Chapter 135: The Coronation Ceremony

The rise of the Underworld to prominence had naturally drawn the intense scrutiny of various factions, for such a coronation signaled the birth of a new power.

Leading a group of strangers was a young man clad in black robes, his gaze fixed on the center of the stone dais with a look of arrogant disdain. At the heart of the platform stood a tiered dais where Su Muhe, the Corpse King, and others were seated. Above them sat an incredibly majestic Phoenix Throne, yet the person destined for it had yet to appear. This delay left Su Muhe feeling restless; after all, how could a coronation proceed without its protagonist?

"Perhaps I should go and summon him?" the Corpse King offered, sensing Su Muhe's growing anxiety.

"I am here. My apologies for keeping you all waiting!"

As the words left the Corpse King’s lips, a hearty laugh echoed through the air. Everyone turned in unison to see Jiang Xiaofei and Jun Yao walking together toward the high platform.

A wave of whispers broke out. Among the group of outsiders, the young man in black robes sneered, "So that is the King of the Underworld. He looks rather unremarkable, though the woman beside him is quite the beauty."

Once seated beside Jun Yao, Jiang Xiaofei scanned the crowd and declared in a deep, resonant voice, "I welcome you all to the Ghost Abyss Terrace to witness my ascension as the King of the Underworld. I have little to say, save for one thing: those who submit shall prosper, and those who resist shall perish."

"Greetings, King Fei!"

At his command, not only did the members of the Underworld Palace bow, but the leaders of every faction, large and small, followed suit. They knew the rise of the Palace was inevitable; to survive, they had no choice but to submit. The sight of thousands bowing was truly spectacular. A few, however, remained standing, appearing conspicuously out of place. Jiang Xiaofei chose to ignore them, as he had no authority over those from foreign realms.

Seeing the various factions of the Underworld bow in submission, Jiang Xiaofei nodded with satisfaction. "Very well. From this day forward, you are all subjects of the Kingdom of the Underworld. As long as you remain diligent in your duties, I guarantee you a life of boundless prosperity and glory."

"We are willing to honor King Fei as our sovereign and pledge our loyalty to the Kingdom of the Underworld, never to betray it," the factions chanted in unison to demonstrate their devotion.

Jiang Xiaofei nodded again. "Good. You may all rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The factions stood with solemn respect. Both Jiang Xiaofei and his court felt a surge of triumph; by bringing these forces to heel, they had finally achieved the unification of the Underworld.

Just then, the young man in black sneered, "A mere King of the Underworld? Nothing to boast about. 'Those who submit shall prosper, those who resist shall perish'—how laughable."

"What did you say?" Jiang Xiaofei’s expression darkened.

The crowd turned toward the voice, eager to see who dared to act so brazenly at a coronation. The young man stepped forward from the group of outsiders, his face twisted in arrogance. "I, the Crown Prince, said that you, the King of the Underworld, are nothing special."

"You are courting death!" Jiang Xiaofei’s fury flared, but before he could act, Jun Yao held him back.

Jiang Xiaofei frowned and turned to her. "What are you doing?"

Jun Yao shook her head. "Today is your coronation. Why ruin the mood for the sake of such a person?"

Calmed by her words, Jiang Xiaofei suppressed his anger. Yet, the young man continued, his face filled with mocking arrogance: "The King of the Underworld is nothing more than this! Why not abdicate and let me take your place?"

"Who exactly are you?" Jiang Xiaofei finally demanded, his voice cold.

The entire Kingdom of the Underworld was incensed; to them, this was a direct provocation against their sovereign. They were also curious about his identity, for no ordinary person would dare speak so recklessly.

Undeterred by the icy glares, the young man laughed loftily. "I am Li Yuan, Crown Prince of the Heavenly Abyss Kingdom."

"The Crown Prince of the Heavenly Abyss Kingdom?" The assembly was stunned. Like the Nether Kingdom, the Heavenly Abyss Kingdom was a mid-level realm, far more powerful than their own. They wondered why someone from such a distant land would come to the Underworld.

Jiang Xiaofei frowned, his curiosity piqued. "Speak. Why have you come to my Underworld? If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, even if you are the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Abyss, I will ensure you do not leave here alive."

Li Yuan laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Worthy of King Fei indeed—so domineering. No wonder you were able to slay Young Master Wuji."

"What does this have to do with Young Master Wuji?" Jiang Xiaofei asked, his brow arching. The court was equally puzzled, as the Heavenly Abyss Kingdom and the Nether Kingdom were known rivals.

Sensing their confusion, Li Yuan smiled. "I heard that King Fei killed Young Master Wuji, so I naturally wanted to see what you were capable of. Of course, my true purpose today is to invite King Fei to join our Heavenly Abyss Kingdom."

"What? You want King Fei to join the Heavenly Abyss Kingdom?" The court was in an uproar.

Jiang Xiaofei frowned. "And what benefit would there be for me to join your kingdom?"

"The benefits are many," Li Yuan replied with a grin. "If King Fei joins us, the Underworld will not only become a mid-level realm capable of standing against the Nether Kingdom, but you will also be honored as a guest elder of the Heavenly Abyss."

"And if I refuse?" Jiang Xiaofei countered.

Li Yuan sneered, "If you refuse, then do not blame me for taking you by force!"

"Hahaha! You think you can take me? That is nothing but a delusion!" Jiang Xiaofei laughed, his aura of sovereignty radiating outward.

Li Yuan’s eyes turned cold. "Elder Wan, take him."

At his command, an elderly man with white hair and flowing green robes stepped from the crowd, his aura revealing him to be a Half-Step Deity. Jiang Xiaofei’s expression grew grave, and just as he was about to call upon Elder Feng, a voice rang out with a laugh: "Hahaha! To think the Crown Prince of the Heavenly Abyss is already here—it seems I, the Prince, have arrived late!"