Chapter 877: The Divine Empire of Dajing

By the time Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin rushed over to Dajing's capital, the battle outside the city had already ended.

Those who had been lured by Han Gucheng's bounty of a hundred Immortal cities were no match for the golden cultivators, and they were subdued rapidly.

As Xiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin landed in the palace square, the captured individuals let out expressions of regret.

"Emperor Liu, Emperor Xiao, we were deceived by Han Gucheng's schemes. Please, we beg for your forgiveness. We're willing to offer compensation," a panicking emperor pleaded.

Upon seeing Liu Miaoyin and Xiao Nanfeng return, they realized that Han Gucheng had undoubtedly been defeated. Naturally, they began begging for mercy desperately.

"Take them away and imprison them," Xiao Nanfeng commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Ye Dafu and the others replied.

The captured emperors were all led away.

"Are we going to deal with them?" Liu Miaoyin asked.

"Not at the moment. We'll keep them imprisoned here, which gives us leverage. Their respective forces will hesitate to act recklessly. While we could eliminate these forces outright, we'll need some time to digest the divine empire of Dahan first. Excessive expansion is unwise at this point."

Liu Miaoyin nodded in agreement.

"For the moment, let's advance Dajing to a divine empire. Once that happens, gathering fortune will become much easier," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"This quickly?" Liu Miaoyin exclaimed.

"The calamity of the era draws near. We can't afford to waste a single day," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Understood," Liu Miaoyin agreed.

Xiao Nanfeng was particularly efficient. In just three days, he had prepared everything necessary for the ceremony.

Three days later, Liu Miaoyin formally offered sacrifices to heaven and earth to elevate the empire into a divine empire.

With a resounding roar, a majestic golden dragon of fate formed in the clouds above Dajing's capital.

Standing on the altar, Liu Miaoyin held her imperial seal with one hand and Dajing's code of laws in the other. She loudly proclaimed, "Citizens of Dajing, from this moment forth, the empire of Dajing has been elevated to the divine empire of Dajing!"

The golden dragon carried Liu Miaoyin's proclamation across all of Dajing.

"Long live the Divine Emperor!"

"Long live the divine empire of Dajing!"

Cheers erupted from countless officials and citizens.

The officials of Dajing were a mixed group. Many had defected from Dahan. While they had pledged loyalty to Dajing, their allegiance remained somewhat tenuous.

Of course, Dajing also included many officials planted by Xiao Nanfeng, many of whom were scholars and administrators that Wen Zhong had trained himself. They had entered Dajing under assumed identities and were deeply impressed by Xiao Nanfeng.

They knew that Xiao Nanfeng was extraordinary, but not to such an extent. Despite the fact that Dazheng wasn't yet a divine empire, it now controlled one in secret. To them, the future looked brighter than ever.

Even so, this wasn't enough. Following Xiao Nanfeng's instructions, Liu Miaoyin established the first imperial examination for Dajing to recruit fresh talent and breathe new life into its administration.

Considering the fact that Liu Miaoyin was preparing to attune to the charm of heavenly law and would need to remain in secluded cultivation for an extended period of time, Xiao Nanfeng suggested restructuring the court into a cabinet. Naturally, the cabinet members would be individuals appointed by Xiao Nanfeng.

With the cabinet handling the empire's affairs, the Immortal Emperor's prolonged absence from court wouldn't disrupt governance.

Everything proceeded as planned. The surrounding powers, wary of Dajing's growing strength, refrained from causing trouble.

A month later, following the first round of imperial examinations, Dajing entered a period of stable development.

Liu Miaoyin retreated into secluded cultivation to refine the charm of heavenly law and further elevate her cultivation.

Xiao Nanfeng, having made extensive arrangements in the meantime, left Dajing as well.

He had Tu Feng stay to guard Dajing's capital, and arranged for a large cadre of civil and military officials, as well as spectral guards, to report on the situation if anything were to happen.

He returned to Yongding and began to prepare for Dazheng's ascension into a divine empire itself.

A month later, the heavens suddenly reverberated with the tolling of bells. The sound resonated across the world at large.

The solemn tolling drew everyone's attention.

"Your Majesty, these bells are tolling across all four continents. The Heavenly Emperor is convening a grand assembly. All court officials are being summoned to the Imperial Court," Ye Dafu reported.

Xiao Nanfeng frowned. "A grand assembly? Is it... here?"

"Is what here?"

"Send orders to all Martial Aspects of the eastern quadrant: drop everything at hand and rush back to the Imperial Court for the assembly immediately. All those who defy these orders will be killed."

"Understood!"

He immediately relayed Xiao Nanfeng's orders, then accompanied Xiao Nanfeng as they rushed toward the Sieve of Heaven.

Powerful individuals around the world shared collective unease about what was to come.

Though the Imperial Court held many assemblies, these bells had only tolled once before, when Yu Fuli first established the Imperial Court. The fact that they were tolling again meant that something monumental was about to happen.

