Chapter 985: We Respectfully Invite Your Majesty to Ascend the Platform and Worship Heaven!

Three days later.

Lingxiao Palace.

Auspicious clouds surged, and celestial music played.

Surrounded by many Immortal Officials and Immortal Officials, the new Immortal Emperor ascended the Immortal Emperor's throne atop the nine hundred and ninety-nine jade steps, officially announcing his succession to the position of Immortal Emperor to the Immortal Realm.

At this moment, Qi Yuan, pretending to be Tai Hao, was dressed in majestic and magnificent ceremonial robes and wore a crown with thirteen tassels. He sat upright on the Heavenly Emperor's Throne, which symbolized the supreme power of the Immortal Court. His expression was solemn and his aura profound, causing the Immortals below to feel an inexplicable sense of awe.

Below the jade steps, Immortals dressed in light robes and sashes, possessing lofty auras, stepped forward one by one to bow and offer their congratulations to the new Emperor:

“Congratulations, Your Majesty!”

“May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years, with boundless blessings and longevity!”

…

The sound of cheers spread through the magnificent golden palace like crashing waves.

Facing this supreme honor and power, Qi Yuan's heart was tensed to the limit. While pretending to be calm and composed as he handled the flattery and bowing from all directions, he was also secretly on guard, preparing for the upcoming ultimate test.

Not far from him, on a Phoenix-carved throne, Shui Yunshan, the Immortal Emperor's wife, was also dressed in luxurious palace attire. Her dark hair was piled high, and her demeanor was elegant as she openly accepted the congratulations of the Immortals alongside him.

However, judging from her slightly stiff smile, this Immortal Emperor's wife was not particularly calm at this moment either.

Standing behind Shui Yunshan was a pretty young girl with snow-white skin and a slender, graceful figure.

This girl appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, and the aura she emitted was unremarkable; she was only at the Mahayana Realm and wasn't even an Immortal. In a gathering of Immortals like this, she seemed rather out of place, drawing many curious gazes.

Of course, curiosity was just curiosity. The Immortals simply assumed the girl was a new personal maid taken in by the Immortal Lord's wife and didn't pay her much attention, let alone ask questions.

After all, one must look at the master before beating the dog. With the new Immortal Emperor's ascension, the status of the Immortal Emperor's wife had risen accordingly. Especially at such a grand and formal coronation ceremony, only someone with water in their brain would dare provoke her.

Even so, Lin Zhen, who had been inexplicably dragged in to "play along," couldn't help but turn pale. His body was completely tense, and he didn't even dare to breathe heavily.

Heaven have mercy, he was once just a small character who hadn't seen much of the world. He was doing perfectly fine in the Lower Realm, so he never expected to be participating in such a high-end gathering of dancing Immortals. It was far too stimulating!

What was even more ridiculous was that a certain someone had arranged for him to be the Holy Empress's trusted maid and required him not to leave her side by more than thirty meters, lest he turn back into a man…

In other words, he had to stay by Shui Yunshan's side as a woman without leaving for a moment, and this was in front of everyone's eyes.

For Lin Zhen, who always considered himself a real man, this was simply torture.

If it weren't to help his big brother, he wouldn't have done such a shameful thing even if he were beaten to death.

Fortunately, after many trials during this period, Lin Zhen's will had toughened considerably. He managed not to wet himself on the spot, following behind Shui Yunshan with downcast eyes, perfectly embodying the obedient posture of a maid…

After completing a series of formulaic procedures, Qi Yuan cleared his throat, signaling the Immortals to quiet down.

Instantly, all the noise and clamor in the hall came to a halt. The atmosphere became solemn, and it was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

From his throne, Qi Yuan looked down at the Immortals below and spoke in a deep voice:

“Thanks to the favor of all you Immortals, I have been able to ascend to the imperial throne and rebuild the Immortal Court. From now on, I shall strive for good governance and work together with all of you.”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

After another round of flattery, Qi Yuan raised his hand slightly and continued to announce:

“As the saying goes, a new dynasty brings a new atmosphere. The first decree I wish to issue is a general amnesty for the entire world!”

“From this day forward, all Immortals previously imprisoned or wanted for violating the laws of heaven shall have their innocence restored…”

As soon as these words were spoken, the Immortals in the hall were stunned, their gazes toward the new Immortal Emperor filled with surprise.

What was going on?

After Immortal Emperor Donghua disappeared, Immortal Lord Tai Hao had controlled the Immortal Court for many years. Most of those branded as criminal Immortals were opponents and enemies of Tai Hao's faction.

Now that Tai Hao had ascended the throne, he suddenly issued such a decree. Was he not afraid of letting the tigers return to the mountains?

Even more ridiculous was that if what "Haotian Immortal Emperor" said was true, and all Immortals who violated the laws of heaven were pardoned, wouldn't even the Immortal Court's current number one target, Immortal Lord Yuan Wu, be innocent?

