As a Father, I Just Want to Watch You Achieve Immortality Chapter 1620: Purgatory Opens, Earthly Hell’s Evil Welcomes the Ghost Emperor; The State Preceptor Is the Imperial Court’s Loyal Dragon God—Believe Me...
Previously on As a Father, I Just Want to Watch You Achieve Immortality...
Cloud Palace.
Seated behind the primary desk, the Emperor's visage blurred with divine essence and vital qi and blood, as he examined the stack of memorials.
Moments later, he placed the papers he held onto the desk.
The eunuch in purple robes, Lian, approached with utmost respect.
"In recent times, the State Preceptor has commanded the forces toward Qianyuan Taoist City for the expedition—how fares the conflict? Numerous experts joined, including even the Old Dragon God from the Dragon God Lineage, but there's still no indication of progress?"
Rising to his feet, the Emperor adjusted his vivid yellow imperial robe.
Together with Eunuch Lian, he exited the Cloud Palace, wandering down the extended hallway, where chilly winds gently flowed through, carrying snowflakes resembling tiny rice grains that the breeze hurled inward from beyond.
"Your Majesty, no updates have come from the State Preceptor's camp; reports suggest he's rallying the soldiers, biding his time for the right moment."
Eunuch Lian bowed his head deeply, his hands folded submissively.
"Biding his time?"
The Emperor let out a scoff.
"What exactly is Xie Yushen up to? With all this delay, he's missing chances left and right—the prolonged wait only brings shame to the Great Vista."
"Ji Moli, alongside the Sect Masters from every major Divine Sect, even with the aid of three gods tribulation in unison... With such formidable forces targeting a single Divine Sect, and still they can't claim victory swiftly? Doesn't this turn the Da Jing Dynasty into a global joke?"
"So what? Does Xie Yushen need to muster ten gods tribulation, tenfold the enemy's might, just to crush and obliterate a Divine Sect?"
Though the Emperor's features remained hazy, his tone brimmed with fury.
Eunuch Lian remained with his gaze lowered, silent and afraid to respond.
He wouldn't dare defend Xie Yushen.
After all, the troops under State Preceptor Xie Yushen's lead possessed combat strength far surpassing that of Qian Yuan Divine Sect by multiples—save for the assault on the enigmatic Purple Mansion Divine Sect, the supreme First Divine Sect.
For the rest of the Divine Sects, success in dismantling them was practically assured, wasn't it?
"Even if they can't breach the Divine Sect's mountain gates, why the total lack of action? The Dragon God is there, joined by Zhao Beidou, the Grandmaster from Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, and Gu Qianchi, the Grandmaster of Bashu Sword Pavilion... This assembles the full might of the court plus two Great Divine Sects to surround Qian Yuan... And yet they fail to capture it promptly?"
The Emperor declared icily.
"Prior to the alliance, when Ji Moli participated in the offensive, word arrived that his avatar had been destroyed—I have cause to wonder, if Xie Yushen is now collaborating with Ji Moli, just what scheme are they plotting?"
Instantly, beads of cold sweat formed on Eunuch Lian's brow.
"Your Majesty, King Ping Luan... He wouldn't risk his own avatar lightly, would he?"
"That avatar does hold considerable value for him."
Standing in the hallway, the Emperor watched the snow blanket the city below, then chuckled derisively: "Value? For Ji Moli... it's nothing more than the cost of razing another city—does it truly matter that much to him?"
"The fates of those urban inhabitants, to him... do they really hold any weight?"
The Emperor's voice echoed with a chilling resonance.
"Don't assume that his ties in Jiangnan Dao to those self-proclaimed Noble Families of Confucian Dao, or the entanglements with Haoran Academy, escape my notice entirely."
"I tasked him with quelling the Corpse God Cult, not merging into it..."
Eunuch Lian quickly ducked his head lower, unwilling to utter a word.
As he observed the swirling snow, a flicker of icy resolve and haste gleamed in the Emperor's eyes: "Li Che... has he actually obtained the Gathering Immortals Flag from the Ten-thousand-year-old Peach Garden?"
"If that's the case... I can no longer afford to delay."
"It's not a lack of faith in the State Preceptor—his achievements speak for themselves. He's driven by grand aspirations, eager to prove his capabilities; he's my steadfast ally, much like you, Eunuch Lian, among those I trust most deeply."
"I would even commit the Da Jing's national destiny to the State Preceptor's hands... how could doubt ever enter the equation?"
"Yet this time, the State Preceptor's efforts have left me somewhat let down."
The Emperor shook his head, emitting a quiet sigh.
"Qi Tian City nears its unveiling, with the Qintian Observatory in a frenzy lately—everything points to the Great Supervising Minister soon revealing the precise date for the Equal Heaven Temple's activation."
"I pray... that the State Preceptor overcomes Qian Yuan Divine Sect before the Great Supervising Minister proclaims Qi Tian City's opening!"
The Emperor's eyes tightened.
"Eunuch Lian, prepare an urgent edict at once, and see to its delivery yourself!"
A slight quiver ran through Eunuch Lian upon hearing this.
He could sense the Emperor's pressing anxiety all too clearly.
Just what...
Could be fueling such desperation in the Emperor?!
Was it the shadow of Strange Que's All Gods Camp reviving, with those deities in tow?
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Lian held back any questions; as the Emperor's devoted attendant, he shared in the ruler's concerns and would simply execute the command without hesitation.
...
...
Rumble——!!!
Across the Grand Canal's waters, even in this frozen realm, the surface refused to solidify, with turbulent waves crashing wildly, sending up bursts of foamy splashes in endless sprays.
The Old Dragon God perched in meditative pose atop the river, his frame immense and imposing, twin dragon horns thrusting into the emptiness like sacred lances.
Cross-legged in place, vast divine power from the Grand Canal rushed toward him, infusing his weathered but extraordinarily sturdy form, which seemed on the verge of tearing through the fabric of reality to ascend beyond.
Around the Old Dragon God, in a span of ten zhang, the Dragon God Crown Prince and three additional Dragon Sons also meditated in cultivation, drawing divine essence from the Grand Canal under the Old Dragon God's influential presence.
This explained why Li Che never called upon the Dragon God Crown Prince— the Old Dragon God vigilantly oversaw him at all times, directing and monitoring his progress in cultivation.
In truth, the Dragon God Crown Prince now embodied the Dragon God Lineage's future hopes, and the Old Dragon God couldn't assure that their journey to Qi Tian City would yield a path to breakthrough or extended lifespan.