"The rebel army has invaded!"
"Run for your lives!"
"Why run? I've heard that wherever the righteous army passes, order is maintained. As long as we don't resist, we'll be fine."
The mysterious death of the Da Feng emperor could not be concealed in the end.
In an instant, the capital's defense forces were in chaos. No matter how loyal they were to the Da Feng dynasty, they needed hope to see a future.
Now the emperor is dead, and at such a critical time—
Most of the defending soldiers even began to think that Da Feng's mandate of heaven had been forfeited.
Moreover, Lin Yuan took the opportunity to make a move within the capital, entangling most of the Entering Dao Masters, while the army outside the capital launched a sudden attack.
This capital city, painstakingly managed by the Da Feng dynasty for seven or eight hundred years, collapsed resoundingly.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
One by one, Entering Dao masters were the first to enter the city.
As practitioners of the Dao, their individual strength was formidable. By entering the city first, they could often take control of the situation in the shortest time possible.
As for the Entering Dao Masters? They waited outside the capital, ready to provide support at any moment.
Even with Lin Yuan's cultivation, over seventy years, less than two hundred Entering Dao Masters had been trained, and some of them had to suppress the already conquered states.
The Entering Dao Masters are the foundation and certainly cannot enter the capital lightly.
Even if the city gates were breached, who knows if there were contingencies in place that could kill the masters.
No matter how strong the Entering Dao Masters are, they are essentially mortal; an arm severed would be a severe injury, and a shattered heart or head would lead to sure death.
No matter how powerful the Spiritual Power, without the support of a physical body, it would quickly dissipate like smoke.
Outside the royal palace.
A large group of armored generals was full of excitement as they gazed at the splendid palace and pavilions not far away.
The experiences on this journey now seemed like a dream.
Too smooth.
So smooth that it was almost unbelievable.
Since ancient times, overthrowing a dynasty has required an unknown amount of sacrifice.
Surely, wave after wave of rebels had to die, exhausting the last strength of the dynasty to make it possible.
Not to mention a dynasty like the Da Feng dynasty, which was at its peak, a dynasty like this almost has no possibility of demise as long as the emperor doesn't act recklessly.
With Da Feng dynasty's control over the states,
there was simply no room for rebellion.
Even a third-rate force like the Red Lotus Sect, which only had ordinary Dao practitioners,
was swiftly annihilated by the Tao Suppression Department's strategic setup, let alone other slightly noticeable rebel forces.
There was no space for survival at all.
Yet since their 'uprising,' they had been going smoothly without encountering any substantial resistance.
In a blink, they were at the capital.
Originally, they thought breaching the capital would be a tough battle.
After all, realizing they couldn't hold off, the Da Feng dynasty had gathered all its forces back to the capital as much as possible.
Combined with the capital's original foundation,
it was considered one of the strongest forces under heaven.
But just at this time,
news of the Da Feng emperor's death came.
And at the critical moment, the Entering Dao Masters defending the city were all restrained and suppressed.
The external army needed just one charge to break in.
"We've overthrown Da Feng?"
One of the rough-built generals murmured to himself.
"Not us."
A middle-aged scholar glanced at the general, shook his head, and said, "It was the Lord."
"It was the Lord who overthrew the Da Feng Dynasty, and we are merely following him."
The middle-aged scholar added.
Upon saying this,
the many other generals uncharacteristically had no objections.
Anyone able to occupy their position naturally had good judgment.
Since the army's rebellion, it had been smooth sailing, encountering no real resistance.
Who did they rely on?
Wasn't it the Lord's strategy behind the scenes?
Without the Lord, let alone reaching here,
they couldn't have even left their respective major states.
At the founding of the Da Feng dynasty, for local armies like theirs,
there were heavy restrictions long in place.
An uprising in one state,
neighboring states would immediately dispatch troops to seal it off,
with the capital commanding the whole suppressed.
This practically cut off the possibility of a successful rebellion.
