From an objective standpoint, Black Eye's oratory skills were truly not impressive. He offered neither passionate inspiration nor appeals to self-interest—a textbook failure in the making, one that wouldn't even be able to fool a child.
Fortunately, he had an excellent ally.
The Shadow Empire had really managed to offend all of heaven and humanity this time. The strike range of Project X and the Life Tree Project was far too vast. Virtually every single person—noble, commoner, or prisoner alike—fell within its scope.
No wonder all those high-ranking imperial officials were ready to jump ship and rebel.
You're peacefully minding your own business at home, when suddenly someone comes along and tells you: 'Sorry! Actually, you're a genetic duplicate, and your mind is about to be assimilated, turning you into an idiot!' It would be strange if the person *didn't* go insane!
Especially after the large-scale disaster during the day!
Although this really wasn't the Empire's fault, it didn't stop others from making associations. Add to that the sudden smear campaigns from organizations like the Blood Kin Alliance, and the Empire's credibility had plummeted to negative numbers, turning it into the very synonym for a band of lunatics plotting to destroy the world.
Under these circumstances, ordinary people were filled with fear for their own safety. Even government officials were experiencing a wave of resignations. Meanwhile, the resistance organizations had gained immense funding and development—so much so that holding such a large-scale rebellion meeting just outside the imperial capital was no longer a problem. In the past, the Imperial Guard would have charged in long ago.
In truth, these fair-weather allies who had switched sides at the last minute were also filled with bitter grievances.
They had no choice but to support the resistance! If they helped the Empire, what would they get in the end? Most likely, their minds would still be assimilated. As for that so-called "spiritual freedom authorization," no competent politician would believe such a thing.
Therefore, it could be said that the Empire itself had given birth to this rebellion army.
"Down with the Empire! Overthrow the Empire!"
Under the immense pressure of life and death, the leaders of the major factions quickly reached a consensus, and numerous slogans rang out.
"Excellent!"
Upon seeing the many faces flushed red with righteous indignation, a smile appeared on Black Eye's face. He pressed a button, and a map was projected behind him.
"Here is the imperial capital!"
Compared to before, the capital was now much more dilapidated, with many areas still in a state of chaos.
"Our goal this time is singular! The Imperial Palace—we must utterly destroy that evil core within!"
Black Eye clenched his fist tightly.
"If it were under normal circumstances, we'd basically have no chance! At least three hundred thousand Imperial Guards are stationed around the entire capital, and the palace is further protected by the Security Department and the Special Operations Division… But now! Let us welcome General Clive!"
"I'll cover just two points!"
The gray-haired Clive exuded a soldier's iron resolve, wasting no breath on pleasantries. "First, the recent catastrophe has thrown the Imperial Guards into disarray. Many of them are currently occupied with disaster relief, and communications are in shambles. With the influence we old men still hold among their ranks, we can't exactly rally them to join our cause, but keeping them neutral for the time being should be well within our means…"
"Second, thanks to the royal family's complete loss of public trust, our people have already been placed in numerous key positions—several major transportation hubs in the capital, and a few of the security outposts near the palace…"
When Clive finished speaking, the eyes of many in the audience lit up.
With so many favorable conditions stacking up, they could finally glimpse a sliver of hope for success!
"There's no time to lose! We need to draw up a battle plan immediately!"
Bordy stepped forward and declared, casting a glance toward Black Eye. "Also, we must designate a single commander—and everyone must follow orders without question!"
……
Inside the Imperial Palace of Corvolan, the capital.
The many members of the royal family had, for once, gathered together to share a lavish dinner. Within the resplendent golden halls, King Aragorn sat upon his throne, scanning the crowd below.
The queen, several sons and daughters, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of the Navy, the Minister of the Army…
"…Among all these people, how many are truly loyal to me?"
King Aragorn suddenly felt a pang of melancholy, and even the wine in his crystal goblet lost its appeal.
"Father!"
At that moment, Ling strode in wearing military attire, with Jannar trailing close behind her like a faithful hound.
"The Bloodline Alliance has made a move—they're plotting to attack the palace!"
Ling approached King Aragorn and delivered a respectful bow as she spoke.
"This is intelligence obtained by the Special Operations Division!"
"Hmm?!"
King Aragorn's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, and Jannar immediately dropped to one knee. "Your subordinate is willing to stake his life on this! The evidence is ironclad!"
"Hah… What turbulent times these are!"
King Aragorn set down his crystal goblet, his right hand rubbing wearily at the bridge of his brow.
The entire grand hall fell into a hush, as though the only sound to be heard was the king's heavy breathing.
"My decision is made! Activate Plan X and the Tree of Life immediately!"
