Chapter 386: Fengchan to the Emperor of Heaven! The Great Zheng Dynasty!
The Great Zheng Dynasty, Xuankun, the imperial palace, in front of the Changsheng Hall.
The walls surrounding the palace were all taken down, and on this early morning, the area around the palace was packed with the army of the Great Zheng Dynasty, numbering over five million. The troops stood in strict formation, each standing tall and straight, awaiting the Fengchan Ceremony of the Great Zheng Dynasty.
In front of the Changsheng Hall, a massive square altar made of five-colored soil was constructed by Wei Taizhong's order. The altar spanned eighty-one zhang in length, with a giant pit in the center, perfectly circular and forty-nine zhang in diameter.
Above the pit floated a circular island of five-colored soil, also forty-nine zhang in diameter. Upon closer inspection, one could see that if this floating island were to descend, it would perfectly fill the circular pit below.
This was the Fengchan altar, with the upper part being the "Feng Tian Altar" and the lower part the "Chan Di Altar."
To the south of the altar stood all the key members of the Great Zheng Dynasty. Even Empress Bao'er and Qianyou were standing quietly at the forefront of the five million troops, patiently waiting.
The four corps commanders also stood in the gentle breeze, waiting for the Fengchan Ceremony to begin. Countless wolf clan members, led by Xianxian, were standing quietly at one side, without making any noise.
From a distant mountain peak, Emperor Xuan Sha stood watching quietly.
On the periphery of the army, Hao Meili also observed in silence.
Throughout Xuankun, countless civilians were kneeling and praying.
Inside the Changsheng Hall, Zhong Shan, clad in his most luxurious dragon robe, sat on the dragon throne, waiting quietly. Wei Taizhong stood by his side.
"Your Majesty, it is time." Wei Taizhong respectfully informed.
"Mm!" Zhong Shan nodded.
Slowly, Zhong Shan descended from the high dragon throne and walked out of the Changsheng Hall.
Upon exiting the hall, Zhong Shan stepped onto a cloud, which carried him straight to the Feng Tian Altar above.
On the circular altar, Zhong Shan glanced around and then slowly took out the Fengshen List. He gently placed the Fengshen List on the ground before him and knelt in worship towards the sky. After performing three bows and nine kowtows, Zhong Shan rose, grasped the Fengshen List, and began to chant loudly:
"The Great Zheng Dynasty worships the heavens, I, Zhong Shan, establish the Great Zheng, with the mandate of heaven as the king, to govern the people, proclaim peace to heaven, and report the merits of the gods—"
As Zhong Shan's powerful voice echoed, the Fengshen List in his hand began to float in mid-air, suddenly emitting a bright golden light. Immediately, a fierce wind seemed to arise, gathering from all directions towards the Feng Tian Altar. The Fengshen List began to draw in boundless energy, accumulating more and more. Gradually, strands of condensed golden fortune appeared above the Fengshen List. At first, it was just a wisp, but as Zhong Shan waited, the gathered fortune grew increasingly abundant.
More and more fortune converged.
Zhong Shan knew that most of this fortune came from the Yin Moon Dynasty, as well as from the expansion of the Great Zheng Dynasty, forming national fortune, land fortune, and heavenly fortune. Boundless fortune.
The fortune, condensed into a golden hue, gathered in the sky, growing ever more abundant and majestic.
Below, all the courtiers were filled with excitement. This was the fortune of the Great Zheng Dynasty! The fortune condensed into color, signifying recognition from heaven and earth, as the world continually permitted the Great Zheng Dynasty to advance to an imperial dynasty.
Zhong Shan patiently waited as the fortune continued to amass. Within just half an hour, the entire sky above Xuankun was enveloped in an infinite golden fortune. The sheer volume of fortune far exceeded that which had been above Jinling City in the past, much more so!
Seeing the dense fortune, everyone in the Great Zheng Dynasty was overwhelmed with excitement. From the distant mountain peak, Emperor Xuan Sha kept his gaze fixed on Zhong Shan. He had recognized Zhong Shan's extraordinary nature from the beginning, and now, watching him, he felt even more mystified. How long had it been?
Golden fortune was being drawn in by the Fengshen List, gathering over Xuankun. At this moment, from the entrance of the Changsheng Hall, Wei Taizhong suddenly shouted, "Report to heaven upon ascending, remove the earth upon descending~~~~~~".
As Wei Taizhong finished his proclamation, the Feng Tian Altar in the sky began to descend slowly, lowering bit by bit until it seamlessly fit into the square pit at the center of the altar below.
Zhong Shan, holding the Fengshen List which was attracting the boundless fortune, also descended onto the Chan Di Altar.
After another round of three bows and nine kowtows, Zhong Shan stood up.
Gripping the Fengshen List, Zhong Shan proclaimed loudly once more:
"The Great Zheng Dynasty worships the earth, I, Zhong Shan, establish the Great Zheng Dynasty, receiving the protection of heaven and earth, prospering and flourishing, with heavenly and earthly blessings. Accepting boundless fortune, the dynasty cannot contain it all, thus I sincerely request heaven and earth to bestow the Great Zheng the position of the heavens and earth, to elevate to an imperial dynasty, Fengchan to the Emperor of Heaven!"
"Boom~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
As Zhong Shan's words fell, a tremendous thunderclap reverberated through the heavens and earth, resonating deep within everyone's hearts, instilling a profound sense of awe.
"Whoosh~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
The infinite fortune in the sky suddenly began to swirl, gradually forming a massive vortex, slowly funneling down into the Fengshen List.
