Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
After bathing, changing, and burning incense while being served by Qin Yutong, Zhang Ruochen finally picked up his brush to write.
The Emperor Ming Nine-Sky Scripture operated in Zhang Ruochen’s body as he wrote.
Each stroke carried unique and strong power of the Saintly Way. The surrounding air trembled.
It was the Crown Prince Edict, and the saint decree that contained all of Zhang Ruochen’s saintly power.
The content of the imperial edict was simple and straightforward. One, it described Zhang Ruochen’s identity as the Crown Prince of the Sacred Central Empire. Two, it called for the officials and old followers of the Sacred Central Empire to gather and pray to the gods at the Peakless Mountain on the seventh of the next month.
Whoosh.
After he finished writing, the silk scroll on the table shone with brilliant saintly light. It illuminated the entire Phoenix Dance Palace.
The Royal Capital was the capital of the Sacred Central Empire. Every Emperor Ming would pray to the gods and heavens there each year.
The ancestor of the Zhang Family was a god, known as Unmovable Emperor Ming.
In addition, there had been more than one Supreme Saint in the Zhang Family’s history.
After being washed endlessly by the power of the prayers and the Unmovable Emperor Ming and various Supreme Saints’ changes to the rules, the Royal Capital had long since evolved. It contained the power of the Qi fate and fortune of the country.
Even now, this power still hadn’t scattered.
Zhang Ruochen had written the edict with the power of the Emperor Ming Nine-Sky Scripture. Naturally, it would resonate with the fortune and fate of the Sacred Central Empire. It produced an unusual phenomenon.
Boom.
A burst of Emperor Qi radiated from the Crown Prince Edict. It flew off of the table and broke through the roof, flying to the clouds.
The silk exploded into dust.
The various words from the Saintly Way lined up and became printed on the sky. They shone with brilliant golden light.
In an instant, the entire Royal Capital turned gold from the reflection. Almost all the cultivators were alarmed. They rushed to the streets and looked up at the sky.
The edict was like stars in the sky.
Deep within the residence of the ancient Cai Family, there was an ox-shaped spiritual mountain. Powerful saintly might traveled out and a shred of Holy Qi scattered out.
It was only a shred of Holy Qi, but it wrapped around the mountain like a large river.
An ancient old woman climbed out of the ground in the mountain. She stood at the center of the huge Holy Qi river. Looking up at the sky, she said in a trembling voice, “The Crown Prince Edict, it really is the Crown Prince’s edict. Eight hundred years ago… Didn’t the Crown Prince die from an assassination?”
Seeing their ancestor come out, the patriarch and Saints of the Cai Family all hurried to the ox-shaped mountain. They all bowed in respect.
“Ancestor,” the patriarch of the Cai Family said. “The Sacred Central Empire has been destroyed. Even if the Crown Prince returns, the empire still can’t be recovered.”
“Shut up. Are you qualified to comment on the Crown Prince?” the ancestor roared. Rings of sound waves flooded out, hitting the family leader like dozens of heavy fists.
The family leader spat out blood and knelt onto the ground.
The ancestor had once been an elder of the Sacred Central Empire. She had great authority and deep feelings for the empire.
However, after Emperor Ming went missing, huge changes occurred in the imperial court. Killing and conflicts had been endless. The Cai Family ancestor had felt disappointed and voluntarily left the imperial court. Afterward, she stayed hidden and cultivated in isolation.
Afterward, to protect the billions of people in her clan, the Cai Family ancestor was forced to surrender to the First Central Empire. However, she didn’t accept any of the titles from the new empire.
It wasn’t only the Cai Family. The entire Royal Capital seemed to have gone crazy.
“Zhang Ruochen, Crown Prince of the Sacred Central Empire from 800 years ago, is actually still alive. He even issued an edict to collect the old officials.”
“Zhang Ruochen? That name…is actually the same as that Time and Space Descendant. It can’t be that coincidental, right?”
“Seventh of the next month, praying to the gods and souls at the Peakless Mountain. Why is he going to the Demonic Sect’s headquarters instead of the Royal Capital?”
“The Peakless Mountain was also part of the Sacred Central Empire 800 years ago. Why can’t he go there to pray?”
“The seventh is the Demonic Sect Saintess and Qiu Yu’s wedding… Oh gods, the Crown Prince must be Zhang Ruochen.”
…
Even the stupidest cultivators now realized that the Crown Prince of the Sacred Central Empire and the Time and Space Descendant were the same person.
This news spread with the fastest speed throughout the First Central Empire.
The leaders of the various human forces were all shocked by this news.
The Saint Lady had long since guessed Zhang Ruochen’s identity, but she was still moved when she received this news.
A moment later, the Saint Lady finally recovered. “Zhang Ruochen,” she murmured to herself. “What are you doing? Are you really going to overturn the First Central Empire just for a woman?”
In the Wan Family, Wan Zhaoyi and Martial Saint Canglan received the news at the same time. They exchanged glances and could see the shock in one another’s eyes.
