CHAPTER 942: CHAPTER 961: A DROP OF GRACE RETURNED WITH A SPRING OF GRATITUDE

"Yes... Yes!"

The two Emperors of the Demon Race initially appeared excited, but when Ye Xuan’s words fell, they were first stunned, and then deeply disappointed, yet they still bowed to Ye Xuan.

"Minghe! I am very reassured to have you overseeing the Underworld. In the future, you should also assist the new Heavenly Emperor, ensuring there is no turmoil in the Underworld." Ye Xuan said softly.

"This old minister obeys the decree." Minghe Ancestor forced a bitter smile and hastily responded reverently.

"Both Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad and Kunpeng are the mainstays of my Heavenly Court. From now on, they should be the right-hand men of the new Emperor, so that my Heavenly Court can prosper continuously."

Ye Xuan glanced at Lord Lao Zi and Kunpeng, causing them to exchange a quick look before hurriedly bowing in acceptance, not daring to show even the slightest dissatisfaction.

At this moment, the entire Heavenly Emperor Palace was extremely silent. Ye Xuan named them one by one, seemingly to reassure them, but in reality, it was also a subtle warning not to harbor any disloyal thoughts, paving the way for the new Emperor.

Now, there was only one person whose name had not been mentioned by Ye Xuan, and that person was Kong Xuan, the Peacock Bright King, who was also Ye Xuan’s closest friend, with the two calling each other brothers.

The attention of the crowd, their gazes fervent.

Everyone’s eyes were on Kong Xuan, for at this moment, no one was more qualified than Kong Xuan to become a Saint.

In terms of cultivation, Kong Xuan was at the Quasi-Saint pinnacle, with an innate divine ability to cleanse all things with his Five-Colored Holy Light.

In terms of seniority, Kong Xuan was an elder of the Thirty-Three Layered Heaven.

In terms of friendship, Kong Xuan and Ye Xuan seemed like lord and minister, but they called each other brothers.

At this moment, anyone with sense could see that the new Heavenly Emperor candidate was undoubtedly Kong Xuan, and Kong Xuan was also about to get the opportunity to become a Saint of the Heavenly Dao.

However, what was strange was that Kong Xuan did not show any excitement or joy; instead, he stood calmly beneath Ye Xuan, without revealing any emotion.

"Brother Kong."

"Heavenly Emperor."

Kong Xuan stepped forward solemnly, saluted Ye Xuan, and said, "I already understand the Heavenly Emperor’s intentions. Rest assured that I will certainly assist the new Emperor. If anyone harbors disobedience, they must first pass through me, Kong Xuan."

"With these words from Brother, I am at ease." Ye Xuan and Kong Xuan exchanged a smile, a scene before the Sealing Immortal Ceremony simultaneously appearing in their minds.

Before the Sealing Immortal Ceremony.

Heavenly Emperor Palace!

"It’s him?" Kong Xuan murmured in astonishment, hardly believing his ears.

"In the past, he bestowed great kindness upon me many times and protected me with his life when I was weak. This kindness cannot be forgotten by me, Ye Xuan, forever. Although now I am comparable to a Saint, he has kept his distance from me, hidden among the immortals without drawing attention, and though his cultivation is not high, he has always quietly protected me. How can I forget his kindness?" Ye Xuan sighed deeply, looking skyward.

"Without him, there would be no me today. A drop of water shall be returned with an overflowing spring; I hope Brother Kong can understand." Ye Xuan turned back and looked at Kong Xuan.

"You need not say more, Brother Ye. Although I, Kong Xuan, also covet the Saint Position, he rightfully deserves it; the new Heavenly Emperor must be him. If anyone dares to disobey him, they must first pass through me, Kong Xuan," Kong Xuan said solemnly.

"He is the new Emperor; it’s hard to win hearts, but since he has achieved becoming a Saint of the Heavenly Dao, no one dares to say anything. And as long as I, Ye Xuan, am undying, who dares hold ill intentions?" Ye Xuan murmured coldly.

The scene reversed and returned to reality.

Kong Xuan expressed his loyalty to the new Emperor below the hall, and the entire Heavenly Emperor Palace was as silent as a grave, with everyone thoroughly stunned, hardly believing their ears.

"Not Kong Xuan, it’s not him?"

"How... is this possible?"

"Aside from Kong Xuan, who else is qualified to become a Saint and the new Heavenly Emperor?"

Three breaths of time passed, and the entire Heavenly Emperor Palace was abuzz with endless astonishment and conversation, with every eye on Ye Xuan, not knowing who he planned to appoint as the new Heavenly Emperor.

"Silence."

