This was destined to be a sleepless night for countless people.

Although Lu Ban Mountain was far from the main urban area of Phoenix City, located on the edge of the steel stronghold,

the bombardment of artillery and the screeching of warplanes, with dazzling sparks exploding in the sky from time to time, made it impossible to completely ignore such a massive disturbance.

Those living in the suburbs or Cultivators with extremely good eyesight could even clearly see the tightly contested battle here.

The ace units of the Undying Army, the Fire Fox Brigade, the White Wolf Brigade, and the 722 Brigade, totaling over thirty thousand troops, launched an assault on Lu Ban Mountain from both land and air; Lu Ban Mountain fiercely retaliated with numerous flying armor shells from within the mysterious mountain...

The battle was intense, with both sides exchanging blows fiercely.

"What's causing such a commotion outside? Who dares to open fire near Phoenix City? Do they have a death wish?"

"Have you heard? The state is going to annihilate the Lu Family... they're attempting treason... the announcement has already been issued..."

"Where is this announcement? Why haven't I seen it? Spreading rumors?"

"It was posted on the military network, stamped with a red seal by the Military Committee..."

"It used to be the Tang family, now it's the Lu Family... The Empire had just been peaceful for twenty years, is it about to become turbulent again?"

"The Tang family? Which Tang family? I've never heard of them."

"Kid, what do you know? During the bloody night of the Empire, the water in the Underground City was red..."

"How could the Lu Family commit treason? They are the beneficiaries of the nation... having everything they want, enjoying the reverence of countless people in the Empire..."

"I've decided, starting today, to boycott products from Lu Ban Mountain... throwing away their Galaxy phones, switching to Redfruit..."

"The operating system used by Redfruit phones is also developed by the Lu Family..."

"..."

------

This is the perspective of ordinary people; they didn't know the details, only sensed that since the Military Committee of the Empire had issued a red-headed document, it must mean the Lu Family truly committed treason.

This was the just cause Shen Wuxiang was seeking.

With justified cause, the effort would double.

Even though a very few people felt the Lu Family was being framed, a victim of political struggle,

under the uniformly extreme atmosphere, they dared not express their real thoughts.

The public was the easiest to manipulate.

Because they didn't have the right to information, only the right to comply.

Luojia Mountain.

Shen Boyu placed down his black piece and sighed lightly, "Your grandpa was a bit hasty with this move."

"There are advantages to moving slowly, but also benefits in haste," Shen Xinglan calmly placed a white piece on the opposite side.

"Oh, do you have a different opinion?" Shen Boyu looked at Shen Xinglan with a smile, asking aloud.

"In our Cultivation World, there is a saying: One formidable force can break tens of thousands of methods. When we can't find the way forward, we use brute force to carve out a new path."

"The current situation inside the Empire is unclear; actions by the Monitoring Bureau have people on edge."

"It looks like every strike seems unrelated to our Shen Family, but each one keeps us restless."

"If that's the case, then we should take the initiative into our own hands."

"Whether to fight or make peace, to completely annihilate or to integrate... it's all under our control..."

"If we decide to fight, then continue fighting. If we say stop, then immediately stop."

Shen Boyu nodded and added, "You make sense. It's just that, I can't quite understand the thoughts of that person in the palace... your grandpa went to the palace to request a battle, and they actually agreed."

"Could it be that, the chaotic situation benefits his reshuffling?"

"It's nothing more than wanting our Shen Family and the Lu Family to tear each other apart and weaken each other..." Shen Xinglan spoke out, "By the time we're both battered and bleeding, the Royal Family will step in to mediate... wielding a borrowed knife, they don't care who ends up dead."

"Perhaps then it won't be under their control anymore," Shen Boyu scoffed.

Shen Xinglan, picking up a chess piece, showed a reflective expression, "If we can think of this, surely that person in the palace can anticipate it too... if it's just this simple... is it too straightforward?"

"Let's just wait and see," Shen Boyu looked up at the deep sky where a few scattered stars twinkled. "There should be a result by tomorrow?"

"There will be a result tomorrow," Shen Xinglan nodded in agreement.

The Undying Army was a direct controlled legion of the Shen Family; currently, they had dispatched three ace brigades to engage in the battle, and they were fighting against one of the Empire's nine major families, the Lu Family.

The best outcome would be to swiftly decide the battle, quickly penetrate Lu Ban Mountain, and seize their core technology hidden beneath Lu Ban Mountain.

The night is long with potentially more troubling developments; the later it gets, the more changes may arise.

Although the Royal Family and other major families deliberately suppressed them, the Lu Family's military influence was pitifully small.

After all, they would not allow a family that held the Empire's core technologies to also possess a significant military force.

That would be having money, people, equipment, and weapons...

Who could feel safe?

But what if there were elements within the military still loyal to the Lu Family?

One of the nine major families, who had close dealings with the Lu Family?

They held control over mechanical technology and the distribution of advanced weapons...

Even if the Royal Family and the Military Committee intervened artificially, couldn't the Lu Family easily make under-the-table deals?

The military must not be chaotic, and neither should the Military Department.

The Royal Family believed the military and the Military Department were theirs.

The Shen Family held the same belief.

------

Lu Ban Mountain.

Lu Qingshan remained as usual, lying on a giant wheelchair, slurping the red liquid from the nutrition tank behind him.

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