When an emperor ascended the throne, there was a complex set of rites to display his authority, pray to Heaven, and seek peace before he could wield the sacred vessel of the realm.
Now that Li Yan was ascending the throne, he likewise had to follow the proper procedures: erect an altar, burn offerings to announce it to Heaven, offer sacrifices to the Six Venerables, gaze toward the myriad gods, recite prayers and sacrifice, change the era name to Li Zhen, and then grant a general amnesty to all under Heaven.
This was the sacrifice to Heaven, Earth, and the gods of soil and grain in the southern outskirts. Afterward, he still had to return to the palace, don the crown with hanging jade tassels and dragon robe, ascend the throne in the Hall of Heaven's Mandate, and receive the congratulations of the hundred officials before he could truly confirm his place as the Ninth Five.
Yet it was clear that today's emperor wore a grave expression, with a hint of nervousness. That emotion did not stem entirely from facing such a grand occasion. There was a faint panic in his heart, but even more so, it was because of the threat before him—
Two days ago, Qiu Yan had fallen from power.
What followed was a string of operations to purge the remnants of Qiu Yan's faction.
Originally, Qiu Yan had said he would quell the Noble Clans before the enthronement. But the situation had now turned upside down. The Noble Clans' strength had swelled greatly, with Outer Dao cultivators aiding them in localized counterattacks. Stranger still, Qiu Yan had offered no corresponding response, as though he had simply surrendered without a fight.
"Now that Qiu Yan has fallen, the rest are no longer worth worrying about. Even the