Chapter 590

Chapter 590: Heaven’s Mandate and the Heavenly Dao

She had thoroughly investigated Li Ruoyu’s origins.

He absolutely had the qualifications to be her husband.

The only thing he lacked was strength.

As the emotional thread was tied, the gaze Celestial Lord Linglong directed towards Li Ruoyu underwent a subtle change. It was like a red thread, stirring ripples in both their hearts.

"Hahaha…"

Li Ruoyu laughed heartily, "Once I cultivate to the level of Great Celestial Lord, I will announce it to the entire world! I will marry you properly, with all due ceremony! I will let everyone in the world know that you are Li Ruoyu’s woman!"

"I’ll be waiting for that day."

Celestial Lord Linglong’s figure gradually blurred.

"How does it feel?"

Suddenly, a voice sounded from behind Li Ruoyu. Mu Fanyin had appeared as if out of thin air. She leaned against the railing, wearing a knowing, somewhat mocking smile.

"Senior, you startled me." Li Ruoyu took a long, deep breath.

He stared at Mu Fanyin, yet his eyes avoided meeting hers directly. "Celestial Lord Linglong and I… we’ve only met twice. How much feeling could there possibly be?"

"Saying one thing but meaning another," Mu Fanyin scoffed. "If Celestial Lord Linglong didn’t object, you’d probably be sharing the wedding chamber tonight."

"…"

Li Ruoyu laughed awkwardly.

"Li Ruoyu, I’m telling you," Mu Fanyin said coldly, "as for that woman, Celestial Lord Linglong, she is indeed interested in you. But it’s not you she’s interested in! It’s what’s behind you – Heaven’s Secret Pavilion!"

"She’s hedging her bets in both directions."

"This junior understands."

Li Ruoyu smiled.

"You know?"

Mu Fanyin’s eyebrow arched. "It seems there might still be some hope for you."

"Senior, this junior is very clear about her motives." Li Ruoyu’s smile revealed immense confidence. "What she values is Heaven’s Secret Pavilion. But she underestimates me."

"One day, I will make her willingly become my woman."

"Baffling confidence," Mu Fanyin retorted.

"We shall see," Li Ruoyu replied.

Unfazed by Mu Fanyin’s sarcasm, Li Ruoyu inquired, "Senior, you came here specially. You must have another matter to discuss?"

Mu Fanyin nodded.

The two arrived at Xuan Guang Hall.

"Senior Mu?"

Ancestral Dragon was startled and hurriedly rose to salute. "This old dragon pays his respects to Senior Mu!"

"We pay respects to Dao Ancestor Mu!"

The Eternal Celestial Lord, Celestial Lord Linglong, and others promptly bowed in greeting.

"Esteemed Senior, will the Master grace us with his presence?"

One celestial lord inquired.

The others also awaited the answer with bated breath.

Who wouldn’t yearn to glimpse the legendary master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

"Perhaps when you attain the Dao One realm," Mu Fanyin replied mockingly, "you might barely earn the privilege of a personal audience with the Master. For now, stay put obediently right here."

"That demanding?"

The listeners trembled inwardly.

"Considering Tianxia’s founding and your sincere efforts," Mu Fanyin stated with a light smile, "I shall personally host you all today."

"You honor us profoundly, Esteemed Senior."

They responded with a mixture of awe and delight.

"Rumors speak of Tianxia establishing a new cultivation system," the Eternal Celestial Lord remarked, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "We harbor deep fascination. Might you illuminate the mysteries of the Path of Offerings for us, Senior Mu?"

"Indeed! Indeed!"

The fellow celestials nodded vigorously.

The yang realm had seen countless millennia without the birth of a new cultivation system. The Path of Offerings struck them as utterly novel and refreshing.

"Today, we discuss only lighter pleasures, not matters of cultivation."

Mu Fanyin had no patience to indulge them.

Were it not for Ye Xu’s specific instruction, she wouldn’t have even set foot in the Xuan Guang Hall.

"…"

Her words instantly caused faces to fall, disappointment etched clearly in every expression.

