Douluo Continent: Copying Ya Li, the Carefree King of the Sun and Moon

Xu Tianran looked at him quietly for a few seconds, then said, "Yan Li is in Xingluo. I order you to lead the Angel Legion there immediately to help him stabilize the situation and deter all forces."

Le Zhengyang was slightly taken aback, then nodded solemnly: "Your subordinate will immediately assemble the army."

"Wait a minute," Xu Tianran called out to him.

Le Zhengyang stopped and turned around, looking puzzled. Xu Tianran opened his mouth, a lot of words on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them back and simply waved his hand: "Go, be careful on your journey, and watch out for visitors from outer space."

Le Zhengyang frowned slightly, feeling that His Highness the Crown Prince was acting unusually today, but he dared not ask any questions. After bowing, he turned and strode away.

The study fell silent once more. Xu Tianran got up and walked to the window, gazing at the osmanthus tree in the courtyard. An autumn breeze swept by, and golden osmanthus blossoms fluttered down, carpeting the ground with their fragrance.

He stood quietly for a long time, then suddenly turned around, walked to the side of the desk, and pushed open a hidden door.

Behind the hidden door was a sealed room, square with no windows, only a few dim soul-guiding lamps embedded in the walls.

In the very center of the secret chamber stood a silver-white instrument, about half a person's height, with sleek and exquisite lines, completely unlike anything that should exist in the Douluo Continent. The instrument was spotless, clearly indicating that it was frequently and carefully wiped clean. Engraved on the front were two ancient seal characters: Nuwa.

Xu Tianran slowly stepped forward, reaching out to gently touch the two ancient characters, his fingertips feeling a cool touch. His gaze was complex and unreadable, a mixture of hesitation, struggle, and a hint of greed that even he himself was unwilling to admit.

"Come out," he said softly.

The secret door to the chamber was pushed open again, and Kong Deming slowly walked in. He first glanced at the instrument named "Nuwa," then looked at Xu Tianran, whose expression was solemn, and sighed helplessly: "Have you thought it through?"

Xu Tianran did not respond, his fingertips still tracing the ancient seal characters on the instrument.

“Your Highness,” Kong Deming walked to his side and lowered his voice, “This machine is said to have been personally built by Xu Yanli’s mother, the Star Luo Princess. She said it was a way out for the future, so that if one day the angelic bloodline were to be severed and the divinity to be lost, this machine could be used to continue the bloodline.”

He paused briefly, looking at Xu Tianran's tense profile, and continued to persuade her: "Meng Hongchen is doing this willingly. I asked her myself, and she said frankly that she was willing to offer a piece of her own flesh and blood to try. This is her blessing, and she doesn't even ask for any title."

Xu Tianran's fingers suddenly stopped.

He closed his eyes, and Xu Yanli's image involuntarily appeared in his mind. As a child, Xu Yanli would playfully call him "Royal Brother," haggle with him, and act lazy, occasionally revealing the cunning and cleverness typical of a young man. But more often, however, he possessed a composure and calmness far beyond his years, handling everything with ease and having everything under control.

He had always known in his heart that Xu Yanli was far more suitable than himself to wield the power of the world. But that boy had never been interested in the throne; he only wanted to be a carefree prince, to ascend to godhood, and to do those earth-shattering, unconventional things.

He never imagined that he would find himself in such a dilemma.

"Start it up."

After a long silence, Xu Tianran uttered three words in a hoarse voice.

He withdrew his hand, turned and walked out of the secret chamber without ever looking back. The door to the chamber slowly closed behind him, shutting out all movement inside.

Night quietly falls in Xingluo City.

The people in the side hall had long since dispersed. The red carpet was neatly laid out, the dragon robe was hung in place, the crown was properly arranged, and the table was laden with gleaming gold and silver ceremonial objects. Tomorrow was the coronation ceremony, and all preparations were complete, awaiting only the auspicious day.

Xu Yanli did not return to his residence, but remained seated cross-legged high in the air. The cool moonlight shone down, bathing him in a silvery-white glow. His eyes were lightly closed, seemingly focused on his cultivation, but in reality, his mind was in turmoil.

