264: Chapter 264 The Ceremony of Establishing the Dynasty

Cangwu City · Deep within the Yuji Platform

Inside the Cangwu Yuji Platform, the space was silent. The light of a teleportation array suddenly flared, and the figures of Ling Hao and Ximen Huaping emerged from within.

Su Fengyi and Zheng Nanxun, who had been waiting there, immediately stepped forward to greet them. Su Fengyi wore a red-gold phoenix-patterned palace dress, her bearing dignified and majestic; Zheng Nanxun wore a dark brown beast-hide cloak, his aura powerful and robust.

"Supreme."

"Supreme."

The two of them bowed.

Ling Hao nodded slightly and turned his head toward Ximen Huaping, smiling as he said:

"Elder Ximen, go attend to your business."

Ximen Huaping and Ling Hao locked eyes for a brief moment, a hint of tenderness flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"Yes."

Su Fengyi's gaze shifted between Ximen Huaping's departing figure and Ling Hao, catching the unspoken understanding and affection hidden beneath those simple words.

On the surface, she maintained the elegance of an Empress, but in her heart, a flame seemed to ignite as she secretly gritted her teeth:

"Hmph, as expected, he really is a philandering fellow!"

An inexplicable irritability churned in her chest, as if something she cherished was being casually meddled with by someone else.

Zheng Nanxun spoke up at the right moment, breaking the subtle silence:

"Supreme, please follow us. The wu tripod is just below."

Led by Zheng Nanxun, the group passed through layers of heavily Restriction passages, descending deeper and deeper underground.

The further down they went, the heavier the pressure in the air became, as if the very heart of the earth was beating heavily.

Finally, they arrived at a massive underground space.

Ling Hao looked up slightly.

A colossal bronze tripod stood in the center of the space.

The body of the tripod was ancient and vast, covered in intricate patterns that resembled flowing rivers or gnarled ancient roots, exuding the boundlessness of the southern wetlands and the endless vitality of the forests.

This was the primary tripod of Cangwu Province—the wu tripod!

This Immortal Artifact, which suppressed the Luck of an entire province, had a massive crack on its body, emitting an aura of decay.

Beneath the wu tripod, a massive root, as thick as a mountain range's main ridge and dark red, almost black in color, twisted and struggled at the base of the tripod.

That root emitted a thick, scarlet evil Qi, yet it was also confined within a certain range.

"This... scarlet Qi... seems even stronger than last time..."

Zheng Nanxun's expression was grave as he looked at Su Fengyi.

Su Fengyi's phoenix eyes were cold as she said in a low voice, "It is indeed more potent than when we last saw it! The power of the root is increasing!"

As the three of them reached a certain distance, a majestic pressure originating from the wu tripod itself permeated the air, heavy as a mountain and vast as an ocean.

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi felt their breath hitch; the circulation of mana in their bodies became sluggish, preventing them from moving any closer.

Only Ling Hao, as if unable to feel that invisible barrier, walked calmly to the front of the wu tripod and reached out to gently touch the cold bronze body.

"The main tripods of the Nine Provinces are all Luck Immortal Artifacts. In ancient times,"

Zheng Nanxun's voice came from behind, filled with awe,

"The first Tripod-Asker, the Cangwu Supreme, held this tripod and borrowed the power of the Shi Continent's Origin to withstand a blow from an Extraterrestrial Immortal! At that time, the wu tripod was intact, but its Foundation likely suffered hidden damage then."

Su Fengyi added:

"For the long ages that followed, the wu tripod used the power of this damaged origin earth vein to suppress this thing,"

Her gaze swept over the scarlet root, full of wariness,

"While also suppressing the spatial rifts of the entire Cangwu Province to maintain its peace. However, the 'Cangwu Tripod-Governing Manual' has long been lost, and we have no power to control the wu tripod; we can only let it operate and suppress on its own. Just three days before you were Undergoing Tribulation, Supreme... the wu tripod cracked on its own."

Ling Hao's brow furrowed as his fingertips felt the slight tremors and weakness coming from the tripod's body.

"I cannot repair it immediately either."

He withdrew his hand and said with a grave tone, "In its current state, maintaining the status quo is possible for a short time. What are your plans?"

