Birthday Ceremony

Birthday Ceremony

Late at night, the stars spread across the sky like a sea.

Tongtian Tower stood quietly in the southeastern part of the royal palace, lights gleaming at its peak like a beacon showing the way.

Ji Wuye was still drinking tea on the highest floor, looking down over the entire royal palace.

He had been drinking tea on the top floor for an entire day.

Tomorrow, the whole royal palace would belong to him. Along with it, everything in Azure Kingdom would belong to him as well. Though Azure Kingdom could no longer be called a nation by then, this would still be territory under his rule.

He would be the king of this land.

"Alas, if my royal father were not so stubborn and foolish, why would I have resorted to such radical means?" Sorrow filled Ji Wuye's face. "What is wrong with relying on the strong to survive? In this world, strength is king; weakness is the original sin. To be weak yet not know to seek shelter, and instead think of defying the will of the strong—that is adding sin upon sin. Sooner or later, such people will walk toward destruction. How could my royal father not understand such a simple truth?"

Qin Shiyue smiled faintly at his side. "Submitting to the Soaring Dragon Empire is the most correct choice, and the best way for the land under your rule to grow strong. I believe that Your Highness the Crown Prince will surely lead the people of Azure Kingdom toward prosperity and strength."

Ji Wuye nodded lightly, his eyes filled with grand ambition.

"Oh, yes. The elders of Other Shore Pavilion have already arrived in the Royal City. I heard two of them came, and they may make a move against An Bulang tomorrow." A smile curved Qin Shiyue's lips. "When that time comes, An Bulang will learn exactly how fear and despair are written."

A distant yet clear voice suddenly rang out. "Hehehe... Other Shore Pavilion has dispatched two elders at once. That is already enough to sweep through all Spirit Attunement Realm cultivators. This time, Other Shore Pavilion is using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken."

Behind Qin Shiyue, a shadow slowly emerged, taking the form of a white-haired Daoist.

"Elder Wu Xuzi." Qin Shiyue addressed him respectfully.

Elder Wu Xuzi was an elder of the Soaring Dragon Empire, at the Spirit Gathering Sixth Level. He was also the powerful cultivator specially sent by the Soaring Dragon Empire to assist Qin Shiyue in carrying out her mission.

At that moment, two beautiful women in gray robes embroidered with dragons emerged from behind Elder Wu Xuzi, faint smiles playing at their lips.

"Other Shore Pavilion is using a butcher's cleaver to kill a chicken—aren't we doing the same? Sigh, I really don't know why His Majesty sent us to this backwater place. Other than that fool An Bulang opposing the Soaring Dragon Empire, who else would dare resist the imperial might of our empire?" said the flat-chested woman coldly.

"Calm down, Sister. Let's just treat this as a sightseeing trip." The busty woman giggled sweetly.

They were sisters, as well as elders of the Soaring Dragon imperial family. The elder sister was Huan Yin, and the younger sister was Huan Ling. Both were great cultivators of the Spirit Attunement Realm. Though they looked young and lovely, they were powerhouses who had lived for decades, even over a century.

Of course, at their age, that was nothing much.

If they could take another step forward and enter the Heavenly Origin Realm, where one could live for a thousand years, then they would both still be considered young maidens.

Ji Wuye smiled calmly. "Two elders from Other Shore Pavilion, three elders from the Soaring Dragon Empire, plus Azure Kingdom's foremost cultivator Cheng Yuzi and Wu Wanyue of the Incense Burning Sect—seven great Spirit Attunement Realm cultivators in all want to carve a piece of flesh off An Bulang. I'm rather looking forward to seeing An Bulang's expression tomorrow..."

"Hehe, he dared look down on our imperial family. I'll let him have a taste of Heavenly Demon Sound." Huan Yin sneered.

She had already heard from Qin Shiyue about An Bulang, so she had decided to give him an experience worse than death.

"Before that, I'll poke a hundred bloody holes in him. He shouldn't die from that, right?" Huan Ling covered her mouth and laughed.

"Don't accidentally kill him. The ones who want his head are the elders of Other Shore Pavilion—don't forget that," Elder Wu Xuzi said blandly.

Before the battle had even begun, they were already discussing how to execute An Bulang.

