"Fenghai can't be without a guardian, and the generations of its county governors have all been heroes."
"Today, I, Guyue Zhangan, will use my identity as the seventh son of the Human Emperor Mystic War to promote someone to be the new county governor. After asking the heaven, earth, and people, I will report to the Human Emperor and grant the appointment!"
"Deputy Governor!" The Seventh Prince looked below the platform.
The Deputy Governor smiled and bowed slightly.
"You refined plain pills and benefited the human race in the capital city, causing tens of millions of humans to suffer less from the invasion of anomalous substances. This is the first merit!"
"You were conscientious as the Deputy Governor. You supported the County Governor and helped the people. You worked hard and contributed greatly. This is your second merit!"
"During the war, you protected the rear and stabilized the hearts of the people in the county, contributing your efforts to the front line war. This is your third merit!"
"From now on, you will lead the cultivators of Fenghai County and restore the operation and reconstruction of Fenghai County. This will be the fourth merit!"
The Seventh Prince's voice spread far and wide, reaching every corner of the city. The hundreds of thousands of people in the square, and tens of millions of people in the city all heard him. Their respectful gazes converged on the Deputy Governor.
The Deputy Governor had a benevolent expression.
Xu Qing lowered his head. He didn't want to look. He kept on telling himself that there were still seven days. In seven days, he would be able to return to the Seven Blood Eyes.
'The ceremony is about to end.'
Xu Qing mumbled inwardly.
At that moment, the Seventh Prince had finished saying all the merits. Amidst the waves of cheers, he smiled and nodded at the Deputy Governor.
The Deputy Governor walked out calmly. Step by step, under the gazes of everyone, he walked up the steps and onto the platform, walking to the Seventh Prince's side.
Wind rose from all directions.
That wasn't formed by a spell, but an invisible fortune was gathering here.
From all the mortals in the capital city and all the cultivators, traces of fortune were rising into the air.
Vaguely, the clouds in the sky also dimmed a little. As fortune gathered, a huge vortex appeared in the sky.
It was gradually becoming clearer.
'This is the blessing of a county's fortune. Although it's not very useful for us, to Nihility cultivators, with the fortune of this county, it's not impossible for them to increase their strength by one stage or even reach half a step into the Soul Accumulation realm!'
'With the enhancement of fortune, this person can be considered a true supreme existence in Fenghai County.'
The captain spoke in an envious low voice.
Xu Qing lowered his head and remained silent.
At that moment, the Seventh Prince looked at the Deputy Governor.
The Deputy Governor spoke gently.
"I ask the heaven, can I serve as the guardian of Fenghai County?"
The coronation ceremony of the county governor was a significant event that involved asking the heavens, the earth, and the people. It was a tradition and protocol established by the Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether.
The heavens here referred to the Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether. As a member of the imperial family, the Seventh Prince could replace the heavens here. He looked at the Deputy Governor and nodded.
"Yes!"
As soon as he finished speaking, thunder rumbled in the sky, as though a million lightning bolts had exploded. As the loud bang echoed, the vortex formed by fortune became clearer and clearer, vaguely forming a crown.
The emperor's crown had twelve tassels, the region governor's crown had ten tassels, the prince's crown had nine tassels, and the county governor's crown had five tassels.
This was an ancient rule that had been preserved until now.
At that moment, what manifested in the sky was a five-tasseled crown formed by fortune.
The instant the thunder rumbled, the crown that was formed from the power of fortune of Fenghai County suddenly emitted the sound of a child crying, echoing in Xu Qing's mind.
Xu Qing abruptly lifted his head and looked at the sky. That crying sound was faintly discernible but from the reactions of the others in the surroundings, no one seemed to notice it.
'Eldest Senior Brother, did you hear that?' Xu Qing suddenly asked.
The captain's expression had no changes. He cast a deep glance at Xu Qing before shaking his head.
'I didn't hear it, and neither did you.'
Xu Qing fell silent. He knew that that was the cry of luck, the cry of the little boy of D132. His senior brother was the same as him in the Heavenly Dao level. Hence, he would definitely be able to hear it.
At that moment, the sound of crying rose and fell in his ears, transforming into waves in his heart.
'I still have many things to do. I still have to return to the Seven Blood Eyes… My cultivation level isn't high enough. I want to survive. It won't be too late to resolve everything when my cultivation level is higher in the future.'
Xu Qing muttered inwardly. However, as he comforted himself, a mournful voice in his mind told him that the person in front of him was the murderer who killed the County Governor and indirectly caused the Palace Master's death.
This person had also planned the calamity in Fenghai County for many years.
This was Xu Qing's own voice but he suppressed it again.
'What has it got to do with me? Yes, it has nothing to do with me… I'm just a small fry who wants to survive. I have a master and senior brother. I can't implicate them.'
Xu Qing clenched his fists.
On the platform, the Deputy Governor's expression was calm as he continued speaking.
"I ask the earth, can I serve as the guardian of Fenghai County?"
The earth here referred to the territory of Fenghai County and was a part of the ceremony. With the Seventh Prince's identity, he could answer on behalf of it.
"Yes!"
Lightning erupted again and thunder rumbled. Powerful airwaves formed and spread in all directions. As they churned and shook the sky, more fortune gathered. The crown became even clearer and was slowly floating down.
The crying became even more intense, as though it had turned into pleading.
Xu Qing's chest heaved and his heart churned. He lifted his head and stared silently.
From his perspective, it was as though the Ancient Sovereign Mystic Nether's hands were holding the crown of fortune and was about to wear it on the Deputy Governor's head.
Once he wore the crown, the Deputy Governor would become the county governor. With the enhancement of fortune, the entire Fenghai County would be dominated by him.
