Yanmen.
The Black Flame Bar.
Three Ritual Executors sat upright, watching the man across the Bar Counter.
"Sorry. I was in Seclusion, so I came out a little late. But as the emperor of the Human Race, I believe I'm qualified to ask for your support," the man said.
"You're Lu Chaowu?" the Vendor asked.
"I am," the Human Emperor replied.
"What were you doing in Seclusion?" the Cook asked with interest.
"The moment I saw that an Imago could become real, I was astonished. So I went into Seclusion to study it," the Human Emperor said.
He smiled at the woman behind the Bar Counter.
"If you would."
"Thank you for your patronage," Qianqian said.
At some point, a palm-sized gold ingot had appeared on the Bar Counter.
Qianqian took the ingot, brought out some fine wine, and filled the three Ritual Executors' cups.
Their expressions grew a little more pleased.
The most important part of a ritual was communicating with powers buried deep within and bringing them into being.
But a ritual also depended heavily on outward forms. Every step had to be observed.
His offer of wine represented all living beings' yearning for power.
Now it was time for the Executors to respond.
"The Human Race's inheritance has been broken to such an extent... Even much of its knowledge of the Imago, its most essential power, has been lost," the Cook sighed. "Did you succeed?" the Retainer asked.
"I did." The Human Emperor grinned.
Lu Yiyi stood beside him.
The Armed Guards and ministers stood solemnly on either side.
Crown Prince Lu Qingxuan was governing in his stead and had not come in.
"We've established a rule. From today onward, only those who explore the ruins of the Divine Realm from past ages in the Mist Sea