What are you two up to… the Heaven and Earth Society members simultaneously wondered.

Chu Yuanzhen’s question was their question too.

[One: A few days ago, We and the Bell-Ringer forced Yongxing to abdicate, and today We just completed the enthronement ceremony. Currently, the capital’s situation is stable, the court is operating normally, and we have the people’s support.]

Clang! The jade mirror in Chu Yuanzhen’s hand fell to the ground.

Huaiqing had ascended to become Emperor?!

Although he had long since worn white robes and wandered the jianghu for nearly ten years, Chu Yuanzhen’s scholarly background made this sudden news feel like an unbearable storm in his mind.

So much so that he dropped his Earth Book fragment.

Ah! Princess Royal Huaiqing had ascended the throne?! Holy Child Li Lingsu was startled, though as a Heavenly Sect disciple, he had never learned the traditional Three Bonds and Five Relationships.

Though shocked in his heart, he didn’t have too strong a feeling of resistance. His first reaction after the shock was: With a woman as Emperor, wouldn’t the imperial harem be reversed?

Previously the harem was forbidden to men, now would it become forbidden to women?

Would all the palace maids in the harem be expelled?

His second reaction was:

As this Holy Child is so handsome and romantic, and also in the Heaven and Earth Society, will Princess—no, Her Majesty—forcibly summon me into the palace as a consort?

His third reaction was:

Is Xu Qi’an the master of the harem, the Emperor Consort?

Li Lingsu knew there was some ambiguity between Huaiqing and Xu Qi’an.

Finally, these thoughts all converged and were driven from his mind, replaced by a sour feeling, because if the two had an ambiguous relationship, then the female emperor could only become one of Xu Qi’an’s harem.

Rather than Xu Qi’an becoming one of her harem members.

Having an emperor in one’s harem would feel much more accomplished than princesses, commandery princesses, or even the Human Sect Leader… Li Lingsu felt bitter inside.

No, I can’t suffer alone, I must find Brother Yang—good brothers should share in difficulties. The Holy Child secretly decided.

Hengyuan Master had no extra thoughts about Huaiqing becoming emperor. Hearing that the capital’s situation was stable, he dismissed the idea of returning to help.

A monk had long since abandoned worldly desires. Whether it was a woman or even a small mare sitting on the dragon throne, Hengyuan Master wouldn’t care.

Huaiqing became Emperor?! Li Miaozhen was no less shocked than Chu Yuanzhen, while also feeling somewhat embarrassed—in the future she couldn’t recklessly say within the Heaven and Earth Society:

“This lady is going to assassinate that dog emperor!”

[One: The Great Zhou royal family is lacking in talent. Besides Us, who else could cooperate with the Bell-Ringer and fight Cloud Province to the death?]

Huaiqing explained her reasons for supporting Xu Qi’an’s ascension.

She then transmitted:

[Moreover, this way, Li Miaozhen wouldn’t have to think about assassinating the Great Zhou Emperor every day. If you have any needs, you can communicate with me directly.]

Ah, this, bringing up someone’s embarrassing history, isn’t that a bit much… Xu Qi’an muttered to himself.

Then I’ll bring Xu Ningyan and come beat you directly… Li Miaozhen felt somewhat embarrassed looking at the transmission, quickly changing the topic:

[Damn Xu Ningyan, why didn’t you say something earlier? Is this the method you were concealing before?]

Looking at Li Miaozhen’s transmission, the Heaven and Earth Society members reflected that after the Director was sealed, Xu Ningyan had become a major figure controlling imperial power transitions.

The true power holder of the Central Plains forces.

[Three: It wasn’t a big deal, there was no point in telling everyone beforehand. I didn’t help much, Her Majesty Huaiqing had already secretly grasped power.]

In this reshuffling of imperial power, though his role was irreplaceable, the ability to stabilize the situation and reach compromises with the various officials was all Huaiqing’s capability.

There were too many ambitious people in the capital. If Huaiqing hadn’t been able to quickly stabilize the situation, making those fellows retract their claws and continue submitting, Great Zhou might have collapsed.

[Nine: Your ability to ascend the throne also resolves one of my puzzles, explaining the reason for your unusual fortune.]

Golden Lotus Daoist transmitted with feeling.

[Two: Oh? Master’s words sound strange—is Number One’s fortune very unusual? Did you know long ago that she would become Emperor?]

Li Miaozhen’s words successfully diverted everyone’s attention, including Huaiqing herself.

[Nine: I’m not the Director, how could I know the future? Well, everyone’s fortune is different, some are innate, and some are acquired. Fortune has colors, and the names of Earth Sect’s Fourth Grade Daoists symbolize the colors of fortune.

