71 Chapter 70

A new emperor ascends to the throne.

A joyous celebration echoes throughout the land.

Representatives from all thirty-five nations in the Central Plains send their congratulations.

Lin Yuan handles each response adeptly, showing no signs of unfamiliarity.

Although he has just ascended to the throne, for over a decade, Lin Yuan has been the acting Crown Prince, overseeing the military and political affairs of the nation.

The only difference now is the official title.

Half a month later, in the Hall of Supreme Heaven, Lin Yuan, dressed in imperial robes, contemplates deeply.

After formally ascending the throne, the true secrets of the Great Yan Dynasty unfold before him.

The main focus is on the matter of the 'Divine Weapons.'

The nation's guardian divine weapon is officially named the 'Sun-Moon Spear.'

In the over three thousand six hundred years of the Great Yan Dynasty, the divine weapon 'Sun-Moon Spear' was revived three times.

Each revival was triggered by the influence of 'Evil Weapons' causing havoc among the people. The divine weapon would then be wielded to suppress all threats.

"'Evil Weapons'?" Lin Yuan strokes his chin.

These so-called 'Evil Weapons' must possess strength surpassing even that of Martial Saints to compel the divine weapons to intervene.

"The Anti-God Society." Lin Yuan ponders.

According to the information held by the Great Yan Dynasty, there has always been a complex relationship between the Anti-God Society and the Evil Weapons.

Every time Evil Weapons caused chaos, the shadow of the Anti-God Society loomed behind.

Therefore, strictly speaking, it's not just the Great Yan Dynasty but the entire Central Plains of the thirty-six nations that deal mercilessly with anyone associated with the Anti-God Society.

This is a directive from each guardian divine weapon, and none dare defy it.

"It seems the Anti-God Society harbors significant secrets." Lin Yuan looks contemplative.

His forces are on the verge of pinpointing the main headquarters of the Anti-God Society in the Great Yan Dynasty.

The mysteries of the Anti-God Society will soon be revealed before Lin Yuan.

In the court, Lin Yuan sits on the dragon throne.

The Minister of Rites steps forward and respectfully says.

"Your Majesty, as you have officially assumed the throne, it is customary for you to promptly visit the 'Divine Weapon Ancestral Ground' to perform the ritual of worshiping the divine weapons."

This tradition is common among the thirty-six nations of the Central Plains. Each new emperor must promptly visit the ancestral ground of their divine weapon to pay respects.

This tradition makes sense, considering that guardian divine weapons are regarded as divine entities by each nation.

"Worship the divine weapons?" Lin Yuan looks towards the Minister of Rites.

The ancestral ground of the divine weapons is not in the capital city but several hundred miles away.

Lin Yuan has always been wary of the divine weapon's ancestral ground. Even when he was certain that the Sun-Moon Spear, the guardian divine weapon, was mostly in a dormant state, he was reluctant to approach.

Not long ago, Lin Yuan broke through to the Celestial Realm. To ensure absolute safety, he deliberately left the capital and found a location far from the divine weapon's ancestral ground to achieve the breakthrough.

"I have not been feeling well lately. We shall postpone the ritual to a later date" Lin Yuan casually provided an excuse, deflecting the request.

Rituals for worshiping the divine weapons are part of tradition and cannot be easily altered, even by the emperor.

But being unable to change doesn't mean it cannot be delayed. Lin Yuan isn't refusing to go; it's just that he claims to be unwell and intends to go after some time. Who could say anything about it?"

"Yes" the Minister of Rites replied helplessly and retreated.

Unwell? Nonsense. Others might use this excuse, but when the current emperor does, it raises suspicions. The Minister of Rites has been a veteran courtier for two dynasties, aware that when Lin Yuan was born, court physicians determined his constitution to be the best among all monarchs in the history of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Even if there was some exaggeration, it must have had a basis in fact. Given these circumstances, the Minister of Rites doesn't believe Lin Yuan's claim of being unwell.

However, disbelief doesn't mean there's anything to be done. Continue to advise? If it were a normal newly enthroned emperor, the Minister of Rites might dare to do so.

After all, during the initial period of a new emperor's rule, they usually listen to the opinions of the ministers to stabilize the court. But Lin Yuan, over these many years, has been the Crown Prince for over two decades, smoothly ascending to the throne.

The Minister of Rites has some understanding. If he were to insist and push too hard, the emperor would likely indulge him. Not only that, the emperor might generously send him off along with his family and nine generations.

"Forget it. We'll just delay it. I'll bring it up every now and then in due course." The Minister of Rites has come to terms with the situation. He doesn't believe the emperor can keep delaying for another twenty or fifty years.

In Wuyan City, a prosperous city in the southern part of the Great Yan Dynasty, nestled against a hundred thousand mountains, more than twenty figures quietly appeared in a dense forest over ten miles away from Wuyan City.

Though they stood still, their surging vitality indicated that each of them was at the Martial Saint level in the Blood Refinement stage.

The Blood Refinement Martial Saint is the limit an ordinary person can reach. Beyond this, there are various 'Armed Users' and they are no longer human.

Over twenty Blood Refinement Martial Saints already rival the Martial Saints in the smaller nations with weaker national power. In addition to the Martial Saints, there were many other powerful individuals surrounding them.

