Chapter 508: Ancient Yue Zhang’an

The capital city of Jun Du was held in the hands of the statue of Emperor Xuanyou, clasped to its chest. In the immediate vicinity of the statue, a massive square stretched out.

This square, capable of accommodating a million people, was paved with bluestone slabs. A ninety-nine-step high platform stood tall, surrounded by nine hundred and ninety-nine massive carved dragon pillars erected in all directions.

Currently, only hundreds of thousands of people were permitted to gather below the high platform. These hundreds of thousands stood silently. They included Sword Holders, cultivators from the Fengxing Palace, the Sili Palace, and members of the county administration. Each was neatly dressed, yet their expressions conveyed deep mourning. A black flower was pinned to each of their chests.

Xu Qing and Kong Xianglong's arrival drew some attention. The eyes watching them held sadness, complexity, and remembrance. As they reached the Sword Holders' formation, the Sword Holders in front of them collectively stepped back, clearing a path to the very front. Xu Qing paused.

Kong Xianglong walked forward expressionlessly, reaching the very front, where he stood motionless with his head bowed. Xu Qing did not go further; he went to stand beside the Captain. The Captain patted Xu Qing's shoulder. The two stood in silence, awaiting further proceedings amidst the solemnity and reverence.

Silence enveloped the surroundings. Only the collective grief of these hundreds of thousands of cultivators gathered, spreading throughout the capital city, rising within the three major palaces, and extending across the entire Fenghai County. At this moment, the clouds in the sky churned, and the dim heavens, mirroring the sorrow of the earth, began to shed rain.

The pattering rain fell onto the bluestone slabs, creating a rustling sound, and also drenched those present. No one used their cultivation to ward off the rain, allowing it to fall freely upon them.

After the duration of an incense stick, a clap of thunder echoed, and countless lightning bolts streaked across the clouds. At that moment, several figures emerged from the distance, walking step by step onto the square, and then ascending the platform's steps. The appearance of these individuals caused the hundreds of thousands of cultivators present to lower their heads.

Among them were the Deputy Palace Masters of the Sword Holding Palace, the Sili Palace, and the Fengxing Palace. Also present were three middle-aged men who, though in plain clothes, still exuded a formidable aura. These three were the commanders appointed by the Imperial Prince to take over the three major palaces. Besides them, the County Administrator was also present, looking solemn. At the very front of this group was a young man clad in a yellow robe.

"Flooding waters create the dragon totem, fierce fires lead to the phoenix's nirvana. Today, we respectfully report to Ancestor Emperor Xuanyou and Human Emperor Xuanzhan: our Fenghai's guardian ensured the county's prosperity, protected it for eight centuries, and established peace for over six centuries. Additionally, countless heroes emerged, led by the three great palaces. The Fengxing Palace Master was courteous and humble; the Sili Palace Master was modest and righteous; and the Sword Holding Palace Master was utterly devoted to duty.

The heroic souls of Fenghai, with their vast spirit, dim the stars and moon. For millennia, our nation, through countless generations, has witnessed countless cycles of glory and humiliation, prosperity and decline. We mourn the impending fall of heaven and earth, grieving the sinking of stars in the azure sky. Though objects remain, the people are gone; remembering them brings forth tears, and sorrow surges uncontrollably from within."

Here, the Seventh Prince paused, his eyes filled with sorrow and his expression downcast. A wave of sorrow swept through the crowd on the ground, and uncontrollable cries broke out, echoing in all directions.

"However, the flame of humanity shall never be extinguished, and the heart of humanity cannot be buried by spirits. I shall petition the Human Emperor to enshrine the heroes of Fenghai in the Soul Temple, to erect a Monument of Peace, and to receive incense offerings for all eternity! Our generation, preceded by brilliant ancestors, will be followed by a multitude of grand heroes. Qian embodies constant movement and the spirit of relentless self-improvement, while Kun represents inclusiveness and the virtue that carries all things. Our revered ancestors, admired by all, jointly achieved great feats, building shrines that ensure their lasting renown. This serves as a testament to future generations, never to be forgotten."

The Seventh Prince's sorrowful voice echoed across the sky. At this moment, the bells from various states and sects across Fenghai County also resonated here, reverberating throughout the entire county. The entire county grieved together.

Beneath the capital city, the highest sword pavilion, which symbolized the Palace Master, collapsed with a thunderous roar, turning into dust that scattered across the ground. Uncontrollable cries erupted from the hundreds of thousands of cultivators, their tears long since mingling with the rain, indistinguishable.

