Gu Zhanting screamed and fell from the sky. Ye Tinglan, like a shadow, was about to deliver another blow.

Suddenly, a裂 (crack) appeared in the high sky, as if a pair of divine eyes were observing from above.

Ye Tinglan’s heart stirred, and she immediately suppressed her aura, forcefully pushing her Qianyuan power back to Huiyang.

Breaking through to Qianyuan had several issues. First, the heavenly tribulation and ascension during the breakthrough had already been avoided with the help of the Wusejie (Formless Realm) and Xiaozhu. But there was a second point: ancient realm pursuers would come to capture those who broke through. Mohe was found that way back then, and Jiang Duxu also feared this, which is why he had always suppressed his cultivation level.

To break through to Qianyuan, one had to consider this and learn Jiang Duxu’s method of suppressing one’s level in advance.

Sure enough, a scanning sensation swept directly over her body. Coincidentally, Gu Zhanting had also been beaten to the point where he no longer possessed Qianyuan power. The scan found nothing, and the divine eyes in the sky closed once more.

Ye Tinglan exhaled, her hands not stopping, and she slashed Gu Zhanting again with her sword, almost splitting his chest open.

“Bang!” Gu Zhanting landed on the altar, and a black flame had quietly drilled into his body in mid-air.

Gu Zhanting let out a tragic scream, writhing on the altar, no longer exhibiting his previous terrifying demonic might.

People watched in silence, but there was little lament for the fall of an emperor. Everyone felt that Gu Zhanting lacked too much imperial aura… instead, there was a sigh of changing times.

“Stop!” Several sharp shouts came from afar. Purple energy came from the east, and several figures appeared on the scene, collectively blocking Ye Tinglan’s pursuit.

Ye Tinglan, with her suppressed cultivation, dared not explode again in the short term. Facing the combined attack of several supreme experts, she could only temporarily avoid their sharp edge. She said coldly, “Are you still determined to protect this corrupt ruler?”

It was the old hermits of the Gu family.

An old man slowly said, “We have been in reclusive cultivation and were unaware of Zhanting’s depravity… Now that we know, we will naturally not protect him. But for the State Preceptor to publicly assassinate the monarch, is this an act of rebellion?”

Dealing with Gu Zhanting and overthrowing the entire Daqian dynasty were two different concepts.

The old hermits could tolerate dealing with Gu Zhanting, and might even hope that their blood descendants could inherit the throne, but they would never allow the overthrow of Daqian.

Similarly, the civil and military officials watching at this moment might also feel that Gu Zhanting was unfit to be emperor, but it was hard to say how many hoped for a change of dynasty—powerful aristocratic families and sects, etc., were not just the Pei and Sheng families, but many more.

Even the Huanhua Jianpai and Lingtian Ge, who were on Lu Xingzhou’s side at this moment, were there for the Huo family. Would they be willing to rebel? At least there was no such agreement before.

Ye Tinglan, however, cast a cold glance at them: “It doesn’t seem impossible.”

The old man was choked. The State Preceptor’s temperament and her Dao determined that it would be difficult for her to say “rebellion” so fiercely. He had thought this one sentence would corner Ye Tinglan and make her declare, “I am merely removing a corrupt ruler,” but he didn’t expect her to say that.

If she really wanted to rebel, it seemed she truly could.

She was the only Qianyuan at the moment. Although her cultivation was suppressed and she was injured, she was still the strongest on the field. Moreover, Jiang Duxu, Feng Ziliu, and others on the ground would surely still be on her side. As long as all the imperial old hermits could be eliminated, what did it matter if others agreed or not?

It would merely be tearing off the veil of deposing a corrupt ruler and turning it into blatant rebellion. If she was willing to bear such a reputation, there was nothing she couldn’t do.

The old man lowered his posture and whispered, “State Preceptor, this matter is indeed Zhanting’s fault. But since the State Preceptor knows about the pursuit from the upper realm, Qianyuan power must not be used recklessly. If our two families truly come into major conflict now, the officials might not merely stand by as before, which could lead to rivers of blood. The State Preceptor does not seek worldly power, so why bother with this?”

