Chapter 2081: The Divine Enthronement Ceremony (Part 1)
Before the Weaving Dream Divine Temple, dreamlight swirled, ten thousand formations opened simultaneously, and multicolored radiant lights intertwined in the sky, weaving this vast space into something resembling a dreamscape.
The masters of the nine great dream halls of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, along with the city lords of the fifty-four cities, had all arrived. The various subsidiary nations and forces deemed worthy of invitation had arrived even earlier.
Almost all of the core power of the entire Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom was gathered here, the spatial pressure suffocating. Especially those invited from subsidiary domains all harbored different thoughts, not even daring to speak loudly.
The enthronement of a Divine Son was a ceremony that the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom had longed for for ten thousand years without obtaining, yet in the last hundred-plus years, it had come three times in succession.
The first time was to enthrone Meng Jianyuan. At that time, the entire kingdom was shaken, and guests were widely invited from all over. The gravity of the ceremony, the intensity of Dreamless Divine Venerable's emotions—everyone present had a deep impression.
The second time was to enthrone Meng Jianxi, only five years later. But at that time, the Weaving Dream Divine Venerable seemed not to have emerged from the pain of "losing a son," so the scale of the ceremony was much smaller, and it was not widely advertised.
Today was the third time... The one being enshrined was Meng Jianyuan, who had returned alive. And this ceremony, in every aspect, exuded an indescribable strangeness. Many glances kept darting toward the Weaving Dream Divine Son, Meng Jianxi, yet he looked completely at ease, as if unaffected.
Meng Jianyuan had been back alive for seven days, but he spent his days holed up in the Divine Son Hall built for him back then, and very few people had actually seen him. Even the masters of the nine great dream halls had no idea what Meng Jianyuan looked like now.
At that moment, the temple gates opened, and Meng Kongchan walked out slowly, accompanied by the Divine Empress Meng Xuanjue in full regalia.
Everyone fell silent, bowing in unison: "We welcome the Divine Venerable and the Divine Empress."
Meng Kongchan nodded in acknowledgment, swept his gaze, and said casually, "Has Yuan'er not arrived yet?"
The master of ceremonies stepped forward, bowed, and replied, "Your Venerable, Master Yuan has not yet arrived. He is probably still preparing."
Meng Kongchan turned his gaze and announced in a loud voice, "The hour has not yet come. Everyone, please take your seats first."
All responded and sat down in order. In the vast venue, countless currents of energy subtly stirred. Everyone wanted to know the deep intent behind this sudden Divine Son enthronement ceremony and what impact it would have on the structure of the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom.
Meng Kongchan scanned the crowd. Just as he was about to speak, an announcement came from afar: "Dian Jiuzhi, Divine Son of the Senluo Divine Kingdom, has arrived!"
The name "Dian Jiuzhi" made everyone turn their heads in shock. Even Meng Kongchan's brow twitched slightly.
Soon, a male figure appeared in the distance, accompanied by a warm, refined, yet dignified greeting: "Dian Jiuzhi of Senluo congratulates the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom on gaining another Divine Son. I have come uninvited this time; I hope the Dreamless Divine Venerable, the Divine Empress, and all the seniors of Weaving Dream will forgive my intrusion."
Meng Jianxi, also a Divine Son, quickly stood up and greeted him with a loud laugh: "Hahaha! The personal arrival of the Senluo Divine Son is a great honor for the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom and for my brother Yuan. How could there be any talk of blame?"
With that, he changed his address: "Brother Dian, please take the honored seat."
Dian Jiuzhi nodded to Meng Jianxi, then stepped forward and respectfully presented a gift: "A modest gift, first to congratulate the Dreamless Divine Venerable on finding his beloved son, and second to congratulate the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom on gaining another Divine Son. With this double joy, my father god is also most delighted."
Meng Kongchan signaled the master of ceremonies to accept the gift and said with a smile, "My worthy nephew is very thoughtful. This ceremony is too hasty and not widely advertised. How did you have the leisure to come in person?"
Dian Jiuzhi replied frankly, "To be honest, I was originally on my way to the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom to visit Sister Hua Caili. But when I arrived, I learned she was in seclusion to stabilize her foundation, so I did not get to see her. Then, coinciding with this grand event in Weaving Dream, I followed my father god's wish and took a detour to come here."
"Hahaha!" Meng Kongchan laughed, but the laugh carried a profound undertone: "My worthy nephew is as devoted as ever. This intent, I will remember. Quickly, guide the Senluo Divine Son to his seat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Kongchan's expression suddenly changed. His gaze shifted sharply, and his face was full of disbelief.
