Capital City, outside the Meridian Gate.

The sky is gloomy, as if also oppressed by the tragic scene about to unfold.

The Meridian Gate stands tall and majestic, its red walls and yellow tiles appearing even more solemn in the dim light.

On the square, a dense crowd gathers, with the common folk whispering and discussing fervently.

Fifty-nine cultivators are escorted to the center of the Meridian Gate, their clothes tattered and stained with blood, evidently having experienced a fierce battle before their capture.

Moreover, some of them have dazed expressions and vacant eyes, clearly having suffered severe mental trauma.

In addition to this, the dantians of all the cultivators are completely blackened.

Their dantians have been abolished, and their magical power has dissipated like flowing water.

Furthermore, each of their foreheads is inscribed with eerie runes in fresh blood, resembling evil ghosts.

These are Soul-calming Talismans, serving to intimidate the divine soul and restrict the magical power within their bodies.

Even though they are cultivators, with their divine souls bound and magical power controlled, they are completely incapable of any resistance.

This is also the reason for their despair!

These cultivators were once outstanding members of various families or respected as ’Immortal Masters’ among loose cultivators, yet now they have fallen to the status of prisoners.

Their eyes are filled with unwillingness and fear.

Some cultivators stare angrily in the direction of the Imperial Palace, their hearts full of resentment.

Others continue to struggle, shouting something.

They had thought their assassination plot would succeed, killing Emperor Zhengyong, capturing the Great Yu Imperial City, even the Spiritual Land of Celestial Longevity Mountain, plundering countless spiritual objects to enrich themselves.

However, they failed, and what awaits them is death.

An elder cultivator is filled with regret and remorse, recalling how he was once respected in the mountains, and for the so-called spiritual objects, led several colleagues into this assassination plot.

Now, looking at the young faces around him, he knows his decision has doomed them.

His eyes reveal helplessness and guilt, silently cursing himself for being so impulsive.

Another young cultivator is full of defiance. He is unwilling to accept that Emperor Zhengyong is merely a mortal treading the path of cultivation through power, while they are the truly capable ones who can change the world.

The spiritual objects of the world should be possessed by those with virtue, and the Spiritual Land of Celestial Longevity Mountain, along with countless spiritual objects, rightfully belong to cultivators like them!

But sadly...

He grits his teeth, silently vowing that if there is a next life, he will continue to resist.

Other cultivators, realizing what is to come, start cursing loudly without regard for their identity.

"Emperor Zhengyong! Even as a ghost, I won’t let you off!"

"The treasures of Heaven and Earth should belong to those with virtue, Emperor Zhengyong, you will die a horrible death!"

"We are cultivators! Emperor Zhengyong is guilty of deserving death..."

"Boohoo... Your Majesty! I am willing to surrender! I will offer up my divine soul, I beg Your Majesty for mercy, boohoo..."

"I can’t die! I can’t die! I have a top-grade spirit root, a natural phenomenon, and a chance to progress to Foundation Establishment, even Golden Core... spare me! Spare me, boohoo..."

"I have stored a large amount of spirit sand and treasures at Jiulian Mountain, willing to trade them for my life! Emperor Zhengyong, please grant me an audience..."

All at once, the area outside the Meridian Gate is filled with the cultivators’ angry curses, screams, and pleas for mercy.

But it’s too late.

Under the forcible escort of the Imperial Guard soldiers, this group of cultivators is finally brought to the central platform at the Meridian Gate.

Along the way, the Imperial Guard soldiers show little courtesy to these cultivators.

Constant insults and verbal humiliation, various and numerous.

Several days ago at the battle of Celestial Longevity Mountain, the twenty thousand Imperial Guard soldiers stationed there lost over seven thousand men!

Among them were relatives and friends of these soldiers.

So don’t expect the Imperial Guard soldiers to treat these cultivators kindly.

This fact alone reveals the terrifying combat prowess of the cultivators.

If not for the support of the cannons and the intervention of numerous tributors of the Great Yu Immortal Dynasty, the casualties would have doubled!

The surrounding common folk look at the cultivators, their discussions incessant.

"These cultivators are truly bold, daring to assassinate His Majesty."

"No wonder the city was so noisy a few days ago, and many fanatics stormed the Imperial Palace, unexpectedly they were a group of cultivators!."

"Hmph, whatever their motive, attempting to assassinate the Emperor is a capital crime, deserving of execution."

"But aren’t cultivators supposed to have divine powers, how did they get caught?"

"What of divine powers? His Majesty is also a cultivator!"

"Hiss... these cultivators deserve death for daring to assassinate His Majesty!"

"Kill them! Kill them!"

"Behead them! Quick, behead them!"

"My grandson has phthisis, the miracle doctor said a human heart can cure it. These people are cultivators, surely their hearts are more effective than ordinary folk, later I must..."

"Immortal Masters! They’re all Immortal Masters! His Majesty is actually willing to behead this group of Immortal Masters! Truly..."

Countless commoners fiercely debate, and as time goes by, more and more people gather, the discussions growing louder.

Almost everyone’s eyes are filled with excitement, fervor, even greed.

Interest is high, and the Imperial Guard soldiers maintaining order are almost overwhelmed.

Helplessly, another batch of Imperial Guard soldiers is urgently deployed to maintain order here.

And in such an atmosphere, atop a corner of the city wall above the Meridian Gate, stand over twenty figures.

They stand on the wall, trembling as they gaze at the scene below, especially at the fifty-nine cultivators kneeling on the platform, their eyes full of fear and lingering dread.