capital, and Ye Xichen was no exception.
She had a bad feeling.
“Xiao Chen, do you see the dark clouds in the sky?”
“Yes, what about them?”
“These clouds are the doing of the Great Zhou Emperor.”
“What did you say?”
“Just now, when he blocked my divine sense at the gate, the clouds formed as a side effect.”
Looking up at the sky, Ye Xichen was speechless with astonishment.
To be able to alter the weather like this—what kind of terrifying power was required to accomplish that?
“Old Xuan, has the Emperor discovered us?”
“I am now nothing but an insignificant Remnant Soul. He probably cannot sense me.”
“…What did you do?”
Li Yuhan questioned the Fake Li Yuluo beside him.
Fake Li Yuluo shrugged nonchalantly and smiled,
“Nothing much, just a reckless mouse trying to sneak into my territory.”
“Who?”
“Over there.”
Fake Li Yuluo pointed.
Following his gesture, Li Yuhan noticed it was in the direction of the Ye family.
“That’s… Ye Tianlei?”
Indeed, although the Blood God King had roughly pinpointed Ye Xichen and Old Xuan’s location, it wasn’t precise enough—only a small range was identified.
Seeing the Ye family patriarch standing upright beside Ye Xichen, Li Yuhan suspected Ye Tianlei was up to some scheme.
Sure enough, not a single person from the Five Great Clans could be left alive.
After a long time, the National Master, wild and frenzied from his ritual, finally quieted down.
Zhang Yuge wiped sweat from his brow.
It had to be said, wearing a large black robe and a thick mask was truly hot.
Meanwhile, Yun Hai, head of the Yun family, exchanged glances with his clan and the Feng family’s patriarch.
Understanding each other’s intentions, they quietly shifted positions.
The Ji family had been covertly watching the Yun faction all along, ready to strike when Yun and Feng made their move—the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Among the Five Clans, only the Ye family remained in the dark.
They had no idea their family harbored a traitor—the fifth son of the Ye family, Ye Tianlei, who had first proposed a marriage alliance with the Qingyang Zhong family.
All of this was part of the Ji family’s plan, more precisely, Ji Yexue’s plan.
From beginning to end, the Ye family had been nothing more than a tool for Ji Yexue to capture Yun Lan.
This was the optimal solution conceived by the Phoenix Sect’s Sect Leader to find Yun Lan without openly acting.
The one who incited the Zhong family to ambush Zhang Qingyao and Zhang Yuge was naturally this Ye family traitor, Ye Tianlei.
Unfortunately, by a twist of fate, the ring containing the Remnant Soul of the Hehuan Sect’s Sect Leader fell into Zhang Yuge’s hands.
Ji Yexue’s meticulous schemes nearly succeeded.
Now, the Ye family dispatched many experts to besiege the Zhang family, escorting over two hundred Zhang family members to the capital—also orchestrated by Ji Yexue.
The Ye family had lost all value.
The Hundred Flowers Sect’s Sect Leader was right; among the Five Great Clans, only two should remain.
Since Zhang Yuge had finished dancing and performing the ritual, the next part was the Emperor’s speech.
Li Yuhan stood and stepped forward, facing the assembled ministers and soldiers.
Even now, he was hesitant.
These were all living beings.
He noticed many youths just fifteen years old, accompanying their elders to witness the rain-seeking ceremony.
Most importantly, his brother—now his sister—was down there.
“I want to ask…”
Li Yuhan spoke softly.
“What is it, my brother?”
“Does the Blood God Formation really work?”
“It definitely does. No one can escape my Blood God Formation.”
Fake Li Yuluo’s voice brimmed with excitement.
“Brother, let us sound the final dirge for these people.”
Li Yuhan was speechless.
He descended the steps with the Empress, noble consorts, eunuchs, and palace maids following.
Empress Yun Zhiruo watched Li Yuhan’s back, her eyes filled with disappointment.
She was not actually pregnant—there was no child in her womb—and she had deceived Li Yuhan, which made her feel guilty.
Yet, even if it was a false pregnancy, some time had passed.
Li Yuhan visited only once, never returning again.
Just now, Li Yuhan never once looked at her properly, fueling her resentment.
“So you too are this heartless. Ancient and modern emperors are indeed ruthless. I misjudged you.”
With these thoughts, Yun Zhiruo’s guilt lessened considerably.
After Li Yuhan stepped down, he climbed alone onto the altar, joining Zhang Yuge and Li Yuluo.
“Since the founding of our Great Zhou, over six hundred years have passed. Blessed by our ancestors’ spirit in heaven, the fortunes of Great Zhou have prospered to this day. Now, the land suffers from a severe drought for many years. The people suffer. As Emperor, I treat my people like my children. Seeing them homeless and wandering, my heart is filled with pain. Therefore, today we seek rain and pray to heaven, hoping the ancestors’ spirits will bless Great Zhou with eternal prosperity for generations to come.”
Having finished, Li Yuhan paused, took three incense sticks from the National Master, bowed to the heavens, and placed them into the great cauldron.
Suddenly, a thunderclap echoed from the ground.
Numerous experts from the Yun and Feng families surged forward, rushing straight at Li Yuhan on the altar.
“Finish this quickly! Take the life of the Li family brat!”
Yun Hai roared.
Countless flying swords, magical items, and talismans swarmed like a covering sky, threatening to overwhelm the three on the altar—the Emperor, National Master, and Li Yuluo.
The imperial guards responsible for defense were caught off guard.
Many were stabbed in the back by former comrades, dying with unresolved grievances.
The guards descended into chaos, slaughtering one another.
“Master, save me!”
Zhang Yuge shouted.
Before he could finish, Li Yuhan extended his right hand forward, and a dazzling blood-red protective shield appeared before the three.
The intense bombardment continued nonstop.
Though Li Yuhan blocked it all, Li Yuluo had never seen such a scene before.
She was pale, covering her ears in fear.
Zhang Yuge was secretly delighted—finally the fight had begun.
He planned to slip away and meet with Xiao Yao.
He intended to leave quietly.
But then he saw Li Yuluo’s helpless face.
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