Yang Bi watched Zhang You depart, feeling sorrow deep within.

He held great admiration for Zhang You, who had been one of the rare individuals that impressed him during their studies together in the Upper Realm.

Given time, Zhang You's cultivation progress would have surely reached great heights, not inferior to Chen Shi, Zhong Wuwang, and others.

Unfortunately, their stances differed.

"Zhang You had long realized the chaos spread by the Thirteen Families among the countryside. He knew he couldn't change his fate, yet being a scion of the Zhang family, having received the best education and support since childhood, he couldn't betray them. Unlike the Cold Mountain Wanderer's carefree spirit or my own heartlessness, he could not surrender and thus sought death."

In his heart, Yang Bi lamented, "It's a pity, the world loses yet another kindred spirit."

In the Xinxiang Imperial City, within the palace, Chen Shi led the civil and military officials in a sacrifice to heaven, followed by a temple ritual to honor the Chen Family's ancestors, despite Chen Shi not knowing the name of his Great Ancestor.

Following the temple rites, there was still the state sacrifice, to pray to the gods watching over each province of the West Bull New Continent and Lady Houtu.

Once all was completed, Chen Shi held a banquet for the court ministers in the square before the Taihe Palace. Many new faces among the civil and military officials meant the banquet was quite necessary. As the new king, Chen Shi needed to know each minister's name, position, and responsibilities.

Hu Feifei assisted on the side, quietly reminding him.

Chen Shi listened attentively, committing everything to memory diligently and meticulously.

After the grand feast concluded, Chen Shi left the court, exhaling a long breath, and removed the yellow robe along the way, taking off the Emperor's Crown and handing it to the Little Chengzi beside him.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

The Little Chengzi, in a flustered tone, said repeatedly, "The book from the Ritual Supervision states that the Emperor must wear a crown to maintain his dignity!"

Chen Shi laughed and said, "Is the book from your Ritual Supervision meant to govern the Emperor? The Ritual Supervision is quite bold. I don't buy into this. In this palace, I am the highest authority, and what I say goes."

The Little Chengzi, left with no choice, said, "Your Majesty's daily activities and behavior are all recorded in the diary by the historian, and they document everything truthfully. This might sully Your Majesty's wise reputation."

Chen Shi said, "They record truthfully? Even if I command them to change it, they won't?"

The Little Chengzi shook his head, "They won't change it."

Chen Shi fumed, "I could have their heads removed and replace the historian. Would they change then?"

The Little Chengzi shook his head again, "They won't change."

Chen Shi sneered, "Then I'll keep killing and changing historians!"

The Little Chengzi said, "Even new historians won't change it. If Your Majesty wants to decapitate them, they might even be overjoyed. I heard from Eunuch Feng that the historical record is only so thick, with limited people and events recorded. As historians, few manage to gain lasting fame. But if they act as loyal ministers and are beheaded by a muddle-headed emperor, they gain eternal fame. Among scholars, many might even long for Your Majesty to behead them."

Chen Shi, angry yet amused, said, "You're calling me a muddle-headed emperor! How bold of you!"

The Little Chengzi revealed a look of joy, expecting to be beheaded.

But Chen Shi did not behead him, instead, saying, "It seems being a True King is still a matter requiring study, not allowing arbitrary actions. Teacher said to reflect three times a day. Can I be stronger? Is my sword sharp? Am I invincible? Even a teacher reflects upon himself, and until being invincible, must adhere to rules. How much more so for me? When I am invincible, then I can ignore the rules."

The Little Chengzi blinked, feeling something was slightly amiss.

Chen Shi arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion, where Hu Feifei, Shao Jing, and Situ Wen were already waiting.

Chen Shi took his seat, exhaled in relief, and said with a smile, "I originally thought being Emperor would be a joyous matter, not realizing there are so many complicated formalities. It's not joyful at all."

Hu Feifei solemnly said, "Your Majesty is now a True King, not yet an Emperor. Please speak cautiously."

