The entire room filled with light.
Light.
Light gathered from the Void like countless grains of rice, taking shape around Xu Yuan.
It surged and climbed, waiting—
Xu Yuan waited a moment, then looked down at himself.
The light became a long cloak, settling quietly over him as a Benediction.
A hazy mist appeared above his head.
It was about to begin!
"How exactly does the Coronation work?" Xu Yuan asked.
"According to the Jailer's memories... you recite a long incantation. Once the ritual activates, the Cosmic Origin descends upon you, and you use your will to forge the Crown of Rule," said Xu Jingchen, playing the Jailer.
"We're short on time. Begin."
"All right."
Xu Jingchen began reciting the incantation.
The Vendor, the Cook, and the Retainer stared wide-eyed.
"How... did he do that?"
The Vendor asked, his face full of disbelief.
"This is different from before. He didn't simply pull a treasure out from under the bed. He has the power of an Old God in him," the cook said gravely. "An Immortal Species? But an Immortal Species can't take part in the Dark Crown! His soul is human!" the hanger-on concluded.
All three fell silent.
So this was the situation—
An Immortal Species was about to attack from outside, while the human inside was using the power of an Immortal Species to crown himself.
Would he make it in time?
The Retainer suddenly said:
"All these years, across so many epochs, the souls of every human who took part in the Dark Crown were controlled by the Old Gods... and in the end, every one of them chose to fail."
“True,” said the Cook.
"How ironic... Who could have imagined that, countless years later, a free human soul would enter the ritual and enslave the power of