Chapter 901: Inauguration Ceremony

New Era Calendar year 2536.

On the first day of the New Year, the Empire's capital Nuosiruier was immersed in a festive atmosphere; heavy snow had fallen last night, but by morning it had been swept clean.

A few days earlier was the Divine Birth Festival, and merchants along the street hung purple gauze at their doors, embroidered with magical runes representing the goddess's blessing. When the wind blew, the gauze fluttered like a banner, filling the air with tranquility and joy.

People wore smiles and exchanged New Year greetings upon meeting.

But this year was somewhat different.

Because today is the inauguration ceremony of the new Consul, the Rick Imperial Guard set up strict formations before dawn along the road from Marlinge Manor to Fubei Deng Castle, enforcing traffic control yet allowing citizens to stand by the roadside awaiting the Consul's procession.

9 a. m.

When…

A magical bell rang from the Temple of Truth within Fubei Deng Castle, echoing throughout Nuosiruier.

On the western foothills of West Mountain outside the city, the gates of Marlinge Manor stood open, and a squad of knights surged out first. Each wore shimmering silver‑white enchanted armor, rode towering dragon‑scale warhorses, and bore the Empire's banner on a spear, looking majestic and awe‑inspiring.

Hundreds of banner‑carrying troops surged forward, leading the way.

Behind them followed the elite knight contingent of the Rick Imperial Guard.

In the middle of the formation, the Guard commander Heisketo rode a black dragon transformed into a black warhorse, lagging two meters behind, following a taller, more imposing warhorse.

It was a warhorse entirely covered in golden‑like scales, its scarlet mane like blazing fire, with a pair of broad flame‑colored wings folded against its flanks, dragging a dazzling long tail; its head bore jet‑black eyes that emitted wisps of shadowy energy.

It was the golden‑scaled celestial steed transformed from Bo Erqi's golden three‑headed dragon.

Lei En rode atop the horse.

Today he wore a tailor‑made exquisite armor, simple and elegant, highlighting his sturdy, tall frame; a blood‑red great cloak was draped over his back as always, a Soul‑Eating Blade hung at his waist as a side sword, and on his left chest he bore two badges side by side—one the double‑headed eagle of the Consul, the other the crest of the Augustus family.

Lei En held his head high and chest out, his spirit radiant; a faint smile lingered on his handsome face, making him seem approachable yet still dignified.

He shone brilliantly among the crowd, instantly drawing everyone's gaze.

Even a line of sixty Extreme Warriors surrounding him seemed somewhat dimmed beneath Lei En's dazzling aura.

The Rick Imperial Guard knights clustered around Lei En; over a thousand of them moved as one, unhurriedly descending from West Mountain toward Nuosiruier.

The procession soon entered the city.

Citizens of the imperial capital craned their necks in anticipation; upon seeing the Consul's entourage approach, they erupted in enthusiastic cheers, crowding the streets on both sides, eager to glimpse the youngest Consul in history.

Clop clop clop clop…

Amid the uniform hoofbeats, the fluttering Empire banner surged forward, and the tall, imposing knights kept rhythm as they rode through the street.

"Consul!"

"Goddess above!"

"I see the Consul—so young and handsome... May the goddess protect the Consul, protect the Empire!"

"His horse is truly beautiful!"

"Is that an Extreme Warrior? The world's most powerful transcendent legion—so terrifying!"

Behind the human wall formed by the Rick Imperial Guard, crowds surged; citizens shouted joyfully, filling every street‑side window and roof. Some saluted the procession solemnly, some prayed loudly, and others frantically waved at the Consul in the ranks, hoping to catch Lei En's attention.

Lei En rode steadily atop the golden‑scaled celestial steed, his face smiling as he repeatedly waved to citizens on both sides.

Whenever his gaze lingered in a direction, it was met with an enthusiastic response.

Joy rang along the route.

