Immortal Travel of Longevity

Following the conclusion of the Investiture of Immortals Assembly, a few unexpected developments gradually emerged in the Mortal World.

The most obvious was that demons caused trouble far less frequently. The memorials submitted by local officials rarely mentioned such incidents anymore.

The nine newly appointed celestial officials began managing the affairs of the Mortal World. Each guarded a specific domain, governing the demons in their respective regions so they would no longer plague the human realm. A sense of order gradually formed between humans and demons.

The chaos born from the fluctuations in Spiritual Energy was finally brought into line.

But in truth, nine celestial officials were far from enough.

Perhaps Great Xiang would appoint new celestial officials in the future, but it would certainly never be done in a manner as hasty and chaotic as this Investiture of Immortals Assembly.

This also raised a new problem: demons needed restraint, but celestial officials needed it just as much. Yan Ruchu had noticed this issue and was searching for a solution.

The Human Sovereign held tremendous authority over the Mortal World. Resolving this was not actually a difficult task; it simply depended on whether he dared to imagine the possibilities.

Next, temples belonging to the Buddhist Schools began springing up across the Mortal World.

Thanks to a decree of conferment from the emperor, the Buddhist Schools also gained the right to open temples.

This was essentially exploiting a loophole—using a celestial official's right to build temples to carry out the Buddhist Schools' preaching. Although unorthodox, it subtly aligned with the will of heaven.

As a result, the qi destiny of the Buddhist Schools steadily surged, slowly revealing itself to the eyes of the world.

As the order between humans and demons was gradually perfected, Great Xiang's qi destiny rose in tandem. This was an inevitable outcome.

Those who profited were not limited to demons, ghosts, and gods. The officials and scholars of the Human Dao also sensed this subtle change. Literary Qi and the nation's qi destiny gradually coalesced, granting mortals the ability to contend against supernatural forces through alternative paths.

But in truth, the most important factor was karma.

It was profoundly mystical.

"Cough, cough..."

That winter, a heavy snowstorm hit.

The snow crushed many houses outside Shangjing City. Countless people were displaced, reduced to begging, or simply froze to death in the bitter cold. Every day, several corpses were hauled out to the wilderness for burial.

Although the realm had become somewhat more peaceful, suffering had not decreased. Natural disasters and man-made calamities remained a major crisis plaguing the Mortal World.

The Imperial Court immediately initiated disaster relief, but the results were negligible.

However, it was said that the Metropolitan Governor brought up the matter of disaster prevention and relief in the Imperial Court. He argued vigorously with the many court officials, and despite the state treasury lacking funds, he managed to secure policies ensuring the common people would not have to fear natural disasters in the coming year. As a result, the title of Metropolitan Governor resounded throughout Shangjing City.

Whether it was street vendors, patrons in taverns, or guests in teahouses, everyone without exception praised him. The Metropolitan Governor thus earned a stellar reputation.

In reality, this move earned the Metropolitan Governor the enmity of many within the Imperial Court. The bitterness of this burden was likely something only he truly understood.

To be a good official, the burdens one had to bear were inevitably extraordinary.

Yet it was also during this winter that a massive upheaval occurred within the Imperial Palace.

The emperor, who had relied on a heating stove even in the summer, now had a feeble breath and a deathly pale face.

A eunuch and Physician Wenzhu knelt beside his bed.

The man on the Dragon Bed stared up at the canopy. His eyes brimmed with an immense reluctance to leave this world, yet he had accepted this conclusion for himself.

This was something he believed he deserved to endure, and something he had to endure, because he was someone who should have died long ago.

"Let it be, let it be..."

Yan Ruchu seemed to sense what was coming.

With a heavy sigh, he spoke to the eunuch kneeling before the bed, "I am leaving..."

Hearing this, the eunuch froze for a moment before bursting into bitter tears. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Yan Ruchu waved a hand weakly.

"Do not forget what must be done," Yan Ruchu said.

Panicked, the eunuch hurriedly called out to Physician Wenzhu beside him.

"Physician Wen, Physician Wen!!"

Physician Wenzhu hastily stepped forward to check on him. But in truth, he knew very well that His Majesty's condition was already beyond salvation.

"Somebody! Come quickly!"

Amidst the eunuch's wailing, the servants and imperial guards of the Imperial Palace all burst into the room.

In the next moment, however, Yan Ruchu's hand fell limp.

His final breath faded away.

Physician Wenzhu closed his eyes and knelt on the floor.

This emperor, who had devotedly governed and brought prosperity to Great Xiang, met his end in this cold winter.

"The Emperor has passed!"

"The Emperor has passed!!"

Accompanied by a chorus of loud wailing, the entire Imperial Palace was soon draped in a bleak, tragic white.

Few had known of the emperor's impending death or why this had happened. The concubines of the Imperial Harem only learned of His Majesty's illness through Physician Wenzhu's subsequent explanation.

With the death of the emperor, a state funeral was declared. The concubines of the Imperial Harem, along with the civil and military officials, were to observe mourning for twenty-seven days...

The officials gave this adversary who had loomed over their heads their utmost respect—a respect that came from the bottom of their hearts.

However, the emperor's sudden passing left many feeling uneasy. A nation could not go a single day without a monarch. With numerous vital state affairs still waiting to be handled, some people inevitably grew anxious.

"Did Imperial Father leave behind a final edict?"

But no one answered this question.

Among the many adopted sons Yan Ruchu had taken in, every single one harbored their own dark designs, itching to lay claim to the throne.

And among them, the Second Prince was the most impatient.

He launched a mutiny on the fourth day of state mourning. He naively believed that with His Majesty gone, no one would be standing guard, but before he could even breach the palace gates, he was captured by the troops stationed in the shadows.

Later, following the deliberations of the officials, the Second Prince was thrown into the imperial prison, his fate to be decided after the mourning period concluded.

Then came the final day of state mourning.

The eunuch, who had knelt before the Sarcophagus for days without rising, suddenly lifted his head.

He stood up and looked at the officials and concubines behind him.

"This old servant has been ordered to convey His Majesty's decree."

"The final edict is located behind the plaque in Fengtian Hall. The Metropolitan Governor, Lord Wang, is to retrieve it in person and proclaim the final edict!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present could no longer sit still.

The most astonished of all was Wang Ping'an, who held the position of Metropolitan Governor.

He didn't understand why such a task had fallen upon his shoulders.

Under the gazes of the crowd, he had no choice but to follow the eunuch to Fengtian Hall.

A palace attendant fetched a ladder.

Behind him, hundreds of eyes stared at him intently.

Ping'an's heart was in turmoil. He could not figure out why His Majesty had left him such a daunting task.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he climbed the ladder and finally retrieved the final edict from behind the plaque.

But when he unrolled the edict and glanced at it, he froze on the spot.

"Lord Wang, what is written on the edict?"

Ping'an opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He suddenly felt his mouth run dry, his thoughts twisting into a chaotic mess.

"Lord Wang?"

Ping'an snapped back to reality. Looking at the officials before him, he spoke up, "His Majesty decrees..."

"The throne of the Emperor..."

He paused for a moment. Only after opening his mouth several times did he finally manage to utter the last few words.

"Each to their own abilities."

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