Immortal Father
Chapter 1097 - 1097 383 Xuanyuan's Entrustment_2

1097: Chapter 383 Xuanyuan’s Entrustment_2 1097: Chapter 383 Xuanyuan’s Entrustment_2 “The calamity in East Continent, owing to adequate preparation, and with the aid of Daoist Immortals, the attendants of Holy Mother Palace, the students of the Heavenly Emperor Academy, as well as various wandering celestials, resulted in far fewer mortal casualties than previously estimated.”

“The New Heavenly Court has already expressed its gratitude to allies from all directions on behalf of the Human Race.”

“Later, attention must be paid to the care of those who have fallen to demonic forces, the compensation for the families of celestial soldiers; the treasury of the Eastern Alliance may be utilized further to ensure that the relatives and friends of our Human heroes are not left disheartened.”

“In this battle, our side slew countless foes, yet many comrades have departed from us, fallen in fierce combat against fiends and demons…”

At this point, Xuanyuan Huangdi lowered his gaze, speaking in a hushed voice:

“Feng is gone.”

Many old ministers’ eyes brimmed with tears.

Xuanyuan Huangdi spoke softly:

“The death of Feng has been thoroughly investigated; its origin lies in some old ministers who refuse to accept the New Heavenly Court, conspiring against the New Heavenly Emperor.”

“I do not wish to lose my temper with you, for you and I are old sovereign and ministers; rage serves no purpose.”

“Those involved have been seized by my trusted aides; some are dead, and others… I do not know how to handle them.”

“After all, merely an hour ago, they were still fighting fiercely on the battlefield.”

“What should I do?

What can I possibly do?”

“Of these ministers present, ten or more have shed blood and sacrificed for the rise of the Human Race, yet now, on the eve of the Human Race’s unification and dominion over the heavens, they are ensnared by their own ambition… Have you all forgotten the oaths you once swore for the Human Race?”

An old minister exclaimed: “Your servant dares not forget!”

“Rise.”

Xuanyuan Huangdi sank his body into the backrest of his chair, his gaze somewhat vacant.

He said: “Merit is merit, fault is fault—the rules of our Human Race have always been thus.

Does anyone have an objection?”

The ministers bowed their heads and cupped their hands in unison, loudly proclaiming: “We obey Your Majesty’s decree!”

“This is the jade talisman Feng left for me before the battle.

Circulate it among yourselves.”

After a moment of waiting, Xuanyuan Huangdi spoke slowly:

“This matter can be divided into two parts, before and after.”

“In the first part, a group of ministers secretly colluded with the Right Attendant Chief, devising a plot to assassinate the New Heavenly Emperor.

The Right Attendant Chief was merely pushed to the forefront by them.”

“To accomplish their aim, they even resolved to exploit the power of Venerable Calamity and Minghe Old Ancestor.”

“While I lack concrete evidence, through careful calculations, were it not for the opportunity they provided, the situation would not have escalated to this extent.

What occurred here amounts to treachery against our race and nation—a grave crime.

However, due to the urgent circumstances, Feng suggested giving them a chance.”

“Thus came the second part… Feng was far too soft with these comrades-in-arms; he was far too soft with you and me as well.”

Xuanyuan Huangdi sighed lightly.

The ministers gazed at the contents within the jade talisman.

These officials who opposed Li Ping’an becoming the New Heavenly Emperor had actually set their minds on an unyielding resolution—to attack and kill Li Ping’an, regardless of who emerged victorious in the inner or outer struggle over the Heavenly Dao.

A human official spoke grimly: “Your Majesty, there may be inner Heavenly Dao at play here, manipulating them… alas.”

“Indeed, inner Heavenly Dao may be influencing them,” another official immediately refuted, “but if their Daoist hearts remain unbroken, and their virtues intact, how could inner Heavenly Dao seize this opportunity to control them?”

“Each and every one of them has been steeped in slaughter since ancient times; to claim they’re being controlled by inner Heavenly Dao?”

“Why have they fallen to such depths?

Has Ping’an, the Heavenly Emperor, done anything contrary to propriety?”

“That’s right, though Ping’an’s rise has been brief, in retrospect, this heaven and earth have already been transformed entirely because of him.

At the very least, during our harshest times—the Holy Mother’s departure, demons rampaging—if not for this father and son’s emergence, who knows how badly we would have been bullied by the Western Sect now.”

“There’s hardly any need for discussion; Your Majesty made the decision back then for the Human Race to fully support the New Heavenly Court and the New Heavenly Emperor.

These foolish traitors have violated Your Majesty’s command in pursuit of their own desires—they must be executed!”

“They even caused Minister Feng’s death!

Their families must be eradicated!”

Several divine generals spoke with chilling murderous tones, their words eliciting varied expressions among the ministers.

One sighed: “Today’s hard battle for dominion over heaven and earth has just ended, and now we must immediately punish a group of ministers and families—is this not akin to ‘slaughtering the donkey after its millstone work is done’?”

“Your Majesty!

Please issue the order!”

“Your Majesty!

If such corruption is not eradicated, the very roots of the Human Race will rot!”

Xuanyuan Huangdi suddenly asked: “Daughter, what is your opinion?”

Lady Ba considered briefly before replying slowly: “The battle has just ended; it would be unwise to directly wipe out families.

Better to first execute the chief offenders, announce this to the public, and exile the families of these ministers beyond the heavens, forbidding them from reentering the dominion of heaven and earth.”

Xuanyuan Huangdi asked: “If their families cause trouble later, how should it be handled?”

“No cause for concern.”

Lady Ba spoke:

“The Heavenly Emperor need not bother with such opponents; neither the New Heavenly Court nor they are capable of shaking its foundations.

“These ten-plus ministers’ families amount to sixty to seventy thousand people in total, with only three to four thousand direct descendants, most of whom are ordinary mortals incapable of attaining True Immortal or Heavenly Immortal status.”

“Exiling them beyond heaven and earth serves as an observation of whether they will further collude with fiends and demons; if such collusion occurs, they must be executed without mercy.”

Xuanyuan Huangdi asked: “What do you all think?”

The officials, aware of the deeper intent in Xuanyuan Huangdi’s inquiry to Lady Ba regarding how to handle the matter, promptly bowed in unison: “Your servants concur!”

Xuanyuan Huangdi sighed: “Wind-Master and Lord Yushi, retrieve the heads of these ten-plus ministers, suspend them outside the camp gates, and publicly announce their crimes.

Keep the wording vague, ensuring no connection to Ping’an; indicate that they colluded with fiends and demons, acted against heavenly principles, and sought to destroy the promising prospects of the Human Race.

As for the other matters, proceed as Lady Ba suggested.”

Wind-Master and Lord Yushi, the two divine generals, stood immediately to accept the order, departing swiftly from the tent with chilling resolve.

Xuanyuan Huangdi waved his hand slightly, signaling the officials to bow, salute, and quickly exit with lowered heads.