Undying Life

Chapter 102: The Jade Seal of Heaven's Mandate

The Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade, with its nine colorful divine dragons seeming to dance slowly on the jade as if they were about to break free from its restraint at any moment, soaring into the sky to become real dragons, ascending to the heavens.

Gently, Zhongshan took out a translucent pearl, also known as the Heaven and Earth Furnace.

As he looked at the translucent pearl, Zhongshan quickly cut open a wound on his hand and infused the pearl with his blood.

In no time, the translucent pearl was fully refined by Zhongshan. However, instead of being transformed into something else, it remained a spherical shape. Zhongshan then slowly placed the Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade into it.

As the Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade entered the translucent pearl, instantly, the nine divine dragons seemed to come alive, except for their tails, all of them detached from the jade and swiftly moved around. They even caused the translucent pearl to deform severely, attempting to break it open.

However, they couldn't break it, even though they struggled wildly.

"Roar~~~"

"Roar~~~"

"Roar~~~"

... The furious roars of the nine dragons echoed continuously, struggling incessantly, trying to break through the Heaven and Earth Furnace and soar into the sky.

Watching the raging dragons, Zhongshan smiled faintly. According to the "Casting the Heavenly Court," the most perfect nine dragons, when put into the Heaven and Earth Furnace, would be extremely agitated, attempting to break free from the Translucent Pearl. Without a treasure to suppress them, they might even break through the Translucent Pearl, yielding nothing.

Using a treasure to suppress them? Zhongshan had already figured it out long ago. If that treasure couldn't suppress them, what other treasure in the world could?

With a flick of his hand, he took out an object, a red sphere, the dragon eye-sized red sphere that had brought him from Earth to this place initially.

Zhongshan didn't know what it was, nor did he need to know for the time being. He only knew it was a treasure, a supreme treasure.

Gently, Zhongshan tossed the red sphere into the translucent pearl.

As the red sphere entered the translucent pearl, the nine dragons hesitated for a moment, then, as if they had seen a mouse, a bachelor seeing a naked woman, they all rushed towards the red sphere. Even their original intention of breaking through the Heaven and Earth Furnace was forgotten.

The nine dragons rushed towards the red sphere, opening their mouths as if they were willing to risk their lives to swallow the sphere.

At the moment when the dragons opened their mouths, the red sphere emitted a faint red light. This tiny red light seemed to carry immense suppression power. The bodies of the nine dragons suddenly froze, as if they were imprisoned. However, their posture still showed their intent to seize the red sphere.

Seeing this scene, Zhongshan understood the magical properties of the red sphere, but he still didn't know what it was.

He controlled the Translucent Pearl, quickly refining the huge Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade with the Heaven and Earth Furnace.

Slowly, the Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade changed shape before Zhongshan, gradually transforming into the form of a giant jade seal.

Above the seal, nine dragons coiled around, aiming for the central red sphere, while below, there was a square seal.

Under Zhongshan's control, the surface of the seal slowly revealed eight large characters in reverse.

"Bestowed by Heaven, Eternally Prosperous."

These eight incredibly arrogant characters seemed to exude a feeling of dominating the heavens and earth.

Bestowed by Heaven, Eternally Prosperous!

When the seal was stamped, it would imprint these eight characters representing the divine mandate.

Emperor's jade seal, Nine Dragon Square Heaven.

"Jade Seal of Heavenly Mandate," Zhongshan solemnly named it.

From then on, this seal, with nine dragons entwined above, swallowing the divine pearl, and the inscription "Bestowed by Heaven, Eternally Prosperous" below, became Zhongshan's sole seal.

The Jade Seal of Heavenly Mandate would be the supreme symbol of the nation. Once stamped, it would shake the world, gather the nation's fortune, gather the fortunes of heaven and earth, suppress the nation, suppress the dynasty, suppress the world.

Gently, Zhongshan placed the Jade Seal of Heavenly Mandate on the table in front of him. Then, with a flick of his hand, he took out the Translucent Pearl again.

Following the same process, he held up two Nine-Colored Dragon Silkworms with his other hand, along with the strands of colorful silkworm thread, and threw them all into the pearl.

In Zhongshan's eyes, the value of the two dragon silkworms was even higher than that of the Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade. He hadn't planned to find them so soon, but it was his luck. With them, he would be even more invincible.

The moment the two dragon silkworms were thrown into the Heaven and Earth Furnace, they began to struggle frantically, just like the nine dragons on the Nine Dragon Square Heaven Jade, twisting desperately. Moreover, their strength was even greater than that of the nine dragons before.

Zhongshan continued to shed his blood, continuously feeding the Heaven and Earth Furnace.

The two dragon silkworms writhed for a while, finally provoked to the breaking point. Their skins ruptured, and slowly, two life forms about a foot long struggled out from within them. Two silver dragons emerged, more spirited than the nine dragons before them. One dragon dashed wildly in one direction, while the other did the same in another.

What Zhongshan had to do now was to separate the two dragons, not allowing them to push in the same direction.

Finally, after an hour, the two dragons ceased, or rather, appeared dead. It was a state between life and death, resembling humans in a vegetative state, motionless.

Zhongshan's face was a bit pale at this moment, but the significant loss of blood was worth it. Gradually, the two little dragons, each over a foot long, straightened out. At this moment, each dragon revealed nine claws, each claw gripping what seemed like a piece of fabric, a complete cloth.