Just when every royal and minister expected the king to order the army to crush the rebellion, Aragorn made a decision that left them all utterly stunned.
"Come — all of you ministers, follow me. Every palace gate is to be sealed at once. Without my personal writ, no one enters or leaves!"
Aragorn let out a long series of sighs, then led a contingent of senior ministers out of the hall, with a phalanx of elite guards falling in behind them without delay.
Under Ling's orders, every branch of the empire — the Special Operations Division, the Intelligence Division, the Elite Corps, and several other organizations — sprang into action with meticulous coordination. The entire imperial palace became a vast machine wound tight and ticking.
"She was already prepared for this!"
The other royals exchanged glances, then sank into an eerie silence.
The elder princes, in particular, all directed appraising, contemplative looks toward Princess Ling, their thoughts impossible to read.
Ling, her face cold, dismissed Jannar and slipped into a separate conference room.
A few muffled screams drifted out from within, and then everything fell deathly quiet once more.
"I never imagined that my closest friend — the Minister of War himself — would betray me!"
A few minutes later, Aragorn emerged, still sighing as he walked, dabbing at the blood on his clothes with a white handkerchief.
"My path is destined to be understood by none — and yet I have no choice but to walk it!"
Aragorn gazed at his daughter, the only one to whom he could entrust such a grave responsibility, and could not help but let out a sigh.
"Father! All preparations are complete. Please, come with me!"
On Ling's face there was neither grief nor joy. Even her eyes were perfectly calm, giving no one the slightest hint of what she was thinking.
The two of them arrived at the imperial palace's garden. All the vegetation had been completely cleared away, revealing a vast plaza.
"Begin!"
Emperor Aragorn struggled to contain the excitement welling inside him and waved his hand.
BOOM! The entire plaza trembled as the earth slowly split apart, dividing into four massive slabs that slid outward like enormous platforms.
A pointed white metal spire emerged first, radiating an ethereal quality — its interior was entirely solid, while its exterior was covered in countless spots of light that rippled with dazzling, intricate lusters.
Beyond the tallest spire, twelve resplendent pearls floated in a ring.
Each of the twelve pearls was fixed atop a smaller metal spire, connected to the central white tower by strange, thick metal cables.
What was even more astonishing was that inside every single pearl, a sleeping girl could be clearly seen — and Jia'er was among them!
She slept as though she were an infant in the womb, her brows occasionally twitching, her small face tightly scrunched.
Surrounding her were masses of semi-transparent ovoids, each linked to various points on her body by hair-thin crystalline threads.
"The master control console for the Life Tree Project! And the twelve Type Converters!"
Emperor Aragorn gazed at the massive metal console before him, his expression wild and fervent. "Ling, look! What a beautiful crown…"
"Mm."
Ling's eyes also fell upon the shimmering spectacle, and she had to admit that the entire console, blazing with cascading light, did indeed resemble an enormous pearl crown when paired with the twelve surrounding pearls.
But Ling understood perfectly well that her father's admiration was nothing more than a test.
In truth, ever since the plan had been set into motion, this was in fact the most dangerous moment! Once the Lady Night descended, she and her father would have no path forward but to take their own lives.
"No — Father may still have a slim chance, but I am certainly doomed to die!"
Ling glanced at her father's hands. Only she knew that he had long since transferred the formation from the Imperial Vault onto his own body, and that he was carrying the Eye of Kalei and the mermaid's reverse scale upon his person.
"Before we proceed with the Life Tree fusion, Ling!"
At that moment, Ling heard her father's voice once more.
"Go and activate the Final X-Gene mutation program immediately! No matter who our enemy is, this should be more than enough to cause them serious trouble!"
Hearing this order — as if every demon in hell had been unleashed — Ling's body trembled violently, but she still bowed respectfully and withdrew.
"Sword Saint Yingfeng! Night Demon! You two — follow them closely!"
With that, Emperor Aragorn issued yet another command.
From behind his seemingly empty back, two figures slowly emerged. They were the Emperor's last line of defense — the final guarantee of his safety — and now they too were being dispatched all at once.
Two decrepit old men on the verge of death from old age bowed to Emperor Aragorn, then dissolved into the gentle breeze.
Emperor Aragorn surveyed his surroundings, a faint smile spreading across his face, and stepped onto the plaza.
Ding! A layer of milky-white pure energy membrane rose up, instantly isolating the plaza into two separate worlds — inside and outside.
"All unstable factors have been sent out!"
Emperor Aragorn swept his gaze across the empty control console where he now stood alone. Seeing this scene, a satisfied smile crept onto his face.
"I will definitely be the last one standing — I will devour the Thought Assimilator completely and ascend to godhood!!!"
With a resolute expression on his face, Emperor Aragorn strode directly toward the central metal tower.