The physical advantage and immense power of the Yan Han warships almost instantly tilted the balance of the battle.
"No!! How is this possible? Block it for me!!"
Gong Liangyue couldn't believe that his and the thousand Yellow Crystal Pangolin Army's charged attack was instantly routed. Not only did they fail to injure the enemy, but their combined battle formation was shattered.
The outcome was decided in a single exchange, a result he found almost unbearable.
However, Gong Liangyue instinctively conjured a Dharma treasure, the Starfall Aurora Shield, instantly enlarging it to shield himself.
The Starfall Aurora Shield was a hexagonal shield with specks of stardust on its surface, emitting a blue crystal-like glow and possessing formidable defensive capabilities.
Yet, as the massive bow of the Yan Han warship crashed down, with a "crack," it instantly shattered the Starfall Aurora Shield.
"Impossible! How can you break my Starfall Aurora Shield? I am the patriarch of the Gong Liang family! Do you dare kill me?"
Gong Liangyue roared in terror, gaining a deeper understanding of the Yan Han warship's terrifying might.
The cultivators controlling the Yan Han warship cast him a cold glance, then accelerated, slaughtering Gong Liangyue and the scattered Yellow Crystal Pangolin Army.
After resolving the rebellion here, this squadron of Yan Han warships immediately set sail elsewhere without even a moment to rest.
The urgency to save people was like fire; rebellions were erupting everywhere. If they didn't hurry to offer aid, the situation would become even more precarious.
Over a thousand Yan Han warships were engaged in battles across various locations. Simultaneously, the central court of the Great Jin Dynasty mobilized a contingent of elite imperial guards, dispatching them from the capital, Chang'an, to assist the Yan Han warships in quelling the unrest.
The shifting winds in the Purple State's cultivation world did not affect Wu Tao's plans.
In a pavilion by a small lake, Wu Tao, on a whim, picked up a fishing rod and sat on a stone stool, quietly fishing.
At this moment, Fan Peixi, who had come to deliver a message, cautiously approached.
"Sect Master, Young Sect Master, there's news from here!"
Fan Peixi said respectfully.
"What is it?"
Wu Tao turned his head upon hearing this, looking at Fan Peixi with a frown.
"The Young Sect Master says we can make our move now. The Liu imperial family is already overwhelmed. It's time for us to act."
Fan Peixi said excitedly.
...
Upon hearing this, Wu Tao put down his fishing rod and shook his head slightly.
"Sect Master, what's wrong?"
Fan Peixi asked, puzzled.
"It's not time yet. It's truly not time!"
Wu Tao said, shaking his head.
"Not time? I don't understand, subordinate?"
Hearing this, Fan Peixi became even more bewildered. What did their Sect Master mean?
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned, wasn't it?
...
"Rebellions are everywhere, but look at those top aristocratic families. They're acting strangely..."
"None of the Four Great Throne Families have made a move. They seem to be waiting for something. Only First, Second, and Third-rank families are acting..."
Wu Tao narrowed his eyes and said.
"Uh, it seems to be the case. But the Young Sect Master's plans are all set, just waiting for us to act."
"Even if their four great families don't make a move, what does it matter? The Liu imperial family's forces are already tied down. The defenses of the capital, Chang'an, are extremely weak..."
Fan Peixi said.
"No, that's not right. This situation of widespread rebellion and public unrest might not be as dire for the Liu imperial family as it seems."
"At the very least, even with the chaos across the 108 domains of the Great Jin, not a single one of those five Purple Mansion stage cultivators has stepped forward to restore order. If they had, it wouldn't be this chaotic. At least some people wouldn't dare to act rashly."
"This is very strange. There must be something we don't know."
"We've waited so many years, what's a few more?"
"I will immediately write a jade slip by hand. You need to deliver it quickly. Tell Yu'er to be patient for a while longer and not cause any more trouble."
Wu Tao said.
Hearing this, despite the vast difference in their statuses, Fan Peixi secretly rolled his eyes.
These master and disciple were truly something. This running back and forth was exhausting.
His backside hadn't even warmed up on the seat before he was being told to leave again.
Oh, how I suffer!
It truly is a case of the leaders speaking and the subordinates running their legs off.
Of course, no matter how much he complained inwardly, Fan Peixi dared not disobey Wu Tao.
After all, to be frank, Wu Tao was a ruthless person. He wouldn't keep subordinates who didn't listen.
...
Therefore, after Wu Tao finished writing the jade slip, Fan Peixi eagerly scurried back the way he came to find Ye Yu.
After Fan Peixi left, a cold glint flashed in Wu Tao's eyes.
