Invincible Divine Destiny Selection System Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Morning Meeting_1

The Great Wu Dynasty was forged through martial strength. For more than a decade, the founding sovereign campaigned against neighboring territories, crushing countless factions to secure the nation's borders. Consequently, the crest of Dawu features neither dragon nor phoenix, but the singular character: Wu. It represents a martial spirit that shatters and obliterates all opposition.

Chu Yuan wore an imperial robe of deepest black, a hue as dark as dried blood, stitched with patterns of blades and swords that evoked the imagery of a massacre.

Emblazoned upon the fabric was the character Wu, radiating a sharp and overbearing presence.

"Your Majesty."

Standing behind Chu Yuan was an elderly eunuch. Despite his snowy hair, his skin remained as smooth as a newborn’s.

This was Eunuch Wei. Having served two successive emperors since the country's inception, he had proven his unwavering loyalty as a pillar of the state.

In this moment, Eunuch Wei realized that Chu Yuan had undergone a transformation. He radiated an incomparable aura of majesty. His gaze was piercing, seemingly capable of exposing any hidden plot. He appeared even more imperial than the late monarch; his presence was so formidable that looking him in the eye felt impossible.

"Let us go," Chu Yuan said with a slight nod.

"Depart for the Divine Martial Hall!"

Eunuch Wei’s high-pitched voice rang out, and Chu Yuan took his place within a carriage pulled by nine flood dragons.

Constructed by the First Emperor, the Divine Martial Hall resembled the character Wu when viewed from afar. It stood like a colossal blade rising toward the heavens, suppressing all beneath it and embodying the martial legacy of the previous ruler. This was the sacred site where the emperors of Great Wu were crowned.

The interior of the Divine Martial Hall was vast. Luminous pearls hung like a sea of stars, casting light upon the hundreds of officials already gathered in wait.

To the left stood a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair. Though aging, he possessed a predatory aura and eyes as sharp as a hawk. This was Shangguan Qingyun, the Supreme General of Great Wu, who commanded the empire's military might. He was a master who had attained the pinnacle of the Divine Abilities realm.

To the right was a white-haired elder in ceremonial robes who carried a somewhat somber air. He was Li Yun, the leader of the civil officials and head of the six ministries. Like the general, he had also reached the peak of the Divine Abilities realm.

Together, Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun were seen as the twin pillars supporting the Great Wu Dynasty.

"Once, our Great Wu was the dominant power among the Five States. Under the First Emperor's reign, we were prospering and nearly unified the entire region," someone remarked softly.

"But who could have predicted this? The Emperor died suddenly, and the cause remains a mystery. To make matters worse, the 300,000 elite Divine Martial Troops vanished with him. Our nation’s power was cut in half in a single night," another sighed.

"Worse still are the whispers that his death was a divine execution. People fear the heavens wish to destroy Great Wu. Some claim our downfall is predestined!"

"These rumors are fueling civil unrest. The empire teeters on the edge of total chaos!"

"The other four nations hunger for our lands, and we are surrounded by them on all sides. Both the capital and the borders are unstable, especially with the ambitious Emperor of Dian watching us."

"As the second Emperor of Dawu takes the throne, it remains to be seen if he can restore order. If we survive this storm, we might not lead the Five States, but we can at least preserve our Foundation and avoid being devoured."

"The young Emperor has a royal air, but he is only fifteen. The mess left by the First Emperor’s death is immense. I fear it is beyond saving. Our luck has simply run out."

"It seems we must look out for ourselves and prepare for the worst. I wonder what the Supreme General and the Prime Minister are planning?"

"They lead the civil and military ranks. We should watch them and follow their lead. That is the only way to safeguard our families."

"Quiet! The Emperor arrives!"

.....

Throughout the Divine Martial Hall, the officials were murmuring, their voices thick with anxiety regarding Great Wu’s future.

Such behavior was a symptom of a failing regime and a restless state. It signaled the potential collapse of a dynasty; when the ministers and the commoners alike start looking for an escape, disaster is near.

In contrast, Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun remained eerily composed, briefly meeting each other's eyes.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The shrill, echoing cry of Eunuch Wei filled the hall.

The carriage, pulled by nine flood dragons—each a terrifying beast of the Original Spirit Realm—came to a halt, the creatures' breathing sounding like rolls of thunder.

Chu Yuan stepped out of the royal transport with the Sword of the Human Emperor fastened to his belt. His stride was firm, and his eyes flickered with sparks—a manifestation of the Great Thunder Technique that gave him the appearance of having thunderous eyes.

He moved between two rows of divine soldiers clad in golden armor.

Slowly, he ascended the steps and sat upon the shimmering golden throne. In that instant, a tidal wave of imperial pressure erupted from him, making him appear as the absolute Sovereign of the world.

"This pressure! This imperial might! His Majesty is not the same as before!"

"For some reason, looking at him makes me feel a sense of inferiority I’ve never felt, as if I am standing before a divine Emperor!"

"A true Emperor among men!"

"Today marks the first official court session of His Majesty's reign!"

...

