As a father, I just want to quietly watch you live a long life

Whoosh—

The wind swept through the corridor, stirring from outside the small building, ruffling the hanging cloth strips and the bells that dangled at the entrance, ringing softly with the breeze.

The atmosphere seemed to fall into a deathly silence at that moment.

Ji Moli was clad in mysterious black armor, his deep, dark eyes revealed a hint of bewilderment, which gradually dissipated, returning to their profound darkness.

"The State Preceptor is right. I am the King Ping Luan of the Great Vista... I merely restore order from chaos, how could... I destabilize the Great Vista's nation?"

Ji Moli spoke in a low voice, his tone hoarse, carrying an air of inevitability.

The old man in cloth looked at Ji Moli, chuckled faintly, and continued to focus on the documents concerning the Underworld on the table.

These were the information he had gathered from Qianyuan Taoist City regarding the Underworld, a matter he valued greatly.

To him, a sudden force emerging that could influence a significant area was worth noting; it represented a variable.

"This is a variable slowly growing, continuously spreading its influence."

"Initially only in Fei Lei City, then in Golden Light Prefecture, and later to Qianyuan Taoist City..."

"The influence is gradually expanding, coincidentally related to this family. The Underworld's signs appeared in Fei Lei City when Li Che's family lived in Fei Lei City. Six years ago, Li Che was just a woodworker at the Fei Lei City wood carving shop..."

"The Underworld began revealing traces then; the first member of the Underworld was Bull Demon..."

The State Preceptor Xie Yushen, with grey temples, eyes deep and profound, sorted through the materials uploaded by the intelligence agents planted in Qianyuan Taoist City.

Ji Moli sat opposite, silently.

He looked complexly at the old man before him who nurtured three lotus flowers.

Although the old man's strength was not mighty, his martial path barely reaching Grandmaster, his divinity was uneducated and despite long efforts in cultivation, he only managed nurturing nature.

Yet such a person, unversed in cultivation, stood atop the Great Vista's power, gaining the trust of the highly cultivated Emperor of Great Vista, bestowed as State Preceptor, using his might to internally pull and restrain various Divine Sects, while externally strategizing against Da Li Royal Court.

Ji Moli admired Xie Yushen somewhat; Ji Moli believed cultivation surpassed all.

But Xie Yushen seemed to think otherwise.

The State Preceptor seemed to perceive Ji Moli's gaze: "Prince, don't look at me like that..."

"The matter of the Heart-following Gold Iron Divine Rod was unexpected for me... The Great Supervising Minister's results from ten years of life calculation likely haven't erred. I mustn't disregard them."

"At the very least, we must let the rascal who acquired the Heart-following Gold Iron Divine Rod reveal themselves."

The State Preceptor stopped looking at the documents and sipped his warm tea.

Ji Moli nodded, slowly stood up, his imposing figure exuding pressure, and the clanking of armor seemed to hint at horrifying blood and flesh beneath.

"State Preceptor... did you orchestrate the union of the Sect Masters of Little Lingyin Temple and Tian Dan Ancient Changqing among others?"

"Did you know from the beginning Lv Taibai would overrule the plan?"

Ji Moli asked.

"If Lv Taibai doesn't overturn the plan, wouldn't all your strategies be meaningless, just wasted words?"

The old man lightly swung his tea cup, looked strangely at Ji Moli: "Why would they be wasted words?"

"If Lv Taibai doesn't overturn, holding back this matter, it would plant a seed in his heart, a seed that will eventually germinate, just like how sword cultivators will eventually kill..."

"By then, the Divine Sect Masters would continuously clash amongst themselves, making things easier for me, unless they allied closely... then I'd need to rack my brains to divide them."

"And if Lv Taibai overturns... that would be best."

"Just like how he now displays his Tribulation Sword, one sword overpowering six sects... He found some joy, but what after that joy?"

"Watch him attempt the Divine Tribulation Realm?"

"A target for all."

Xie Yushen chuckled lightly, tapping his fingers on the table.

"I would never lose."

"If Lv Taibai doesn't overturn, better still... someone else will overturn."

"The Underworld isn't one to swallow anger silently either."

Xie Yushen squinted his eyes.

Ji Moli's deep black pupils slightly contracted.

After clasping his hands in respect, he turned to leave.

The clatter of armor shattered the thin wind and snow, disappearing into the snowstorm of the Second City.

The cloth of the old man's garment fluttered as he walked to the balcony, watching Ji Moli mount, riding unrestrained in Divine Capital's Second City, his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

He then lifted his gaze towards the distance.

An imposing octagonal double-eave water tower stood across the Second City, mysterious, profound, and transcendent.

"Mechanism, space teleportation, Eight-Armed Prison Lotus Furious Third Prince..."

"Great Supervising Minister, Underworld..."

"Is this your doing?"

...

...

A Fire-like Flood Dragon Horse, extremely majestic, towering and mighty, covered entirely in fine Dragon Scales, its hooves seemed aflame, melting the thin snow on the ground.

Ji Moli's armor clattered as he returned to the Peace Chaos Prince Mansion. Upon dismounting, an armored soldier immediately led the horse away.

Ji Moli strode forward, his aura growing increasingly terrifying, so much so the air seemed to tremble, forming intense ripples, layering continuously.

He came to the courtyard, where four figures like small mountains, clad in armor, stood, each enveloped in what seemed like swirling Qi-Blood smoke.

His gaze settled on the last figure, Ji Lishou died in Qianyuan Taoist City, leaving him bereft of a son.