Grinding Cultivation Toward Martial Saint

The new Sovereign of Great Xia owes today’s fortune entirely to the efforts of the young Marquis standing before him.

Without the vigorous assistance of this young Marquis, the one ascending today would not be the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao, but the Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan.

They all understood that in the future court, this young Marquis would stand as a presence beneath one person and above tens of thousands.

He might even stand above that one person.

One by one, the officials stepped forward to pay their respects, and Jiang Ning nodded in return to each of them.

His expression remained calm, neither overly warm nor evidently cold.

Having reached this step, there was no need for him to ingratiate himself with court officials or form factions.

The so-called power and influence held no meaning for him now.

In a world where great power resides with the individual, one’s personal strength is the greatest power and influence.

Just like that day, his arrival alone was enough to sway the situation and support Ji Minghao to ascend to the throne, without Ji Xuan’s intervention.

This is the impact of personal strength.

Ji Xuan’s ability to influence the situation was not due to his title as a peer king nor his status as the Regent King, but because he was recognized as the second strongest in the world.

This aspect became even more evident with the appearance of the Martial Saint.

No matter the intensity of his conflict with Ji Xuan, or how deep the rift was between them, when the Martial Saint appeared,

in a single statement, Ji Minghao was declared the new Sovereign, and Ji Xuan was confined.

No matter how great the turmoil of the conflict, at that moment, there were no more variables.

Everything was fully settled.

At this moment, as Jiang Ning watched each official step forward to pay respects, he could sense some were genuinely respectful, some were deliberately forming connections, and some were secretly observing, testing his temperament.

The emotional fluctuations in their hearts were laid bare under the influence of his Primordial Spirit Realm, as if reflected by his heart sword like a mirror.

Only those with deep cultivation, whose life beings became powerful, managed to conceal their emotional fluctuations.

Beside him, Shen Xiao sat motionless, occasionally casting an understanding glance.

Just then, a clear voice came from outside the crowd, "Honored officials, the auspicious hour is approaching. Please return to your places to avoid disturbing the ceremony’s order."

The crowd turned their heads to see an old man dressed in First-grade civil official attire approaching slowly, with a goatee and a wizened face, skin clinging to his cheekbones—it was Minister Xie Xun of the Ministry of Rites.

Xie Xun had served under two Great Xia emperors, and with Ji Minghao’s ascension, he would be a senior minister of three reigns, holding deep seniority.

Everyone knew that living this long meant the seemingly aged Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Cao Ling, must possess extraordinary strength.

Without extraordinary strength, it’s impossible to have such longevity or live this long.

Seeing Xie Xun appear, the officials surrounding Jiang Ning immediately collected themselves, cupped their hands in respect, and dispersed to their positions.

Xie Xun walked to Jiang Ning’s seat and slightly cupped his hand, "This official, Xie Xun, pays respects to the Dongling Marquis."

Jiang Ning stood up and returned the salute.

For such a senior minister of three reigns, in the absence of conflict, due respect should be given.

Xie Xun bowed once more before turning to instruct the palace attendants in the final preparations.

Today was not only the Great Xia’s new Sovereign’s ascension ceremony but also the day for the new Sovereign to wed the Empress.

And this Empress, who would be the mother of the nation, was the youngest and most beloved daughter of the Great General Shen Xiao, Shen Mengyun.

In the entire court, no one would dare to disrespect Shen Xiao’s standing.

Then, the square again returned to silence.

...

At 7:45 a.m., the morning sun fully rose above the horizon, its golden rays bathing Han Baiyu Square, casting a majestic and splendid reflection on Chengtian Hall.

"The auspicious hour has arrived—!"

Xie Xun’s voice drew out, sounding robustly across the square.

Instantly, ritual music began, and bells and drums chimed together.

The grand music emanated from within Chengtian Hall, with chimes clear and resonant, stone qing melodious, strings and woodwinds intertwining into a solemn melody.

The hundred officials stood solemnly, bowing their heads towards Chengtian Hall.

Jiang Ning also stood, alongside Su Qingying, Shen Xiao, and others, in front of their seat.

The heavy vermilion and gold-embellished doors of Chengtian Hall were slowly opening inward, propelled by eight golden-armored warriors.

The scene within the hall gradually emerged, on the nine-tiered gilded steps sat a red gold throne engraved with dragons and phoenixes.

Behind the throne hung a colossal Mountain and River Map, flanked by eighteen ceremonial artefacts, exuding a solemn dignity.

