Chapter 54

Upper Realm, Sky Patrol Hall.

Above the Golden Sea, palaces hung in midair.

The Heavenly Patrol Master sat upon the high seat, the sword scar carved by Jiang Che still unhealed on his brow.

What he could not bear even more was the crack on his crown.

It was not a wound.

It was an insult.

A mortal from the Lower Realm had shattered the Heavenly Patrol Crown.

"My Lord," several Upper Realm Dao Officials bowed their heads in silence.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Patrol Master let out a low growl.

The drop of Heavenly Blood in the Southern Border Demon Well had snapped.

He snapped open his eyes, golden light exploding in his pupils.

"Jiang Che!"

The entire Sky Patrol Hall trembled.

One Dao Official ventured cautiously: "My Lord, the Lower Realm's barrier has been restored. Forcing a descent would cost too much. Should we first report to the Immortal Dynasty and mobilize a higher-tier Heavenly Gate…?"

The Heavenly Patrol Master glared at him coldly.

The Dao Official fell silent at once.

Another man in black robes chuckled: "Why be angered, My Lord? The more Jiang Che struggles, the clearer it is—he's a good piece."

The Heavenly Patrol Master's gaze turned icy: "Hei Xuan, do you of the Demon Path also wish to meddle?"

The man in black robes was Hei Xuan, from the Upper Realm's Demon Luo Dao.

He smiled faintly: "The Human Sword Vein has revived, the Old Imperial Authority has collapsed, the Lower Realm's Qi Refining is being reshaped. In such a grand game, who wouldn't want to place a stone?"

The Heavenly Patrol Master snorted: "The Human Realm falls under the Sky Patrol Hall's jurisdiction."

Hei Xuan said: "It used to. Now the Lower Realm's Heavenly Gates are shattered, the Reception Gate is severed, even Heavenly Punishment has been repelled."

The Heavenly Patrol Master's killing intent surged.

Yet Hei Xuan showed no fear.

"He shattered your crown, not mine."

The atmosphere inside the hall turned abruptly frigid.

At that moment, a white-robed female Dao Official spoke slowly:

"Arguing over this is useless."

She was from the Upper Realm's Great Clarity Path, named Cloud Mirror.

"Jiang Che's most terrifying trait is not his sword."

The Heavenly Patrol Master frowned: "Then what is?"

Cloud Mirror said: "He has made the Human Realm no longer believe in just one person."

"The Old Imperial Authority was controllable, because the Emperor was a single point."

"Kill one Emperor, replace him with another, and shepherding the people continues."

"But now the Lower Realm has established a Council Hall, divided power, abolished the Kneeling Ceremony, and written official histories."

"They are dismantling the roots that could be controlled by the Heavenly Gates."

Hei Xuan smiled: "So killing Jiang Che directly may not even help."

Cloud Mirror nodded: "Yes."

The Heavenly Patrol Master's face grew colder: "Then what do you suggest?"

Cloud Mirror raised her hand; a phantom image of the Lower Realm appeared in the air.

Han Zhou, Capital City, Luo'an, East Sea, Southern Border, Tian Duan Cliff.

"The New System is just taking root; its foundation is unstable."

"They fear no external enemy, only internal fracture."

Hei Xuan's eyes lit up: "Brilliant."

Cloud Mirror continued: "Spread word that Jiang Che's refusal to ascend the throne is a ruse—that he secretly holds all power. Then support the old nobles, sects, and powerful clans in every region to rise against the Council Hall under the banner of Orthodoxy."

The Heavenly Patrol Master said: "Mortal infighting moves too slowly."

Cloud Mirror said: "Add disaster."

She pointed to the northwest of the Lower Realm.

"In the Western Desert lies the Drought Bone Abyss—draw forth the Drought Demon."

Then she pointed to the Central Plains.

"The Old Imperial Family still has Xiao Clan blood—install a Young Emperor."

Then she pointed to the martial world.

"Though the Sword Pavilion has pledged to Jiang Che, not all sects across the land will accept the Council Hall's rule."

Hei Xuan chuckled: "The poison of human hearts is more effective than Heavenly Punishment."

The Heavenly Patrol Master fell silent.

He disliked such convoluted schemes.

He preferred to crush Jiang Che with his own hands.

But he also understood Cloud Mirror was right.

What now troubled the Human Realm most was that newly risen spirit.

To break it, you need not always use Thunder.

Let them doubt themselves.

Let them fight among themselves.

Let them kneel before themselves.

The Heavenly Patrol Envoy said slowly, "Good."

"Proclaim the Sky Patrol Edict of Wrath."

"Whoever in the Lower Realm slays Jiang Che, destroys the Council Hall, and restores the Heavenly Gate."

"I shall grant thirty Ascension Quotas."

Hei Xuan laughed loudly.

"Now, the Human Realm will be lively."

Cloud Mirror's gaze was calm, yet she looked toward a certain place in the Lower Realm.

There, it was Han Zhou.

She whispered, "Jiang Che, I hope you can bear it."

Not long after, the Upper Realm's Heavenly Decree slipped into the Human Realm through secret channels.

Thirty Ascension Quotas.

Whoever slays Jiang Che may ascend to the Upper Realm.

Whoever destroys the Council Hall may obtain the Immortal Longevity Method.

Whoever restores the Heavenly Gate may be named Lord of the Lower Realm.

Suddenly, hidden Heavenly Gate Remnants, Old Dynasty nobles, ambitious sects, and demonic forces from the borderlands all stirred with ambition.

The Capital Council Hall soon received intelligence.

After reading it, Gu Chongming's face turned ashen.

"They intend to throw the Human Realm into chaos."

Qin Su said coldly, "Then suppress them."

Chen Shanhe slammed his fist on the table: "Kill one the moment they show up!"

Gu Chongming sighed, "If it were only about killing, it would be simple."

"But they will cloak themselves in Orthodoxy, ancestral law, divine edicts, and popular grievance."

"Swords can slay men, but not rumors."

When the news reached the Southern Border, Jiang Che was preparing to return north.

After reading the Heavenly Decree, he suddenly smiled.

Xie Tingxue asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Jiang Che said, "The Upper Realm is desperate."

"Desperation doesn't mean weakness."

Jiang Che nodded: "I know."

He handed the Heavenly Decree to Lin Xiaoman.

"Write it down."

Lin Xiaoman frowned: "Record something like this?"

Jiang Che said, "Record it."

"Let future generations see."

"When their so-called immortals and gods dangle Longevity as bait, they're no different from street con artists."