Chapter 625: Assembly

Li Yi had been quietly cultivating in Wuji Palace for nine days.

His cultivation had reached the third layer of the Five Qi Realm, and all twelve major acupoints were fully filled; his power had now reached a peak state, with forty-eight acupoints opened, indicating he might soon reach the fourth layer of the Five Qi Realm—yet time was limited, and the external environment no longer permitted him to continue cultivating like this.

"Gold-Eye Guard Wang Ning requests an audience with True Person Taiyi."

A woman clad in armor, a precious saber at her waist, her eyes faintly golden, stepped into Wuji Palace; her strength was no small matter—she had crossed that threshold during this time and become a Soul Realm cultivator.

Remember, Li Yi was only at the Spiritual Power Realm.

To achieve such stature in this world, this woman was clearly brimming with potential.

Gold-Eye Guard Wang Ning sensed the shifts in the surrounding heavenly energy; she was startled, for the energy that had long enveloped Wuji Palace was now slowly dissipating—as if True Person Taiyi had foreseen today's events and deliberately ceased his cultivation.

Yet the vast hall remained empty.

After waiting a moment, Wang Ning called again: "Gold-Eye Guard Wang Ning, by the Emperor's decree, requests an audience with True Person Taiyi."

As soon as she spoke.

Golden auspicious clouds suddenly filled Wuji Palace, spreading across the floor, bathing the surroundings in radiant gold and jade, as if one had stepped into a celestial palace—unreal, yet the clouds were tangible, soft and comfortable beneath the feet, yet unbreakably resilient.

Amid the golden clouds walked a man clad in crimson jade and purple gold armor, his eyes glowing, lightning wrapped around his body, dragon-tiger qi swirling, stepping forward with firm strides upon the golden clouds.

Merely the pressure of his aura made Wang Ning, a Gold-Eye Guard, tremble violently, as if her soul might flee her body; an innate reverence arose within her—this figure before her was no mortal, but a divine being born of heaven, utterly unlike ordinary humans, his very essence fundamentally different.

Had she not seen it with her own eyes.

She would never have believed such a person existed in this world.

"Gold-Eye Guard Wang Ning, bows before True Person Taiyi."

Wang Ning snapped back to herself and knelt involuntarily, as if bowing to this man were natural, without a trace of resentment or hesitation—as if it had always been so.

The gap in life's hierarchy was too vast; its mysteries could not be explained in mere words.

"Rise," Li Yi said calmly, his voice soothing like a balm; he asked, "What does the Emperor require of me?"

Wang Ning did not rise; she remained kneeling and pulled a letter from her bosom, offering it with both hands: "The Emperor's letter is here; please, True Person Taiyi, read it yourself."

Li Yi took it, opened it, and saw no extra words—only one sentence: "Little Yi, break the mountains, destroy the temples—tonight."

Tonight?

He remembered tomorrow was the tenth day; if they acted tonight, it clearly meant he was to leave the capital early, to avoid being drawn into court politics and disrupting the mission to break the mountains and destroy the temples.

"I understand," Li Yi said. "You may return and report."

"True Person Taiyi," Wang Ning said, "the Emperor has ordered me and the other nineteen Gold-Eye Guards to serve under your command."

Li Yi asked, "What is your name?"

"Your servant, Wang Ning."

"Twenty Gold-Eye Guards? How many Embroidered Uniform Guards are there?" Li Yi said.

Wang Ning replied, "I do not know; the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Yang Ling, should know."

"Send for Yang Ling," Li Yi said.

"Yes, True Person," Wang Ning said, and immediately rose with utmost respect and departed.

Soon after, a man clad in a flying-fish robe entered the hall; upon entering, he trembled slightly, then hurried forward and knelt on one knee: "Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, Yang Ling, bows before True Person Taiyi."

"How many Embroidered Uniform Guards has the Emperor assigned to me?" Li Yi asked bluntly.

"Including this humble servant, three thousand," Yang Ling replied immediately.

Li Yi said, "Any plans?"

"A map, please, True Person," Yang Ling quickly presented a scroll.

Li Yi took it, unrolled it, and saw it was vast, depicting all the mountains and rivers of the realm, each location marked with powerful local spirit deities and spirits—even the positions of some Yin Emperor's agents were noted; clearly, his father had gathered intelligence and prepared meticulously for this day.

"Good. You have two hours to prepare. When night falls, depart immediately with me from the capital—begin breaking the mountains and destroying the temples."

He rolled the map shut; its contents were already etched into his mind.

Cultivators always possess perfect recall.

"I humbly obey your command, True Person," Commander Yang Ling said respectfully.

"When you are ready, wait before the main hall of Wuji Palace," Li Yi said.

Gold-Eye Guard Wang Ning also took her leave.

