World's First Traitor System (455)

Chapter 455 - Please Ascend to Heaven, Your Majesty

He understood where he had lost, but regrettably, it was too late.

Cold sweat dripped continuously from Xu Jie's forehead.

As the leader of the Clear Stream faction, he had to devise a countermeasure!

Even if he couldn't defeat Yan Song, he shouldn't lose by too much!

But how could he bridge the gap in imperial favor between himself and Yan Song?

Join the list?!

If Yan Song could join, couldn't he?

The thought had just arisen when Xu Jie suppressed it himself.

He smiled bitterly.

Lead the members of the Clear Stream faction to also request inclusion on the Investiture of the Gods?

This was the one thing Xu Jie, even as the Clear Stream leader, truly could not do.

The Clear Stream faction of Great Ming was also the Crown Prince's faction of Great Ming.

Many among them, such as Gao Gong, Yin Shidan, and Chen Yiqin, were core members of the Crown Prince's faction.

Their closeness to Crown Prince Wanli far surpassed even his own, the Second Grand Secretary.

If Wanli could ascend the throne in the future, these individuals would surely be heavily relied upon!

Entering the cabinet as Prime Minister, even leading the officials, would all be within reach!
How could they possibly be willing to enter Emperor Jiajing's Investiture of the Gods?

Once on the list, they would be suppressed by Yan Song for life and could never again pledge loyalty to Wanli!

Even Xu Jie himself was actually unwilling to be on the list.

Since ancient times, scholars studied civil and martial arts to offer them to the imperial house.

Kneeling and acknowledging oneself as a subject before an emperor was not originally shameful.

However, if one voluntarily requested inclusion on that accursed Investiture of the Gods, in this life, and perhaps even the next, one could only be Emperor Jiajing's slave.

A name on the Investiture of the Gods?

This bondage penetrated the marrow and was carved into the soul.

"Great Ming deserves revitalization."

"Great Ming deserves a succeeding ruler even more!"

Xu Jie's loyalty was split; half belonged to Emperor Jiajing, the other half was placed upon Crown Prince Wanli.

This decision had been made long ago, at a moment when he realized he could not contend with Yan Song.

During Jiajing's reign, he could never win against Yan Song.

Therefore, he also placed his hopes on the future ruler.

The next Son of Heaven of Great Ming would surely allow his ideals and ambitions to be realized.

"Return authority and blessings to the sovereign!"

"Return administrative affairs to the various departments!"

"Return appointments, dismissals, punishments, and rewards to public opinion!"

Xu Jie's gaze gradually firmed; he no longer hesitated but made up his mind.

He could not join the list!

"Your subject Yan Shifan requests inclusion on the Investiture of the Gods."

"Your subject Luo Longwen requests inclusion on the Investiture of the Gods."

"Your subject Zhao Wenhua requests inclusion on the Investiture of the Gods."

The voices of one Yan faction official after another sounded in Xu Jie's ears, yet they passed like a gentle breeze, no longer able to stir his emotions.

Go ahead!

All of you join the list!

I've lost to you in this reign; I'll win it back in the next!

Xu Jie thought this, yet couldn't suppress the grief in his heart.

Emperor Jiajing was like the sun at high noon. Could Great Ming even have a next reign?

His Highness the Crown Prince... could he truly last until the day he ascended the throne?

"Very good."

One name after another appeared on the Investiture of the Gods scroll, then faded.

When the last Yan faction official in the Golden Luan Palace had voluntarily requested inclusion, Emperor Jiajing finally nodded with satisfaction.

"Weizhong."

"You are truly worthy of being the head of all officials."

"Half of the civil and military officials were willing to request inclusion voluntarily; this is your contribution."

These words fell on Xu Jie's ears like thorns on his back.

Was this praising Yan Song?

Why did it sound like scolding himself!

Yan Song led half the court officials to voluntarily request inclusion. Did that mean the other half who were unwilling, under his leadership, were resisting the Investiture of the Gods, resisting the Emperor?!

In an instant, Xu Jie's back was soaked in cold sweat! Being the Clear Stream leader was truly difficult.

Though the power was great, if trouble arose, the blame would only be greater!

Xu Jie almost wanted to speak, to offer a few words of defense for himself and the Clear Stream faction.

