This could be considered one of the major ceremonial events of humankind. Planet Ancient Emperor was normally not opened up outside of use for ancestral sacrifices. In order to bring the ancient planet out of a state of sleep, a large amount of human destiny aura needed to be spent. What was more, much of the ancient planet’s reserve powers needed to be used.

Back when humans conquered Revered Ancient, that was the location of the imperial palace. Before the broken face arrived, countless species would travel there as a pilgrimage. It was even featured in the art of many species. It represented heavenly might, and was considered a holy land to all.

When Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity and his subordinates left, that planet still maintained its lofty status. That was because it contained the legacies of 108 heavenly marquises who followed the Ancient Emperor, as well as the astonishing daos of the 33 heavenly kings of that time. For example, Li Zihua’s legacy was still there.

What generated the most anticipation, though, were the sealing marks left behind by the nine Grand Emperors.

The time of Ancient Emperor Dark Serenity was a golden age for humanity, when human destiny aura was at its peak. Because of that, nine amazing Grand Emperors rose up during that time. Any human who acquired the legacy of a Grand Emperor would achieve a seismic change in status and position. What was more, their cultivation would be dramatically affected.

Sadly, Planet Ancient Emperor wasn’t opened up very often. As a result, not many people had been able to gain enlightenment of the legacies of the heavenly marquises or heavenly kings, although there were a few cases of successes. As for the Grand Emperor’s sealing marks, none had succeeded in acquiring them. Most of the time, the success stories involved the legacies of the heavenly marquises, or lower than that, such as daoist magics left behind by heroic humans who had died in battle.

The numerous organizations and groups in the imperial capital were immediately shaken to the core….

***

In the Star Emperor Preeminence Sect’s Heaven-Gazing Pavilion, Junior Emperor Peng, the same one who had hosted the banquet at the Red Dust Pavilion, opened his eyes.

The emperor is opening up the ancient planet. All human chosen can seek enlightenment of the ancient daos!

His eyes glittered brightly.

Ling Yao has rejected me so many times. Forget her primal yin. As a junior emperor with the bloodline of a Grand Emperor, I’ll have a huge advantage with the legacies of Planet Ancient Emperor. If I can get one, then I’ll get that dragon pendant and the protection of destiny aura. With that, I can easily step from Spirit Trove and into Void Returning. In fact, if things go well, I could very well reach Smoldering God.

***

In the northwest of the imperial capital was an ancient temple. From the outside, it looked like any ordinary temple, albeit mottled with age. However, there was another dimension inside, filled with numerous otherworldly paradises.

In one of those otherworldly paradises was a cultivator who resembled a monk. He was middle-aged, with no hair and a tattooed face. Close examination of the tattoos revealed that they depicted the broken face.

A voice spoke to the man, saying, “Burning Star, when Planet Ancient Emperor opens, you will represent Words of Truth to seek enlightenment there.”

The middle-aged man opened his eyes and crossed his arms. “Understood,” he said. He stood, put on a fresh white robe that included a voluminous hood, and started walking.

With his first step, he blurred. With his second step, he vanished. With his third step, he appeared on the rainbow bridge outside the imperial palace. There, he waited.

***

Similar scenes played out in all ten of the superpower sects. Out of the Red Dust Pavilion came Ling Yao. Other chosen emerged from the other sects.

In the Five Greater Celestial Divisions, qualified individuals who had been groomed for greatness emerged one by one. It was the same with the Five Lesser Celestial Divisions, and the children from the nobility.

Of course, it was also the same with the imperial princes and princesses.

Grand Princess and Second Princess had entered marriage alliances, and weren’t in the imperial capital. Fifth Prince was with the number-one heavenly king, who was guarding the border with the Firemoon Darkheaven people. Grand Prince, who was beloved by the emperor, was not present. Nor were Eighth and Ninth Princes, who had all withdrawn their names immediately. But with those exceptions, all other princes and princesses would participate.

Most people wanted the dragon pendant because of the destiny aura it would provide, and the immense blessings it would bring. As for the imperial princes and princesses… they were more concerned with what the dragon pendant symbolized. After all, this was the first time since Emperor Dark War’s ascendancy to the throne… that he was offering the dragon pendant, which symbolized the emperor himself, as a reward.

The implications were profound. And not one person who qualified to participate in this event was a fool. They all understood.

“The emperor is offering his dragon pendant…. If this is real, does it mean that the emperor is going to choose a crown prince?”

“Regardless, though it seems like this event is being put on for all the elites, the reality is that most people will be playing minor roles. The true centers of attention… will be the imperial princes.”

“The emperor is going to be assessing his sons to see which one is most deeply approved by the ancestors!”

“Of course, if someone can stand out in seeking enlightenment, then it will be a big opportunity for them!”

As the buzz of conversation filled the city, numerous figures started gathering on the rainbow bridge. Before long, there were several thousand of them.

Inside the imperial palace, the emperor looked out from the ninth stair. With the slight flick of his sleeve, he started walking down the steps.

“My dear subjects, please accompany me as I inspect the future pillars of humankind. The current era is ours, while the future era belongs to them.”

The emperor’s voice contained rare emotion.

Everyone in the palace hall smiled, and their expressions contained similar levels of emotion. Seemingly mirroring the feelings of their monarch, they followed as the emperor led the way outside.

