Chapter 578 - 345: Birth of a Daughter, Purple Qi from the East, Auspicious Divine Phoenix

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.

In that year, the Great Yan Dynasty garrisoned its troops in the Nanli Dynasty, the Golden Crow Country, and the Song Dynasty, becoming the undisputed hegemon of the Central Plains.

Under Lu Mingyuan’s direction, the Great Yan Court established the North and South Capitals.

The Northern Capital was the Imperial Capital, and the Southern Capital was named Shengjing.

The main purpose of this was to consolidate their rule.

The Southern Capital, formerly known as Luochuan Prefecture, was a massive city situated on the main route to the Western Wilderness, with roads extending in all directions.

This could compensate for the geographical distance between the north and south.

Some scholars speculated that the Court established the Southern Capital of Shengjing to recruit soldiers, build up military towns, and prepare for the unification of the world.

Others believed Shengjing was meant to counter another power: Nanyan.

That same year, the long-dormant Ninth Prince, Lu Yunhuang, finally revealed his fangs. This Prince, said to have the destiny of a Hidden Dragon, ultimately declared himself emperor in the lands of Nan Zhou, establishing a new nation with the name Nanyan and taking the title Emperor of Nanyan.

Lu Yunhuang establishing Nanyan was, in fact, within Lu Mingyuan’s expectations.

His younger imperial brother, who seemed unremarkable, had actually hidden himself very deeply. He was the closed-door disciple of Xun Yu, the former National Preceptor of Nan Zhou.

Even someone as gifted as Lu Guangjing had been rejected by Xun Yu, which just went to show how high the expectations were for Lu Yunhuang.

How could a figure like him be content to serve under another? He was bound to strike out on his own.

In response, the Court remained composed and did not rush to send a punitive expedition.

Instead, they immediately issued a denunciation, refuting the legitimacy of Nanyan.

The Great Yan was the true possessor of the Celestial Mandate.

They called upon all the nations of the world to launch a crusade against it.

Internally, the Great Yan Dynasty focused all its attention on increasing its strength, improving its military armaments, and recruiting Tributors.

Just as some had said, perhaps Great Yan truly was preparing to unify the world.

That year, Mr. Shuijing, known as a Pure Confucian Scholar, accepted the Great Yan Dynasty’s recruitment and became a First-Grade Tributor of the Dynasty.

That year, the Wen Sheng came out of seclusion to establish the Wencan Academy, and the chosen site was none other than Shengjing.

As soon as the Wencan Academy was established, scholars from all over the world flocked to it.

The Confucian Temple provided ample publicity, encouraging its disciples to go out into the world and cultivate.

Across the entire Central Plains World, only the Great Wu Dynasty, the Great Sui Dynasty, and the Silver Frost Empire were still struggling to hold on. They allied together, attempting to resist the might of Great Yan’s armies.

Several Sect Leaders from the Great Grotto Heavens, led by the Wanluo Sword Sect, as well as the Buddha Country Temples, declared that they would stand with the Great Sui Dynasty and resolutely resist the cruel atrocities of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Also in that year, the Empress of the Great Yan Dynasty was twelve months pregnant, and her daughter was about to be born.

The Great Yan Dynasty was about to welcome its first candidate for the throne.

「Imperial Capital City.」

The spring air was still brisk and cold. Even though the new year had passed, a lingering chill remained in the Capital City. At noon, the Imperial Capital City was as bustling as ever.

Street vendors hawked their wares, and disciples of a martial arts master performed the feat of breaking stones on their chests to attract new students. A refined scholar saw a courtesan winking at him from a brothel window. She was beautiful, but he was pained by the fact that he didn’t have a single coin to his name and could only shake his head in disappointment.

The storytellers in the taverns always brought much amusement and many new tales each year.

Which prodigies had appeared in the Cultivation Realm this year? What was the final outcome between the monk from Jinguang Temple and the Cyan Snake Demon? In what direction was the world situation developing? The patrons eating and chatting in the tavern could only listen to these stories to pass the time.

On this day, a young man in linen clothes and cloth shoes, carrying a sword box on his back, stepped into the Capital City.

He observed this place, known to the world as the City of No Night and the capital of prosperity, with a pair of clear and innocent eyes.

"This way, young master."

"Hey, hey! Where are you off to, young master?"

"The food and wine at my Drunken Flower Tower are second to none! Care to give them a try, young master?"

The young man walked past a quaint, old-fashioned brothel. He had never seen such a scene before. His eyes were filled with beautiful women in low-cut tops, revealing vast expanses of snowy-white cleavage. They had fair skin, pretty faces, and long, slender legs.

’Is this what it means to see the world?’

"Look not at what is improper, look not at what is improper..."

The young man muttered to himself as he rushed out of that den of vice. His movements were incredibly agile as he squeezed his way through the crowd, ducking under people’s arms.

He ran until he reached the entrance of an apothecary shop where the crowd was thinner, finally stopping, out of breath.

Outside the apothecary shop sat an old fortune-telling Daoist. He stared at the young man for a long moment before clicking his tongue in amazement and saying:

"Young man, that sword box on your back is no ordinary item. Where have you come from?"

Hearing someone speak to him, the young man grew wary and gave a vague reply, "The Northern Lands."

But who would have known that the old Daoist would simply pinch his fingers together in calculation, stroke his beard, and nod slowly.

"I never would have guessed. You’re actually from beyond the Northern Great Wall."

"How did you know?"

The young man’s expression was one of astonishment. He had no idea how this fortune-teller knew his background so clearly.

The old Daoist smiled. "Tell me your name and why you’ve come to the Capital City, and I’ll tell you."

"My name is Lü Feng. My uncle told me to come here to seek refuge with a relative."

Lü Feng studied the fortune-teller’s stall. Yellow Talismans, Copper Coins, a Peach Wood Sword—it had everything.

"A relative?"

The old Daoist said with great interest, "For your uncle to have you travel thousands of miles to the Capital City all by yourself, this relative must have quite the background."

"You still haven’t told me the truth! How do you know my background?"

Lü Feng persisted, pressing the question.

The old Daoist gave a proud smile. "The truth? It’s quite simple. I am a Wandering Taoist. As long as I know your karma and Opportunity, I can divine it."

"If you can divine it, then why did you ask me?"

Lü Feng tightened the strap of the sword box on his shoulder and prepared to turn and leave.