Time passed quickly.

Before long, a blazing sun rose in the east.

The royal palace began bustling with activity. Lanterns and colorful decorations were hung everywhere in preparation for the grand festivities.

Though King Ji Yonghao's body was growing weaker by the day, he still attended court for the first time in a long while.

Azure Kingdom was flourishing, the nation peaceful and the people safe and happy, so the morning court ended without much happening.

Immediately afterward came the grand celebration of Ji Yonghao's sixtieth birthday.

Ji Yonghao first had to perform the ritual of worshipping Heaven. The ceremony was divided into four steps: welcoming the gods, presenting jade and silk, offering sacrificial meat, and presenting offerings. Only then would he host the hundred officials for a banquet, where everyone drank and made merry while watching various performances. The entire ceremony would last a full day, from daylight until nightfall.

Upon the pure white, sacred altar, Ji Yonghao wore a dragon-embroidered royal robe and stood at the highest point.

Azure Kingdom's civil and military officials had gradually taken their places, while members of the royal family swiftly gathered in one area.

Wearing a fitted red dress, Ji Hongxue walked gracefully toward where the royal family members had gathered. Her gorgeous and noble makeup, along with her peerless beauty, made her the center of attention the moment she appeared.

An Bulang followed behind Ji Hongxue disguised as a guard, and no one paid him any attention.

Among the officials, Jia Yuxuan gazed at Ji Hongxue with blazing eyes. Just wait. After today, this stunning beauty will be mine!

Thinking this, he could not help glancing again at Jia Gucheng, the Left Chancellor standing at the head of the officials.

Jia Gucheng was hunched over as he stood quietly at the very front, looking at Ji Yonghao with respectful humility and showing not the slightest unusual expression.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived," the eunuch announced at the top of his voice.

An exceedingly handsome man walked toward the altar, accompanied by a noble woman wearing a long dress of White Crane feathers.

The woman was Qin Shiyue, the Grand Princess of the Soaring Dragon Empire. She had come as an envoy of the Soaring Dragon Empire to observe the ceremony.

Behind her followed three cultivators in gray robes embroidered with dragons, all possessing extraordinary bearing.

When Ji Shouqian, Director of the Imperial Observatory of the royal palace, saw those three cultivators, cold sweat immediately broke out across his forehead. Those three were all renowned powerhouses in the cultivation world. Any one of them could crush every cultivator in the royal palace.

Thank goodness... he had chosen the Crown Prince's side in time.

The three cultivators could not even be bothered to acknowledge Ji Shouqian. Instead, they turned their gazes toward An Bulang, their expressions seeming amused yet not amused.

An Bulang turned to look at the three of them and saw pity, contempt, and mockery in their eyes.

A single glance could actually contain so many emotions. It really wasn't easy for them.

"An Bulang, enjoy your final days." Qin Shiyue walked to An Bulang's side, but her gaze was not on him. Instead, she looked at King Ji Yonghao on the altar, raising her swan-proud neck as she sighed. "What a pity. Such a waste of all that cultivation..."

An Bulang was thrilled inside, but his face remained grim. "I won't let you harm the princess or the king."

"Hehehe... Foolish." Qin Shiyue shook her head, ignored An Bulang, and walked off to stand quietly elsewhere.

Once everyone had finished their preparations, the heaven-worship ceremony officially began.

For the sacrificial offering ritual, the officials had specially prepared a strange beast: the Flying Emperor Chicken.

It was the largest and most majestic chicken the Azure Kingdom could find, symbolizing how the Ji Clan would soar ever higher and grow ever more mighty.

The Flying Emperor Chicken would soon be roasted to death by blazing fire upon the altar, sent up to Heaven as an offering to the heavenly gods.

At that moment, while no one was paying attention to it, a strange gleam flashed through its eyes.

The first step of the heaven-worship ceremony, the welcoming of the gods, began.

Fireworks rose from the royal furnace, shooting straight into the heavens and conveying mankind's reverence for Heaven to the skies above.

Dragging his frail body, King Ji Yonghao stepped forward, knelt, and offered incense to welcome the gods in Heaven.

A cold glint flashed through Ji Shouqian's eyes. In the cloudless blue sky, dark clouds suddenly began to gather!