Only after leaving the hall did both exhale slightly; though True Person Taiyi had shown no divine power, standing before such a person inevitably stirred fear and unease.

They exchanged no words, each departing to attend to their own tasks.

About an hour later, squads of Embroidered Uniform Guards converged from all corners of the imperial palace and assembled before Wuji Palace; though few in number, they were all elite troops trained by the Divine Martial Emperor, each at least at the Spiritual Awareness Realm.

Three thousand Spiritual Awareness cultivators—achieving this required extraordinary hardship and audacity beyond ordinary comprehension.

Given time, if these Embroidered Uniform Guards continued to break through, attained Soul Realm, and received incense offerings, the spirit deities of the realm would face their nightmare.

But to reach that point, they would still need to lie low for seven or eight years.

The Divine Martial Emperor, Li Jiye, could not wait. Li Yi could not wait either.

As the Embroidered Uniform Guards moved en masse, many eyes noticed the anomaly; the first to detect it was Crown Prince Zhao Jing. When his night guard reported it, he was stunned—but when he stepped outside his palace, he saw squad after squad of Embroidered Uniform Guards passing by his eastern palace.

"So many Embroidered Uniform Guards all heading to Wuji Palace?" Zhao Jing felt a sudden, inexplicable dread.

He had sensed his father and True Person Taiyi were plotting something major; for these nine days, everything had been unnaturally quiet—until today, seeing so many Embroidered Uniform Guards, he was certain.

Something huge was about to happen.

"Could it be connected to the Yin Emperor's order to eliminate True Person Taiyi?" Zhao Jing had received similar rumors: the Yin Emperor was displeased with True Person Taiyi and planned to strip him of his title as State Preceptor and execute him at tomorrow's court session.

He had assumed True Person Taiyi was already doomed—even his father could not save him—yet today, things had changed.

"Bring a ladder. I will climb to the roof to observe." Zhao Jing ordered.

Servants quickly brought a ladder.

Zhao Jing hurriedly climbed onto the palace roof and looked again toward Wuji Palace—his pupils shrank sharply.

Squads of Embroidered Uniform Guards, sacks on their backs, precious sabers at their waists, stood in perfect formation before Wuji Palace; counting carefully, there were three thousand—each bore insignia indicating they were Company Commanders, elite warriors, each capable of battle. Even one hundred of them on a battlefield could break formations, slay generals, seize flags, and decide the outcome of a great war.

Now, three thousand stood before Wuji Palace—his father must have emptied his last reserves. What was he planning?

Zhao Jing could not guess—but he felt it: a storm was coming, and it would break today.

He was terrified, a cold dread gripping his heart.

Not because of these three thousand elite guards—but because he, the Crown Prince, had known nothing of this. His father had revealed not a single word. Was he truly unworthy of his father's trust? Or was he merely a figurehead, while True Person Taiyi was the true hidden heir?

Zhao Jing's mind involuntarily recalled the words of his fourth brother, Zhao Rui.

"Impossible. Absolutely impossible," Zhao Jing's face turned ashen, teeth clenched. He descended the roof and roared: "Eastern Palace guards—where are you?"

"Here!" the guards answered urgently.

"Follow me," Zhao Jing bit back his fury.

He would confront True Person Taiyi and demand answers—what was truly happening?

Soon, a squad of fifty armored soldiers escorted Crown Prince Zhao Jing toward Wuji Palace.

But before they could approach, Embroidered Uniform Guards blocked their path.

"Your Highness, please halt. The Emperor has ordered that no one may enter Wuji Palace," two Embroidered Uniform Guards stood firmly on the only path, halting Zhao Jing.

"I wish to pay respects to True Person Taiyi. Am I not allowed to enter Wuji Palace either?" Zhao Jing asked seriously.

The Embroidered Uniform Guards remained expressionless: "Yes. The Emperor's decree forbids anyone from approaching Wuji Palace—including the Crown Prince. Your Highness, return. Do not defy the Emperor's command."

Zhao Jing's lips twitched—he had lost even the right to enter Wuji Palace.

Looking at the palace where the Embroidered Uniform Guards gathered, he realized for the first time: in this imperial palace, he was insignificant—perhaps even expendable. The true affairs of state were beyond his reach.

But why?

Why was it True Person Taiyi?

"Go," Zhao Jing said, swallowing his humiliation, turning away without daring to force his way in.

He had no doubt: if he tried to break through, the Embroidered Uniform Guards would seize him and deliver him to his father within half an hour—not only would he lose face, but he would incur his father's wrath and severe punishment.

At this critical moment, Zhao Jing dared not provoke trouble.

Though he resented it, he was not foolish—he knew what he could and could not do.

"Draft a memorial. Report to the Yin Emperor. I must find out what is truly happening," Zhao Jing thought to himself.