"Music!"

Mu Fanyin flicked her sleeves.

Within the Xuan Guang Hall, sweet music played, ladies danced gracefully, and wine cups clinked in lively toasts.

The celestial lords conversed cheerfully amidst lighthearted laughter and a joyous atmosphere.

The banquet lasted deep into the midnight hour before the guests finally began taking their leave.

Time slipped away unnoticed.

Time sped onwards.

Soon, the sky began to lighten at dawn.

A single ray of dawn sunshine pierced through the heavy cloak of night.

Clang!

A deep, resonant bell toll echoed.

Clang!

The bell toll was melodious and clear, piercing through time and space, spreading across the Canglan Immortal Domain.

Woo!

The sound of horns arose, spreading to all corners.

Streaks of light fell into the imperial palace square.

“The national founding ceremony officially begins!”

A majestic voice resounded between heaven and earth.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The drumming thundered like thunder, and the horns blew in unison.

Yi Tianxing, clothed in imperial robes, crowned with the imperial crown, and girded with a jade belt, with divine light shining in his eyes, was escorted by numerous divine officials as he walked along the red carpet towards the elevated throne.

Countless people looked upon him with reverent awe.

At this moment, Yi Tianxing appeared like a deity, worshipped by the masses.

Ye Xu gazed into the distance at this scene.

“No wonder, through the ages, so many have desired to become emperors. The sensation of being in the spotlight, the power to decide life and death with a single word—who can resist it?”

Ye Xu felt a surge of emotion.

Amidst the melodies of immortal music, Yi Tianxing ascended step by step to the zenith of power.

Li Ruoyu was overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

“I never imagined my teacher would one day proclaim himself emperor.”

“The dragon clan congratulates Great Celestial Lord Yi Tianxing on ascending the throne as emperor and presents a Taixuan Immortal Root!”

Beside the ancestral dragon, Celestial Lord Suanni opened a jade box. A towering purple immortal plant soared out, emanating ancient and primeval aura. The immortal root danced in the air, sketching a scene of a prosperous age.

“The Luoshen Dynasty and Celestial Lord Linglong congratulate Tianxia!”

Ying Ziyu held aloft a divine sword and declared in a loud voice.

“The Immortal Palace of All Laws congratulates Tianxia! We specially present the Nine Dragon Imperial Crown, Tai Emperor Robe, Zhou Tian Star Boots, the Dragon-Slaying Sword…”

An immortal lord of the Immortal Palace of All Laws proclaimed loudly.

Hiss!

The crowd was deeply moved.

“It is said that these were imperial treasures crafted in the seventh era by a Nine Dragon Imperial Dynasty that spanned hundreds of immortal domains. For Tianxia’s founding, its venerable ancestor truly has spared no expense!”

“Luo Qianchen of the Dao Clan, on behalf of the Dao Clan, congratulates Tianxia.”

At this moment, Luo Qianchen waved her sleeves, a sword light burst forth from her cuffs, devouring the heavens and devouring the earth, causing the sun, moon, and stars to lose their brilliance.

"This treasure was forged by Master Sixth of my clan, falling just short of ascending to an epochal treasure!"

"Congratulations, Your Majesty."

"I, Qin Yi, heir of the Hongmeng Hall, have come on my master’s behalf to congratulate Tianxia."

With a flick of his palm, the eldest young master sent an oval-shaped colossal egg floating into the air. "This is a divine egg, born from the ruins of the six immortal domains in the previous era."

"Once hatched, it shall become at least a Celestial Worthy!"

"The Destiny Sect congratulates Tianxia!"

"Wu Tianyue from the Witch Clan congratulates Tianxia…"

The second ancient clan made its appearance.

Wu Tianyue channeled her magic power, and an immortal root rose before her. Its aura was immeasurably ancient, predating even the Primordial Immortal Root. Though merely a few feet tall, it seemed to encompass the boundless cosmos within itself.

A flicker of interest passed through Ye Xu’s eyes.

This immortal root bore a faint resemblance to the ancient Jianmu divine tree.

