Chapter 73: The New Emperor of Xingluo
"Open the city gates and welcome the new emperor!"
Although it was a woman's voice, it thundered like a divine decree, echoing across the capital of the Xingluo Empire.
The emperor was dead!
For a nation where the emperor's will reigned supreme, this was tantamount to the collapse of the heavens. The soldiers on the city walls froze in place, their minds unable to process the truth.
His Majesty—an esteemed Titled Douluo—had fallen so easily?
"Open the gates!"
"Welcome the new emperor!"
Below the city walls, over a hundred armored soldiers roared in unison. Their voices rang out, full of fervor and zeal. They didn't care how treasonous their words sounded. They only had one belief—Qin Chuan is their god. Their emperor!
Qin Chuan was slightly startled. He looked sideways, and sure enough, the armored soldiers' eyes burned with fanatic devotion. At this moment, they weren't just soldiers; they were worshippers.
A soft, delicate hand slipped into his palm. Without looking, he knew who it was—Ye Lingling.
Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She gazed up at him, eyes shimmering with admiration.
Finally, with a thunderous creak, the gates of Xingluo City slowly opened.
A grand avenue stretched forward, lined on both sides by demoralized city guards. They threw down their weapons one after another, expressing complete surrender.
As Qin Chuan led his people into the city, the guards all knelt simultaneously, trembling and prostrating.
"Welcome the new emperor!"
Though their voices quivered, the words were unified—and those words marked the beginning of a new era.
Farther down the street, someone turned and fled.
Zhu Zhuqing, walking half a step behind Qin Chuan, caught the movement and pointed, shouting,
"Stop her! She is the fiancée of the former Crown Prince!"
The moment her words landed, murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"The lady of the Netherworld Zhu family!"
"Catch her!"
Someone identified her—Zhu Zhuyun—and the crowd erupted, jostling to be the one to hand her over and earn favor with the new regime.
Civilians surged from all directions, blocking her escape.
"Get out of my way!" Zhu Zhuyun shouted coldly.
No one moved. They merely stared at her with unreadable expressions. The empire had changed hands—no one could guess the temperament of this new ruler. But his decisiveness and ruthless strength were undeniable.
"If you won't move, don't blame me for what happens next!"
Zhu Zhuyun released her martial soul, slicing down several people in the blink of an eye. Blood splashed. The rest of the crowd shrank back in fear.
She made a break for it.
The captain of the Ironclad Army looked at Qin Chuan and asked eagerly,
"Allow me?"
He hadn't had the chance to show his skills during the whole campaign. His fists itched for action.
Qin Chuan glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. He didn't intend to interfere—but remembering her journey to warn him, risking everything, he was moved.
"Bang!"
Just as Zhu Zhuyun rounded a corner, her body froze mid-motion and instantly exploded. Blood splattered across the face of her would-be captors, making them recoil in horror.
"Enter the palace," Qin Chuan said flatly, avoiding Zhu Zhuqing's gaze as he reentered the carriage.
The heavy wheels rumbled across the main street of Xingluo City.
As the chilling creak… creak… of the wheels echoed through the silence, the expressions of the onlookers darkened. One by one, the people along the street knelt down.
It was like dominoes falling.
Eventually, every person on the entire road had dropped to their knees, heads bowed in absolute submission.
They had a new emperor.
Inside the imperial palace, chaos reigned.
Eunuchs, palace maids, guards—all were scrambling in panic, some looting treasures, others fleeing in tears and screams.
"Execute those who deserve death. Detain those who must live."
Qin Chuan gave the order calmly to the Ironclad Army's commander.
The commander's eyes lit up. With a sharp wave of his hand, the armored soldiers split into small squads and dispersed throughout the palace.
A massacre targeting the royal bloodline had begun.
Qin Chuan turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Return to the Zhu Mansion. Find a way to contact the remaining officials within the city. Inform them that a grand court assembly will be held tomorrow."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded but hesitated.
"What if they refuse to come?"
She was worried—after all, they had seized the capital by force. Many officials would surely harbor resentment.
"Those who refuse… will die."
Qin Chuan's voice was ice-cold.
An attitude was all he needed. One could choose defiance—but the price was life.
"I understand," Zhu Zhuqing replied, then turned and left.
Qin Chuan glanced at Ye Lingling.
"Let's head to the meeting hall. A guest is on the way."
Ye Lingling blinked in surprise, but before she could ask, Qin Chuan had already set off toward the palace's grand hall.
The Xingluo Empire's meeting hall was magnificently built with pure gold beams and intricate carvings. It was a testament to the empire's ancient power and wealth.
Qin Chuan did not sit on the throne.
Instead, he stood calmly with his hands behind his back, silently observing the hall.
Soon, footsteps echoed from outside.
A middle-aged man in the white-gold uniform of the Spirit Hall entered.
He was burly and imposing—Ao Debiao, the bishop of the Xingluo branch hall of Spirit Hall. A powerful man in his own right.
As he stepped into the palace, he bowed deeply.
"Ao Debiao of the Spirit Hall greets the Great Elder."
Qin Chuan turned slowly.
"I am no longer your Great Elder. What business do you bring?"
"Naturally, I come to offer congratulations on behalf of Spirit Hall. Congratulations on your successful entry into Xingluo."
Ao Debiao smiled, his voice loud and clear.
"Very well. You've delivered your message. You may leave."
Qin Chuan's tone was indifferent.
Ao Debiao hesitated, then gritted his teeth.
"According to the Holy Temple's plan… the leadership of both empires is to be handed over to the Spirit Hall."
He finally voiced the true purpose of his visit.
The grand schemes of Spirit Hall—the manipulation of the Heaven Dou Empire, the seizure of the Xingluo Empire—had always served a singular goal:
Complete unification of the continent under the Spirit Hall.
And now, they expected Qin Chuan to relinquish control of the empire he had conquered.
They wanted him to hand over Xingluo.