A terrifyingly dense orb of violet-black energy began to rapidly form inside the mouth of the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, radiating an unsettling fluctuation of power. It resembled a tiny black hole, swallowing all surrounding light into its depths, plunging everything into utter darkness where even five fingers couldn’t be seen. Only that energy orb itself throbbed with a devilish, purple glow.

“Are you really going to use your true power?”

Lu Jingming sensed the horrifying force condensed within that energy orb. Its might was enough to erase not just the Douluo Continent’s plate, but the entire plateau itself. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by unprecedented focus and seriousness.

He slowly raised the white flower of the Black Abyss in his hand.

“In that case, let me show you my true power.”

He did not summon the Lone Planetfarer. He knew that before such pure destructive force, not even the Lone Planetfarer could achieve perfect defense. Instead, he merged completely with the super artifact in his hand, his will fusing with it.

“The end of decay is not nothingness, but rebirth.”

“The essence of creation is not eternity, but rotation.”

“Life and death are merely two sides of the same coin…”

The black abyss and white flower in his hand began to undergo a strange transformation. The black and white shaft blurred at the boundaries; the decaying force of black and the creating force of white could no longer be distinguished, instead swirling together like two yin-yang fish chasing each other, fusing and spinning along an enigmatic trajectory.

A power surpassing life and death, transcending decay and creation, spread from the spear.

That was… reincarnation.

Just as the orb of destructive energy in Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon’s mouth was about to be unleashed, Lu Jingming moved. He threw his spear. The spear turned a gray, chaotic color and was gently flung forward. The moment it left his hand, it vanished.

It disappeared suddenly, as if it was erased from existence.

When it reappeared, it was already before the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, right in front of the destructive energy orb.

And then—it passed through.

It pierced straight through the orb, which could have destroyed the world, as if it were a phantom of nothingness. Like passing through a thin layer of paper, it pierced the dragon’s hard skull, effortlessly passing through the massive body, drilling out through its tail, and vanishing again into the void.

The process was so fast that even Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon’s consciousness couldn’t register it.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze.

The Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, poised to unleash its destructive energy, halted. Its enormous eyes and thunderous radiance quickly dimmed.

In the next instant—a thin gray line appeared at the center of its brow, then rapidly spread across its entire body.

Its body didn’t explode, nor did it decompose, turn into light, or dust.

It simply… withered.

The indestructible violet-black scales rapidly lost their luster, shriveling into a gray, wrinkled texture like rocks weathered by billions of years. Its flesh, once full of explosive force, rapidly lost vitality, decaying and drying up like rotten wood devoid of any moisture. Even its soul, formed of pure will of destruction, rapidly faded and mottled, returning to the dead silence of nothingness.

All of this happened within just three breaths.

The monstrous beast of destruction, once towering in the sky and feared even by God Kings, silently and completely became a giant gray statue, losing all life and energy.

A gentle breeze blew.

Whoosh—

The giant statue collapsed with a thunderous crash, turning into pure gray dust that swirled into the air, covering the entire plateau in a layer of dead silence.

The ominous purple-black shroud stretched between heaven and earth quietly dispersed.

Warm sunlight poured down once more.

Lu Jingming floated silently in the air. He reached out, and the black abyss and white flower—now returned to their chaotic color—reappeared midair and returned to his hand, resuming their black and white form. He looked down at the landscape below and the gray dust swirling in the wind, and let out a quiet breath.

“It’s over.”

He retrieved the Black Abyss White Flower, his form flickering as he transformed into a streamer and sped toward Xinming City.

…

When Lu Jingming’s figure reappeared above the ruined palace, an elderly figure slowly walked out from the corner of a side corridor that had remained intact.

It was Kong Deming.

He had chosen not to leave, staying instead to await the final outcome. When he saw Lu Jingming return unharmed, and the aura of madness and destruction that had filled heaven and earth had completely dissipated, the last traces of blood on his wrinkled face vanished as well.

He knew everything was over.

Xu Tianran, and the madly powerful Sun-Moon Empire he represented, had lost.

Completely defeated, with not even a hope of revival left.

“How regrettable…”

Kong Deming let out a long, heavy sigh, imbued with too much emotion—sadness, yes, but even deeper, a fatigue and loneliness that came from finally accepting reality. That sigh alone seemed to age him decades in an instant. His once-straight back hunched, and the wisdom that once sparkled in his eyes dulled, becoming as muddy and stagnant as a pool of water.

Lu Jingming landed before him, neither offering words of comfort nor mockery, simply watching with a calm expression.

Kong Deming lifted his head and said hoarsely,

“Old man… May I see Her Excellency, the one with the Silver Moon Martial Soul?”

He didn’t ask about his own fate or Xu Tianran’s—it was no longer important. Now, what he cared about was the empire, and the future of the hundreds of millions of people living on this land. The woman with the royal martial soul was his last hope.

Lu Jingming nodded.

Soon, at Lu Jingming’s summons, Zhang Lexuan was brought back to the palace ruins along with Jing Hongchen and others.

With the witness of Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen, two major figures who had played vital roles in the Sun-Moon Empire, Zhang Lexuan’s royal bloodline was formally recognized.

Like wings, the news spread across the devastated Xinming City at lightning speed.

Immediately after, Lu Jingming’s troops took over the city’s administration and defense with almost no resistance.

Any lingering remnants who still hoped to organize resistance lost their final will when they heard even Master Kong Deming had acknowledged the new ruler’s legitimacy.

…

Three days later.

