Anping County, Divine Judgment Temple.

Inside the temple, Shen Hex sat high.

It has been over twenty years, and he has been in this world for more than a hundred years.

In more than a hundred years, he has reached the status of a Sixth Grade True God, equivalent to Immortal Dao Divinity Transformation and Martial Arts Divine Intent, all at Tier Seven.

Frankly speaking, this progress is not slow. In the Taiyuan Realm, he cultivated the Three Methods for several hundred years before achieving the Great Dao Primordial Spirit.

Now, in this Divine Dao World, he became a Sixth Grade True God in just a hundred years. This speed of advancement could be considered outstanding even within the Human Empire.

However, the Divine Dao system is special, and cultivation has little to do with talent and comprehension, at least not for him at present. Therefore, this advancement speed has little reference value, as the beings in other worlds do not possess such strong power of the Divine Soul to support the faith-based benefits of the Divine Dao.

Although it cannot be replicated, it does not mean the Divine Dao is worthless. On the contrary, after years of contact and exploration, Shen Hex can clearly sense the many wonders of the Divine Dao Method, which is an extremely powerful system.

However...he hasn’t been able to grasp it.

Bound by the Divine Seal of Imperial Decree, controlled by others.

Without the Divine Dao Skill, not being an independent deity, all of it is like a mirage, seemingly real but actually false, completely beyond his control, let alone understanding its mysteries and using them for himself.

Those Divine Techniques and Divine Techniques are actually all initiated by the Divine Seal; he is merely a platform carrying the Divine Seal, with very little space for maneuver.

If he didn’t also understand the Immortal Martial Dao and had years of study barely able to convert and use divine power, supplemented by the Earth Golden Body and other Professional Powers, his combat power would likely be less than that of independent deities of the same grade.

This is not the disadvantage of the Divine Dao, but the disadvantage of being a "Subordinate God."

To break free from this heavy bondage, he must seek the Divine Dao Skill and become an independent deity.

This has been the strategic direction of Shen Hex for many years.

But before this strategic goal is achieved, dangers and obstacles have come first.

Although he has been stationed in the Jinyang Land in recent years, he is not completely ignorant of external affairs. Whether it was the Drought Demon King’s chaos that swept the Northern Lands three years ago or the Crown Prince King Liang being exiled to Yangzhou after a submission of over ten thousand requests, and his various arrangements in the State Mansion Jinling, he has observed them all.

All these things, though not entirely clear, are as clear as day.

So Shen Hex knows someone is about to cause trouble for him.

Of the Nine States, Jizhou and Yangzhou are foremost.

Jizhou, needless to say, is reputed to be the center of the world, where the Dragon Capital is located, where the Emperor often resides, the political, economic, and cultural center of the Northern Lands.

Yangzhou follows the same logic; it’s the head of the Southern States, the City of River Transport, gathers the riches of Jiangnan, embodies the royal aura of Jinling, every dynasty has established a secondary capital here, and several dynasties have relocated southwards, holding half the realm for survival, the nation endured for decades.

These two states can be said to be the foundation of the kingly way, whoever gains them may have hopes of ruling the world.

With Yangzhou being so important, the value of Jinyang, one of Yangzhou’s three mansions, famous alongside Jinling and Jinhua, needs no mention, it’s a military must-see.

King Liang leaving the capital, seemingly demoted but actually promoted, the calculations therein, even ordinary people can see the clues; how could Shen Hex be completely unaware?

Hidden Dragon!

Restoration Ascension!

For the king’s path, a stepping stone.

The clash of interests, driving military action.

Through all this, Shen Hex understands and has made preparations.

No room for retreat, can only fight boldly.

Success means success, failure means death!

Although on the surface, his chances appear slim, after all, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, and though the Great Chen Court’s national power is declining, it hasn’t yet reached the point of sunset; even if it is sunset, with a nation against a mansion, capturing a Sixth Grade True God like him is more than enough.

But he is not an ordinary Sixth Grade True God!

With his means, the foundation of Jinyang, supplemented by Ziwei Emperor’s Sacrifice, Earth Golden Body, and other Professional Powers, unless the opponent can invite a Third-Rank Great God, they would not easily capture him.

After all, corresponding to other systems, Fifth Grade is merely Tier Eight, Fourth Grade is merely Tier Nine, even a supreme Third-Rank Great God is only Tier Ten.

Tier Ten equates to Immortal Dao Mahayana, Martial Arts Earth Tribulation.

Though he has yet to encounter such formidable opponents, the previous Blood God Child was merely a half-baked level, failing to emerge until death, not a true Tier Ten, but he has encountered battles with Tier Nine and Tier Eight, therefore Shen Hex estimated that he can still fight a battle.

No option but fight, as the situation has reached this point, he bears the responsibility and cannot retreat.

Moreover, retreat is not possible; the opponent will no doubt press relentlessly, leaving no room, without this foundation of the Divine Dao, it would be difficult to cultivate Immortal Martial Dao skills, how could he withstand the pursuit from heaven and earth?

Hence...

"Divine Monarch!"

A person walked into the hall, dressed in a pale blue official robe, precisely Song Cai, the Archivist of the Pen Holding Punishment Department.

Song Xiang had nine sons, only four were worthy of use. The eldest, Song Wen, is now still in the mortal world, the elder of the Song Clan, one hundred and twenty-eight years old, revered as a human auspice, serving as a golden emblem to spread the belief of the Divine Judgment Temple.

As for the second, Song Cai, third, Song Wu, fourth, Song Ying, they did not have such longevity. Shortly after Song Wu’s sacrifice, Song Cai, over a hundred years old, also exhausted his life, and after him, Song Ying followed suit.

Although Shen Hex is not truly Song Xiang, he is not stingy towards these sons who returned from their misguided ways and have been devoted to him. First, he enfeoffed Song Wu as the Mountain Guardian Spirit Official, then Song Cai as the Archivist of Pen Holding Punishment Department, and Song Ying as the Night and Day Patrol General, one Seventh Grade, two Eighth Grades, all have divine official positions.