Unless Da Feng dynasty truly fell into its twilight, losing control over the states.
And this was evidently far from the case.
Moreover,
not long after they reached outside the capital,
they heard news of the emperor's death.
If this wasn't related to the Lord, who would believe it?
The Da Feng emperor didn't die early or late,
but chose to die just when we were about to engage in the decisive battle?
…
One could say,
that in this 'uprising' to overthrow the Da Feng dynasty,
the one who truly played a decisive role was the Lord.
With the Lord present, even if it wasn't them, even a dog could have overthrown Da Feng.
Without the Lord,
even if their force was ten or a hundred times stronger, they couldn't have so easily breached the capital.
"Where is the Lord now?"
Another general looked up and asked.
After breaking into the capital, they quickly took control of the city.
Then they waited outside the royal palace, waiting for the Lord to arrive.
Breaking into the capital was not the same as entering the royal palace.
Only the latter truly signified the overthrow of Da Feng dynasty's rule.
And such achievements, they dared not assume lightly.
Honestly speaking, everyone felt they hadn't contributed much in this 'uprising' at all.
Not because they were incompetent, but there was simply no opportunity to prove themselves.
"Just wait."
The middle-aged scholar glanced at the many generals and waited patiently.
No one dared to enter the royal palace without the Lord.
…
On a certain street,
Lin Yuan was deep in thought.
After killing the Da Feng emperor, Lin Yuan searched the palace again to ensure there was no second emperor hiding.
Then he went to the city wall to suppress the numerous Entering Dao Masters guarding it.
In this way, the outside army smoothly breaks through.
After completing all of this.
Lin Yuan did not join the army.
Instead, he walked quietly along the streets of the capital.
A vast spiritual power enveloped a radius of kilometers, every detail within his perception.
To kill the Da Feng emperor would end this time loop.
Lin Yuan easily inferred that the Da Feng emperor he killed.
Was not truly the Da Feng emperor, but most likely a puppet.
This puppet was definitely orchestrated by the real Da Feng emperor; otherwise, it couldn't have fooled the court officials and numerous royal family members.
Without the real emperor's cooperation and tacit approval, this scene could not have occurred.
Within the palace, so many Entering Dao Masters are not blind.
It was simply impossible for the emperor to be silently replaced.
That is to say.
The true Da Feng emperor is not dead.
The test of the time loop comes from the supreme rules.
Absolutely fair.
It stated that killing the Da Feng emperor would pass the test.
So it's certain to pass the test.
There is no possibility of changing the target midway.
"Why did the emperor specially cultivate a puppet to replace himself?"
Lin Yuan quickly pondered.
Throughout the history of this world, there have indeed been instances of emperors cultivating puppets to attend court on their behalf.
But those usually happened during times of unrest, when the dynasty's power was extremely weakened, and the emperor's move was out of necessity to thwart numerous assassinations.
Before the rebellion, the Da Feng dynasty was at its peak; even if Lin Yuan personally attempted an assassination, based on conclusions from observing the timeline, it was highly likely to fail.
In such a situation, there was no need for the emperor to cultivate a puppet.
If he was absolutely safe, why cultivate a puppet to replace himself?
And even if cultivating a puppet, he wouldn't be too far from the puppet, to control it at any time.
But Lin Yuan just explored the entire imperial palace, now with most of the capital virtually mapped out, without finding any trace of a second emperor.
Could it be that the real emperor is not in the capital?
To cultivate a puppet emperor just like himself, not keeping it under his tight grasp, and actively leaving the capital?
Isn't he afraid the puppet will become the real emperor?
In fact.
According to the information that Lin Yuan gathered over the past four to fifty years.
This puppet emperor is no different from the true emperor.
Basically, he had complete control over the military and government of the Da Feng dynasty.
Otherwise, Lin Yuan wouldn't have acted directly upon seeing this emperor.
"Did the real Da Feng emperor cultivate a puppet and then disappear, allowing the puppet to become the real emperor?"
