Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

The day after the Northern Sacrifice to Heaven.

The Great Yin Dynasty, Tianjing.

The heavy tolling of the bell resounded throughout the imperial city, and civil and military officials gathered early in the Cangtian Hall.

In the past, the court assemblies were mostly presided over by the Imperial Preceptor, Sikong Xuan.

Emperor Yin has not made a public appearance for a long time.

Since the construction of the Nine Heavens Palace began, he has lived in the deepest part of the palace, using the fortune of the heavens to temper his gradually decaying imperial body every day. He is waiting for the palace to be completed so that he can use the power of the people's wishes to reclaim his lifespan.

He no longer cared much about the state of the imperial court or the thirteen prefectures.

But things are different today.

At the very top of the Heavenly Palace, on the long-empty imperial throne, Emperor Yin reappeared.

His face remained dignified, but large patches of silver had appeared in his hair, and his body beneath the wide imperial robes looked rather thin.

Everyone knows why he came.

Princess Qiyang has been beheaded!

Prince Anling has been killed!

The two prefectures of Beishuo and Hanchuan have officially rebelled against the Great Yin!

The expressions of the officials in the hall varied.

Some were angry, some were terrified, and some lowered their heads, quietly considering whether their families should also have an alternative way out.

Emperor Yin's face was terribly gloomy.

Before the court assembly even began, a series of decrees were already being issued from the palace.

Consort Zhao is to be executed!

His entire maternal clan, regardless of their official rank or cultivation level, were imprisoned and executed!

All those in the Princess's residence connected with Pei Zhaoye were imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. Even the Yunzhuan Dao Academy was stripped of three spirit mines and its gates were closed for a hundred years due to its lax discipline of its disciples!

None of the officials in the court dared to offer any advice.

It was obvious to everyone that Emperor Yin was taking his anger out on others.

But Emperor Yin really hated his daughter.

If Qi Yang hadn't taken Pei Zhaoye to Beishuo and acted so foolishly, even if Gu Changjin had long harbored rebellious intentions, he might not have been able to gather the hearts of the people of the two states in such a short time and shout "Heaven is dead!"

Now the fortunes of the two states have been severed, and the hearts of the people are in turmoil.

The Heavenly Fortune that the Nine Heavens Palace drew last night was nearly 20% less than usual!

Every bit of luck lost means the completion of the Heavenly Palace will be further delayed, and his plan to prolong his life will have an increased chance of failure.

That lowly maidservant died, but she almost dragged me down with her!

How could Emperor Yin not be furious?

"Issue my decree!"

A cold voice came from the imperial throne.

"The Prince of Jingwu, Yin Daoheng, is hereby appointed Grand General of Pingqing, commanding the troops of the four northern prefectures, and dispatching two imperial guard units to conquer Beishuo and Hanchuan!"

"Whoever slays Gu Changjin shall be enfeoffed as a king of a different surname and granted a province!"

"Anyone who offers up the Northern Northern Capital will be promoted nine ranks, and their descendants for three generations will be exempt from taxes!"

One imperial decree after another was issued.

Prince Jingwu, Yin Daoheng, was a veteran general of the royal family. He had already reached the realm of a terrestrial immortal and had once led a million-strong army to suppress the demonic rebellion in the southern border.

His appointment as the Grand Commander of Pingqing demonstrates the importance the court attaches to Gu Changjin.

Some have even suggested directly waking up the sleeping ancestral spirit in the royal ancestral temple.

Emperor Yin only gave that person a cold look.

As the true foundation of the royal family, the Earth Immortal Ancestor pays a great price every time he awakens and takes action. He is also bound by certain rules of this world. How could he easily mobilize for the rebellion of just two states?

It's not time yet.

Emperor Yin then looked at Sikong Xuan.

"Grand Preceptor, you should personally coordinate from the center."

"The Tai Cang Immortal Sect and my Great Yin are of one blood. Since Gu Changjin has established a false Heaven, shaking the foundation of the Heavenly Realm, the Immortal Sect cannot stand idly by!"

"Please ask them to send strong warriors to assist Prince Jingwu in quelling the rebellion!"

Sikong Xuan bowed and accepted the order, but his heart sank slightly.

The mountain gate of the Taicang Immortal Sect is hidden in the Taicang Cave Heaven, which exists in relation to this world, and together with the Dayin, it maintains the Cangtian system.

There are indeed Earth Immortals presiding over the Immortal Sect, and Wenren Shi is one of the Earth Immortal lineages.

But those old things faced even more restrictions than the royal family.

It would be easy to get them to send a few land-based immortals.

Inviting a celestial being to personally leave the Tai Cang Cave Heaven is by no means something that can be accomplished with a single imperial decree.

"besides."

Emperor Yin's voice came again.

"Construction of the Nine Heavens Palace must not be halted."