With Xingluo surrendering and Tianhun abandoning its allegiance, the Douling Empire won't last a month. Before long, the entire Douluo Continent will be incorporated into the Sun Moon Empire. For the first time in ten thousand years, the continent will finally usher in its first truly unified empire.

But for some reason, he didn't feel the expected joy and sense of accomplishment. Instead, he was overwhelmed by a faint weariness that wouldn't go away.

Chapter 199 Ascension to the Throne

The night in Xingluo City is utterly dark.

The entire night sky was like a pool of thick, unyielding ink, pressing heavily over the city.

The dazzling, milky-white pillar of faith that once shot straight into the sky during the day is now dim and powerless.

Only the old residential area in the north of the city remains, with a few slivers of light hanging forlornly, swaying violently in the wind, like a candle about to burn out, teetering on the verge of collapse.

High in the sky, Xu Yanli sat cross-legged in meditation.

The evening breeze swept by, causing his moon-white robe to flutter gently, but he remained as steady as a rock, motionless, silently suspended between the night sky.

With eyes gently closed and breaths almost imperceptible, her figure and aura completely merged into the boundless night.

My mind is in turmoil and I can't calm down.

His ideas could never keep up with the changes.

He had been sitting high in the air for most of the night after leaving the side hall of the palace.

From sunset until the moon was high in the sky, my mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts, and I couldn't calm down no matter what.

Tomorrow is his coronation ceremony.

The officials of the Ministry of Rites in the palace were busy all day long, not daring to relax for a moment.

The imperial red carpet was laid out neatly, and the emperor's star-studded robe, at Xu Yanli's suggestion, had been changed into a dragon robe. The crown was polished to a gleaming shine, and rows of various ceremonial objects were laid out, shimmering with golden light, dazzling to the eye.

Xu Jiawei's abdication edict had already been drafted and was quietly placed on the imperial desk in the main hall, with the imperial seal affixed, ready to be publicly announced to the world tomorrow.

Every process, every step of the way, went perfectly.

The more everything was ready, the more uneasy Xu Yanli felt, as if it were all an illusion, like walking on cotton.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked down at Xingluo City below.

The bustling city, teeming with traffic and people during the day, is now completely silent.

In the deep alley, a few scattered lights flickered on and off, like the half-open eyes of a sleepy person, languid and desolate.

Those once dazzling pillars of faith during the day are now incredibly weak. A few faint rays of light barely sustain them, so thin and fragile that they seem as if a strong wind could extinguish them completely.

This is the flame of faith left by his mother, a belief that he personally ignited and has protected all the way to this day.

But this is true of everything in the world. No matter how strong the fire is, it will eventually burn out, and no matter how nostalgic the person is, their time will come to an end.

One cannot be completely trapped in this ethereal and illusory faith.

Xu Yanli stared at those few remaining rays of light, silently watching for a very long time.

After a long while, he gently exhaled a breath of stale air. The warm white mist was swept away by the night breeze and vanished without a trace.

almost.

He muttered to himself.

He just needs to endure a little longer. Once the entire continent is completely unified, all worldly conflicts have come to an end, and the remaining flames of faith have reignited and taken firm root in the earth, he will set off for the realm of the gods.

Go and meet the sea god who sits high on the altar, looking down upon all living beings, and settle all the old scores and grudges that have been piling up for twenty years, one by one.

The night wind rose again, causing his robes to flutter wildly. Xu Yanli suppressed all the turmoil in his heart, cleared his mind of all distractions, and closed his eyes again.

He must handle tomorrow's grand coronation ceremony with composure.

The next day, before dawn had fully broken, the entire Star Luo City had already awakened ahead of schedule.

It's not a gradual awakening in the morning, but a sudden, noisy awakening.

A brand-new red notice with eye-catching black characters was posted on the city gate notice board, announcing to the whole city: The new emperor Xu Yanli ascended the throne today. The whole country is celebrating and the whole city is in joy.

The people, rubbing their sleepy eyes, crowded around the notice.

Some people who could read read the notice aloud, some watched in bewilderment, listening to others explain, and some who knew about the change of government and were grateful for the old kindness of the princess had tears in their eyes and were filled with emotion.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was one of extreme busyness and tension.