Lin Yuan's expression revealed a trace of oddness.
Could it be that the real Da Feng emperor didn't want to be emperor?
But if he really didn't want to be emperor, he could simply abdicate and choose an heir from the royal children, couldn't he?
There's no need to be so troublesome.
Granting power to a puppet emperor, once the puppet emperor holds power.
There will definitely be murderous intent towards the true emperor.
Unless…
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
Unless the real Da Feng emperor had long known that someone wanted to kill him.
So he quietly did a 'shell escape' leaving a nominal puppet to attract attention.
While he hid somewhere unknown.
"Could this be the real difficulty of the time loop test?"
"Did the other party know about my intention to kill the emperor a long time ago?"
Lin Yuan concluded that only this could explain the matter of the puppet emperor.
"Moreover, the real Da Feng emperor also deduced that he definitely couldn't stand a chance against me, so there wasn't even an intention to preemptively stop it?"
Lin Yuan speculated deeply.
Otherwise, there wouldn't be a lack of resistance at all, just abandoning the throne and running away.
Abandoning the Da Feng throne, handing over the empire of ninety-nine provinces to a puppet?
Such courage, not everyone could have it.
"In the past four to fifty years, the Da Feng emperor's daily life has been under my surveillance, so the puppet replacement definitely didn't happen during these four to fifty years, which means it was earlier than that?"
"And cultivating such a puppet nearly identical to oneself cannot be done in a short time; it takes at least twenty to thirty years."
"Four to fifty years, plus twenty to thirty years, eighty to a hundred years? Close to the time point I arrived in this time loop?"
Lin Yuan stopped walking.
A series of illusory texts flashed beneath his gaze.
It was the timeline of a particular person.
The owner of this timeline was the puppet emperor Lin Yuan killed.
This time loop world, has a near-tyrannical suppression on the rules of the Great Way.
Lin Yuan was far from being able just to recite the opponent's name to establish causality and further observe their timeline.
Only by forming a significant causal connection with the other party voluntarily could one observe their timeline.
Like Lin Yuan's relationship with Third Uncle allows him to observe Third Uncle's future and past timelines actively.
When Lin Yuan took action to kill that puppet emperor, naturally a key causal line was established between them.
However, due to the time loop world's influence, forming this causal line took time, and only now was it fully formed.
Lin Yuan also started observing the past timeline of the puppet emperor through causality.
Since the puppet emperor was dead, no future timeline existed.
What Lin Yuan was observing was the past timeline.
[A year ago, intelligence from the Tao Suppression Department revealed that the cause of the chaos across the ninety-nine provinces originated from the Black Wind Village in the Black Mountains, kill, these thieves should all be killed]
[Ten years ago, the new concubine taken into the palace recently, what delightful taste]
[Twenty years ago, when will I become an Entering Dao Master?]
[Thirty years ago, those old ministers in the court really deserve to die, don't get angry, I'm the emperor now, I can't get angry]
[Forty years ago, almost no one could tell if I was the real emperor]
[Fifty years ago, just now the master found me, asked me to take his place, and the master's identity was actually the emperor of Da Feng, am I the emperor now?]
[Seventy years ago, if the master hadn't found me, I, a beggar, would have probably frozen to death long ago, I must repay my master in the future]
…
The past moments of the puppet emperor, all presented in words before Lin Yuan.
Though certainly not the entirety, as this ability to view timelines is greatly suppressed.
But through these words, Lin Yuan roughly learned everything he wanted to know.
"As expected, a puppet emperor."
Lin Yuan's expression was slightly heavy, "The real emperor of Da Feng disappeared fifty years ago, and the time they started cultivating the puppet emperor was seventy years ago, which is when I first arrived in this time-loop world."
A strange look appeared on Lin Yuan's face.
As soon as he arrived in this time-loop world, did they begin to cultivate a puppet?
Too much of a coincidence.
