Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

"Da Ying is gone?"

"Your Majesty, the Great Ying is gone!"

"Is Da Ying really gone just like that?"

"Your Majesty, is the Great Ying truly gone?"

Is the information accurate?

"That's what the leaflets dropped by the Great Spirit Empire's fleet said. Such a large empire wouldn't spread rumors so easily."

……

Deep within the royal palaces of various kingdoms in the Chengtian Domain, similar dialogues are unfolding.

The kings and ministers of these small countries sat together, with blue leaflets scattered by the Great Ling Empire in front of them.

A group of high-ranking nobles looked at each other, perfectly embodying the phrase "looking at each other in bewilderment."

Before the intelligence agencies of various countries, whose very existence is unknown, could exert their efforts, the Great Spirit Empire had already prepared intelligence for them.

Thanks to the deliberate propaganda of the Great Spirit Empire, the delayed news has already reached the capitals of various countries.

Leaflets fell from the sky like snowflakes, landing in streets and alleys, deep within the palace, causing an unprecedented sensation in dozens of small kingdoms.

People can see the blue snowflakes falling from the sky simply by looking up, and can easily tuck the exquisite flyers into their pockets by bending down slightly.

Even though nearly half the population in these small countries is illiterate, it has not eased the situation in any way.

As word spread, everyone learned about what had happened in Ying Kingdom.

Within the Chengtian Domain, the kings, each residing deep within their palaces, fell silent, while the various powers of the Nine Domains adopted differing attitudes.

They were shocked, terrified, worried, or opposed.

Apart from the Great Time Empire, which is one of only two members of the allied forces, no other major power in the entire Nine Domains is willing to wholeheartedly support the Great Spirit Empire.

The Empire's move was so forceful that it instilled extreme fear and unease in them.

Today it is Ying State, but who will it be tomorrow?

They would capture the king of another country in his palace and "take away" the royal family and nobles like cargo.

How could such a thing be reasonable?

If this situation continues, won't the Great Ling Empire be able to arrest whomever it wants in the future?

……

Yin Yin Domain, Five Spirits Academy.

After learning what had happened at the Ying Kingdom's palace, Bai Ling put down the book she was reading.

With light steps, I walked to the edge of the windowsill.

Standing by the window, looking at the blazing sun overhead, Bai Ling habitually adjusted her black-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of her nose.

His eyes, hidden behind his glasses, were like autumn water, shimmering with a subtle, captivating light.

The realm of the immortals allows Bai Ling to see very, very far, but her old habits still make her wear these glasses.

Outside the window was a peach orchard, and the soil was a little damp, perhaps because of a light rain last night.

The grass, damp from the rain, caught the falling blossoms, adding a touch of romance to the otherwise solemn academy.

Bai Ling stood by the window, watching the petals swirl in the breeze, like startled swans, like graceful dancers.

She reached out a hand and caught the falling petals.

The peach blossoms have small petals with a faint pink hue, resembling the blushing cheeks of a young girl.

Two petals, two colors, one bright and one dark, each with its own characteristics.

Even the same peach tree can display different colors depending on when the flowers bloom.

Recipe, Shining.

Flowers bloom in an instant, their beauty captivating the entire city.

Bai Ling loved looking at flowers from a very young age.

As a child, Bai Ling liked to sit alone in the peach grove and watch the flowers bloom at different times.

This habit has been maintained to this day.

At this moment, Bai Ling stood by the window, watching the falling petals and the young students discussing romance and poetry in the peach grove.

Perhaps it's a case of the upper beam being crooked and the lower beam being crooked, or perhaps it's just that times are progressing, but "older people" like Bai Ling often feel that they can't keep up with the times or the thinking of young people.

Most of the students at the Five Spirits Academy have a free and unrestrained spirit, and they are extremely open-minded about all sorts of things.

Because the bamboo house where she usually lived was built in the middle of the peach grove, Bai Ling would often see young students embracing and whispering sweet nothings in the peach grove, completely oblivious to the stares of others.

During the day, one might have to be a little more restrained, but when the night is deep and quiet, the peach grove becomes truly thrilling.

This annoyed Bai Ling, who pondered whether to establish some palace rules to restrain these energetic young people.

Thinking about all these random things, Bai Ling shook her head by the window, bringing her thoughts back to the important matter at hand.

As she turned around, a white light swirled, and a map of the Nine Realms appeared before Bai Ling's eyes.

The map shows the mountains and rivers of the Nine Regions at a scaled-down ratio, but some special places are highlighted in red.

Looking at the red dot on the map, Bai Ling frowned slightly, as if she was a little worried.

"The Reincarnation Pavilion in the Chengtian Domain, the Sacred Mountain of the Western Spirit Domain, the Dragon God Palace in the Hanhai Domain, the Four Symbols Mountain within the Empire... A storm is brewing..."

Bai Ling read out the names of one power after another, but her gaze remained fixed on the Tianming Domain, on the location of the Wenhua Palace.

After staring at Wenhua Palace for a long, long time, Bai Ling lowered her gaze and looked at the books she had placed on the table.

A gentle breeze swept across the windowsill, rustling the pages of the book on the table.

With a rustling sound, the pages slowly closed, revealing four large characters.

A New Theory on Great Harmony

Bai Ling's slender hand lingered on the book cover, touching the classic texts on the table, her gaze somewhat unfocused.

"The Way of Literature, the Way of Humanity."

……

"Power must be checked and balanced; any imbalance will inevitably lead to destruction."

"Human beings do not need gods; mortals should strive to improve themselves."

……

"No emperor, no king, we will overthrow the gods and the heavens, and reshape the principles of humanity..."

"The world is in harmony, all realms are in harmony, literature carries the way, and laws define boundaries."

……

"To attack the gods and the heavens... What are gods? What is heaven? By writing such words, what are you, Zhuangzi, to claim?"

"No matter how unbalanced the empire may be, or how unrestrained the power may be, it is still the result of everyone's efforts over the past few centuries. It has withstood the test of time and various trials."

"To dismiss centuries of effort so easily—what arrogance!"

"Throughout history, we live in the best of times, so how can we allow others to criticize us at will?"

"We must remind our master and Zhaoyang to be extra careful and never treat Wenhua Palace as their own!"

"And then there's Xiao Qinghe. Her idea is indeed good, giving the choice to the people of Chengtian Domain. But given the current situation, the enemies lurking in the shadows may not necessarily follow her wishes..."

……

The capital of Lan Kingdom, behind the royal palace.

"Still no news from the Reincarnation Pavilion? They control so many powerful figures, are they just going to ignore it all?"

"Your Majesty, the appearance of this Reincarnation Pavilion is already strange. Its behavior is not like that of the righteous path, but rather somewhat similar to the demonic sects recorded in ancient books. I'm afraid they have ill intentions..."

"How could I not know that this Reincarnation Pavilion is no good? But look at this Imperial Palace, how many people are still willing to obey my orders?"

These civil and military officials, imperial guards, and palace maids all seem no different from normal people on ordinary days, but if you ask me, they have probably long since become puppets of the Reincarnation Pavilion.

"If it weren't for the fact that you, my dear minister, studied with me at the Wuji Sword Sect when you were young, and were fortunate enough to receive the blessing of the old sect master, I'm afraid you would also be secretly controlled by that Reincarnation Pavilion."