An imperial throne had suddenly lost its sovereign, with no heir established — it was as though a dragon had lost its head. Every civil and military official at court was left stunned and at a loss. For all their years in office, and for all the histories they had read, surveying the dynasties of the past, none had ever been this chaotic. Even when chaos had occurred, it had been in an era when the dynasty had already rotted from within, with all sides raising banners to rise up. Nothing like this had ever arrived so abruptly.

The timid were trembling in fear. The bold — those with power and influence, especially those with military command in hand — were stirring with eager ambition, their advisors and strategists offering ceaseless counsel. But before their thoughts could be acted upon, that imperial city bereft of its ruler already had someone holding the center.

The one presiding was Feng Ya. Regarding the slight resemblance between himself and the State Preceptor, he did not conceal it — he straightforwardly explained that this body was that of the old ghost Tantai Wuji, that Lang Jiuchuan and he had conspired to seize it, and that this was what had caused half the old ghost’s thousand-year scheming to come to ruin. Though he himself was not overly eager to use it, the fortune stored within this body had not yet been fully spent — so it could continue to be put to waste. When it was entirely used up, it would not be too late to grind the bones and scatter the ashes.

Everyone thought privately: So it was you two who drove that old fiend to his mad descent into the demonic path!

But they dared only think this in their hearts and not say it aloud. Who wanted to provoke someone who played with arcane arts? One wrong word and they might find themselves on the receiving end of soul-hooking or spirit-seizing techniques.

“Qingyi Zhenren has glimpsed the heavenly workings — the wise sovereign will appear at the latest by next year. Until then, the affairs of governance will continue under the joint leadership of Ministers Zeng Guangchuan and Shen Qinghe, overseeing the Six Ministries and the Secretariat.” Feng Ya spoke in a cold and flat tone. “I will say nothing more beyond this. You will conduct your duties exactly as you did before, keeping the Great Phan stable, ensuring no widespread corruption emerges, no plundering of the people occurs, no suffering is inflicted upon the common folk — and await the enthronement of the wise sovereign.”

A buzzing of murmurs broke out below. This was essentially telling them to do the work while someone else took the throne.

“May I ask—” Grand Tutor Fang stepped forward. He looked at the man whose aura was ice cold, who resembled a living person in body but scarcely in spirit, and found himself uncertain how to address him.

Honored One?

“My surname is Feng.”

“Lord Feng.” Grand Tutor Fang immediately adopted the form of address and continued: “May I inquire — who is this wise sovereign of whom Qingyi Zhenren speaks?”

Feng Ya turned his gaze in that direction and said: “You court old foxes — eight hundred schemes each — when you ask this, you are wondering whether this so-called wise sovereign has been ordained by the Zhenren, or whether it refers to someone from the Lang Family.”

His gaze swept downward, cold and expressionless. Seated beside the dragon throne in his black robes, combined with the ghostly Netherworld aura he naturally carried, he was enough to make one’s blood run cold.

Truly, if he were to be the emperor of the Great Phan, no one would dare defy him. That presence alone — a single glance would have men dropping to their knees.

And indeed, some people did kneel.

“If it were you, Lord Feng…”

“Silence!” Feng Ya immediately straightened and said: “This lord is a person beyond the secular world — as is the Zhenren. Once this matter is resolved, we will return to our reclusive cultivation. Affairs of the mortal world are human matters — and the responsibility of you who serve as officials and ministers. Who the wise sovereign is — the Zhenren has not stated clearly. But it will certainly not be anyone from the Lang Family. Likewise — the Purple Tenuity Stellar Sovereign carries destiny and fortune. If that person truly possesses the bearing of a wise sovereign, they will naturally make their way to this position step by step, earning the reverence of all, and in turn giving back to the people.”

He patted the dragon throne at his side and said: “This lord presides here in obedience to the Zhenren’s intent — to ensure this court does not descend into disorder, with every faction governing only for themselves and making the common folk suffer for it. Contention for the dragon throne is inevitable — but if anyone acts without any moral limit, showing no regard for the people, they will simply be used as the sacrifice.”

