Chapter 717

This hour is the moment of sunrise!

Not all suns on the Eastern Wanggu Continent rise from the east, but in the Human Imperial Capital domain, the sun comes from the east.

At this moment, like a huge furnace, it burned the world, forming a red glow, rising slowly!

The night sky tore open, and the light spilled down, reflecting on the statue of the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor, casting the Great Emperor's shadow over the Rainbow Bridge and also over the Imperial Palace!

Looking from afar, purple smoke rose in the Great Emperor's shadow on the Chengxian Square in front of the Imperial Palace!

Amidst the curling smoke, there was a sense of mist, and a large bell appeared out of thin air at the moment when the night and day merged, hanging in the middle of the square!

That is the Immortal-Questioning Bell!

This bell comes from the era of the Ancient Emperor Emperor Xuanyou and has existed to this day. It exists between yin and yang, appearing at sunrise and disappearing at sunset!

Its function is to verify the heart!

Throughout history, if a minister's words were questioned by others, they would need to ring the Immortal-Questioning Bell to prove their true heart!

This is the ancient calendar!

However, there were not many such incidents during the reign of the Human Emperor Xuanzhan!

And at this moment, the officials in black robes, including Xu Qing, had already stepped into the main hall. What met Xu Qing's eyes was a vast palace.

This hall was vast and could accommodate thousands of people. Around it, rows of giant pillars carved with auspicious beasts supported the hall, and even brighter light illuminated the hall thoroughly!

On the edges of both sides, one could see teams of golden-armored guards. They stood there motionless,

lowering their heads to show respect to the arriving ministers!

As for the front, there was a nine-tier long platform rising in a ladder shape. Each tier was nearly hundreds of feet long and dozens of feet wide, layer upon layer, until on the ninth tier, there was a dragon chair with imposing momentum!

Sitting on that dragon chair now was a person!

This person was hazy all over, and one could not see their specific appearance, only a golden imperial robe exuding supreme majesty!

On their head, they wore an imperial crown, with twelve tassels hanging down in the front and back, made of five-colored immortal silk and sun-moon pearls, symbolizing the monarch—what is seen and what is not seen!

Sitting there, they were the core of the entire palace, the core of the Imperial Capital domain, and even more so, the core of the human race on the Eastern Wanggu Continent!

And what was even more shocking was the destiny!

The destiny of the entire human race gathered on the Human Emperor. Under such bolstering, Xu Qing only took one look and felt a sense of being suppressed by an infinite momentum like a landslide!

His eyes were even more painfully stung. He hadn't felt this strongly even when facing the Prince and others in the Jiyue Great Domain. This had nothing to do with cultivation; this was the power of destiny.

Under this destiny, a single thought from the Human Emperor could shatter the heavens and earth!

Xu Qing lowered his head slightly, and the rituals Zi Sister Xuan had told him before coming surfaced in his mind!

"Ruled by the Ancient Emperor Emperor Xuanyou, besides the land of the living, there is also the land of the underworld, so they abandoned the north and faced the south, changing to sit facing east, meaning that all races, life and death, are in the hands of the human race!"

"From then on, in all court assemblies, big or small, the Human Emperor sits facing east!"

For small court assemblies, Great Emperors, Heavenly Kings, and Upper Mysterious Palace Masters do not need to attend, but for large court assemblies, they must be present. The Great Emperor sits on the sixth tier, the Heavenly King sits on the third tier, the Heavenly Marquis sits on the first tier, and the Three Dukes stand on the first tier below, bowing, also facing east. The Upper Mysterious Five Palace Envoys lean north facing west.

The Lower Mysterious Five Palace Envoys lean south facing west, the Imperial Clan is on the right side of the road gate, and the Great Servant, Great Right, and Great Servant officials are on the left side of the road gate!

While Xu Qing was pondering, the dozen or so officials in black court robes who had entered with him had already stepped onto the first tier, standing there facing the hall door!

Xu Qing took a deep breath and also flew out, heading straight for the first tier!

