Free Web NovelChapter 426: Chapter 260: Reorganizing the Cabinet, Holy Netherworld Garrison, Hiding a Beauty in a Golden House, Regaining Freedom
The enthronement ceremony was underway.
Many factions from the Three Religions had come to witness the ceremony.
From the Taoist Sect, the Celestial Master’s Mansion led the delegation, along with the Ziwei Immortal Sect and the Taiwei Daoist Sect—all old acquaintances. The Buddhist Sect was headed by the Great Golden Cicada Temple and Wenshu Temple, and other Buddhist Family temples had also sent representatives one after another.
The Mountain Masters of the various Academies across Great Yan who could attend had come in person. Those who could not sent disciples as their representatives. For example, Mr. Shuijing of Guanshui Academy, the teacher of Su Youhuai, Chief of Internal Affairs of the Eastern Palace Mansion, did not attend personally, citing the long journey and his busy schedule.
Li Sheng, for his part, had sent three Saints and Sages from the Confucian Temple to observe the ceremony: the Legalist Sage, the Farmer Sage, and the Novelist Sage. Lu Mingyuan was hearing of the latter two schools for the first time.
The Farmer Family often walked the Mortal World. They based their principles on the Farmer Saint’s *Chronicles of Food and Goods* and dedicated themselves to freeing the common people from hunger and suffering. Many disciples of the Farmer Family were attached to the Court and its Government Offices, serving in the Ministry of Revenue.
The Novelists, however, were much rarer, an obscure school among the Hundred Schools of Thought. Legend had it that the most supreme Novelists could change a person’s fate simply by making them a character in one of their books.
According to ancient records, the Novelist school had only produced a single Saint in ten thousand years. Yet this Saint had created a small world of his own, naming it the "White Paper Blessed Land." Anyone the Saint wrote into his stories and recorded in his biographies would receive a blessing of immense Destiny. The White Paper Blessed Land even flourished for several hundred years. In this paradise, many prodigies with terrifying, heaven-defying talent were born.
But because the Destiny it apportioned was too great, it incurred the jealousy of the Celestial Dao. Celestial Thunder descended, razing the White Paper Blessed Land to the ground and killing everyone within.
Although Li Sheng had not come, the Confucian Temple was, at any rate, supportive of him, the new emperor.
Wen Sheng was Chen Ke’s teacher, and Chen Ke was a Saint’s True Disciple. Since Chen Ke had benefited greatly from Lu Mingyuan’s enlightenment, Wen Sheng had come to observe the ceremony in person, making him a truly deserving guest of honor.
Typically, only the leaders of the top Sects could stand beside the Dragon Throne as first-class guests of honor, a symbol of extraordinary favor.
"This is Celestial Destiny and Fortune! Those who obtain it will be sheltered by heaven and earth and may hope to reach the Upper Three Grades in the future."
At this moment, some people had already realized what these six streaks of Golden Light signified.
It was the acknowledgment of the Celestial Mandate.
And the candidate nations for the next Celestial Destiny Dynasty.
Since ancient times, whenever the five-hundred-year cycle of Reincarnation began its countdown, the Celestial Dao would bestow Celestial Destiny and Fortune. This was to show the Mortal World which Dynasties were qualified to inherit the Celestial Mandate.
In a way, it accelerated the birth of the next Celestial Destiny Dynasty.
When the five-hundred-year countdown ended, the sole surviving Dynasty would become the Celestial Destiny Dynasty.
The entire nation would receive a blessing of terrifying Destiny.
The *Great Yan National History* records: "In the Tenth Year of Wuji, the Grand Ancestor received the Celestial Mandate. The world was pacified and the Four Seas united. The heavens revealed seven-colored auspicious clouds and Nine Dragons soared. Divine light descended and golden rain fell. Countless commoners regenerated severed limbs, Cultivators mended their shattered cultivation bases, and those stuck at bottlenecks broke through."
This meant that under the infusion of Destiny, the entire country’s strength would undergo a qualitative leap.
It was no less than a second resurgence of Spiritual Qi.
Everyone’s Cultivation would increase. Being touched by the golden rain could regenerate severed limbs. Cultivators who witnessed the Celestial Dao’s phenomenon could even resolve their Heart Demons. Elderly Martial Artists stuck at a bottleneck could make a sudden breakthrough. These effects were not the least bit exaggerated.
And it was these all-important Six Paths of Celestial Destiny and Fortune.
Yet, none of it flew toward Great Yan.
Didn’t this prove that Great Yan was not qualified to inherit the position of the next Celestial Destiny Dynasty?
Soon, the Golden Light from the Celestial Destiny Divine Lotus spread throughout the Central Plains. Many began to learn of it, and the news spread in an instant.
Discussions erupted in the major Dynasties, with opinions varying widely.
"The Great Sui Dynasty has been building its military strength for three generations and has been governed by five wise rulers. Today, its National Fortune is at its peak, the country is prosperous, and its people are at peace. The Crown Prince of Great Sui was established early and has already taken up the Supreme Authority of Regency. Now, with the blessing of Celestial Destiny and Fortune, they are surely the strongest contender for the next Celestial Destiny Dynasty." freewēbnoveℓ.com
"Golden Crow Country is such a small nation, only a third the size of a continent. How could they possibly receive a path of Celestial Destiny and Fortune?"
"The Nanli Dynasty and the Silver Frost Empire both have foundations hundreds of years old to support them, and their national strength is no weaker than Great Sui’s. It seems they are also poised to rise with this opportunity." freēwebnovel.com
Voice after voice rose up. The descent of the Six Paths of Celestial Destiny and Fortune upon the Central Plains World would bring about a qualitative transformation for the Dynasties that received them.
The most direct effect was that the number of high-Cultivation Cultivators would increase dramatically—it was even possible they would double in number.
Meanwhile, in the Celestial Protection Hall in the Great Yan Capital City, the court officials all wore different expressions. High upon the steps, Lu Mingyuan, clad in his Dragon Robe, narrowed his eyes slightly.
He sensed something was not right with this so-called "Celestial Destiny and Fortune."
’I just ascended the throne.’
’And now this Celestial Destiny Divine Lotus appears.’
’And what’s more, the Six Paths of Destiny have nothing to do with Great Yan.’
’It’s unbelievably strange.’
’It’s as if someone is targeting the Great Yan Dynasty from the shadows.’
Great Yan was the current Celestial Destiny Dynasty, yet it wasn’t qualified to inherit even a single path of Celestial Destiny and Fortune. Who would believe such a thing?
Wasn’t it obvious that the Celestial Dao did not favor Great Yan?
At the same time, it was a slap in his own face.
After all, the matter of his ascension was indeed a usurpation, not a legitimate succession. That was a difficult fact to erase.
This lack of acknowledgment certainly intensified the conflict surrounding his seizure of the throne.
"Your Majesty, do not be disheartened. The so-called Celestial Destiny and Fortune is not something that cannot be changed."