The eunuchs and palace maids got up and busied themselves from midnight, sprinkling water, sweeping, mopping, dusting, laying red carpets, and arranging the ceremonial procession. Everyone was in a hurry, their expressions tense, their nerves stretched to the limit, and they dared not make the slightest mistake.

In the side hall, Xu Yanli had already changed into the formal imperial robes.

Shedding his usual casual and elegant moon-white robes, he now donned a dark imperial robe. The robe was exquisitely embroidered with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, dragons, and phoenixes, the fine gold threads shimmering in the candlelight, exuding unparalleled magnificence.

But this magnificent imperial robe, though seemingly imposing, felt incredibly heavy on his body. The weight pressing down on his shoulders was even more grueling than the divine armor he wore during his conquests.

He stood before the bronze mirror, quietly gazing at his reflection.

His neat golden hair was completely gathered inside the crown, and twelve jade beads hung down in front of his forehead, swaying gently and just enough to cover half of his face. The dark imperial robe made his skin appear even more pale and clear. The youthful naiveté and sharpness of his youth had long since faded, leaving only a calm and solemn expression in his eyes.

His face showed neither joy nor anger, neither stiff nor fierce, only an extreme calm, as still as a bottomless pool of cold water.

"His Majesty."

A eunuch entered the hall quietly, bowed deeply, and said in a respectful tone: "The auspicious time has arrived; you may enter the hall to ascend the throne."

Xu Yanli nodded slightly and walked outside.

The wide hem of her imperial robe trailed on the ground as she walked, the black silk lightly brushing against the polished gold-brick floor, creating a soft, rustling sound. Her personal eunuch hurried forward, carefully supporting the trailing hem of her robe, following closely behind, holding his breath the entire time, not daring to make a sound.

From the side hall to the main hall of Taihe, there is a straight and long palace road.

The Imperial Guards stood in formation on both sides of the road, their armor gleaming, their spears arrayed, exuding an imposing aura.

Upon seeing Xu Yanli walking slowly towards them, the five hundred soldiers knelt down on one knee in unison, their movements perfectly synchronized, as if done by a single person.

This is the legion of angels who rushed here overnight.

The crisp sound of armor plates colliding echoed through the empty palace corridor, deep and majestic, shaking the soul.

Xu Yanli walked with a composed pace, neither too fast nor too slow.

He walked step by step past the kneeling soldiers, past countless bowed heads, past the awe-inspiring and timid gazes of the court. The jade bracelet on his forehead swayed gently with each step, steady and rhythmic, like the drumbeats of an ancient ceremony, slowly striking the hearts of everyone present.

At the end of the palace road, the main gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony stands open.

All the civil and military officials gathered in the hall, including the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers, important ministers from the court and the countryside, and local officials.

Various court robes stood in a row, and a dark mass of people stretched from inside the hall all the way outside.

Everyone held a tablet, stood with their heads bowed, and the entire hall was completely silent.

Xu Yanli stepped onto the white marble steps.

The soles of the boots made a clear, resonant sound as they touched the cool stone surface. With each step ascended, the eunuch on duty would announce the news loudly, the long, drawn-out voice echoing throughout the palace, solemn and dignified.

After stepping down the last stone step, he entered the main hall.

The hall was resplendent with gold and jade, with a bright yellow dragon throne at the head of the hall, covered with brocade, its light shimmering and its presence majestic.

Chapter 200 I Know

Beside the dragon throne, Xu Jiawei sat slumped alone, looking dejected. His imperial robes were wrinkled and worn, his face was ashen and haggard, and he seemed to have lost all his energy. He was slumped in the chair, too weak to even lift his head to look at anything.

Xu Yanli glanced at them indifferently, did not linger, and walked straight to the front of the dragon throne, slowly turned around, and faced the officials below.

Luo Xu held the bright yellow imperial edict in both hands, stepped forward steadily, unfurled it, and read aloud the abdication edict.

The entire text is ornate and full of courtly clichés such as "lacking virtue and talent, yielding the throne to obey Heaven, and inheriting the new dynasty," making it monotonous, empty, and tasteless.

Xu Yanli listened quietly, a faint smile curving his lips, but his eyes held no hint of a smile, only indifference and coldness.