Undying Life
Chapter 329: The Collapse of Heaven II

Chapter 329: The Collapse of Heaven II

"Fan Yipin, pays respects to Princess Qianyou and to Dongfang Hou," Fan Yipin said respectfully.

"Oh, Mr. Fan!" Zhong Shan turned his head and smiled, gently placing down his fishing rod.

"Mm," Princess Qianyou nodded.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Fan," Zhong Shan gestured for Fan Yipin to sit down.

Shortly after, servants brought in some tea.

"I wonder what brings Mr. Fan here?" Zhong Shan asked.

Princess Qianyou also fixed her gaze on Fan Yipin.

Fan Yipin glanced at Princess Qianyou and then at Zhong Shan with a smile. "The outside world is bustling with activity, with every court and every land in a flurry of activity. Only Dongfang Hou seems the most leisurely here."

"Hehe, I have nothing much to do here, naturally at leisure!" Zhong Shan chuckled.

"Someone just reported to me that Dongfang Hou's Tianbeng Plan, the second step, has been fully successful. The effects were stronger than initially anticipated. I admire it," Fan Yipin said, looking at Zhong Shan.

"Hehe, this is our collective effort," Zhong Shan shook his head with a smile.

"Reports from the front lines of the Great Yu Empire say that the four armies have achieved complete victories, sweeping through cities and territories effortlessly," Fan Yipin continued.

"Oh, that's good news. Keep up the good work!" Zhong Shan replied.

Princess Qianyou smiled faintly on the side, seeing that the two were playing a guessing game with each other but not revealing it.

"Hehe, hasn't Dongfang Hou noticed that Yi Yan has left the front lines?" Fan Yipin smiled slightly.

Seeing Fan Yipin bring it up directly, Zhong Shan no longer played games and smiled faintly. "Wouldn't it be better this way?"

"Indeed, it's better. However, this once-in-a-lifetime collapse of the Great Yu Empire will be largely remedied by Yi Yan in about four months at most. He might regain control of a dozen or so cities. It will be difficult to attack afterwards," Fan Yipin stared at Zhong Shan.

"Mr. Fan, rest assured, if Yi Yan wants to regain control, it's too late," Zhong Shan said with absolute certainty.

"Too late?" Fan Yipin stared at Zhong Shan.

"Yes, Yi Yan is strong, but even with his extraordinary methods, he was three months too late. At the moment the price of the Yu Shi fluctuated, he missed it and fell behind. If he tries to regain control, then we'll give him another collapse, a Collapse of Heaven II," Zhong Shan said with absolute certainty.

"Collapse of Heaven II? Hehe, what a metaphor. But when will this begin?" Fan Yipin smiled and asked.

"We must maximize the desire of the Great Yu people for Yu Shi. Two months from now, the third step of the Tianbeng Plan!" Zhong Shan said with absolute certainty.

"Good, then Fan Yipin will wait and see!" Fan Yipin smiled. After saying that, he got up and very tactfully did not continue to disturb Zhong Shan and Princess Qianyou.

"Mm," Zhong Shan nodded.

Watching Fan Yipin's departing figure, Zhong Shan's expression turned serious.

"Sir, don't underestimate Fan Yipin! He is the first strategist of the Great Xuan King," Princess Qianyou said to Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan frowned, and it wasn't until Fan Yipin's figure was completely out of sight that he spoke, "I have never underestimated him. He is straightforward as well as profound. Fan Yipin looks ordinary, and it's precisely because he looks ordinary that he is extraordinary."

Two months later, in the Imperial Palace Council Hall of the Sky City in the Great Yu Empire...

"Your Majesty, although Yu Shi in Sky City is still expensive, it's still better than having no goods at all," Yi Yan spoke up.

"Minister Yi, you have worked hard," Emperor Nalan said.

"It's what I should do," Yi Yan replied respectfully.

"General, you're truly a remarkable individual. With a single command, nearby sects have all come forth with their stockpiles to supply the market," exclaimed a minister.

"Yes, indeed!"

"It's all thanks to the General's prestige and reputation. Only because of him are those sects and external clans willing to be so generous."

....... The courtiers continued to sing praises of Yi Yan.

"Yes, as long as we hold out for another half year," sighed Yi Yan.

"Half a year will pass in the blink of an eye. With the General, what can't be accomplished?" another minister praised again.

Yi Yan paid no attention to these flatterers but turned to Emperor Nalan and said, "Your Majesty, the siege of Sky City has been resolved. Next, we need to persuade over a hundred other cities. I have already dispatched numerous respected individuals to persuade the major sects in various cities. However, peace within the Great Yu Empire won't be restored for another two months."

"Yu Shi, so many Yu Shi, disappearing without a trace like this?" Emperor Nalan took a deep breath.

"Your Majesty, after the speculation on Yu Shi, the market didn't collapse until a month later. During this month, if we transport them with full effort, it shouldn't be difficult," a minister said.

"No, that's not it," another minister shook his head.

"With so many Yu Shi, it's absolutely impossible to quietly transport them out of the Great Yu Empire. Even if it's possible for cities on the edge, it's definitely impossible for cities deep within the empire. It's too rushed. Unless all of them are transformed into storage bracelets," another minister said.

