Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

The old ancestor's gaze fell on the mural, filled with deep reminiscence.

"Do you still remember the decisive battle between the Great Ancestor and the Blood Demon Ancestor of the Nine Nether Demon Sect three thousand years ago?"

"In that battle, although the Great Ancestor severely injured the Blood Demon Ancestor, he also disappeared after the battle."

Qian Tian's pupils shrank suddenly, and he looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The patriarch ignored their shock and continued:

"The rumors circulating in the capital over the years that 'Emperor Taizu is in charge' are nothing but a smokescreen set up by me."

"I used my spiritual power to simulate the aura of the founding emperor and create his phantom image."

"The purpose is to convince those restless forces that the founding emperor is still alive and the Qian family's foundation remains unshaken, thereby deterring those who are not interested."

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Qian Tian's ears.

He opened his mouth, but found that he couldn't even utter a complete sentence.

The reason why the Great Qian Dynasty was able to maintain its dominant position in the Eastern Region was not only due to its own strength, but more importantly, the mythical power of its founding emperor.

Many forces dare not act rashly at present because they are wary of the legendary Grand Ancestor who is said to be able to go toe-to-toe with the Blood Demon Ancestor.

But now, the ancestor says that the Great Ancestor disappeared three thousand years ago.

"Ancestor...you mean, the Great Ancestor, he..." Qian Tian's voice was as dry as sandpaper being rubbed.

"Disappeared three thousand years ago? Then... is he alive or dead?"

The old ancestor shook his head, a trace of melancholy flashing in his eyes: "His fate is unknown."

"But deep within the ancestral temple, the spirit lamp of the founding emperor has not yet been extinguished, suggesting that he is still alive in the mortal world."

"But for the past three thousand years, no matter how I searched, I could not find any trace of him."

He sighed, his tone filled with deep helplessness:

"Over the years, I have been trying to break through my current level and reach the peak of the terrestrial immortal realm, but I have always been stuck at the bottleneck and can hardly make any progress."

"Tian'er, now that you are in charge of the Great Qian Dynasty, you should understand what it means to not have a truly top-tier combat force in place."

"The Nine Nether Demon Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect, the Xuanming Sect, as well as the Holy Land and hidden forces... which of these forces isn't eyeing us covetously?"

"They had already secretly formed countless connections."

"Once they realize that the Great Ancestor is not here, and I am unable to break through for a long time, they will definitely join forces to attack me."

"By then, let alone preserving our foundation, the entire Qian family will likely be reduced to ashes!"

The patriarch's voice suddenly rose, carrying a heavy warning:

"Can you and I bear this responsibility? Are we going to ruin the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty that has stood for ten thousand years?"

Qian Tian shuddered, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head.

He had only thought about revenge and reclaiming the occupied land, but he never considered the danger behind it.

Yes, the Great Qian Dynasty may seem stable now, but it is actually walking on thin ice, and it is only supported by the prestige of the founding emperor.

Once this thin veil is pierced, they will face utter ruin.

Qian Tian lowered his head, his voice filled with remorse, "Ancestor, I was reckless. Please punish me."

"That's enough." The old ancestor waved his hand, his tone softening slightly.

"It's not your fault. As a descendant of the Qian family, it's only natural to feel anger when you see your ancestors' legacy being humiliated."

"For now, we can only endure it."

His gaze returned to the golden-armored man in the mural, a resolute glint in his eyes:

"The day the Great Ancestor returns will be the day we settle old scores."

"The betrayal of various powerful forces... we will settle this score, one by one, with interest!"

Silence fell once again inside the ancestral hall, with only the flickering of the lights carrying through the air.

Qian Tian knelt on the ground, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

After an unknown amount of time, the ancestor waved his hand:

"Go back. Manage the affairs of state well and protect this country."

"As long as the spirit lamp of the founding emperor is not extinguished, we still have hope."

