Jiangdong, outside Tianwu City.
Dark clouds pressed down on the city, revealing a towering military formation. Looking out, one could see a sea of people, a forest of swords and spears. The leader was a heroic-looking man.
Zhennan King Wu Taian.
From receiving the urgent letter from Junior Guardian Li Taian to rushing to Tianwu City with troops, Wu Taian's mood at this moment could completely be described as high-spirited.
However, he hid these emotions well in the bottom of his heart. On his face, he still put on a heartbroken look. His divine sense observed Tianwu City, which had turned into a pot of porridge due to the fighting competition—vigorous, with all things competing. He couldn't help but sigh, then clapped his hands hard:
"Damn it, how did the Dao Court become like this!"
Besides reprimanding, Wu Taian didn't forget to say secretly in his heart:
Keep it up. Keep fighting!
Although he was now in the same camp as the Junior Guardian, Junior Mentor, and Junior Preceptor, he was, after all, one of the Tianwu Imperial Family. A temporary alliance couldn't change his stance.
Therefore, even though he actually arrived very early, he still deliberately waited for a while. It wasn't until he estimated that forty to fifty percent of the officials had been beaten to death or crippled, leaving just enough vacant official positions for him to arrange his own men into the central administration, that he leisurely ordered the entry into Tianwu City.
However, the next second.
Beams of formation light soared into the sky, actually sealing his path into the city. This change immediately made Wu Taian frown.
"Such audacity!"
Wu Taian's gaze raised slightly, and he soon saw a familiar figure within the formations of Tianwu City. It was the demon cultivator Xiao Shan who had defected to Lu Yang earliest.
"What are you doing there? The Imperial City Division shouldn't be responsible for city defense, right?"
Wu Taian rejoiced in his heart, but on his face, he looked upright and impartial: "Let Du Huan come out to see me! Immediately, stop the Imperial City Division's brutal behavior at once!"
"The Imperial City Division enforces the law impartially, all for the safety of the Dao Court."
Xiao Shan smiled and said softly, "Lord Du Huan has other important matters. Why don't you wait outside the city first, Your Highness, until Lord Du Huan comes over to explain to you?"
"Bastard!"
Wu Taian was instantly furious and scolded sternly, "You guys with water in your brains, is beating all officials with court staffs because you are worried about the Dao Court's safety?"
"You rebels, stay put honestly. I'll send you all to the sky with divine abilities right now!"
As his voice fell, Wu Taian instantly activated his spiritual power. Divine abilities operated one after another, and the military formation behind him also began to line up, clearly preparing to force their way into the city.
Just then, the originally bright formation of Tianwu City suddenly shook. Then, like rootless water, the originally majestic aura instantly dropped. Xiao Shan, guarding the city wall, looked back and saw three streaks of light flying over successively. It was exactly the Junior Guardian, Junior Mentor, and Junior Preceptor!
"Welcome Zhennan King into the capital!"
Junior Guardian Li Taian was the first to speak loudly. He was also the one who unlocked the formation of Tianwu City. This was the most critical move, enough to decide the situation.
Now that the Imperial City Division and the Five Imperial Military Camps are fighting the officials, that demon dragon must have lost all credibility with the Crown Prince and the Empress. As long as Zhennan King enters the city and guards the Son of Heaven's Seal, the situation will be set. No matter how that demon dragon thrashes, it will only be a dead end!
Thinking of this, Li Taian was instantly excited.
The next second, he looked coldly at Xiao Shan and the group of Imperial City Division cultivators on the city wall: "Please take action, Your Highness, and execute these rebels first!"
Xiao Shan's gaze turned solemn upon hearing this.
If it were before, he would probably have knelt and begged for mercy. However, after experiencing the power and position of the Imperial City Division, and receiving various allowances and red envelopes from Lu Yang...
His knees couldn't bend down anymore.
Even if he had to kneel, he would only kneel to one person!
With this thought, Xiao Shan immediately shouted, "Imperial City Division, heed the order—LOYALTY!"
"LOYALTY!"
