Chapter 38: Under the vast heavens, all land belongs to the king; along every shore, all subjects are the king

In an instant, the area where Li Chen and Master Yu stood became the center of attention.

This was meant to be a celebration, and no one expected that as soon as Li Chen stepped down from his carriage, he unleashed an unparalleled aura—his Saint Realm energy unmistakable!

Many fixed their gazes on this spot, eager to see how Master Yu would respond.

Even Master Yu himself was stunned; he instantly felt immense pressure bearing down on him.

Around him, nobles, commoners, and even the new Emperor Li Chen, a Saint Realm cultivator, all watched him.

At this moment, he thought Li Chen should take the initiative to greet him, then order everyone to rise, thus avoiding this tense standoff.

But the problem was, Li Chen had no such intention—he simply stared at him.

In that instant, Master Yu understood: the Emperor demanded a sign of submission from him.

He believed Li Chen’s decision to reveal his Saint Realm aura upon stepping down was not merely to announce his realm.

In truth, Li Chen did it on purpose. Past emperors, to stabilize the realm, had always shown deference to these top-tier cultivators.

As a result, top-tier figures like Master Yu naturally paid little heed to imperial authority.

They took the emperor’s humility as their due.

Scholars across the land revered Master Yu as a sage.

In the eyes of all scholars, Master Yu’s status far surpassed that of the emperor.

Scholars dared to curse the emperor—but never dared to curse Master Yu.

Other emperors could only pretend not to notice; they feared offending public opinion.

Li Chen was different—he kept both eyes wide open. In the Tian Ce Dynasty, who dared defy him?

If you had privately invited me for tea, I wouldn’t have demanded this of you.

Today is different—you invited me as the Emperor.

This is a public setting, and every commoner, noble, and minister is watching.

I came to give you face; you must remember your place.

I am a Saint Realm cultivator—do you think I still owe you deference?

If you refuse to kneel, the world will think you stand equal to me!

At this moment, no one knew what Master Yu was thinking.

But the next second, Master Yu knelt on both knees and said solemnly, “Your humble subject, Yu Zhong, pays homage to Your Majesty!”

Master Yu knelt!

He knelt completely before Li Chen!

His kneel represented not only himself—it represented all scholars across the land!

At that moment, the scholars around him finally realized: above Master Yu stood an emperor.

What does “Beneath the vast heavens, all land belongs to the king; along every shore, all subjects are the king’s” mean?

This, right here, is the perfect explanation!

“Rise.”

Li Chen stepped forward himself to help Master Yu to his feet.

Master Yu bowed repeatedly in gratitude, and only then could the Yunlu Academy’s celebration begin.

The most elated were the nobles and ministers, for their emperor had just told the world: he alone was the supreme sovereign, the lord of all under heaven!

In the Tian Ce Dynasty, he alone held authority.

If you, Master Yu, refuse to accept this, then reveal your true strength.

See whether our Saint Realm emperor will let you live.

Honestly, had Master Yu lacked this awareness, Li Chen might have torn down the entire Yunlu Academy.

And he had the power to do it.

Then Li Chen slowly stepped through the ancient, solemn gates of Yunlu Academy, each step firm and resolute.

Officials followed behind him, daring not to overstep—even Master Yu, the academy’s sage, walked only to his side and rear.

This act was not merely respect for Li Chen—it was awe for the supreme authority of the throne.

The sight moved even the most loyal old ministers. Once, they too had followed the former emperor here, when Master Yu walked shoulder-to-shoulder with him, laughing and chatting freely.

The former emperor had invited Master Yu to serve in court several times—but Master Yu had barely given him face.

The imperial dignity lost at Yunlu Academy, Li Chen had now fully reclaimed.

A faint, calm smile rested on Li Chen’s face; every gesture radiated an air of dominion over all under heaven.

As he walked slowly forward, the scholars of the academy, those once proud of their learning, all lowered their heads, daring not to meet the gaze of this sovereign of heaven and earth.

Especially those Confucian scholars who had once spoken arrogantly of Li Chen in private now trembled with fear.

When Emperor Li Chen stepped through the gates of Yunlu Academy, the commoners outside began whispering among themselves, their faces alight with excitement and reverence—as if they had witnessed the overwhelming majesty of heaven’s will, the living embodiment of divine might.

An elderly man rose shakily, his eyes gleaming with reverence, his voice trembling: “I’ve lived this long, and today I’ve finally seen true greatness—Your Majesty truly walks the heavens, peerless in valor!”

Beside him, a young woman cradled her child, her eyes filled with awe and worship; she whispered softly to the child: “Child, remember his face—he is our Tian Ce Dynasty’s wise sovereign!”

Nearby, a young imperial clansman sighed in delight: “With an emperor like this, how could the Tian Ce Dynasty fail to flourish? I dare say, we shall produce a ruler for ten thousand generations!”

Few had actually seen Li Chen from the moment he stepped down to when he entered the academy—only those of high status or those who arrived early had witnessed it.

!

Those behind tried to push forward to catch a glimpse of the emperor’s greatness, causing a degree of chaos.

Amid the throng, the Chu family patriarch led his kin away.

Aside from Chu Ruoyan, the Chu family had never seen Li Chen before.

Only now, upon seeing him, did the Chu patriarch understand why his proud daughter had been so dazed after meeting the emperor.

So young, so handsome, terrifyingly powerful, and with a status beyond measure.

No woman could withstand him—not just Chu Ruoyan.

The Chu patriarch felt his early morning arrival, before dawn even broke, was worth every moment.

Chu Ruoyan’s eyes now sparkled with hearts; this was the first time she had seen Li Chen in his dragon robe, that solitary, sovereign presence—she had nearly wept.

While some rejoiced, others grieved. Wu Qi had arrived early this morning—but when he got here, the crowd was already packed, and he couldn’t squeeze in.

“My god, these people must have lined up before dawn—I’m truly impressed!”

He bitterly regretted missing his chance to grovel before Li Chen.

Wu Qi’s cultivation was high, and he was a famed prodigy of the capital.

But the crowd here teemed with hidden dragons and tigers—strong cultivators everywhere, even imperial guards.

Wu Qi had no chance of pushing through.

Beside him, his sharp-tongued aunt, Wu Nan Zhi, scolded him.

“You always brag in your letters home about how well you’re doing in the capital—how come you couldn’t even get a front-row spot?”

“I told you to train harder—look at your frail frame, your weak cultivation—you got shoved out just now. How dare you call yourself a genius?”

Wu Qi dared not reply to his aunt’s words.

Wu Nan Zhi hadn’t seen the emperor’s face, but she had felt his Saint Realm aura—far stronger than Wu Qi’s grandfather by an incalculable margin.

What puzzled her was: why did this aura feel familiar?

The most delighted of all was Liu Hao, a scion of a great noble house.

Though his family had declined, even a dead camel was bigger than a horse.

When Li Chen announced his visit to Yunlu Academy, his father pulled every connection to get him inside ahead of time.

As soon as he saw his chance, he immediately began groveling before Li Chen!

(End of Chapter)