Chapter 517
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 517
Chapter Title: Proclaiming the Regime and Establishing the Dynasty, Sun and Moon Shine Brightly
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Jiangdong, Tianwu City.
The sky was gradually brightening, right at the cusp between night and day, revealing a wondrous spectacle: the heavens split in two, one half with the fading moonlight, the other with the rising sun in the east.
After more than a month's turmoil, Tianwu City had finally returned to calm.
As for the Jiangdong Unlimited Fighting Tournament from over a month ago, it had long been forgotten. Minor and major officials alike had stuffed the Imperial City Division's dungeons to the brim.
Yet the Dao Court was never short on people. If anything, this fighting tournament had done them a favor—too many officials had either dropped dead or been demoted, solving the Dao Court's chronic bureaucracy bloat. Swarms of imperial examination graduates joyfully assumed their posts, swiftly swearing loyalty to Lu Yang.
By now, everyone had faced reality.
The time for a dynastic change had come.
The Imperial City Division mobilized en masse for this, hunting down remnants of the old regime with abandon. Even the traditionally neutral Astronomical Bureau, tasked solely with divining national fortunes, was not spared.
Word was, it was the current Imperial City Division Commander Xiao Shan who led the charge, brandishing Lu Yang's portrait as he stormed the Astronomical Bureau. He demanded to know if this man could become emperor.
The Astronomical Bureau's Director proved stubborn, boldly declaring amid the encirclement that Lu Yang's physiognomy was unfit for the throne.
Something about how he'd never make emperor.
The outcome was predictable. Xiao Shan turned hostile on the spot, signaling his Imperial City Division cultivators to seize the man and drag him to the dungeons for brutal interrogation.
Within three days, the Astronomical Bureau recanted.
With that precedent—and Lu Yang's night in the dragon bed now common knowledge—the Dao Court's officials submitted fully.
After all, if the man dared bed the empress, what wouldn't he dare?
Even those loyal to Emperor Jiayou could only choose wise self-preservation: hanging Lu Yang's portrait at home, chanting oaths of loyalty daily.
*Forgive me, Your Majesty. My heart has always been yours.*
*But these vile traitors hold the power now. We have no choice but to bend the knee, awaiting Your Majesty's return to right the wrongs and restore the great line.*
And so, while inwardly apologizing to Emperor Jiayou, they busied themselves preparing Lu Yang's proclamation ceremony.
Tianwu Hall, Kun Ning Palace.
Finishing another cultivation session, Lu Yang stood with hands clasped behind his back, letting Empress Xiao dress him in ceremonial robes. Finally, she draped a black cloak over his shoulders.
Her eyes were complex.
"After today, I'll truly have rebelled alongside you. When Emperor Jiayou returns, we'll both face treason charges—death without intact corpses."
Her choice of Lu Yang ultimately stemmed from that wisp of aura he had leaked to her back then. She had no doubt: it was the complete aura of perfected [Seven Luminaries Heaven], an intact outer fruit position! It was for that fruit position she had thrown caution to the wind and aided him.
She had the courage to seek gold.
Yet now that they had reached this point, Empress Xiao couldn't help a flicker of fear. This was no ordinary pursuit of gold.
This was attaining [Fire in the Heavens]!
Even throwing all of Jiangdong into the forge wouldn't suffice. The odds of success were at most twenty percent—and thanks to incomplete intent-image, that twenty percent was shaved down further.
"Do you have confidence?"
Empress Xiao murmured softly. It was precisely this dread that had driven her to aid Lu Yang's cultivation with desperate fervor these past days. Her legs were still trembling.
Lu Yang shook his head with a light chuckle.
"Man makes his fate."
With that, he straightened his robes and strode out of Kun Ning Palace, proceeding outward to the front of Tianwu Hall, mounting the highest step of the dais.
His gaze lowered, surveying the scene.
What met his eyes was a vast sea of people—all of Tianwu City's officials were present. Moreover, the entirety of Jiangdong resonated in this moment.
Across provinces, commanderies, cities—officials great and small beheld Lu Yang standing before Tianwu Hall via their official seals. They bowed in unison, their motions rippling to the common folk below. In that instant, Jiangdong's billions moved as one, coalescing into a thunderous roar:
Boom!
