A month later, the clouds and mist that shrouded Spirit Hall's Holy Soul Mountain year-round parted for the first time in history. Even the clouds seemed to know that Spirit Hall was about to welcome its most important moment.
Before the eyes of every soul master in Spirit Hall and every resident of Spirit City stood a young man in a golden imperial robe embroidered with nine five-clawed golden dragons, radiating nobility and majesty. His strides were even, each step firm and composed. The gazes of hundreds of thousands seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. Nothing in his steady bearing suggested that he was not yet twenty.
As he offered prayers to heaven and earth and communed with them, the unease in the hearts of Spirit Hall's soul masters and Spirit City's residents gradually faded, soothed by the composure of the Spirit Hall Empire's new emperor. Little by little, they filled with confidence in the future.
When the young man climbed the eighty-one steps leading to Spirit Hall's Papal Hall, he did not enter its doors. Instead, he slowly turned and looked down over the densely packed army of soul masters and the Hall Guard Knights. Channeling his soul power, he declared in a ringing voice, "I, Su Chen, uphold the Way of Heaven above and heed my subjects below. From this day forth, I establish the Spirit Hall Empire, proclaim the era of Origin, and take the title of First Emperor. From this day forth, I shall humbly examine myself and remain diligent and disciplined. I shall reduce taxes and lighten compulsory labor. The second emperor, the third, and every emperor through ten thousand generations shall follow this example."
"Long live our emperor! Long live our emperor! May he live ten thousand times ten thousand years!"
Across