Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 574 The Holy Scripture Begins

Soon, Xu Ping’an arrived at the Imperial City Square with Situ Lie and two others.

By then, the square was already bustling with people, a vast sea of human heads.

The Imperial City Square is located between the east gate of the city and the imperial palace, situated on the main thoroughfare of the capital.

The main thoroughfare of the capital is extremely wide, a full two hundred meters across.

At this moment, a red carpet had been laid on the wide avenue, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

The sides of the streets were lined with neatly arranged iron-clad soldiers, carrying flags with flames, exuding solemnity and martial might.

The residents of the capital were held back by the soldiers on both sides of the street.

Anyone who dared to take a step forward would be executed on the spot.

Under such strict iron rules, nobody dared to recklessly enter the central area of the main thoroughfare.

Riding on a fiery lion, Xu Ping’an followed Situ Lie and the others along the main thoroughfare in a majestic and imposing manner, causing the surrounding commoners to exclaim in shock.

The fiery lion mount, a signature mount of the Lieyang Royal Mansion, was a Fifth Rank Demon Beast. Although not high in level, it was extremely domineering.

Looking at the shocked and excited expressions of the residents around him, Xu Ping’an experienced a flood of emotions.

"Most of these people are still commoners; about seventy percent are commoners, with only thirty percent being cultivators," Xu Ping’an remarked.

"That’s right, and this is the capital. If it were another city, the proportion of cultivators might not even reach ten percent. Cultivators, after all, are a minority. The chance of becoming a High Rank Cultivator is one in ten thousand, and to become an immortal is even rarer—one in a hundred million," Situ Lie responded.

Xu Ping’an nodded, acknowledging that the number of cultivators was indeed much smaller compared to commoners.

Even in the Spirit Realm, commoners still made up half of the population.

Commoners are weak and are regarded as ants in the eyes of cultivators.

Xu Ping’an felt somewhat fortunate that, in both his lives, he had decent talent.

"There are many cultivators here, especially strong ones, much more than usual. I can sense that there are no fewer than a hundred Eighth Rank and Ninth Rank cultivators around us," Xu Ping’an said to Situ Lie.

"Hmm, many forces have come this time. Nearly ten from Heaven Beyond Heavens alone. The other three Immortal Dynasties have also sent strong representatives, so this ceremony is going to be more grand than we imagined," Situ Lie nodded and said.

Xu Ping’an nodded. With so many strong figures coming, was it really just to offer congratulations?

Were these powerful beings so free?

Xu Ping’an quickly made his way to the Imperial City Square.

The square was large enough to easily accommodate a hundred thousand people.

Even more people surrounded the square on all sides.

What truly captivated Xu Ping’an’s attention, however, were the people on the square.

At this moment, numerous strong figures from various forces who had come to observe the ceremony stood on the square.

Glancing over, Xu Ping’an indeed spotted quite a few familiar forces.

Among them, from the lower Thirty-Six Heavens, representatives from Demon Cloud Heaven, Mysterious Jade Heaven, Shaoyang Heaven, Yuheng Heaven, and Moon Cloud Heaven had all come.

From the upper Thirty-Six Heavens, several strong figures from Xuanqing Heaven, Chiming Heaven, Upper Mysterious Heaven, and Hanyue Heaven were present.

There was also one from Heaven Beyond Heavens that Xu Ping’an had not seen before.

However, Xu Ping’an wasn’t concerned, as the forces from Heaven Beyond Heavens were strong but not to the extent that he should be fearful.

Besides Heaven Beyond Heavens, the Academy, Tianlong Hall, and Earth Divine Sect had also sent representatives.

Among these forces, there was no shortage of Tenth Rank experts, and the number was quite significant.

The team leaders of the three great forces and those from the upper Thirty-Six Heavens were all Tenth Rank.

There could be no fewer than ten Tenth Rank experts on the entire square.

"So many Tenth Rank experts, why have so many Tenth Rank experts come to this ceremony?" Situ Lie also wore a look of surprise.

He too was taken aback by the appearance of so many Tenth Rank experts.

Xu Ping’an fell into contemplation.

There must be some purpose for these experts gathering here.

Perhaps it truly had something to do with the discovery of some Ancient Times sacred teaching’s relic.

Xu Ping’an’s gaze settled on the direction of the Fire Divine Palace.

The team from the Fire Divine Palace was led by the Great Elder, Wu Xingtian, along with a few Ninth Rank Elders.

Divine Son Yu Wenbai stood beside Wu Xingtian, still exuding an air of arrogance.

Xie Jizong, Luo Yong’an, and Li Qingyi were behind him, quietly waiting for the start of the sacred rite.

Sensing Xu Ping’an’s gaze, Li Qingyi also looked up in his direction, a ripple of emotion flickering in the depths of her eyes.

Seeing Li Qingyi unharmed, Xu Ping’an felt some relief in his heart.

It seemed that the commotion he caused at the Fire Divine Palace had not implicated Li Qingyi.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!"

Just then, the sound of objects tearing through the sky approached from afar.

Nine Seventh Rank red fire dragon horses were seen pulling a massive golden chariot, flying through the air.

The chariot had come from the direction of the imperial palace in the capital.

Following behind the golden chariot were several smaller carriages.

"It’s the Emperor, the Emperor is here," someone exclaimed.

The next moment, all the residents knelt to the ground, their faces filled with reverence.

The chariot stopped in the air above the square.

A majestic figure stepped down.

It was none other than the Emperor of the Great Flame Immortal Dynasty.

At that moment, the Flame Emperor was dressed in a crimson dragon robe, with a dragon crown on his head, exuding an aura that commanded the eight deserts, instilling a sense of endless majesty.

His gaze swept over the entire square, looking down upon all beneath heaven.

Several people disembarked from the carriages behind him as well.

These were none other than Crown Prince Jiang Yu, several princes, and princesses.

Xu Ping’an immediately noticed his aunt, Su Chan, among them.

Su Chan also glanced in Xu Ping’an’s direction, but she quickly averted her gaze.

She knew that her every move was under the scrutiny of many, and lingering too long with her gaze would certainly arouse suspicion from others.

Xu Ping’an naturally understood this, but still felt somewhat unwilling to accept it.

"We greet the Emperor."

The voices of countless subjects called out in unison, shaking the earth and sky.

"Rise," the Emperor’s voice sounded, not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears.

The millions of mortal descendants were all amazed, slowly rising in unison, looking towards the Flame Emperor with awe.

For many of them, it was their first time seeing the Emperor’s true face.

"Let us begin," the Flame Emperor said, more solemn than usual, directly announcing.

"The auspicious time has arrived, the ceremony begins," an official immediately announced.

The next moment was filled with the sound of beautiful music.

Then began the first step of the sacred rite, paying homage to the ancestors.

The Flame Emperor, accompanied by princes and princesses, ascended the high platform to perform the rituals of worship.

The scene was grand and magnificent, filled with an atmosphere of solemnity and reverence.

After the ancestral worship concluded, the Flame Emperor began to speak.

"Thank you all for attending the sacred rite of the Great Flame Immortal Dynasty. I am aware of the purpose behind your journey here, but this matter will be addressed at the end. Next, we shall proceed with the inheritance of this ceremony," the Flame Emperor announced.

Xu Ping’an was somewhat puzzled.

Inheritance?

Was the inheritance starting now?

He wondered what the inheritance would actually involve.