Chapter 380: All United, Changing Heaven and Replacing the Sun!

【Claiming the throne?】

Faced with Li Ziliang's repeated pleas, you merely smiled and then chose to refuse.

Others don't claim the throne mainly because they lack strength or face other restrictions, while your refusal is a matter of habit and persistence.

This has long been one of your obsessions...

But Li Ziliang clearly doesn't buy your act.

"You must claim the throne!"

Privately visiting Li Ziliang frowned and said: "This isn't a joke; if you don't claim the throne, how can you legitimately govern the Southern Continent?"

"Just as you appeased the hearts of the Western Continent by taking the titles of Pasha and Sultan, if you want to gain support smoothly, you should follow local customs."

"If you don't claim the throne in accordance with custom, you'll give the people a feeling of being ruled by foreign barbarians—though that isn't too problematic—but if things can go naturally, why go against the tide?"

Old Li spoke solemnly: "Furthermore, although I'm fighting under your banner, the people below clearly recognize me, not you. If you don't promptly win popular support and submission in a legitimate way, the Southern and Western Continents will remain two estranged states."

"While we were still around, this tendency could be restrained, but you also said you would abdicate in the future; once we're gone, won't the two continents become..."

Old Li's concern is not without foresight: if Lin Liu wanted to be an everlasting sun, ruling the world forever, the division problem certainly wouldn't arise.

But Lin Liu had already made his intentions clear—this sun of his will set after completing its historical mission, to be replaced by a brand‑new, countless suns.

In that case, if the unification of the two continents isn't handled in advance, we could easily see a 'Southern Continent upheaval,' a 'Four Continents fragmentation,' shattering the hard‑won unity of the four great continents...

But Lin Liu smiled and patted his shoulder, saying meaningfully:

"Don't you still have me?"

Upon hearing this, Old Li froze: "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is, since you have such lofty ambitions, why not put your remaining energy to good use..."

Lin Liu said seriously: "I've decided—you will be the emperor of the Southern Continent!"

Ah?!

Old Li was truly stunned this time:

Could this be some kind of...?

【If it's appointed, then it's appointed!】

【In the 81st year of the New Heavenly Court, after the prolonged "South-North War," the Southern Continent's Shun Dynasty fell, having enjoyed 230 years of rule... henceforth, the Southern Continent finally returned to unity and reunified.】

【The following year, the Southern Continent changed its banner, submitting to the New Heavenly Court's rule; the four great continents, long divided, finally achieved great unification!】

【But this "great unification" is mostly nominal—after all, the Southern Prosperity Continent has always regarded itself as the Celestial Empire's central state, and the Northern Expedition was entirely the Southern Continent's effort; now that the Northern Expedition has succeeded, everyone must instead honor the Western Continent's Mr. Lin as monarch...】

【Frankly speaking, those who complain and grumble are countless.】

【"That Lin is nothing but a state-stealing usurper!"】

【"What right do we have to give him the fruits of our bloody struggle?"】

【"The Western Continent's long-distance dog‑breeding technique is top‑notch—General Li is truly loyal!"】

【Everyone is complaining about your "favor" and "loyalty."】

【But just then, a weighty edict arrived from the Western Continent, leaving everyone staring at each other...】

【In the 82nd year of the New Heavenly Court, the Western Continent's greatest Pasha, Sultan, Augustus... Lin Liu decided to personally console the Southern Prosperity Continent, newly reborn from the flames of war!】

【Lin Sultan boarded the newest steam‑powered flagship, its hull pitch‑black, flying the Augustus Eagle Flag, with flotillas on either side.】

【The flotilla crossed the sea and arrived at the Westernmost point of the Southern Continent—Cool Prefecture...】

Cool Prefecture.

That day was originally just an ordinary day; the people of Cool Prefecture had long grown accustomed to such days—weeding, irrigating... even when exhausted and drenched in sweat, they never relaxed, their faces glowing with hope and vigor for the future.

After all, the war was over; the future would surely be better than before.

But suddenly, many black‑smoke‑belching ships appeared on the western sea! What's happening? Coastal folks exchanged doubtful glances:

"Hasn't the Southern Continent's war already ended? Could it be an invincible foe descending from heaven, or some other enemy attacking?"

While everyone worried, those black steam ships had already pulled up to the harbor shore.

Amid the crowd's wary watch, one honor guard after another disembarked, forming neat ranks; once formed, the honor guards suddenly began to play a Western instrument resembling a suona! That strange tune made listeners inexplicably feel a beat...

While playing the tune, someone started to sing:

"Ancestors! Grandfather! Lineage! Father!..."

What is this?

The crowd looked bewildered, but soon a well‑traveled merchant explained: "This is Western Loma Ya Yue music..."

