Chapter 227: Chapter 145: Ascending the Throne as Emperor, All Beings Aid My Enlightenment

One less didn’t really matter.

Of course.

The entire premise rested on Wang Xiao being strong enough.

Strong enough that even an Earth Immortal had to weigh the pros and cons.

After all, what right did an ant that could be crushed at will have to negotiate?!

On the plaza.

The Earth Immortal phantom from the Vast Immortal Sect gazed at Wang Xiao and said,

"You intend to use Wenchang Country as the place to attain your Dao?"

After all.

No matter how powerful a Cultivator in the Immortal King Realm was, they ultimately had to attain their Dao.

In this day and age, controlling a country and waging war wasn’t the only way to attain the Dao, but it was undoubtedly the fastest.

Wang Xiao gave a noncommittal response. "I am a Prince of Wenchang Country. It is only natural that I control it—it is what the people wish."

The Earth Immortal phantom considered this for a moment, then said, "Wenchang Country originally belonged to An Yuanshan. Since you defeated him, handing it over to you is not out of the question. However, I have a condition."

Wang Xiao said nothing, merely giving the Earth Immortal phantom a cool glance.

The Earth Immortal phantom continued, "While you rule Wenchang Country, the Vast Immortal Sect will not interfere. However, you must not trade the Spiritual Ores and Spiritual Fields within the country with any other Immortal Sects. Furthermore, the Vast Immortal Sect must have priority in recruiting disciples with Spirit Roots from Wenchang Country to join our Sect and pursue Cultivation Immortality!"

Of course, Immortal Sects didn’t control countries solely to help Immortal Kings attain their Dao.

Another major reason was the countries themselves, whose populations numbered in the hundreds of millions.

This was a crucial source of new disciples for the Immortal Sects!

Without a constant stream of new blood, even the most powerful Immortal Sect would one day face decline.

And if they managed to recruit a prodigy of peerless talent, the Immortal Sect would naturally benefit from their glory.

So.

When the Earth Immortal phantom witnessed Wang Xiao display such immense power, the first emotion that welled up within it was regret.

’If such a peerless genius had been brought back to the Immortal Sect and raised from childhood, their Vast Immortal Sect would surely have another Earth Immortal in the future.’

Wang Xiao said coolly, "No problem. However, without my permission, the Vast Immortal Sect is not to openly recruit disciples in Wenchang Country, nor are you to forcibly take anyone back to the Immortal Sect. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to strike you down!"

"Fine." After a moment’s thought, the Earth Immortal phantom nodded.

It said no more, once again transforming into a mote of starlight and merging into An Yuanshan’s body.

This was, of course, not its true body, but a strand of Divine Thought formed from its own Law.

It would only manifest when An Yuanshan faced a life-or-death crisis.

This was a rule in every Immortal Sect.

Earth Immortals would always leave a strand of Divine Thought with an Immortal King to act as a protector.

Wang Xiao looked at An Yuanshan in the deep crater, his eyes narrowing. He then turned his gaze to the four True Disciples of the Vast Immortal Sect on a tall building in the distance.

"Come here."

His voice suddenly echoed in their ears.

The four felt as though they’d been struck by lightning. Steeling themselves, they had no choice but to fly before Wang Xiao.

"G-Greetings, Senior!"

The four bowed respectfully, all their previous arrogance gone.

Just then.

ZWING!

Four streaks of sword light shot toward the four True Disciples.

In a flash.

The four cried out in agony—some had their limbs severed, some had their ears sliced off, and others had their eyes pierced blind.

"From now on, do not set foot in Wenchang Country again. Otherwise, it will be more than just a single strike. Understand?"

"Y-Yes, yes! Thank you, Senior, for the gift of your sword!"

Though their hearts seethed with resentment, they dared not show the slightest hint of it, hastily bowing once more.

"Take An Yuanshan and get out!" Wang Xiao said coolly.

"Yes! Thank you, Senior, for sparing our lives."

The four quickly helped An Yuanshan out of the crater. Feeling as though they’d been granted a royal pardon, they didn’t dare to linger for a second. They summoned their Dharma Artifacts and scrambled to escape.

Just then.

Shangguan Xiyue flew over and landed beside Wang Xiao.

"Young Master, you let them off easy! They were so arrogant just now!"

Wang Xiao replied,

"Since I made a deal with that Earth Immortal, it wouldn’t be right to kill them now. Besides, they’re just a few nobodies. It’s of no consequence."

He had already achieved his goal for this trip. Whether he killed these True Disciples or not was now of little importance to him.

Killing them might draw out the Immortal Kings backing them, which would only create more trouble.

Shangguan Xiyue couldn’t help but say,

"You’re so incredible, Young Master! Not even that Earth Immortal could stop you. Why didn’t you say something sooner? You had me on pins and needles for ages. I really thought this was a one-way trip."

