Chapter 1680: No More States for Another Two Hundred Years

With external threats looming, Baitian is eager to consolidate power. A large number of displaced people in Tianshui City are now aligning with him, and he is seizing the opportunity to recruit able-bodied men and expand his military. Baitian's initial weakness was his limited forces. However, after he eliminated all the royal descendants, military officials within the city, intimidated by his actions, surrendered with their troops. The displaced people also represent a formidable, undeniable force.

The displaced people had already been struggling to survive. Baitian utilized the Yao Kingdom's treasury to recruit soldiers, offering money and food. Consequently, a large number of them responded immediately, showing even greater enthusiasm than ordinary citizens.

True Lord Tongming asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

"The death of King Yao is merely the beginning of the turmoil."

Every understated word from Qingyang hinted at a future of bloodshed and chaos.

She somewhat missed this feeling.

"Baitian foolishly dreams of seizing absolute power, but as long as the Heavenly God does not officially acknowledge him, this situation will not materialize for now," she said slowly. "Wolves are circling both inside and outside the Yao Kingdom. The cycle of power struggles is about to begin."

"Everyone understands—power is seized through conquest."

The Yao Kingdom had a poor reputation in the Blazegold Plains and indeed sustained itself by exploiting the region's resources. Nevertheless, the presence of such a dominant regional power objectively maintained order, allowing the Blazegold Plains to sustain a peculiar dynamic balance.

For instance, the war between the Allied Forces and Bixia became less intense once it reached Bixia's homeland, largely due to the Yao Kingdom's stance and actions. But now...

Now, this balance has been broken.

Once a power vacuum emerges, this massive turmoil will begin in the Yao territory and spread like ripples across the entire Blazegold Plains!

This is what the Heavenly God desires most.

"Excellent. You must properly allocate resources to consolidate and expand the achievements of this operation!" This was not only True Lord Tongming's instruction but also the Heavenly God's demand of Qingyang.

"Yes," Qingyang responded, knowing the Heavenly God had only one goal:

Nightmare Qi, Nightmare Qi, and more Nightmare Qi!

Amidst the frequent outbreaks of Imperial Nectar and the resurgence of spiritual energy in the mortal realm, minor disturbances and commotions in the Blazegold Plains could no longer satisfy the increasingly hungry and enraged Heavenly God.

King Yao failed to recognize the situation and keep up with the times, so he and his kingdom became the main course on the Heavenly God's table.

"These factions will fight each other, and eventually one or two figurehead rulers will emerge, but you will still remain the Regent." Since Qingyang had performed well as Regent, the Heavenly God intended for her to continue.

Qingyang, however, shook her head and said, "I am old. Even if I wanted to, I lack the strength to continue as 'Regent'."

"Are you afraid you won't live as long as these small nations? Haha, you're overthinking it," True Lord Tongming chuckled, seemingly misunderstanding her refusal. "I believe the Holy Venerable's intention is that these small nations in Blazegold have no real need for long-term existence. Otherwise, they would become second or third Yao Kingdoms, gradually becoming negligent and difficult to control."

This old Grand Master of Beijia understood everything, and as a protector of the Heavenly Palace, he spoke his mind directly.

Qingyang remained silent.

She knew the Heavenly God's intention:

Learning from the Yao Kingdom's past mistakes, the Blazegold Plains should no longer have nations that last for two centuries.

They needed frequent change and renewal.

Only new nations, new rulers, and new people would be respectful and obedient.

Qingyang said slowly, "The fall of the Yao Kingdom also owes a debt to the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds."

"What are you trying to say?"

"If he hadn't fanned the flames, King Yao would not have rushed headlong toward his own destruction. Every idea he proposed was like pouring potent poison into the Yao Kingdom. Yet, that fool King Yao, even to the very end, never considered the collapse of his kingdom to be He Xiao's fault." In fact, just before his death, King Yao hated neither He Xiao nor the Heavenly God most, but rather Qingyang and Baitian. "I believe this person's purpose in entering Tianshui City ultimately aligned with my own later intentions: to overthrow the Yao Kingdom."

