Chapter 69

Demon Calendar 369 yuan, 10 hui, 1 yun: Ao Guang received investiture from Xuan Du, starting as a minor chieftain from a corner of the East Sea.

Next yun, Ao Guang governed the water clan in the name of the true dragon, impartial and strict, achieving good results, and thus was promoted.

Again next yun, promoted again...

Although Xuan Du was wary of Ao Guang's identity, in governance he could not help but acknowledge his achievements.

Unlike the countless unknown old dragon clan under his command, Ao Guang, as the true dragon heir, is naturally not an empty reputation; originally his ability stood out among the clan, and furthermore, having long been immersed in your influence on Mount Shouyang, his ability and vision have risen several levels.

Thus, once he obtained the opportunity to enter politics, his promotion through accumulated merit was inevitable!

"Thank you."

Moreover, the dragon clan originally had ties of kinship and marriage; after a while, Xuan Du went mad and began to implicate extensively.

How could he possibly give you a good look?

The Sun Star Prince presented a jade seal; this is precisely the Heavenly Emperor's treasure seal, the most direct representation of the Heavenly Emperor's authority.

Finally, sensing Ao Guang's growing strength, each time he thought of the inevitable change in Ao Guang's former dragon clan forces, Xuan Du became increasingly anxious, and finally he recalled the words you left him back then.

"You've really caused me suffering!"

He declared: I will forever be the Heavenly Emperor's loyal hound, and the Heavenly Court will forever be the Heavenly Emperor's Heavenly Court; this abdication, the Heavenly Court up and down does not recognize!

Tired, let it be destroyed.

According to ritual, the Sun Star Prince should hand the jade seal to the Heavenly Emperor, who then personally bestows it upon you, after which you can be considered enthroned.

At this moment, you cannot help but feel nostalgic for your previous life; although circumstances were difficult then, in the primordial wilderness the degree of freedom was high—you could ally through marriage with the ancestral witches, and also bring the three ancient tribes onto war chariots, and the human race of your own Mount Shouyang was absolutely loyal.

Di Jun sighed, ultimately unable to defy the common will of the myriad people, and was forced to resume the throne……

"…You are a weak person…"

Regardless of what you are nostalgic for, or what you are reflecting on, in short, time simply passed day by day……

The Sun Star Prince, who was your teacher in your past life, now regards you as a 'usurping villain' and specifically opposes you.

This yun, the blood of three jiao stains the execution platform for demons!

A young heavenly official respectfully stepped forward and bowed; in the eyes of these ordinary heavenly officials, there is actually no power struggle, and you are not a puppet but truly about to ascend as the new Heavenly Emperor.

Demon Calendar 369 yuan, 11 hui, 5 yun: the human chief Xuan Du arrested several jiao dragon chieftains who had oppressed the water clan, publicly questioned Ao Guang about how they should be dealt with.

Xuan Du repeatedly muttered these words; his formerly gentle gaze gradually turned cold, and thus he would no longer be weak……

At first, Xuan Du only arrested law-breaking water clan members, then ordered Ao Guang to escort them.

But the path is one's own choice; in this life, the three ancient tribes have already been micromanaged by oneself, and the central land of Mount Buzhou of the twelve ancestral witches has not yet been reached.

Then amid an uproar, a crowd of 'Demon Race leaders' rushed onto the abdication platform, threw the bewildered you to the ground, stripped off your regal robes, and while stripping, they cursed, saying the myriad people had long been unable to tolerate you this precious thing, and today they would return the great governance.

You numbly repeated meaningless deliberations on state affairs, and couldn't help but self-mock: initially you still wanted to undermine the Heavenly Emperor, but now you have become half a Heavenly Emperor, only to be undermined by your ministers.

……

This Heavenly Emperor, having assumed the role, is effectively as if not having assumed it……

You suddenly, inappropriate to your status, thanked that minor heavenly official, and then, under his reverent and fearful guidance, boarded the golden carriage symbolizing the Heavenly Emperor……

"Heavenly Emperor restored to the throne!"

Three manifestations of Daluo Golden Immortals shot up from the crown of your head, launching an attack on the stunned 'Demon Race leaders', instantly suppressing and killing those few leaders.

Ao Guang dared not guarantee, only saying he would enforce the law impartially; thus Xuan Du readily agreed, ordering Ao Guang to personally escort the guilty jiao to the Heavenly Court's execution platform for demons.

The Heavenly Emperor gave a command, and the abdication ceremony began!

Demon Calendar 369 yuan, 11 hui, 6 yun: having received the jade tablet, heavenly court edicts require your approval before they can be issued.

And as Ao Guang's official rank rose higher, his followers naturally increased as well, a mix of dragons and snakes gathering for profit; Ao Guang did not hesitate to promote them, so the number of dragon clans holding office grew day by day……

"I don't know, how is Xuan Du doing?"

This yun, the human emperor's abdication failed, the Heavenly Emperor is restored to the throne!

For minor offenses, heavy punishments; for the innocent, collective punishment; Xuan Du's such reverse conduct eventually provoked widespread resistance from the East Sea water clan, and even many humans and Eastern Wasteland demon race felt Xuan Du was truly too crazy, thus they sympathized with the water clan and blamed Xuan Du.

You got off the carriage, ascended the abdication platform; Di Jun had been waiting on the platform for a while, seeing you finally arrive, he smiled gently, indicating that henceforth everything would be entrusted to you, and that he would go to the Tang Valley sanatorium to spend his old age, etc.

Resistance failed……

Because you rose in the Eastern Wasteland East Sea and then abruptly ascended to the Heavenly Court, you have no foundation in this new environment; you merely hold the empty title of Human Emperor who participates in military affairs, and in reality most heavenly officials pay little heed to you.