She hesitated and said, "If Your Majesty seeks to ascend further..."

Chen Shi shook his head and said, "My loyalty to Great Ming is as clear as the sun and moon, I have no desire to be Emperor. Feifei, do not harm me... harm the lonely me."

Hu Feifei exchanged glances with Situ Wen and Shao Jing, their thoughts aligned: "Your Majesty currently reflects, recognizing his strength has not yet reached the time for claiming the throne. When he accumulates enough power, we can then encourage him onward."

Situ Wen said, "Is Your Majesty not worried about the front-line battles?"

Chen Shi shook his head and smiled, "The Thirteen Families are mere motley crews, the day the Upper Realm was broken, their heroes vanished, leaving nothing but rotting bones in graves. Why worry? The only one who could change the tide for the Thirteen Families is Yang Bi, but it's a pity Yang Bi now serves me, making the Thirteen Families vulnerable before him."

Shao Jing frowned and asked, "But Yang Bi is still a member of the Yang family, won't he..."

Chen Shi replied, "I have allowed him to release some of his clansmen at his discretion. If I wish to use him well, I must grant him some authority."

He was quite pleased and smiled, "Yang Bi is formidable enough to fight me to a draw. The Thirteen Families cannot use him. Such a peerless talent should be my rival, yet now he's in my service, making it truly my fortune."

Seeing this, the others steered away from the topic, turning instead to unfold the geographical map of West Bull New Continent to discuss the appointment of local officials.

"Local appointments will be selected from the subordinate halls of Red Mountain Hall across various places."

Chen Shi said, "Before this, they managed the Red Mountain Hall in various places, and during disasters, they were responsible for the safety of the people in one area. This already proves their abilities, so there's no need to select local officials again."

Hu Feifei said, "And there's the matter of opening schools. Fu Leisheng said, His Majesty wants to set up schools in various places, which is certainly good, but many Scholars cannot pass the Scholar exams each year and can only return to their hometowns to teach private schools. The True King opening schools in rural areas undoubtedly takes away their livelihood."

Chen Shi smiled and said, "Mr. Fu's concern is valid. But these Scholars can apply to teach at the schools, they don't have to teach private schools, they can teach at the schools, and the court will provide their monthly salary, so they can concentrate on teaching the students."

Hu Feifei noted it down and said, "Mr. Fu has another concern, which is what the schools should teach. There are countless Foundation Establishment techniques in the world, and the number of techniques collected by families is even greater. How to teach? What to teach? These also need a proper framework."

Chen Shi inquired, "Who should be in charge of the schools?"

Hu Feifei said, "The Ministry of Rites manages it. But although there were schools before, their scale was not large, while His Majesty wants the court to establish schools in various places, which is too large in scale."

"Then establish academic officials in the Ministry of Rites, and let Mr. Fu be responsible for this matter."

Chen Shi said, "As for what to teach, after the war ends, let my grandfather gather the Independents of the world, combine everyone's wisdom, discuss this matter, and devise a Cultivation Technique Method System most suitable for promotion."

Hu Feifei noted it down and said, "And there's the issue of Demon Transformations and disasters in various places. Previously, Demon Transformations and disasters in various places were often difficult for the Western Capital Court to handle, and their response was slow. One reason is the inability to predict Demon Transformations and disasters, the other is a lack of sufficient power and experts to resolve them."

Chen Shi pondered, "Then, let the Ministry of War recruit soldiers and horses to deal with this matter. At the same time, communicate with the Divine in various places to monitor anomalies in each area. Upon discovering Demon Seeds, eradicate them at the first moment."

Hu Feifei added, "And there's the sea area. Demons from the Sea of Darkness often invade, requiring a large number of border army defenses on the coast. The border army often suffers heavy casualties. The current plan is for His Majesty to request Lady Houtu to place a demon-prohibiting seal on the West Bull New Continent."

