Jiangdong, Tianwu City.
As dawn broke, a strange sight appeared at the transition between day and night—the sky was split in two, one half bathed in the setting moonlight, the other in the rising sun.
After more than a month of turmoil, the current Tianwu City had regained stability.
As for the Jiangdong unrestricted fighting competition that happened more than a month ago, it had long been forgotten by people. The large and small officials had even filled the dungeon of the Imperial City Division to the brim.
However, the Dao Court never lacked people. Rather, it was precisely this fighting that caused too many officials to either die violently or be demoted, ironically solving the Dao Court's serious problem of redundant officials. A large number of imperial examination jinshi happily took office and quickly swore loyalty to Lu Yang.
By now, everyone had recognized the reality.
The time for a change of dynasty had arrived.
For this, the Imperial City Division turned out in full force, searching extensively for remnants of the old dynasty. Even the Directorate of Astronomy, which had always been neutral and specialized in deducing national fortune, was not spared.
It was said that led by the current Imperial City Division Commander Xiao Shan, they took Lu Yang's portrait to the Directorate of Astronomy and asked the Director if this person could be the Emperor. The Director of the Directorate of Astronomy was also tough; facing the siege of the Imperial City Division, he actually directly stated that Lu Yang's physiognomy was bad.
He even said there was no hope for him to be the Emperor.
The result naturally went without saying. Xiao Shan turned hostile on the spot, calling the Imperial City Division cultivators to arrest the person directly, then sent him to the dungeon for severe torture.
Within three days, the Directorate of Astronomy changed its tune.
With the lesson of the Directorate of Astronomy before them, plus the fact that Lu Yang sleeping on the dragon bed was already known to everyone, the Dao Court officials were also convinced by him.
After all, the man even dared to do it with the Empress; what else would he not dare to do?
Even the officials loyal to Emperor Jiayou could only choose to play it safe at this moment, putting up a portrait of Lu Yang at home and shouting loyalty a few times every day.
I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I have actually always been loyal to you.
But the evil thief is powerful now. We are forced and can only submit to the thief... We only hope Your Majesty returns one day to set things right and re-establish the great lineage...
Like this, while apologizing to Emperor Jiayou in their hearts, they prepared for Lu Yang's Grand Ceremony of Implementing the System.
Tianwu Hall, Kunning Palace.
Finishing his cultivation once again, Lu Yang stood with hands behind his back, letting Empress Xiao help him change into ceremonial attire, finally draping a mystic cloak over him.
At this moment, Empress Xiao's eyes were complicated:
"After today, I will truly be rebelling with you. When Emperor Jiayou returns in the future, you and I will both be guilty of treason. I'm afraid we'll die without a whole corpse."
The reason she chose Lu Yang was ultimately because of the wisp of aura Lu Yang leaked to her that day... She had no doubt that it was the aura of the perfect [Seven Luminaries Heaven], a complete unorthodox Dao Fruit! It was precisely for that Dao Fruit that she decided to help Lu Yang without hesitation.
To seek the Golden Core, she had courage.
However, now that things had really come to this step, Empress Xiao inevitably developed some fear. After all, this wasn't seeking an ordinary Golden Core.
This was attaining [Heavenly Fire].
Even ruling the entire Jiangdong wasn't enough. The chance of success in seeking the Golden Core was at most twenty percent. Due to the incomplete concept, the twenty percent chance had to be reduced by another thirty percent.
"Do you have confidence?"
Empress Xiao murmured in a low voice. It was precisely because of this fear that she had almost risked her life recently to help Lu Yang cultivate. Even now, her legs were still weak.
Lu Yang shook his head with a light laugh upon hearing this, saying one sentence: "Human effort can achieve anything."
After speaking, he straightened his robes and strode out of the Kunning Palace. Then, going all the way out, he came to the front of the Tianwu Hall and stood at the top of the vermilion steps.
Eyes lowered, looking down.
What met his eyes was a dense crowd of people. All the officials of Tianwu City had arrived. Not only that, the entire Jiangdong sensed it at this moment.
In various prefectures, counties, and cities, all officials large and small saw Lu Yang standing in front of the Tianwu Hall through their official positions. Then they bowed down one after another. Their actions also moved the people under their rule. The billions of people in Jiangdong moved in unison at this moment, converging into a heaven-shaking thunderclap:
Boom!
This roar was transmitted to Lu Yang through the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws], instantly making him feel as if a towering giant mountain was pressing down on him.
