Chapter 7: Before the Coronation

Through the diligent efforts of the Ministry of Rites, preparations for the grand enthronement ceremony proceeded in an orderly fashion.

The news that a new emperor was ascending the throne under the protection of a true dragon was spread to every corner of the dynasty via esoteric arts. Within a few short days, save for those aboard ocean-going vessels, everyone across the realm had learned of this epoch-making event.

An emperor in the prime of his life suddenly abdicating, the appearance of a legendary ancient divine beast, and rumors claiming the new emperor could single-handedly defeat the imperial palace guards as an unrivaled martial artist—every single piece of news was utterly astonishing.

Whether driven by curiosity about the divine beast, shock at such peerless martial might, or simply out of respect for the emperor, those capable of long-distance travel all began heading toward Mount Propitious Heaven, the site of the enthronement ceremony.

Powerful aristocratic families, demons, ghosts, and extraordinary individuals from all localities had likewise heard the rumors.

The Kong Family.

The current head of the Kong Family was staring obsessively at an elixir he had successfully refined.

Through its amber-colored shell, a tiny, still-active insect could be seen gently twitching its legs, its head shifting into various human facial expressions.

"The beast elixir is finally accomplished! Whether it is to break through the limits of lifespan or mass-produce beast soldiers, with this elixir in hand, my Kong Family is guaranteed a century of peace!"

"Even with supreme cultivation, human life lasts barely a hundred years. Even with flourishing ancestral incense, post-mortem existence lasts no more than a millennium. Those who achieve the status of Heavenly Stars are exceedingly few. Only transformation into demons is a truly correct and universally viable path."

Such a sacred medicine ought to have been presented to the emperor, but gazing at the beast elixir, the head of the Kong Family could not help harboring other thoughts.

Although the imperial court had suppressed the news, the Kong Family had discovered those abnormal natural disasters through their own channels; the current emperor could by no means be called a wise ruler.

Hiding this beast elixir to first cultivate an army of beast soldiers, or waiting until the emperor eventually died and presenting it to the new emperor, seemed far better than a simple presentation of the elixir.

If... Heh, he was thinking too much. The Kong Family head shook his head involuntarily.

Right at that moment, his younger brother shoved the door open and rushed in, shouting excitedly, "Elder Brother! The new emperor is going to be enthroned!"

Ah?

After a momentary shock, the head of the Kong Family set the beast elixir aside and hurriedly asked his brother, "Which new emperor? When is the enthronement? Why is the abdication happening in such haste?"

His brother replied, "The new emperor's name is 'Mo Wen', with the regnal title 'Divine Martial'. His origins are unknown. Rumors say he won the true dragon's recognition entirely on his own merits, single-handedly crushing the imperial palace guards and proving himself through peerless martial arts. Seven days from now, he will ascend the throne at Mount Propitious Heaven, at which time the true dragon will also bestow its blessings."

"Divine Martial?!" The head of the Kong Family was profoundly astonished. "How dare he use such a grand title? Hiss, if the rumors are true, he might just live up to it."

"The new emperor... Divine Martial..."

Those subtle ambitions that had stirred in the face of a weak emperor instantly vanished completely.

"Quick! Quick! Make preparations. Carry my elixir treasury and alchemy chamber; we are going to present elixirs to the new emperor."

Inside the spirit beast breeding farm.

Two butchers, appearing utterly ordinary, quietly communicated via voice transmission while slaughtering.

"How many compatriots with untainted spiritual awareness have you rescued recently?"

"Three thousand. But the farm seems to have noticed the problem, realizing that the spiritual meat comes from the same kind of demon. I've forged an investigation report, hoping Lord Pig Emperor can alter the meat's quality. Besides, how are the preparations for the Myriad Beast Banner coming along?"

"Almost complete. The towering debts of blood shall finally be repaid."

"But is the Myriad Beast Banner really useful? Does the clan know about the new emperor's enthronement and the true dragon's protection?"

"We know. The rumors are true; the Frozen Snow River truly departed with the true dragon, its mist completely dissipated, returning to a landscape of a thousand miles of ice."

"So, are we still going to assassinate the new emperor?"

