Within the Vermillion Pill Empire...

A sealed letter had just arrived at the imperial court.

At the highest seat of the grand hall, Emperor Ouyang sat calmly, his gaze resting on the contents of the message.

Silence filled the room.

Below him stood ministers and advisors, each waiting for his words.

After a brief moment, Emperor Ouyang lowered the letter slightly.

"What do you think?"

His voice was steady, yet carried authority.

The contents of the letter were simple.

The First Prince of the Desolate Heaven Empire sought their support.

In exchange... Once he ascended the throne, he would ensure that the Mu Clan would lose its greatest strength.

Mu Tianxuan would die!

Every Grade-7 pill recipe within the Mu Clan would be handed over.

The moment the contents were understood, a faint ripple spread across the court.

This offer was far too tempting.

The rise of the Mu Clan had already begun to affect the Vermillion Pill Empire.

Their influence was growing.

Their pills were entering markets that once belonged solely to the Empire.

If this continued... their revenue might be reduced to half of what it once was.

Naturally, they wanted the Mu Clan suppressed.

No... destroyed would be more accurate.

"Your Majesty, this is indeed a favorable proposal."

The advisor’s tone was calm, but his eyes flickered with interest.

"If the Mu Clan loses its Grandmaster Alchemist... it will collapse almost instantly."

Another nodded in agreement.

"And without Grade-7 pill recipes, they can’t produce more Grade-7 alchemists, while obtaining them would greatly strengthen our empire."

However, not everyone was convinced.

Another minister frowned slightly.

"But... what if this is a trap?"

He continued.

"Which empire would willingly sell its greatest asset to a rival? This is definitely suspicious."

For a moment, doubt lingered.

Then, another advisor spoke up.

"Perhaps not!"

All eyes turned toward him.

"If something grows beyond one’s control... even an empire would want to suppress it."

He paused briefly.

"And the Bai Clan’s strength is too powerful. They are more powerful than the Yu Family. They would definitely want to suppress them and any clan connected to them."

He continued further.

"Moreover, the First Prince is not the only one seeking external support."

A murmur spread.

"I have received word... the Second Prince has also begun approaching other empires."

At those words, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

"It seems the battle for the throne of the Desolate Heaven Empire may soon involve external forces."

If multiple princes were already seeking outside support, then this was no longer unusual.

It was desperation.

And desperation made people do anything.

The earlier doubts gradually faded.

Instead, a subtle excitement began to rise.

If they accepted this proposal—

Not only would the Mu Clan be crippled—

They would also gain influence over the future Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire.

And if the conflict escalated further...

If the Bai Clan were dragged into it...

If the Li and Zhao Clans suffered losses...

Then who was to say the Desolate Heaven Empire would remain the strongest?

The balance of power could shift entirely.

At the head of the hall, Emperor Ouyang’s lips curved slightly.

"Then..."

He glanced at the court.

"...it is decided?"

No one objected.

Most of them had already made up their minds.

The benefits were too great and too tempting to ignore.

While the loss on their side could almost be said to be negligible. Even if this doesn’t work out, the effect on them wouldn’t be significant.

A faint chuckle escaped Emperor Ouyang.

"Hehehe..."

His eyes gleamed with cold ambition.

"Looks like the Desolate Heaven Empire’s supremacy is coming to an end."

***

Deep within the imperial palace of the Desolate Heaven Empire... inside the Emperor’s private chamber.

The atmosphere was heavy.

The air itself seemed still, as if even it did not dare to move.

On the grand bed, the Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire lay weakly.

Gone was the imposing figure that had recently shocked the entire court.

In his place was a man on the verge of death.

His face was pale. His breathing was shallow, each breath seeming like a struggle.

Beside him stood Minister of Internal Affairs, Yan Taifeng.

His expression was tense.

"Looks like... these foolish sons of mine want to drag the entire region into their fight for the throne..."

The Emperor spoke slowly.

Although the princes and princesses thought that they could deceive everyone and scheme beneath him, he knew every move of theirs.

Cough! Cough!

A violent coughing fit interrupted him.

A trace of blood stained the corner of his lips.

"Your Majesty!"

Yan Taifeng stepped forward instinctively, worry flooding his face.

But the Emperor raised a trembling hand and stopped him.

"...No need."

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Even Grade-8 pills cannot save a dying man."

His voice carried a quiet resignation.

Yan Taifeng’s expression tightened.

Only he knew the truth.

The previous display was nothing more than borrowed time.

A Grade-8 pill that forcibly replenished life force, restoring vitality for a short period.

At the cost of an even greater backlash.

"Your Majesty..."

Yan Taifeng’s voice trembled slightly.

But he didn’t know what to say.

What could he say?

The Emperor slowly closed his eyes for a moment.

"I thought... I could at least settle things before I leave..."

His voice grew softer.

"Take care of the Bai Clan before it got too powerful... but failed."

His only choice left was to help the Li-Zhao Alliance try to suppress the Bai Clan, but with the Mu Clan now having Grandmasters, that had become even more impossible.

"...even failed to leave Yu Feiyan in the hands of someone capable of protecting her."

A faint trace of warmth appeared in his otherwise dim eyes.

Yu Feiyan.

His daughter.

His only child with the woman he had truly loved, although no one acknowledged her nor her daughter.

An illegitimate child, as one might say.

He had tried to arrange everything to secure her future.

Bai Zihan had once seemed like the perfect choice. A cripple, yet backed by an unparalleled force.

With that, they can also reinforce the authority of the Imperial Family.

Although crippled, Bai Zihan’s status was absolute, and even if Yu Feiyan was his illegitimate daughter, no one would have dared to touch her if she had become Bai Zihan’s wife.

But that plan had failed as well.

Moreover, Yu Feiyan had stepped into the storm herself, into the battle for the throne.

A path filled with blood and death.

Regret!

It filled his heart completely.

Cough! Cough!

Another violent fit shook his body.

This time, more blood spilled.

Yan Taifeng clenched his fists tightly.

His eyes reddened.

The Emperor stared blankly ahead.

His thoughts drifted.

Looking back at his life...

He found nothing.

No great accomplishments.

No lasting legacy.

Only struggles.

Only compromises.

And now...

What he would leave behind was chaos.

A battlefield for his own children.

"I tried..."

He murmured faintly.

"...but it seems I couldn’t fix anything."

Silence filled the room once more.

The candlelight flickered weakly.

As if it too was about to go out.

The Emperor’s breathing grew slower.

Weaker and weaker.

His eyes began to lose focus.

His chest no longer rose.

The final breath... had left him.

Silence!

The Emperor of the Desolate Heaven Empire had fallen.

And with his death...

The Desolate Heaven Empire was about to enter an age of chaos.