"I am Emperor Shura…"
Luo Xiu's ethereal voice echoed across the sky, reaching every corner as if announcing his presence to all living things.
Throughout Tianjian City, the common people devoutly prostrated themselves in worship.
* * *
「Outside Tianjian City.」
Atop a steep mountain peak, Luo Xiu landed with a THUD, looking at the white-haired old man standing under a pine tree with an odd expression.
Next to the white-haired old man stood a man and a woman. They looked quite young, but their eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of ti. Upon seeing Luo Xiu, the pair's eyes lit up. They grew so excited that their bodies began to quiver. This was because the brother and sister had grown up listening to tales of the Azure Emperor! Like most cultivators in the Three Thousand Worlds, they idolized him and aid to be just like him.
The white-haired old man was, of course, the Celestial chanism Elder, Guan Zhongbao. It was he who had previously inquired about Luo Xiu's na in public within Tianjian City.
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty." Guan Zhongbao stepped forward a few paces and bowed slightly. Then, pointing to the man and woman beside him, he said, "These are my children, Guan Long and Guan Feng."
The brother and sister hurried forward to bow.
Luo Xiu smiled and nodded, returning the gesture before turning to Guan Zhongbao. "Hey, Zhongbao, can you drop the somber old man act for ?"
Guan Zhongbao replied, "A ruler is a ruler, and a subject is a subject."
Hearing this, Luo Xiu sighed softly. He was truly at a loss with this stubborn old man.
"I'm not acting as any 'Your Majesty' right now. In private, just act like you used to," he said. "Didn't you go to Yan Huang Star to wait for ? Why did you co to Swordfire State?"
"This humble servant ca through the Teleportation Array on Yan Huang Star," Guan Zhongbao stated formally. "Your Majesty has eradicated the Swordfire Divine Sect and is now dearly beloved by the people of Swordfire State. It is an excellent opportunity to build montum, establish your authority, and win the hearts of the people."
At these words, Luo Xiu revealed an understanding smile. He knew that Guan Zhongbao's public inquiry into his na back in Tianjian City was the first step in building his reputation and rallying support. And because of that, the entire Swordfire State now knew of Emperor Shura's fa.
He believed it would not be long before the na of Emperor Shura would shake the entire Three Thousand Worlds of the Upper Realm.
"But isn't this too high-profile? Besides, I don't think it's necessary," Luo Xiu remarked.
"It is very necessary, and Your Majesty must be high-profile," Guan Zhongbao insisted.
"I have been to Yan Huang Star. The land is desolate and resources are scarce; everything needs to be rebuilt. It is in dire need of a new population.
"Production, agriculture, the economy… all of these require ordinary people.
"Even if Your Majesty does not act as the overt ruler, you are still the lord of Yan Huang Star and the cornerstone of this new nation.
"Although Your Majesty has amassed a plethora of resources, they are only suitable for cultivators. To establish a complete and powerful nation, you need more than just cultivators who are only good for fighting and killing.
"Houses need builders, crops need farrs, and roads need nders… You can't expect a group of cultivators to do everything.
"Your Majesty, your enemy is Luo Hao. Behind him stand the Heaven Azure Empire, the Three Thousand Alliance, and even the Forces of the Heavenly Realm… If you wish to contend with him, you must make these preparations, developing and strengthening your own power base.
"Unless, of course, you possess absolute, invincible power and can simply fly over and obliterate all your enemies."
After hearing Guan Zhongbao's words, Luo Xiu was silent for a long ti.
"Then… I'll leave the aftermath to you. Zhongbao, with you behind , I can rest assured."
During his ti in Tianji Pavilion, he had recovered his mories of Guan Zhongbao, so he understood that with the man by his side, he could undertake anything without worry. It was for this exact reason that back at Tianji Pavilion, he had shalessly cajoled and pleaded with Guan Zhongbao to go to Yan Huang Star and serve as his Pri Minister.
To him, Guan Zhongbao was what Zi Fang was to Liu Ji, Xiang Liang to Xiang Yu, or Wolong and Fengchu to Xuande.
In the ensuing quiet, Guan Zhongbao asked, "Your Majesty, when will you depart for the Heavenly Moon Cult?"
"In the next couple of days."
...
After finalizing the plans, Guan Zhongbao bid farewell to Luo Xiu. He then began to travel across Swordfire State with Guan Long and Guan Feng, hoping to leverage Emperor Shura's renown to persuade the various powers to ally with Yan Huang Star.
Luo Xiu, anwhile, returned to the Land of Lawlessness.
* * *
「The Land of Lawlessness.」
Having devoured the Chaos Fire Seed, Immortal had just cultivated a Dao Body of flesh and blood. Everything felt novel to her, so she was now running wild, chasing leopards and herds of cattle across the vast grasslands. Master Ping had gone to the Shanhai Territory above the Land of Lawlessness, saying he needed to find so spiritual dicine to plant in the World Inside the Vase.
Thus, the grand Green Lotus Palace was left with only Luo Xiu and Xia Chan.
Like a sheltered maiden, Xia Chan remained in her small courtyard. She was afraid that if she wandered about, she would once again create a terrible "poison domain." Although the Swordfire Divine Sect had deliberately slandered her with claims of wanton slaughter, it was true that a poison domain ford wherever she went.
Luo Xiu walked into the courtyard and saw Xia Chan daydreaming on the swing under a tree. He asked, "Separated for just a little while and you're already lovesick?"
Xia Chan shot him a glare and said coquettishly, "I'd much rather not see you at all."
Luo Xiu approached her side. "After I was reborn, I went to Capital City," he said suddenly. "I saw Luo Tao."
Xia Chan's beautiful eyes trembled for a mont before she regained her composure. "Is he… doing well?"
Luo Xiu watched her. "From the looks of it, there's sothing you find hard to talk about."
Xia Chan spoke, "He doesn't know I'm his mother. After the calamity at Judgnt Ground, I was imprisoned for five years… Xi Yue was the one who raised him.
"No one has ever told him about his true parentage.
"Perhaps even now, he thinks his birth mother is Xi Yue. In his eyes, I'm just a witch from a heretic cult."
Luo Xiu reached out and put an arm around her fragrant shoulders. "He's doing very well now."
"Then I'm relieved," Xia Chan said.
Luo Xiu changed the subject. "I know a tavern in Tianjian City with a rather romantic atmosphere. How about we go there for a bite to eat?"
"But the poison in my body… I'm afraid it will affect other people."
"Don't worry," Luo Xiu said. "I've used the Creation Thirteen Needles to suppress the poison. As long as you don't channel your Qi or use your cultivation, the poison won't spread outside your body."
"Really?"
"Really."
Afterward, the two left the Land of Lawlessness and returned to Tianjian City.
Luo Xiu led Xia Chan to the small tavern he had visited before. When Xia Chan saw the scantily-clad proprietress, she instantly understood why Luo Xiu had wanted to co here.
So he was just here to see the proprietress!
However, when the proprietress saw Luo Xiu, she froze on the spot. The tray in her hands clattered to the floor, completely unnoticed.
"Emperor… Emperor Shura…"
Her body trembled as she dropped to her knees with a thud.
I saw him from a distance in the crowd when he was leaving the sect. I can't believe the young man who teased is actually Emperor Shura, the one who annihilated the Swordfire Divine Sect! I was so afraid he would co looking for trouble. To think my worst fears have co true. Emperor Shura is here!
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