341: Chapter 341 The Coronation Ceremony

Deep within Moon Shadow Palace in Tianyuan Capital City, inside Zi Chen Hall.

Gu Qingyao stood before a massive glazed mirror, her slender fingers brushing over the intricate and exquisite gold embroidery on her imperial robe.

The moon-white imperial robe was woven from Nine Heavens divine silkworm silk, shimmering with a gentle lunar luster. On the wide sleeves and the floor-trailing hem, silver thread and star-sand were used to embroider soaring blue luan birds and continuous mountain and river patterns.

A black jade belt inlaid with spiritual jade was fastened around her waist, outlining her slender figure and giving her an air of immense grace.

Her dark hair was meticulously styled into a high bun, and her face was lightly adorned with makeup.

Gu Qingyao took a deep breath, looking at the figure in the mirror—both familiar and strange, majestic yet strikingly beautiful—feeling a hint of nervousness in her heart.

Behind her, Hua Xiangrong was helping her smooth out the final wrinkles in her lapels, while Huang Yutong, Hua Youyou, and the others were busy confirming the final preparations for each stage of the ceremony.

"Xiangrong, look at me... does this suffice for the majesty of an Empress?"

Gu Qingyao asked softly.

Just as Hua Xiangrong was about to speak, a clear, smiling voice reached them from the palace gates.

"Indeed, Your Majesty is innate, and your elegance is peerless. Compared to Fengyi, you are even superior."

Gu Qingyao turned around in pleasant surprise at the sound, seeing Ling Hao, who had stepped into the hall at some point, looking at her with a smile.

He was dressed in black casual robes, his aura as deep as the sea. His gaze lingered on Gu Qingyao, making no attempt to hide his admiration.

In front of him, Gu Qingyao, set off by her imperial robes, was noble and dignified; that blend of purity and majesty was wonderfully intertwined and breathtaking.

Gu Qingyao felt her cheeks warm under his gaze and instinctively said with humility:

"The Supreme praises me too much. How can I, Qingyao, compare to Your Majesty..."

Ling Hao walked a few steps closer, his smile widening as he lightly tapped her smooth forehead.

"Still calling me Your Majesty? From today onwards, it is others who should address you as Your Majesty."

Only then did Gu Qingyao realize her mistake, her embarrassment deepening.

Ling Hao looked up at the sun hanging high outside the hall and said warmly:

"It is almost time. Let us go, my Empress."

...

The enthronement ceremony was held at Chengtian Square in front of Tianyuan Palace, drawing the attention of everyone.

At the very center of the viewing platform, the seat was at the exact same height as the Empress's throne, symbolizing Supreme honor and a status of practical equality.

But all the observers knew in their hearts that the Moonshadow Sect was the true Dominator of this world.

Ling Hao would personally crown Gu Qingyao.

Hua Youyou sat cross-legged on the viewing platform, her slender hands forming seals to activate the resonance dao towers spread across every county of the Immortal Dynasty.

In an instant, the scene on the square was clearly projected into the sky above every major city in the Immortal Dynasty. Hundreds of millions of subjects could witness this grand event, showcasing the Moonshadow Sect's heaven-defying methods.

Driven by the capital's core Formation, the massive Top Grade Spiritual Vein beneath the capital was activated.

Spiritual Qi, dense to the extreme, rose up and turned into a golden rain of light that fell in scattered drifts, nourishing everyone in the square and bringing a sense of total comfort.

Ling Hao took an imperial crown from a jade tray held by an attendant.

The imperial crown itself was a powerful Immortal Artifact, containing a wisp of Ling Hao's Supreme intent.

Holding the crown with both hands, he solemnly placed it on Gu Qingyao's head.

The moment the crown was placed, their gazes met in the air. Ling Hao's deep eyes were full of praise and encouragement. Gu Qingyao's heart fluttered; she suppressed her surging emotions and returned a gaze of determination and gratitude.

The moment she was crowned, nine phantoms of luan phoenixes condensed from pure spiritual light cried out and circled high in the Nine Heavens, showering down seven-colored celestial light. On the square ground, golden lotuses emerged out of thin air, swaying gracefully and emitting a refreshing, exotic fragrance.

Heaven and earth joined in the celebration, as if proclaiming the legitimacy and sanctity of the new Empress's rule.

Immediately after, Ling Hao handed an ancient and heavy jade seal—also an Immortal Artifact—to Gu Qingyao.

The jade seal felt warm in her hand, containing vast power and the mark of Ling Hao's will.

Holding the immortal seal, Gu Qingyao stood on the high platform, unfurled the prepared enthronement edict, and read it aloud.

"I, by the mandate of heaven and the receipt of the Divine Artifacts, shall rule Tianyuan and nurture all the people..."

