"The New Emperor's Enthronement Ceremony, Ancestor Worship Begins!"
The moment Ying Zhong stepped out of the imperial carriage, the patriarch of the Du family, clad in official robes, held a golden platinum slip.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Ying Zhong turned and ascended the sacrificial platform. There were no grand artifacts, nor positions for heaven and earth, only a spirit tablet placed in the center.
Under the gazes of everyone, Ying Zhong slowly walked onto the sacrificial platform. The elder of the Du family unfurled the golden platinum slip in his hand, which transformed into specks of starlight, shooting into the spirit tablet of the founding Emperor of the Holy Yuan Dynasty.
"Ying Qu, the twentieth generation Human Emperor of the Holy Yuan Dynasty, and his fourth son, Ying Zhong, report to the Ancestors. With respect to our ancestors and the will of the countless subjects of the Dynasty, I now inherit the position of Human Emperor and hold the authority of the Dynasty!"
Ying Zhong knelt on both knees, facing the spirit tablet of his ancestor, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Bow!" the elder of the Du family suddenly roared. Ying Zhong, following suit, bowed deeply towards the spirit tablet, performing the grand ceremony.
"Granted!"
Thunder rumbled in the void. Ying Zhong's kneeling was merely a formality. His true acknowledgment as the legitimate Human Emperor was the will of the ancestor of the Imperial Clan.
After Ying Zhong completed the grand ceremony, a booming sound came from the Imperial Clan. The ancestor signaled that the position of Human Emperor was indeed legitimate.
Ying Zhong then rose, the majesty of the Human Emperor radiating outward and spreading in all directions!
"We pay homage to our Emperor!"
"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!"
...
Amidst the attention of the world, Ying Zhong's enthronement ceremony was completed. He slowly descended the sacrificial platform and stepped onto the pavilion, taking his seat as the Human Emperor.
The sacrificial platform was moved away by several Heavenly Martial Realm experts using their Yuan force, revealing a vast square.
Graceful dancers took to the square, and the song and dance began. The martial artists also scanned their surroundings.
After about the time it takes for a cup of tea to steep, Ying Zhong, seeing that the atmosphere was right, exchanged glances with Marquis Lie Feng, Yun Han, and others, then slowly spoke.
"Esteemed guests, welcome to my enthronement ceremony. You are all familiar faces, so I shall dispense with formalities!"
"The ceremony has progressed to a point where things have settled down. However, there is a slight lack of excitement. You are all top powers from our human territory. Why not engage in a simple exchange in full view of everyone, to add some cheer to my ceremony!"
"How does Your Majesty wish for us to exchange?" Yun Han asked directly.
"Heh heh, I have recently heard much of the Great Han's renown. How is it that a dynasty can frequently produce Extreme Dao martial artists? First, they defeated Sword Saint Chen Qiu, and then the seventh-grade alchemist Sun Simiao became famous throughout the land. Today, with many powers gathered here, the Great Han's representatives are seated in the pavilion!"
"I am at the heart of the Nine Great Dynasties. Why not invite the Great Han to demonstrate their skills, to quiet the doubts of the world and prove to me that I am not showing favoritism to the Great Han!" Ying Zhong said softly, narrowing his eyes.
"Hmph, we have long considered the Great Han to be all talk and no substance. To openly drink with us, if this were to spread, would not the world laugh at us." Marquis Xuanping of the Cangmu Dynasty snorted, his eyes fixed on the direction of the Great Han, fierce light flashing, revealing no attempt to conceal his killing intent.
"Marquis Xuanping speaks the truth. The Great Han's recent actions are indeed excessive. With the new Emperor of the Holy Yuan Dynasty ascending the throne, the Great Han's Minister of Personnel, Li Bai, captured Chen Qiu. Afterward, the Lord of the Great Han's Alchemy Hall dug up the Danqing Pavilion. What is the difference between such actions and those of bandits?" Yun Han was furious, but he carefully avoided mentioning anything about the Great Yun Dynasty, focusing all his words on Ying Zhong. This was a clever way to shift blame.
