The other was an old man with white hair but a youthful face. He was powerfully built, and his cold expression gave off an intense, oppressive feeling.

Surprisingly, this man was also a master of the Saint Realm.

Fukuda Hisao.

In Japan, the Fukuda surname could be traced back to Xu Fu’s eastern voyage during the Qin Dynasty. While the Fukuda Clan wasn’t part of the Royal Family, they were connected by blood.

The Emperor ruled in the light while the Fukuda Clan operated from the shadows. During times of crisis, they protected the Royal Family’s lineage and ensured the continuation of the legitimate bloodline in Japan.

Their power and influence were immense. They even possessed the means to communicate with the Alchemists. In fact, when the Alchemists mobilized the Japanese military against Yi Beidou, they did so by leveraging the Fukuda Clan as their channel. It was this man, Fukuda Hisao, who had personally arranged the secret phone call with Japan’s prime minister.

It was safe to say that the highest-ranking figures with the deepest connections to the Alchemists’ faction were all gathered here now.

"Gentlemen, I don’t know why, but I have this persistent feeling of unease. Is Yi Beidou really dead? Shouldn’t we station more defensive forces around the manor? Or perhaps we should go back to the underground fortifications and wait for a message from that Old Ancestor before deciding what to do next?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The Emperor of Japan gazed at the exquisite wine and pastries before him, but he had little appetite. He was simply too uneasy.

"You’re being too sensitive. Do you really think that after alerting *Him*, a young man like Yi Beidou could possibly have survived?"

"As the Emperor, the symbol of this nation, you should be more courageous. The matter of Yi Beidou has caused public unrest throughout the country. Now is the time for you to step forward and stabilize Japan’s Great Trend. That is what all of us, and the Old Ancestor, wish to see—not you cowering in some cave."

Fukuda Hisao said coolly. Though he used a respectful title, his words held little genuine respect.

"Your Majesty, summoning more guards and troops will only make it easier to expose our location. Please, rest assured. By borrowing the Royal Family’s Three Divine Artifacts, I have already cast an inescapable net in a five-kilometer radius. Even if that man really does return alive, I will sense him instantly. We’ll have more than enough time to evacuate safely."

Mr. Ju added, his voice calm.

While he was no match for Yi Beidou himself, using the power of the Three Divine Artifacts and Japan’s Great Trend, it was a simple matter to guard against a surprise attack.

"Mr. Ju, are you questioning His power?" Fukuda Hisao’s gaze fell upon him. "Do you believe He could have failed?"

"I misspoke. How can the stars hope to rival the blazing sun?"

Mr. Ju raised his glass and drank.

At that same moment, several kilometers away, Yi Beidou came to a sudden halt.

He looked up at the sky.

Faintly, he seemed to see a golden light piercing through the clouds. His senses perceived the forms of three objects.

A Tomoe, a longsword, and a mirror.

Japan’s Three Divine Artifacts. These three treasures had been passed down through generations of the Japanese Imperial Family, their true forms never revealed to the public. They were crucial Dharma Artifacts, symbolizing Japan’s Great Trend and national fate.

The power of an Array constructed from these three Dharma Artifacts was not to be underestimated.

Before killing the Alchemist, Yi Beidou would have found it impossible to slip into this Grand Array undetected.

But things were different now.

When it came to controlling Japan’s Great Trend and national fate, who could possibly compare to the Alchemist in his role as the Sun Country Domain Lord?

Yet, not long ago, that Alchemist had fused with Japan’s Great Trend and unleashed an Immortal Forbidden Technique, only to be slain by Yi Beidou all the same.

The Tribulation Star, condensed from the Alchemist’s calamitous fate, now resided within Yi Beidou.

HUMMM!!

From within the Demon Flame, a brilliant, blood-red star arose. A wave of Tribulation Qi, imperceptible to mortals, spread out toward the unseen heavens.

Although Yi Beidou had not yet activated his Tribulation Star Possession, the Demon Flame was already stained crimson by the Tribulation Qi emanating from the star. Blood Fire flickered in his eyes, and his entire being radiated an overwhelming Evil Qi, as if he had reverted to the state of Demon Nature he’d entered when possessed by three Tribulation Stars.

Instantly, the spectral images of the three Divine Artifacts in the boundless heights of the sky seemed to sense the aura Yi Beidou was releasing. They all swiveled to point in his direction, their forms trembling faintly.

They seemed to have sensed the Alchemist’s Tribulation Qi, along with an intense feeling of crisis.

As national treasures over two millennia old, steeped in the great destiny of the nation, they had long ago developed a budding sentience.

"If you don’t expose my location, I will only kill the Emperor. When one Emperor dies, another will take his place. That is the choice of the Japanese people, and I have no intention of interfering. Your own flow of fortune will remain unbroken."

"But if you do reveal my location, I will destroy all three of you. You will accompany this current Emperor to his grave."

Yi Beidou stated calmly.

His voice was not loud, yet it seemed to reach the heavens themselves, communing with Japan’s Great Trend, its national fate, and those three heirloom Divine Artifacts.

It was as if his words carried the weight of a heavenly decree.

Having said his piece, he paid no mind to the Array’s probing tendrils and strode directly into the area it enveloped.

In the sky, the three spectral Divine Artifacts that had been aimed at Yi Beidou now pivoted away. They hung motionlessly, turning a blind eye to his intrusion.

’If one Emperor dies, another will succeed him. As long as the imperial bloodline endures, his death is a trivial matter.’

’Why provoke this bringer of calamity?’

「A short while later, inside the manor.」

"Today, Mister Number One will give an interview after the meeting to stabilize the situation. Tomorrow, I will also arrange for you to appear before the media to eliminate Yi Beidou’s influence as quickly as possible. We cannot fall behind the changing times..."