Despite their doubts, most Immortals, including Duanmu Xi and Ji Fan, thought the new Immortal Emperor was using this to create a persona of benevolence. They didn't know what the actual implementation would look like, so no one had the courage to object in person. Instead, they all bowed and praised:

“Your Majesty is benevolent and holy; this is truly a blessing for all living beings!”

Next, a certain someone solemnly issued several seemingly normal decrees, such as conferring titles on Immortal Officials, strictly forbidding luxury, and cultivating Immortal saplings… completing the penultimate step of the coronation ceremony.

The next item was the worship of heaven!

Clang, clang, clang…

Accompanied by the melodious tolling of bells, Qi Yuan's expression turned serious. He rose from the throne and floated down to the plaza in front of Lingxiao Palace.

Behind him, Shui Yunshan also led Lin Zhen down the jade steps and walked out of the Immortal Palace.

Further back, the Immortals followed in single file, lining up strictly behind the new Immortal Emperor. Facing the sky, they waited solemnly.

“Respectfully to the Heavenly Dao, which covers and carries all spirits, and nurtures all life…”

After a series of complex and obscure prayers, all the Immortal Officials and Immortal Officials bowed in unison and shouted with one voice:

“We respectfully invite Your Majesty to ascend the platform and worship Heaven!”

The will of the many Immortals gathered together, surging like a torrent, causing the sea of clouds to churn and the winds and clouds to change color.

Soon, as if guided by something, the originally calm space suddenly split open, revealing the color of the endless Void Realm.

Rumble!

In the next moment, a mountain-like nine-colored sacrificial altar descended from the sky, landing steadily in the center of the vast plaza. It was surrounded by anomalies and ten thousand rays of rosy light, emitting a grand and heavy aura.

This nine-colored Heaven Worship Platform was a thousand zhang high and built entirely of colored jade. At the top was a platform carved with countless profound inscriptions. Most prominent was an ancient stone tablet with the two characters "Heavenly Dao" written on it.

“We respectfully invite Your Majesty to ascend the platform and worship Heaven!”

The Immortals shouted loudly again, but Qi Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, feeling a deep sense of irritation.

Because he had already sensed a clear force of rejection from the Heaven Worship Platform. He couldn't even get close to it, let alone go up to worship heaven.

As expected!

Just as the Ghost Emperor had once worried, although he could pretend to be Tai Hao and ascend as the Immortal Emperor, he could not truly gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao's will!

According to the Ghost Emperor, the Heavenly Dao itself has no emotions or intelligence; it only follows certain established rules.

To put it simply, the "Heavenly Dao" is like an AI program with supreme authority designed by the Creator to manage everything within its scope.

In contrast, Creation Realm experts are more like laborers hired by the Heavenly Dao from among all living beings. They are usually responsible for maintaining and executing the Heavenly Dao's will, while also doing some dirty and exhausting work.

As for Transcendence Realm experts, they are laborers who, after becoming powerful enough, choose to resign from the Heavenly Dao Company and start their own businesses.

And the Immortal Emperor taking the seed of the Great Dao Tree to re-evolve the Great Dao is more like opening a branch office elsewhere. It still uses the head office's brand and is still influenced by the head office, just with a bit more autonomy.

This was the real reason why the Immortal Emperor had once rejected the great dao divine tree. After all, unless absolutely necessary, who would want to work hard to start a business only to have their limit be a branch office manager?

But by the time Immortal Emperor Donghua realized things were unavoidable, settling for the next best thing became a very realistic choice.

Although being a branch office manager was much inferior to being the owner of one's own company, it was clearly better than being a miserable laborer with no job security.

For this reason, Immortal Emperor Donghua swallowed his pride and took a pill of regret, sending Qi Yuan to the Great Void to retrieve a divine tree seed he had once rejected.

After learning of Immortal Emperor Donghua's difficulties, Qi Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

He had to admit that Immortal Emperor Donghua was indeed the first ruthless character in the world to achieve the Creation Realm. He was decisive, flexible, and could swallow his pride at critical moments; he was by no means a mediocre person who would suffer just to save Face.

Of course, that wasn't the point. The point was that the Heaven Worship Platform was connected to the Heavenly Dao. To approach it, one had to obtain the Heavenly Dao's recognition; otherwise, one would be rejected.

And only two types of people could obtain the Heavenly Dao's recognition: one was a Cultivator who had promoted to the Creation Realm, and the other was a Cultivator blessed with the Five Virtues and loved by the Heavenly Dao…

But This person Qi was not a Creation Realm Cultivator, nor did he have much Karma. Trying to enter the Heaven Worship Platform was simply harder than reaching the heavens.

As his thoughts turned, Qi Yuan sighed inwardly and decided to use his final trump card:

The Immortal Emperor's benevolent corpse, the Child of Destiny Lin Zhen!

“My lady.”

Under the watchful eyes of the ten thousand Immortals, Qi Yuan suddenly grinned and said to Shui Yunshan beside him:

“You and I are of one heart. Since we are to sacrifice to the heavens, how can I, your husband, go up alone? Why don't we go together?”