However, the Clear Stream's unwillingness to join the list was a fact. No matter how he tried to argue sophistically, he could not possibly deceive the supremely wise Emperor Jiajing.

Drip!

A drop of cold sweat fell onto the golden bricks of the hall floor.

The sound wasn't loud, but in the utter silence of the Golden Luan Palace, it seemed immense!

Xu Jie knelt on the ground, immediately burying his head even lower.

Only this way could the sound of the next drop of cold sweat hitting the floor be lessened.

Yan Song said nothing.

Emperor Jiajing also remained silent.

But Xu Jie clearly felt both their gazes fall upon him!

Yan Song was mocking him; Emperor Jiajing was waiting for him to state his position. Utterly unexpected.

He had thought this would be a court assembly to humiliate Yao Guang, yet it had become an excellent stage for Yan Song to suppress the Clear Stream faction.

"Perhaps... only I can sacrifice myself for righteousness. Use myself alone joining the list, in exchange for the Clear Stream members not joining."

Xu Jie was unwilling, but he could think of no other way.

His own fame, fortune, ideals, and ambitions were certainly important, but preserving the entire Clear Stream faction, leaving a capable team of ministers to govern the state and ensure peace for the future ruler, was more important!

"For the sake of the realm and state, I..."

A look of determination flashed in Xu Jie's eyes!

He was just about to make his righteous sacrifice when he suddenly heard strange footsteps outside the Golden Luan Palace.

The footsteps seemed both near and far, light and heavy.

Although Xu Jie was old, he was neither visually impaired nor deaf.

He immediately determined that an absolute expert was covering a thousand meters in a single step, heading straight for the Imperial Palace!

The few Great Vehicle realm experts known in Great Ming would never dare be so disrespectful!

The only explanation: an enemy attack?!

"Your Majesty." Yan Song also spoke appropriately. "Shall this old subject go out and see?"

If even Xu Jie could sense the newcomer's power, how could Yan Song not?

The civil and military officials were only briefly surprised before immediately becoming cautious.

Cautious, but not nervous.

Because this was the Great Ming Imperial Palace, where the world's strongest ruler, Emperor Jiajing, presided.

Even if a Great Vehicle realm expert forced their way in, how did they compare to the Female Emperor Yao Guang?

The Female Emperor had submitted; what chance did the strongman outside the hall have?

"No need to welcome him. Open the hall doors, let him enter."

Emperor Jiajing's expression was blank, betraying neither joy nor anger.

He seemed to have expected someone would come, yet also seemed not to know the other party.

The palace gates slowly opened.

The officials all turned their gazes outside the hall.

Indeed, on the distant horizon, a figure drew rapidly closer.

It was a man, dressed in white robes as pure as snow, untainted by dust, resembling a banished immortal.

Judging solely by his ability to shrink distances and cover a thousand meters in a step, he possessed at least Great Vehicle realm cultivation!

Yan Song and Xu Jie frowned simultaneously.

Because neither could see through the other party's cultivation, meaning the opponent was also a top-tier expert within the Great Vehicle realm.

"Excellent!"

"Excellent!"

"Excellent!"

The white-robed man landed outside the Golden Luan Palace.

He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling as he assessed Emperor Jiajing.

"Audacious!"

"Presumptuous!"

Yan Song and Xu Jie spoke simultaneously.

"Who goes there?"

"Seeing the Emperor of Great Ming, why do you not kneel immediately?!"

The white-robed man turned a deaf ear, continuing to scrutinize Emperor Jiajing with appreciative eyes.

"An emperor through the ages."

"Indeed, for a thousand years, you are the most outstanding emperor in the mortal realm."

"This envoy's trip down to the mortal world was not in vain after all."

Hearing the man speak thus, the Great Ming officials found it utterly incredible!
This envoy?

Down to the mortal world?

Did he fancy himself an immortal?

Xu Jie was about to retort when he heard Emperor Jiajing say faintly, "My guess was correct; the Immortal Realm indeed sent someone."

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials gasped collectively!

The white-robed man truly was an immortal!?

"You knew?" The white-robed man paused. "This envoy is a Star God of the Immortal Realm, corresponding to the Taibai Star among the celestial constellations."

"Then, you should be called Li Chang Geng," Emperor Jiajing's tone remained flat.

This time, it was Li Chang Geng's turn to be shocked.

