Chapter 156: What now?
Imperial Throne Room, Capital.
The throne room of the Imperial Palace loomed with grandeur, its vast columns reaching the heavens, like a cinematic emperor's room on Chinese lore.
Silks of imperial gold fluttered in the cool autumn breeze, while lanterns with carvings of all mighty heaven slaughtering dragons cast long shadows across the marble floor.
At the center sat Emperor Long Tian, draped in resplendent robes embroidered with phoenixes and flames.
His presence, like a dormant volcano, radiated authority and restrained power, he is like god among human.
Around him, several of his most trusted and old ministers stood in solemn contemplation, their voices hushed with tension, sweat forming up their ass.
The situation was dire for them to look at.
At the same time, the Emperor's gaze was cold and calculating as he addressed the council to certain matter.
"We have received troubling reports," Emperor Long Tian began with his voice a low rumble that echoed through the chamber with bass turning the room cold.
"The Qi in the mountain range under the dominion of the Blooming Flower Sect has become significantly stronger... And for capital it has become significantly less dense than it once was..." he added.
Grand Minister Wu, the venerable old figure with a long white beard and eyes that shined like stars full of cunningness, donned in black robe stepped forward, holding a scroll with imperial markings.
"Your Majesty, it is exactly as you have heard. My agents have confirmed that the decline in Qi is not natural. The once SO prosperous land is now a shadow of itself. And yet..." he paused, his eyes narrowing, "the Blooming Flower Sect has flourished."
A murmur spread among the ministers.
"Curious, isn't it?" said Minister Ren, a typical younger yet ambitious advisor with that fox like sharp chin said, leaning forward slightly.
"That their sect grows stronger and stronger as the spiritual energy increases there? It could only mean one thing... It's what we all are thinking,"
"A Qi gathering array of best quality???" spoke the General named Fang who was a battle-hardened cultivator with scars etched across his face... a sharp mark of blade on his eyes that gives a separate fearsome aura.
"That's right... They must have some kind of array that is sucking spirituality from the surroundings to their mountains, if this goes on then what are we going to do?
We need to take some serious action!!!"
Emperor Long Tian's eyes narrowed, his regal features hardening into a steely cold expression.
"A Qi gathering array..." he mused, his voice dripping with a dangerous undercurrent.
"It seems the Blooming Flower Sect has grown far too bold," he adds clenching his fist.
But keeping his cool, he leaned forward slightly, his ornate robes shifting with the movement.
"If what you say is true, then this cannot be allowed to continue. The very lifeblood of our capital is at stake..." His gaze swept across the assembled ministers, pinning each one with a piercing stare.
"General Fang," he commanded, "ready our forces. I want scouts dispatched immediately to verify these claims. If the Blooming Flower Sect is indeed responsible, then they shall face the wrath of the Empire... Stealing the spirituality is grave sin, "
The scarred general bowed deeply, his expression grim. "It shall be done, Your Majesty. My men will depart at once,"
Minister Ren stepped forward, his eyes shining with a cunning light. "And what of the Blooming Flower Sect, my lord? Surely they will not relinquish their prize so easily..."
The Emperor's lips curled into a cold, humorless smile. "Then we shall meet their defiance with the full might of the Imperial Army. I will not allow anyone, not even one of the three Great Sects, to jeopardize the stability of my kingdom,"
Three great sect are three of the elite sect in the empire who holds immense power, they are diamond rank sect... A sect way powerful than gold sect that mocked the flower blooming sect.
"murmur!"
"murmur!"
"Silence!"
He raised a hand like King Baldwin IV, silencing the murmurs that had begun to ripple through the gathered ministers.
"Prepare for war!!! The Blooming Flower Sect has sealed their own fate,"
The war was the only answer, also it would mean that the emperor could seize that mountain for his own gain.
---
General Fang's lips curled into a sinister grin, his scarred face twisting with grim determination. "War, your highness speaks? Then so be it. The might of the Imperial Army shall be unleashed upon those arrogant fools at the Blooming Flower Sect... I heard the new sect master is young, I guess he can't see how high the Mount Tai is,"
Thup! Thup!
He stepped forward, his heavy boots echoing across the marble floor. "I will lead the vanguard myself, Your Majesty. We shall tear down their precious array and crush any who dare to defy the will of the glorious all mighty Empire,"
Minister Ren's eyes glinted with a cold gleam. "A bold plan, General. But the Blooming Flower Sect is no mere rabble if I have to say, they might have some hidden keys.... We must ensure our forces are adequately prepared for the coming battle, who knows what traps they might have set after all, if one can cast such strong array, it would be wise to set traps too,"
Ren was correct.
If they can cast such powerful array, they have have setup other powerful defensive array too.
Emperor Long Tian once again raised his hand, silencing the minister.
"Worry not, Minister Ren. The Blooming Flower Sect may have some hidden cards, but they are no match for the full might of the Imperial Army. I will personally oversee the preparations for this campaign... It's also time we collect tax with full interest,"
He turned his gaze to the gathered ministers, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity. "This is no mere skirmish. The very future of our kingdom hangs in the balance. I will not tolerate any failure. Understood?"
The emperor was somewhat correct.
If all spiritually was gathered towards the blooming sect, what will the other people and sect do?
It's like rich people becoming richer and richer and poor becoming poorer and poorer.
But then again, it has always been like that.
If Xian Tian didn't have created that array, the place with most spirituality would be capital.
Well, duh! It's capital for a reason.
Meanwhile,
The ministers bowed low, their faces etched with a mix of trepidation and determination. "Yes!! Your Majesty. We shall mobilize our forces at once."
---
Emperor Long Tian's brow furrowed further, his regal features hardening into a stern expression, who does this minister think? A mere lower sect can go against imperial force?
Courting Death!!!
"This grievous breach of the natural order cannot go unpunished. The Blooming Flower Sect has transgressed against the very fabric of our realm, and for that, they shall pay dearly..."
His piercing gaze swept across the assembled ministers. "Prepare the legions. I want every able-bodied soldier mobilized and ready to march within the fortnight. This insult to the Empire will not stand... I want then to be vanished from here within 2 days,"
General Fang stepped forward exactly beside emperor now, his scarred visage twisting into a savage grin.
"It will be my honor to lead the vanguard, Your Majesty. My men and I will carve a bloody path through the Blooming Flower Sect's defenses and ensure their array is destroyed, no matter the cost..."
Minister Ren's brow furrowed, his expression betraying a rare moment of uncertainty. "Forgive me, my lord, but WE must not underestimate their strength or the cunning of their elders. Perhaps a more measured approach..."
The Emperor raised a hand once again like Baldwin, silencing the minister with a sharp gesture.
It felt like he was truly in edit.
"Enough of your hesitation, Minister Ren. This is no time for half-measures. The Blooming Flower Sect has threatened the very stability of my kingdom, and I will not rest until they have been utterly crushed... This is the empire build by my ancestor and I don't wanna see it fall,"
He leaned forward, his regal bearing commanding the attention of all present. "Inform the Sect Leader that he has one last chance to surrender and renounce his actions. If he refuses, then he and all who follow him shall be given no mercy..."
Emperor Long Tian's eyes narrowed gleaming with cold red light into an icy glare.
"The Sect has sealed their own fate with their arrogance,"
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Ah! Very sorry, I had a festival and after that I was sick pretty badly so, I couldn't update chapters, haha! Matter of fact I couldn't even look at screen so, yeah, sorry.