Ye Tinglan also knew that directly changing the dynasty was quite troublesome. If she dared to use her Qianyuan power casually, it would be fine, but if not, it would indeed be quite difficult… However, what she was thinking was not on the same channel as them.

Instead, she felt that Daqian’s fate had been ruined by Gu Zhanting, and this Daqian could no longer be propped up. Even if it continued to exist, it would be merely lingering, and it might be annihilated by other matters soon.

Such as natural disasters, human calamities, the invasion of the Demon Emperor from the south, or invasions from ancient realms.

After hearing the old man’s words, Ye Tinglan said impassively, “Then what is your intention?”

The old man said, “Of course, it is to depose and establish.”

He paused, hiding his small desire to support his own bloodline, and said with a bleeding heart, “Supporting Yitang to ascend the throne should bring universal joy. What do you think, State Preceptor?”

Ye Tinglan looked at Shen Tang, focusing on Lu Xingzhou, waiting for his opinion.

Their conversation at this point was already suspended above the altar, and those nearby could hear it.

Shen Tang also turned to look at Lu Xingzhou. She herself had no desire to ascend the throne, feeling that becoming emperor in such a tumultuous situation would make it very difficult to act. The entire imperial family would not regard her as one of their own, but rather as a parricide and rebel. Her reputation in court and among the people would also be very strange, and she didn’t know what kind of unofficial histories would be compiled.

Furthermore, her cultivation was insufficient to suppress these imperial family members and important officials. At that time, policies would not be implemented, and there would be outward compliance but inward defiance. Being this emperor would be less comfortable than being the Sect Master of Tianxing Jianzong.

But if Lu Xingzhou wanted her to do it, then she would. Problems could always be solved.

Yet, Lu Xingzhou gently shook his head and transmitted his voice: “This emperor cannot be. It’s a complete quagmire. Moreover, Daqian’s national destiny has been lost. There will be many chaotic natural disasters and human calamities, and all the blame will fall on you. Also…”

His gaze fell on Qi Wang Gu Yiheng, who was in front of the officials in the distance: “Before, Gu Zhanting helped Sir navigate the Qianyuan tribulation. If you ascend the throne now, you might be helping another person navigate the tribulation and gather luck. We might as well change our approach and let him be in the open.”

Shen Tang instantly understood his meaning: “You suspect Qi Wang is a mastermind behind these events?”

“Yes, because in the very beginning, Qi Wang was the first to collude with demons. Gu Zhanting, on the other hand, took over after discovering it. There’s a big problem in between. I suspect Gu Zhanting was under Qi Wang’s guidance from beginning to end. He was too arrogant to consider this.”

Shen Tang felt a chill in her heart: “But Qi Wang is only a fourth-rank cultivator, especially ten years ago, how old was he?”

Lu Xingzhou’s eyes were deep: “Ten years ago, I was also only a few years old, yet I could assist in establishing the Yanluo Dian… In a world of cultivation, age cannot be used as a basis.”

The two communicated via sound transmission, with an additional transmission sent to Ye Tinglan, who listened to their entire conversation and understood. Ye Tinglan also felt that Shen Tang was truly not suitable to ascend the throne at this time. If her cultivation were stronger, it would be better, but she was only second-rank. This emperor would be very difficult to be.

Since Lu Xingzhou also thought so, Ye Tinglan felt confident. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Gu Zhanting on the altar weakly interject, “There’s no such person as Gu Yitang! She died long ago!”

Ye Tinglan: “…”

Imperial old man: “…”

“As long as I don’t acknowledge her, she will have no status… Ye Tinglan, your elaborate plan won’t work!”

Ye Tinglan almost wanted to find a clown mask from the opera stage and put it on him. What was all this? Had he been burned silly by the black flame? It was utterly ridiculous.