A woman's voice, as cold as an immortal of distant ice, reached everyone's ears: "Hua Qingying of the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom congratulates the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom on gaining another Divine Son."
The voice was clearly cold enough to freeze the soul, yet it startled everyone as if they had heard a thunderbolt from the nine heavens. Their gazes all moved away from Dian Jiuzhi... faces full of the same disbelief as Meng Kongchan.
A feminine figure descended from the sky—blue hair, blue clothes, icy face like a painting, shadows of swords in her eyes. It was none other than the universally known and revered Zhe Tian Sword Immortal, the immortal Hua Qingying, whose single sword could slay the mundane world.
Even when the sword immortal's figure was clearly before their eyes, they still couldn't believe their eyes... because for so many years, the sword immortal had mostly roamed outside the world, existing only in legends, rarely appearing outside the Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom, and never participating in any kind of ceremony.
And today, she had... come uninvited?
Meng Kongchan's fingers unconsciously tightened and then relaxed. His mind was momentarily flustered for several instants. He quickly stepped forward several paces and announced loudly, "The Zhe Tian Sword Immortal has come in person; today's ceremony is undoubtedly a thousand times more splendid. The Zhe Tian Divine Kingdom shows such great kindness; I will personally come to thank you in the future."
"No need for thanks." Hua Qingying spoke, her tone as cold as Meng Kongchan knew too well: "I came only to observe, with no other intention, and no gift. The Dreamless Divine Venerable need not take it to heart."
With that, her figure became ethereal, and she stood silently high in the sky, releasing an icy aura that kept all beings away.
Meng Kongchan certainly knew why Hua Qingying had come... In fact, he was one of the people in the world who understood her best. He knew she kept her distance from everything except for her extreme protection of Hua Caili.
Now that Yun Che and Hua Caili had committed to each other... out of love for her, she was afraid that Hua Caili's man would be bullied.
Meng Xuanjue secretly glared at Hua Qingying, gritting her teeth.
Dian Jiuzhi flew up, but before he got close, he was blocked by an invisible sword aura. He immediately took the hint, bowed to Hua Qingying from afar, and sat back down, his expression showing no disappointment.
Dian Jiuzhi aside, the arrival of Hua Qingying truly added a few more layers of strangeness to this already abnormal ceremony.
The dream hall masters looked at each other, all baffled.
As the hour approached, the protagonist of this ceremony finally arrived.
All eyes were firmly fixed on the silver-clad man walking slowly.
Meng Jianyuan's return was undoubtedly the hottest topic of discussion in the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom recently. Rumor had it that he had been wandering alone all these years; rumor had it that he hadn't returned because he had lost his memory... rumor had it that when Meng Kongchan recognized him, he was so excited that he shed the tears of a Divine Venerable.
They had thought that someone who had wandered outside, with no memory of the divine kingdom, would naturally see the kingdom as an unattainable place. Suddenly becoming the son of a Divine Venerable would surely cause extreme excitement and confusion.
And facing a situation like this just after returning, with a group of people who should be like celestial beings to him, he would certainly be nervous, timid, at a loss, and uncomfortable...
But the man in their sight had a relaxed expression, his steps unhurried. There was not a trace of nervousness in his eyes; instead, there was clearly some laziness, as if he had just woken from a deep sleep.
Beyond his demeanor, his posture was tall and straight, his features handsome as if carved. At just a glance, his appearance and bearing were clearly superior to all of Meng Kongchan's children... even surpassing Meng Jianxi.
He stood before Meng Kongchan, his gaze sweeping around... unfamiliar faces, a cultivation level of third-rank Divine Lord, yet he gave everyone a very clear sense of looking down upon them.
"Oh?" Dian Jiuzhi's eyes lit up with interest, and he murmured to himself, "No wonder the Dreamless Divine Venerable is so eager. This child... is definitely not a fish in a pond."
These words fell into the ears of Meng Jianxi beside him. His fingers tightened slightly, but he said with a smile, "Although Yuan brother was ambushed and drifted for a hundred years, his blood and soul are ultimately those of a Weaving Dream child. Not only Father God, but I too am extremely fond of and delighted by the current Yuan brother."
"..." Dian Jiuzhi smiled without speaking.
"This child is quite different from what we expected." In the dream hall, whispers were hidden.
"His appearance and demeanor are indeed surprising. Unfortunately, his cultivation is low, with no foundation or popular support, and he is pushed into the spotlight so early... a pity."
Yun Che bowed to Meng Kongchan and Meng Xuanjue: "Yun Che pays respects to the Dreamless Divine Venerable and to the Divine Empress. Due to a bit of weariness, I almost came late. Please forgive me."