“This lord serves only as a fierce guardian beast for the time being, responsible for holding down the fort. I will not involve myself in any affairs of governance. You need not consult me or seek my judgment on such matters — such tedious business is not something I will deal with.” Feng Ya said flatly. “The Zhenren is likewise of the same mind — which is why she has left behind her divine sense. If any of you wish to rebel or cause disorder, first consider whether your ten clans can withstand the Zhenren’s wrath.”

Feng Ya then produced a jade talisman that Lang Jiuchuan had left behind, his form flickering as he pressed it into the center of the “Upright and Glorious” plaque overhead. A flash of golden light, and a majestic aura radiated outward — Lang Jiuchuan’s ethereal image, her gaze sweeping imperiously over all below, flickered once and vanished.

The hearts of everyone in the hall went cold. Instinctively, they fell to their knees on the icy floor tiles, trembling.

Feng Ya was thoroughly satisfied. As long as they would keep their mouths shut, that was enough. How tiresome they all were!

“We who stand beyond the secular world are not using arcane arts to intimidate you by force alone. But Tantai Wuji has fallen into the demonic path and seeks to overturn the mountains and rivers. We who stand beyond the secular will do everything in our power to eliminate this demonic evil. Yet we do not wish to see you, while we are engaged in that struggle, scheming for personal gain and causing the people to lose all reason to live, turning them into victims of a turbulent age. And you may rest assured — if the righteous path prevails, the Dao Sect will return to the Way. We will not, as in the past, have the arcane clans rule as emperors. Everything will return to the proper track it was always meant to follow.”

Those below, though they dared not fully believe this, had no power to resist regardless. Lang Jiuchuan’s strength was beyond what thousands of armies could match — she was an Immortal!

“We shall stabilize the nation and bring peace to the people, and await the arrival of the wise sovereign.” Zeng Guangchuan suddenly called out in a loud, clear voice.

With those words spoken, the rest followed with their own declarations of intent. The wise recognize the times — they had better comply. They could at least still keep their posts.

And so, though each harbored different thoughts, before Feng Ya they all dutifully offered their declarations of loyalty.

Feng Ya was a few degrees more satisfied. He considered that one could not only use threats and pressure — striking only slaps, without providing a sweet reward dangling ahead, would not get these oxen to put in their best effort. So he said: “You may all settle your hearts and govern the nation with diligence. When the world is at peace and clear skies are restored, when the wise sovereign ascends the throne — based on each person’s political achievements, Qingyi Zhenren will offer rewards accordingly: a few soul-calming incense sticks for some, life-prolonging elixirs for others.”

The hall erupted in great delight.

They had heard that consuming elixirs could drive the mind to madness — but life-prolonging elixirs surely would not do that, would they? And there was some manner of incense as well, refined by an Immortal and not by some ordinary Daoist, which must have wondrous properties.

This great promise of reward embedded with a sweet treat had everyone energized as though they had been given a stimulant, and another round of loyalty declarations followed. After all, if they had to work regardless, why not put in genuine effort and earn a reward? Life prolongation — who would want to die?

That people in the world pursue gain — truly, this was no falsehood.

Feng Ya surveyed the expressions and calculations of those below and felt a sudden exhaustion wash over him.

Being a ghost was still better. Being a person was too tiring. Being a person above people — even more so.

So what was so great about being some wretched emperor? It could exhaust a person to death.

Through the divine sense she had left within the jade talisman, Lang Jiuchuan observed the scene here. As for Feng Ya digging a pit for her by dangling elixirs as bait to drive his oxen, she merely shook her head, giving it no further thought.

If the world could truly be at peace, what did it matter to scatter a few elixirs for these beasts of burden who would uphold and protect this land?

Like the beast of burden now before her eyes.

Lang Jiuchuan held the bone ring before the brow of Shen Qinghe, who had not stopped weeping, and channeled a thread of spiritual energy into his brow, saying with mild exasperation: “That’s enough now. Keep crying at this rate and you’ll flood the place. Return to the capital and serve well.”

Shen Qinghe felt a warm current enter his body and course through every limb and bone, as though his entire energy flow had cleared and opened. Even the aching of the cane-struck flesh was gone. He was simultaneously startled and overjoyed, and looked at Lang Jiuchuan with complicated eyes.

She was already of an Immortal’s bearing. Once this matter was resolved, she would surely ride the wind away.