Chapter 520: Chapter 230 The Great Humanitarian Gift_1

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    “Impossible!”

    Within the Crown Prince’s Manor, the Crown Prince, who had chosen to observe from the sidelines, could no longer restrain himself, and his voice of raging fury echoed throughout the entire estate.

    At this moment, the advisors from the ducal and marquis noble families in the Crown Prince’s Manor also had expressions of anger, all speaking up to denounce the words of the White Tiger.

    “It is utterly absurd!”

    “This Netherworld supernatural being is simply unreasonable!”

    “Such preposterous words that go against grand ceremonies must be severely punished!”

    In fact, the advisors were so angry because the alliance involved tremendous implications, and the representative’s meaning in presiding it was too important.

    The alliance between Great Xia and the Netherworld concerned the balance of yin and yang, and it was the highest ritual next to the Heaven Worshipping Grand Ceremony in human Imperial rites.

    Although the ceremonial affairs seem tedious, they involve the dynasty’s fate and humanity’s fate, and they could be considered events that affect the foundation of a dynasty.

    Throughout ancient and modern times, only four people could preside over such rites: the Mortal Emperor, the Crown Prince, the Taichang, and the Minister of the Imperial Clan.

    The Mortal Emperor presides over the Heaven Worshipping Grand Ceremony, reporting up to the deities of the Ninth Heavens and down to the Netherworld Emperor—it is a grand event unmatched in the world.

    All the human Imperial Dynasties throughout history have relied on the Heaven Worshipping Grand Ceremony to extend the dynasty’s lifespan and continue its fate.

    Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0ν?ο.сο

    However, after Great Yin’s Mortal Emperor established the Great Schism, the Heaven Worshipping Grand Ceremony in the world only retained its symbolic meaning and lost the ability to extend a dynasty’s lifespan.

    The Grand Ceremony presided over by the Taichang, also known as the Court Ceremony, is where Great Xia’s Imperial Court annually worships the Four Waterways and Four Seas, and the Netherworld supernatural beings, gathering the faith and fate of humanity—all these are part of the Court Ceremony.

    The Grand Ceremony presided over by the Minister of the Imperial Clan is called the Ancestor Worship Ceremony, which governs the Imperial Family’s ancestral ceremonies and imperial enfeoffments. The operation of the Imperial Family’s clan depends on the Minister of the Imperial Clan.

    The ritual hosted by the Crown Prince is called the Grand Human Ceremony, and only events that involve the entire human Imperial Dynasty are entitled to be called the Grand Human Ceremony.

    The Crown Prince presiding over the Grand Human Ceremony is an excellent opportunity to proclaim his legitimacy and gain recognition from the courtiers and humanity’s fate. It is greatly beneficial for the future ascension to the position of Mortal Emperor.

    This opportunity is not something every Crown Prince encounters, so when the news of an alliance between Great Xia and the Netherworld broke out, the Crown Prince and his advisors were ecstatic, believing it to be a chance to completely suppress the other princes.

    But who would have thought, the Netherworld supernatural beings would actually propose to change the sovereign of the Grand Human Ceremony, and this, without a doubt, was like a loud slap to the Crown Prince’s face.

    If even the opportunity to preside over the Grand Human Ceremony was taken away, he would inevitably become the laughingstock of the entire world.

    “No, I must go to the palace to see Father Emperor and have him punish the disrespectful act of the Netherworld supernatural beings!”

    The Crown Prince abruptly stood up, called for his carriage, and hurried toward the Imperial City.

    …

    And it was not only the Crown Prince who was agitated, even Xu YanKuan, the head of the Nine Ministers, took a moment to react after hearing the words of the White Tiger.

    After his previously chaotic mind slightly cleared, Xu YanKuan realized what had happened.

    A golden light flashed across the seal at his waist, and Xu YanKuan immediately used the Taichang’s official seal, leveraging the Imperial Capital’s Great Array, to lay down an invisible barrier, preventing outsiders from prying into this place.

    After hurriedly completing these arrangements, Xu YanKuan couldn’t help but raise his voice and say:

    “The matter of the alliance is a Grand Human Ceremony, a significant and grand ceremonial affair of Great Xia’s Imperial Court, and only the Crown Prince is eligible to preside.

    How could the Master of the Enlightenment Pavilion, who doesn’t even have an Imperial Family title, be qualified to preside over the Grand Human Ceremony?”

    “This matter concerns the order of Great Xia’s Imperial Court, so I ask the respected deity not to meddle as you please.”

    At this moment, Xu YanKuan finally exhibited some of the authority of the head of the Nine Ministers and righteously rejected the request of the White Tiger.

    But beneath this display of authority, Xu YanKuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of fear.

    Others might not know the inner workings of the Enlightenment Pavilion, but he was well aware.

    Emperor Xia had paid a huge price with the aim to destroy the Enlightenment Pavilion by leveraging the hand of the Netherworld supernatural beings and undermine Xia Yunqiu’s foundation of humanity’s fate.

    Not achieving this was enough to enrage Emperor Xia, not to mention the absurd proposal made by the White Tiger now.

    Should Xia Yunqiu truly preside over the Grand Human Ceremony, it means that she would have one foot in the affairs of Great Xia’s governance and would be favored even more by humanity’s fate.

    And Xia Yunqiu could gain tremendous prestige through hosting the Grand Human Ceremony, no longer being Emperor Xia’s ninth daughter without an enfeoffment but a true foundation stone of the dynasty with a legitimate name in the court.

    This was a result Emperor Xia would never allow.

    Therefore, Xu YanKuan, abandoning his previous reverence, righteously refused the request of the White Tiger.

    Inside the carriage, the White Tiger had already anticipated Xu YanKuan’s attitude.

    He simply sneered and said:

    “Meddling as I please? The alliance is a matter between Great Xia and our Netherworld, and the Netherworld naturally has the right to choose the presiding party.

    This matter might be very important to you Great Xia, but for our Netherworld, it is only a trivial concern.

    With your current strength, Great Xia is fundamentally incapable of contesting the grotto heavens and blessed land beyond Jing Province, and you will definitely need the Netherworld to gather the forces of many supernatural beings and gods to stand against the grotto heavens and blessed land.

    The Netherworld bears the great risks following the alliance, but if you Great Xia can’t even agree to such a small request, I highly doubt your sincerity in forging an alliance.”

    This matter was ordered within the Enlightenment Pavilion by Xia Yunqiu, serving as the Fengdu envoy, and White Tiger and Vermilion Bird naturally followed unconditionally.

    Even if it were reported back to Fengdu City, Netherworld Commander Bull Head would certainly choose to support their actions.

    As for the possibility of the alliance failing because of this? It did not matter to them in the slightest.

    As long as they followed the will of the Fengdu Emperor, the Netherworld need not care about the mere belief and status of City Gods in several provinces.”

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