Chapter 133: The Emperor of Great Qian Abdicates (2)

Lu Yang did not recklessly release his Divine Sense.

Even without deliberately sensing his surroundings, he could detect several unfathomable auras scattered throughout the distant crowd.

Essence Gathering Realm cultivators.

There were probably several present, perhaps more than he could identify from his current position.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of Spirit Awakening Realm cultivators were also gathered outside the Gate of Heavenly Peace.

Some were officials, others were members of powerful families or cultivators who had come from different parts of Great Qian.

In comparison, Lu Yang’s concealed aura was completely insignificant.

Even when Divine Sense at the Spirit Awakening Realm swept across portions of the crowd, no one paid particular attention to him.

After all, he was merely a young Guard Leader who appeared to possess the cultivation of the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering Realm.

There were countless people with stronger cultivation present, and no one would waste their attention on someone so ordinary.

Even Essence Gathering experts, who were capable of perceiving his true cultivation, would not pay any great attention to him.

Not only were they far apart and their Divine Sense couldn’t reach him, even if it did, they would only think of him as a young genius being cultivated by some high official.

After all, Lu Yang was twenty years old, but they had no way of knowing that just from a sweep of Divine Sense.

Spirit Awakening cultivators aged slower than Body Tempering cultivators, and they might think that he was in his mid to late twenties and just had a young appearance due to his cultivation.

Spirit Awakening Realm in mid to late twenties?

That was not enough to attract an Essence Gathering cultivator’s attention, especially not in the Imperial Capital where talents gathered from the entire dynasty.

Lu Yang was perfectly satisfied with this arrangement.

He found a suitable place among the officials and waited quietly.

Zhao Ming stood beside him, his eyes fixed on the palace gates.

Time passed slowly.

The crowd continued murmuring, but the atmosphere gradually became more solemn as additional officials arrived.

Eventually, the people gathered near the front began to fall silent.

The change spread through the crowd, conversations ceasing one after another until even the distant streets seemed quieter than before.

Lu Yang raised his gaze towards the Gate of Heavenly Peace.

Atop the magnificent gate stood several officials from the Ministry of Rites.

One of them stepped forward, and behind him, attendants carefully carried an imperial document enclosed within an ornate golden covering.

The document was then brought to the designated position above the gate.

The attendants seemed somewhat inexperienced and nervous, discussing something in low voices as they slowly lowered the document.

The next moment, the golden covering was removed, revealing a large imperial script.

Its characters were bold and imposing, yet the strokes possessed an elegance that could not be imitated by ordinary calligraphers.

Lu Yang glanced at the writing, not needing anyone to tell him who had written it.

The calligraphy carried the distinctive authority of someone accustomed to issuing commands that governed an entire dynasty.

Presumably, it had been written personally by the Emperor.

An official from the Ministry of Rites stepped forward and began announcing the contents.

His voice was amplified by his peak Spirit Awakening Realm cultivation, allowing it to reach even the distant edges of the gathering.

The imperial edict declared that the current Emperor of Great Qian had ruled for a hundred years.

During his reign, the dynasty has prospered, its borders have remained stable, and its people have enjoyed an extended period of peace.

Now, having governed the empire for a century, the Emperor had decided to abdicate the throne and transfer the Mandate of Great Qian to the Crown Prince.

The enthronement ceremony would take place two months later.

Before that, the necessary sacrifices would be offered to heaven and earth, and the succession would be formally acknowledged through the prescribed rites.

The announcement was brief, but its significance was immense.

For a moment, the entire gathering remained silent before the atmosphere erupted.

Countless voices rose simultaneously, though the words were difficult to distinguish amid the overwhelming noise.

Some officials bowed towards the Forbidden City, and some exchanged solemn glances, already considering what the succession might mean for their positions and future prospects.

Among the ordinary people, excitement spread rapidly.

The Emperor was abdicating, and the Crown Prince would soon ascend the throne.

A new era was about to begin.

Lu Yang stood quietly among the crowd, sighing inwardly.

He had known this day would eventually arrive, yet witnessing the announcement in person still gave him a peculiar feeling.

A hundred years.

For ordinary mortals, it was an entire lifetime, for a cultivator, it was only a portion of the long journey towards the Great Dao, and for an Emperor of Great Qian, it was the duration of a reign that had shaped the lives of countless people.

Now, that reign was approaching its end.

Lu Yang looked towards the imperial script hanging above the gate, wondering what the departing Emperor was thinking at this moment.

Was he relieved to finally relinquish his responsibilities?

Did he regret anything about the century he had spent ruling the dynasty?

Or had he simply reached a point where continuing to occupy the throne no longer served his purposes?

Lu Yang could not know, and neither did he wish to speculate.

After all, the thoughts of an Emperor were not something an ordinary Guard Leader needed to understand.

However, one thing was certain; a great change was on the horizon.

A new Emperor meant new decisions, new priorities, and potentially new conflicts among the powerful forces of Great Qian.

The Imperial Court would change, and the cultivation world might change along with it.

Even those who wished to remain uninvolved would eventually feel the consequences.

Lu Yang slowly withdrew his gaze.

Beside him, Zhao Ming was still looking at the edict with an expression of fascination.

"To think that His Majesty has ruled for a hundred years." He murmured.

"I wonder what kind of Emperor the Crown Prince will become."

Lu Yang gave a faint smile.

"That is something we will find out in time."