CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 177: MINGLONG ASCENDS TO THE THRONE_1

Upon returning to the military camp, Nie Feng immediately beat the drum, summoning the soldiers to gather. Before long, the million-strong Divine Army stood in neat formations before the city walls, all clad in white armor that radiated a dazzling glow under the sunlight.

Nie Feng stood on the command platform, his voice ringing with confidence as he issued the order, "Relay my command! We return to the Divine Court of the Light God!"

"General, are we returning to receive rewards?" a curious officer inquired.

"No. We are going to conquer!" Nie Feng fixed his gaze on the questioning officer, his eyes glinting with a domineering light. He was testing them, ready to strike with thunderous might and eliminate anyone who showed the slightest hint of dissent.

"I pledge my life to follow you, General!" the officer exclaimed, showing no resistance. Instead, his face lit up with elation as he knelt on one knee. They trusted Nie Feng completely!

"My brothers, if you are willing to follow this general, I guarantee that once this is done, you will all enjoy endless glory and riches! Move out!" Nie Feng nodded in satisfaction, drew his sword, and commanded loudly. His handsome face was filled with greed and ambition!

"KILL! KILL! KILL!..."

The soldiers of the Divine Army roared, their fighting spirit soaring. A terrifying Evil Qi surged skyward, shattering the clouds overhead. For thousands of miles around, all creatures prostrated themselves, daring not to make a sound.

「An hour later」

Hundreds of Spirit Boats soared across the sky, flying rapidly towards the Divine Court of the Light God.

「At this moment」

The Divine Court of the Light God was in total chaos. Over the Holy City, the Fortune Golden Dragon wailed ceaselessly. A heavy rain descended, and the air filled with a melancholic atmosphere.

"What’s happened?"

In the Great General’s residence, Li Tianwen watched the Fortune Golden Dragon, his expression grave. Such a phenomenon only occurred when a paramount figure fell or the nation itself was on the verge of collapse. Which could it be?

"A report, Great General!" a trusted aide rushed in, his expression frantic. He knelt and reported, "His Highness the Ninth Prince requests your presence!"

"I understand!" Li Tianwen’s expression changed drastically. For the Ninth Prince to summon him at such a time... Could it be...

He cast a deep glance towards the Imperial Palace, then went into his chambers to don his armor. Just as he was about to leave, he hesitated for a moment before picking up the treasured Tiger Talisman. The Tiger Talisman could mobilize the grand armies! Without the Divine Emperor’s direct command, the Tiger Talisman was not to be used lightly; to do so was tantamount to treason. His picking up the Tiger Talisman now meant the situation was far from simple!

「A few minutes later」

Li Tianwen arrived at the Ninth Prince’s residence. Besides him, many high-ranking court officials were already present, their expressions grim, as if a heaven-shattering catastrophe had occurred.

"Your Highness, what has transpired?" Li Tianwen inquired respectfully after offering a salute.

"Father... has fallen!" Minglong stated this gravely, yet his face betrayed no sorrow, only a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

"Impossible! His Majesty’s cultivation was profound, unmatched in the surrounding domains. How could he possibly fall?" Li Tianwen shook his head firmly, unwilling to accept this reality.

"It is true. Father’s Soul Jade has shattered. The Holy City is currently in utter chaos. The First Prince, Third Prince, and Seventh Prince are all plotting to seize the throne. General, I implore you for your assistance!" Minglong hastily stepped forward, grasped Li Tianwen’s hand, and pleaded with earnest expectation.

Li Tianwen was stunned. Looking at the Ninth Prince’s hopeful and excited expression, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow for the deceased Light God Divine Emperor. Perhaps this is the royal family, utterly devoid of warmth! The Light God Divine Emperor had just died, yet none of his sons mourned him, nor did any investigate the cause of his death. All they could think about was seizing the throne.

