Chapter 759: Humanity's Investiture

As the Grand Tutor’s indifferent voice echoed, a sound of assent came from outside the main hall. Soon, five personal guards, clad in golden armor and radiating a formidable and chilling aura, entered.

All five guards appeared young, yet carried a strong scent of blood. As they moved forward, their auras instinctively merged, clearly indicating their proficiency in formation combat.

Each guard held a prisoner. The prisoners, both male and female, looked listless and were covered in injuries, appearing to have undergone severe interrogation with their cultivation crippled.

Soon, the five golden-armored personal guards approached the Grand Tutor. They uniformly lowered their heads and pressed their prisoners down onto the ground.

Any struggles from the prisoners were futile; each was firmly pressed down by a guard’s hand on their head, forcing them heavily onto their knees in a bow.

In front of them, on the first platform, Xu Qing’s gaze swept over the five prisoners, finally settling on the first one on the left.

That person was a middle-aged man. The flesh on his face had been brutally scraped away, revealing black paper within. It appeared somewhat damaged, as if a piece had been deliberately removed for verification.

As Xu Qing looked, the middle-aged man also strained to look back at him.

The moment their eyes met, a chill rose in Xu Qing’s heart. He recognized this person as the one who had attacked him that day; the subtle feeling and aura could not be mistaken.

As for the other four, Xu Qing had not seen them before.

"Your Majesty, the imperial capital assassination has been investigated," the Grand Tutor said, bowing to the Human Emperor. He then pointed to the middle-aged man on his left and continued, "This man is named Chou Luo, of half-human, half-demon bloodline. He joined the Ghost Moth Sect in his youth, and his talent was acceptable, but due to his bloodline, he could not access core teachings. His master originally intended to observe him, but he recently stole the Black Paper Forbidden Art, defected, and then disappeared."

"On the day of the imperial capital assassination, it was this person who manipulated the Black Paper Forbidden Art to attack. He then fled the imperial capital and was captured by the Sword-Wielding Palace in the Nine Desolate Plains half a month ago."

"The details of the case have also been clarified!" The Grand Tutor finished speaking and bowed his head, awaiting the Human Emperor's decision.

The main hall fell silent. Everyone's gaze fell upon the five prisoners, then turned to look at Xu Qing, each lost in their own thoughts.

As for the prisoners, they looked at Xu Qing with expressions of regret, as if their failure to kill him was a blemish.

"Execute!"

The Human Emperor's calm voice came from the ninth platform.

The next moment, the personal guard behind him raised his left hand and sliced directly across the man's neck with his blade. The blade was no ordinary treasure; it possessed annihilating power.

The instant it sliced, Chou Luo's body disintegrated into a pool of blood, along with his soul, which was severed. His head was then held aloft by the guard for all to see.

This villain was extinguished, body and soul. Soon, the head turned to dust.

"The second person is named Lin He, code-named Dark 379. He currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of the Appointment Palace's Inspection Department. In the imperial capital assassination case, he provided cover and even disclosed the whereabouts of those from Fenghai County."

The Grand Tutor pointed to the second person on his left, an elder. He kept his head bowed, his expression unclear. His injuries were severe, with multiple nails pierced into his body.

"Execute!" the Human Emperor calmly stated.

Instantly, the personal guard swung his blade. Lin He was extinguished, body and soul, his head burning to ash.

"The third person is Daoist Hu, from the Xuanhuo Jiuli Sect. As an elder of this sect, he was responsible for setting up formations on the streets in advance for the imperial capital assassination, using extreme fire techniques to create a water-malignant formation."

"The fourth person is named Ming Xuanzi, from the Taishang Yueqing Sect. His status is higher than the previous two; he is an elder of the Taishang Yueqing Sect. In the imperial capital assassination case, this person used a Heavenly King Token to conceal the fluctuations of the assassination on the long street."

As the Grand Tutor's words were uttered, the hearts of everyone in the hall stirred to varying degrees.

Some deliberately showed their reactions on their faces, while others buried them within their hearts. The truth was that this case involved three super sects, as well as the Shangxuan Ming Palace, particularly the Taishang Yueqing Sect, which was the sect of successive Imperial Preceptors.

Even more astonishing was the Heavenly King Token mentioned by the Grand Tutor, which meant the case also involved a Heavenly King!

"Whose token?" the Human Emperor's voice was calm and low.

"The late Heavenly King Tianlan," the Grand Tutor replied, bowing his head. The hall fell silent.

Xu Qing remained expressionless. He had not uttered a single word from beginning to end, listening to the Grand Tutor's words and observing the executions like an outsider.

At this moment, as the hall fell silent, his gaze fell upon the fifth prisoner.

According to the Grand Tutor's earlier statements, these individuals included the assassin, the formation setter, the one who revealed whereabouts, and the one who concealed fluctuations. But this was the imperial capital, and while Xu Qing didn't fully understand the specific function of a Heavenly King Token, he knew suppressing fluctuations in the imperial capital was no simple matter. Therefore, he wanted to know what the fifth prisoner was responsible for.

So Xu Qing looked at her. This person was an old woman with grey hair, though she was covered in injuries. Her expression was composed, and her eyes seemed to hold infinite wisdom, giving one the feeling that a single glance from her could see through everything.

As Xu Qing's gaze fell upon her, the old woman also looked back at him and even smiled.

"This fifth person did not directly participate. However, the other four had secret connections with her before the incident..."

"This person is named Dao Po. She is from..." The Grand Tutor paused for the first time. Even when he mentioned the Heavenly King Token, his voice had been normal. Only now did he hesitate. But after taking a deep breath, he finally revealed it.