All the original silkworm threads had transformed into something akin to brocade. A nine-meter-long brocade, with colors of the rainbow, even appearing as if colorful clouds were enveloping it.

Imperial edict!

The bodies of the two little dragons seemed to serve as the bearing for the imperial edict, while the colorful brocade seemed to be the main fabric of the edict.

An imperial edict? Was this the final form of the Nine-Color Dragon Silkworms, resembling an imperial edict?

However, behind the imperial edict were not the words "imperial edict."

Slowly emerging were three seemingly illusory colorful characters.

"The Register of Deities."

The Register of Deities, as per "Forging the Heavenly Court," was used to reward and punish the world, to confer titles upon courtiers, and to decree the heavenly commands of the emperor. This Register of Deities would become the supreme authority of the world, influencing the fate of a nation. It communicated between heaven and earth, investigating the sentiments of the people.

Bestow divinity upon orders, reward and punish heaven and earth.

Of course, this was Zhongshan's ultimate goal, although he was far from achieving it now.

However, in the future, every imperial decree issued would have to pass through this "Register of Deities." Enfeoffing the world, listing gods on one decree.

After completing the "Heavenly Seal" and the "Register of Deities," Zhongshan took a moment to catch his breath before putting away these two items of founding significance. He rose gently, left the underground chamber, walked to the upper chamber, and headed outside.

The sky was still dark. Zhongshan reached the courtyard gate, where Zhongtian patiently awaited.

"Let's go. Follow me to Yilan Hall," Zhongshan said.

"Yes," Zhongtian nodded in response.

The two returned to Yilan Hall and waited patiently.

As the sky began to brighten, Yinglan rushed back first, excitement written all over her face.

"Master Grandfather!" Yinglan burst into the hall, grabbed a teacup, and took a big gulp of water.

"How did it go?" Zhongshan asked.

"There was some minor resistance, but I managed to suppress it with a large army. Coupled with those who died earlier, we've recruited a total of seven hundred thousand. They are all stationed outside the city. It won't be long before I have complete control over them. When the time comes, Master Grandfather, wherever you wish to strike, we'll strike," Yinglan said excitedly.

"Well done, Yinglan. You've done excellently," Zhongshan never hesitated to praise.

Indeed, under Zhongshan's praise, Yinglan's face quickly lit up with happiness.

"You train these troops well. From now on, they are your soldiers," Zhongshan said with a smile.

"Alright!" Yinglan nodded excitedly.

"Train them well. The Great Kun Nation has more than just this small area. Before long, I hope you'll be able to lead them to pacify rebellions from all corners and repel invasions from the five neighboring countries," Zhongshan chuckled.

"Yes!" Yinglan nodded eagerly.

At this moment, Zhongzheng and Wei Taizhong also walked in from outside.

"Father-in-law, the people have been pacified, and everything is proceeding smoothly," Zhongzheng said excitedly.

"Good." Zhongshan nodded in satisfaction.

"Zheng'er, as I mentioned before, as soon as the Su family is destroyed, nearby cities will pledge allegiance to me. Immediately, start organizing the reception of cities from all directions, and have Yinglan deploy troops to garrison them. If there are rebellious cities, don't worry about them for now. Focus on taking control of the ones we can," Zhongshan instructed.

"Yes," Zhongzheng replied promptly.

"Your Majesty, when will you officially proclaim to the world and declare yourself emperor?" Wei Taizhong suddenly spoke up.

As Wei Taizhong spoke, everyone turned to Zhongshan.

"In two and a half months, on the seventh day of the seventh month, we will build a high platform, offer sacrifices to the heavens, and establish the nation," Zhongshan said solemnly.

"Yes," everyone nodded in agreement.

"Taizhong, you are familiar with this matter, you handle it," Zhongshan said.

"Yes," Wei Taizhong nodded.

"As for Tian'er," Zhongshan looked at Zhongtian.

"Father-in-law, please give your orders," Zhongtian immediately said.

"Tian'er, you were raised by me personally, and I know your abilities the best. I want you to go to the former capital of the Great Kun Nation, find the officials of the court, and invite them here to continue serving in their official capacities," Zhongshan said solemnly.

"Yes," Zhongtian replied promptly.

"Master Grandfather, wasn't the capital occupied by General Lin Xiao? Wait, General Lin Xiao also listens to Master Grandfather?" Yinglan suddenly exclaimed in surprise.

"That's right. Lin Xiao. I didn't expect him to wait for me for forty years. Tian'er, when you go there, be respectful to General Lin Xiao," Zhongshan reiterated to Zhongtian.

"Yes, General Lin Xiao is a deity of the Great Kun [*]. Even without recent events, I still deeply respect him," Zhongtian said solemnly.

"Mm," Zhongshan nodded.

"Alright, you may go. Taizhong, stay," Zhongshan said.

"Yes," everyone responded and left one by one.

Watching them leave, Wei Taizhong pondered slightly and said, "If it were you in the past, seeking out civil and military officials, you would have done it yourself. Why did you send Zhongtian instead?"

Seating himself gently, Zhongshan lifted a cup of tea and took a sip. "Among the civil and military officials, apart from Lin Xiao, the others don't hold as much value in my eyes. They lack the exceptional talent or significance to warrant my personal attention," he remarked.