This was the weight of 'Jiangdong'.
The vast Jiangdong, two capitals and thirteen provinces, were all on his shoulders at this moment. If it were an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, they would immediately be crushed by this burden.
But Lu Yang was different.
Facing the invisible heavy pressure on his body, the [Radiant Spirit Interwoven Light Dao Foundation] in his body not only didn't waver but instead became increasingly vigorous, like a fish in water!
[Heavenly Fire] loves authority most!
The heavier the burden, the more favor [Heavenly Fire] gives. Therefore, not only did Lu Yang not feel the slightest discomfort, but his whole body was filled with power.
The next second, he turned his gaze to look at Crown Prince Longxing, who looked like his parents had died, beside the vermilion steps, as well as Xiao Shan and other dragon-following ministers of the [One Heart Society]. The former held a large seal in his hands, symbolizing the current authority of the Tianwu Dao Court, while the latter spread open a dragon robe in unison:
"The weather is cold, my Lord, put on some clothes."
Lu Yang shook his head upon seeing this, putting on an appearance of declining: "My dear ministers, you really put me in a difficult position. How can I undertake such a great responsibility?"
Hearing this, no one spoke.
Instead, they turned their gazes in unison to look at Crown Prince Longxing. Crown Prince Longxing almost shattered his teeth from gritting, but in the end, he lowered his head cowardly:
"I consider that the Tianwu Dynasty has lasted over four hundred years, its cycle of fortune has ended, its mandate is exhausted, Heaven's heart has shifted, and the people's hope is cut off. Now the great mandate has come to a stop; the divine artifact should return to the one with sage virtue. Heaven's mandate cannot be delayed for long; the people's hope cannot be violated for long. I humbly request Fellow Daoist to cultivate the ritual of receiving abdication, to accord with the will of gods and men, and to comfort the wishes of those outside and inside."
This set of rhetoric was taught to him by the Imperial City Division using court staffs.
Lu Yang looked calmly at Crown Prince Longxing. The latter dared not look him in the eye, only bowing his head and raising the large seal in his hands high above his head.
"...Good."
As his voice fell, Lu Yang took the seal cleanly and neatly. The next second, his voice spread throughout the entire Jiangdong via the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]:
"Today, I inherit the lineage of emperors and kings, discussing the change of the first month of the year, changing the colors of vestments, distinguishing the titles, unifying the laws and measures, upholding the fire element, according with the people's will, implementing the system and establishing the dynasty to open the great lineage..."
The heavenly voice was loud and clear. At first, everyone was accustomed to it, but soon someone realized something was wrong.
Because Lu Yang's voice wasn't just in Jiangdong but spread out, crossing the Great Dragon River, reaching all the way to Jiangbei, and even broadcasting far overseas!
"What's going on?"
"The [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws]... are expanding!"
"Jiangbei is the territory of the Demon Sect, where cause and effect are intertwined, and destiny is firmly established. How could the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] spread there?"
"And overseas... overseas demon cultivators have never submitted to imperial rule. How could they submit?"
At this moment, not only the Dao Court cultivators, but even the cultivators overseas and in Jiangbei were dumbfounded. But the continuously expanding [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] wouldn't lie.
And in this process, Lu Yang's line of sight seemed to cross thousands of mountains and rivers. He saw the maps of Jiangdong, Jiangbei, and even overseas emerging before his eyes, merging with his Life-Bound Divine Ability [Dual-Radiance Sovereign Decree Mountain-and-Sea Diagram], making his aura increasingly transcendent at this moment.
At the same time, everyone also saw the source of this anomaly.
On the vermilion steps, two figures appeared one after another. One was naturally Tian Qiu who rushed over from overseas, and the other was Chong Guang with a resolute expression.
Of the two, one represented overseas, and one represented Jiangbei.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Although it was just a verbal sentence, the concept of submission was clear. Coupled with the expansion of the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws], the fact was indisputable.
Only at this moment did Lu Yang lightly open his lips and utter the last sentence:
"...Sun and Moon share the sky; I call it Huan Ming (Radiant Brightness)."
Boom!
The next second, everyone in Tianwu City simultaneously raised their heads to witness this scene of the sun and moon sharing the same sky, witnessing the radiant stars in the heavens..
Jiangdong, Jiangbei, overseas.
Of the five great regions, I have obtained three. If I Seek the Golden Core now, there should be a sixty percent chance of succes!