"Star-Plucking Tower!"

As these words were uttered, everyone in the hall became solemn. After a moment, the Human Emperor's voice echoed from the ninth platform.

"Execute them!"

"Understood!" the three golden-armored guards responded in low tones. Then, as their blades flashed, three heads were simultaneously lifted aloft.

The three headless bodies dissolved into pools of blood, and their heads successively turned to dust. Then, the Human Emperor slowly rose from his dragon throne.

The moment he rose, all the officials in the hall immediately bowed their heads and stood solemnly. The Heavenly Lords in black court robes rose from their cross-legged positions, and Xu Qing also rose, standing solemnly, controlling his inner emotional fluctuations so that not a single trace showed on his face.

"Xu Qing of Fenghai County!" the Human Emperor stated faintly.

Xu Qing stepped forward, turned to face west, and bowed.

"You governed Fenghai, brought peace to Sheng Lan, quelled the Black Spirit rebellion, maintained stability, protected human territory, and defended the borders. Today, I hereby name you Sheng Lan Domain Lord, and you are granted the regalia of a Heavenly Lord. After your studies at the Grand Academy, you shall be formally conferred as a Heavenly Lord!"

The Human Emperor's voice echoed, and the world outside boomed. Sounds of dragon roars emerged, engulfing the victorious light.

Moreover, vast swathes of destiny energy, in an invisible form, surged from all directions into the imperial palace hall, enveloping Xu Qing.

Even the Ancient Emperor Star behind the imperial palace released destiny energy, like churning clouds, flowing directly towards Xu Qing.

Soon, the destiny energy around Xu Qing became dense, and his entire body emitted a five-colored light. The Xuan Kong on his robe even materialized, circulated around his court attire, swallowed the destiny energy, and then rose into the sky, emitting a dragon roar towards the world.

This was a formal conferral by the human race's orthodoxy, signifying that from this moment on, Xu Qing would receive the protection of the human race's orthodox destiny energy.

And this was merely the conferral of a Domain Lord. According to the Human Emperor's words, Xu Qing was to go to the Grand Academy, and after gaining experience there, he could be formally conferred as a Heavenly Lord!

It could be imagined that when that time came, the arrival of destiny energy would be even more astonishing.

Outside the imperial palace, on the Rainbow Bridge, the Captain and Zi Xuan sat in a pavilion, awaiting Xu Qing. Seeing the auspicious phenomena in the world, Zi Xuan nodded slightly, but deep down, she still felt that the destiny energy arriving was too little.

"It's only five-colored, not yet seven-colored, and no canopy of destiny energy has appeared. There aren't even shadows of ancient sages... The Human Emperor is a bit stingy."

But the Captain beside them was practically drooling. His heart pounded faster as he gazed at the power of destiny energy.

"So much destiny energy... If I absorb it, I could immediately unlock more than three seals! I want to join the imperial court too."

Seeing this auspicious phenomenon, not only the Captain and Zi Xuan but all humans in the imperial capital looked up and witnessed the changes in the heavens and earth. For a moment, sounds of excitement erupted from all corners.

And at this moment, everyone in the imperial palace hall cupped their hands towards Xu Qing in congratulations. Xu Qing's heart also surged with immense emotion, as he felt his cultivation within him accelerating rapidly at this very moment!

This level of destiny energy could augment his combat power, making him more formidable within human territories than elsewhere. He could even sense that, regardless of mortals, the greater the number of humans, the stronger this augmentation would be.

Xu Qing took a deep breath and bowed to the Human Emperor in accordance with etiquette. Regardless of who was behind the assassination, and whether today's execution of the criminals was a performance or genuine, these were matters to be investigated later.

The case from that day concluded with the Human Emperor's conferral at this moment. Xu Qing understood that the Human Emperor's conferral was a tangible boon to him.

As for the truth, opinions varied; some matters, when merely hinted at, carried greater depth than when fully revealed.

Moreover, Xu Qing could sense that the Human Emperor was playing a grand game of chess with someone. Based on today's events and the Mud Fox's reminder, Xu Qing knew in his heart that this person was likely the Imperial Preceptor of Prince Ziqing.

The assassination against him might have been orchestrated by the Human Emperor or the Imperial Preceptor. However, the assassination itself was not the goal; making a move on the chessboard was the key.

"If one side has made its move, then according to the chessboard, the other side must also make a move..." As Xu Qing pondered this, the auspicious phenomena formed by the external destiny energy began to subside.

The Human Emperor's voice rang out, and the vibrations from the imperial palace spread outwards, echoing throughout the entire imperial capital.

"There is another matter I wish to inform my people!"

"Heavenly King Dongding has achieved a great victory, capturing the Black Heaven Imperial Capital. More than half of the Black Heaven Great Domain's territory has now been incorporated into our human domain. On the day of Our ascension, We promised the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor that throughout Our life, We would ensure the prosperity of the human race. The sun of dawn, We have achieved it! The Black Heaven clan, who oppressed Our predecessors, will soon be annihilated."

"Today, to celebrate our human race's expansion of territory, We shall open the Ancient Emperor Star's inheritance, allowing our human prodigies and imperial princes to comprehend the ancient dao. Should any young man acquire the Great Emperor's inheritance, We shall bestow upon him a Dragon Jade Pendant!"

The Human Emperor's voice rumbled through the imperial capital like heavenly thunder, creating ripples like overwhelming waves, toppling mountains and overturning seas, causing the hearts of countless human prodigies who heard this news to surge with immense emotion.

"The Ancient Emperor's inheritance was last opened three hundred years ago!"

"This time, I must obtain the inheritance."

Instantly, countless auras surged from all directions.