"But turning them into spatial equipment, every time you destroy the equipment to retrieve Yu Shi, half of the space disappears without a trace. Who would bear such a huge cost? The latest Yu Shi spatial equipment is the largest; every time it's turned into a personal storage and then returned to Yu Shi, half of its space is lost, which is not a small amount but a very large number," another minister shook his head.

"But, losses are losses, as long as they are all transported out, they will still have half the profits. If it is found out early, there will be no profits." The minister before shook his head.

"No, it's not easy for Yu Shi to disappear. Find a place to bury it and replace a place to drown it in the sea. As long as you don't see it, your mind doesn't notice it, just like that," Yi Yan shook his head.

"Bury? The General means that the endless Yu Shi is still in the Great Yu Empire?" the minister suddenly became excited.

"It's definitely in the Great Yu Empire," Yi Yan said with certainty.

"Then let's send troops to replace it quickly. Once we replace it, the price of Yu Shi will stabilize!" a minister said.

"Yes, replace it, dig three feet under the ground, and you will replace it!" the ministers immediately echoed.

Emperor Nalan also showed a trace of hope in his eyes. In the hall, the ministers were excited, discussing one after another.

"Not good!" Yi Yan suddenly shouted.

Yi Yan suddenly widened his eyes and exclaimed, causing everyone in the court to stop talking abruptly.

"Not good? What happened? What's wrong?"

Looking at Yi Yan's dazed expression, no one dared to disturb him because all the courtiers knew what Yi Yan had thought of and was rapidly deducing the possibility.

Seeing Yi Yan in a daze, sweat beading on his forehead, the courtiers became worried too.

What exactly has happened that has made the General so worried—

At the same time, in the City Lord's Mansion on the Floating Island in the Radiant City, Zhong Shan looked down at the constantly moving crowd below.

Behind him stood Shui Wuhuan, Zhao Chuan, Fan Yipin, and a group of generals.

Looking at the sky, Zhong Shan took a deep breath and said, "The time has come!"

Hearing what Zhong Shan said, Fan Yipin raised his eyebrows. The generals looked puzzled.

Turning his head, Zhong Shan looked at Fan Yipin and said, "Mr. Fan, my tasks are all completed. Immediately, the third step of the Heaven Collapse Plan, Heaven Collapse Two-fold Heaven, is to begin. Please return to Da Xuan City and inform the Great Xuan King. In one month, Heaven Collapse Three-fold Heaven will completely overthrow the Great Yu Empire. We must act decisively without stopping!"

"Understood, Lord Dongfang's command!" Fan Yipin respectfully bowed to Zhong Shan.

Then, Fan Yipin swiftly departed from Radiant City with his entourage, heading towards a distant destination.

"General, what is this Heaven Collapse Plan?" Shui Wuhuan looked at Zhong Shan with confusion.

"The Heaven Collapse Plan aims to overthrow the Great Yu Empire. Zhao Chuan, follow my orders," Zhong Shan declared loudly.

"Yes!" Zhao Chuan was momentarily surprised but immediately responded.

"At the Grand Illumination Battlefield, we cannot afford any mistakes. Zhao Chuan, lead the First Battalion of the Great Xuan Army and forty thousand guards to defend against the Xiao Wang Army's attacks. Just focus on defense; there's no need to achieve any new merits!" Zhong Shan ordered, handing Zhao Chuan a military token.

"Yes!" Zhao Chuan responded immediately, still somewhat puzzled.

"Shui Wuhuan, Liu Wushuang, follow my orders," Zhong Shan suddenly called out.

"Yes!" The two of them were also slightly taken aback but promptly responded.

"Shui Wuhuan will lead as the vanguard, Liu Wushuang as the deputy general, commanding fifty thousand Wolf Cavalry and six hundred thousand elite armored soldiers. Head eastward toward the Great Yu Empire, capturing cities and forts. Along the way, handle the chaos swiftly as I have taught you before. Swiftly, swiftly, swiftly. Your target is Sky City!" Zhong Shan ordered and handed a military token to Shui Wuhuan.

"Yes!" The two of them were briefly stunned but quickly acknowledged.

In Sky City, Yi Yan finally realized.

"Guards!" Yi Yan shouted in the court.

Emperor Nalan Piaoxue frowned on the throne.

Soon, a dozen or so soldiers accompanying Yi Yan rushed into the hall.

"General!" The dozen or so soldiers immediately bowed to Yi Yan upon entering the hall.

Seeing these soldiers only bowing to Yi Yan, Emperor Nalan Piaoxue's expression turned increasingly unpleasant.

"Go and investigate within the city immediately! See if there's any significant rumor or news spreading. Find out the source, quickly, quickly, quickly!" Yi Yan repeated "quickly" three times in evident anxiety.

"Yes!" The soldiers hurriedly ran out of the hall.

Meanwhile, the courtiers patiently waited. Everyone realized that something terrible might have happened—a situation more complex and challenging to handle than the previous market turmoil.