"Playing this music means the Lin Sultan has arrived!" Lin Sultan?!

An old man widened his eyes: "Did the Lin Sultan who once visited Cool Prefecture really return like a flash of lightning?!"

"Could it be fake?... Quick! Look—how did the Lin Sultan's flagship land ashore?!"

"Wow! How is the ship moving on land?!"

"..."

【Accompanied by the resounding Loma Ya Yue, the Augustus Eagle Flag black ship rose from the sea onto land, and, supported by divine power, performed a land‑going voyage!】

【This scene worthy of the history books marks the return of the Lin Sultan, who was once forced to flee the Southern Prosperity Continent, now coming back like a flash of lightning!】

【Wait! Something's off...】

【How can your Augustus be on a land‑going vessel? Why is the Sultan returning like a flash of lightning? This is a complete reversal of heaven and earth!...】

【...】

【After consoling the locals, you soon met the helpless Old Li.】

【"Are you sure you want to appoint me to govern the Southern Continent?"】

【Old Li still seemed reluctant.】

But you smiled: "Your coming is the best outcome; wanting to take the heart of South Continent, who else but you? Don't be modest anymore!"

"I am not modest..."

Old Li wanted to speak but stopped, finally he let out a faint sigh: "Forget it, whatever..."

Thus, in the 82nd year of the Heavenly Court, you, as the Supreme Chancellor of the Heavenly Court, issued an edict: "General Li's merits are outstanding, all people admire his virtue; he should be made emperor!"

"I hereby appoint you as Emperor of the Southern Continent, to govern the Southern Continent for the Heavenly Court! And I appoint you as the Heavenly Court's heir apparent; when my merit is complete, I will make you the new ruler, to oversee the billions of people of the four continents!"

A single edict stirred up countless doubts...

Nobody expected that you would not only not take the title of emperor yourself, but instead appoint someone else as emperor!

In that case, isn't General Li essentially the second-in-command holding real power?

Besides, making him emperor is nothing; you directly naming him heir apparent is the most explosive!

After all, everyone thought you would rule the world forever, becoming a true god dwelling in the world, but now you have actually appointed an heir and promised to pass the throne to him in the future...

People are a bit baffled by you: after finally unifying the four great continents and driving the warlords and gods to overseas islands, this hard-won authority—how can you just give it up?

Could it be that you are truly a great, selfless true sun?

Unconsciously, everyone who originally disliked you for seizing the fruits of victory has gradually changed their opinion.

As for this, you simply laughed it off, focusing wholeheartedly on your long-prepared 'Sun and Moon Replace Heaven' plan...

In the 82nd year of the Heavenly Court, you appointed Li Ziliang as 'Emperor of the Southern Continent' and named him heir apparent, ordering him to govern the Southern Continent's people for you!

That year, Li Ziliang, under an alias, held great power over the Southern Continent and launched a vigorous construction movement...

Industries from the Western Continent quickly spread across the Southern Continent; he strongly boosted agriculture and industry, and specially introduced steam engines.

To accelerate industrialization, Li Ziliang even used divine power to spur tree growth, to supply the charcoal needed for the steam engines!

Under such construction, the Southern Continent's development progressed by leaps and bounds; in just about ten years, it nearly caught up with the Western Continent's level...

Moreover, alongside industrial construction, with your support he launched universal education, promoting the course 'Elements', enabling the Southern Continent's people for the first time to grasp that 'the world is composed of various material elements'.

Although many superstitious elements still clung to superstitious thoughts, under Old Li's cannons and foreign guns they could not cause trouble; as long as education advances steadily, the future of the Southern Continent is promising!

Of course, while teaching the 'Elements' course, Li Ziliang also specially explained the sun according to your wishes, causing the people to generally believe that 'the sun is not a divine beast or deity, but a material fireball produced by nuclear fusion!'

Thus, as the Southern Continent's 'sun view' gradually changed, the perception of the sun among all beings of the four continents finally achieved a rough unification; although some still doubt, their numbers are extremely few and insufficient to form influence.

Gradually, your goal became reality...

In the 95th year of the Heavenly Court, when the Southern Continent had fully caught up with the other three continents in all aspects of development, you also finally had a slight premonition.

That year, excited, you again led your retinue of gods straight toward the starry sky!

A massive, ever-burning fireball grew larger and larger in your sight, until you anxiously entered the sun's core, at which point the great stone in your heart finally settled.

For what lay before you was a matter core incessantly spewing light and heat; it would never again turn into a golden crow, golden dragon, or any other form...

Sun and moon, truly under the unanimous will of all, have been replaced with a new heaven!

(End of chapter)