If the real emperor of Da Feng knew ahead of time that I wanted to kill him, and there was no way to stop it.
He should have started cultivating much earlier, why did it happen to be right when I arrived?
If the emperor of Da Feng learned of my intention to kill him at the very time of my arrival, even knowing there was no chance to resist.
He wouldn't have immediately started training a puppet without any hesitation.
There might be an element of coincidence, but Lin Yuan still found it too coincidental.
"Unfortunately, I have no contact with this real emperor of Da Feng, so I cannot establish any crucial causal relationship to observe the other party's timeline."
Lin Yuan shook his head slightly.
He could observe the puppet emperor's timeline because he had killed him, creating important causality.
But the real emperor of Da Feng? He disappeared fifty years ago.
And fifty years ago, Lin Yuan, though he was above the average Entering Dao Master in strength.
He definitely didn't have the strength to forcibly enter the palace of Da Feng.
Even knowing today's scene back then, there was no way to establish any causal relationship.
Even now, Lin Yuan had to rely on Lin Dajun's interference to successfully enter the palace.
"However, it's not without gains."
"At least I know the real emperor of Da Feng is still alive, hiding somewhere in this world, I just need to find him."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
Then stepped forward.
…
In front of the palace.
Many warriors and scholars were waiting patiently.
Until Lin Yuan's figure appeared.
"Greetings, master."
Everyone immediately kneeled on one knee, respectfully toward Lin Yuan.
The more they reviewed this 'rebellion', the more they realized Lin Yuan's terrifying prowess.
Past dynasties perished due to weakness.
But the Da Feng dynasty perished at its peak.
The driving force behind everything was Lin Yuan.
With his efforts, he orchestrated across ninety-nine provinces, eventually pushing the Da Feng dynasty into the abyss step by step.
Even those who were close confidants of the ruler were in awe.
"Rise."
Lin Yuan glanced at the palace not far away and said casually.
He had already entered this palace, and had no curiosity about what was inside.
"The army entered the city, without disturbing the common people?"
Lin Yuan asked.
In this 'rebellion', Lin Yuan's target was only the emperor of Da Feng.
There was not much malice towards the people; in fact, he set rules to minimize the impact on the people during the invasion.
The small countries around Da Feng were basically infiltrated by Lin Yuan without committing any plundering against the people during such chaotic times.
"Reporting to the lord, the soldiers did not commit any offense."
The generals immediately responded.
Mainly because the battle went too smoothly.
…..
"Master, the Da Feng is in chaos, the master should establish a new dynasty and reunify the world."
One of the strategists immediately suggested.
This was inevitable.
Overthrowing the old dynasty and establishing a new one.
It was completely expected.
And necessary for the expansion of the turmoil.
"Hmm."
Lin Yuan nodded.
Now the real emperor of Da Feng is missing.
Lin Yuan still needs the power of the world to search for his whereabouts.
"I don't know what to name the new dynasty…"
The strategist cautiously asked.
"Dynasty name?"
Lin Yuan thought for a moment, "Let's call it Greater Yan."
On the third crossing, when Lin Yuan arrived in the world ruled by the Divine Weapon, he became the Prince of Greater Yan.
This time, establishing a new dynasty, Lin Yuan directly used the name Greater Yan to save the trouble of coming up with a new one.
"Greater Yan, good, let it be Greater Yan."
The generals exchanged glances, their expressions excited.
With the founding of Greater Yan, they would all become founding heroes.
Next.
Lin Yuan issued a series of orders.
To stabilize the situation in the newly established dynasty.
Not to mention that by the third crossing he already had experience in being an emperor.
Even within human civilizations, he had accumulated a wealth of lessons from ruling different dynasties.
Establishing a new dynasty, Lin Yuan was adept at it.
"And."
Lin Yuan looked at the generals and strategists, "Next, search for all people and things related to the remnants of Da Feng, I want to personally review all information and clues."