"This time, I just hit the jackpot like never before."

Ye Xu’s smile didn’t fade for an instant.

The lavish gifts from the Immortal Palace of All Laws, the Dao Clan, and the Witch Clan were likely worth one to two million trillion Hongmeng points. Adding in the presents from all the other powers, three million trillion was more than achievable.

Ascension to Dao Ancestor was within his grasp.

"All those years of painstakingly trading and earning profits at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion pale in comparison to a single national founding ceremony!" Ye Xu sighed.

"In any case, this founding is a grand occasion for the yang realm. But the third ancient clan hasn’t shown itself at all. Are they perhaps in the yin realm?"

A question surfaced in Ye Xu’s mind.

The identity of the third ancient clan remained an enigma so far.

"Hahahaha…"

Yi Tianxing, too, was overjoyed.

With a mere thought, he drew the congratulatory gifts from all the factions into his possession.

Seated upon the imperial throne, Yi Tianxing cupped his hands together. "The journey you, dear friends, undertook to grace our Tianxia Dynasty has truly brought my humble court radiance and accorded me immense honor."

"Thank you, dear friends."

Yi Tianxing laughed heartily.

"Proclaim my order! From this day forth, the reign title shall be ‘Eternal’!"

"Hail the Eternal Emperor!"

The assembled guests harbored their own complex thoughts.

A new, true power now stood upon the stage of the yang realm.

Among the ranks related to the immortal court…

The Third Young Master of the celestial court wore a grave expression.

The Path of Offerings system represented Tianxia digging at the very roots of the immortal court. As its Emperor, conflict with Yi Tianxing over destiny and authority was almost guaranteed. A future confrontation seemed inevitable.

"Eternity?"

"A joke!"

Suddenly, a cold laugh sounded in the ears of the crowd.

"The great affairs of state are only sacrifice and war."

The voice rang out again, "Since the creation of the heavens, has there ever been a Divine Empire or divine kingdom founded without worshiping the heavens?"

"Tianxia, how audacious!"

Whoosh!

The next second.

Three figures appeared in the void.

Shen You, Shen Le, and a black-robed Celestial Lord.

"Is that him?"

Ying Ziyu’s pupils contracted.

"Wasn’t he dead?" Ying Ziyu thought in alarm.

At the Dao Clan’s ancestral land, she had clearly seen Shen You subdued by Ye Li, disintegrated completely, so how could he appear at Tianxia’s national founding ceremony?

"The Haotian lineage?"

The ancestral dragon stroked his chin, "This should be entertaining."

The expressions of the Celestial Lords and Great Celestial Lords from the major factions also became animated.

Who in the world didn’t know that Tianxia’s true master was Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?

Now, these three publicly denounced Tianxia, essentially challenging Heaven’s Secret Pavilion in public.

"Which Daoist friend knows which lineage these people belong to?"

A Celestial Lord inquired.

The crowd shook their heads.

The ancestral dragon remained unruffled, with a disdainful expression.

He knew it.

But he had obtained that information with real money, so why would he let others get it freely?

Yi Tianxing stood firm and motionless.

He looked towards the three and spoke lightly, "Fellow Daoists, today is the day of my enthronement. I do not wish to stain this place with blood."

"You all leave swiftly, and there is still a chance to live."

"If not…"

Yi Tianxing’s gaze sharpened like a sword, "Spare no one!"

"Hahaha…"

The black-robed Celestial Lord of the Haotian lineage sneered incessantly, "A joke."

"I carry out the mandate of heaven and follow the way of heaven. In this vast world, who could kill me?"

"By the decree of heaven, the way of heaven has an edict."

The black-robed Celestial Lord surveyed the world arrogantly, "Tianxia does not respect the way of heaven and does not revere the heavens. Eradicate it immediately."

"By decree!"

Boom!

Before the voice faded.

The sky over tens of millions of miles turned into a sea of lightning in an instant. Black clouds blocked out the daylight, and the atmosphere became heavy and oppressive, making the Celestial Lords gasp for breath.

Everyone’s hair stood on end.

That was divine punishment!