The Cyan Yuan Sect was also making preparations. They sensed that the situation in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty was unstable and likely to descend into chaos. At a time like this, having a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster stationed within the Sect would provide a greater measure of safety.

So long as a National Guardian Martial Saint didn’t intervene, a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster represented the pinnacle of combat power. With an expert of this level, the Cyan Yuan Sect could essentially protect itself and ensure its lineage would not be severed.

"It’s not just Crown Prince Yang Qian who wants to make a move. Other Princes are planning to act as well. The Old Emperor has been on the throne for far too long, and many people can no longer wait."

"If there weren’t so many others involved, Crown Prince Yang Qian probably wouldn’t dare to act alone."

Qi Yuansheng said slowly, "Some of this information is highly confidential. The Cyan Yuan Sect has planted many spies, but they are rarely used. They only transmit key information at critical moments."

"Furthermore, the Cyan Yuan Sect is only gathering intelligence; we generally don’t interfere with or sabotage their plans. This naturally reduces the risk of our spies being exposed."

"No wonder Crown Prince Yang Qian is planning to make a move, then. It seems he has prepared quite a few tricks of his own," Ji Feng said with a nod of understanding.

He hadn’t been optimistic about Crown Prince Yang Qian acting alone, but if more Princes were involved, the final outcome would be hard to predict. There were simply too many variables.

The powers behind these Princes were formidable; they were all influential figures in White Jade City, some even holding military authority. If all of them were to act, even with all his preparations, the Old Emperor Yang Yu would likely meet a bitter end.

The only thing that could change the situation would be if the Old Emperor’s cultivation broke through to the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm.

But if the Old Emperor’s cultivation reached the National Guardian Martial Saint Realm, the mere revelation of his power would be enough to stabilize White Jade City. The turmoil throughout the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty would cease, and the various Sects’ attitudes toward the Imperial Family would improve significantly.

Such was the might of a National Guardian Martial Saint—it could force countless powers into submission, making them afraid to try anything.

"If so many factions make a move, then White Jade City will probably be even more chaotic than we anticipated."

"The Cyan Yuan Pavilion might not be safe," Yan Jinfeng said with a frown.

With multiple Princes involved, the resulting turmoil would be far more severe than expected. Even if the Cyan Yuan Sect didn’t participate, the Cyan Yuan Pavilion in White Jade City could still be caught in the crossfire.

"Don’t worry too much about that. The final outcome will be decided within the Imperial Palace; that will be the ultimate battlefield."

"Of course, we still need to make our own preparations, just in case we get caught in the fallout."

"Elder Yan, haven’t you already allied with the other Sects? If the situation deteriorates, you can all gather together. There’s strength in numbers, enough for self-preservation."

"Besides, with so many Sects united, even the powers in White Jade City would have to think twice before acting. They’d be facing a coalition of Sects, after all," Qi Yuansheng said, not overly concerned.

He reasoned that the Cyan Yuan Sect was not involved, and besides, Yan Jinfeng and the others had made other preparations. The main battlefield wasn’t going to be near the Cyan Yuan Pavilion.

While there would inevitably be opportunists trying to fish in troubled waters, their allied forces would be strong enough not to fear such people.

"It seems I still need to go out and make arrangements for the worst-case scenario."

"I hope it won’t be necessary."

Yan Jinfeng’s brow remained furrowed as he continued.

’This situation is even worse than the previous coup attempt by a Crown Prince that I’ve witnessed. Most importantly, if we’ve received this much intelligence, the Old Emperor Yang Yu has surely received plenty as well. He must be prepared.’

’When the time comes, the clash between the two sides will be incredibly fierce. No matter who wins, both sides will suffer devastating losses.’

’With the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty in such a state, the surrounding kingdoms and other imperial dynasties will surely be eager to make a move. The situation could become even more chaotic, and the repercussions would be enormous.’

"Yes, Elder Yan still needs to go out and meet with those Sects to solidify the alliance. We need to prepare for the worst. It’s a contingency plan, a last resort."

"White Jade City isn’t Qing State; the Cyan Yuan Sect’s power simply can’t reach that far."

Qi Yuansheng nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The distance between Qing State and White Jade City was considerable. Even if the Cyan Yuan Sect knew what was happening, they were too far away to help. Ultimately, the men in the capital had to rely on themselves.

They had to prepare for the worst so they could face any other outcome with composure. This was a lesson learned from their long lives, and they had always been prepared for such possibilities.

"Alright. Tomorrow, I’ll go with Elder Yan. You stay here and secretly guard the Cyan Yuan Pavilion," Ji Feng said, nodding. His expression turned serious.

"It should be safer to go during the day tomorrow. Things haven’t reached a critical point just yet."

’Yan Jinfeng absolutely cannot come to any harm. The Cyan Yuan Pavilion is the Sect’s official foothold in the city. Any aggressor would have to think twice before attacking it, knowing the Cyan Yuan Sect would surely retaliate later. Therefore, this place must also be kept safe.’

’There are many in White Jade City who favor backstabbing and covert attacks. Outside the safety of the Sect’s official territory, they would act with even less restraint.’

’So, in a way, the Cyan Yuan Pavilion is a safe haven.’

"Alright, that’s the plan," Yan Jinfeng said, nodding in agreement.

The arrangement was logical, as both the alliance and the Cyan Yuan Pavilion were crucial.

Without a Grandmaster Level expert to guard the Cyan Yuan Pavilion, it wouldn’t feel secure. If a major incident occurred, it would be extremely problematic.

Even though White Jade City had Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmasters, the status of an Inner Master was still not to be underestimated. This was especially true for an Inner Master from a Sect, as they had extensive connections, making any action against them a complex affair. An expert of this caliber was certainly capable of defending the Cyan Yuan Pavilion.

This was a plan for a worst-case scenario, a backup measure to ensure their base wouldn’t be taken out from under them.

"No problem. I’ll keep an eye on the Cyan Yuan Pavilion. I won’t let anything happen here," Qi Yuansheng agreed. He felt the arrangement was perfectly logical; dividing their duties was the best option.

"It’s already very late. We’ll split up and take action tomorrow morning," Yan Jinfeng said, glancing at the sky outside.

Normally, their sparring sessions in the Cyan Yuan Pavilion might run even later, but too much had happened today. Investigating intelligence, arranging tasks for the Sect Disciples—each matter was more troublesome and complex than the last. It was mentally exhausting, so it was only natural to feel tired.

"Alright. You’ve had a long day, Elder Yan, and we’ll have to trouble you again tomorrow morning."

"Please get some rest, Elder Yan. You need to recover your energy."

Qi Yuansheng replied.

His primary mission on this trip was to secretly protect Yan Jinfeng; protecting the other Cyan Yuan Sect Disciples was a secondary objective. The distinction between the two was very clear.

If he hadn’t sensed the impending danger, he would never have let Yan Jinfeng out of his sight. But now, he had to consider the bigger picture. They absolutely could not allow the Cyan Yuan Sect to be dragged into the struggle for the throne. This was critical—the very future of the Cyan Yuan Sect was at stake.