The palace learns that Adrian has gathered 3,000 Junior Masters, including a Martial Land Immortal strong enough to defeat Jack, causing alarm among the ruling elite. Officials scramble to confirm these reports and investigate hidden forces potentially linked to the late Emperor or royal family. Meanwhile, the new emperor asserts control by clearing out Lucian and Jack's men and interrogating them for evidence. Suspicion grows as Lucian is found to have a peak Grandmaster secretly guarding Grand Dowager Celeste. The emperor confronts Adrian in a tense nighttime meeting, signaling a showdown as the palace braces for a power struggle with Adrian's rising influence.