The resolute voice of Young Li echoed from the "Scroll of Mountains and Rivers," reaching every corner of the imperial capital and silencing the city for a few seconds.

"‘The Azure Heavens are dead, the Phoenix Heavens shall rise’—what does that mean?"

"Perhaps... it means gathering a group of people, dressed in bright yellow robes, to march toward the Celestial City..."

"Isn’t that just outright rebellion?"

"Who was it that said Young Hero Li would overcome his trials in a gentlemanly manner? Is this what you call ‘gentlemanly’?"

The crowd erupted in uproar. No one had expected Young Li, with his honest and upright appearance, to harbor such treasonous ambitions.

They feared the Celestial Trials might end here—that the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers would close, declaring this a trial malfunction.

Starting as a mortal and ending in rebellion—is this even allowed to be broadcast?

"Putting that aside, can he actually succeed?"

"Mo City’s current influence can’t even compare to the martial clans of the Earth City. The Frost Fairy is strong, yes, but the situation in Celestial City is too chaotic now. It’s no longer about who has the strongest individual power."

"Let’s wait and see. If it’s Young Hero Li, he might just pull it off."

"In the history of the Celestial Trials, he’s the only participant who nearly unified the Human City. No one else has come close."

After the initial silence, the discussions in the imperial capital grew even more heated.

Starting with nothing but a hammer, only to end up as the emperor of Celestial City—it sounded like a wild fantasy. But... what if it actually happened? Wouldn’t that be something to behold?

......

Under the ceremonial canopy in front of the Meridian Gate, the high-ranking members of various sects still gathered daily to observe the trials from the closest vantage point to the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers.

"Prince Jiang Yu’s methods would have been reliable in past Celestial Trials, but he relied too much on past experience. Entering the Inner Realm always leaves behind an imperfection."

A great scholar from the Imperial Academy stroked his beard, making excuses for the prince’s failure.

A high-ranking official in purple robes chimed in, "Ascending the throne, governing the nation, pacifying the realm—the sage’s methods aren’t wrong. It’s just that the Demon Sect’s presence this time was too formidable. Even a born emperor like His Highness couldn’t succeed. Celestial City is now a deadlock."

Zhong Qin, the Prince of Southern Domains, set down his teacup and remarked leisurely,

"Two out of three trial participants remain. Isn’t it a bit premature for you two to write them off?"

The official shook his head. "Even if the rebellion succeeds, and either Li Mo or Ying Bing becomes the new emperor, they’ll only repeat the same mistakes. If His Highness couldn’t do it, they might go a bit further, but it’s still the same old path."

The scholar frowned. "Besides, His Highness had legitimacy. What is this Li fellow doing? Rebellion! Even if he succeeds, Celestial City will be left in ruins. It’s only natural he wouldn’t get as far as His Highness."

"He might not follow the same path as His Highness."

Zhong Qin’s tone carried a note of conviction.

Surveying the assembled nobles, he added,

"The outcome of Celestial City concerns the dignity of the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers and our Great Yu’s reputation. Yet, instead of bolstering our own morale, you all seem to be echoing the sentiments of the Demon Sect’s traitors. Are you perhaps thinking along the same lines?"

"......"

The nobles fell into an awkward silence.

Your Highness, Li Mo is literally rebelling.

Who exactly is the traitor here?

But with the Prince of Southern Domains throwing accusations, the scholar had no choice but to say,

"We are merely analyzing the situation. Of course, we hope for victory."

Zhong Qin narrowed his eyes and said no more.

When the Demon Sect, allied with the remnants of the Great Shang and calamity beasts, invaded the southern borders, the emperor had urgently recalled him to the capital. That alone was suspicious.

In the past, Emperor Jingtai had supported him unreservedly.

Yet, at this critical moment, he was summoned back to the capital.

Was it because the emperor could no longer control the situation and wanted, at the very least... to protect him?

If that were truly the case...

Then the political turmoil in the court was even worse than he had imagined.

......

The Palace of Ten Thousand Spirits.

Jiang Yu, who had just been expelled from the Celestial Trials, walked the long palace corridors, feeling for the first time how endless this path seemed.

He didn’t know how to face his mother, nor the elders of the Great Yu imperial clan who had placed such high hopes in him.

Only when he reached the palace gates did he take a deep breath.

"Mother, your son has come to pay his respects."

"Your Highness, please wait a moment."

After the maidservant announced him, Jiang Yu followed her inside.

Incense curled from the crane-shaped burner as Empress Chu Ge, the very image of regal grace, reclined on a divan, embroidering a handkerchief with an impassive expression, as if wholly indifferent to the events unfolding in the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers.

"Mother, your son... has failed to live up to your and Father’s teachings."

Jiang Yu bowed deeply.

"It’s of no consequence."

Empress Chu Ge’s reply left Jiang Yu stunned.

He had expected disappointment, even fury—but never this calm detachment.

So calm that it unsettled him.

"But your son has made a mess of things. The situation in Celestial City is worse than ever. The wager with the Demon Sect’s ancestral deity..."

"That, too, is of no consequence."

"Then... what does matter?"

"Don’t ask. Your Inner Realm is incomplete, but I’ve already devised a solution. You need not think or question anything further. A mother would never harm her child. Just wait."

"...Yes."

After a few more perfunctory words, Jiang Yu left the Palace of Ten Thousand Spirits, his mind filled with doubts.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that his mother had known he would fail—perhaps even wanted him to.

Otherwise, why would she be so indifferent, so unsurprised?

Only then did Empress Chu Ge lift her gaze, fixing it on the shifting images within the Scroll of Mountains and Rivers.

In her heart, she answered Jiang Yu’s earlier question:

"Ying Bing being trapped in the Phoenix Domain is what matters."

The chaos in Celestial City was exactly what she wanted to see.

A Mo City full of mortals, no matter how much it had changed, was still no match for the storm brewing in Celestial City.

By then, Ying Bing’s personal strength would no longer matter.

..........

Celestial City.

The members of the Wind-Catching Hall also fell into deep contemplation upon hearing Li Mo’s words.

"Brother Li, you’re saying... rebellion?"

"Exactly."

"Us?"

Li Mo set down his enamel teacup and looked at the assembly of elderly faces—like a retirement home organizing a team-building event—before nodding with absolute certainty.

"You’re all at the perfect age for it."

Dong Ao fell silent for a moment before clearing his throat. "Brother Li, how are we supposed to fight? In terms of high-tier combatants, Mo City has only a handful like Grandfather. Our mid-tier forces are far behind Earth City’s martial artists. And the mortals... sure, there are many, but numbers alone won’t help."

Qi Tiezhu, after careful consideration, also shook his head.

"If we rise up, all the Celestial Clans will stop their infighting and turn their spears toward Mo City. No matter what, they’d never let mortals rule over Celestials."

These were both very real concerns.

Li Mo glanced at them and said,

"That’s exactly the effect I want."

The young genius already had a plan—one he had discussed with the Ice Block. And it was highly feasible.