Wang Xiao shook his head.

"With my current power, I am no match for that Earth Immortal. He was only willing to compromise because he weighed the pros and cons."

If the Earth Immortal had come in his true body, Wang Xiao would have been no match for him.

However.

It wasn’t certain the Earth Immortal could have killed him.

After all.

His physical body could now achieve Vacuum Shattering, allowing him to enter the Void and travel thousands of miles in an instant.

The Earth Immortal’s speed couldn’t necessarily match his.

Shangguan Xiyue asked,

"So, Young Master, where are we going now?"

With a calm expression, Wang Xiao looked toward the Imperial Palace.

"It’s time to go see my father, the Emperor."

...

「In Jinluan Hall.」

Emperor Wenchang, Liu Wencheng, had been in discussion with the civil and military officials of the court regarding the impending imperial succession.

After all.

The enthronement of a new emperor was the most important event in Wenchang Country.

The various procedures and ceremonies were indispensable.

However, the commotion that had echoed throughout the entire Capital City brought the court session to an abrupt halt!

Soon.

The Jinwu Guard delivered news that left Emperor Wenchang and all his officials stunned and speechless.

His Highness the Third Prince had been stomped to death by the Ninth Prince at the execution grounds on Ten-Mile Long Street, right in front of the entire city!

Stomped to death in the truest sense of the word.

Not even bones remained.

But that wasn’t even the most terrifying part of the news.

What struck even greater fear and terror into their hearts was that the Third Prince’s master, Immortal An, had personally intervened, only to be suppressed by the Ninth Prince as well.

If the Earth Immortal from the Vast Immortal Sect hadn’t intervened, he would have likely perished on the spot!

Upon hearing this news, Liu Wencheng was so frightened that he fell right off the Dragon Throne.

’H-How is this possible?!’

’The Third Prince was a Cultivator at the peak of the True Form Realm!’

’Even among all the True Disciples of the Vast Immortal Sect, he was considered one of the best.’

’And his master was a genuine, bona fide Immortal King!’

And yet, now one was dead and the other suppressed!

’That Lao Jiu is just a mortal without a Spirit Root. Where did he get such earth-shattering power?’

Liu Wencheng trembled uncontrollably. He couldn’t help but look toward his officials, stammering,

"M-My dear ministers... what are We to do now?"

The officials could only look at one another in dismay, no one daring to speak.

Even though they were the best and brightest, chosen from the hundreds of millions of mortals in Wenchang Country, men of true wisdom and great talent, they were still utterly helpless in the face of a situation so far beyond their capabilities.

’If even an Immortal King—a lofty being who normally existed only in legends—could not stop the Ninth Prince, what could they possibly do?’

Just then.

THUD.

A figure strode into Jinluan Hall, completely unnoticed by the guards.

He wore only the simplest cloth robes, his long hair draped over his shoulders. Without any ornate attire, he looked like the most ordinary of commoners.

And yet, the moment he entered,

the entire Jinluan Hall fell deathly silent. Not a sound could be heard.

Even the high and mighty Emperor Wenchang, Liu Wencheng, began to tremble uncontrollably, his expression dazed with fear.

Wang Xiao spoke, his expression calm. "Father Emperor, I have a suggestion. You might want to hear it."

「Three days later.」

A new emperor ascended the throne in Wenchang Country.

However, the one who took the throne was not the Fourth Prince, who had been backed by the Third Prince.

Instead, it was the Ninth Prince, Liu Yongxiao—the one who had fought on the borders for years before returning to the Capital City to stomp the Third Prince to death and shock the world with a single act.

Upon his succession, the new emperor changed the country’s name to Yongchang and took the title of Celestial Destiny Emperor.

As for the former emperor, Liu Wencheng, it was announced that out of gratitude for the great deeds of the Late Emperors, he had voluntarily entered the Imperial Mausoleum to observe a period of mourning in their honor.

Everyone knew, however, that this was the new emperor’s will.

Once, the old emperor had sent the new emperor to the Imperial Harem. Today, the new emperor sent the old emperor to the Imperial Mausoleum.

Such is the nature of worldly retribution, an unfailing cycle of Cause and Effect.

Still.

This was merely a topic of idle gossip for the common folk, something to be discussed over tea and then quickly forgotten.

To the common people, it didn’t really matter who was emperor.

What mattered most was whether their lives would improve.

Fortunately, the new emperor, upon his enthronement, did not issue a host of exorbitant taxes. Instead, he enacted a series of policies to reduce the tax burden.

This made the people of the Yongchang Kingdom deeply grateful.

They had no more objections toward their new emperor.

And so, Wenchang Country transitioned smoothly into the Yongchang Kingdom, heralding the dawn of a new era.