[When I first met Princess Huaiqing, her fortune was purple with gold, something other royal family members didn’t possess. So I investigated carefully, and then decided to give her the Earth Book fragment.]

[Seven: What about me then? What color is mine?]

Not just Li Lingsu, but everyone was interested in this topic, wanting to know how Golden Lotus Daoist had originally selected and formed the Heaven and Earth Society members.

[Nine: You? Yours is white.]

[Seven: What grade of fortune is white?]

[Nine: Common folk!]

Li Lingsu: “???”

Golden Lotus Daoist didn’t want to say more, perhaps involving Earth Sect secrets… Just as Xu Qi’an was about to end the topic, he suddenly saw Number Eight transmit:

[Eight: When you go to Qing Province tomorrow to declare war, you’ll inevitably clash with Cloud Province. Whether you can figure out their true situation I don’t know, but they’ll understand your capabilities completely.]

Asura brought the topic back, pointing out the pros and cons of Xu Qi’an’s action tomorrow.

Li Miaozhen thought about it and felt it made sense: [Number Eight makes a good point. If it’s just to declare war, there’s no need. Do you have any follow-up plans?]

If Xu Qi’an went running over there, Xu Pingfeng would bring his subordinates to fight him. Once conflict broke out, the Power of the Masses and even his Second Grade cultivation couldn’t be hidden.

Because if he didn’t use full strength, Xu Qi’an would have difficulty resisting Cloud Province’s supernatural forces.

[One: Declaring war is his obsession.]

Huaiqing suddenly said.

Everyone fell silent.

[Three: I won’t disregard the bigger picture because of personal grudges. I chose to transmit in the group tonight because I wanted to discuss this matter with everyone.]

What is a “group”? This question flashed through everyone’s minds, but they didn’t ask, focusing instead on their Earth Books.

[Three: I want to take this opportunity to hunt Black Lotus!]

Before everyone could analyze and digest this transmission, they saw Golden Lotus Daoist instantly reply:

[Good idea, Ningyan truly is Wei Yuan’s disciple, having a broader perspective.]

Golden Lotus Daoist is overjoyed… everyone thought.

As one of the Heaven and Earth Society’s strategists, Chu Yuanzhen analyzed calmly:

[First, we need to solve two problems. One: Separate Black Lotus from Cloud Province’s supernatural experts. Two: Resolve the combat power issue.]

Everyone actively expressed opinions based on the “outline” Chu Yuanzhen proposed.

[Seven: To separate Black Lotus from Cloud Province’s experts, I have an idea. In Xu Ningyan’s military book, there’s a strategy called “Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao.” The book says when Zhao was attacked by Wei, Zhao’s ally attacked Wei, thus rescuing Zhao.

[My idea is we could attack the Earth Sect headquarters, forcing Black Lotus to return and defend it. But this must happen while Xu Ningyan is declaring war, with him restraining Cloud Province’s supernatural experts.]

Not bad, the Holy Child isn’t just good at playing with women, his head hasn’t rusted… Xu Qi’an pondered and felt this plan was feasible.

[Two: Your plan has a fatal flaw.]

The Heavenly Sect’s fledgling phoenix immediately shot it down.

[Two: Black Lotus is Second Grade, Golden Lotus Daoist is Third Grade. Even with all of us, we can’t match Black Lotus, especially with Earth Sect’s demon cultivators helping.]

[One: I think this plan is feasible.]

Just after Li Miaozhen finished, Huaiqing cast an approving vote.

Are you picking a fight? Think you’re great just because you became Emperor? Li Miaozhen was furious and about to transmit a counter-attack when she saw Xu Qi’an also cast an approving vote:

[This plan is excellent.]

[Nine: Excellent.]

[Eight: Feasible!]

You all… Li Miaozhen was angry.

Ah, this… Li Lingsu was both delighted and confused. Did they decide just like that? It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea, could I be a legendary military talent?

Chu Yuanzhen’s mind was full of questions. He hesitated before transmitting:

[You all… oh, I understand now, the Sect Leader will participate.]

The Human Sect Leader that the Human Sect disciples referred to was of course Luo Yuhen.

If Luo Yuhen was responsible for the main offensive power, with Golden Lotus Daoist and other Heaven and Earth Society members supporting, killing Black Lotus wouldn’t be difficult.

Chu Yuanzhen continued analyzing:

[The Sect Leader is Second Grade, and Golden Lotus Daoist has recovered to Third Grade cultivation. I’ve been nurturing my sword intent lately and can kill fourth-grade experts without a problem.]