Chen Shi nodded gently, "I will go see the Lady shortly."

Hu Feifei said, "And there's Despair Slope. Although governance in various places is difficult after the Thirteen Families were exterminated, it's still humanly possible to manage. Only Despair Slope, when the Heavenly Venerate's injuries heal, will surely come to attack Lady Houtu and obliterate the Huaxia Gods. Does His Majesty have a response?"

Chen Shi, who could answer everything calmly just now, solving these problems with a few words, only furrowed his brows concerning Despair Slope and the Heavenly Venerate issue.

Seeing this, Hu Feifei said, "Your Majesty, I spoke out of turn."

Chen Shi waved his hand and said, "This has nothing to do with you. This is my issue. Alright, I should go see Lady Houtu now. You've worked hard all day; go back early and rest."

The three agreed.

Chen Shi stood up, walked out of Wenyuan Pavilion, with a slight thought, the surrounding Yin Yang reversed, and he arrived in the underworld.

At this time, outside the Houde Palace, Little Yama and Liu Daoist were still strenuously resisting the attacks from all directions, but the offensive was far less intense than before.

Since the news came of the Zhang, Gu, and Xia families being attacked, these Ghost Gods have struggled to focus on attacking Houde Palace, with Ghost Gods occasionally leaving to support their families.—— But they are just heading to their deaths.

When Chen Shi arrived outside Houde Palace, most of the Ghost Gods besieging it had already left.

The remaining Yama Kings and Judges, one faced prolonged failure, and the other worried about their own safety, so they left the battlefield, howling away.

Chen Shi passed under the old willow tree, seeing the tree full of Ghost Gods, all firmly bound and unable to move.

Liu Daoist stood under the tree, saluted him, and said, "Your Majesty, the Ghost Gods of the major underworlds have already left, gone to support their clans, their strength increased, does Your Majesty still have any chance of victory?"

Chen Shi smiled, "There's absolutely no possibility of failure. I have fourfold forces, with Little Yama as external support. If the enemy is strong, I divide and destroy them, gathering the strongest forces, devouring them step by step. If the enemy is weak, I attack on multiple fronts. Surprise tactics, battles can be fought, hard battles can also be fought."

Liu Daoist praised, "These families are like startled birds, Your Majesty's victory is just around the corner."

Chen Shi came before the Goddess Temple, met with Little Yama, who saluted and said, "All is settled here, I will go support."

Chen Shi asked concernedly, "Do you know the way?"

Little Yama blinked her eyes, showing a troubled expression, indeed not knowing how to get to those families.

Chen Shi raised the Heavenly Court Token and smiled, "Brother Dao, upon entering the Little Heavenly Realms, someone will open the battlefield portals for you."

Little Yama was delighted and entered the Little Heavenly Realms.

Chen Shi thought, "Although Nannan has awakened the memory of the Great Lord Qing Tian, her temperament still dominates."

It's truly a miracle she manages Yama Hall without mistakes.

Chen Shi composed his thoughts, walked into the temple, and paid homage to Lady Houtu, saying, "Your child thanks the Lady for her protection. Without you, Lady, I'm afraid the world would be in peril."

Lady Houtu laughed, "True King, speak properly."

Chen Shi smiled, "Godmother, our West Bull New Continent has long been harassed and disturbed by sea demons, the people of the Fifty Provinces are your people too, and they have suffered for long. So I was thinking, if you, Godmother, could use great mana to set a demon-prohibiting seal along the coastline, encircling the West Bull New Continent, then the people of Godmother will surely offer more incense and be more devoted to you."

Lady Houtu laughed out loud, "You're just trying to get me to set a seal to protect the world's people, coming up with all these reasons. But even if I set the seal, prohibiting demon passage, as long as Despair Slope is freed up, it will all be destroyed."

Chen Shi furrowed his brows, knowing the Lady spoke the truth.

Without eliminating the Heavenly Venerate, it's always a hidden danger!

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