"Your Majesty, the carriage is ready!"

Originally, your opportunistic land-grabbing and power-seizing actions in the Eastern Wasteland, although not noticed by Di Jun, in the eyes of this Heavenly Emperor's top loyal hound, they amounted to outright rebellion!

Demon Calendar 370 yuan, 2 hui, 1 yun: Xuan Du finally conducted a fundamental investigation of the entire East Sea water clan, executing the guilty and imprisoning the innocent, causing great turmoil among the water clan and panic among the people……

"Choosing Xuan Du as the human emperor was truly a mistake……"

Demon Calendar 370 yuan, 1 hui, 3 yun: the Heavenly Emperor, accompanied by wife and children, retreated to a small island in the East Sea's Tang Valley, disregarding worldly affairs and enjoying life to the fullest; only one abdication ceremony separates him from formally passing the throne to you!

But you feel no joy at all, for even if you became Heavenly Emperor, amidst this group of various dissatisfied heavenly officials manipulating things, you would hardly be able to accomplish anything.

The date of the abdication ceremony was thus set; the Heavenly Court began preparations, hanging festive decorations everywhere, and the splendid abdication platform was erected; everything seemed like a dreamy illusion.

Your heart gave a sudden thump; although you didn't understand why Di Jun would disregard the sages and act, you also realized you were doomed, and involuntarily let out a loud shout, giving it your all!

You helplessly closed your eyes……

The Heavenly Emperor's golden carriage slowly proceeded toward the abdication platform, amidst the gazes of myriad heavenly officials and commoners attending the ceremony, each with various attitudes, the golden carriage arrived at the platform's edge.

First, your cultivation is low, making you look easy to bully; second, you were promoted beyond expectation, rising from a mere chieftain to the Heavenly Emperor's successor all at once, and everyone thinks you are merely a flatterer……

And as time passed, the Heavenly Emperor's abdication process proceeded step by step, and your authority and status grew ever higher!

People's words, winds rising and clouds surging, Xuan Du gradually lost control of the situation……

But just as everything settled, the Sun Star Prince suddenly snatched the jade seal from your hand; in the collective bewilderment of you and the attending immortals, the Sun Star Prince knelt, holding the seal and wept bitterly!

Next yun, Xuan Du again captured four turtles……

Next yun, Xuan Du again captured five chi, and again ordered Ao Guang to escort them to the Heavenly Court.

In fact, that is indeed how it was done: the Sun Star Prince, according to ritual, presented the jade seal to the Heavenly Emperor, who then personally handed it to you, thus the rites were completed……

On Shouyang Mountain, the situation was chaotic.

Those who did not want to be purged all knelt on the ground and shouted loudly!

You forced a smile, thinking: "You definitely don't think that way……"

How unlike now, when Chun Chun is suffering resentment in the Heavenly Court!

Now the lower realms have completely blown up; even fools can see it's a coup—now it's time to pick a side, but whose side should we take?

How to break the deadlock? There's no way to break it!

You weren't surprised by this; you just lay on the ground, watching with interest as the Sun Star Lord performed.

In the monster calendar, year 369, eight assemblies, four fortunes—having received the talisman, one can command the Wu Clan's elite.

Including yourself, it all feels like a dream.

First came various literary and artistic performances as an appetizer, then the main show began.

It's the fortune—Xuandu, who had long been driven to the brink of madness on Shouyang Mountain, hearing this news, lost his reason on the spot and shouted, "Let's all die together!"

It's the fortune—Five Chiyou's blood stains the Demon-Slaying Platform!

Thus, the Heavenly Court's top sycophant, the Sun Star Lord, began to put on airs for you!

"Rebellion!"

The human race of Mount Shouyang could not possibly help you, far away in the Heavenly Court……

Xuandu no longer blindly compromised, nor gradually promoted ideological education; instead, he took hardline action!

Having suppressed your and your three avatars' rebellion, the Sun Star Lord wiped a cold sweat, turned back, and held up the Imperial Seal to return it to Di Jun's hands, shouting: "The Heavenly Emperor is restored!"

Afterward, a thorough investigation will be conducted; anyone who participated in the revival of old ideas will be apprehended and convicted—if not sentenced to death, then at least imprisoned.

A True Immortal with cultivation but no foundation, an unlucky wretch? Or a Heavenly Emperor who has held actual power for years ruling the universe?

You know full well that, back when you agreed to immediately begin the abdication process, your present situation was already completely determined.

Thus Xuandu was in a dilemma; he clearly knew that Ao Guang's rise would certainly bring change, yet Ao Guang himself showed no problems, and with his merits coming, Xuandu had no choice but to promote him.

You began to miss Xuandu and the human race, having left them a set of usable officials, not knowing whether they would grow accustomed to it.

That day, attended by the maidservants of the Heavenly Palace, you donned your Heavenly Emperor's regalia, resplendently adorned, yet your expression was dazed, as if you were dreaming.

The Sun Star Lord, author of the coup, was also caught off guard, yet he personally stepped forward at once; his Great Luo cultivation was fully displayed, fighting the three Great Luo avatars to near parity.

Taking the lead in opposing you, the Sun Star Lord was followed naturally by the other high-ranking heavenly officials… after all this, you haven't gotten anywhere governing the Heavenly Court, but you've swallowed a bellyful of resentment!

On the Thirty-Three Heavens, your situation is also far from optimistic!

Moreover, soon Great Luo celestial officials who had reacted joined the battle; under the gang-up, your three avatars couldn't hold long before being pressed to the ground, and together with your true self, you were all captured.

In the monster calendar, year 370, one assembly, three fortunes—Mount Shouyang declared rebellion against Heaven!

……

(End of chapter)