"Crown Prince."

The Second Prince looked at the Crown Prince on the Imperial Platform and spoke, "How much has our nation's fortune declined?"

The Crown Prince slowly said, "Just as we estimated, it has decreased by about twenty-five percent, and four more princes and princesses have not yet been publicly executed. Although their sins are not grave enough to warrant death, their lifespans are greatly reduced. Coupled with the impact of the people's shaken faith, the nation's fortune will soon decrease by more than thirty percent."

Apart from Lin Yue, all other twelve princes and princesses bore sins to varying degrees, among them eight whose sins were heavy enough to ensure death had already been sent on to reincarnation ahead of time.

But the remaining four were still to be executed publicly.

"With the preparations of the Demon Clan, the loss of the people's hearts is already beyond redemption."

The Crown Prince swept his gaze over everyone and said, "The decline of national fortune below fifty percent of the Human Clan's fortune is only a matter of time, merely sooner or later."

The princes and princesses said nothing, as it was well known to them that the Crown Prince controlled a National Treasure by relying on the nation's fortune, thereby mobilizing the power of the Heavenly Dao.

However, the national fortune of the Great Yong Kingdom had to maintain above fifty percent of the Human Clan's fortune.

Once it fell below that...

The atmosphere was laden with silence.

"Crown Prince."

The Third Prince suddenly spoke with a smile, "While that may be, you and the Second Prince must have some strategies, right?"

The Crown Prince glanced at him and said indifferently, "Even if the nation's fortune doesn't reach fifty percent of the Human Clan's fortune, I can still mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao, but the scope of control will be reduced, confined to protecting only Jingzhou."

Several princes and princesses who were unaware of this information beforehand breathed a sigh of relief.

They had thought that once the nation's fortune dropped below fifty percent, the Crown Prince would be completely unable to mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao.

So it appeared they could still protect themselves?

Lin Yue's mind stirred.

Was this the reason the Second Prince was certain Di Hong City could be kept safe?

However, knowing that there were traitors among the princes and still daring to speak openly rather than keeping it as a trump card likely meant that the Demon Clan was already aware of this...

A trump card known to others is no longer a trump card, unless one is truly invincible, there will always be countermeasures.

Even the Crown Prince, who controlled the Heavenly Dao, could do nothing against those unpredictable by fate, nor could he resist the will of the ancient rulers... Merely controlling the Heavenly Dao around Jingzhou should not be considered a trump card.

Perhaps... the Crown Prince and Second Prince had other trump cards?

"After this public execution, the nation's fortune will have decreased to only about fifty-five percent of the Human Clan's fortune."

The Crown Prince said expressionlessly, "The Demon Clan will surely incite the people of Liangwang City to compete for the people's hearts. As Great Yong is currently experiencing an unstable public sentiment, we must also act to slow down the loss of the nation's fortune as much as possible, to allow for more preparations."

The actual public execution was underway.

However, because they were in this special Royal Secret Land, where time nearly halted in thought, they had enough time to discuss countermeasures.

The Sixth Prince pondered for a moment and asked, "May I know what the Crown Prince plans for us to do?"

Of the twelve princes and princesses who had slaughtered mortals, only four remained... the Sixth Prince, Seventh Prince, Fifth Princess, Seventh Princess.

These four were inevitably to be executed publicly.

Thus, there was still an opportunity to act during their defenses.

"It's simple..."

The Crown Prince said with detachment, "During the upcoming public executions, I need you to plead guilty voluntarily, and to reveal that the other princes and princesses were killed by me, and indeed, I was the one who destroyed the physical bodies of those eight."

Plead guilty voluntarily?

Apart from the Seventh Princess who had not yet regained consciousness, the other three frowned slightly.

Already feeling wronged enough, they now had to plead guilty?

"Under the agitation by the Divine Dream Envoy, no matter how you defend yourselves, the people of the world will not believe you."

The Crown Prince spoke dispassionately, "Isn't that how people are? In the past, you were esteemed members of the Xiahong Imperial Family, seen as Divine Sons by the people of the world. But people are skilled both at enshrining gods and dismantling them. Now, you are merely dogs awaiting judgment, rejected as the wall falls; people will only believe what they wish to, and if you confess voluntarily, with the other eight heavily sinning princes and princesses being slain by me, at least the imperial family's prestige can be maintained somewhat."

The Sixth Prince sighed and shook his head, "Well then, I shall confess. It is indeed because I did not desire to devote myself to Proving and Transcending that I became influenced by that ancient will, otherwise..."

The Seventh Prince frowned and said, "Your younger brother does not feel he did anything wrong, but if it is for the greater good, I won't defend myself."

The Fifth Princess had no reaction.

She never cared about the opinions of the people; the practitioners of the Demon Path have always only concerned themselves with the dead.

"And what of the Seventh Princess?"

Lin Yue spoke, "Her Divine Soul has been split into two individuals now. The good part of her is here in the Royal Secret Land, the evil part of her is in the real Dream. Will the evil her truly confess?"

"No need to worry about her," said the Crown Prince calmly.

Lin Yue was slightly startled, suddenly understanding what the Crown Prince meant.

However...

He looked at the comatose Seventh Princess and sighed.

None of the princes and princesses present spoke.

The atmosphere remained silent.

Over the more than a thousand years since the founding of Great Yong, the Human Clan had enjoyed an unprecedented era of peace and smoothness; this was the first time in a millennium that they had felt so stifled.

"Have all of you forgotten?"

The Second Prince suddenly spoke up, "Throughout our Human Clan's history, we have faced many such situations. To survive, we have given up countless things, our lands, our people, treasures... even our humanity."

Everyone understood.

Reviewing the history since the coming of the Eternal Night, the history of the Human Clan had been a struggle for survival amidst suffering.

"Of course I haven't forgotten."

The Fourth Prince sighed and shook his head, "This is the ordeal of the Human Clan, how could we forget? We have struggled against the Eternal Night until now, and thought we were fortunate to be under Your Majesty's protection, naively hoping the Human Clan would no longer need to suffer. But even now, it remains difficult to accept..."