The key officials of the Imperial Court dropped all their duties at once and returned to the Sieve of Heaven.

Emperors, hierarchs, and leaders of various forces around the world suddenly felt an ominous premonition.

The timing was obvious: the calamity of the era was drawing near. While it didn't always occur precisely at the ten-thousand-year mark, it was never far off.

Could the Heavenly Emperor's summons mean that the calamity had finally descended?

Xiao Nanfeng and his Martial Aspects quickly arrived at the Sieve of Heaven.

The atmosphere was particularly tense. Fear and uncertainty permeated the air.

An official greeted them and reported, "Martial Aspect Xiao, the Heavenly Emperor has decreed that the grand assembly will convene in three days' time."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

He rushed toward the Hall of Martial Aspects, where Yang Chuan and the other two Cardinal Aspects were already present.

"You're late, Eastern Aspect Xiao," one Cardinal Aspect teased.

Xiao Nanfeng sketched a bow. "I apologize. My speed is limited by my cultivation."

"You're hardly late by much. We're all comrades here, so there's no need to be so formal," Yang Chuan chimed in.

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and said, "Cardinal Aspects, I'd like to propose issuing a Martial Aspect decree. Would you all assist me?"

"Oh?" The three Cardinal Aspects looked intrigued.

"The grand assembly will occur in three days' time. Within that period, no one in the Sieve of Heaven is to cause conflict with others. Those who do so and distract the Heavenly Emperor shall be executed," Xiao Nanfeng declared.

The other cardinal aspects exchanged solemn looks. Xiao Nanfeng was worried that someone would ruin the Heavenly Emperor's mood and thereby weaken his strength.

"Agreed," they said in unison.

Thus, the Hall of Martial Aspects issued a proclamation within the Sieve of Heaven for the first time.

Many officials frowned upon seeing the proclamation, believing that the Hall of Martial Aspects was overreaching, but no one made an attempt to stop it. After all, they all understood the intent behind the proclamation, and many officials issued similar proclamations within their departments.

As a result, there was hardly any commotion within the Sieve of Heaven during the next three days.

Three days later, the assembly began in earnest.

On the third day, even before dawn, the Heavenly Palace was already filled with officials. For the first time, Xiao Nanfeng saw the crown prince, the Four Great Emperors, and countless celestial officials. He found himself pushed further back in the ranks, though he didn't mind—the protagonist that day had to be none other than Yu Fuli.

Everyone waited in silence. Not a single voice disturbed the sacred stillness.

At the appointed hour, Yu Fuli entered the hall, clad in white draconic robes lined with gold, a crown of white jade on his head. He radiated an air of regal authority.

"Everyone's early, I see," Yu Fuli said with a smile as he strode into the palace.

"We greet the Heavenly Emperor! Long live the Heavenly Emperor!" the officials chorused, bowing deeply.

Relaxed and composed, Yu Fuli walked up to his throne and took his seat.

"Rise, everyone," Yu Fuli commanded.

"Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!" Everyone stood up.

Yu Fuli surveyed the gathering.

"It's been nearly ten thousand years. Some of you have stood here from the very beginning, while others have come and gone. Time truly changes all things," he mused.

The officials listened quietly.

"Today, I've gathered all of you here not just to see you but also to issue some important instructions."

"We await your commands, Your Majesty," the officials replied.

"I expect that, in ten days, the heavens will descend," Yu Fuli said, smiling.

The palace fell silent. Everyone looked up at Yu Fuli. Although many had expected this, hearing the exact timeframe sent a shiver through them. A heavy sense of urgency filled the gathering.

"You all know the heavens' intent. Precedent tells us that they will seize the world's fortunes, then reap the lives of Immortal cultivators and ordinary mortals. At most, it'll leave one person alive in ten thousand to seed the next era. In another ten thousand years, it will revisit the world." Yu Fuli smiled.

The cultivators grimaced.

"However, I have prepared for ten thousand years to ensure that the heavens will not succeed so easily."

"The Heavenly Emperor is invincible!" an official shouted.

A chorus of voices echoed the sentiment.

Yu Fuli smiled. "Indeed, I am invincible. When the heavens arrive, they shall not leave unscathed."

The officials nodded earnestly. Yu Fuli was about to engage in the fight of his life, and he had to firm up his belief in his legend, in the impossibility of his defeat. No official dared to voice anything to the contrary.

"In ten days, I shall confront the heavens. I will require the aid of fortune and imperial might from emperors and Immortal Emperors all across the world. The relevant officials will handle the notifications," Yu Fuli instructed.

"Understood!" the relevant officials responded.

"Additionally, the battle with the heavens will cause significant upheaval in the Sieve of Heaven. None of you will be able to withstand the fallout. All of you must evacuate within ten days as well," Yu Fuli ordered.

The officials' eyes widened. Was the Heavenly Emperor intending to face the heavens alone, without any assistance?

"Understood!" everyone replied in unison.