Accompanied by voices rising one after another, except for a very few cultivators who chose to flee, most Imperial City Division cultivators remained in place.
Seeing this, a flash of surprise passed through Wu Taian's eyes, but it quickly turned into a more intense killing intent.
Five divine abilities operated, about to smash down.
However, just then.
"Empress's Decree arrives—!"
A sharp voice broke the murderous atmosphere. Everyone present was stunned for a moment, then turned around in unison to look at a group of people coming from the direction of the voice.
"... from the palace?"
Junior Guardian Li Taian looked surprised. But the moment he saw the leader, his original surprise turned into horror and indescribable panic—
"Du Huan!?"
"Greetings to the Lords." Lu Yang smiled and cupped his hands. Then he looked at Wu Taian and nodded similarly: "Long time no see, Your Highness..."
Boom!
Before Lu Yang's voice fell, Junior Guardian Li Taian had absolutely no intention of communicating with him. He struck first, and divine ability brilliance instantly submerged him.
Because intuition told Li Taian that he absolutely couldn't let Lu Yang continue speaking. Otherwise, everything he painstakingly planned, and even the entire Dao Court and Jiangdong, would usher in a drastic change! By then, let alone him, the current civil and military officials of the Dao Court—everything would be completely overturned!
However, it was too late.
Facing Li Taian's divine ability, Lu Yang didn't even have the intention to fight back. He just lightly took out a brilliant golden seal from his bosom.
Son of Heaven's Seal!
Around the seal, the official positions of the Five Imperial Military Commanders linked into a ring like stars arching around the moon, finally transforming into an official position overriding everyone present:
[Imperial Descent]!
Thud!
The next second, the Junior Guardian, Junior Mentor, Junior Preceptor, Wu Taian, and even all Dao Court officials present knelt on the ground uncontrollably!
Lu Yang smiled with satisfaction upon seeing this, then took out a scroll.
"Empress's Decree, all subjects listen!"
The scroll unfurled, shining with golden light. From it came a voice that sounded as if it had just gone through a great battle—weak, listless, yet charming:
"Everything has ended, Junior Guardian Li Taian."
Li Taian's eyes widened instantly: "Your Majesty! You...!?"
Without giving him a chance to continue speaking, Empress Xiao continued, "Because of your selfishness, the Imperial City has seen blood. I cannot bear it..."
Before the voice fell, Lu Yang suddenly tapped the Empress's Decree and whispered, "Be tougher."
"Oh, alright~"
Empress Xiao's voice paused slightly, then suddenly became stern: "Minister Du and I have reached an agreement. All officials return to your mansions immediately."
"Besides this, Li Taian, Zheng Pingyi, Kong Xingxiao, from this moment on, you are stripped of your positions as Junior Guardian, Junior Preceptor, and Junior Mentor. Do you understand? From now on, you are nothing! No longer disciples of the Three Excellencies. All officials are to follow the commands of the Imperial City Division and the Five Imperial Military Camps."
"And Zhennan King Wu Taian."
"Mobilizing troops to enter the capital without authorization is a great crime of rebellion. You're suspected of secretly colluding with the Demonic Sect in Jiangbei. Arrest him immediately and send him to the Imperial City Division for strict interrogation!"
As the voice fell, the light of the Empress's Decree gradually faded.
Lu Yang grinned: "The Imperial City Division will obey Her Majesty's Decree. The Junior Guardian, Junior Preceptor, Junior Mentor, and Zhennan King are all Demonic Sect spies."
"By Imperial Decree, strip their official positions!"
As his voice fell, the [Imperial Descent] above Lu Yang's head shone brightly like a great sun, instantly plucking away the official positions of Li Taian and the others.
The situation is set!
Spent quite a bit of effort... Finally, Jiangdong is entirely in my hands!
At this moment, Lu Yang raised his head, only to see that in the vault of heaven, the spark of faint light that originally flashed and disappeared had finally risen to the brightness of a lamp flame.
[Heavenly Fire]!
As Lu Yang completely controlled the Dao Court, this extremely fastidious Supreme Dao Fruit finally cast its faint gaze upon him!