The Fengshen List, being bathed in the boundless fortune, then emitted a golden beam of light which shot into the five-colored earth below Zhong Shan's feet, seemingly transferring all this fortune into another object.
Indeed, buried within the five-colored earth was Zhong Shan's Fang Tian Jade Seal.
The infinite fortune poured into it, continuously absorbed by the Fang Tian Jade Seal, like a bottomless pit devouring the fortune of heaven and earth.
Above the Fang Tian Jade Seal, the Nine Dragons Suppressing Treasure, the artifact that brought Zhong Shan to this world, began to emit faint colorful rays amidst the fortune's cleansing. The jade dragons on the Fang Tian Jade Seal seemed to come alive, twisting and turning, attempting to swallow the red pearl. However, the red pearl, unwilling to be devoured by the jade dragons, flared with red light, suppressing the Nine Dragons once again.
Soon, all the boundless fortune in the sky was completely absorbed by the Fang Tian Jade Seal.
Observing the disappearance of the fortune, Emperor Xuan Sha, standing at a distance, narrowed his eyes. While others might not understand the implications, not even Princess Qianyou, Emperor Xuan Sha was fully aware. This was no ordinary advancement of a dynasty. Though the massive fortune already indicated the status of an imperial dynasty, Zhong Shan's actions went beyond that; he was gathering all the fortune to himself. If Emperor Xuan Sha's guess was correct, Zhong Shan was incorporating this fortune into his own jade seal.
Why? Because Zhong Shan aimed to transform the heaven-bestowed fortune into his own personal fortune. The fortune that would be released again would not just belong to heaven and earth, but also to Zhong Shan.
This was the path to upgrading to a Celestial Dynasty!
Ordinary empires cannot upgrade to a Celestial Dynasty. Why? Because their fortune, though protecting them, still belongs to heaven and earth. However, a Celestial Dynasty's fortune is deeply imprinted with the sovereign's aura.
Was Zhong Shan's fortune the same?
Emperor Xuan Sha's eyes flickered with surprise.
Not only Emperor Xuan Sha but also Mr. Shi down below noticed this peculiarity, his pupils slightly contracting.
As the Fang Tian Jade Seal absorbed all the fortune, after a moment, the boundless fortune burst out from the square altar, shooting up into the sky, passing through Zhong Shan's body and cleansing him.
"Boom～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"
The sky was filled with auspicious signs, with an endless surge of golden fortune, rolling and unceasing, even more vibrant than the fortune gathered before. The massive five-colored earth altar, as the fortune shot up to the sky, scattered its glow across the heavens, forming a radiant five-colored light that illuminated the entire Xuanjing. Not just Xuanjing, but the entire Heavenly Wolf Island was enveloped in boundless auspicious clouds.
Zhong Shan remained shrouded in the vast fortune, bathed in golden light. He held the Divine Tablet in his left hand and the Heaven-Soothing Seal in his right, closing his eyes as if relishing the cleansing effect of the fortune. This fortune was overwhelmingly vast, far surpassing the amount from the defeat of Six Paths. The fortune of an entire imperial dynasty was washing over Zhong Shan.
After the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the remaining fortune finally dispersed from Zhong Shan's body and soared into the sky. Zhong Shan felt an immense sense of comfort. His cultivation level advanced once again, breaking through to the third level of the Nascent Soul stage due to the infinite cleansing of the fortune.
Opening his eyes, Zhong Shan gazed at the endless golden fortune that now belonged to him. Excitedly, he shouted, "The Heaven Emperor is established, the Great Ying Dynasty!～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"
"The Great Ying Dynasty! Long live our Emperor, long live, long live!～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"
The five hundred thousand soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing and spreading throughout Xuanjing and beyond. Everyone, whether it was Bao'er, Qianyou, Yinglan, Lin Xiao, or others, was filled with an overwhelming sense of excitement and trembling. In the distance, Hao Meili watched the countless people shouting with fervor and, for some reason, felt a twinge of envy.
On a distant peak, Emperor Xuanxia, watching Zhong Shan, took a deep breath and then showed a smile of anticipation. His figure flickered and disappeared.
Finally, the Great Ying Dynasty had ascended, the Heaven Emperor was established, and the conferral ceremony had come to an end.
Ten Days Later, in Zhong Shan's Study
Zhong Shan sat at his desk with the two empresses standing beside him. Wei Taizhong stood to one side, while Lin Xiao, Yinglan, Yi Yan, Mr. Corpse, and Lu Jianping stood in front of the desk.
"Lu Jianping!" Zhong Shan called.
"Present!" Lu Jianping responded.
"You were tasked with designing the strongest celestial city for the Great Ying Dynasty. How is the preparation going?" Zhong Shan inquired.
"Your Majesty, I have the design ready. It's derived from the 'Ten Thousand Cities Compendium'. Although parts of it have been removed by my master, I am the only one who knows the entire plan. It is the 'First City of Heaven and Earth'. However, it requires an enormous amount of time, labor, materials, and effort to build. Just gathering the materials alone is extremely challenging." Lu Jianping explained.
"Oh?" Zhong Shan's eyes brightened, and everyone else showed signs of surprise.
Seeing everyone's attention on him, Lu Jianping took a deep breath and, with a hint of excitement, said, "Your Majesty, have you ever considered building such a grand city, not on the ground, but suspended among the clouds, above the nine heavens, to receive homage from all the cities in the world, transcending all things, the Celestial City of the Sky?"