After nearly an hour, the Consul's procession arrived at Fubei Deng Castle; outside the main gate, thousands of imperial capital citizens had been waiting, and when the procession arrived they offered their most fervent cheers.

Lei En lingered on the plaza for a few minutes, receiving the people's support.

Then, escorted by a line of Extreme Warriors, he rode the golden‑scaled celestial steed through the gate, following the road carved by the Rick Imperial Guard's human wall, to the Temple of Truth where the Empire Parliament resides. The plaza before the temple teemed with people; aside from a clear space at the feet of the God of Magic statue, every inch of ground was packed with spectators.

Bang bang bang…

Salutes boomed, and tens of thousands of invited imperial citizens turned their gazes en masse; when the Consul appeared on one side of the plaza, applause thundered.

Lei En dismounted, stepping onto the bright red carpet.

The Extreme Warriors stayed put, and the golden‑scaled celestial steed reverted to Bo Erqi's human form, seeing Lei En walk through the crowd on the carpet amid roaring applause, nodding and waving to people on both sides, and then ascending the steps before the temple with steady steps.

The temple steps numbered ninety‑nine; Lei En, back to the crowd, climbed them step by step.

Spectators at the base of the steps saw this scene, and many couldn't help but think, does this not resemble Lei En climbing the ladder of power—swift and steady—about to reach the pinnacle of the Empire's authority?

Lei En himself did not ponder it that much.

He quickly reached the top of the steps; the open space before the temple's main gate was vast, with a podium in the center surrounded by a crowd.

All twelve Holy Soul Wizards of the Supreme Council were present.

Also present were all Empire legislators, hundreds of specially invited dignitaries—each a prominent figure of the Empire—ambassadors from Old Continent nations stationed in the Empire, representatives of the gods in the Empire's Church, members of the new cabinet, and members of the Augustus family.

Lei En's eyes swept over his excited parents and younger siblings, and he smiled at them.

Finally, his gaze fell upon the teacher.

Today's inauguration will be presided over by Anxiwodasi, who deliberately donned a magenta‑purple magical robe, his snow‑white beard and hair neatly groomed, his face flushed, and he cradled a thick "VijesCui Codex" in his hands.

"Teacher," Lei En called softly.

Anxiwodasi stood beside the podium, his gaze at Lei En filled with satisfaction, and he said sternly, "Come forward, the prayer ceremony is about to begin."

Lei En nodded, walked over, and stood beside the teacher.

The Consul's inauguration follows a set procedure: first, pray to the God of Magic, ask the goddess to bear witness and endorse the new Consul, then proceed to the oath of office.

"Truth endures!"

"Truth endures..."

Anxiwodasi shouted, his authoritative voice reaching every ear in the temple plaza; everyone faced the God of Magic statue at the center, interlaced their hands in a ritual gesture, closed their eyes slightly, and silently recited the goddess's prayer.

In the solemn atmosphere, the statue soon showed movement.

The towering statue, dozens of meters high, quivered slightly, its eyes glowing; a vast aura rose above, swelling rapidly and intensely. As the prayer reached its climax, divine power enveloped the entire Nuosiruier sky, causing millions to look upward, feeling their souls tremble.

With a thunderous boom, a beam of magical radiance shot out from the distant void, descended from the heavens, and landed on the steps before the temple, only a few steps away from Lei En and his teacher.

The light scattered, revealing a slender female figure.

They wore a mysterious veil over their face, a simple dark magical robe, a jeweled sash at the waist, skin shimmering with strange magical radiance, exuding a vast holy aura that made people instinctively bow and worship them.

The God of Magic has descended!

"Greetings, mysterious lady!"

On the plaza and the steps, whether high‑ranking Empire dignitaries, legendary transcendents, Holy Soul Wizards, or the tens of thousands of ordinary citizens gathered to witness, all bowed to the God of Magic.

Many people wore fanatical expressions, tears of fervor welling in their eyes, loudly chanting VijesCui's revered name and doctrine.

