"Yes!" Adrian nodded solemnly, transforming into a clear breeze and departing.

Alex took out a communication jade slip from his robes and contacted the First Elder, Cedric.

"Cedric, how is your injury healing?"

Cedric laughed. "Saint Lord, it’s just a minor injury. It counts for nothing."

"Why did you suddenly contact me? I wonder what orders you have?"

"Can I not contact you if there’s nothing going on? Is it not okay to care about a subordinate?" Alex scolded grumpily, then put on a serious expression.

"Cedric, quickly lead all the elite disciples in the family who are above the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Also, gather all the elders, deacons, high-ranking officials, and the Branch Saint Lords of the four great branch families."

"At top speed, head to Originspire Mountain outside the Heavenly Flame Capital and wait for me to rendezvous."

Cedric froze. "Saint Lord, why suddenly mobilize so much power?"

"If our Hale family’s strongest martial forces are completely mobilized, there will be an estimated tens of thousands of people."

"If the Heavenly Flame Empress pursues this matter and charges our Hale family with treason, what should we do?"

Alex grinned disapprovingly. "Rest assured. Right now, the Heavenly Flame Empress is like a clay Buddha crossing a river. She can hardly save herself."

"Our mobilization of troops this time is precisely to save her." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Oh?" Cedric froze slightly.

"Saint Lord, could it be that the Heavenly Flame Capital has had an incident?"

"Correct, a major incident has occurred."

Immediately, Alex briefly recounted the matter of Albert’s rebellion to Cedric.

Cedric was stunned listening to this. "I didn’t expect this Albert to actually be so audacious. Not to mention openly rebelling, he even intends to make false counter-charges and directly murder the Heavenly Flame Empress."

"But... Saint Lord, there’s no need for our Hale family to participate in this, right?"

"Right now, Albert’s power is massive. Acting in collusion with his mother Nova, they have already grasped all the power of the Heavenly Flame Imperial Family."

"Relying on our Hale family’s strength, even gathering the power of the entire clan, I’m afraid we might not be a match for them."

"Given the Saint Lord’s usual style of handling things, why don’t we temporarily endure and hold back? Wait until the forces loyal to Aurelia stick their heads out to resist first, and then sit back and observe the changes?"

Alex asked with deep interest. "Given my usual style of handling things?"

"Cedric, what is the meaning of your words?"

"Could it be that in your mind, I am just a profit-seeking, ambitious schemer? Can I not be a loyal subject to the nation who has enjoyed the Emperor’s grace and supports the state?"

Cedric revealed an awkward smile. Although he didn’t nod or shake his head, from his expression, it was obvious he was thinking exactly that.

"Heh, I’ll count it as you understanding me well." Alex narrowed his eyes, laughing playfully.

"To tell you the truth, I actually knew about Albert’s rebellion and imprisonment of Aurelia half a month ago."

"The reason I waited half a month before preparing to mobilize troops is precisely because the time has arrived."

"Albert is militaristic and bloodthirsty, his mother Nova is an incredibly ambitious, poisonous woman."

"If he truly succeeds the great throne smoothly, in order to ensure the stability of his imperial seat, he will inevitably use every extreme method to suppress the major factions of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty."

"Our Hale family would be the very first target he’d suppress."

"Rather than waiting for him to come suppress us, it’s better for us to take the initiative and strike."

"After eliminating Albert, the great throne of the Heavenly Flame Capital will still be sat upon by Aurelia."

"As for Aurelia right now, she is already sickly and can barely save herself."

"Coupled with the fact that she has no sons or daughters, after she dies of illness, the candidate to inherit the throne will become a mystery."

"At that time, the various factions will once again be swept into it. Engaging in a bloody slaughter to scramble for power."

"This dynasty... might not necessarily be unable to take the surname Hale!"

After listening and understanding the Saint Lord’s wild ambitions, Cedric had no more words of advice. Remaining silent for a moment, he said solemnly, "Rest assured, Saint Lord. I will immediately inform the Branch Saint Lords."

"Within two days, all of our Hale family’s strongest martial forces will inevitably be assembled on Originspire Mountain!"

After cutting off the communication jade slip, Alex looked up at the sky, a profound smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"This dynasty might not necessarily be unable to take the surname Hale!"

...

In the blink of an eye, two days passed.

Deep in the night, inside the Azure Phoenix Palace of the Heavenly Flame Capital.

Albert, dressed in a yellow imperial robe, sat upon the throne, his expression solemn and panicked.

A palace-dressed woman with half her hair silver, yet still retaining her mature charm, walked out gracefully from behind the throne. "Albert, it is so late, why are you not sleeping yet?"

This woman was Albert’s mother, the Former Empress of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty, Nova.

"Mother Empress..." Albert immediately stood up, looking melancholy.

"I don’t know why, but your son always has a bad premonition."

"Tomorrow morning is the day to publicly execute that Aurelia."

"Your son issued invitations to the major Saint Lineage families of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty, inviting them to come watch me sweep away the treacherous and wicked, and ascend the ultimate throne."

"But I didn’t expect that the Saint Lords of these Saint Lineages wouldn’t give me face. Not a single one replied saying they would attend."

"Your son worries that some unexpected change will happen tomorrow..."

Nova smiled faintly and comforted him. "Albert, you are overthinking."

"Right now, the Heavenly Flame Imperial Guards and the vast majority of experts have already been grasped in your hands."

"Even if they possessed the divine abilities, they shouldn’t even dream of rescuing Aurelia."

"Come tomorrow, after executing Aurelia in front of the people of the world, you will be the ruler of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty."

"Any rebellious subject under the heavens, you can execute first and report later!"

Saying this, Nova narrowed her eyes slightly, a trace of chilling coldness revealing itself in her gaze.