"I order the thirteen provinces to double their offerings of this month's fortune. Within three months, I will see the fourth heavenly palace!"

Sikong Xuan suddenly looked up.

"Your Majesty, the people's hearts are unsettled. If the Heavenly Fortune is drawn even more heavily, I fear the Heavenly Registers of each state will further consolidate their control over the localities..."

"The Imperial Advisor!"

Emperor Yin interrupted him directly.

"My mind is made up."

"First pacify the Qing Dynasty, then destroy the Yellow Emperor. Once I successfully extend my lifespan, the Great Yin Dynasty can continue for another ten thousand years!"

Sikong Xuan remained silent for a moment, then finally lowered his head.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

But no one saw the hint of weariness flash in his lowered eyes.

The heavens were already weakened by the division of the two states and the unrest in the hearts of the people.

Now, Emperor Yin not only doesn't replenish his blood, but he also wants to extract even more.

The constraints imposed on the monks and vassals in each state will only weaken over time.

This is hardly a suppression of a rebellion.

He is clearly giving more people the opportunity to break free from the ravages of fate!

……

The Northern Capital.

Gu Changjin did not stay in the palace to wait for the imperial army.

After Beishuo and Hanchuan officially separated, the national fortunes, the destiny of the mountains and rivers, and the thoughts of the people of the two states were all incorporated into the Azure Emperor's Heavenly Register.

Deep within the Dao Fruit, three hundred new Dao Principles of Returning to One were condensed.

The original 819 problems instantly increased to 1,119!

That's more like it.

If you conquer a state but gain nothing but territory, what's the point of fighting for the world?

Gu Changjin immediately expanded the Qingtiandao.

The evergreen pines of the Northern Lands, the nine-leafed lotuses deep in the icy lakes of the Cold River, and the ancient locust tree on Thunder Cliff that has survived three thousand lightning strikes.

And the Crimson Blood Demon Vine, which was born from the Yin and Yang energies drawn from the Earth Fire Ice Cave.

The four plants are the most precious rare species in the two states, having accumulated the essence of thousands or tens of thousands of years, only lacking the true birth of complete intelligence.

Gu Changjin used the authority of the Azure Heaven as his foundation, and each of the thirty Daoist principles of the Unity of the One were invested in.

After the azure light dissipated, four terrestrial immortals appeared in the Azure Heaven Path: Green Pine Daoist, Cold Lotus Fairy, Thunder Locust Daoist, and Red Vine Boy!

The four of them joined the Qingtian Dao together.

With the addition of Aoki, Qingtiandao now boasts five true terrestrial immortals.

More importantly, the foundation of their great path is entirely rooted in the blue sky.

The wider the territory covered by the blue sky, the stronger the will of the people, and the higher the cultivation level of the five people will be.

After the 120 Daos were combined into one Dao, 999 Daos remained in the Dao Fruit balance.

Gu Changjin was very satisfied with this.

After completely taking control of the two states, he finally figured out the limitations this realm placed on cultivation.

Land immortals can establish themselves based on their own Dao.

However, if one wants to continue to rise, there must be a sufficiently powerful "sky" to support one's own great path and status.

The position of Cangtian has long been occupied by the Da Yin and the Taicang Immortal Sect.

This is one of the real reasons why there are so many immortals on land, yet so few are able to ascend to higher realms.

Gu Changjin was not prepared to squeeze into the heavens.

He has his own justice!

The two states are still a little short of each other.

Once he conquers one more state, connecting the three states into one, the heavens will be enough to support him in breaking through the limits of the terrestrial immortal realm and stepping into a higher level!

So, are we just waiting for the imperial court to come knocking on our door?

What a joke.

That afternoon, Gu Changjin led five Qingtiandao experts, including Qingmu, along with four Grass and Wood armies and 50,000 Beishuo Hanchuan allied troops, directly leaving the royal city and heading towards Hexi Prefecture to the west of the two prefectures!

The army moved at an extremely fast pace.

In less than half a day, they had already crossed the northern border.

Just as Gu Changjin was sitting on the Xuanjia chariot, considering which city in Hexi Prefecture to attack first, a scout responsible for reconnaissance suddenly galloped over from a distance.

"Report! Lord Dao, a giant snake is blocking our path three hundred miles ahead!"

"The snake was pure white, over a thousand feet long, coiled between the official road and two mountain peaks. It held a scroll of cyan jade in its mouth, and allowed the army cultivators to approach without harming them!"

"The accompanying cultivators said that this snake is surrounded by auspicious light, so it is probably not a demon, but a celestial beast that has come to welcome the Dao Lord!"

Gu Changjin was slightly taken aback.

A white snake? Blocking the way? What are these elements?

The story of a certain emperor surnamed Liu from his previous life inexplicably surfaced in his mind.

No?

Could it be that I, too, am going to start a... rebellion to slay the snake?