Xu Qing's vision blurred; he couldn't distinguish if it was the sorrow in his heart or the mist of the rain. Faintly, he seemed to see the Palace Master's figure standing there again. This figure was infinitely tall and majestic, having supported Fenghai County's sky after the County Governor's death. With sorrow churning in his heart, Xu Qing suddenly recalled a phrase from Senior Immortal Zixuan: "Xu Qing, when you first gain respect for this organization and its people, and then that respect deepens into reverence, perhaps you will find your answer."

At the time, Xu Qing felt confused; he hadn't fully identified with the Sword Holders. But now, standing in the rain, his sorrow was intertwined with deep reverence. Alas, the figure in the rain could only remain a memory, separated by the chasm between heaven and earth. The only physical remnant left to him was the Palace Master's token. With the Palace Master's death and the Sword Holding Palace being taken over by the Seventh Prince's commanders, all the token's former authority had been stripped away. Only one privilege remained: the power over a forbidden artifact of the capital city, left by the Palace Master before his death, with a single remaining activation.

After a long while, within the grief-shrouded world, the Seventh Prince, standing on the high platform, spoke again. This time, his voice carried no sorrow, but an immense resolve and a terrifying killing intent that caused thunder to roar across the sky, echoing in all directions. Even the four-clawed golden dragons within exuded boundless ferocity, rising into the world.

"Hear all of Fenghai County! The death of the County Governor, the calamities of war, the fall of the three palaces, the blood of our heroes — the mastermind behind all this has now been identified!"

Xu Qing abruptly looked up.

"Yao Tianyan, a descendant of the Human Race's Heavenly Marquis, is utterly depraved. He has consistently protected foreign races in Fenghai County, colluded with Sheng Lan, murdered the County Governor, plunged Fenghai into war, betrayed humanity, and caused the deaths of tens of millions in Fenghai! It has also been confirmed that the collapse of the northern front was related to him. This man is guilty of heinous crimes. Now, I, the Prince, issue a decree: Yao the traitor is wanted throughout Fenghai. Furthermore, I shall report to the Human Emperor for his pursuit across the entire Human Race territory!"

As these words were uttered, a torrent of fury immediately erupted from the hundreds of thousands of cultivators below, and even greater anger surged from the capital city's citizens who heard the pronouncement. What Marquis Yao had done over the years had long caused widespread dissatisfaction among humanity, and curses against him were constantly heard. His actions included repeatedly protecting foreign races, allowing intermarriage and shameless collusion, behaving worse than pigs and dogs, betraying humanity, utterly lacking conscience, and groveling before foreign races. All these curses had echoed for eight hundred years.

To the world, it seemed that in Marquis Yao's eyes, the interests of foreign races were paramount, and their honor and disgrace were most important. In comparison, humanity was insignificant. This sentiment, accumulating in the hearts of the capital's cultivators for eight hundred years, had long transformed into intense resentment. When Xu Qing first arrived in the capital, he had heard people privately cursing Marquis Yao more than once. His betrayal, viewed now, was entirely logical! Indeed, even when the County Governor died previously, many voices had already emerged, suspecting Marquis Yao.

At this moment, especially the cultivators of the three great palaces, their eyes were bloodshot. The killing intent at this instant was unprecedented. The fall of the Palace Master was a deep pain in the hearts of all Fenghai County's Sword Holders, and avenging him was their collective mission.

"Kill Marquis Yao!""Avenge the Palace Master!""Avenge the County Governor!""Avenge our countless sacrificed sons of Fenghai County!""The Yao family, the entire clan deserves death!"

On the ground, within the military camps, a strong killing intent also erupted. Countless soldiers collectively emitted a fierce aura that rose into the heavens, abruptly stopping the rain.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, Yao Yunhui's body trembled, and her eyes showed sorrow. Those around her glared angrily, stepping back as if even proximity felt defiling. She opened her mouth as if to speak, but no sound emerged. The same happened to Zhang Siyun. Soon, with the arrival of a group of Imperial City soldiers, both mother and son were taken away. The commotion in the crowd was clearly seen by the Seventh Prince on the high platform. His gaze seemed casual as it swept over Zhang Siyun, flickering almost imperceptibly.

At this moment in the capital, within Marquis Yao's mansion, his sister Yao Feihe wept incessantly, her tears falling onto her neat attire and darkening the fabric. "Brother... was it worth it?"

Yao Feihe closed her eyes. Her residence rumbled as those arranged by the Seventh Prince stormed in, and all the women, children, and elderly remaining in the family were restrained. She offered no resistance, allowing the soldiers to approach and apprehend her. As these Yao family women, children, and elderly were led out of the mansion, many capital citizens surrounding them spat in contempt, cursing continuously, their eyes filled with a hatred that seemed to desire to consume their flesh and blood.

In the distance, Li Shitao arrived a step late. She stood there, her expression sorrowful and indignant, yet utterly powerless. The fury from countless people in the capital could drown out all other sounds.