His Majesty the Emperor smiled coolly. "The Imperial Seal and the Nation-Protecting Dragon Seal are the credentials of the Myriad Forms Empire. If such things surface, they must never fall into the hands of the sects of the Myriad Forms Borderland. Otherwise, they'd have an excuse to rebuild the Myriad Forms Empire. Last time we invaded, we had a proper pretext; sending another army now without sufficient justification would be rather difficult."
Clearly, though the Divine Abyss Continent was home to numerous domains, there was still an overarching order to maintain.
Without a pretext, the Chiding Central Domain could not openly march on another domain's territory. Otherwise, the other domains would not simply stand by and watch.
"Your Majesty, if we lack a pretext, we can find one. Did we not leave behind numerous restrictions within the Myriad Forms Empire? All we need to do is destroy those restrictions, then pin the blame on the sects of the Myriad Forms Borderland and accuse them of sacrilege. Wouldn't that be simple enough?"
In truth, the Chiding Central Domain had deliberately left behind the Corpse Bone Tower, the Blood Light River, and the Infant Stone Forest precisely to lay the groundwork for a future invasion of the Myriad Forms Borderland.
The Chiding Emperor smiled and nodded. "This plan is feasible. However, this time I do not intend to send another army. In fact, I don't even plan to deploy any Third-Rank Sects."
There were three Third-Rank Sects in the Chiding Central Domain, and any single one of them possessed the power to annihilate every sect in the Myriad Forms Borderland.
The titans of the Fourth-Rank Sects were overjoyed at these words. The Emperor's meaning was clear—he was giving them, the Fourth-Rank Sects, their opportunity.
The Fourth-Rank Sects of the Chiding Central Domain were nothing like those of the Myriad Forms Borderland. Every Fourth-Rank Sect in the Chiding Central Domain had one or two Royal Realm powerhouses holding the fort.
It was only because the Chiding Central Domain already boasted three Third-Rank Sects that these Fourth-Rank Sects had been unable to rise higher. After all, in every domain, the number of slots for higher-tier sects was strictly limited.
At this thought, the Fourth-Rank Sect leaders were all thrilled. One after another, they sprang to their feet.
"Your Majesty, the Qitian Sect requests to join the battle!"
"Your Majesty, the Bamboo Joint Sect volunteers!"
"Your Majesty…"
"Your Majesty!"
In an instant, one Fourth-Rank Sect master after another clamored to be chosen, each afraid that someone else would seize the initiative.
Everyone knew this was a rare and lucrative assignment. Setting aside the honor of earning merit before the Emperor, the prospect of raiding the Myriad Forms Borderland and plundering its resources was enough to make anyone's mouth water.
These benefits were tangible and immediate.
Though the Myriad Forms Borderland had declined, it was only its reserves of martial talent that had withered. The resources the borderland still possessed were very real.
The catastrophe six hundred years ago had indeed devastated the Myriad Forms Borderland. But six hundred years of recovery had restored at least seventy to eighty percent of its resources, even if its martial prowess hadn't climbed back to thirty percent of its peak.
To raid the Myriad Forms Borderland once more—this was truly a once-in-a-millennium chance to grow rich.
A faint smile hung at the corner of the Chiding Emperor's lips, brimming with the quiet wisdom of one who held all things in his grasp.
He raised both hands and gently pressed downward. The Fourth-Rank Sect masters immediately fell silent, settled back into their seats, and behaved with utmost docility.
"I am well aware of your eagerness to fight. However, this operation differs from the war six hundred years ago. Back then, our cause was just, and no one could fault us. This time, though we can still find a pretext, we must make the most of it so that every action appears perfectly justified. Do you understand?"
Six hundred years ago, the Chiding Empire's imperial family had led the charge personally.
This time, with the Myriad Forms Borderland's strength at less than thirty percent of its peak, there was no need to bring out the heavy artillery. A grand mobilization was unnecessary.
"In this operation, those restrictions serve as one pretext, but the most crucial justification lies in the Nation-Protecting Dragon Seal and the Imperial Seal. These two artifacts are tied to the old Myriad Forms Empire and represent a continuation of the campaign from that era. As long as it relates to the Myriad Forms Empire, we have ample justification to act. Understood?"
The Fourth-Rank Sect masters all nodded, finally grasping the Emperor's meaning.
In plain terms, it boiled down to four words: a righteous pretext.
What did a righteous pretext mean?
It meant: I want to crush you, but I must first find a noble-sounding excuse.
The Chiding Emperor swept his great hand and began assigning targets.
"Qitian Sect, Bamboo Joint Sect, Golden Talisman Sect, Qin-Holding Sect—the four of you will march to the ruins of the Myriad Forms Empire and suppress the Myriad Forms Grand Ceremony!"
"Four Symbols Sect, Wind Cloud Hall—the two of you will proceed to the Great Sacred Hall and destroy its lineage."
"Dark Flame Sect, Nine Wave Sect—the two of you will march to the North Abyss Sect and suppress its lineage."
…
"Thunder Sound Gate, Giant Kun Sect—the two of you will head to Dan Qian Palace and suppress its lineage!"
…
"Ice Origin Sect, Desolate Sea Cult—the two of you will be responsible for eliminating all Fifth-Rank Sects within the Myriad Forms Borderland."
In the blink of an eye, the Chiding Emperor had assigned sixteen Fourth-Rank Sects. Four would head to the Myriad Forms Grand Ceremony. The remaining ten formed five pairs, each pair dispatched to one of the five great Fourth-Rank Sects of the Myriad Forms Borderland. The last two would sweep up every Fifth-Rank Sect in the borderland.
The sects whose names were called rose one by one and accepted their orders.
However, the two most prominent Fourth-Rank Sects seated at the very front had yet to be named. Their sect leaders exchanged puzzled glances.
But the Chiding Emperor's gaze soon settled upon them.