The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 792 - 573: Assembly

His strength has reached the third level of the Five Qi Realm, and all twelve major acupoints are completely filled. His current strength has reached a peak state, and he has opened forty-eight acupoints. This suggests that he has the potential to reach the fourth level of the Five Qi Realm, but time is limited, and the external environment seems no longer to permit such uninterrupted cultivation.

"Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard seeks an audience with Master Taiyi on urgent matters."

A woman wearing armor, with a treasured sword at her waist and faintly golden eyes, walked into the Wuji Palace. Her strength was not weak; she had crossed that barrier and become an Evolver of the Soul Realm in this period.

One must know that Li Yi is only at the Spirit Power Realm.

To achieve such accomplishments in this world, this woman is truly full of potential.

At that moment, Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard sensed the changes in the Heaven and Earth Energy around her and felt a bit surprised because the energy that had shrouded the entire Wuji Hall suddenly began dissipating today. It seemed that Master Taiyi knew something would happen today and proactively stopped his cultivation.

But the great hall was empty.

After waiting a moment, Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard called out again: "Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard, by imperial decree, seeks an audience with Master Taiyi."

As soon as she finished speaking,

the entire Wuji Palace suddenly filled with patches of golden Xiangyun. These Xiangyun quickly spread across the ground, making the surroundings magnificent as if stepping into a celestial palace, giving an unreal feeling, and the Xiangyun were not illusory, but something one could step on, soft and comfortable, yet incredibly resilient.

Amidst the Xiangyun-covered ground, a man in Red Jade Purple Gold Armor, eyes ablaze, cloaked in thunder and holding Dragon and Tiger Energy, strode forward on golden Xiangyun.

Just the aura alone made Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard tremble all over, as if her soul were about to leave her body. An innate reverence arose, as if this person in front of her was not human at all but innately sacred, certainly no ordinary mortal, and his life essence was no longer the same as that of common people.

Had she not seen it with her own eyes,

she would never believe such a person could exist in this world.

"Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard pays respects to Master Taiyi."

Suddenly regaining her senses, Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard unconsciously knelt down, as if kneeling in worship was natural, with no dissatisfaction or hesitation, as if it were meant to be.

The level of existence was too great, and its mysteries couldn’t be clarified in just a few words.

"Rise." Li Yi’s voice was calm, with a comforting power, and he asked, "What is the Emperor seeking me for?"

The Golden Eyes Guard did not rise but remained kneeling. She took out a letter from her bosom and presented it with both hands: "Here is the Emperor’s letter, wishing Master Taiyi to read it personally."

Li Yi took it, opened it, and found no excess words, only a single line: "Yi, break the mountain and cut down the temple, tonight."

Tonight, huh?

He remembered tomorrow was supposed to be the tenth day. Acting tonight obviously intended for him to leave the capital early to avoid getting caught up in court affairs, disrupting the operation of breaking the mountain and cutting down the temple.

"I understand this matter. You may go back and report." Li Yi said.

"To report to Master Taiyi, by the Emperor’s order, both myself and the other nineteen Golden Eyes Guards await your command." Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard said.

Li Yi asked, "What is your name?"

"Subordinate Wang Ning."

"Twenty Golden Eyes Guards, hmm? How many Jinyi Guard are there?" Li Yi said.

Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard replied, "This subordinate does not know. The Jinyi Guard Commander Yang Ling should know."

"Then have Yang Ling come here." Li Yi said.

"Yes, True Man." Receiving the order, Wang Ning of the Golden Eyes Guard promptly and respectfully left.

In no time, a man in a Flying Fish Robe walked into the grand hall. Upon entering, he, too, felt a shiver in his heart, hastened a few steps, then quickly knelt down on one knee: "Jinyi Guard Commander Yang Ling greets Master Taiyi."

"How many Jinyi Guards has the Emperor prepared for me?" Li Yi asked straightforwardly.

"Reporting to the True Man, including my humble self, a total of three thousand Jinyi Guards." Yang Ling promptly replied.

Li Yi inquired, "Any plans formulated?"

"There is a map; please have a look, True Man." Yang Ling hurriedly presented a map.

Li Yi took it and opened it. The map was large, encompassing the world’s mountains and rivers, and each place was marked with powerful Incense Fire Gods and spirit monsters entrenched there, and even some locations of the Yin Emperor were noted. Clearly, for this occasion, his father had spent no small effort gathering intelligence.

"Very well, you have two hours to prepare. As soon as night falls, set out with me from the capital to begin... breaking the mountain and cutting down the temple."

He folded the map, the contents thoroughly memorized.

An Evolver always possesses an eidetic memory.

"We will heed the True Man’s command." Jinyi Guard Commander Yang Ling respectfully said.

"Once fully prepared, await orders in front of the Wuji Palace grand hall." Li Yi instructed.

The Golden Eyes Guard Wang Ning also took his leave.

The two, upon exiting the hall, finally relaxed slightly. Although Master Taiyi had never shown his divine power, standing before such a person was inevitably nerve-wracking.