"Not late, just right." Meng Kongchan said gently.
But Yun Che's words struck the others, causing their hearts to stir.
Meng Xuanjue frowned and spoke sharply: "Yun Che? Dreamless Divine Venerable? Since you are the Divine Venerable's son, Meng Jianyuan, and have returned to the Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom, how can you still use your former name? And how can you address your father god by his divine name directly!"
Yun Che raised his eyes and said calmly, "In reply to the Divine Empress, the identity of 'Meng Jianyuan' was given to me by the Dreamless Divine Venerable. But I have no memory before the age of ten, so in my heart and soul, I cannot fully accept or identify with this identity."
"The name Yun Che was given by my master. My life was saved by my master. How can an identity that fell from the void and does not exist in my memory compare to the grace of a teacher as boundless as heaven? So, unless I recover my past memories, I only wish to be known as 'Yun Che'."
"Preposterous!"
Meng Xuanjue's voice suddenly turned harsh, and the crowd burst into uproar. "Meng Jianyuan's" words, if taken lightly, were childish and ridiculous, knowing not gratitude; if taken seriously, they were a blatant disdain for the Weaving Dream Kingdom...
Just as Meng Xuanjue was about to take the opportunity to reprimand him, Meng Kongchan laughed loudly: "Hahaha! Well said! Not forgetting righteousness for profit, not forgetting kindness for power! Truly my son, Meng Kongchan. All my Weaving Dream children should have such integrity!"
His words abruptly choked back what Meng Xuanjue was about to say, and her face twisted in an ugly expression.
Meng Kongchan, as if completely unaware, continued, "Yuan'er, if you had abandoned your master's gift just because of the identity of a Divine Venerable's son, I would be extremely disappointed. Because if that were the case, how would you be any different from those who chase profit and forget righteousness, who only go about their daily grubby dealings?"
The faces of those who had been about to seize the opportunity to speak turned red, cold sweat dripping down their foreheads.
Can... can it still be like this?
Meng Jianxi stood up and said with a smile, "Although Yuan brother has been away for a hundred years, he still holds fast to his original heart, which is admirable and gratifying. Father God's words are as broad as the sea, fully showing the vastness and tolerance of our Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom."
Facing Yun Che, he continued, "Yuan brother, Mother Empress has always been strict, especially when it comes to the dignity of Weaving Dream. I hope the earlier reprimand does not enter your heart, so that a rift may not grow between you and Mother Empress."
In this short speech, several traps were hidden. Yun Che slightly nodded and responded blandly: "Divine Son Xi, rest assured. It did not enter my heart at all."
"Mm." Meng Kongchan nodded. "Yuan'er, I will find a way to restore your past memories. Until then, I permit you to keep the name 'Yun Che.' One reason is to praise you for knowing gratitude and keeping integrity, and another is to thank your master for his life-saving grace. No one shall raise any further objection to this."
Unquestionably, Meng Kongchan was giving Yun Che the greatest tolerance in front of everyone.
And he was also unashamedly expressing to everyone his extreme affection for "Meng Jianyuan."
This kind of attitude, never shown to anyone else, would undoubtedly cause subtle changes in everyone's thoughts to varying degrees.
"The hour is almost right." Meng Kongchan stepped forward. "Yuan'er, come to your father's side."
Where his gaze fell, there was the majesty of a true god, and his voice, carrying supreme divine aura, resounded throughout the entire Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom: "My son Jianyuan is the first Weaving Dream Divine Son of this generation in our Weaving Dream Divine Kingdom. But he was victimized as a child, wandered for a hundred years, and has only now returned safely. This is my fault and the kingdom's loss."
"Now, I restore the title of Divine Son to my son Jianyuan, celebrate his return, and grant him a new life!"
His gaze stopped on Meng Jianxi: "Jianxi, after today's ceremony, Yuan'er will be a Weaving Dream Divine Son alongside you. You two brothers must work together with one heart, support each other, and jointly shoulder the future of Weaving Dream."
Meng Jianxi quickly stood up and said solemnly, "I respectfully obey Father God's command! I will certainly work with Yuan brother with all my heart, share Father God's burdens, and together forge the glory of Weaving Dream!"
"Very good!" Meng Kongchan nodded. "The Divine Son Enthronement Ceremony for my son Meng Jianyuan begins now..."
"Wait! Please, Your Venerable, hear me first!"
A sudden voice forcibly interrupted the Dreamless Divine Venerable's words.
The one who spoke had already stood up. It was the master of the Seventh Dream Hall... Meng Jianxi's maternal uncle, Meng Xuanji.