As the cries of 'Sovereign' filled the chamber, Chu Yuan’s authority surged in the hearts of his subjects. The officials were stunned by this display of power. Even the expressions of Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun shifted significantly.

"Ding! The host has completed Choice One. Rewarding 100 Destiny Points."

The system chimed.

"My ministers, you have all been working hard."

While the court remained in a state of shock, Chu Yuan gripped the Emperor’s Sword. With the title of Supreme Man active, he looked incredibly majestic and distant. He spoke: "The passing of the late Emperor three months ago was a catastrophe for our Dawu Dynasty. You have likely grown weary and stressed managing the fallout. Today, I hold my first court as the new Emperor of Dawu."

He scanned the assembly. Though they served the state, these men were powerful Cultivation masters.

This was a realm where imperial rule and the path of Cultivation were intertwined.

These individuals could soar through the clouds and seek immortality.

"The Emperor is presiding over the court!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

The dazed officials finally snapped back to reality. Chu Yuan’s presence was simply too dominant. They instinctively shouted their loyalty and dropped to their knees.

"Rise," Chu Yuan commanded. "You are free to speak on any matter."

"The fate of the late Emperor is a tragedy of earth-shaking proportions. During his reign, he was a brave and wise leader who conquered four nations to build Dawu’s foundation. His personal strength alone kept those four nations in check. Year after year, they came to pay tribute; it was a golden age.

The 300,000 Divine Martial soldiers were especially peerless; none could stand against them."

A middle-aged official stepped forward to eulogize the late monarch. This was Liu Yong, the Chief of Staff for the Ministry of Industry. He sighed, "If the previous Emperor were still with us, our Dawu would now..."

"Oh? So, Chief of Staff, do you believe Dawu is currently in its twilight, waiting for the dark to swallow us? Do you think our time is over?"

Chu Yuan sat high above, his gaze locked onto Liu Yong.

Liu Yong was no saint; he was a lackey of the Prime Minister. In the original timeline, when the Prime Minister turned traitor, Liu Yong had stolen the Ministry’s resources to join the Dalian Imperial Dynasty.

Chu Yuan had not forgotten this betrayal.

"I did not say that. I only meant that if the late Emperor were here, the four nations led by Dalian would never dream of revolting. Your Majesty, you are brave, but you are still young. In such dire times, I worry..."

Chu Yuan’s sharp reprimand had left Liu Yong trembling under the Supreme Man’s aura. He tried to backtrack, but his words only made things worse.

"So you think that if the late Emperor were here, you would all be perfectly loyal, ready to die for the throne. But because I have taken the crown, and the empire is struggling, and the 300,000 Divine Martial elites are gone, hearts have changed.

Since I lack absolute power in your eyes, you assume Dawu’s end is near. You think the nation will be destroyed. Therefore, are you already searching for a way out, Chief of Staff?"

Chu Yuan’s words were biting, stripping away any pretense.

With three years of future memories, he knew exactly who was a patriot and who was a snake.

"I... I... I!" Liu Yong was terrified. He never expected Chu Yuan to expose his inner thoughts so bluntly. Drenched in sweat, he fell to his knees, stammering, "I meant no such thing! Your Majesty’s insight is divine!"

Even though Liu Yong was a Divine Realm expert, Chu Yuan was the Emperor. His sovereign dignity was crushing, and he still held command over forces fanatically loyal to the crown.

The Dawu Dynasty had not fallen yet. A starving camel is still larger than a horse. If he showed any sign of treason now, not even the Prime Minister could protect him.

"Then you are saying I lack judgment and am unfit to lead?" Chu Yuan pushed further, relentless.

"Your Majesty, Liu Yong has no such thoughts. He is completely devoted to the Dawu Dynasty and to Your Majesty."

Li Yun stepped in, noticing that Chu Yuan’s dominance over the court was becoming absolute.

"The six departments are overseen by the Prime Minister. If Liu Yong is loyal to his master, then the Prime Minister must be loyal to his King."

A cryptic smile touched Chu Yuan’s lips.

"I helped the late Emperor build this nation and have served as Prime Minister for thirty years. Naturally, I am loyal."

Li Yun, a cunning old fox, understood the hidden threat. His expression darkened. He hadn't expected Chu Yuan to be this difficult. They had assumed the boy king would be paralyzed by the chaos he inherited.

They thought a little bullying would make the young Emperor easy to manipulate.

Instead, they found a sharp-tongued ruler. Had Li Yun not been so calculated, he might have thought he had actually slipped up.

Furthermore, the Chu Yuan standing before them today was unrecognizable.

In the past, Chu Yuan was assertive but still showed his youth. Today, he radiated an unsettling aura, as if he were an entirely different soul.

Unfortunately for them, the Emperor they faced was a soul who had returned from the future.

A traveler of time and a reincarnator.

Go ahead.

Keep up the act!

Chu Yuan’s heart was cold. After living through the events of the last eighteen years, his mercy had evaporated.

"Choice One: Continue the court session, listen to the ministers' reports, and receive 100 Destiny Points."

"Choice Two: Act with arrogance and dismiss the court immediately, leaving a reckless impression, and receive 100 Destiny Points."