Anxiwodasi was momentarily stunned.

In previous Consul inauguration ceremonies, the God of Magic would answer prayers, witness the oath through a statue, but personally descending a Saint Avatar was a first.

Other Holy Soul Wizards were also surprised, including several of the Goddess's Chosen Ones.

Two months ago at Getan's statue unveiling, the Goddess descended once; last month in Banbei City, the Goddess also sent down a Saint Avatar. Today marks the third time in a short span, averaging a descent once per month.

That's far too frequent!

A deity's Saint Avatar is not something one can see casually; even long‑lived Saint Rank strongmen often never encounter one in a lifetime, and in the past several hundred years the God of Magic's descents have been few and far between.

Now one can see it each month, making it feel unreal.

"I've seen the lady."

Lei En bowed and then, as in previous occasions, leaned forward to feign a kiss on the outstretched hand of the Magic Goddess statue, causing tens of thousands of eyes to stare fixedly.

Lei En's mother Ma Lin Da, a devout believer, was trembling with excitement at seeing the Goddess descend so close for the first time; when she saw Lei En kiss the back of the Goddess's hand, her eyes rolled white and her body went limp, falling backward.

Fortunately, father Ba De and younger brother Bu Li Sai Te reacted quickly, each supporting her from a side, preventing an immediate embarrassment.

The little incident did not affect the ceremony's proceedings.

"Bless you all, my followers."

VijesCui's gentle, ethereal voice resonated in people's minds; as she spoke, a drizzle of magical radiance fell from the sky, sprinkling over everyone on the plaza, instantly uplifting spirits, calming minds, and making them feel the Goddess's expectations and protection.

"God of Magic's protection!"

The believers shouted excitedly.

"Continue the ceremony," VijesCui whispered to Anxiwodasi, who stepped back two steps, clearing the space on the stage for today's protagonist.

"Yes."

Anxiwodasi inhaled deeply and shouted, "Ryan Augustus, place your hand on the Empire's Code and swear with me."

Lei En extended his right hand as instructed and pressed it onto the Code.

"I, Ryan Augustus, solemnly swear here…"

"I, Ryan Augustus, solemnly swear here…"

"I will faithfully fulfill the duties of Consul of the Oriense Empire, exerting all effort, upholding, protecting, and defending the Empire's Code. I shall be loyal to the people, to the Empire, to the Goddess, safeguarding the lives and territorial integrity of the Empire's citizens, preventing any domestic or foreign enemies from infringing, performing my duties without reservation. May the deity bless me."

Before the God of Magic, before the Supreme Council, and before tens of thousands of Empire citizens, Lei En pressed his hand to the Empire's Code, completing the inauguration oath.

As the oath concluded, the God of Magic raised a hand and bestowed a Divine Technique upon Lei En.

"Bless you, Consul."

Clap clap clap…

Everyone on and off the stage applauded vigorously; the Goddess personally witnessed the oath and bestowed blessings on the new Consul—a first in Empire history, perhaps a one‑time event—and the people felt immense honor witnessing it.

At that moment, the light surrounding Lei En peaked, dazzling to the point of being hard to look at.

The enthusiastic applause continued for a long time before gradually subsiding.

According to protocol, the next step was for the new Consul to deliver the first formal speech, announcing the policy agenda for the next ten years or making certain pledges.

However, Lei En stood motionless on the stage.

Anxiwodasi stepped forward, surveyed the crowd, and, amid the people's bewilderment, said, "Great lady, esteemed Supreme Council colleagues, Empire legislators, and all present citizens, on this occasion I wish to announce good news."

The dignitaries on the steps exchanged puzzled looks.

The crowd below whispered among themselves, causing a stir.

Tim*Kenan and Kai Er Si Tong, two other Empire heavyweights, along with several members of the Mo Du sect, remained calm, evidently pre‑informed, and they were all watching Lei En. Suddenly, the two sensed trouble, guessed what Anxiwodasi was about to say, and their faces darkened.

