Chapter 360 - Enthronement Ceremony

Chapter 360: Chapter 115 Enthronement CeremonyThe enthronement ceremony of the four Great Commanders proceeded as scheduled. Lu Hong casually put on an outfit and strolled toward the central square of the Third Realm, where the ceremony was to take place.

It was a clarion call before the Alliance’s armies set out. After the enthronement ceremony, the fierce competition to decide the top four contenders of the Eagle’s Campaign would begin consecutively, without any time allocated for rest. After the champion among the four Great Commanders was determined, they would rise above the other three commanders and direct the armies of the Eagle Alliance in a victorious manner.

Such a grand celebration would be an event where all the nobles involved in the external war of the Alliance were required to participate.

Not all the nobles of the Alliance agreed with the campaign against the empires, but eighty percent were involved in the affair; hence, the viewing platform in the central square was nearly filled to capacity with the Eagle Alliance’s top elite. As for the commoners, they were kept at the edge, tiptoeing and peering inward, eager to witness the elegance of the four young heroes.

"Excuse me, excuse me." Lu Hong made his way into the crowd, pushing forward with brute force, but it was so packed that he struggled to make it inside.

"Is that the King of Scores, Lu Hong?!" Someone recognized Lu Hong then; his mask was just too eye-catching to ignore.

"Quick! Make way for the King of Scores!" With a loud shout, the people of the Eagle Alliance, having high civic consciousness, desperately squeezed out a path, successfully allowing Lu Hong to advance into the inner circle.

After being identified by the guards maintaining order, Lu Hong strode confidently toward his designated seat.

The other three had already arrived; Lu Hong glanced over and noticed that Qing Yuechu was staring at him with piercing eyes.

"Hey, could you not look at me like that? People might get the wrong idea that you like me," Lu Hong quipped, curling his lip.

"The teacher instructed me to defeat you," Qing Yuechu didn’t play along, adding firmly, "Even if the teacher hadn’t said anything, I would have defeated you all the same."

"Let’s wait and see," Lu Hong nodded. "See you at the final round."

"Alright," Qing Yuechu agreed, then withdrew his gaze, choosing to say no more.

Fan Wuyi, meanwhile, spat disdainfully, "What’s with the act? You think just because you defeated Lin Linhui, you’re qualified to vie for the championship?"

Lu Hong squinted at him, "Oh? And what are your thoughts?"

"Thoughts?" Fan Wuyi sneered. "You better pray that you’re not in the same group as me. I’m nothing like the incompetent Lin Linhui. If I accidentally kill you, don’t blame me."

"Brother," Lu Hong extended his hand, ready to pat the other’s shoulder, but Fan Wuyi swiftly brushed it aside.

"Who’s your brother? Don’t try to associate with me!"

"I wonder where you get your courage. If we do cross paths, make sure you don’t beg for mercy."

"Hmph!" Fan Wuyi scoffed twice and fell silent.

After the exchange with Fan Wuyi, Lu Hong turned his attention to Deng Kong, a brawny man whose physique reminded him of the black guard Paxius he had encountered in the Endless Forest. The size of these two could certainly compete.

Deng Kong was a Hunter, as reported by Anna. A pursuer who transformed the power of Demon Beasts into his own. As a melee combatant among the hunters, his strength was not to be underestimated. Standing among the top four of the Eagle Alliance surely meant he had his own substantial foundation of power.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" With the thunderous booming of eighteen ceremonial cannons, Duke Nuoshan, dressed in military attire, slowly approached the dais.

With the aid of magic amplification, Duke Nuoshan’s deep voice echoed through the venue.

As the assembly grew quiet, Duke Nuoshan contentedly began his speech:

Many years ago, before the Eagle Alliance was established, family forces fought amongst each other, and the civilians lived in misery. However, thanks to our ancestors, who set aside their grievances and worked together, the Eagle Alliance was officially founded. It has sheltered a land under the Star Sea, allowing us to recuperate, to enjoy the joys of family. But!

Nuoshan’s tone shifted.

The tree wishes to be still, yet the wind will not cease. The Sacred Empire, the Beastman Empire, strong nations from beyond the Star Sea, they have all invaded our homeland, causing countless sons and daughters of the Eagle Alliance to be displaced and homeless.

Now!

The Sacred Empire, this covetous tiger, is wounded. What say you,,, shall the Eagle Alliance act accordingly?

"Kill the tiger and secure eternal prosperity!"

It was unclear whether the cry was prearranged by the four dukes, but it ignited the passion of all the people.

"Kill the tiger and secure eternal prosperity!"

"Kill the fierce tiger, ensure everlasting prosperity!"

"Kill the fierce tiger, ensure everlasting prosperity!"

The boiling public sentiment echoed across the square, lingering for a long time without subsiding.

