As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life Chapter 1620 - 427: Purgatory Opens, Earthly Hell’s Evil Welcomes the Ghost Emperor; The State Preceptor Is the Imperial Court’s Loyal Dragon God—Believe Me [Monthly Ticket Requested]...
Previously on As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life...
Cloud Palace.
At the main desk, the Emperor sat with his face shrouded in divine light and surging qi-blood, carefully going through the memorials.
Moments later, he placed the papers he held aside.
The purple-robed Eunuch Lian approached with utmost respect.
"These past days, the State Preceptor has commanded the troops to assault Qianyuan Taoist City. How's the fight progressing? With so many experts dispatched, including even the Old Dragon God from the Dragon God Lineage, why hasn't there been any update?"
Rising to his feet, the Emperor adjusted his vibrant yellow robe.
Together with Eunuch Lian, he stepped out from the Cloud Palace and wandered the lengthy hallway, where chilly breezes gently flowed through, carrying snowflakes resembling rice grains that the wind hurled inward from beyond.
"Your Majesty, no reports have come from the State Preceptor's forces. Word is he's assembling the soldiers, biding his time for the right moment."
Eunuch Lian bowed his head deeply, his hands folded submissively.
"Biding his time?"
The Emperor let out a scoff.
"What on earth is Xie Yushen up to? So much time has slipped by without grasping the chance. The longer this lingers, the more it shames the Great Vista."
"Ji Moli, along with the Sect Masters from every Great Divine Sect, and even three gods tribulation joining forces... With such a mighty assembly storming a Divine Sect, and they still can't claim victory fast? Doesn't this turn the Da Jing Dynasty into a global joke?"
"So what? Does Xie Yushen need to muster ten gods tribulation, tenfold the enemy's might, just to crush and obliterate a Divine Sect?"
Though the Emperor's features remained hazy, his tone brimmed with fury.
Eunuch Lian kept his gaze lowered, silent and afraid to utter a word.
He wouldn't dare defend Xie Yushen.
For the forces under State Preceptor Xie Yushen's lead boasted combat strength far surpassing Qian Yuan Divine Sect by multiples, save for charging at the baffling Purple Mansion Divine Sect, the supreme First Divine Sect.
As for the rest of the Divine Sects, there should be solid assurance in shattering their gates, no?
"Even if they can't breach the Divine Sect's mountain barriers, why the total silence? The Dragon God has shown up, alongside Zhao Beidou, the Grandmaster of Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, and Gu Qianchi, the Grandmaster from Bashu Sword Pavilion... It's like rallying the full might of the court plus two Great Divine Sects to encircle Qian Yuan... And yet they fail to capture it in a flash?"
The Emperor's voice turned icy.
"Before teaming with Ji Moli for the joint offensive, reports came that his avatar fell. I've got grounds to question whether Xie Yushen has linked up with Ji Moli, and just what they're scheming."
Sweat beaded instantly on Eunuch Lian's brow.
"Your Majesty, King Ping Luan... He wouldn't risk his own avatar lightly, right?"
"That avatar does hold real value."
Standing in the hallway, the Emperor watched the snow blanket the city and gave a derisive chuckle: "Value? For Ji Moli... it's just one extra city to raze. Does it truly matter that much to him?"
"Those city folk's lives, to him... are they really that precious?"
The Emperor's words echoed with a chilling edge.
"Don't assume that in Jiangnan Dao, his ties to those self-proclaimed Noble Families of Confucian Dao, or the dealings of Haoran Academy, escape my notice entirely."
"I tasked him with quelling the Corpse God Cult, not merging into it..."
Eunuch Lian quickly dropped his head further, too wary to respond.
As the snow swirled in the air, a flicker of chill and haste gleamed in the Emperor's eyes: "Li Che... has he actually claimed the Gathering Immortals Flag from the Ten-thousand-year-old Peach Garden?"
"If that's the case... I can't hold back any longer."
"It's not a lack of faith in the State Preceptor. Everyone sees his achievements; he's driven by grand ambitions, eager to prove his worth. He's my key ally, much like you, Eunuch Lian—both of you, my staunchest confidants."
"I'd even hand the Da Jing's national destiny to the State Preceptor... how could I doubt him?"
"Still, his handling of this affair has left me rather let down."
The Emperor shook his head and let out a quiet sigh.
"Qi Tian City will unlock before long. The Qintian Observatory has been in a frenzy lately, the pressure mounting, as if the Great Supervising Minister is set to reveal the precise date for the Equal Heaven Temple's emergence."
"I hope... the State Preceptor manages to topple Qian Yuan Divine Sect prior to the Great Supervising Minister proclaiming Qi Tian City's activation!"
The Emperor's eyes tightened.
"Eunuch Lian, prepare an urgent edict at once, and see to its delivery yourself!"
A slight quiver ran through Eunuch Lian upon hearing this.
He could sense the Emperor's pressing anxiety.
What precisely...
Drives the Emperor to such haste?!
Is it the shadow of Strange Que's All Gods Camp reviving with their deities?
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Lian held back from prying, ever the Emperor's devoted aide. Sensing his ruler's concerns, he would simply obey the command.
...
...
Rumble——!!!
Across the Grand Canal's waters, even in this frozen realm, it refused to solidify, with waves crashing wildly, bursts of foam erupting and scattering misty sprays everywhere.
Cross-legged upon the river, the Old Dragon God loomed vast and imposing, his twin dragon horns stabbing the emptiness like sacred lances.
In that seated pose, vast divinity from the Grand Canal rushed toward him, infusing his weathered but powerfully sturdy frame, which seemed on the verge of ripping through the void into oblivion.
Around the Old Dragon God, in a ten-zhang circle, the Dragon God Crown Prince and three Dragon Sons also meditated in cultivation, drawing divinity from the Grand Canal under the Old Dragon God's guiding presence.
This explained why Li Che never called upon the Dragon God Crown Prince— the Old Dragon God always watched over him closely, directing and overseeing his practice.
After all, the Dragon God Crown Prince stood as the Dragon God Lineage's beacon of hope now; the Old Dragon God couldn't be sure if this venture to Qi Tian City would yield a path to breakthrough or extended lifespan.