Zheng Nanxun took a step forward and said solemnly:

"We originally wanted to consult with you, Supreme, and... the Di Family, but it happened to coincide with your Tribulation."

"According to ancient records, holding a 'Dingding Ceremony' to gather the Luck of the entire Cangwu Province and nourish the wu tripod might be able to facilitate its self-repair."

Su Fengyi added:

"The Dingding Ceremony must be presided over by a Mahayana Stage Supreme to carry the massive torrent of Luck. You should already know this, Supreme?"

Ling Hao laughed inwardly.

I know? I don't know a thing! I'm a Transmigrator; no one has ever told me about these ancient records or secrets.

He remained calm on the surface: "What if this method doesn't work?"

The two fell silent for a moment, having clearly considered the possibility of failure.

Zheng Nanxun slowly said, "Then there is another path. Within your Qing State, a new origin earth vein has appeared, and you also control the shuofang tripod... Perhaps we could try to concentrate the Luck of Cangwu Province and establish a connection between the shuofang tripod and the new origin earth vein to build a new suppression core."

Su Fengyi said with concern:

"It won't work; we don't have the 'Shuofang Ding Control Manual,' so the hope of success is slim. I've heard that each of the Nine Provinces' main tripods has its own place and can at most resonate with the origin earth vein power of its corresponding province; it's difficult to do so across provinces... but now we can only treat a dead horse as if it were alive."

Both of them looked at Ling Hao with burning gazes. Whether it was the Dingding Ceremony or the shuofang tripod plan, both required Ling Hao's approval and leadership.

Ling Hao understood. So they were eyeing the new origin earth vein in the Qing State. He recalled that the 'Shuofang Ding Control Manual' was in Di Futian's storage ring. Perhaps he could try... but for now...

"Prepare for the Dingding Ceremony first. We can discuss the other path later."

Ling Hao made his decision, then changed the subject,

"Actually, I have a backup plan as insurance."

"Please enlighten us, Supreme."

The corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled into a meaningful arc.

"My Moonshadow Sect will deploy a network of 'world-suppressing monument' and 'resonance dao tower' throughout Cangwu Province. You... should know what these are."

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi's expressions changed slightly. After the battle on the southeastern front, the power of the world-suppressing monument to suppress space and purify erosion qi had already spread.

They had tried to obtain them before but were told they were exclusive to the Moonshadow Sect. While these facilities spread across the province could solve the current crisis, the deeper meaning behind them...

Was no different from having Cangwu Province effectively submit to the Moonshadow Sect!

At the same time, prestige and influence would be firmly grasped by the Moonshadow Sect. The sect's reach would extend to every corner of Cangwu Province!

"This..." The two shared a brief look, seeing the hesitation in each other's eyes.

To say it had no impact? Only a fool would believe that!

Just the fact that only the Moonshadow Sect possessed these things, once known by the Mortals, Cultivators, and commoners, would create immense prestige and influence.

"What, unwilling?"

Ling Hao's tone was flat.

"Rest assured, it will not have a direct impact on the internal affairs or information of your respective forces."

Zheng Nanxun and Su Fengyi smiled bitterly in their hearts.

Forget it, the Moonshadow Sect was already a Grade 9 Holy Land. What reason did they have to refuse?

Moreover, with the wu tripod cracked and the threat of the scarlet root increasing daily, there was no better choice.

The two finally nodded helplessly: "We will follow your arrangements, Supreme."

"Good, then return and prepare for the Dingding Ceremony. You can discuss the specifics with Elder Ximen and Elder Hua of my Moonshadow Sect."

Ling Hao made the final call.

"There is one more thing,"

Zheng Nanxun hurriedly said, "Recently, traces of Niding Alliance activity have been frequently discovered in Cangwu City and its surroundings. They are stirring up trouble and creating chaos throughout Cangwu Province; they are truly a major threat. We implore the Moonshadow Sect to dispatch capable Disciples as soon as possible to join the 'Xunwu Guard' and assist in the purge."

"Very well," Ling Hao agreed.

The three returned to the upper levels of the Cangwu Yuji Platform.

Ling Hao leaned against the railing, overlooking the ancient and magnificent city below.

The Dingding Ceremony...

Could this ritual, which gathered the Luck of an entire province, repair the wu tripod? And could it... complete his System's main quest?