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Juzi couldn't help but shudder. After following Xu Tianran for so many years, even she had never seen anyone dare to humiliate Xu Tianran in person like this. Today's incident seemed to be more than just a bad ending.
I started coding as soon as I got home. I haven’t eaten yet. I’m going to sleep after eating…
(End of this chapter)
Chapter 459 Uninvited Guests at the Festival
Xu Tianran glared at Huo Yuhao and his companions on the other side of the platform with flaming eyes. His anger had reached its peak. If it weren't for the solemn occasion, he would have gone straight up to them and fought with them.
How long has it been since he was humiliated in person?
Xu Tianran laughed in anger. His upper body remained steady, but the five fingers of his right hand kept twisting and trampling on the metal that had turned into pieces.
When he first became disabled, there were many rumors in the palace mocking him, and many opponents took the opportunity to criticize his disabled body as a disgrace to the country.
Naturally, Xu Tianran kept all of this in mind. It didn't take too long before most of those who gossiped about him behind his back ended up dying tragically. The rumors in the palace gradually disappeared, and the few people who were not purged also wisely kept their mouths shut.
Huo Yuhao's action made Xu Tianran experience the feeling of having his dignity trampled upon again after a long time.
Another strong greeting came from outside the dragon chariot.
"I wonder if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is satisfied with this gift?"
Xu Tianran clenched his teeth, his eyes were ferocious, veins on his right hand bulged, and he crushed the metal fragments in his hand into smaller pieces.
Ju Zi quickly advised: "Your Highness, calm down. The ceremony has not started yet. This is not the time to conflict with them."
Xu Tianran's tone seemed very calm and rational, but one could clearly hear the cold anger hidden in it.
"Orange, I'm not angry, I'm very satisfied. Someone gave me such a precious gift, it would be impolite if I didn't return the favor."
Juzi understood what he meant and said loudly to the outside again: "Your Highness is very satisfied. Juzi thanks you on his behalf."
A short episode before the ceremony attracted everyone's attention, but no one knew what the two people who were diametrically opposed to each other had talked about before the life-and-death battle. It was obviously not a real "gift".
After the interlude ended, everyone was quietly waiting for the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven to begin. No one made a sound and the entire platform looked extremely solemn and dignified.
Huo Yuhao was opposite Xu Tianran, and both of their teams were located in the middle of the platform. He had the fewest people around him, but no one dared to underestimate him because of this.
"He actually endured it like this?"
Bingdi was somewhat surprised and said, "His emotions were so intense, yet he still behaved so rationally. His character is definitely worthy of being called an emperor."
Huo Yuhao muttered to himself: “Although it is a bit unkind to laugh at disabled people, I feel ashamed. Even greater ridicule is yet to come.”
Tian Meng in the spiritual sea was very ashamed. Although she did not show up in the outside world, she was not idle either.
She was sensing the dense crowd around her. Even she couldn't distinguish every single person at the same time. There were many familiar auras that Huo Yuhao had seen before, but most of them were passers-by who had only met once. Some Sun and Moon students or soul masters might have seen them two or three times, but they couldn't remember their names.
Suddenly, Tian Meng sensed the most powerful aura and quickly reminded: "Yuhao, Old Man Moon is here."
As soon as he finished speaking, the figure of Silver Moon Douluo Kong Deming appeared in the air in the distance, walking in the air and slowly flying towards the altar.
He kept his speed deliberately slow and did not deliberately exude pressure, but there was a sense of majesty emanating from him.
The time it took Kong Deming to reach the altar was extended because of his slowed-down speed, and his majesty became more profound and heavy as the time was extended. Wherever he passed, the people did not dare to look up at him.
The appearance of Kong Deming also indicated that the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven was about to begin.
Finally, Kong Deming reached the bottom level of the altar and slowly landed on the ground.
All the royal family members and officials did not speak a word. They all nodded and saluted to pay tribute to the Silver Moon Douluo.
Kong Deming's attire today was different from that of other royal family members. It was not the bright and luxurious bright yellow palace dress, but just a simple and plain silver-white one, which was consistent with his title Silver Moon, and also looked like mourning clothes for the dead.
His prestige is no less than that of the Sun and Moon Emperor. At least half of the high-level soul masters above level eight have been taught by him. If he had not studied in seclusion for many years, the mainland would not know so little about him. Now that the emperor has passed away and Sun and Moon are caught up in a dispute over a new emperor, he is the only one with enough prestige to preside over the overall situation.
Kong Deming looked up at the height of the sun and said calmly, "Let's get started."