"That dense forest should be the main headquarters of the Anti-God Society. The master has instructed that all survivors of the Anti-God Society should be captured alive. Do you understand?" The leading Martial Saint spoke without moving his lips, transmitting his words through the fluctuations of his vitality, reaching every Martial Saint's ears.

"Understood."

"We know."

"Capture them alive."

The Martial Saints nodded without dissent. The battle ended smoothly with over twenty Blood Refinement Martial Saints and hundreds to thousands of 'Body Tempering' innate martial artists and 'Bone Forging' Grandmasters surrounding and attacking the main headquarters of the Anti-God Society.

The Anti-God Society's headquarters was quickly subdued. The Society's leader, Sikong Lun, had no chance to escape through the secret passages before three Blood Refinement Martial Saints blocked his way. Then, everything went black, and when Sikong Lun regained consciousness, he found himself in a bright carriage.

The meridians in his body were completely sealed, rendering him unable to mobilize even a trace of Qi and blood.

In simple terms, Sikong Lun was now a cripple, the kind that an ordinary person holding a knife could easily kill.

"Who on earth is it?" Sikong Lun's mind roared like a stormy sea.

As the leader of the Anti-God Society, he was considered a rat across the thirty-six nations of the Central Plains. Sikong Lun was well aware that he was no match for the thirty-six nations possessing the national treasure, the Divine Weapons.

Precisely because of this, when Sikong Lun established the main headquarters of the Anti-God Society, he paid great attention to concealment. Beneath the headquarters, he constructed numerous secret passages.

Even if signs of their activities were discovered, they could swiftly escape through the secret tunnels, preserving their strength.

But now?

Sikong Lun couldn't help feeling a chill.

Over twenty Blood Refinement Martial Saints were exuding a powerful aura, and hundreds to thousands of innate martial artists and Grandmasters of the 'Body Tempering' and 'Bone Forging' stages were swiftly attacking.

Under this overwhelming suppression, even he, the leader, couldn't escape, let alone other members of the society.

"Which force made a move?"

"Is it the Great Yan Dynasty, or the other thirty-five nations?"

"That's not it."

Sikong Lun frowned.

If he had fallen into the hands of the thirty-six nations of the Central Plains, how could he still be alive now? The thirty-six nations dealt with remnants of the Anti-God Society like him by direct execution, leaving no room for future trouble.

Torture and interrogation to inquire about the whereabouts of other remnants of the Anti-God Society were useless. As the leader, Sikong Lun possessed other means inside his body. If anyone dared to reveal crucial secrets, they would instantly perish.

Normal society members wouldn't know much and therefore had no value in interrogation.

Sikong Lun pondered, unable to figure out which force had acted against him.

"This place should still be Wuyan City."

Sikong Lun reluctantly lifted the curtain and took a glance outside.

"Never mind."

"Whether I live or die, I can't decide."

Sikong Lun had no intention of escaping.

What a joke.

To be able to mobilize over twenty Martial Saints with mysterious power.

How could he escape from the carriage?

Half an hour later, the carriage finally stopped.

Sikong Lun immediately perked up.

Subsequently, the carriage door opened, and a man invited him out.

Sikong Lun glanced at the man.

He looked somewhat familiar, and Sikong Lun quickly recognized him.

This man was one of the Blood Refinement Martial Saints who had acted earlier.

A Blood Refinement Martial Saint, who held such a high position in the thirty-six nations, was now serving as a coachman?

Sikong Lun took a deep breath.

He now had a deeper understanding of the methods of the mastermind behind the scenes.

Stepping down from the carriage, Sikong Lun followed the Blood Refinement Martial Saint coachman into the palace-like residence before him.

In the deepest palace, Sikong Lun saw the mastermind behind the attack.

It was a young man exuding an indescribable noble aura.

Even just sitting there made Sikong Lun feel somewhat ashamed.

"Leave us for now."

Lin Yuan raised his head and waved, instructing the Martial Saint coachman to leave.

"Yes, Master."

The coachman Martial Saint respectfully retreated from the grand hall.

Sikong Lun swallowed nervously.

A Blood Refinement Martial Saint, such a dignified figure, now recognizing this young man as his master?

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Sikong Lun wouldn't have believed it.

After a moment of silence, Sikong Lun settled his mind and took the initiative to speak.

"I wonder, does Your Excellency have any demands for capturing me?"

At this moment, Sikong Lun also understood that he should have some value to this young man; otherwise, he wouldn't have been brought before him.

"I want to know.." Lin Yuan asked "how does your Anti-God Society resist the Divine Weapons of the thirty-six nations? And what exactly is the 'Evil Weapon'?"

Upon hearing this, Sikong Lun's expression revealed surprise.

He had thought that the young man wanted information about the other main headquarters of the Anti-God Society. Sikong Lun had prepared himself, ready to activate the internal method to commit suicide if Lin Yuan delved into that aspect. He never expected this.

"The Divine Weapons are far beyond our reach as ordinary mortals," Sikong Lun paused for a moment, organizing his words.

"Since ancient times, only Divine Weapons can contend against other Divine Weapons. This is an unchanging rule."

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