However, she used this pretext to say, “Emperor Qian’s actions are absurd and he is unfit to be monarch. Today, the imperial family has deliberated, and the hundred officials have reached a consensus: he should be deposed. A new monarch can be chosen from among the princes such as Qi Wang, Chu Wang, and Wu Wang. As for Princess Chaohuang…”

She paused, then bent down, smiling, to look at Gu Zhanting: “Princess Chaohuang’s identity does not need to be announced by you. Any new monarch can announce it. I don’t know what you’re thinking… But Gu Zhanting, have you not considered? If Yitang ascends the throne, you can still enjoy your later years. If it’s someone else, that won’t happen…”

Gu Zhanting weakly spat, “You’re spouting nonsense. Falling into your hands, I have no hope.”

“Good words are hard to persuade a doomed ghost.” Ye Tinglan suddenly pointed at Gu Zhanting’s glabella, abolishing all his cultivation, and then stood up: “I will not participate in the imperial family’s deposition and establishment. You can discuss it among yourselves.”

The old man asked Gu Shaoli, who had surrendered and sat aside earlier: “We have all been in reclusive cultivation for a long time and are unaware of the current situation. Shaoli has come out of seclusion many times and knows more. Who do you think is fit to be monarch?”

Gu Shaoli sat cross-legged with his eyes closed: “Qi Wang is virtuous, and after the former Jin Wang, he is the eldest prince. Of course, it should be him.”

Another imperial old man said, “I also believe Qi Wang is suitable.”

Other imperial old men also said, “Then it shall be Qi Wang.”

The old man then asked the assembled officials: “What is the consensus of the officials?”

Pei Qingyan hesitated for a moment and said, “I am not familiar with the various princes, but in terms of direct lineage and seniority, since Jin Wang has been deposed as a commoner, it naturally falls to Qi Wang.”

Other important officials unanimously echoed: “We second Qi Wang.”

Lu Xingzhou narrowed his eyes.

This was truly problematic… It was very strange that the officials could be so united in recognizing a prince. The imperial family’s behavior was even stranger. One should know that those old hermits had their own descendants. Although it was difficult for a collateral branch to ascend the throne, the current situation was special, and they might have been able to contend for one or two. Yet, no one contended for their own bloodline; everyone unanimously supported Qi Wang.

No one had heard the secret communication between him and Shen Tang. Logically, many people should have felt that Shen Tang had more capital to ascend the throne in this situation, but still, everyone spoke up for Qi Wang.

Fortunately, Shen Tang did not contend. If she had truly ascended the throne, this quagmire would have been enough to drag her down.

And although Ye Tinglan said she would “not participate,” everyone knew who was truly in charge at this moment. Regardless of who was supported to ascend the throne, Ye Tinglan’s people must receive what was due.

In the late winter of the thirtieth year of Daqian’s peace, during the Xiaonian festival, Emperor Qian Gu Zhanting colluded with demons, built an evil array, sacrificed the mountains and rivers, plundered the empire’s fate, forged a demonic dragon body, and a true dragon’s life to break through to Qianyuan. His evil deeds were stopped by State Preceptor Ye Tinglan and her followers. Furthermore, due to Grand Tutor Huo Liancheng exposing Emperor Qian’s years of absurd conduct, after public deliberation by the imperial family and the hundred officials, his imperial position was abolished, and he was imprisoned on the altar in the outskirts of the capital.

Qi Wang Gu Yiheng, seemingly taking over a mess, ascended the throne with the support of the officials, and changed the era name to “Gengshi” in the New Year.

His first edict was to restore Tianxing Jianzong Sect Master Shen Tang’s name, “Gu Yitang,” and confer upon her the title of Xia Wang, with Xia Province as her fiefdom.

Gu Zhanting’s “disavowal” was purely a joke.

The second edict decreed that Grand Tutor Huo Liancheng had deceived the monarch and committed rebellious acts, leading to his entire family being publicly executed. Huo Shi’s collateral descendant, Huo Qing, who was Lu Xingzhou, inherited the Huo family’s marquis title, with the new title of Dingyuan Hou, and was scheduled to marry the Eldest Princess and Xia Wang Gu Yitang in the capital on an auspicious date.