Without exchanging a word, they each went their separate ways to attend to their own matters.

About an hour later, squads of Jinyi Guard started assembling from various parts of the Imperial City, gathering before Wuji Palace. Though few in number, these were elite forces trained by Emperor Shenwu, all of whom had reached the Spiritual Realm in strength.

Close to three thousand Spiritual Realm evolvers—undeniably, achieving this speaks to an extraordinary level of hardship and boldness beyond common comprehension.

Given time, as these Jinyi Guard continue to evolve, gathering souls, and enjoy incense offerings, the world’s Incense Fire Gods are set to experience a nightmare.

However, to achieve this, some must still lie dormant for seven or eight years.

Emperor Shenwu, Li Jiye can’t wait, nor can Li Yi.

As the Jinyi Guard moved in large numbers, they naturally couldn’t escape many people’s eyes, the quickest to notice the anomaly was Crown Prince Zhao Jing. Upon hearing the report from the on-duty guard, he was shocked. Yet, when he stepped out of the palace, he saw squads of Jinyi Guard passing by the Eastern Palace.

"So many Jinyi Guard all going to Wuji Palace?" Zhao Jing felt a surge of inexplicable panic.

Recently, he sensed that his father, the Emperor, and Master Taiyi were plotting something big, so for the past nine days everything had been calm with nothing happening. Until today, seeing so many Jinyi Guard, he was already certain.

Truly, something major is about to happen.

"Could it be related to the Yin Emperor’s order, intending to eradicate Master Taiyi?" Zhao Jing also received similar news, stating that the Yin Emperor was displeased with Master Taiyi and planned to strip him of his title as State Preceptor during tomorrow’s court meeting and deal with him.

Initially thinking Master Taiyi was already doomed—even his father couldn’t protect him—he didn’t anticipate today’s turn of events.

"Get me a ladder, I want to climb the roof for a view." Zhao Jing immediately ordered.

Very soon, a servant brought a ladder.

Zhao Jing, with hurried steps, climbed onto the palace roof and once more looked towards Wuji Palace, his eyes couldn’t help but constrict sharply.

Squads of Jinyi Guard, carrying cloth bags and on their waists hung treasured swords, stood in neat formation before Wuji Palace. Counting earnestly, there were three thousand, and the embroidered emblems on their attire showed they were elite Hundred Households, all capable and battle-tested. With such a force, even a hundred on a battlefield could break through enemy lines, slay generals, and seize banners, decisively turning the tide of battle.

Now before Wuji Palace there are fully three thousand, it seems Father Emperor has brought out all the reserves. What is he planning?

Zhao Jing couldn’t fathom, but he sensed a storm approaching, and it was happening today.

Fear gripped him, a coldness engulfing his heart.

Not because of these three thousand elite Jinyi Guard, but the fact that such a grand affair, he, the Crown Prince, knew nothing of. Father Emperor hadn’t revealed a single word to him. Could it be that he truly wasn’t worth trusting, or was it that his position as the Crown Prince was merely ornamental, while the real hidden Crown Prince was Master Taiyi?

Zhao Jing’s mind involuntarily recalled the words said by his fourth brother, Zhao Rui, that day.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Zhao Jing’s face turned livid, clenching his teeth, he immediately descended from the roof and shouted: "Eastern Palace Guards, are you all present?"

"Present." The guards replied hastily.

"Follow me, the Crown Prince, all of you." Zhao Jing suppressed his anger.

He wanted to find Master Taiyi to clarify what was really going on.

Soon, a squad of fifty armored soldiers escorted Crown Prince Zhao Jing towards Wuji Palace.

Yet, before even approaching, they were intercepted by the Jinyi Guard.

"Crown Prince, please halt. By order of His Majesty, no one is allowed to enter Wuji Palace." Two Jinyi Guard stood on the necessary path, stopping Crown Prince Zhao Jing.

"I wish to meet Master Taiyi, is it that even I cannot go to Wuji Palace?" Zhao Jing asked earnestly.

The Jinyi Guard replied without expression: "That’s right, by decree of His Majesty, no one may approach Wuji Palace, including the Crown Prince. Please return, do not defy His Majesty’s orders."

Zhao Jing’s mouth twitched; he never imagined he would lack even the qualification to enter Wuji Palace.

Looking at the palace, not far where the Jinyi Guard gathered, for the first time he felt that he was not important in this Imperial Palace, even perhaps dispensable—truly, he had no right to be part of the real court affairs.

But why.

Why is it Master Taiyi?

"Withdraw." Filled with humiliation, Zhao Jing dared not force his way but had to turn and leave.

He had no doubt that if he forced his way in, he would undoubtedly be detained by the Jinyi Guard, within two hours escorted before Father Emperor, not only losing face but also angering Father Emperor and receiving harsh punishment.

At this critical moment, Zhao Jing dared not stir trouble.

Though unwilling, he was not foolish, knowing what could be done and what couldn’t.

"Draft a memorial, address it to the Yin Emperor, I must find out what’s really going on." Zhao Jing resolved internally.