Xu Qing was among them. As for Ningyan, he purposely slowed down a bit until he was walking next to Xu Qing. The two of them exchanged a glance, and Xu Qing could see the loneliness in Ningyan’s eyes. He knew that Ningyan feared the emperor, and also knew that everything which had just played out during the session of court had left Ningyan feeling nervous. Most relevant of all was that, during the entire time, the emperor hadn’t even looked at Ningyan, nor said a single word. It was no wonder Ningyan was feeling lonely.

“You’ll be fine,” Xu Qing said with a nod.

Ningyan breathed a sigh of relief. Xu Qing felt like the big brother he’d never had, and he always felt safe by his side. In fact, he even made sure to step a bit closer to Xu Qing as they walked together. Inside, he felt bitter and sorrowful. On the one side was his own father, on the other side was his friend. And the entire time, his father acted as cold as winter. His father, always mighty and grand, and cold, without a bit of warmth for Ningyan. In contrast, his friend was amiable and trustworthy.

The hundreds of people emerging from the palace instantly attracted the attention of the chosen gathering on the rainbow bridge. With solemn expressions on their faces, they bowed in the direction of the palace hall.

The emperor extended his right hand and pushed it up toward the sky. Wild colors flashed in heaven and earth. Winds screamed. Golden dragons roared. And boundless destiny aura swept from the imperial palace toward Planet Ancient Emperor. As it wrapped around the surface of the planet, dragons roared, almost as if they were cheering. 𝓯𝘸ℴ𝘷.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The destiny aura cheered, and the humans cheered. Planet Ancient Emperor’s clouds swirled, moving faster and faster until a heaven-rending, earth-crushing rumbling sound could be heard.

Then Planet Ancient Emperor began to open, like a massive eye. The moment it happened, heaven and earth went dim as boundless auspicious light erupted. The sea of clouds went wild as projected images of countless human heroes appeared in them. A huge vortex formed, out of which spread a shocking gravitational force.

The chief minister, who stood right behind the emperor, looked out at the rainbow bridge and called, “Planet Ancient Emperor is hereby opened. All elites of our species, you have one day. If you don’t seek enlightenment now, when will you?”

The thousands of human chosen on the rainbow bridge took to flight immediately, rising into the air and into the gravitational force of Planet Ancient Emperor. They became like meteors shooting through the air. Before long, thousands of figures were just outside of Planet Ancient Emperor. Some sat atop the clouds, others sank into them. All closed their eyes to seek enlightenment. Princes and chosen alike mingled together.

There were different levels to which Planet Ancient Emperor could be opened, and on this occasion, it was limited to the first level. At this level, people couldn’t actually enter the planet and reach its surface, but rather, could seek enlightenment in its cloud cover.

The seeking of enlightenment revolved around the legacies that drifted there. They looked differently and behaved differently, with some being very active on the outer layers, while others slept deep within the planet.

As a result, the seeking of enlightenment was like a two-way street. Although the cultivator’s own qualities were important, what was of more importance was which legacy from Planet Ancient Emperor approved of them the most.

Xu Qing looked up at the thousands of people on Planet Ancient Emperor, and then he looked at Ningyan. “You should participate.”

Ningyan hesitated, looked at Xu Qing, looked at the distant emperor, and then gritted his teeth and flew up toward the planet. A moment later, he was in the clouds above the planet, his expression serious as he settled down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

The emperor’s gaze drifted across Planet Ancient Emperor, not stopping on anyone in particular. Eventually, he turned to look at Xu Qing.

“My dearest subject Xu Qing, given your age and cultivation base, if you wish to seek enlightenment, you may.”

Xu Qing considered the matter. Under normal circumstances, he definitely would have attempted to seek enlightenment. After all, ancient legacies would always come with immense benefits. But he had other things to consider. He had been working for half a month on the blood pill Plumdark needed, and it was getting close to completion. Until it was done, he needed to check on it regularly and make adjustments.

I need to go check the pill furnace within about four hours. If I don’t, all my work up to this point will have been a waste….

Having reached a decision, he bowed to the emperor.

“Many thanks, Your Majesty, but my powers of understanding are ordinary at best. I don’t want to waste the destiny aura of humankind.”

The emperor didn’t make any attempt to persuade Xu Qing to change his mind. Instead, he looked at his guards. The guards knew exactly what that look meant, and they hurried to produce a row of tables outside the palace. When it was done, the emperor sat down, joined by the hundreds of officials who had attended court.

Immortal fruits and fine alcohols were served, allowing the emperor and his officials to watch the younger ones seeking enlightenment. The mood quickly became jovial. Many people chatted and laughed as they assessed the chosen from the various clans and organizations. Most words were those of praise.

Xu Qing suddenly noticed an old man standing next to him clad in blue court attire. The old man clasped hands and smiled.

“Exalted Xu, are you sure you don’t want to seek enlightenment? It would be a shame to miss out on a rare opportunity like this.”

Xu Qing returned his salute and politely said, “Sadly, I have limited aptitude.”

The old man was about to reply when the emperor’s voice rang out.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there is no distinction between emperor and official here. Which of my sons do you think is most suitable to become the crown prince?”

Nobody said a word in response. A long moment passed.

Then the chief minister quietly said, “The imperial preceptor assesses astrological phenomena and measures destiny aura. He must surely have an opinion.”

The emperor turned his head slightly to the left. There was nothing there, but the emperor still said, “What do you think, Imperial Preceptor?”

The moment those words left the emperor’s mouth, Xu Qing looked up at the spot to the emperor’s left.

He saw faint fluctuations, indicating a person was there who couldn’t be seen clearly.