"This Marquis also believes that the Great Han has been truly excessive of late. They first killed Marquis Zishan of the Xueyang Dynasty, disregarding the decrees of the Human Emperor Hall Master. Now, they are acting with impunity within the territory of the Holy Yuan Dynasty. Every one of these transgressions is enough to have the Great Han eradicated!" Marquis Baizhan of the Tianyuan Dynasty, his eyes bloodshot, scornfully looked at the Great Han's representatives.
Marquis Lie Feng of the Xueyang Dynasty, seeing that the situation was ripe, glanced at Zhang Liao and then said softly, "Marquis Zishan, under the decree of the Human Emperor Hall Master, traveled to the Great Han. You, the King of Han, actually disdained the Emperor's might and killed Marquis Zishan. Such a crime deserves death!"
"Everyone, weren't we supposed to have an exchange? Why are you all so quick to say 'deserves death' and 'eradicated'? You are all kings and marquises, standing at the peak of humanity. Instead of thinking about how to deal with the impending Holy War, you wish to tear the Great Han apart at this moment. I am ashamed to be associated with you!" Pei Yin slammed the table, scanning the surroundings.
"Pei Yin, you speak from a position of privilege! Our Human Emperor's might has been trampled upon, and Marquis Zishan has been killed. This is a national grievance! The Great Han deserves to die!" Marquis Lie Feng glared at Pei Yin.
The Xueyang Dynasty and the Weiyang Dynasty had always been at odds, and the two began to bicker as soon as they met.
"What do you want?" Li Bai, swirling his wine cup, appearing somewhat drunk, said softly. Chen Qiu and Li Shang stood behind him, their expressions calm.
Given Chen Qiu's reputation and cultivation level, he was qualified to be on par with a host of marquises. Yet, he now stood behind Li Bai, who was only one minor realm higher than him.
Under normal circumstances, no amount of martial artists would have believed what they were witnessing. Su Dan Novel Network.
"Oh!"
Ying Zhong slightly raised his eyes, exuding an aura of confidence, and said softly, "There is a martial arena set up in the square. I propose a best-of-three match. What do you say?"
"This Marquis agrees!" Marquis Xuanping spoke directly, as if he hadn't thought it through.
The others also nodded slightly.
"If that is the case, then best-of-three. If the Great Han wins, then all matters that have occurred within my territory will be pardoned. If you lose, you shall forfeit your heads. I am in need of a few fine wine vessels!" Ying Zhong said grimly, looking at Li Bai and the others.
Li Bai slightly turned his head to look at Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao's expression was calm, and he nodded slightly. With the two of them here, plus Chen Qiu, three experts in the Heaven Fusion Realm were enough to sweep aside all opposition!
"Good!"
Li Bai drained his cup of wine and let out a long cry, his demeanor unrestrained, his white robes fluttering.
"Hahaha!"
"Good!"
"Cheers, everyone!"
Ying Zhong's face instantly lit up with a smile. Although there were many experts in the Heaven Fusion Realm among the ten great dynasties, most were only at the first or second layer. This was due to the limitation of scarce Yuan force, and also because in every Holy War, high-level Heaven Fusion Realm experts had to take the lead and charge forward. Every Holy War was a great test for the dynasties.
Take their Holy Yuan Dynasty for example. The strongest individual was only at the fourth layer of the Heaven Fusion Realm, but he was in seclusion, cultivating and detached from worldly affairs, preparing for the upcoming Holy War. The same applied to other dynasties.
Therefore, the Heaven Fusion Realm experts in the entire pavilion were only at the first or second layer. Despite the seemingly small difference in realms, there was a vast gulf in combat power. For instance, Chen Qiu, although only at the first layer of the Heaven Fusion Realm, had managed to force Ying Zhong to send out two experts at the first layer of the Heaven Fusion Realm, and even then, they had not been able to subdue him, only leaving him exhausted on the ground.