On Purple Splendor Mountain, Zhao Cheng was in high spirits. Sunlight fell across him, adding another halo to his presence and making him seem like some sacred deity.
Claiming kingship over the Southern Wasteland was only the first step of his great undertaking, but it was also a crucial one.
Once this step was complete, relying on the Southern Wasteland's abundance of minerals and coal, supplemented by achievements beyond the age, taking the realm would be as easy as reaching into a bag for something.
At last, beneath the gaze of countless eyes, he ascended to the true pinnacle.
Looking at the great cauldron before him, blazing with fierce flames, Zhao Cheng held a cup of five-grain wine brewed from grain gathered and mixed from every county of the Southern Wasteland, then finally raised it high before him.
After several more breaths of silence, Zhao Cheng finally spoke. "I, Zhao Cheng, proclaim this to the vault of heaven, to the sun and moon, mountains and rivers, Yellow Heaven, and Houtu."
"Now, Cang has lost his Way. Yellow Heaven should take his place. The Heavenly Dao shines bright—this is the fulfillment of Heaven's Way!"
"Therefore, the Azure Heaven is dead; Yellow Heaven shall rise!"
"The Way of Yellow Heaven began with the Yellow Heaven Daoist. Yet Heaven did not grant him the time, and his great work was never completed. In this drifting and fallen age, amidst danger and hardship, I obeyed Heaven and answered its mandate, defied the tide and shattered tribulation, and at last took the Southern Wasteland. The common people submit, and Heaven and Earth bear witness!"
"Today, I offer sacrifice upon Purple Splendor Mountain, proclaiming it to the gods of Heaven and Earth. I establish the Great New nation and inaugurate the Heaven-Answering era!"
As his voice