Chapter 80: The Emperor's Dawn
Five months had passed since the war's end, and the royal palace of Dawnriver shimmered with a renewed grandeur, its marble halls gleaming under the soft light of the late morning sun streaming through ornate windows, the air filled with the rich scent of blooming lotus and the faint hum of celebration. The city buzzed with the clatter of festivities, marking the coronation of Ji Yunjing as emperor, his silk robes adorned with golden threads fluttering as he ascended the throne, his aura advancing from the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm to the 5th Layer in a surge of leadership resolve. Lin Xuan stood among the gathered nobles, his crimson eyes warm with counsel, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation a steady presence, the Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsing faintly, a quiet guide. "This is your moment—lead with wisdom," he murmured to Ji Yunjing, his voice low but supportive, his mind reflecting on the kingdom's rebirth.
The coronation ceremony unfolded with solemn grace, the air thickening with the clink of ceremonial armor as guards bowed, their voices rising in a unified chant of loyalty. Ji Yunjing, his brow no longer furrowed with the strain of war but now etched with the weight of rulership, addressed the assembly, his voice resonant with newfound authority. "Dawnriver rises anew—I will guide us to prosperity," he declared, his leadership resolving as he embraced his role, the crown settling on his head a symbol of his growth from a hesitant prince to a steadfast emperor. Liu Yue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation qi advancing to the Half-step Profound Heavenly Realm through rigorous training, organized the new guard, her snowflake mark glowing softly as she directed recruits with Frost Phoenix Cry, freezing a training dummy to demonstrate precision. "Form up—discipline is our strength!" she called, her moonlight eyes scanning with authority, her raven hair swaying.
Liu Yang, his 7th Layer Qi Gathering qi advancing to the 9th Layer Qi Gathering through the war's trials, and Bai Ningxue, her 1st Layer Profound Heavenly Realm aura a serene yet potent force, explored the warfront ruins, sensing Qorath's lingering power—a faint, ominous pulse from Black Tomb. Liu Yang's blood-forged glaive flashed as he tested the ruins' defenses, his young face alight with focus. "Something's alive down there, Senior Sister," he said, his voice thick with curiosity. Bai Ningxue nodded, her Thousand Lotus Seal Art shimmering as she probed the qi, her hands steady. "It's growing—we must prepare," she said, her tone calm and alert, her senses attuned to the threat.
The ceremony stretched into the afternoon, the air lightening with the scent of incense and the murmur of celebration, the palace a beacon of hope. Lin Xuan gathered his team in the ruins later, his breath steady but his eyes alert. "Black Tomb calls us next—Ji Yunjing's rule depends on it," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath even but her resolve firm. "We'll support him, Senior Brother—together," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The warfront ruins buzzed with the clink of exploration and the hum of strategy, the emperor's dawn a new beginning, the tomb's shadow a challenge to face.