The purpose of this command was to find the real emperor of Da Feng, who disappeared fifty years ago.
Unless this real emperor of Da Feng retired into complete seclusion, otherwise, even hidden somewhere in the world, he would likely establish contact with the outside world.
For instance, what about living supplies, etc.?
As long as there is an exchange with the outside world, clues will be left behind.
Thus, there exists the possibility of being discovered.
After the establishment of the Greater Yan Dynasty, Lin Yuan will found an intelligence organization specifically responsible for searching for the true Da Feng Emperor.
"Yes."
Everyone immediately nodded.
They were not surprised by Lin Yuan's search for the remnants of the Da Feng Dynasty.
Basically, every successive ruler would cleanse the previous dynasty's royal descendants.
First, to eliminate hidden threats.
Second, because reaching the point of rebellion surely means irreconcilable conflicts with the dynasty itself, such as deep-seated grievances.
…
The Da Feng Dynasty was overthrown.
The Greater Yan Dynasty was established.
The alternation between the new and old dynasties did not significantly impact the common people of the ninety-nine prefectures.
Primarily because the transition of rulers was so silent and discreet.
Lin Yuan spent seventy years planning and scheming, successfully infiltrating the entire Da Feng Dynasty cleanly.
The transfer of power across the prefectures was exceptionally smooth and within Lin Yuan's expectations.
Many commoners only heard the news of the uprising one day and the announcement of the newly established Greater Yan Dynasty the next day.
First Year of Great Yan.
The Ancestor ascended the throne, ruling the world.
Within the palace.
The white-haired Third Uncle looked bewilderedly at the magnificent palace and pavilions before him.
Next to him stood Lin Yuan, smiling.
"This is…"
The white-haired Third Uncle fell silent, his expression incredulous.
The Da Feng Dynasty was really overthrown.
The Sect Leader's son established a new dynasty called 'Greater Yan'?
This, this, this…
The white-haired Third Uncle felt a bit terrified.
Though he knew long ago that Lin Yuan would inevitably soar to great heights.
But to overthrow the Da Feng Dynasty?
And establish a new dynasty?
"Young Master, am I not dreaming?"
The white-haired Third Uncle murmured.
"Naturally not a dream."
Lin Yuan said with a beaming smile.
Currently, the only person he could call family in this cyclical world was Third Uncle.
"Now is the First Year of Great Yan."
Lin Yuan said with a smile.
"Yes, First Year of Great Yan, I'm not dreaming."
Third Uncle grinned and said, "I didn't expect that I, Lu San, could see the day when the Young Master establishes a new dynasty."
"It's just a pity that Big Brother can't see it."
Third Uncle's expression darkened, referring to the former Red Lotus Sect Leader.
Who was the father of the body Lin Yuan now inhabited.
If it weren't for the Red Lotus Sect Leader sacrificing his life to hold back the Tao Suppression Department's Taoists back then.
He and Third Uncle would never have had the chance to escape.
"Once I break through the time loop, I might try to 'resurrect' everyone."
Lin Yuan thought in his heart.
He didn't have confidence in this matter.
After all, the time loop, in theory, was a world formed under the operation of supreme rules.
No one was certain if the lives within had ever truly existed.
The Thirteen-tiered Temporal Beings he'd encountered never attempted to resurrect lives from within the time loop.
Within the time loop world, everything experienced was like a dream.
The Thirteen-tiered Temporal Beings who had cultivated for an eternity were often indifferent to related emotions such as familial ties.
But Lin Yuan was different.
From his first steps on the path of evolution to now.
It hadn't been that long.
He still valued relationships relatively.
If resurrecting within the time loop was a simple matter.
Lin Yuan would genuinely consider doing it.
…
A month later.
The white-haired Third Uncle passed away.
Lin Yuan couldn't do anything about it, even though he tried to smooth Third Uncle's vitality flows.
But Third Uncle couldn't master the flow of vitality as perfectly as Lin Yuan.
