The spiritual chaos detonated by Mei Lan's Divine Core breakthrough slammed into the Imperial Capital like a subtle, cosmic tremor. Lin Tian ended his meditation, immediately confirming the massive spiritual vacuum that had just been created. He knew the chaos was too potent to ignore and that the time to strike the Azure Water Sect was now.
Lin Tian focused his attention entirely on Grandmaster Wei, his puppet agent. He needed the capital to panic, but he needed that panic directed at a specific, defenseless target.
Lin Tian sent a clear, precise mental command to Grandmaster Wei: Do not mention a rogue cultivator. Blame the Azure Water Sect. Use their recent territorial expansion and known spiritual arrogance as proof.
Grandmaster Wei, bound by the Vow of Silent Servitude, instantly internalized the order. He stood before the Emperor, who was fretting over the stability of the Earth Spirit Dragon Vein.
"Your Majesty," Wei announced, his voice carrying the calm authority of a medical sage. "The spiritual disturbance is severe, but its origin is not local. It stems from the western mountains, near the Azure Water Sect's territory."
The Emperor frowned. "That small sect? They are ambitious, but incapable of generating such cosmic chaos."
"They were attempting to force an early ascension using forbidden, chaotic techniques. The sheer force of their failure is what shook the Earth Vein," Wei conceded smoothly, quoting the strategic lie Lin Tian had provided. "They failed catastrophically." The narrative was perfect: the Azure Water Sect was already suspected of being greedy and arrogant.
The Emperor's rage was immediate. "Send the Imperial Guards! Crush this arrogant sect! Confiscate all their resources!" he commanded.
General Lin Zhao, who had been standing silently nearby, immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the Azure Water Sect's territory is vast and heavily guarded. A standard guard detachment will take months. I will take command of the Northern Army and personally lead the punitive expedition. It is the General's duty to purge treason."
Lin Tian, listening through his father's senses, gave a tiny, satisfied internal nod.
[Political Maneuver: Azure Water Sect Neutralization Initiated. Projected outcome: Territory and resources secured for Lin Clan.]
Not only was the primary enemy being eliminated, but General Lin Zhao was being positioned as the kingdom's savior, vastly increasing the Lin Clan's political weight.
Lin Tian ordered Grandmaster Wei to prepare a specialized array designed to communicate only with the Innate Sword Soul. In the privacy of the Orchid Pavilion, Wei activated the silver communication plate. Mei Lan's image shimmered above the plate.
"Master," Mei Lan's voice was sharp. "The spiritual signature is yours. Why are you contacting me?"
Lin Tian mentally projected his thought through Wei, using the Grandmaster's voice as a vessel. The chaos you created was effective. The Azure Water Sect is being purged by Imperial decree. You are to move immediately into their territory. Take their Spirit Vein, take their Core Library, and take their spiritual treasury.
Mei Lan's cold gaze held steady, a flicker of fierce comprehension in her eyes. "The debt is paid. I will take the Azure Water Sect's power. I will not fail the debt." Her image vanished.
Lin Tian closed the connection. The kingdom was now a perfectly controlled engine: General Lin Zhao would lead the military destruction, Grandmaster Wei would manage the politics, and Mei Lan would handle the spiritual harvest. All three served the infant master.
With his political and martial agents deployed, Lin Tian returned to his cultivation in the Imperial Library's private wing. The spiritual energy siphon, once terrifying, was now normalized by Elder Long Wei's frantic stabilization efforts.
Lin Tian focused on the ultimate prize: the Soul Transformation Peak and the birth of his Divine Nascent Soul.
[Cultivation Status: Soul Transformation Stage 4 (Advanced). Breakthrough Threshold: 99.5%. Estimated time to Nascent Soul Birth: 14 days.]
Lin Tian smiled internally. The chaotic political landscape he had engineered was the perfect fertilizer for his power. The Mortal Realm was merely his nursery, and the Ascension was inevitable.
He had one final strategic move to prepare: the management of his parents, General Lin Zhao and Lian Hua. Their simple, mortal affection remained the most unpredictable element in his carefully constructed cosmic game.