Chapter 1696: Chapter 1696: We Must First Find Someone to Hold the Fort

“So, in the end, it’s because I’m not strong enough, right?”

Alfred Weaver said with a bitter smile, “If my father were here, naturally there wouldn’t be such problems. He has enough strength to suppress the opposition, making them obey his commands. Once enough people follow orders, the rest will choose to follow suit.”

“The issue of interest you mentioned is also a core factor. When the Thunder Immortal Realm was in chaos and on the brink of collapse, with everyone in fear, my father called upon people to unite, and many rallied to the cause. Everyone shared a common interest, which was to end the chaos.”

“The followers back then have now become major figures, with their own sects and families, and differing interests. It’s difficult to get everyone to share a common goal now. Moreover, my strength is like this; without a sufficiently powerful person to hold the scene, there’s no reverence for the Celestial Palace…”

Carson Flores chuckled and said, “Very normal. After all, it’s been too long, and the mindset of these people has already changed, not the same as before. It’s like how the generals and ministers who founded a nation could fight fiercely, but decades later, after several generations, the atmosphere is completely different.”

Carson thought for a moment and asked, “Regarding the Heavenly Alliance, it seems many places are unaware?”

Alfred Weaver nodded, “Yes, they’ve always acted in secret, secretly recruiting and increasing their strength…”

Carson asked, “Does the Celestial Palace have any countermeasures?”

Alfred Weaver replied, “I retreated for a period of time to cultivate, then visited all the continents, and had discussions with the great sects to seek their opinions…”

Carson shook his head, “Not enough.”

Alfred Weaver frowned, “What do you mean?”

Carson decisively replied, “Issue an Immortal Palace Order, notifying the entire Immortal Domains that the Heavenly Alliance is made up of ambitious outsiders. They have sent people to assassinate you multiple times, attempting to overthrow the Celestial Palace and conquer the entire Thunder Immortal Realm. They are the enemy of the Celestial Palace.”

“Those who provide information on members of the Heavenly Alliance will be heavily rewarded. Those who know but do not report will be considered part of the Heavenly Alliance and viewed as traitors. Anyone who is currently affiliated with the Heavenly Alliance can secretly report to the Celestial Palace and seek atonement. As long as they clearly sever ties with the Heavenly Alliance, past offenses will be forgiven.”

Alfred Weaver widened his eyes, “Declare war directly?”

Carson nodded, “The Celestial Palace may be weak, but it holds the moral high ground as the recognized ruler of the Immortal Domains. Despite such a long period of inaction, people do not harbor resentment towards the Celestial Palace; logically, they will side with the Celestial Palace.”

“The Heavenly Alliance, ambitious as they are, will inevitably bring about a new order. Apart from certain ambitious individuals who may long to join the Heavenly Alliance, the vast majority would not want to take risks to make any changes. This is why many choose to remain neutral.”

Alfred Weaver hesitated, “But the current strength of the Celestial Palace is limited. If we really fight openly, we might not win.”

Carson laughed, “In ancient times, there was the tactic of controlling the vassals by holding the emperor. Now, even though you are like a young prince with limited strength, the legitimacy is on your side. Moreover, your father has only been away for a few centuries. Although there are doubts in everyone’s hearts, there is still fear and respect.”

“Some days ago, I had a conflict with the Mountain Ridge Monarchy Sect in the central part of the Heavenly Profound Continent. When I revealed my identity as an Immortal Palace Envoy, their attitude immediately changed. They were afraid I’d speak ill of them to you, so they showered me with gifts and apologies. I mentioned introducing them to you at the Heavenly Martial Arts Symposium in five years, and they were thrilled, repeatedly promising to send their strongest team.”

“The Mountain Ridge Monarchy Sect may not be very powerful, but their mindset reflects that of most sects in the world. As long as you give the order, naturally countless strong individuals will come to follow.”

Alfred Weaver’s eyes gradually brightened, “Go on.”

Carson smiled, “Now, we need to solve two problems. First, we must have a sufficiently strong expert in the Heavenly Immortal Realm, at least in the Late Celestial Immortal stage, and ideally a Peak Heavenly Immortal. The number doesn’t need to be many, but at least one is necessary for deterrence.”

“You are like a young prince inheriting the throne. If you want those ambitious ministers and generals to obey, you need to have a powerful guard force at your side. When someone stands up in opposition, you can immediately cut them down to intimidate the others.”

“Is there such a person?”

Alfred Weaver nodded affirmatively, “The first Guard Commander of the Celestial Palace is my father’s loyal subordinate. Later, he retired due to age and the world achieving peace. He has lived in solitude ever since. When I was a child, my father used to take me to visit him every year.”

“After I returned this time, he also came to see me, saying that if I needed his assistance, I could approach him anytime. Others may not be dependable, but he is absolutely trustworthy.”

Carson asked, “How strong is he?”

Alfred Weaver replied, “A Peak Heavenly Immortal with formidable combat strength. Back in the day, he was the strongest warrior amongst those around my father. Perhaps he is not the strongest in the world, but it’s very difficult for anyone to truly defeat him.”