Chapter 275: Dungeon: Hua Xu Secret Realm

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Dungeon: Hua Xu Secret Realm

「The sixth day of the sixth month.」

The Emperor of the Hua Xu Empire issued a Holy Decree, ordering Crown Prince Long Jingyao to represent him in worship at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, lead the meritorious court officials in praying to heaven and earth, and open the Secret Realm.

From this day forward, the Crown Prince officially began to act as regent.

In truth, the Crown Prince was only a succession ceremony and an enthronement ceremony away from the Emperor’s throne.

For the past six years, although the Crown Prince did not have the official title of regent, the Emperor had already begun to gradually delegate power to him. By now, with the exception of the Heavenly Emperor’s Twelve Guards which were beyond his reach, the Crown Prince had the final say in all military and political affairs of the Hua Xu Empire.

Before the sky brightened, Long Jingyao, dressed in crimson Python Dragon Robes, wearing the Crown of the Crown Prince, and with the Young Monarch Sword at his waist, personally led the Six Divisions of the Eastern Palace into the Imperial City.

Bearing the tally of authority, he led the civil and military officials, as well as those who were to enter the Hua Xu Secret Realm, first to the Imperial Ancestral Temple for worship, and then to the Celestial Altar to offer sacrifices to heaven.

Chu Fan, Yan Ying disguised as a man, Ye Xiaohan, and Wei Mian were among the crowd.

The entire ceremonial process took a full half-day to complete.

Having personally experienced such a grand and ceremonially complex event, Chu Fan couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion. ’This is truly befitting of a prosperous empire.’

In the North Garden of the Palace, beside a river channel that cut through the Palace City, a dilapidated and strangely shaped ship was moored.

The ship was six zhang high, twelve zhang long, and seven zhang wide. Though its hull was riddled with countless holes, large and small, the entire structure was seamlessly forged as one. It was impossible to tell what material it was made from; it was like wood but not wood, like metal but not metal. The entire vessel was pitch-black.

The ship was called strange because its shape was completely different from any other in this world. Its entire hull was elliptical. It had no deck, no cabins built above one—it looked more like an egg than anything else.

If not for the two rows of windows on either side of the hull above the waterline, one might have truly mistaken it for a giant egg.

A huge plaza had been constructed facing the river channel.

Only then did Chu Fan realize that the ship was the entrance to the Hua Xu Secret Realm.

On the plaza, banners fluttered, gongs and drums thundered, and the crowd was a sea of heads.

Compared to the group of three hundred and sixty people entering the Secret Realm, the formations of the Imperial Guard and the Six Divisions of the Eastern Palace were perfectly uniform, their presence overwhelming.

Standing within this group, Chu Fan saw quite a few familiar faces. Yao Zhi’s party of seven, whom he had met in the Miracle Secret Realm, were surprisingly all present.

Furthermore, all seven of them had now reached the Soul Emergence Realm in their cultivation.

’As the saying goes, one should never underestimate the geniuses of the world,’ he mused.

’Especially not in a place like the Central Domain, where the Martial Dao flourishes.’

’My own cultivation has progressed so quickly because I have the Chaos Body and practice a powerful cultivation technique like the Miaolian Celestial Stabilization Technique. On top of that, I have the Emperor’s Jade Pendant and a cheat like the Juntian Mirror.’

’People like Yao Zhi’s group might have had their own opportunities, but they certainly can’t compare to mine. And yet, in just three years, they’ve already stepped into the Soul Emergence Realm. That rate of progress is already countless times faster than an ordinary person’s.’

After another round of rituals, an officiating eunuch made an announcement. Then, the three hundred and fifty-nine people—everyone except Chu Fan—recited the Celestial Dao Oath in unison and signed their names and birth dates on the oath scrolls.

"All of you are pillars of the Empire. The prosperity of the Empire’s Martial Dao and the peace enjoyed by its people are thanks to the generations who have dedicated their lives to our nation. You are either the descendants of decorated officials whose ancestors rendered great service, or you are the bright prodigies of your sects and the pride of your noble families. Your sects and families have all made indelible contributions to the Empire’s development. Every generation produces new talent, and in the end, the revitalization of the Empire rests upon the shoulders of your generation."