In the still-intact central square of Xinming City, Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen summoned all the high nobles and soul master generals of the Sun-Moon Empire.

Thousands of people—once the lifeblood of this vast empire—now gathered in the square, pale and silent, like prisoners awaiting judgment.

They looked at the soldiers around them, clad in the standard black and red armor, exuding a chilling killing intent, hearts pounding with fear of the unknown.

Before everyone’s eyes, Zhang Lexuan put on the silver imperial robes personally crafted by Kong Deming—symbolizing the supreme power of the Sun-Moon Empire—and, accompanied by Lu Jingming, slowly walked to the makeshift platform.

“I am Kong Deming.”

“I am Jing Hongchen.”

Amidst the crowd’s gaze, the two old men stepped onto the platform and performed the oldest, most solemn bow to Zhang Lexuan.

“Greetings to Your Majesty! Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress!”

Their voices, amplified through the soul guide speakers, echoed across the square and into the hearts of every high-ranking member of the Sun-Moon Empire. Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen themselves had surrendered. What choice did anyone else have?

“Long live the Empress! Long live the Empress—!!!”

A roar like a mountain erupted across the square, marking the end of the old era and the dawn of a new one.

On this day, Zhang Lexuan was formally enthroned as the first Empress in the history of the Sun-Moon Empire.

…

At the same time as the power transition in Xinming City, shocking news arrived from the other side of the continent:

Marshal Ju Zi, leading the Sun-Moon Empire’s main force, had, at a small cost, successfully breached the capital of the Dou Ling Empire—Dou Ling City. The royal family of the Dou Ling Empire was utterly annihilated in their final resistance.

This ancient empire, which had quietly persisted for millennia, was declared destroyed.

At this point, the original Douluo Continent’s pattern had completely collapsed.

The Heavenly Soul Empire and Dou Ling Empire were both gone.

Only the Star Lou Empire and the Sun-Moon Empire remained on this vast continent.

Lu Jingming stayed in the Sun-Moon Empire for another half a month.

He left behind a 50,000-strong elite garrison to maintain order, led by Ye Wulu and his steadfast enforcement team, to assist Zhang Lexuan in stabilizing imperial power and consolidating control.

Once Zhang Lexuan had secured her throne as Empress, with the support of Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, and Ju Zi, ensuring no major upheavals, Lu Jingming returned to the Star Lou Empire with his companions.

Greater changes, set to determine the future course of the entire continent, awaited him.

…

Star Lou Empire, Star Lou City, Imperial Palace.

Upon Lu Jingming’s return, the greatest imperial conference in Star Lou Empire history was convened.

All the registered dukes and marquises, marshals and generals with military power, and governors of the major provinces—the greatest figures of the empire—were present, gathered in the magnificent assembly hall.

The atmosphere was solemn, yet charged with an indescribable, almost fanatical anticipation.

All eyes focused on two people.

One was the Star Lou Emperor, Xu Jiawei, seated upon the throne, crowned and robed in dragon attire.

The other was Lu Jingming, who had just entered from outside the palace, dressed in plain clothes and appearing indifferent.

Xu Jiawei gazed at Lu Jingming, a sincere yet complex smile on his face.

He slowly rose from the throne, descended the stairs, and approached Lu Jingming.

Then, to the shock—and yet the expectation—of all present, he bowed deeply to Lu Jingming.

“City Lord Lu.”

Xu Jiawei’s voice, channeled with soul power, resounded throughout the hall.

“I, Xu Jiawei, on behalf of the royal family and the hundreds of millions of people of Star Lou, thank you for everything you have done for the empire and this continent.

You eradicated the Holy Spirit Church, defeated Xu Tianran, and thwarted the Sun-Moon Empire’s ambitions of continental unification. Your achievements are eternal, shaking both past and present, surpassing all emperors before you.

Now, the homeland lies in ruins; all await a new era. In such magnificent times, what we need is a true helmsman with both talent and supreme power, to lead us to a brighter future.

As for myself, I admit my talents are mediocre and my virtue unworthy of the Star Lou throne or the position of ruler of the world. The only one fit to sit here is you, Lu Jingming.”

With that, Xu Jiawei removed his star-jade belt and crown, holding them in both hands, and solemnly offered them to Lu Jingming.

“Today, I, Xu Jiawei, abdicate before all ministers of the empire.

Please, City Lord Lu, ascend as Emperor and build a foundation unshakable for generations.”

As soon as his words fell, Xu Jiawei knelt on one knee, lowering his noble head.

Silence.

The entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone held their breaths as they witnessed this unprecedented scene—a reigning emperor voluntarily yielding the throne to a minister at the peak of his power.

In the next instant, all imperial nobles knelt in unison, their voices ringing like a bell.

“Please ascend the throne as Emperor!”

Immediately after, all the soul masters leading the army dropped to one knee, their shout like a tidal wave.

“Please ascend the throne as Emperor!!”

No one objected.

No one dissented.

A natural expression was on every face.

For the Star Lou Empire, this tradition of abdication was far more acceptable than in other countries.

Everyone knew their royal family descended from the valiant White Tiger Duke.

For the sake of the empire’s survival, the White Tiger Duke had once ceded power to the Star Crown family, who were stronger at that time, withdrawing to the post of minister and protecting the empire for generations.

This was an ability etched into their very bones.

And now, Lu Jingming—this peerless powerhouse, with unmatched strength, merit, and popular support—was far more suited than Xu Jiawei to inherit the throne.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep