The construction of the Saint Yuan Dynasty's capital was characterized by the lower outer city and the higher inner imperial palace. Standing on the streets of the capital, one could see the towering walls of the imperial palace, and catch glimpses of the flashing imperial guards patrolling the four directions.
As soon as everyone emerged from the inn, they could see a grand altar erected in front of the imperial palace. At this moment, the altar was enveloped in smoke and mist.
This was specially built by Ying Zhong to showcase his legitimate status. The sudden death of the previous Saint Yuan Emperor and the execution of his eighth ancestor, Ying Jia, in prison had naturally led to various rumors. To silence the public outcry, Ying Zhong immediately invited guests from all directions and grandly organized his succession ceremony.
It took them an hour to walk from the inn to the imperial palace gates. By the time they reached the gates, the sun had fully risen, its warm rays bathing the ancient, weathered capital.
The imperial palace gates were tightly shut, with only one gate, reserved for royalty, open. It was covered with golden foil.
"Yun Han, the Third Prince of the Great Yun Dynasty, congratulates the Human Emperor's Grand Ceremony, and presents a Heaven Martial Realm cultivation technique scroll!" As Yun Han passed through the gate, an official smilingly received the tribute, glanced at it, and immediately announced loudly.
This was the Gate of Nobility, specifically opened for the envoys of the Ten Great Dynasties!
"Lord Lie Feng of the Blood Sun Dynasty, congratulates the Human Emperor's Grand Ceremony, and presents three pills of Grade Four High-grade!" Lord Lie Feng, clad in noble battle attire, strode through the gate with imposing vigor.
...
A group of martial artists was blocked outside the palace gates, while the forces of the Ten Great Dynasties were led into the imperial palace by officials of the Saint Yuan Dynasty.
"Esteemed Pei Yin!"
"Lord Li, Lord Sun, General Xu Chu!" An official walked over with a smile, extending his hand. "Esteemed lords, this way please!"
Under the official's guidance, they bypassed the crowd and walked to the Gate of Nobility. Pei Yin produced a cultivation technique scroll.
"Esteemed Pei Yin of the Wei Yang Dynasty, congratulates the Human Emperor's Grand Ceremony, and presents a Heaven Martial Realm cultivation technique scroll!" The official immediately exclaimed with a smile.
"Dong dong!"
Sun Simiao shook his pill gourd. The plump pills inside rustled, making everyone's heart pound. Pills stored by a Seventh-grade Alchemist were undoubtedly precious.
Three brown pills were shot out and caught by Sun Simiao. He said softly, "Fourth-grade High-grade pills—Myriad Venerable Pills!"
"Thank you, sir!"
The official eagerly accepted the pills as if they were his own, his eyes trembling as he carefully held them.
"Li Bai, the Green Lotus Sword Immortal of the Great Han Dynasty, Sun Simiao, the Seventh-grade Alchemist, and Xu Chu, the Tiger Marquis, congratulate the Human Emperor's Grand Ceremony, and present three Fourth-grade High-grade Myriad Venerable Pills!"
Zhang Liao stood inconspicuously behind them, not drawing much attention. His reputation was not as widespread, and he was overlooked by the Saint Yuan Dynasty officials.
"That must be the Green Lotus Sword Immortal, Li Bai!"
"And the Seventh-grade Alchemist, Sun Simiao!"
All the martial artists turned their gaze towards the figures gradually disappearing through the Gate of Nobility. Either one of these two individuals possessed the strength of a top force.
As they passed through the palace gates, they saw a hundred-meter-tall altar, now shrouded in fragrance. The entire sacrificial tower was constructed from precious stones, emitting a colorful halo even in daylight. Steps led neatly to the summit.
On the sacrificial platform at the summit, a nine-foot-tall memorial tablet was placed. It bore no inscription of deities or heaven and earth, only the name of the founding emperor of the Saint Yuan Dynasty.
Beyond the sacrificial platform, tens of meters high viewing stands were set up on the east and west sides. In the front was a grand pavilion, about a hundred zhang deep. The officials of the Saint Yuan Dynasty who held power were already seated outside.
Li Bai and the others ascended the pavilion and looked out. The Human Emperor's seat in the center was vacant. Rows of seats were arranged on either side of it, where the envoys of the imperial dynasties were seated.
"Hmph, what bad luck. I never expected that we, the imperial dynasties, would now be on par with a mere dynasty. I, Lord Xuan Ping, disdain to associate with them!" Lord Xuan Ping of the Cang Mu Dynasty crushed the wine cup in his hand, glaring angrily at the people from the Great Han who were entering.
Pei Yin bowed slightly to Li Bai and the others before taking his seat at the Wei Yang Dynasty's designated spot and closing his eyes.
"Hmph, this Saint Yuan Human Emperor's succession ceremony actually allows the Great Han to participate. It truly lowers the standard of this ceremony." Yun Han turned his head away. The Great Han was too powerful, and his Great Yun Dynasty, along with the Saint Yuan Dynasty, bore the brunt of it.
Lord Lie Feng was about to speak when he suddenly noticed Zhang Liao standing next to Li Bai. He abruptly swallowed the words that were on his lips and drank his wine morosely. It seemed the plan to cripple the Han King's arm would encounter unexpected complications.
"What do you want!"
Xu Chu roared instantly, his voice booming and causing everyone's eardrums to vibrate. He glared at everyone. Although other forces had more than just Zhang Liao, with Li Bai and Chen Qiu present, it was enough to suppress all the heroes.
Silence fell instantly. No one wanted to be the first to act. The Saint Yuan Human Emperor had not even spoken, so why would they bother? After all, the Saint Yuan and Great Yun were the closest to the Great Han.
"Boom kacha kacha!!"
The palace gates were flung open, and warriors began to enter through a small side gate one after another. After about half an hour, both viewing stands were completely filled with martial artists, all eagerly awaiting.
"The Human Emperor has arrived!"
At this moment, a sharp voice swept through the sky. Two mythical beasts pulled a golden imperial carriage, and Ying Zhong, clad in imperial robes, sat majestically upon it. Two experts of the Heaven Integration Realm stood guard on either side.
This was his petition to the Imperial Clan and the ancestral instruction that he had received, deploying two Heaven Integration Realm experts to demonstrate the Saint Yuan Dynasty's profound strength.
"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live, long live!"
All the officials immediately knelt and shouted in unison!
"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live, long live!"
"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live, long live!"
"Long live our Emperor, long live, long live, long live!"
All the Saint Yuan Dan martial artists on the viewing stands prostrated themselves. As for the martial artists from other dynasties, they merely stood up and bowed slightly towards the imperial carriage, showing respect for the Human Emperor's majesty.
The envoys from numerous imperial dynasties, including Li Bai and his companions, also rose and bowed slightly in Ying Zhong's direction.
The imperial carriage stopped before the pavilion. A palace maid gently lifted the curtain. Ying Zhong, in his imperial robes, was a world of difference from his appearance a month ago. He had only been wearing the imperial robes for a month, but a supreme imperial aura, capable of dominating the world, had already formed. In his left hand, he held the Human Emperor's Seal, and in his right, he grasped the Human Emperor's Sword at his waist. With a proud expression, he surveyed the surroundings.
Ying Zhong, the new Human Emperor of the Saint Yuan Dynasty, was, for the first time since ascending the throne, displaying his supreme imperial might before the various powers of the world.
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