His arrival gathered the gazes of others, but most just swept over him.

Soon, Xu Qing's figure appeared on the first tier, located at the far left end! Almost at the same time he stepped onto the first tier, the ministers outside the main hall entered their respective court ritual positions one after another and stood still!

The main hall was silent!

As for the Three Dukes located below the first tier, Xu Qing only saw one—an old man in red court robes, with white hair draped over his shoulders, a straight posture, and an expression that was dignified without anger. As for his identity, Xu Qing didn't know specifically, but guessed that this person might be the Grand Chancellor!

According to what Emperor Xuanyou told him, court assemblies are presided over by the Grand Chancellor!

Now, as everyone became solemn, the old man in red court robes swept his gaze over everyone, and finally turned to look at the group on the first tier, including Xu Qing!

When his gaze fell on Xu Qing, he paused slightly. The focus was not on Xu Qing's appearance, but on the details of his attire, and a flash of surprise crossed his expression!

He noticed the subtle differences in Xu Qing's attire. That ancient aura and authenticity might be hard to detect, but he saw the clues at a glance!

Afterward, he withdrew his gaze and bowed to the Human Emperor on the ninth tier!

"Your Majesty, the court ritual is set!"

The people in the main hall lowered their heads one after another. According to previous small court assemblies, at this time, the Human Emperor would stand up to show respect to the ministers and perform a bowing ritual with everyone, which would conclude the ceremony!

But this time, there were some differences. The Human Emperor slowly stood up from the chair, his majesty covering all directions, and the destiny power of the human race spread between heaven and earth!

Outside, clouds churned, and as golden dragons roared, he did not bow with the ministers as before, but turned his head, his gaze piercing through the crown beads in front of him to look at Xu Qing, and nodded slightly!

"Merit in guarding the frontier, grant a seat."

The voice of the Grand Chancellor below echoed, speaking on behalf of the Human Emperor!

The next instant, a black chair carved with mysterious dragons slowly emerged on the platform behind Xu Qing!

Xu Qing's expression was solemn; he bowed nine times to express his gratitude, the ritual and method were flawless, exuding an ancient feel!

This scene fell into the eyes of everyone in the hall. One by one, they remained calm, but in their hearts, they valued Xu Qing a bit more, knowing that there was someone behind Xu Qing who was extremely knowledgeable about the rituals of the human race!

Afterward, the Human Emperor performed a bowing ritual with the ministers. The Human Emperor remained seated, and Xu Qing sat down, while those wearing black court robes with him sat cross-legged!

A bell rang, and the court assembly began. Soon, people walked out to speak!

First was the people's livelihood, then various events within the human race, including impeachments, as well as financial issues and diplomacy of the human race, etc.!

And the Human Emperor rarely spoke from beginning to end; everything was handled by the Grand Chancellor's side. Only at critical moments, when the Grand Chancellor sought instructions, would the Human Emperor transmit words that were concise and profound, deciding the outcome in one word!

Having come to this core palace of the human race for the first time and participating in a meeting of such specifications, Xu Qing also had waves in his heart and found it hard to be as calm as usual!

Sitting there with his back to the Human Emperor, his gaze fell into the main hall!

One could not tell what was in the hearts of everyone here from their expressions.

Listening to their words, listening to everyone's memorials on a series of matters, from every word they said, Xu Qing could feel what it meant to be pearls of wisdom, concise and powerful, while the words could be interpreted in multiple ways!

"Those who can appear here are all dragons and phoenixes among men!" As Xu Qing pondered, the discussion in the hall involved diplomacy and mentioned the war with the Black Heaven Clan.

After another minister spoke, Xu Qing's gaze fell to the right side of the hall door in the distance, where the Sub-Imperial Clan was located!

There were not many people, mostly clan elders. As for Imperial Princes, only one was there—Xiang Ningyan!

He stood there cautiously, clearly extremely afraid of his father!

Xu Qing swept his gaze and withdrew it. At this moment, he heard the Grand Chancellor's aged voice!