"Anxiw..." Tim*Kenan whispered.

But Anxiwodasi ignored it, facing the audience below with pride, he shouted, "My student, the Weizelan Wizard, Consul of the Empire, Ryan Augustus has achieved Holy Soul Ascension!"

Wow…

Before the words finished, the crowd in the temple plaza boiled over like a pressure cooker.

Holy Soul Wizard!

Almost everyone was shocked; the first thought was disbelief—how old is Lei En? He seemed to have just turned twenty‑seven weeks ago! Even for ordinary people, that's a very young age, not even a fraction of some legendary transcendents.

A person so young becoming Consul is already a miracle, setting the record for the youngest Consul in history.

Because of Lei En's achievements over the past few years, people could accept a Consul under thirty.

But a Holy Soul Wizard under thirty?

It is truly hard to believe.

It should be noted that the previous youngest Holy Soul Wizard was Duke Hong Shi Kai Er Si Tong, who at fifty‑eight caused a sensation upon his ascension; now Lei En is only twenty‑seven, extending the record by thirty‑one years!

Could this be possible?

Amid the uproar, Lei En, cooperating with his teacher, released his aura; the dignitaries on the steps instantly felt a chilling dread, his image in their eyes soaring infinitely, as if they were ants before a massive dragon.

Even the crowd below, though farther away, felt their souls tremble from the Holy Soul Wizard's aura; many turned pale, nearly fainting.

It truly is a Holy Soul Wizard!

No mistake.

Some quick‑witted individuals familiar with upper‑level Empire politics immediately grasped Master Anxiwodasi's intent in abruptly announcing the news, especially emphasizing that Lei En was his student and a Weizelan Wizard, aiming to prove that the Mo Du sect's doctrine surpasses that of the Naisè sect!

Meanwhile, Lei En's elevation to Holy Soul Wizard qualified him to join the Supreme Council, granting the Mo Du sect seven votes and fully controlling the Council.

The most important thing is that Lei En has just sworn in as Consul!

The Empire is about to change!

Most people hadn't yet clarified the current situation when they heard Anxiwodasi continue: "Here, I submit a proposal to the Supreme Council, nominating Ryan Augustus into the Supreme Council; colleagues, raise your hands to vote, those in agreement, please raise your hands."

Having finished speaking, he swiftly raised his right hand.

In the next second, the five other Holy Soul Wizards from Mo Du raised their hands as well: Ouroin Master, Storm Queen, Silver Star Duke, Prophet Medif, and Sabbath Dean.

In the blink of an eye, there were six votes!

Only one more vote is needed for the proposal to pass and become a resolution.

"I disagree!"

Tim*Kenan hurriedly shouted loudly.

His complexion turned iron‑blue; although he had long prepared for Lei En's eventual Holy Soul Ascension as a Holy Soul Wizard, he did not expect the day to arrive so swiftly, and it was announced right after Lei En just swore in as Consul, clearly premeditated for a long time, this is for the teachers and students who wish to completely dominate the Empire!

Whether as the leader of the Balance faction or as a member of the Supreme Council, he does not allow this situation to occur.

Tim*Kenan's mind shifted urgently, realizing that at this moment others could no longer be relied upon; the scum Kai'ersitong simply cannot lead the Naiser faction.

The only hope is the God of Magic.

And He happens to be present!

He turned to the saintly incarnation of the goddess and loudly said: "Great lady, for the future of the Supreme Council, for the Empire's benefit, I request that you dismiss Ryan Augustus from the Consul position, or reject Ryan Augustus's proposal to enter the Supreme Council; please, lady, adjudicate."

GreyEagle Duke's resonant voice, suppressing anger, rang throughout the Temple of Truth inside and out, and his words were even more shocking.

People were stunned by this series of twists.

On the plaza before the temple, a pin could be heard falling, and everyone's gaze gathered on VijesCui, awaiting His decision.

(End of Chapter)