At this moment, Duke Nuoshan looked back at Lu Hong with a hint of helplessness in his eyes, then raised his hand to signal the crowd to quiet down.

He continued, "Today, I believe you all know, is the day of ennoblement for the prodigies of our alliance. Let us witness, the future powerhouses of our alliance, their—Path of Glory!"

"Qing Yuechu!" Nuoshan called out, "You are the first female commander of our alliance, and today, I ennobly you on behalf of the alliance as Earl Yuehua, in command of our alliance’s foremost united army!"

Upon hearing Nuoshan’s summons, Qing Yuechu stood up and walked onto the platform. She took a golden magic medal, and by merging her own magic power into it, her name was officially added to the ranks of the peerage. From this moment on, she could establish her own clan and build her base in the name of Yuehua.

"I, Earl Yuehua," Qing Yuechu knelt on one knee, holding the medal and said in a deep voice, "am willing to strive for the greatness of the alliance for my entire life!"

"Earl Yuehua!"

"Earl Yuehua!"

"Earl Yuehua!"

Under the calls from the public, Duke Nuoshan nodded in satisfaction and helped Qing Yuechu up with a smile, "I am very comforted by your devotion."

After Qing Yuechu stepped down, Nuoshan called out again, "Lu Hong, born in the remote Raoxue Plane, had single-handedly defeated formidable enemies time and again on the arena of the Eagle Alliance. His strength made us realize that tireless self-improvement is also a form of power. Today, I ennobly you on behalf of the alliance as Earl Fanping, embarking on an immortal path with an ordinary body!"

"Earl Fanping!"

"Earl Fanping!"

"Earl Fanping!"

At this moment, the crowd’s cheering was even more enthusiastic than for Qing Yuechu because, in their eyes, Lu Hong, with no family heritage to speak of, was someone with whom they could easily identify.

Lu Hong strode onto the platform, did not kneel, and just calmly received the medal representing his new status.

Nuoshan, blinking with a smile, said, "For such an occasion, you’re dressed rather casually."

"I am a man of simplicity," Lu Hong chuckled, then strode down from the platform.

Piao Miao, watching from afar, was displeased and said to Duke Xinlei at her side, "Mother, since you all knew he was a baron of the Sacred Empire, why would you still confer upon him the title of earl?"

Duke Xinlei smiled slightly and said, "This is Nuoshan’s arrangement. He says since this man has secured a top-four position, we must give an account to the alliance. As for the life and death of this Earl Fanping, it’s merely an excuse we can use at will, as long as the common people can identify with it."

"Anyway... Anyway, it’s just irksome," Piao Miao had no temper in front of her mother, for she knew all too well that beneath Duke Xinlei’s seemingly kind façade hid a heart that was vicious. Otherwise, Zun Long wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to complete her tasks, utterly forsaking the dignity that a strong person should have.

"In fact..." Duke Xinlei paused in her speech, "If this Baron Yitian can accept his identity as Earl Fanping and join the Eagle Alliance, then bestowing this title is not inconceivable."

Regarding Lu Hong’s ennoblement, the four dukes had discussed it. Though Duke Xinlei despised him, Lu Hong was indeed talented. As long as he submitted himself under her command, she would not mind letting bygones be bygones. Hence, she quelled Lei Shan’s objections, with the support of Duke Nuoshan at her side, and the title was decided. This was why Zun Long agreed to delay the assassination to become a contractual agreement.

"Subdue him?" Piao Miao’s eyes widened, and she suddenly realized why Duke Xinlei had taken on the mission to assassinate Lu Hong. This was not assassination at all; it was for Zun Long to suppress Lu Hong and bring him back. In time, Duke Xinlei might very likely add him to her forces, bolstering her family’s military might.

"Mother..." Piao Miao felt awkward about Duke Xinlei’s desire to subdue Lu Hong, but when she opened her mouth to dissuade her, she was met with the chilling gaze of Duke Xinlei, causing a shiver down her spine and silencing her.

The ceremony continued, with Fan Wuyi being ennobled as Earl Winning Bet, symbolizing the assurance of victory.

Deng Kong was ennobled as Earl Hunter, in the hopes that he would lead the army to slaughter the enemy leaders and cement a victory for the alliance.

The celebration continued into the evening, with various delicacies and special performances from the alliance turning the Third Realm into an ocean of joy.

Meanwhile, Lu Hong stepped into the shadows amidst cheers, used Jin Fu’s teleportation gate to reach the small plane where the Lion’s Blood gang had once been eradicated.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lu Hong entered a state of meditation.

With the whereabouts of the seven Tower Masters of the Empire unknown, once Zun Long stepped into the empire, few could withstand his threat. Therefore, killing Zun Long would undoubtedly greatly weaken the Xinlei family’s power—a deal well worth it!