Wan Zhaoyi’s eyes moved and then smiled. “I finally understand the rivalry between the Empress and Zhang Ruochen. I see, I see…”
Martial Saint Canglan sighed. “One year ago, I even begged the Empress to forgive Zhang Ruochen. Thinking back, it’s so laughable. How could their conflict be resolved like that?”
In the eastern region, the Taishang Elder of the Murong Family walked out of an ancient mansion. He gazed toward the central region with Murong Yue.
Murong Yue’s eyes were filled with joy. “Ancestor, His Highness finally revealed his identity. Should we act now?”
The Taishang Elder of the Murong Family was called Murong Yefeng. Eight hundred years ago, he was the top talent of the Murong Family. He had been both Zhang Ruochen’s only friend and his page boy. He often studied with Zhang Ruochen, Kong Lanyou, and Chi Yao.
Because Murong Yefeng was the youngest, Zhang Ruochen, Kong Lanyou, and Chi Yao called him “Little Yezi.”
Murong Yefeng had lived for 800 years, but he didn’t seem old. He only looked to be around 30 years old. A nostalgic and bitter smile appeared in his ancient eyes. “Your Highness, since you chose to go back to being the Crown Prince, I will continue to serve you.”
In Tiantai State of the central region, the Shangguan Clan and Blood God Sect were also shocked too.
The Saints of the Blood God Sect obviously knew that Zhang Ruochen was their sect leader. How could they not be shocked by this great event?
That day, two Saint Elders immediately held an Elder Council to discuss this.
Because of the Crown Prince Edict, the Shangguan Clan was also pushed into the spotlight.
Saint King Que, the ancestor of the Shangguan Clan, was the Crown Prince Master of the Sacred Central Empire.
The Crown Prince Master was the Crown Prince’s teacher.
Since the Crown Prince had issued the Crown Prince edict, what should his teacher do?
Western region, Brahma Way.
After Sikong One and Two received this news, they were ecstatic. They hurried toward one of the ancient temples.
While running, Sikong One said, “Master, Senior Uncle is doing something big this time. He’s practically going to crush the Demonic Sect. We must join in on the fun.”
“The Demonic Sect is filled with strong cultivators. The Fire Race has an even greater heritage,” Sikong Two said. “Senior Uncle is fighting a hard battle. Master, we can’t just watch.”
Master Yintuoluo sat on a cushion like a clay statue. He didn’t budge.
Sikong One had a shady aura. Arms bare and face red, he said, “Our grandmaster was killed by the Empress. We have a great rivalry with her. Master, why don’t we rebel with Senior Uncle?”
“Shut up,” Master Yintuoluo roared. “The Empress has already become a god. Who dares to rebel?”
“The Empress has already left Kunlun’s Field,” Sikong One mumbled. “She might’ve gone to the divine world, and it’s possible she won’t even return again.”
After reaching Yintuoluo’s state, one would be clear on how terrifying a god’s power was. Even if Empress Chi Yao had left Kunlun’s Field, her divine power remaining here could still crush everyone.
Sikong Two was a bit calmer. “Senior Uncle is always careful. He knows the Empress has become a god but still dared to publicize his identity. This can only mean that he has a hidden card that can protect everyone.”
“Has the Universe World been born?” Sikong One cried out. “The Divine Sky-connecting Tree is in the Universe World. The cultivation environment is much stronger than Kunlun’s Field. If we go there to cultivate, we won’t need to hide around anymore.”
Sikong One and Two had both helped Zhang Ruochen capture the World Spirit in the Blue Dragon Void World. They’d once heard Zhang Ruochen say that he wanted the World Spirit to evolve the scroll world into the Universe World.
In an upper void world outside the region, the Death Zen Elder also received Zhang Ruochen’s communication rune.
The Death Zen Elder chuckled. “It’s really hard to repay Zhang Ruochen.”
Buddha Xinshu stood below. He caught the communication rune, read the content, and was quiet for a while. “The Demonic Sect and Fire Tribe are such great forces. They’re second only to the imperial court. Master, it’s best not to get involved.”
“If I don’t repay Zhang Ruochen, my saint heart will have a flaw. I’ll never be able to make that last step.” The Death Zen Elder was helpless as well.
Actually, even if Zhang Ruochen didn’t send a communication rune to the Death Zen Elder, he would’ve gone to find Zhang Ruochen to repay him anyway.
“But you’ve already vowed never to set foot in the Kunlun’s Field again,” Buddha Xinshu said.
“My true body can’t enter Kunlun’s Field, but I can use a clone. The clone can carry the divine corpse in. Zhang Ruochen should be satisfied with the combat ability of the divine corpse. If I can resolve this matter earlier, I can truly enter the Great Way sooner.”
The Death Zen Elder chuckled again. He put down the communication rune and his body shone with Buddhist light. Then a clone walked out of his body.
Even though it was a clone, it felt like it was made of flesh and bone. It was extremely divine and shone with Buddhist light all over. It was no different from his true body.