[Six: This poor monk can handle several Fourth Grade experts too, and if necessary, can summon the sarira.]

Li Lingsu showed off: [Miaozhen and I together can fight three to four Fourth Grade cultivators.]

The Heavenly Sect had a combination of secret techniques.

[Seven: What about Number Eight, what’s your cultivation level? Number Eight, what’s your cultivation? If you haven’t reached Fourth Grade, don’t join in.]

[Eight: I can protect myself.]

Is that true? Number Eight has always avoided discussing their cultivation level, probably too embarrassed. After all, our Heaven and Earth Society averages Fourth Grade, with two supernatural experts… Li Miaozhen, Li Lingsu, Chu Yuanzhen, and others secretly thought.

[Nine: Alright, when the time comes, everyone follows my commands. We’ll meet at a location. However, if it’s tomorrow, the timing is a bit tight. Ningyan, you’d better delay it a bit?]

[Three: Time isn’t an issue.]

[Four: If the operation succeeds, we’ll fulfill our promise to Golden Lotus Daoist, deal a heavy blow to the Cloud Province rebels, and boost our Great Zhou army’s morale. Three birds with one stone.]

And for Xu Qi’an, this is the first step in revenge against his birth father… Chu Yuanzhen added silently.

He didn’t transmit this thought—after all, father and son killing each other was a tragedy.

Poor Xu Ningyan.

After roughly finalizing the plan, everyone ended their transmissions.

…

Bureau of Astronomy, bedroom.

Xu Qi’an, kicked out of bed by Mu Nanzhi, sat at the table and put down his jade mirror.

“This strategy should be called ‘Luring the Snake from Its Hole,’ ‘Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea,’ ‘Passing Fish Eyes Off as Zhenzhus’…” he critiqued playfully.

The core of the Black Lotus assassination plan was Asura!

Luo Yuhen was about to undergo her tribulation. She could occasionally take action, but the intensity of supernatural battles would cause the karmic fire within her to become unbalanced, leading to the early descent of the heavenly tribulation.

On this point, Xu Pingfeng understood very clearly.

Black Lotus and Xu Pingfeng always thought I was the Heaven and Earth Society’s main force, but they had no idea about Asura’s existence… Xu Qi’an checked for holes in the plan.

Besides Golden Lotus Daoist and Huaiqing, no one knew that Asura was Number Eight.

Asura, with two plus three plus two, was the main force in this Black Lotus assassination. Even in single combat, Asura could kill Black Lotus.

Not to mention having Golden Lotus Daoist’s assistance.

“So, when they learn that Golden Lotus Daoist is launching a surprise attack on Earth Sect headquarters, they definitely won’t waste energy setting up a trap, at most sending a Ji Xuan to help. Because by then, I’ll already be repeatedly harassing the border between Qing Province and Yong Province—killing me will be Cloud Province rebels’ primary goal.

“If Xu Pingfeng decides to ambush Golden Lotus and sends the Garuda Bodhisattva too, then I’ll penetrate deep into Qing Province, stake my life against theirs, and take out the entire Cloud Province army. Hmm, I’ll have to drag that old man along too.”

Various thoughts flashed through his mind as Xu Qi’an felt a long-absent excitement.

He was about to make his move, as a player.

Putting away the Earth Book fragment, he turned his head to look at the Flower Goddess’s enchanting silhouette lying on her side on the bed. Xu Qi’an’s head throbbed slightly.

“Nanzhi…”

Just as he was about to speak, Mu Nanzhi quickly responded:

“Get lost!”

…

In a quiet valley, the Heaven and Earth Society’s temporary base.

In the thatched cottage, an oil lamp burned dimly.

Golden Lotus Daoist sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion made of dried grass, eyes closed in meditation.

An orange cat lay on the ground, intently watching a jade mirror.

After years of endurance, we’ve finally reached this moment… The orange cat felt endless emotion, its mood joyful, its tail wagging happily.

Suddenly, the cottage door was pushed open as the graceful White Lotus Daoist entered with a beautiful young woman.

The two beauties first glanced at Golden Lotus Daoist, then their attention was drawn to the orange cat’s wagging tail.

The orange cat’s tail slowly stiffened, not moving for a long time.

Golden Lotus Daoist’s spiritual consciousness emerged, appearing as solid as a body, expressionlessly staring at them:

“Remember to knock when entering a room, it’s polite!”

Then, his expression softened slightly as he asked:

“What is it?”

White Lotus Daoist pursed her lips, pretending not to see the orange cat:

“Qiu Chanyi just returned from her travels and brought back some intelligence.

“The Earth Sect headquarters is empty, those demon cultivators have moved somewhere unknown.”