Kong Xuan coldly reprimanded, directly silencing the various voices of discussion, yet everyone still looked at Ye Xuan, waiting for him to announce who the new Heavenly Emperor would be.

Suddenly, Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden rose from the phoenix throne, holding a dazzlingly golden Dharma Decree in her hands, unfolding it at that moment.

Silence, extreme silence.

As this scene unfolded before everyone’s eyes, everyone held their breath cautiously, knowing full well that the Dharma Decree that Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden held at this moment was to announce the new Emperor’s choice.

"Emperor Ziwei, receive the decree!"

Bang!

Like the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting, just the four words from Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden’s mouth left everyone dumbfounded as if their souls had emerged, even as she continued reading the Heavenly Emperor’s Dharma Decree from her hands. No one heard what Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden was saying because their minds were constantly echoing the words ’Emperor Ziwei,’ unable to come back from their shocking emotions.

A full ten breaths passed before Nine Heaven Mysterious Maiden finally finished reading the Heavenly Emperor’s Dharma Decree, still smiling as she looked at Emperor Ziwei hidden among the immortals.

"How could it be him?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. With merely the Daluo Golden Immortal cultivation, what qualifications does he have to become the new Emperor?"

"An Emperor Ziwei, in our Heavenly Court, merely a Daluo cultivation, there are tens of thousands with such cultivation; why him?"

A stone causing a thousand ripples, incredulous voices arose, accompanied by disgruntled murmurs, and everyone’s gaze concentrated on Emperor Ziwei.

Suspicion, indignation, unwillingness, shock...

Various emotions grew in everyone’s eyes, with some feeling jealous, others envious, but most finding it unbelievable, feeling like they had fallen into a dream.

At this moment.

Emperor Ziwei stood there in a daze, as if his soul had departed, standing like a clay figure, utterly disbelieving his ears, slow to recover.

In the past, when Ye Xuan first entered the Heavenly Court and was still very weak, the Jade Emperor had plotted many ways to kill Ye Xuan.

The Heavenly Court war, bloody battles, Emperor Ziwei and Ye Xuan became fast friends upon meeting and, to save him, shed blood in the Heavenly Court, barely escaping with his life, saving Ye Xuan’s life countless times.

The Heavenly Court war, pledging Ginsengfruit to King Chujiang, just to help Ye Xuan through great calamity, Yang Jian fought without fearing the might of the Chan Sect, still firmly standing with Ye Xuan.

It can be said that in Ye Xuan’s weaker days, without Emperor Ziwei’s help, he would have long been scattered and deceased, and there would be no Ye Xuan of today.

But as time passed, Ye Xuan’s cultivation grew stronger and stronger, and Emperor Ziwei gradually could not keep up with him, watching Ye Xuan grow day by day to become comparable to the Saints, and Emperor Ziwei became hidden among the immortals, quietly doing what he could.

How long has it been?

A full hundred thousand years, perhaps?

In Emperor Ziwei’s memory, during these hundred thousand years, he might have spoken less than ten sentences to Ye Xuan, and in his heart, perhaps Ye Xuan had long forgotten him.

In these hundred thousand years, Emperor Ziwei felt somewhat heartbroken, no longer able to recover the brotherhood of years past with Ye Xuan. Just seeing Ye Xuan grow step by step to this day, Emperor Ziwei also felt satisfied, proving that he had not chosen the wrong person back then.

Today, at this Sealing Immortal Ceremony.

Everyone received their titles, yet he was the only one left out. Emperor Ziwei felt somewhat saddened, though indifferent, thinking it was merely a title, and with so many Daluo Golden Immortals in the Heavenly Court, it was not surprising that he, Ziwei, was left out.

However, Emperor Ziwei did not expect that he was not truly omitted but that his title was the Heavenly Emperor, the new Heavenly Emperor, with Ye Xuan never truly forgetting him.

At this moment.

Emperor Ziwei’s eyes were somewhat moist, faintly red, not out of joy at becoming the new Heavenly Emperor, nor pleased about the impending Saint Position, but because he was moved that Ye Xuan had never forgotten him, tears of joy welling in his eyes.

A drop of water, an overflowing spring.

Ye Xuan rose from the throne, striding toward Emperor Ziwei, smiling as he did in the past, unchanged in the slightest.

"Brother, this position of Heavenly Emperor is well-deserved for you. Without Brother’s help in the past, there would be no Ye Xuan today." Ye Xuan bowed in deep respect three times, his voice utterly sincere.

Never forgetting one’s original intent is the key to success!

These simple eight characters are Ye Xuan’s cherished credo, and he has never forgotten all that Emperor Ziwei did for him; today is the day for Ye Xuan to repay this kindness.