"The Hua Xu Secret Realm is the very foundation upon which our Hua Xu Empire was built. Though my Long Clan holds imperial power, we understand that maintaining the Empire’s strength requires the efforts of all its subjects. It is not enough for the Long Clan alone to be strong. Only when all the countless citizens of the Hua Xu Empire are strong will our Hua Xu Empire be truly powerful."

"..."

"Entering the Secret Realm, you will find opportunities to advance your Martial Dao, which is also a blessing for our Empire. I hope that after entering the Secret Realm, you will be of one mind and work together to achieve even greater progress. When you emerge, you will be better able to contribute to the prosperity of the Empire."

After the ceremony, Long Jingyao gave a passionate speech that left the three hundred and fifty-nine people fired up, excited as if they could all become top experts upon their return from the Secret Realm.

"Open the hatch! Enter the Secret Realm! This King will await your triumphant return!"

At Long Jingyao’s command, a door suddenly opened on the side of the elliptical ship facing the shore.

The three hundred and sixty people lined up and entered in order.

Chu Fan’s group of five walked at the very end of the line.

Yan Ying was still giving Chu Fan the cold shoulder. During their three days and two nights in the Capital City, Chu Fan hadn’t stayed in the Eastern Palace at all.

On the first day, he went out shopping with Yan Ying and then went to the Xi Jun Building. Later, Yan Ying left first with the White Fox, and Chu Fan didn’t return all night.

Last night, Chu Fan had met up with Ye Xiaohan and Wei Mian, and the three of them had stayed the night at an inn.

So, Chu Fan had no idea what this young lady was angry about.

As for coaxing her and cheering her up, it was something he was incapable of doing, given his personality.

Everyone else had already entered the ship’s cabin. Chu Fan let the Imperial Grandson, Yan Ying, and the others go first, while he himself walked in last.

Upon entering the cabin, he saw the dilapidated interior. There were quite a few furnishings, including a conference table and stools. There were many rooms; walking down the corridor, he saw no fewer than a dozen rooms lining both sides. Peeking through the doors, he saw that the rooms were not small at all, containing parlors, bedrooms, and even washrooms.

’No, that’s not right!’

Chu Fan frowned.

’From the outside, this ship is only twelve zhang long,’ he thought. ’But the combined space of all these rooms is far more than that!’

Pushing the question to the back of his mind, he followed the group toward the Teleportation Point.

The Teleportation Point was the room at the very end; stepping through the door meant entering the Secret Realm directly.

Watching Ye Xiaohan disappear before his eyes, Chu Fan immediately followed. The moment he stepped through the door, his body felt as if it were being pulled by some force.

When his vision cleared again, he saw a vast grassland stretching out before him.

All three hundred and sixty people, including him, were looking around in every direction, clearly stunned by the abundant Spiritual Qi and the scenery before them.

The azure sky was like a gemstone, clear and cloudless for thousands of miles. The emerald grassland stretched to the horizon, teeming with life, lush and verdant.

"Brother Chu, I didn’t expect to see you here."

Not long after Chu Fan had appeared in the Secret Realm, Yao Zhi’s party of seven came over to him.

Only then did they notice Imperial Grandson Long Yinwen standing beside Chu Fan, and they all hurried to salute him. "We humble subjects greet Your Highness."

As the seven of them paid their respects, the rest of the people also came over to salute Long Yinwen.

After all, his identity as the Imperial Grandson was clear. He was the future Crown Prince of the Empire. Since they had sworn the Celestial Dao Oath, wasn’t seeing Long Yinwen akin to a slave seeing their master?

"Now that we are in the Secret Realm, you may all go and seek your own fortunes. My four companions are enough to accompany me."

Having been the Imperial Grandson for so long, Long Yinwen’s words and actions carried a natural, noble air. After he finished speaking, the crowd dispersed, flying off in all directions.

"Chu Fan, my father told me to listen to your advice after we entered the Secret Realm. Which way do you think we should go?" Long Yinwen asked Chu Fan after everyone had left.

Chu Fan looked up at the sky. Though it was a brilliant blue, there was no sun. He glanced at the flowers and grass on the ground; there was nothing here to get his bearings from.

He leaped into the air and fully unfurled his Spiritual Power. Only then could he perceive a distant mountain range, stretching on for miles, several hundred li ahead and to the right.

Matching the terrain to his map, Chu Fan pointed in that direction and said, "Let’s head that way for now!"