"Lord Demon Emperor will personally attend the ceremony to observe and ascertain the new emperor's strength and virtue. If things succeed, signals will be sent from all regions; if they fail, we will continue to hide ourselves."

"Everything for the Myriad Demon Divine Court!"

The Xuzhou Daoist Academy.

The Daoist lecturer looked at the mischievous monkey and found himself in a difficult spot. It was easy for those at the top to make decisions, but those executing them had far more to consider. How to make the monkey calm its mind and cultivate its nature, what subjects it was best for it to study, whether it should be treated differently from others—all these required deliberation.

"Sigh, monkey-head, tell me, what do you want to learn?"

The monkey scratched its head. "Master, this old monkey wants to learn how to attain longevity."

The Daoist lecturer shook his head. "Longevity is hard to seek. Even though you were born of heaven and earth and naturally imbued with spiritual energy, attaining true fruition remains difficult. Better to roam free for a lifetime and cultivate a carefree existence."

The monkey ingratiated itself. "Master, this old monkey is not afraid of hardship. As long as I can attain longevity, I am willing to do anything."

The Daoist lecturer heaved a long sigh. "Entangled obsessions ultimately harm others and oneself. Normally, for someone like you, I would simply strike you down and kill you. But the emperor has issued an order to impart the proper Dao to you. As long as you commit no evil, even though you could be used to refine a supreme elixir, I must not harm a single hair on your body."

"Thus, I shall impart to you the *Great Heavenly Creation Scripture*. This is originally a secret transmission of the Dao Marshal, but the first half has been simplified and distributed to Daoist academies everywhere for the selection of talent."

"Listen well..."

The monkey sat down quietly, listening intently, occasionally asking questions whose angles were so tricky that even the Daoist lecturer felt a jolt of surprise.

Following that, under his explanation, he watched this monkey forge a flawless physical body on the spot.

No, wait, why could a monkey cultivate at such a terrifying speed?

And yet this monkey still looked up at him with eager eyes. "Master, I've finished learning this upper volume. When will you lecture on the lower volume?"

Damn it!

Yet he had to admit, this was a prime opportunity to pass the buck.

The Daoist lecturer smiled benevolently at the monkey. "Monkey-head, your talent marks you as a 'selected genius' and a 'candidate Dao Marshal'. You need to study directly under the Dao Marshal."

"Recently, there is an enthronement ceremony, and the Dao Marshal will be participating in its preparation. Take this letter of mine to pay a visit to the Dao Marshal and beg him to accept you as a personal disciple."

"The Dao Marshal may not be the greatest teacher, but with your talent, only someone of his caliber can truly teach you well."

The monkey accepted the letter, still somewhat bewildered. "Master, I don't know the way."

The Daoist lecturer smiled slightly and called out to a disciple: "Pu Tao, since you are heading out to observe the ceremony anyway, take your Junior Brother along with you."

Inside a newly excavated mine.

A man covered head-to-toe in black grime, who had been working hard alongside his summoned creatures to dig for gold, let out a long breath of relief. "I've finally saved up enough gold."

"System, redeem one month's usage rights for five hundred thousand heavily armored cavalry!"

On the map within his mind, an army of half a million immediately appeared.

He widened his field of vision, greedily sweeping across this force. A full half-million heavily armored cavalry, radiating ferocious killing intent and abundant vital energy, clad in heavy armor and mounted on fierce cross-bred beasts—even the current Chenyao Dynasty could not sustain such a formidable standing army.

Even though he had only rented them for a month and would have to pay extra compensation if anyone died, with an army like this, he could immediately begin capturing cities, sweeping across the realm on a righteous path of conquest, and would no longer need to mine.

"Hahaha!" Fantasizing about a bright future, he opened the system's bounties and quests panel.

"Wait, System, I recall the permanent bounty quest listed there yesterday required defeating the 'Emperor of the Chenyao Dynasty', right? What is the deal with this 'Emperor with a combat power of 530,000'? Don't tell me it's the 530,000 I think it is!"

"System, say something!"

"Don't just stay silent, I'm begging you to explain, I'm genuinely terrified!"

"Damn it, refund my money! I don't want the army anymore! How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!"