Chapter 629: The World

Li Yi's campaign to destroy temples and smash idols was covert, but leading a large group out of the capital, traveling through Xiangcheng, Sanchuan Commandery, then passing through Sishui County before appearing in Taiyue City, he covered nine cities and sixteen counties in a single day—such efficiency was truly astonishing.

During this time, countless temples were razed and countless idols smashed.

In Xiangcheng, Prince Zhao Yi was killed; in Sanchuan Commandery, the Marquis Wu Jin and the City God were beheaded, and the famed general Wei General, who had lived three centuries ago, was exterminated; the ancestral hall of the eight-hundred-year-old family in Sishui County was destroyed, and the local spirits and demons along the route either died or fled.

If the True Person Tai Yi were allowed to continue unchecked with his three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards, within a month nearly all the incense-deity gods of the realm would be slaughtered.

Upon receiving this news, the civil and military officials of the capital immediately erupted in outrage, for they themselves came from powerful clans, each household venerating several princes, marquises, generals, and ministers; if they did not stop Tai Yi's actions, their own families would soon suffer the same fate.

Thus.

On the third morning of Li Yi's campaign, during the morning court session,

everyone was filled with righteous fury, eager to see Li Yi dead.

"Your Majesty, the True Person Tai Yi, leading three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards, has destroyed mountains and razed temples, slaying countless imperial deities—this act has shaken the very foundation of the state. I beg Your Majesty to execute the True Person Tai Yi."

"I beg Your Majesty to execute the True Person Tai Yi."

"."

No extra words were spoken; every civil and military official now spoke with identical fury, each demand beginning with the call to kill Li Yi—if the emperor refused, they had no qualms about dying here today in defiance of this Divine Martial Emperor.

Grand Tutor Zuo Hanyuan, though unwilling to get involved, now had no choice but to bow and endorse the motion, or he too would become a target and lose his standing in court.

"Your son humbly begs Your Majesty to immediately execute the True Person Tai Yi," Crown Prince Zhao Jing also stepped forward without hesitation—he understood this might be his chance to eliminate this Daoist.

Watching the ministers' fury, Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye sat upon the dragon throne, calm and unmoved, clearly having anticipated this exact scenario.

Though the campaign to destroy temples and smash idols was urgent, every necessary consideration had been made.

Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye scanned the court and spoke slowly: "The day before yesterday, the late emperor issued an edict revoking the True Person Tai Yi's title of State Preceptor. Now, the True Person Tai Yi, leading three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards, is destroying temples and slaying incense deities along the cities—clearly to avenge the court's capricious reversals. Why, then, do you beg me to execute him? You should be petitioning the late emperor."

"Moreover, the True Person Tai Yi is no longer State Preceptor. I suspect our relationship has already fractured—how am I to execute a Daoist immortal with boundless magic power?"

As he spoke, he spread his hands and sighed deeply, appearing utterly helpless.

"Though I have made modest progress in cultivation, I cannot personally lead an army. Even if I reached the battlefield and faced the True Person Tai Yi, what then? I am no match for him. My ministers—if any of you have a method to destroy the True Person Tai Yi, propose it. If it succeeds, I will consider it."

Upon hearing this, the court officials froze.

They had expected the emperor to fiercely protect the True Person Tai Yi; they had already prepared to die in remonstrance. They never imagined the emperor agreed with executing him.

This shifted their thinking abruptly.

Yet immediately, they eyed the emperor with suspicion, wondering: was this genuine, or a trick? Was there hidden meaning?

In truth, there was no hidden meaning.

Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye's thinking was simple: with Li Yi's current power, who in the realm could possibly kill him? If anyone can, let them step forward—kill him, and the realm will be at peace. If no one can, then the campaign continues.

With power, things are this simple and blunt—no need for schemes or deceit.

"My ministers, don't stay silent—discuss it quickly! Who can subdue the True Person Tai Yi?" Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye spoke again.

One official, unsure if this was a trap, gritted his teeth and stepped forward: "The Marquis Guanjun might be able to destroy the True Person Tai Yi."

The Marquis Guanjun?

A thousand years ago, the most formidable general under the founding emperor, enfeoffed as Marquis Guanjun in life, and after death, worshipped by the people of the realm as an incense deity through twelve dynasties—he was the most formidable imperial deity after the Four Guardian Gods. Even after becoming a deity, he never indulged in comfort but continued diligent cultivation; his current strength remains unknown.

"Yes, the Marquis Guanjun! How could we forget him? If he intervenes, the True Person Tai Yi will surely die." Others immediately nodded in agreement.

"It makes sense. The Marquis Guanjun was already unmatched in battle during his lifetime; after a thousand years as a deity, his power must be unfathomable. The True Person Tai Yi is no match for him." Other ministers stroked their beards in approval, recounting the Marquis's legendary exploits.

Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye's eyes narrowed slightly—he knew the Marquis Guanjun well. But this man had been a general under the founding emperor; if he could be eliminated, the celestial rulers above might finally grow alarmed.

Letting him serve as practice for Xiao Yi won't hurt.

After the ministers had debated long enough, Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye spoke: "Since you all believe the Marquis Guanjun can destroy the True Person Tai Yi, I ask the Hidden Official to draft a memorial and inform the founding emperor, requesting the Marquis's deployment. Hidden Official—do you object?"

This reigning emperor could not command the Marquis Guanjun.

One emperor, one set of ministers.

The fierce generals who had fought alongside the founding emperor answered only to him.

Immediately,

all eyes turned to a Hidden Official standing in the corner of the court.

Every gaze burned with intensity; some even carried threats—if this Hidden Official refused, they would not hesitate to use today's swords to behead this relic of the previous dynasty.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to try," the Hidden Official said, sweat pouring down his face as he stepped forward.

Facing the ministers' fury, he found it worse than facing the True Person Tai Yi.

The True Person Tai Yi might kill only him—but these ministers, when enraged, would exterminate his entire clan. After all, this matter concerned the survival of the great clans and the incense deities; the officials were capable of any madness.

"Relying solely on the Marquis Guanjun may not be enough. My ministers, do you have any other powerful incense deities to recommend?" Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye continued.

"During the reign of Emperor Yingzong, there was a General Tianwei, infamous for leading armies to scour mountains and seas, exterminating countless demons and monsters. If he joins, the mission will be far more secure," another minister suddenly stepped forward.

"Yes, General Tianwei is an extremely formidable figure. Some say, 'Before, the Marquis Guanjun; after, General Tianwei'—these are the two most ferocious generals in history. Now that they've become deities, their prowess must be even greater." Everyone agreed.

"General Tianwei? Good. Is the Hidden Official of Emperor Yingzong present?" Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye glanced sharply.

"Your servant is here," a Hidden Official stepped forward, his face grim—being called out was never good news.

Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye said: "Ask Emperor Yingzong whether he is willing to send General Tianwei to join the Marquis Guanjun in confronting the True Person Tai Yi."

"I shall do my best," the Hidden Official replied without hesitation.

"Two generals have now been named. Though success seems certain, this matter is too critical to risk failure. My ministers, do you have any further recommendations?" Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye asked again.

"On Shoushan Mountain there is a deity, the ancient pine spirit known as Qingsong, who was enfeoffed as Mountain God of Shoushan by Emperor Renzong and has received five hundred years of incense. It is said he possesses divine arts beyond mortal comprehension, capable of reversing sun and moon. Your Majesty might issue an imperial decree summoning the Mountain God of Shoushan to aid us." Another official immediately recommended.

"The Mountain God Qingsong of Shoushan? Accepted," Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye said with a faint, unreadable smile.

"In Taihu Lake there is a deity, Lady Baishui, once a talented woman of the previous dynasty. After over twelve hundred years, her incense remains strong. The late emperor granted her posthumous honors—perhaps she can be summoned," another minister continued.

"Accepted," Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye nodded.

Other ministers now eagerly proposed other experts.

All they recommended were renowned demons or incense deities—either millennia-old cultivators or generals who had fought alongside the founding emperor. Those with lesser pedigrees didn't even qualify for mention, for when Li Yi left the capital, he had already slain three of the Four Guardian Gods in one breath.

Thus, any deity or demon summoned must be at least equal to the Guardian Gods—otherwise, sending them would be pointless.

One didn't realize it before.

But now, the mention of it surprised Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye.

He hadn't realized the realm concealed so many hidden experts—Li Yi's commotion had forced them all to reveal themselves at once.

Good.

This is the chance to net them all.

Divine Martial Emperor Li Jiye had already prepared several blank imperial edicts—he would strip these deities of their titles, scatter their incense, and weaken their power when necessary.

If Li Yi still fails under these conditions, the campaign must be declared a failure.

After all, these experts are not the strongest incense deities—if even they cannot defeat him, the campaign to destroy temples and smash idols must end, and survival across realms becomes the priority.

By the end of the court session, the realm's hidden experts began to emerge.

But soon,

the court's news was instantly transmitted by the Golden-Eyed Guards, destined to reach Li Yi in Taiyue City at the fastest possible speed.

Yet Li Yi, at this moment, did not continue forward with his Embroidered Uniform Guards—he had halted within the city to rest.

Three days and nights of action—even an Evolved One could not endure.

He needed to see whether the incense deities of the realm had reacted to his actions—if not, he would rest one more day before proceeding.