"You are merely a mortal emperor, how do you know this envoy's true name?!"

"Heh?" Emperor Jiajing chuckled lightly. "Li Yu favored literature and ink. After I killed him, I obtained all his calligraphy, among which were scrolls and texts recording matters of the Immortal Realm."

"What!?"

"Li Yu actually died?"

Li Chang Geng's expression turned increasingly ugly.

The elegance and composure he had upon arrival had long vanished.

His gaze towards Emperor Jiajing clearly held more vigilance, even resistance.

Xu Jie witnessed everything, feeling inexplicably terrified in his heart.

His Majesty knew of matters concerning the Immortal Realm?

As the Second Grand Secretary of Great Ming, he was utterly ignorant. Among the hundred officials, did anyone else know of this?

Xu Jie couldn't help but steal a glance at Yan Song.

Unfortunately, Grand Secretary Yan resembled a piece of rotten wood, devoid of any aura, just standing there numbly and rigidly.

Xu Jie felt an immense headache. His old rival was most skilled at pretense; the more he acted like this, the less Xu Jie could guess.

Hopefully, Yan Song was also ignorant!

Xu Jie prayed silently in his heart.

"You... Emperor of Great Ming, since you know this envoy's name, you should also know the purpose of my visit, yes?" Li Chang Geng composed his smile, his expression turning grave.

Emperor Jiajing still smiled.

"I wish to hear you say it yourself."

"You!?"

Li Chang Geng was slightly angered. He vaguely felt the other party seemed to be toying with him!

But how dared this person?

A special envoy from the Immortal Realm, a god corresponding to a star constellation – a mortal emperor dared to slight him?

"Fine!"

Li Chang Geng gritted his teeth and took out a golden plaque from his sleeve.

Upon it were two distinct seal script characters: Recruit Soldiers.

"This is the Immortal Realm Recruitment Order."

"The Great Ming Dynasty's fortune is abundant, its combat strength promising. This envoy holds this order, requesting the Emperor of Great Ming lead his civil and military officials to ascend to the Immortal Realm, supplementing the Immortal Realm's military forces."

In the Golden Luan Palace, an uproar ensued.

What?

Did this mean national ascension?

The Immortal Realm was actually right before their eyes?

The chance for immortality, dreamt of by so many, was actually being delivered to their doorstep by a god?

The hundred officials were jubilant!

Even Xu Jie felt faintly excited!

However, he distinctly felt something wasn't quite right.

Supplementing military forces?

What exactly had happened in the Immortal Realm?

Since Great Ming's founding a thousand years ago, cultivators had ascended to become immortals, but it required great opportunity and great perseverance. Cultivation had to surpass the ninth stage of the Great Vehicle realm, entering the Tribulation Crossing realm.

Then, one had to endure the trials of nine heavenly tribulations to transcend the tribulation and become immortal.

Such difficulty was worthy of legend.

But now, how did becoming immortal seem so easily attainable?

"Are you asking me to achieve national ascension?" Emperor Jiajing's expression remained flat; the opportunity for immortality did not pique his interest in the slightest.

"You could say that." Li Chang Geng thought the other party was tempted, his expression softening slightly as he smiled. "But not everyone needs to ascend. For example, those with low cultivation and mediocre aptitude really have no need to ascend; they might as well remain in the mortal realm."

"Remain in the mortal realm to do what?" Emperor Jiajing continued to ask.

"Your Majesty can emulate Great Qin."

"In the past, the First Emperor ascended to Heaven, leaving the Second Generation to continue the national destiny. The First Emperor only led the elite of Great Qin to ascend to the Immortal Realm."

"Thus, both the mortal realm and the Immortal Realm would have Great Qin's domain. Wouldn't that be a fine thing?"

Li Chang Geng believed his eloquence was superb, but he didn't notice the strange expressions on the faces of the civil and military officials.

Xu Jie, especially, understood that this immortal envoy likely didn't understand the true situation in the mortal realm at all.

Qin perished under the Second Generation Emperor, yet he used it as evidence? What terrible luck.

Li Chang Geng also sensed the strange atmosphere around him.

He grew anxious, cupped his hands in salute, and urged, "Heaven's Mandate is thus; it cannot be defied. Your Majesty, Emperor of Great Ming, please ascend to Heaven soon!"