Even though he ruled over the Four Seas and governed all the common people, he was ultimately just a mortal and would have to face birth, aging, sickness, and death.

At this very moment, he finally felt his own vulnerability and powerlessness.

He looked around at the crowd pressing in, each person’s face showing concern, but the old Emperor knew very well that it was just a façade. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Behind closed doors, countless people were waiting for his death, even his own sons were probably hoping he would die right there.

A wave of sadness swept through his heart, realizing that he was, after all, just a mere mortal.

"Am I truly a tyrant?" the old Emperor sighed as he asked the people.

His words lacked the usual authority and instead carried a hint of weakness, and the savvy people around immediately realized that the Emperor had indeed aged.

His previous age had been merely physical, but now his spirit had also aged. Otherwise, this monarch, with his usual temperament, would never have said such a thing.

"Your Majesty, do not fret over the words of some troublemakers; they are but ignorant and vulgar people swayed by others to speak such seditious nonsense," the Prime Minister hurriedly consoled him.

The old Emperor’s eyes lit up; previously he had fallen into self-doubt due to rumors, but the Prime Minister’s words offered him a perfect step down.

He was not a tyrant; it was merely those with ulterior motives who deliberately spread rumors.

And these people with ulterior motives were naturally those remnants of Qingning Temple, their treacherous hearts undying, still wanting to overthrow the world.

"What a Daoist Sect, truly harboring relentless intent to destroy me," the old Emperor ground his teeth and said.

Soon a series of orders were issued, arresting those fugitive Daoists across the country, banning Daoist beliefs, demolishing temples, and prohibiting the public from discussing state affairs freely.

Once these orders were issued, the situation changed, and the whole world seemed to quiet down.

In a corner of Great Ning, a Daoist anxiously said to the passers-by, "Senior brother, what should we do now? Our methods seem ineffective!"

They were responsible for leading this operation, and if things went astray, it would be hard to face their fellow disciples in the future.

Seeing their tactics neutralized, they immediately became anxious.

"Why the rush? ’Preventing the people’s speech is more important than damming a river.’ Even though the voices of opposition have vanished, the underlying issues still exist and are even intensifying. Just watch, a disturbance will soon emerge,"

His companion, full of confidence, sensed the storm in this calm atmosphere and believed that a terrible storm would soon sweep across the world, and Great Ning might shake in this tempest.

And their sect, having suffered such profound humiliation, how could they not strike back? Another group of disciples was already secretly connecting, ready to initiate a sweeping rebellion across the world once the time was right.

Meanwhile, far away in the capital city, Golden Light Master was also waiting for the great upheaval.

He watched the distance with a smile, murmuring to himself, "Let it be chaotic, let it be chaotic. Without chaos, how can those ignorant people realize the wondrousness of our Buddhist Sect, how can the Buddha Kingdom descend upon the Mortal World?"

Golden Light Master was indeed an extremely intelligent person who, having practiced cultivation for many years, naturally possessed vast experiences and insights. Although the tactics of the Daoist Sect could deceive ordinary folk, they could not fool his eyes.

However, he did not attempt to stop them. He was well aware of the Imperial Family’s intentions. Currently targeting the Daoist Sect, they would naturally guard against the Buddhist Sect as well. To establish an Earthly Buddhist Kingdom, chaos was necessary, meaning he had to pull chestnuts out of the fire himself.

Because of this, he simply sat back and watched, quietly waiting for events to unfold.

Of course, this was merely on the surface. At that moment, a monk approached softly and greeted in a low voice, "Master!"

"How are things progressing?"

"We have nurtured a few Hidden Dragons, but Great Ning is ultimately the land of the Daoist Sect. Its roots are deep and entrenched after many years, so we have not found many suitable individuals."

Upon hearing this, Golden Light Master smiled slightly and said, "That doesn’t matter. Their abundance of Hidden Dragons also means their resources are scattered, while we have fewer people and can concentrate our resources. Besides, the struggle for dragons often involves an element of fate, which is not something we can control."

Throughout history, such examples were not rare. Thus, Golden Light Master felt a sense of resignation to destiny, knowing well that so-called True Dragon Emperors were individuals with immense desire for power, not easily manipulated by others.

Having lived through these tribulations, the Daoist Sect would probably not support the emperor as it had before. This provided him with an opportunity. He knew very well what the Emperor’s mindset was: it was all about balance.

Therefore, Golden Light Master simply had people covertly support a few Hidden Dragons, and from then on, he would watch and act accordingly, waiting for the right moment to place his bets.

As the Emperor’s orders were issued, followers of the Daoist Sect found themselves in dire living conditions. Soldiers everywhere arrested followers of the Daoist Sect, and prisons in every region were overcrowded.

Meanwhile, countless scholars and officials seized this opportunity to amass wealth. Those who did not comply were labeled as Daoist followers, resulting in the destruction of their families and lives.

Under layers of repression, the common people lived in dire straits.

However, the suffering was far from over. As the common people struggled to survive, a severe drought swept over Great Ning.

The old farmer looked up at the cloudless sky, his brows furrowed. Since the turn of the year, not a drop of rain had fallen. The scorching air baked the earth, and all the plants hung their heads listlessly. If this continued, they could be facing a year without harvest.

"Why hasn’t it rained yet?" the old farmer sighed, his words laden with fear. He had witnessed drought years before and knew exactly what they entailed.

When that time came, there would never be enough food. Perhaps the landlords and wealthy households could survive on their stored grains, but for poor peasants like him, who depended on the weather, fleeing famine was the only option.

If there was a glimmer of hope, who would want to leave their home and live a precarious life?

Yet, the lower officials were completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation. For their own achievements and wealth, they continued to arrest Daoist followers, though it was unclear how many were truly adherents.

The entire Great Ning seemed like a volcano on the verge of eruption. Though outwardly tranquil, a terrifying force had long been gathering beneath, and when it erupted, it would be earth-shattering.

However, the high-ranking officials in the court, blinded by their luxurious lifestyles, had failed to see this imminent crisis.

The officials below glossed over the peace, causing these high officials to forget their people’s suffering, living a life of drunken stupor and oblivious dreams.