Chapter 419: Chapter 257: The Crown Prince Commits Regicide, The Death of Emperor Yong’an, Emperor Orange Fate Grid [Python and Sparrow Swallowing Dragon]

The entire grand hall began to tremble.

In the Great Yan Imperial Palace, the civil and military officials, the Noble Royal Family, the Three Academy Cultivators, the Imperial Experts... everyone heard the miserable roar of the Underground Dragon Vein echoing from the depths of the Imperial Palace.

Many felt as if some great terror was being born into the world.

It was like the end of the world had come.

Amidst the deafening roar, a ferocious, golden, giant dragon burst through the dome of the Imperial Palace, clearly visible to all.

"Great Yan’s Fortune?"

Cries of alarm rose up all at once.

Great Yan’s Fortune, gathered from the Dragon Vein, manifested and loomed over the Great Yan Capital City.

This National Fortune Golden Dragon blazed with roaring flames, symbolizing that Great Yan belonged to the element of fire.

Emperor Yong’an’s new body, covered in incredibly sinister black patterns, looked indescribably bizarre—just like one of the Demon Cultivators from the Demon Country. He soared into the air, standing tall in the void and looking down upon Lu Mingyuan.

Now, bearing the full weight of Great Yan’s Fortune, blessed by its Destiny, and bolstered by the power of the great Divine Pearl, he felt an unprecedented surge of confidence.

He wouldn’t be afraid even if a Confucian Saint stood before him.

"As long as Great Yan does not fall, I am the sovereign of this nation, with its Destiny upon me. Unfilial son, what do you have to fight me with? You may have the Three Religions’ Token, but this Divine Pearl on my person is the Divine Source of the most ancient of Divine Beings."

The people looked up at the god-like Golden Dragon Emperor in the distant sky. They couldn’t make out the figure clearly, but they could sense a familiar aura.

"Could that person be the Holy Emperor? He isn’t dead?"

"Impossible. Didn’t the Holy Emperor die? Why is he confronting the Crown Prince now?"

"This power... it’s so evil. It doesn’t seem to be from the Central Plains. Could it be... the Holy Emperor really did collude with the Demoness of the Demon Kingdom?"

Many people had already begun to speculate on what was happening.

They were witnessing the confrontation between Emperor Yong’an and the Crown Prince with their own eyes.

Lu Mingyuan’s gaze was calm as he said nonchalantly, "There are some things I have to tell you. What you so desperately desire is now within my grasp."

"Not just the Destiny of the Three Religions, but the true method of long life, and even the truth of the Holy Nether Divine Being."

"If the Central Earth Human Race wishes to break into the Upper Three Grades, why must they rely on the Holy Nether Technique? The method of relying on Divine Beings—a path our ancestors spent ten thousand years to finally abandon—you have picked it back up."

"Why are there no gods in the Central Plains, while the Holy Netherworld has them? It is the result for which countless sages and heroes fought and died, one after another. Now, you have undoubtedly abandoned the people of Great Yan and forsaken the Cultivators of the Central Plains who live on this land."

His experience in the Grand Thousand Canglan Map had made Lu Mingyuan understand.

If one truly wished to stand at the pinnacle of this world, one must know oneself, improve oneself, and rely on oneself.

"Enough talk! We’ll know who’s right after we fight!"

But Emperor Yong’an was unwilling to waste any more words with him, striking out with a palm that carried the Dragon Shadow of a majestic Dharma Aspect.

"If you want to fight, then bring it on."

With a calm response, Lu Mingyuan swiftly absorbed the Destiny from the Yuqing Peach Talisman—the failsafe left behind by the Yuqing Ancestor Master.

He officially gathered the power of the Three Religions and charged toward the Martial Saint Realm!

[Emperor Orange Fate Grid - Martial Saint, Refinement Level increased to 20%]

[Absorbed the Destiny of the Li Sheng Lineage. Triggered Trait "True Martial." Cultivation has been temporarily promoted to the Martial Saint Realm.]

[Crimson Gold Fate Grid (True Dragon Emperor): The Celestial Dao revives, and a True Dragon is born. With a single breath, it grows mighty; the Five-Star Radiant Spirit shines. Its might covers the Four Seas, its rule extends over the Eight Desolations. An Emperor above the heavens, the Lord of all Humans. In the great era’s strife, I have received the Celestial Mandate!]

[Crimson Gold Fate Grid - True Dragon Emperor, Refinement Level increased to 15%]

[Refinement Level at 15%. Unlocked Life Chart Trait - Great Emperor (Basic Level)]

[Great Emperor (Basic Level): Ziwei is the chamber of the Great Emperor, the essence of the Grand Unity. The higher the Cultivation and Destiny, the greater the prestige and oppressive aura. Ignores many negative effects of Cultivation Techniques. Words spoken are easily believed.]

The Martial Saint Realm!

Breaking through to Martial Saint allowed Lu Mingyuan to absorb enough Destiny to sufficiently refine the "True Dragon Emperor" Fate Grid, obtaining the "Great Emperor" trait.

In an instant, an astonishing aura and pressure swept out from Lu Mingyuan, blanketing everything.

"Yang Su."

Lu Mingyuan reached out and clenched his fist. Yang Su transformed into a streak of light and returned to his hand.

This streak of light shot across the sky, flashing through the pupils of every person looking up at it.

What is a Martial Saint?

To shake the heavens with a single punch!

To have one’s vitality reach the heavens!

To be able to suppress an entire nation!

「Above the Mortal World, beyond the Celestial Gate.」

Wei the Ninth stood alone, blocking the path to the Celestial Gate that the Ascension Platform of the Middle Ages faced. Vague, colossal shadows flickered past; the Thirty-Three Heavens of the Celestial Palace wanted to break through his line of defense and interfere with the Mortal World, but he held them back within the Celestial Gate.

At this moment, seeing Lu Mingyuan’s Realm reach the Martial Saint Realm, he couldn’t help but chuckle and nod, saying one word:

"Good."

At the entrance to the bedchambers, the late-arriving Sui Yuqing and Xu Changqing stared intently at the sky.

Sui Yuqing gazed toward the horizon. She still couldn’t see the battle, only hearing deadly, explosive roars that sounded as if the heavens themselves were quaking.

The Crown Prince, who was so good at forbearance and considering the bigger picture, had actually reached that Realm so few Martial Artists in the world could ever hope to attain.

She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "Your Highness, you have to succeed."

...

At the gates of the Imperial City, a White-haired Daoist Nun with a cold and transcendent air wiped the blood from the blade of her ancient Celestial Burial Immortal Sword. As she looked at the sky, an indescribable complexity appeared in her eyes.

’The handsome young man from back at the Great Snowfield in the Cold Palace, the one who would curse how cold it was whenever he encountered a blizzard... has he really grown this much?’

Sweet memories surfaced in Yun Qinghe’s mind. The corners of her lips curled up inexplicably, and she narrowed her beautiful eyes, looking toward the bizarre kaleidoscope of lights in the clouds.

If this Mortal World...

...were without you.