Master of Strange Dao

Chapter 1684 - 454: Judgment Upon Death, Congratulations to Emperor Qian

"I shall first apologize on behalf of my Imperial Father, to all of you, and to the realm."Everyone kept their faces composed and said nothing; those who were giving him face merely cupped their hands and returned a salute.

The new Emperor Qian stepped down from the throne, came below, and walked all the way to the great hall's gate. Gazing into the bustling, chaotic Capital City, he spoke softly.

"Even if you did not hear it directly, you have surely already obtained the original words from the Jade Tablet through other channels.

What I am about to say, some of you have likely already thought of, but did not dare to voice.

My Imperial Father, whatever he may be, is still my Imperial Father.

Whether as minister or as son, or as Emperor Qian, as the lone man of this age, I must exhaust my utmost strength to correct my Imperial Father's momentary folly.

When my Imperial Father undertakes great matters, he never spares his own person, and regards all things only in light of his objective.

The only way to stop him is to render him unable to attain that objective.

I intend to Sacrifice to Heaven, and hope to receive the support of all present."

The new Emperor Qian cupped his hands with a bow to the left, then to the right, his expression earnest, his will resolute.

In this very moment, even the Dragon Tiger Daoist was somewhat moved. Those courtiers who in the past had not thought much of the new Emperor Qian, backed by great powers as they were, could not help but prostrate themselves on the ground and kowtow with utmost respect.

All knew that for the Emperor to Sacrifice to Heaven, at a time like this, could only mean one thing.

Abdication.

To relinquish all that being Emperor Qian could bring him, and turn himself into a halter, to be looped around the Old Emperor Qian, who had gone mad like a rabid dog off its leash.

Only this one method could succeed in preventing the Old Emperor Qian from achieving his goal.

So long as the halter was in place, if the Old Emperor Qian destroyed the present world, destroyed Daqian, the one first affected would be he himself.

Once such a colossal flaw existed, whatever he sought to do thereafter would never again be Perfect.

The Old Emperor Qian did not spare his body, yet he would certainly be unable to endure his ultimate goal becoming forever unattainable, even his Cultivation would be left with a vast flaw that could never be mended.

The myriad words in everyone's hearts, at this moment, were in fact impossible to voice.

Were they to say thanks?

"This is but a last struggle. Whether it succeeds or fails, it shall require the assistance of all of you.

I must trouble you."

The new Emperor Qian bowed once more.

At this moment, even those who ordinarily looked down on the new Emperor Qian could not help but feel a sincere respect for him from the depths of their hearts.

Were their positions exchanged, they might truly not be able to do the same.

Only a new Emperor Qian this benevolent and filial would act thus.

The small council was quickly concluded.

When sufficient external pressure arises, touching upon the life and death of all, then sufficient internal unity, in that instant, will erupt with a power that at no other time can be matched.

All manner of affairs suddenly became highly efficient.

In merely a few days, all preparations pertaining to the Sacrifice to Heaven had been made ready.

Emperor Zhen and Emperor Li both personally rushed over to attend the ceremony.

Dadui's Jia Shisi came bringing the Yang-destroying Devil to witness it.

Here were gathered virtually all the great powers of the world: the Divine Dynasty, great clans and great sects, the Two Institutes, the East Sea, and so on...

When the new Emperor Qian ascended the throne—no, even when the Old Emperor Qian ascended—there had never been such a grand assembly.

The new Emperor Qian changed into a new ceremonial robe, his expression solemn, his back straight, as though he were ascending the throne.

At least in his heart, this moment was indeed an accession.

He held his head high and chest out. Accompanied by the music of the Sacrifice to Heaven, he ascended the Sacrificial altar step by steady step, step by steady step.

A Gold-plated Scroll slowly unfurled before him. Holding incense in his hand, he knocked his head to the ground three times and bowed twelve times.

After rising, he drew a line across his chest; blood gushed forth. Using his finger as a brush, he wrote upon the scroll.

"I, an unworthy descendant of the Royal Family of Daqian, make this respectful proclamation to Heaven and Earth.

The Great Sun Dominating the Sky over the northern Wilderness, where countless perished—that was my doing.

Colluding with All Gods and bringing calamity upon all living beings—that was my doing.

Turning the world to chaos with the Evil Skill, persecuting Cultivators—that was my doing...

...

Drawing the dead world down into the present world—that was my doing."

Below the Sacrificial altar, the onlookers' expressions were complex.

The courtiers of the Daqian Dynasty were already beginning to feel a sharp pain in their hearts. They were heartsick and anguished, as though a breath were pent up in their chests, yet they could do nothing.

Such a benevolent and filial new emperor—apart from prestige and strength, in which he could not match the Old Emperor Qian—in every other respect he truly surpassed the Old Emperor Qian.

At the very least, the most comfortable days the courtiers had ever lived were the days after the new Emperor Qian ascended the throne.

They knew full well what the truth was, yet at this moment no one could speak—not that they did not wish to, but that they could not.

The benevolent and filial new emperor, in order to place a halter upon the Old Emperor Qian, could only first shoulder all the blame himself.

All the various rumors that had been circulating for decades had to be cleansed of any connection to the Old Emperor Qian.

Only thus could a halter be slipped over him.

Otherwise, given the present circumstances—with popular resentment boiling over and the nation's fortune in turmoil—it would be utterly impossible to get it on.

And now, everything spoken during the Sacrifice to Heaven was being transmitted throughout the realm via the Jade Pillar, so that all would know.

Once the verdict was sealed and the new Emperor Qian had abdicated, he likely would know no peaceful days thereafter.

This—no, these—black cauldrons of blame would be enough to crush him.

The new Emperor Qian's tone was sincere, his eyes brimming with hot tears. Never had there been a time when he was so resolute.

He was doing the most correct thing.

And this correct thing happened to coincide perfectly with what he intended to do; there was not the slightest doubt left.

He had acted the role to the very end, until the mask had grown into his face, become his face, become real.

No one could refute it any longer.

"All the above, each and every deed, was mine alone and has nothing to do with my Imperial Father.

All such sins and transgressions shall be borne by me.

I feel myself utterly unworthy to hold sway over Daqian, unworthy to cling to life in this world.

Today, I hereby abdicate the imperial throne in favor of my Imperial Father."