The throne was currently empty.

The music slowly faded.

Xie Xun stepped forward three steps, unfurled the bright yellow scroll in his hand, and read aloud, "With the late Emperor’s holy body failing, yet, the nation cannot be without a lord for a single day. Today, by divine mandate, chosen by the Martial Saint, supported by all officials, the Eighth Prince Ji Minghao, possessing benevolence and filial piety, endowed with innate intelligence, deemed fit to inherit the grand unity. Ascend to the Imperial Throne, change the era’s name to ’Jinghe,’ and declare next year as the first year of Jinghe. Proclaim it to all under heaven, let all understand and know!"

"Long live the Holy Emperor—!"

A deafening shout of homage soared to the sky as all officials kneeled in unison, performing the bow.

Jiang Ning and Su Qingying, Shen Xiao, and others did not kneel but simply bowed deeply.

Even in such an important occasion within the grand hall, their status still did not require kneeling, only a deep bow sufficed.

Soon after, from within Chengtian Hall, a figure slowly emerged.

Ji Minghao, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe with a twelve-stringed tassel crown, his face partially obscured by hanging jade beads, yet failing to hide the emerging imperial dignity.

He walked steadily, step by step ascending the nine-tiered steps, finally turning at the red gold throne to face the square and slowly sitting down.

"Stay at ease," Ji Minghao’s voice carried through the beaded tassels, clear yet incontrovertibly authoritative.

"Thank you, Holy Emperor!"

The officials rose, again standing solemnly.

The core ceremony of the ascension began at this point.

Xie Xun, in accordance with ancient rituals, presented the Jade Seal, Commander’s Seal, Festival Staff, and other tokens of imperial power one by one, which Ji Minghao accepted, placing them on the imperial table.

Then came the ceremonial declarations to heaven and ancestors, read by an elder from the Observatory, filled with antiquated phrasing, deeply profound.

The entire process was solemn and meticulous.

Jiang Ning watched quietly, with a mind void of ripples.

He could sense that as Ji Minghao sat on that throne, his aura was distinct from the past.

Lesser in gentleness, greater in depth.

Lesser in hesitation, greater in resolve.

The assumption of imperial power ultimately changes a person.

At this moment, Ji Minghao’s aura was gradually undergoing some transformations.

Subsequently, his mind scanned the surroundings but did not spot the figure he sought within Chengtian Hall, the Fifth Prince Ji Mingyuan.

The next moment.

His consciousness expanded.

In a courtyard deep within the Imperial Palace, evidently neglected for cleaning.

At this moment, Ji Mingyuan was disheveled, with dry hair, a disordered robe, dirt on his face, drastically changed in form.

Compared to days ago, when he was full of heroism, now Ji Mingyuan seemed to have been wandering outside for months, reduced to a beggar by the roadside, and not the distinguished Fifth Prince of Great Xia.

Beside him stood the young black-clad swordsman Jiang Ning had seen before.

The swordsman’s face still showed no expression, merely holding his sword and quietly watching Ji Mingyuan.

At this moment, Ji Mingyuan held a wine goblet, filled with a light yellow, clear wine.

The wine, like amber, appeared even more transparent under the sunlight.

"Does my Eighth brother have no other messages to relay to me?" Ji Mingyuan asked.

"None," the black-clad swordsman shook his head lightly.

Upon hearing this, Ji Mingyuan wore a bitter smile, which gradually grew broader at the corners of his mouth.

At last, the curve of his lips widened to the fullest, his head tilting back in laughter.

"Good... good! Good!!!"

"My brother truly is ruthless! Today... as his elder brother, I shall fulfill this desire of his!! Hahaha—"

In the end, Ji Mingyuan’s voice contained three parts scorn, three parts self-deprecation, three parts madness, and one part resignation.

He then abruptly drained the goblet of wine.

Drained it in one go!!

Mere moments passed.

Jiang Ning could sense the life’s flame within Ji Mingyuan rapidly dwindling, swiftly fading.

The next moment.

Ji Mingyuan’s vitality was extinguished.

Outside the courtyard.

There came chaotic noises.

"Princess... Princess... The Holy Emperor has instructed, you must not enter..."

"Out of my way!!" Ji Mingyue’s furious voice followed.

The next moment.

Bang—

The door bar shattered in half, the two large doors burst open, slamming into the courtyard walls, shaking down large chunks of wall plaster.