Huang Yutong activated the resonance dao towers across the Tianyuan Immortal Dynasty. Gu Qingyao's clear voice was instantly imbued with a strange Dao charm, sounding like heavenly music as it echoed over the capital and all the county cities where the images were projected.

Hearing it, the people felt their minds and Souls at peace, and a sense of awe and submission arose naturally.

Among the crowd, Loose Cultivators looked at the peerless Empress on the high platform and discussed fervently.

"Heaven blesses the Immortal Dynasty! To think there would be such a peerless Empress!"

"To be personally established by the Moonshadow Heavenly Venerable, this Empress has a boundless future!"

"If one could gain the Empress's favor and become her Dao Companion..."

Someone couldn't help but daydream, but was immediately interrupted by a companion: "Watch your words! Such delusions are not for the likes of us to even think about!"

Countless looks of awe focused on Gu Qingyao, yet no one dared to show the slightest disrespect.

After a brief segment of offering sacrifices to heaven, earth, and ancestors, the ceremony entered its next phase.

Yu Lingshuang, as the Deputy Sect Master of the Moonshadow Sect, stepped forward first to present a congratulatory gift on behalf of the Sect.

She presented a seemingly ancient scroll and said coldly:

"The Moonshadow Sect congratulates the Empress of the Tianyuan Immortal Dynasty on her enthronement and presents a scroll of the Mountains and Rivers Map of the Realm."

As a corner of the scroll unfurled, it seemed to contain phantoms of countless mountains, rivers, cities, and villages, with Spiritual Qi swirling within.

"This map can reflect the weather and conditions of the major mountains and Spiritual Veins within the territory of the Immortal Dynasty in real-time. By holding it, the Empress can adjust local climates and the distribution of Spiritual Qi on a small scale for the benefit of the people."

Once this gift was presented, the entire audience was shocked; this was a symbol of authority that almost amounted to controlling a part of the world!

Subsequently, representatives of subordinate Sects stepped forward one by one to respectfully present their gifts. The herald's booming voice echoed across the square.

"Liuyun Temple presents ten catties of ten-thousand-year jade marrow and one hundred thousand High Grade spiritual crystals..."

"Yongyue Sect presents a hundred bottles of Lunar Dew and ten units of Star Essence Gold..."

"Yunlai Sect presents three stalks of the Top Grade spiritual plant, Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Grass..."

...

Every heavy gift announced caused a low wave of exclamation among the crowd.

However, within the crowd, several obscure and sinister gazes from different directions swept back and forth between the high-level members of the Moonshadow Sect and Gu Qingyao.

There was also a small group of Cultivators whose attire was clearly different from the style of Cangwu Province, mingling in the crowd, observing every move of the Moonshadow Sect and every detail of the ceremony, as if assessing something.

Huang Yutong stepped forward again, unfurled a golden register, and read the first batch of important official appointments on behalf of the Empress:

"By decree, Qu Qingzhu is appointed as Prime Minister!"

"By decree, Liu Sisi is appointed as the Master of the Tianshu Pavilion!"

"By decree, Xiao Chan is appointed as the Minister of Works!"

"By decree, Jiang Wantang is appointed as the Minister of Revenue!"

"By decree, Shen Qinrou is appointed as the Minister of Justice!"

...

At the end of the ceremony, Ling Hao took a step forward and stood at the very front of the high platform.

He pressed his hands down into the air, activating the origin earth vein deep in the southeast of Cangwu. A Soul-shaking dragon's roar echoed through the clouds.

A massive phantom of a yellow dragon soared into the sky, circling majestically over the capital several times before turning into a streak of light and patrolling toward the various counties of the Immortal Dynasty.

Wherever it passed, the Spiritual Qi grew denser, and all things began to flourish.

...

As the sun set behind the western mountains, the enthronement ceremony came to a perfect conclusion amidst the cheers and awe of the masses.

Night fell like ink, enveloping the brilliantly lit Tianyuan Capital City.

The bustle of the day's grand ceremony settled, turning into a festive lingering charm that permeated inside and outside the palace city.

In the outer palace of Tianyuan Palace, a grand banquet was being held.

The music of silk and bamboo was pleasant to the ear, and delicacies were laid out.

The absolute focus of the banquet was not the newly enthroned Empress Gu Qingyao, but Ling Hao, who sat beside the main seat.

Representatives of various forces and Sect leaders all sought opportunities to step forward and offer a toast, their words respectful and their gazes eager, trying to leave some impression on this true ruler of Cangwu Province.

Whenever Ling Hao occasionally raised his cup or spoke, the entire noisy banquet would instantly fall silent, so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard.

The banquet finally ended, and the voices of the people gradually faded.

Ling Hao's figure quietly disappeared into the corridor leading to the inner chambers deep within Moon Shadow Palace.

As Ling Hao's figure vanished, two graceful figures appeared following him.

"Sigh, a step too late."