"The stage has already been set for you. Since you refuse to step onto it, I will find a way to force you."
...
A few days later, Ye Yu and Yun Hong looked at the jade slip personally written by Wu Tao and the embarrassed Fan Peixi, unsure of what to do for a moment.
Ye Yu looked at the jade slip written by his master, a wry smile on his face, and shook his head without a word.
"Brother Yu, what is your master thinking? The situation is so favorable right now. If we don't act soon, it might be too late..."
Yun Hong said with dissatisfaction.
"Master's reasoning has merit. The four great families haven't made a move, so we shouldn't be the first to act."
Ye Yu shook his head upon hearing this.
...
"But opportunities wait for no one."
"Once the Liu imperial family recovers, we won't stand a chance!"
Yun Hong said unhappily, frowning.
"Let's wait and see. Perhaps others are more anxious than we are!"
"I'd rather be the puppet master than the pawn."
Ye Yu replied with firm conviction.
In the capital, Chang'an, within the imperial court.
The princes and ministers all wore rare smiles as they looked at the reports of victories from various regions.
"The heavens bless the Great Jin! Truly, the heavens bless the Great Jin."
"The Yan Han fleet and the Dragon Tiger Imperial Guards are quelling the rebellions in the thirteen central domains with great success, it can be described as a swift and decisive victory, achieving considerable results very quickly!"
Liu Zhan, the Minister of War, said joyfully.
"Yes, and what's even more gratifying is that although many resource transport convoys were looted, at least more than half of them have entered Chang'an."
"If nothing else, these spirit stones are more than enough to pay for military expenses, and the national treasury may even see an increase."
Liu Xiangtai, the acting Minister of Revenue, also appeared delighted.
It should be known that besides Liu Zhan, the Minister of War, the current acting Minister of Revenue, Liu Xiangtai, felt the most pressure among the six ministries.
After all, Liu Xiangtai was merely the acting Minister of Revenue, not the true Minister.
Once Emperor Xian Liu Xie emerged from seclusion, if he took a disliking to Liu Xiangtai, he could send him back to where he came from with a single word.
"Hahahaha, congratulations!"
"Hahahaha, congratulations!"
"Hahahaha, congratulations!"
Various high-ranking officials at the Nascent Soul stage and above offered their congratulations.
Indeed, the central court of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty appeared to be in excellent condition, except for those areas yet to be pacified.
The thirteen domains, which formed the foundation, were gradually stabilizing. With a little more time, they could focus on dealing with other regions.
The Yan Han fleet and the Dragon Tiger Imperial Guards had halted the spread of the rebellion, and order was gradually being restored. It was rare to see cultivators fighting in the sky.
Everything indicated that the once-powerful Great Jin Immortal Dynasty had returned, the prosperous Great Jin Immortal Dynasty had returned!
"Good, good, good. All ministers, your words are well-spoken. In a few more days, we will announce to the world, showing those rebellious ministers that this world still belongs to our Liu imperial family..."
The princes temporarily managing state affairs were in high spirits.
However, was the situation in the central court of the Great Jin truly so rosy? Was the situation improving, not deteriorating?
Were the intelligence reports they received accurate? Would their subordinates dare to hide anything from them?
Pretending to obey while acting rebelliously, deceiving superiors and underlings, reporting good news and hiding bad news – this had always been a tradition of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.
Perhaps only these princes and ministers, who had always been at the top and had never experienced hardship in the lower realms, would believe it.
Although most of the spirit stones, pills, and treasures they had plundered had been transported here, and the Yan Han fleet and the Dragon Tiger Imperial Guards were now fully engaged in suppressing the rebellions...
But what about the people's hearts? The lost hearts of the people?
Spirit stones, pills, treasures, and the like could be accumulated with enough time.
But once people's hearts changed, they were difficult to win back, or perhaps impossible to win back ever.
Cruelly suppressing the rebellions in various regions might not be the best approach. While effective, it was more likely to incite even stronger opposition from cultivators.
Moreover, beyond that, the non-Liu city lords in the local areas, while not displaying much loyalty...
They had at least stood with the central court of the Great Jin Dynasty before. It was not an exaggeration to say they were loyal to the sovereign and patriotic.
However, during the Spirit Stone Storm incident, the hearts of the people were completely lost.
Many city lords dared to defy imperial orders, abandon their posts, engage in internal theft, and even openly rob resource convoys.
To treat all these individuals as traitors would be a great pity, as the lord of a city was generally a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage or above.
But if they were not dealt with, they could betray once, and they could betray a second and a third time!
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