Everyone started waiting for this sentence the moment he appeared, and everyone's face was full of seriousness. Even the always lively and funny Princess Xu Tianzhen had to hold back her excitement at this moment.
woo-
Following Kong Deming's order, the military band that had been rehearsed long ago began to play music. The low trumpet sounds rang out from around the altar and stretched to the distant horizon.
Music is used to convey emotions, but the overly deep trumpet sounds do not convey a sense of jubilation; they sound more like funeral music for the dead.
It seemed that Kong Deming did not shout loudly, but his voice full of energy and soul power was clearly transmitted to the ears of everyone present through the amplifying soul guide.
After he finished speaking, he took the lead and slowly moved forward, heading towards the upper level of the altar.
Huo Yuhao and Xu Tianran in the dragon chariot looked at each other from a distance. Xu Tianran looked coldly at Huo Yuhao in the distance, and clenched his right hand into a dragon claw, as if he was holding Huo Yuhao's heart, and grabbed it hard to vent his anger.
Then he stood up, took Juzi's hand, and slowly walked down from the dragon chariot.
He didn't know when he had a pair of prosthetic limbs installed on his legs. The silver-grey metal prosthetic limbs were flashing with purple and yellow lines that contained fluctuations of soul power. It was obviously an advanced soul guide device.
After these two teams came the Third Prince, Princess Tian Zhen and other members of the royal family, then the Hall of Worship’s Priest and ninth-level soul masters such as Jing Hongchen, and later some military generals.
Jing Hongchen and Meng Hongchen are still behind those generals, and finally come all kinds of ministers, big and small.
The magnificent Temple of Heaven is divided into seven floors. Only the seventh floor symbolizes supreme authority, while the first to sixth floors are also arranged in order of rank and are filled with people according to their levels.
Most officials can only stop at the fifth floor. The sixth floor and beyond is the real power center of the Sun-Moon Empire.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen have now been awarded the title of marquis, and can barely squeeze into the sixth floor. But after reaching the sixth floor, the two did not dare to say a word, but put away their pride and stood quietly behind Jing Hongchen.
Each layer of the Temple of Heaven is engraved with gorgeous patterns, containing extremely high artistic elements and technological levels. But now there is no time for the soul guides present to study, and the air is filled with the smell of gunpowder without gunpowder smoke.
Xiao Hongchen's expression was solemn. Such a depressing atmosphere made him feel uncomfortable all over.
He looked over and saw Huo Yuhao in the simulated state standing proudly behind Kong Deming, but he couldn't see his real expression. But Xiao Hongchen believed that Huo Yuhao himself would never show any nervousness or fear.
Xiao Hongchen felt for a moment that he had really lost to Huo Yuhao in all aspects. Not only in terms of strength, but also in terms of the arrogance in his heart, which seemed far inferior to Huo Yuhao.
Even his grandfather, the leader of the prominent Mingde Hall, had to be extremely cautious in the face of the battle for the throne, fearing that he might offend Xu Tianran. And Huo Yuhao dared to instigate his grandfather to lead Mingde Hall to deceive the world and undermine the entire royal family.
Is it because he has the support of the Northern Douluo behind him that he feels fearless?
Xiao Hongchen's eyes were deep. The years he had spent with Huo Yuhao gave him an intuition that even if there was no such Extreme Douluo and there was only Huo Yuhao alone, he would dare to pull Jing Hongchen to do this.
Feeling Xiao Hongchen's gaze, Huo Yuhao turned around and looked in his direction, giving him a kind smile.
At this time, Kong Deming suddenly spoke in a deep voice: "According to the ancestral precepts of the sun and the moon, when the previous emperor passed away, but a new emperor was not chosen in time, the wisest one was chosen from the younger generations of the royal family. Today is the day of the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heaven, and it is also the time to choose a new emperor."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Yuhao and Xu Tianran took a step forward together.
Theoretically, other royal relatives could also stand up at this time, but no one dared to do so. The most qualified third prince said nothing and remained silent.
"Please come."
Kong Deming respectfully bowed to the two candidates and went up to the seventh floor of the Temple of Heaven first, and the two followed him up.
The two Ice and Snow Emperors and the spiritual body stayed on the sixth floor to prevent other people on the sixth floor from making any small moves.
Juzi remained silent. The next period of time, which would determine the fate of the Sun-Moon Empire and herself, seemed extremely torturous to her.
The seventh floor of the Temple of Heaven is a thousand square meters. A huge golden hexagram array is clustered among many gorgeous patterns, emitting a faint golden light. In the center of the hexagram is a sun and moon totem carved with a golden sun and a silver moon, and the gold and silver colors complement each other.
Huo Yuhao and Xu Tianran stood facing each other on either side of the hexagram, while Kong Deming was hanging upright in the sky above the sun and moon totems.