Living to nearly one hundred and thirty years was already quite astonishing.
"All who could be considered my family, those from the past, are gone."
Lin Yuan thought silently in his heart, "Only you remain, Da Feng Emperor."
Now Lin Yuan, in this world, only had the old acquaintance of the Da Feng Emperor left.
…
Two months later.
Beneath the former capital of the Da Feng Empire.
Here was the most abundant Earth Fire Cave in the ninety-nine prefectures.
A holy land coveted by all crafting masters.
Before the establishment of Greater Yan, this Earth Fire Cave was controlled by the previous dynasty.
Now this Earth Fire Cave was sealed by numerous Imperial Guards.
The former crafting masters were tremblingly kneeling.
At this moment.
A figure slowly walked in.
It was Lin Yuan.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
All the crafting masters kowtowed in fear.
"Rise."
Lin Yuan did not make things difficult for these crafting masters and glanced around, "I remember all the Original Divine Gold collected by the Da Feng Dynasty is stored here, right?"
Original Divine Gold is the hardest metal of heaven and earth, and it was what Da Feng Ancestor intended to use to forge nine cauldrons.
Because of its hardness, melting it would take enormous time, with a fist-sized chunk of Original Fine Gold taking at least a century to melt fully.
Hence, every time the Da Feng Dynasty collected a piece of Original Divine Gold, it was immediately sent to this Earth Fire Cave for melting, in preparation to quickly forge the nine cauldrons when enough was gathered.
"Your Majesty, I don't know….."
The lead crafting master was trembling, "Since I took over this Earth Fire Cave, I haven't found any Original Divine Gold."
"Is that so?"
Lin Yuan glanced at the person, and with a cause-and-effect relationship, he began to observe their past timeline.
After confirming that the person wasn't lying, Lin Yuan continued to ask, "Who was in charge of this Earth Fire Cave before you?"
Before leaving to establish the Greater Yan Dynasty, Lin Yuan began thoroughly investigating any traces related to the true Da Feng Emperor within the palace.
By observing the timelines, Lin Yuan quickly noticed the 'absence' of Original Fine Gold.
No doubt about it.
All Original Fine Gold collected by the Da Feng Dynasty had vanished.
"It was, it was my grandfather…"
An older crafting master mustered the courage to speak.
"Your grandfather… where is he now?"
Lin Yuan asked.
"He disappeared, my grandfather vanished suddenly seventy years ago."
This crafting master truthfully said, "Back then I was young, and this is what I heard from my father; shortly afterward, my father disappeared too."
"Seventy years ago?"
Lin Yuan squinted.
Combining other information he gathered, he could almost confirm.
The disappearance of all Original Fine Gold of the Da Feng Dynasty was related to the true Da Feng Emperor he sought.
Because the disappearance of the Original Divine Gold occurred around seventy years ago, when all the crafting masters of this Earth Fire Cave also vanished.
It wasn't until thirty years ago that this Earth Fire Cave was reactivated and new crafting masters entered.
Furthermore, as the Original Divine Gold came with Da Feng Ancestor's edict, who else but the reigning Da Feng Emperor could use it?
"Da Feng Emperor, what did you forge with so much Original Divine Gold?"
Lin Yuan pondered silently, while several speculations formed in his mind.
These speculations gave Lin Yuan new insight into the true Da Feng Emperor who had disappeared.
Returning to the palace.
Lin Yuan then issued another order.
A reward for any large piece of Original Fine Gold found, bestowing a title and rewarding ten thousand gold coins.
Meanwhile, Lin Yuan himself began traveling the land, searching for traces of Original Divine Gold.
The disappearance of all the Original Divine Gold from the Earth Fire Cave was at the hands of the true Da Feng Emperor.
There was definitely a significant connection between the two.
If the missing Original Divine Gold could be found.
He estimated that he could find the Da Feng Emperor who vanished fifty years ago.
…
Time passed slowly.
In the blink of an eye, eighty years had passed.