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World's First Traitor System (223)
🕑 Added 2024-06-27 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 223 - The Investiture of the Gods
Within the Dragon God Palace in Peng City, Fan Li stared at Tuan Tuan, the small divine beast sleeping soundly in his arms. As always, it seemed to do nothing but eat and sleep. However, recently, it had acquired a new "toy" - a pearl, the size of Fan Li's fist, that glowed with a soft, white light.
The pearl was perfectly round and white, like a piece of high-quality mutton-fat jade. But its weight was peculiar – light as a feather.
Tuan Tuan carried it everywhere, even holding it while it slept.
“Did Tuan Tuan steal this from someone?” he asked Wu Gang.
The little beast, a mix of cat and dog in appearance, also shared their habits.
“I swear it did not,” Wu Gang replied, shaking her head seriously.
Fan Li sighed. He trusted Wu Gang's meticulousness. If she said it hadn't stolen the pearl, then it hadn't.
He gently took the pearl from Tuan Tuan’s grasp, examining it closely.
It had appeared out of thin air. What was it?
“Awoo~!”
The little beast had awakened. Fan Li looked down, seeing Tuan Tuan glaring at him.
Was it grumpy from being woken up?
“Aooo-awoooo~!” it growled, clearly unhappy.
Fan Li didn't understand the specific words, but he could tell it was a string of insults.
“Fine, fine. Here you go.” He returned the pearl, lightly tapping Tuan Tuan on the head.
The beast immediately softened, nuzzling against Fan Li and promptly falling back asleep.
“Do you think… that’s Tuan Tuan’s beast core?” Fan Li asked Wu Gang.
“No,” she replied without hesitation.
They chatted idly until news arrived from the Great Ming, a news that shook the entire world.
…
In the imperial palace of the Great Chu, Emperor Xiang Chong held court. He didn’t have any pressing matters to discuss, but he had received a message from Emperor Yao Guang, requesting he hold court at this specific time. She had hinted that something momentous would occur.
Xiang Chong had even specifically summoned Fan Li.
But Fan Li hadn't arrived yet.
"Why isn’t Duke Jin here yet? Send someone to hurry him along!" Xiang Chong said impatiently. Inwardly, however, he was delighted.
Yao Guang had implied that this event would deal a heavy blow to Fan Li’s arrogance.
Xiang Chong couldn't wait. He loved to see Fan Li suffer a setback, although such an event had yet to occur.
"Duke Jin has arrived! All hail Duke Jin!" a voice announced from outside.
Xiang Chong was furious. Those damned palace guards treated Fan Li like an emperor, yet they showed little respect to him, the actual Emperor of the Great Chu.
As he fumed, the palace doors swung open.
Fan Li, dressed in his Duke’s finery, strolled into the hall with an air of casual authority.
“Greetings, Duke Jin!”
All the officials turned and bowed to Fan Li in unison, their movements as synchronized as if they rehearsed daily.
“Your Majesty, why have you summoned me?” Fan Li asked casually.
He had only sent a clone. It was only natural. Xiang Chong had nothing of importance to discuss. If not for the fact that Fan Li had no intention of rebelling, and Xiang Chong was still technically the Emperor, he wouldn’t have bothered to come at all.
“Uh… Well… I haven’t seen Duke Jin in a while. I’ve missed you, haha, missed you greatly,” Xiang Chong lied, hoping the event Yao Guang had mentioned would occur soon.
“Is that all?” Fan Li frowned, glancing at the officials around them. “Your Majesty, the Great Chu has countless matters that require our attention. You have nothing of importance to discuss, yet you’ve summoned us all to the grand hall. We’re wasting time that could be spent on affairs of state. How can you face the previous emperors of the Great Chu?”
Xiang Chong almost cursed. What nonsense was this? He wasn’t on his deathbed. Why would he need to face the previous emperors?
And Fan Li was implying that he, the Emperor, was wasting time by holding court?
Fan Li looked down on him too much!
Unfortunately, Xiang Chong had no rebuttal. He could only pray that the event Yao Guang had mentioned would occur soon.
“From this day forward, the Imperial Seal of the Shang Dynasty shall be known as the Imperial Seal of Great Ci, protecting the destiny of our nation and ensuring its eternal prosperity!”
“From this day forward, Emperor Xin’s Human Sovereign Sword shall be known as the Emperor’s Sword of Great Ci! With this sword, I shall conquer the world for our dynasty!”
Emperor Yao Guang’s voice, echoing from the distant west, boomed through the hall.
Despite being a woman, her voice was filled with an undeniable authority, silencing even the most powerful men.
Xiang Chong was initially shocked, then overjoyed.
“My esteemed officials, did you hear that? Did you all hear that?” he exclaimed. “Emperor Yao Guang is truly extraordinary! Not only has she attracted hundreds of thousands of women to her new dynasty, but she’s also obtained the Emperor's treasures in such a short time! I am fortunate to be allied with the Great Ci Dynasty. From now on, we can rest easy, free from all internal and external threats!”
He emphasized the words “internal threats,” glancing mockingly at Fan Li.
The Great Ci Dynasty was his backer. The stronger they were, the more secure his throne would be, and the closer Fan Li would be to his demise.
This was good news indeed!
However, Fan Li’s reaction, calm and composed, surprised him.
Fan Li, already knowing that Qing Qiu would deliver the treasures to Yao Guang, remained calm. But what would Xiang Chong think if he knew that Fan Li had just "defeated" a Sage Ruler from the Pure Land, becoming her heart demon?
“Your Majesty, it is better to rely on oneself than on others,” Fan Li said. “As the ancient saying goes, ‘Heaven operates vigorously; a gentleman strives for self-improvement.’ Shouldn't the Great Chu strive to eliminate its own internal and external threats, to bring peace and prosperity to our people, instead of relying on outsiders? Moreover, the Great Ci Dynasty, upon its founding, lured away over a hundred thousand women from our nation. Such actions are no different from those of an enemy! Where is the loyalty in this so-called alliance?”
His impassioned speech left Xiang Chong speechless, his face burning with shame.
He realized that even his officials were looking at him with disdain. How could he possibly save face?
“But… But…”
Before he could retort, another voice, even more domineering than Yao Guang’s, echoed from the distant horizon.
“I am Jiajing, Emperor of the Great Ming, and I hereby declare to the world: The Vermilion Bird of the Great Ming has given birth to a divine artifact, now revealed to the world. This artifact is known as the ‘Investiture of the Gods.’ Only the wielder of the Investiture of the Gods is capable of achieving a national ascension. All others are merely dreaming. From this day forward, any man or woman of talent and virtue who pledges allegiance to the Great Ming, to me, shall have their name inscribed upon the Investiture of the Gods. The path to immortality is long and arduous. I, Jiajing, having obtained the Investiture of the Gods, am willing to open the path to immortality for all heroes of the world!”
A deathly silence fell over the grand hall. Xiang Chong’s face was ashen, and his officials were stunned.
They understood the implications of Emperor Jiajing’s words.
Only the wielder of the Investiture of the Gods could achieve a national ascension. All others were delusional?
Emperor Jiajing was openly poaching talent from the entire world! His methods were even more brazen than Yao Guang’s sermons.
Xiang Chong trembled. How many people, even those known for their loyalty and filial piety, could resist the allure of immortality?
After today, countless citizens of the Great Chu would undoubtedly defect to the Great Ming…