"Yes, grandson obeys." Qian Tian bowed deeply, and when he stood up, the anger in his eyes had been replaced by a calm and resolute determination.

He knew he could no longer act impulsively; the most important thing at the moment was to safeguard this foundation and wait for the return of the founding emperor.

Stepping out of the ancestral temple's barrier, the hustle and bustle of the capital city could be faintly heard.

Qian Tian looked up at the night sky; the moon was like water, and the stars were sparse.

He clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

Qian Tian slowly walked out of the ancestral temple. The night wind blew his dragon robe, bringing a chill, but it could not dispel the solemnity in his heart.

When he returned to his palace, the sky was already beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

The eunuchs were already waiting outside. When they saw him return, they were about to step forward to serve him, but he waved them away.

"All of you, leave. No one is to enter without my order."

"Yes."

The eunuchs dared not say a word, bowed, and withdrew.

The vast palace was left to this emperor, who was burdened with worries.

Qian Tian sat on the dragon throne, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrests, producing a rhythmic soft sound.

The words of the ancestor still echoed in my ears in the ancestral temple.

The secrets about the disappearance of the founding emperor and the fact that the Great Qian Dynasty was actually strong on the outside but weak on the inside weighed on his mind like a boulder.

"If we can't deal with the wolves outside, are we going to tolerate the parasites inside?"

He muttered to himself, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

The major powers in the Eastern Region are untouchable, but the powerful families within the capital and the regional kings of different surnames...

These deeply entrenched forces had long been a chronic problem for the Great Qian Dynasty.

The four great families have been operating in the capital for thousands of years, with their disciples and former officials spread throughout the court and the country, and they have a hidden tendency to rival the imperial power.

Those kings of different surnames held military power and guarded their respective regions. Although they nominally submitted to the central government, they secretly cultivated their own power and outwardly complied with the central government's orders while inwardly defying them.

He was mindful of the "deterrent" effect of the founding emperor and was unwilling to give foreign enemies an opportunity to exploit internal turmoil.

It now seems that if we don't clean house first, the foundation of the Great Qian Dynasty will rot from within before external enemies even attack.

"Since the external situation remains unchanged for the time being, let's start by striking from within."

A resolute glint flashed in Qian Tian's eyes: "To repel external threats, we must first pacify the internal situation."

He got up, walked to the wall, and gently tapped three times on a hanging landscape painting.

The wall slid open silently, revealing a hidden door.

A man dressed in black with an expressionless face stepped out; he was none other than Shadow, the commander of the Shadow Guard.

"Your subordinate greets Your Majesty." The shadow knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse, like sandpaper being rubbed.

"Rise." Qian Tian turned around, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Shadow, do you know why I summoned you?"

The shadow raised its head and said in a deep voice, "This subordinate does not know, but will obey Your Majesty's orders."

"The four great families of the capital city—Dongfang, Shangguan, Beiming, and Nangong—have become increasingly audacious in recent years."

The Shadow Guard remained silent; as the Shadow Secret Guard was in charge of surveillance, they naturally knew about these matters.

Since His Majesty had never made a clear statement in the past, he had only kept secret records.

"From today onwards, you will lead the Shadow Guards to keep a close eye on the four great families."

Qian Tian's tone was icy. "The movements of their clansmen, who they associate with, and even the servants in their household must all be thoroughly investigated."

"Yes."

"Furthermore," Qian Tian added, "find opportunities to plant people within their ranks, or to bribe those on the inside."

"No matter what means I use, I will plant eyes and ears around them."

"Remember, be discreet and don't alert the enemy."

The shadow bowed: "Understood, subordinate."

"There is one more thing: strengthen patrols in the capital, especially keep a close eye on any traces of the Nine Nether Demon Sect."

Qian Tian waved his hand: "Go, and if you handle this matter well, I will reward you handsomely."

"Yes, I will arrange it immediately."

The shadow bowed again, turned, and disappeared into the hidden door. The walls slowly closed, as if no one had ever been there.