King Yao became increasingly reckless, provoking the anger of the Heavenly God and her, which is when she conceived the idea of killing him. As for He Xiao?

She now realized that He Xiao had harbored ill intentions toward King Yao and the kingdom from the very beginning. He merely used her and the Heavenly God to ultimately overthrow King Yao's rule.

He stirred up trouble, then retreated unscathed.

True Lord Tongming was somewhat surprised. "Why?"

"Baizi Qi speculates that the Great Emperor of the Nine Netherworlds might have concluded that the Yao Kingdom was the source of evil in the Blazegold Plains and had to be eradicated." Qingyang's eyes flickered. "The Yao Kingdom is almost gone; I don't know his next plan."

She agreed with Baizi Qi's statement that it was difficult to interpret He Xiao's actions merely from a superficial level of "short-term gain."

Because his ambitions were vast, and his plans far-reaching.

Ordinary people only see immediate, trivial benefits, colloquially thinking only two steps ahead in chess before turning around to humble themselves for meager gains. When they suffer an immediate loss, they might curse for a night, but forget it in a few days, repeating the same mistakes and suffering the same losses, with memories shorter than a fish's. If you tell them to proceed cautiously or prepare for a rainy day, they'll simply snore in front of you.

"Baizi Qi has already reported to the Holy Venerable that this person might be the culprit behind the burning of the Heavenly Palace back then!" True Lord Tongming chuckled. "Whatever his ulterior motives are, they no longer matter. This time, we will catch him!"

Qingyang nodded.

She could imagine the thunderous rage of the Spirit Void Deities after hearing Baizi Qi's report.

The culprit behind the burning of the Heavenly Palace had not been brought to justice for a long time, causing the Spirit Void Deities to lose considerable face in the Divine Realm over the past few years. Now that they had a lead, they would certainly not allow He Xiao to escape justice.

"Oh, right. Send someone to Honglu to retrieve Cao Wendao's research." Commissioner Liang was not sent because the matter's confidentiality level was too high, and he was unaware of it, while Baizi Qi had other important duties. True Lord Tongming's tone was grave. "The increasing trend of spiritual energy in the mortal realm is temporarily irreversible. The more difficult the original plan becomes, the more urgent time is!"

Qingyang assented, pondering inwardly. From True Lord Tongming's words, it seemed Cao Wendao and the other demon puppet masters' research would be very useful for the Spirit Void Deities' subsequent arrangements.

But True Lord Tongming only mentioned it briefly and said no more.

On such matters, the Heavenly Gods always remained tight-lipped.

"Alright."

As the mist dispersed and the pressure faded, True Lord Tongming departed.

Qingyang opened the door and walked out. After only a couple of steps, she stopped, clutching her wound, frowning in silence.

True Lord Qianhuan's immortal art was more terrifying than maggots clinging to bone. It didn't necessarily wreak havoc constantly, but it would suddenly attack the heart meridians, catching one completely off guard. Ordinary cultivators would fall dead within two steps.

Moreover, this injury could not be removed.

Yuan Xuan, noticing her discomfort, asked, "Palace Master?"

"Spiritual Nectar."

Spiritual Nectar was an ointment made from the Qing Palace's secret formula, with Imperial Nectar as its main ingredient. Imperial Nectar would be abundant again in a few days, so there was no point hoarding it now.

She took out the spirit pills True Lord Tongming had given her, looked at them, and swallowed three in quick succession, taking them with the Spiritual Nectar.

Qingyang let out a long breath. Given her current physical condition, she urgently needed rest and recovery.

However, less than thirty breaths after she took the medicine, a guard reported:

"Assistant Minister Wang from the Ministry of Rites requests an audience..."

Yuan Xuan angrily retorted, "Get lost! Tell him the Palace Master isn't here!"