"Regarding the Black Spirit Great Domain of the Black Heaven Clan, please have Fenghai County Governor Xu Qing state the details!"

Gazes fell on Xu Qing instantly. Xu Qing slowly stood up, bowed to the Human Emperor, and spoke in a low voice under the spotlight!

"The Black Spirit Great Domain is divided into north and south. The northern domain is controlled by forces outside the Black Heaven Imperial Clan, and the southern part is led by the Black Heaven Priest. The fall of the Red Mother caused the Black Heaven Priest to fall from the altar, losing the blessing of the gods. My Fenghai County has already incorporated it, and the Black Heaven Priest has re-established the Faith Temple!"

As Xu Qing said this, a middle-aged man in blue court robes in the hall suddenly stepped forward and spoke!

"May I ask, County Governor Xu, what is the source of faith for the Black Heaven sacrifice in the re-established temple?"

The expressions of the people in the hall fluctuated, but very slightly.

The faith in the Purple Lord regarding the Black Heaven sacrifice, and the fact that the Purple Lord was related to Xu Qing, was not a very deep secret, but some things were too sensitive to be put on the table!

So the question itself contained many layers of meaning!

Xu Qing's gaze fell on this middle-aged man and he said calmly, four words: "You have lost decorum!"

Once the words were out, the middle-aged man glanced at Xu Qing and retreated a few steps, returning to his position!

The people in the hall had their own thoughts about Xu Qing's resolution, and they had speculations about the expert pointing Xu Qing from behind.

And the Grand Chancellor's side nodded slightly!

"Merit in guarding the frontier, sitting on the first tier in Heavenly Marquis court robes. Zhao Zhao Tianqi, interrupting while County Governor Xu was speaking does not conform to the ancient ritual method; it is indeed a loss of decorum!"

Zhao Zhao Tianqi lowered his head and agreed, his expression showing no emotional change!

Xu Qing didn't pay any more attention, bowed to the Human Emperor, and sat down again!

And while the hall was quiet, another person walked out from among the ministers. This person was also wearing blue court robes and appeared in the center of the hall. First, he bowed to the Human Emperor, then looked at Xu Qing!

"County Governor Xu has already taken his seat. I have something to ask; it does not count as losing decorum. May I ask County Governor Xu, the Sun of Dawn is the highest secret of our human race. How did the County Governor know about it? How did you obtain it? How many are there? And why bring it into the Imperial Capital? Bring it into the Imperial Palace main hall?"

This topic was also very sensitive. As his voice echoed, it carried a sense of killing intent, making the surroundings full of a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

Even the golden-armored guards on both sides were instinctively vigilant!

Xu Qing didn't stand up. After a few moments of silence, he spoke calmly!

"Gifted by the Prince of the Jiyue Sovereign. There were nine in total. Xu used six when assisting in beheading the Red Mother!"

"Why bring it into the Imperial Capital? Because I'm afraid of death!"

The minister who asked the question looked at Xu Qing and stopped speaking, returning to his position!

The Grand Chancellor glanced at the other party. This sentence seemed to be making things difficult, but from another perspective, it also gave Xu Qing a chance to explain.

The true meaning in it—some good, some evil—is a matter of opinion!

But it had nothing to do with him, so the Grand Chancellor looked at the Human Emperor! The Human Emperor was high above, and his expression could not be seen, but a dangerous aura emanated from him, making the atmosphere of the entire hall increasingly oppressive, and a cold feeling spread in all directions.

Until more than ten breaths later, the Human Emperor's dignified voice echoed!

"Grand Chancellor, read the results of the assassination in the Imperial Capital!"

The Grand Chancellor lowered his head, understanding in his heart that the Human Emperor chose not to pursue the matter of Xu Qing's Sun of Dawn. This change in attitude made everyone in the hall realize!

And when the Grand Chancellor looked outside the hall again, his gaze became cold, and his voice contained killing intent!

"Bring up everyone involved in the assassination!"