This resounding boom transmitted through the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] onto Lu Yang, making him feel as if a towering mountain had crashed upon him.
This was the weight of "Jiangdong."
Vast Jiangdong—two capitals, thirteen provinces—now rested squarely on his shoulders. Any ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would crumble instantly under the load.
But Lu Yang was different.
Faced with the intangible pressure, the [Brilliant Spirit Intersecting Light Dao Foundation] within him did not waver. Instead, it flourished ever more vigorously, thriving like a fish in water!
[Fire in the Heavens] delighted most in authority!
The heavier the burden, the greater its favor. Thus Lu Yang felt no discomfort—only a surge of power flooding his body.
The next moment, he shifted his gaze to Crown Prince Longxing, looking utterly dejected on the dais's side, and the [One Heart Society] ministers who had followed him loyally—Xiao Shan among them. The former cradled a grand seal, symbol of the Tianwu Dao Court's authority. The latter unfurled a dragon robe in unison:
"The weather's cold, my lord. Add a layer."
Lu Yang shook his head, putting on a show of reluctance.
"My dear subjects, you've truly put me in a bind. How could I possibly shoulder such a grave responsibility?"
No one spoke.
Instead, they all turned to Crown Prince Longxing, who nearly ground his teeth to dust but ultimately bowed his head meekly:
"The Tianwu dynasty has exceeded four centuries, its cycle complete, its mandate exhausted, heavenly will shifted, the people's hopes severed. Now heaven's great decree has found its anchor; the divine vessel must return to the virtuous. Heaven's mandate brooks no delay, nor does the people's will. I humbly beseech my Dao friend to accept the rites of abdication, fulfilling the intent of gods and men, consoling the wishes within and without."
This scripted speech had been drilled into him via court cane by the Imperial City Division.
Lu Yang regarded Crown Prince Longxing calmly. The prince dared not meet his eyes, only bowing low and raising the grand seal high above his head.
". . . Very well."
With those words, Lu Yang crisply accepted the seal. The next instant, his voice carried through the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] across all Jiangdong:
"Today, We inherit the imperial lineage, debating the new calendar, changing vestments and colors, distinguishing badges and titles, unifying laws and measures. We succeed the fire phase, aligning with the people's will—proclaiming the regime, founding the dynasty, inaugurating the great line!"
His voice rang clear and resonant. At first, the crowd took it in stride. But soon, some sensed something amiss.
For Lu Yang's voice did not stop at Jiangdong. It crossed the Great Long River, reaching Jiangbei—even broadcasting to the overseas realms!
"What's happening?"
"The [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] . . . is expanding!"
"Impossible for Jiangbei and overseas! Jiangbei is Demon Sect territory—karmic webs interwoven, fortunes fixed. How could the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] spread there?"
"And overseas—their demon cultivators never submit to royal sway. How could they yield?"
Dao Court cultivators were stunned, as were those from overseas and Jiangbei. Yet the relentlessly expanding [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law] told no lies.
Amid this, Lu Yang's vision seemed to pierce mountains and seas, maps of Jiangdong, Jiangbei, and overseas unfolding before him, merging with his natal divine ability [Chongli Edict of Mountains and Seas Chart]. His aura grew ever more transcendent.
At the same time, the crowd spotted the anomaly’s source.
Upon the dais, two figures materialized in sequence: Tian Qiu, freshly arrived from overseas; and Chongguang, resolute of expression.
One for overseas, one for Jiangbei.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Though mere words, their intent of submission rang crystal clear. With the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Law]'s expansion, the fact was undeniable.
Only then did Lu Yang part his lips, uttering his final words:
". . . Sun and moon in the same sky—thus we call it Radiant Clarity."
Boom!
The next instant, everyone in Tianwu City looked skyward as one, beholding the spectacle of sun and moon sharing the heavens, stars blazing with dazzling light.
Jiangdong, Jiangbei, overseas.
Five great regions—We claim three. Seeking gold now would yield sixty percent odds!
(End of chapter)