"That’s right, Brother Adam. Yesterday I spread rumors saying the Emperor is muddle-headed and incompetent, and I didn’t expect such a passionate response from the commoners. It seems the people of Silver Willow Dynasty are all dissatisfied with the current regime."

"I saw an opportunity in this. Silver Willow Dynasty is already an aged lion lingering on its last breath. As long as it is given a fatal blow, Silver Willow Dynasty will come crashing down."

Divine light flickered in Oswin’s eyes, brimming with sharp resolve, as if he had already seen Silver Willow crashing down.

"But Brother Oswin, Silver Willow has been passed down for a thousand years, and its foundation is unfathomable. Even the South-Subduing King, holding three hundred thousand troops, might not truly shake its roots."

"You are but a mere scholar at the Innate Realm. Compared to a behemoth like Silver Willow Dynasty, you are nothing but an ant trying to shake a tree. Overthrowing Silver Willow will be incredibly difficult."

Although Adam and Oswin had not known each other long, the friendship between them was no less than that of old friends of many years. Unable to bear seeing Oswin jump into a fire pit, Adam explained the pros and cons thoroughly, hoping to make him back down.

But Oswin remained unmoved, his eyes full of confidence. "Brother Adam, how could I not know what you’ve just said!"

"But today I met an expert who guided me through my confusion. This time, I have achieved complete enlightenment."

An expert! Adam’s eyes filled with disbelief. "Brother Oswin, you believe the words of this so-called expert just like that?!"

"In this capital, there are countless charlatans. Could your expert just be a wandering fraud?"

"This is a matter concerning your life and your very head. How can you easily trust the words of a charlatan?!"

Seeing Adam’s words grow increasingly unkind, Oswin hurriedly spoke up. "Brother Adam, speak cautiously! This expert is a peerless figure from the Heavenly Secrets Sect."

"If you insult him, he will sense it. Be careful, lest he blame you."

The Heavenly Secrets Sect! Hearing those three words, Adam’s expression froze, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.

The Heavenly Secrets Sect’s origins were highly mysterious. How many disciples it had, who its sect master was, where its mountain gates were located, no one knew.

But the Sect had always been proficient in astrology and divination, and every disciple possessed the ability to pry into the secrets of heaven.

Whenever a Heaven and Earth Upheaval or an era of chaos approached, the Heavenly Secrets Sect would appear within the Vast Azure Region.

Rumor had it that a thousand years ago, when the first Emperor Solaris was still a scholar who had failed his exams, the Heavenly Secrets Sect sought him out.

They proclaimed he was the Lord of Destiny who would establish a dynasty and pacify the chaotic world.

With the Heavenly Secrets Sect’s help, Solaris rose rapidly, continuously obtaining heaven-defying fortuitous encounters, and ultimately pacified the world to establish Silver Willow Dynasty. After helping him establish the dynasty, they quietly departed, their whereabouts unknown.

The Heavenly Secrets Sect was extremely mysterious, with very few records in historical texts. Ordinary people could not possibly know of its existence. Adam only knew of it because, during his compilation of historical records, he had seen a few texts mention it in passing fragments.

The expert Oswin spoke of claimed to be from the Heavenly Secrets Sect, so it seemed he was not just some wandering charlatan.

However, the Sect historically sought out Solaris’s Rise capable of pacifying the world. Why would they seek out Oswin? Could it be that Oswin had something extraordinary about him?

Adam sized Oswin up and down a few times. Aside from being upright, he truly could not see anything extraordinary about the man.

Even if this expert truly came from the Heavenly Secrets Sect, Adam still did not agree with Oswin answering the South-Subduing King’s call.

Oswin seemed to see the worry in Adam’s heart. Before Adam could speak, he cut in first. "To tell you the truth, Brother Adam, even without the Heavenly Secrets Sect, I would still answer the South-Subduing King’s call."

"Silver Willow Dynasty is long past being the Silver Willow Dynasty of a thousand years ago. Haven’t you seen it? The people live in destitution, and lives are plunged into misery."

"I am willing to be the moth that darts into the flame, to set an example for the righteous heroes of this world."

Oswin had always harbored great ambitions, unable to tolerate injustice. Having spent so much time together, Adam understood him rather deeply.

Indeed, the people live in destitution, and lives are plunged into misery. Adam felt a wave of emotion.

As the capital of Silver Willow Dynasty, this should have been the wealthiest place. Yet the raggedly dressed commoners he saw yesterday were something he found hard to forget.

For a righteous hero like this, I really should not stop him, should I?

Perhaps Oswin truly could be like the first Emperor Solaris, capable of pacifying this chaotic world. Who was to say?

Taking three sword talismans from his robes, Adam placed them into Oswin’s hands.

These were talismans condensed using Innate Sword Qi after breaking through to Innate Peak that morning. Within each lay a streak of Adam’s Source Innate Sword Qi, enough to block a full-force strike from a Grandmaster-level expert.

He had originally prepared them as protective amulets for Cecilia. But since Oswin was now plotting against Silver Willow, he figured Oswin needed them much more.

"Brother Adam, this is!!!"

"Brother Oswin, my late father once did a favor for an expert from the Sword Sect. These three sword talismans were a gift from that expert. Each can block a full-force strike from a Grandmaster-level expert."

There was no helping it. He only possessed this level of strength right now and could only block a Grandmaster’s strike. However, these were Adam’s Source Innate Sword Qi, meaning they had room to grow.