Xu Tianran looked around the seventh floor of the Temple of Heaven, his eyes full of fanaticism.
This is the seventh floor that only the Sun-Moon Emperor, who is above everyone else, is qualified to step onto. He is the only candidate for the Sun-Moon Emperor.
But when his gaze rested on Huo Yuhao, that fanaticism was replaced by a ferociousness.
Why! Why did such an opponent appear when he was about to take control of everything?
The Emperor of Sun and Moon must be him, Xu Tianran, and can only be him, Xu Tianran!
Huo Yuhao frowned slightly and noticed the set of prosthetic limbs on Xu Tianran’s lower body.
He determined at first glance that this was a soul guide device. If nothing unexpected happened, it must be level nine, but he couldn't see what effect this soul guide device had.
Attack? Defense? Or some other special function?
Kong Deming was suspended above the seventh floor, and his majestic voice reached everyone's ears through the amplifying soul guide.
"The late emperor was ill for a long time and finally passed away this year. Looking back on his life, he worked hard and made outstanding achievements, but unfortunately he died young after all the hard work he put in."
"Today, in compliance with the late emperor's last wish, we have changed the funeral procession into a memorial service to mourn our ancestor, who lived for thousands of years. Our ancestor has made great contributions, and his descendants are prosperous and strong. I hope that the spirit of our ancestor in heaven will protect our Sun and Moon Empire."
The heavy and solemn sacrificial words came out of Kong Deming's mouth, and the entire seventh floor of the Temple of Heaven was filled with a majestic and solemn atmosphere, as if one could really feel the spirits of the ancestors of the Sun and Moon Empire in heaven.
Huo Yuhao was standing on the seventh floor, so of course he could not feel anything. Those Sun and Moon ancestors had been dead for who knows how long, and their souls had long since disappeared without a trace.
The word "late emperor" originally referred to He Caitou's father, but now that the old emperor is dead, it now refers to the old emperor.
No matter what good or bad things the old emperor did during his lifetime, almost all that is left to him now are praises.
Millions of people around the Temple of Heaven had already knelt on the ground. Along with the empty funeral music and heavy eulogies, even faint cries could be heard in the sky above the southern suburbs.
The Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony was also what Kong Deming wanted to promote, because it could rally the people and make the Sun-Moon Empire more stable.
Such a scandal broke out in the royal family. The previous emperor came to the country by illegitimate means and killed his brother and the emperor. This would greatly affect the prestige of the royal family. If it were to get out, it might even affect the rebellion on the border and the response strategy of the enemy country.
However, the grand ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven can effectively divert people's attention and restore the old emperor's reputation.
After reading the eulogy, Kong Deming changed his tone and said, "However, the country cannot be without a king for a day. If the previous emperor passes away and a new emperor is not appointed, it may cause the younger generation of Sun and Moon to kill each other. Therefore, we follow the ancestral teachings of Sun and Moon and select a new emperor under the witness of the golden sun and silver moon."
After saying this, he opened his hands towards the two candidates, signaling them to speak.
Xu Tianran bowed to Kong Deming and said loudly: "When my father was in power, he was dedicated to the country and worked diligently. Now that I am the crown prince, I am blessed by heaven, and I am a man of both literary and martial virtues. I should follow my father's wishes and inherit the throne."
Huo Yuhao, who was sitting opposite him, sneered: "You are connected to a cult, killing innocent people, and harming the people. You are worse than beasts. You even dare to bark in front of me and claim that you are blessed by heaven."
Xu Tianran retorted sharply: "Then what are your qualifications?"
His voice was indifferent, but the aura of a Titled Douluo was fully revealed.
"They colluded with the enemy country and tried to steal our Sun and Moon country. How dare these traitors offend our majesty!"
He swung the long sword in his right hand, pointing it straight to the sky, and his whole body was shining with purple-gold light.
"Ancestor Sun and Moon, today I will suppress you here under the golden sun and silver moon, and you will never be able to be reborn!"
Nine soul rings, two yellow, two purple, and five black, were vibrating behind him, emitting a strong imperial pressure. As soon as Elder Kong gave the order, the overbearing destructive attribute would attack Huo Yuhao directly.
Huo Yuhao narrowed his eyes slightly and shouted in a cold voice: "A dog with a broken leg dares to bark in front of me."
A blazing orange-red ball of light slowly rose above his head. The intense high temperature emitted a strong heat wave that distorted the light above the seventh floor.
The inherited martial spirit of the Sun and Moon royal family, the Sun.
Two yellow, two purple, two black and two red, eight soul rings in perfect harmony and order appeared behind him, and the aura they exuded was no weaker than Xu Tianran's.