"Since you still need to round up the remaining conspirators, make a scene. Don’t be quiet about it," the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, continued.

If you’re going to put on a show, you must see it through to the end. This was his way of doing things—leaving no loose ends. He was also reminding Helian Guang that certain people still needed to be arrested.

He had people watching Helian Guang’s previous operations, so he knew that some conspirators hadn’t been dealt with. As the Emperor, he certainly understood the importance of pulling up the weeds by the roots.

He would never allow anyone who harbored hatred for him to leave alive.

They were a hidden danger—a grave one.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will handle the cleanup thoroughly, and the commotion will certainly reach the ears of the Major Sects," Helian Guang hurriedly promised.

This was his plan all along. He intended not only to do the job, but to do it completely, leaving no loose ends.

Over the past few days, while arranging his forces to deal with the Major Sects, he had also targeted the powers left behind by the Crown Prince and the other Princes. The reason he hadn’t eliminated them completely was to leave the final decision to the Old Emperor.

The remaining targets were connected to the Imperial Family. Without an order from the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, he wouldn’t dare to make a move.

Now that Yang Yu had spoken, he knew exactly what to do.

He was obedient and perceptive, capable of shouldering the Old Emperor’s burdens. This was how he had earned his promotions and how he protected his current power.

His Martial Arts Cultivation, reaching the level of a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster, was only part of the equation.

At the same time, Helian Guang was well aware of the things the Old Emperor was wary of, so he never overstepped. Even when he commanded these forces, it was only a temporary measure; he would relinquish control later.

For a subject, posing no threat was the key to longevity.

Unless his Cultivation could break through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, he would have to be like this for the rest of his life. Helian Guang understood this well and acted accordingly.

"Is there anything else?" the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, asked, seeing that Helian Guang had not yet left.

"Your Majesty, in two months, an envoy from the Jin Meng Empire will arrive to discuss a marriage alliance. The Minister of Rites should be assigned to handle this."

Helian Guang brought up another matter: the Jin Meng Empire, the nation on the grasslands bordering the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty.

The two nations shared a border and naturally had many conflicts. However, after several major wars, both sides had resorted to marriage alliances to maintain peace.

Even so, there was still considerable friction between them, though it had not escalated into another full-scale war.

This marriage proposal from the Jin Meng Empire was both a gesture and a test. As a neighboring country, they constantly monitored the situation in the region. If an opportunity to annex their rival arose, they would surely seize it.

Helian Guang brought this up because the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, had not yet made any arrangements, so he offered a timely reminder.

The matter could not be delayed any longer.

In recent years, the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty had suffered numerous natural and man-made disasters. There were even uprisings, which, though quickly suppressed, exposed the instability within the Imperial Dynasty. This naturally attracted the attention of opportunistic parties, giving them ideas.

Helian Guang mentioned it because he suspected the Jin Meng Empire’s intentions were not benevolent this time, and Great Zhou needed to be prepared.

An event like the coup attempted by Crown Prince Yang Qian and the other Princes would only fuel the Jin Meng Empire’s rapacious ambitions. Great Zhou had to prepare a counter-strategy and be on guard against the Jin Meng Empire launching a war.

"We have already made arrangements for the Jin Meng Empire. You need not concern yourself with it. Just focus on handling matters in the Capital City," a pensive look flashed in the Old Emperor Yang Yu’s eyes before he spoke.

"If there is nothing else, you are dismissed."

Yang Yu said again, dismissing Helian Guang.

"I have no other business. I will take my leave."

Upon hearing this, Helian Guang bowed deeply and slowly withdrew.

He knew it was enough to have raised the issue; he shouldn’t concern himself with it any further. He had no intention of taking responsibility for the matter, but the situation with the Jin Meng Empire had to be addressed, or it would become a major catastrophe.

It was a far greater threat than the coup attempted by Crown Prince Yang Qian and the other Princes.

The Old Emperor, Yang Yu, might have the internal affairs of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty under his control, but the Jin Meng Empire was another matter entirely. If it weren’t, they wouldn’t be a problem.

Helian Guang understood this, so he had to bring it up. It was something he was obligated to say as a minister of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. It was his duty.

"The Jin Meng Empire!" the Old Emperor, Yang Yu, muttered to himself after Helian Guang had departed.

’I had originally planned to deal with the coup from Crown Prince Yang Qian and the others after the marriage alliance, but an unforeseen incident forced the issue ahead of schedule.

Plans rarely survive contact with reality. This was true even for a plan as detailed and long in the making as this one.

Now that the plan has changed, I have to deal with the consequences.

The internal threats have been eliminated. Now it is time for the external ones.

As long as the marriage alliance proceeds as planned, the external threat will also vanish, giving me more time to focus on my breakthrough.

Breaking through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm is truly difficult, even with the resources of an entire Empire at my disposal.

Everyone thinks the Earth Element Supreme Pill is too difficult to refine, but in truth, I have already taken one to attempt a breakthrough. I simply failed.

The Elixir I took wasn’t one refined by the Pharmacist Alliance; it came from the Imperial Family’s own hidden reserves.

To attempt another breakthrough, I need to cultivate my Essence, Qi, and Spirit back to their peak. My last attempt appeared to leave me unharmed, but my Spirit was damaged, and my Lifespan even shortened slightly. This is why my hair has grown grayer, though to outsiders, it seems like a normal part of aging.

After all, I am no longer young, even for a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster. Therefore, aside from my most trusted confidants, no one knows I have already failed an attempt to break through to the Martial Saint Realm. In fact, most people believe I am still merely preparing for my breakthrough to become a National Guardian Martial Saint.

If my Cultivation had broken through, all these internal and external threats would have vanished instantly. But alas, I failed.

For my next attempt, I will have to rely on the Pharmacist Alliance to successfully refine an Earth Element Supreme Pill.

There is a problem with Xu Chuan, the Vice Alliance Leader of the Pharmacist Alliance. That man will have to be eliminated. That leaves Lu Qianfan, the Alliance Leader. I hold him in high regard and can only pin my hopes on him.

I have thoroughly investigated Lu Qianfan’s background and confirmed that the man has not pledged allegiance to any other power. He is also a native of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty, which is somewhat reassuring.

Xu Chuan had his uses, but since he sabotaged me once, he will have to pay the price.

I certainly won’t trust Xu Chuan with the task of refining the Earth Element Supreme Pill, lest the man lace the Elixir with some special Poison to assassinate me.

Although experts at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster level are rarely susceptible to poison, I know full well that some Poisons are so potent that even a Blood Exchange Martial Saint could fall prey to them, dying from some bizarre substance. Thus, I am extremely vigilant in such matters.’