"This subject will unequivocally support Your Highness!" Li Tianwen agreed. He had no other choice. Firstly, he had already pledged his allegiance to Minglong. Secondly, the Divine Court of the Light God needed a talented ruler. Among all the princes, Minglong was the most powerful and also the most likely to break through to the Saint King Realm! Only a Saint King Realm expert could ensure the continuation of the Divine Court of the Light God’s national destiny!

"Excellent! With your aid, General, our great endeavor is already half accomplished!" Minglong was overjoyed. He swept his gaze over everyone present, a subtle yet palpable Kingly pressure emanating from him, enveloping the entire hall. "Mobilize the armies!" he commanded with authority. "Seal off the Holy City and seize control!"

The assembled ministers cupped their fists. "As you command!"

A violent upheaval was about to engulf the Holy City. The once-bustling streets were now eerily deserted, save for columns of soldiers marching through—some belonging to the First Prince, some to the Third Prince, and others to the Seventh Prince. However, the forces loyal to the Ninth Prince were the most numerous! With Li Tianwen’s backing, the Ninth Prince controlled more than half the troops in the Holy City, a force exceeding the combined armies of the other three princes.

「Soon」

War erupted. On the narrow streets, opposing armies clashed in a frenzied slaughter. In a short time, countless bodies littered the ground, blood pooling and flowing in rivulets. Before long, the din of battle reverberated through every corner of the city. The thick stench of blood transformed the sacred city into a living hell. Countless buildings were razed, revealing the terrified faces of the common folk cowering within.

The great battle raged for three full days. After the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the Ninth Prince finally crushed the armies of the other princes. Amidst the devastated ruins of the Imperial Palace, still bearing the scars of countless blade strikes, he held his ascension ceremony. The defeated princes were either executed or exiled. This perfectly illustrated the saying: "The victor is crowned king, the vanquished branded a villain."

In the Sacred Hall, all civil and military officials bowed in salute, their voices ringing out:

"Long live the Divine Emperor!"

"Long live the Divine Emperor!..."

Joy was evident on their faces; they had supported Minglong in his bid for the throne. Now was the time to divide the spoils.

"Beloved Ministers, you may rise!" Minglong sat on the imperial throne, clad in imperial robes, a smile on his face as he spoke.

Just as he was preparing to enfeoff his meritorious ministers, a shadowy figure appeared in the great hall, falling to one knee and exclaiming in terror, "Nie Feng is attacking! He has already reached the Divine Gate!"

"Audacious! How dare that mere Nie Feng rebel at such a time, when Father has just fallen? Beloved Ministers, who among you will go and quell this insurrection?" Minglong erupted in fury. He had been preoccupied with vying for the throne these past few days, leaving no time to investigate the cause of the Light God Divine Emperor’s death; he was even more clueless that Nie Feng was the murderer.

The military officials in the hall stirred, eager for a chance to prove themselves.

"Nie Feng is the murderer who killed His late Majesty!" the Black Envoy, seeing that Minglong was still unaware of how the Light God Divine Emperor had truly died, mournfully reported this.

"What?" Minglong was aghast.

The court officials burst into an uproar, and many of the military commanders silently took a step back.

"Impossible! Father was a Saint King Realm expert! How could he have been killed by Nie Feng?" Minglong shook his head repeatedly, unable to accept this new reality.

"But... Nie Feng has already broken through to the Saint King Realm!" the Black Envoy sighed. He too had never imagined that the immensely powerful Light God Divine Emperor would die at Nie Feng’s hands. But the truth was the truth. Now, he could only hope that someone would step forward to avenge the Light God Divine Emperor.

The hall fell into a deathly silence.

"It seems I have no choice but to awaken the Ancestor!" Minglong pondered for a moment, then muttered to himself.

His voice was soft, yet it resonated in the ears of all present. A look of profound reverence and awe surfaced in their eyes. In their minds, the image of a towering, majestic figure arose—a figure possessing an aura capable of overwhelming the world.

He was the founder of the Divine Court of the Light God—the Ancestor of Light! After establishing the empire, he had sealed himself to prolong his life. He had not appeared for hundreds of thousands of years, but the citizens of the Divine Court all firmly believed that he was still alive. He had to be.