Transmigrating over ten thousand years late, I was forced to become a mighty presence - Chapter 553

Chapter 553: Chapter 245 Capital City God Returns to His Place_1
 

While the battle in the Imperial Capital Marketplace remained at a stalemate, beneath the Imperial City’s great altar, civil and military officials had already gathered.

Above the steps of the great altar, exactly three thousand six hundred and fifty City God Furnaces were fully ignited, the incense smoke rising to the sky in wisps, causing the magnificent golden shrine hall to become increasingly solidified under the nourishment of the incense offering.

Emperor Xia, clad in an imperial robe adorned with patterns of golden dragons amidst clouds, had the intertwined aura of humanity fate and the dynasty’s fortune enveloping him, an air of inexpressible nobility about him.

Despite suffering a heavy blow to humanity fate and the dynasty’s fortune just a few hours ago, it was undeniable that Emperor Xia still held the authority of half a Mortal Emperor’s status.

As long as he remained seated on the throne, he was still the sovereign of all of Great Xia, the eternal emperor of a human Imperial Dynasty.

“Your Majesty, the auspicious time has come!”

Minister of Ceremonies Xu Yankuan stood by, speaking with respectful tones.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xia’s gaze slowly shifted away from the direction of the Imperial Capital Marketplace.

The standoff between Zhou Kuang and Gong Buyu in the marketplace had caught him off guard and entered his sight long ago.

The awakening of the heir to the throne status within Xia Yunqiu posed a slight threat to him.

However, with his current situation, he did not have much energy to concern himself with the struggle within the Imperial Capital Marketplace.

With the Imperial Capital Great Array Formation unable to be utilized, the combat power below the Spirit Refining Stage simply could not influence the outcome of that struggle.

Although the Imperial Palace still harbored several beings comparable to Zhou Kuang, sheltering Zhou Kuang alone with the Great Array was already the limit; the emergence of another Spirit Refining Stage being from a different race would inevitably invite a Heavenly Tribulation, adding unpredictability to the situation.

Rather than trying to completely solve the problems with Gong Buyu and Xia Yunqiu, it was better to complete the Capital City God ritual.

Once the grand trend of the whole world was in his grasp, insignificant beings like Gong Buyu could be suppressed with a mere flick of his hand.

His gaze landed on the massive altar before him, a lofty ninety-five zhang in height, like a mountain that linked to this realm.

Emperor Xia’s robe billowed as he lightly touched the Sword of Humanity at his waist with his left hand and held aloft the Mortal Emperor’s seal in his right, taking a slow step toward the altar before him.

“Roar of thunder!”

In that instant, heaven and earth seemed to sense something, a colossal thunderbolt tearing through the firmament toward the Imperial Capital, the thunderbolt turning myriad evil spirits into ash where it struck.

The aura of humanity fate converged above the Imperial Capital, and the tremendous Imperial Capital Great Array Formation rose from the ancient city, materializing a colossal cauldron phantom that effortlessly blocked the thunderbolt.

Across Great Xia, within the many City God Temples, statues of all different shapes began to quiver, with the faint spark of divinity being conceived within them.

Though Emperor Xia was advanced in age, his steps were still firm, and within the few breaths’ time of the lightning strike, he had ascended dozens of steps towards the heights.

With each step onto a new level, the incense within the City God Furnaces that he passed began to take shape, transforming into countless figures of local deities in ceremonial attires with unique faces.

The heavens trembled as thunder struck down again from above the cloud firmament, yet it was engulfed by the great formation’s cauldron phantom.

But this time, the cauldron did not repel it as effortlessly as before; strands of lightning scattered from within the cauldron, pale thunder falling like curtains of rain, scattering throughout the entire Imperial Capital.

“Hmph!”

Emperor Xia’s stride suddenly halted, and he grunted softly.

But then, he resumed his ascent.

With each thunderbolt that fell, the already damaged foundation of humanity fate fell back into turmoil, and the lightning that scattered into the Imperial Capital grew more abundant.

In front of the Great Altar, the civil and military officials who watched this scene had a look of shock and uncertainty in their eyes.

They saw the initiation of the ritual for all City Gods by Emperor Xia as a move that should protect the common people, something that wouldn’t necessarily be rewarded by heaven and earth, but also shouldn’t provoke such intense Heavenly Tribulation.

Of course, if it were only this matter, the officials, despite their doubts, would not express them.

After all, none of those present had ever experienced a Grand City God ritual, and the partial information they understood also came from records in ancient books, which might not be accurate.

But the various incidents previously initiated by Xia Yunqiu had revealed Emperor Xia’s desire for the ritual, planting the seed of doubt in the officials’ hearts.

This abnormal thunderous retribution, coupled with Emperor Xia’s actions—resolving to confer the positions of local City Gods to the Netherworld and local noble families, all to forcefully push the ritual—had already brought an ominous premonition to the hearts of the civil and military officials.

Seeing this, Prime Minister Wenn, the foremost of the Three Excellencies, took a step forward and called out in a loud voice to Emperor Xia, who was ascending the great altar:

“Your Majesty, the Heavenly Tribulation falling on the day of inaugurating the Capital City God ritual indicates divine will.

Divine will must not be defied; please halt the ritual for now, and make a decision once the divine will has been ascertained!”

With the Prime Minister speaking out, many officials who harbored apprehensions on the court immediately resonated with him.

One after another, the officials stepped forward, advising Emperor Xia against continuing the ritual.

“We beseech Your Majesty to cease the ritual!”

“The arrival of Heavenly Tribulation is an ominous sign!”

“Your Majesty, please choose another auspicious day!”

The civil and military officials themselves symbolized an essential part of the dynasty’s fortune; as they spoke out in unison, the dynasty’s fortune swiftly plunged into unrest.

Even as an emperor of humanity, it was impossible to completely ignore the advice of the officials.

Emperor Xia’s pace slowed slightly; at this moment, he was already feeling the pressure from the officials.

Turning his head to look behind, Emperor Xia’s eyes showed an unmistakable disdain.

Under normal circumstances, given his authority as Emperor of Great Xia for several decades, the officials, despite their suspicions, would not dare to speak against him at this time.