Chapter 270: The Only One Who Dared to Oppose
"Then, let us welcome the new Emperor of the Sun and Moon Empire—Lin Qinghan."
After speaking, Xu Tianran removed the crown from his head, stepped down from the throne, and slowly walked toward the ministers, eventually standing before them.
Xu Tianran was still a capable man. Even if he was no longer emperor, Lin Qinghan intended to let him work a few more years. If he performed well, Lin Qinghan might grant him freedom—or even heal his body.
After all, Xu Tianran had never actually offended Lin Qinghan. Now that he posed no threat and still had some value, giving him freedom later would cost Lin Qinghan nothing.
Xu Tianran's consciousness was still intact, but he was now fully bound to obey Lin Qinghan and Juzi. That obedience made it seem as if he had no self.
As Xu Tianran stepped down, a handsome young man with an extraordinary and mysterious presence appeared in front of the throne and, without hesitation, sat down—Lin Qinghan.
> "It's really him! Lin Qinghan? Isn't he from the Lin Family of the Star Luo Empire?"
His appearance caused another wave of shock in the court. Even those who were already close to Lin Qinghan were surprised.
They had joined the Spirit Thought Sect originally because of the benefits and development potential. Later, after being taught the sect's core techniques, they were half-forced to sign soul contracts.
Yet they had no real complaints.
After all, not long after joining, they were granted peerless techniques. Those with talent were even recommended to high positions in the court of the Sun and Moon Empire, enjoying the highest privileges available on the continent.
With such treatment, if they still had grievances, they had no reason to remain under Lin Qinghan.
> "The Sun and Moon Empire is changing emperors—and I only find out now?"
Just as Lin Qinghan was about to establish his authority, an aged voice rang out in the court.
A flash of silver light followed, and Kong Deming, clad in a humanoid soul guide and surrounded by a Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, appeared in the great hall.
At that moment, Kong Deming fixed his gaze on Lin Qinghan. Though he had no lust for power, he possessed one-quarter royal blood from the Sun and Moon line and had always sided with the royal family.
In fact, when Xu Tianran began purging the royal family, Kong Deming had wanted to stop him—but under Lin Qinghan's direction, Xu Tianran moved too quickly.
By the time Kong Deming found out, the purge had ended. Only Xu Tianran and Xu Tianzhen remained of the royal bloodline. With Xu Tianran still emperor, Kong Deming couldn't do anything.
He had heard the news quickly this time because some ministers opposed to Xu Tianran had secretly contacted him. Otherwise, absorbed in his soul guide research, he likely wouldn't have learned about Lin Qinghan's ascension until after the coronation.
Although he didn't care for Xu Tianran, he was still royal. And now, seeing the throne passed to someone from the Star Luo Empire, Kong Deming had no choice but to step forward.
> "The father of soul guides?"
Lin Qinghan sensed Kong Deming's aura and smiled.
From his perception, Kong Deming's soul power had reached level 95, and the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield was a genuine Level 10 soul guide.
Combined with his other abilities, Kong Deming's combat power likely rivaled that of an Extreme Douluo.
But it didn't matter.
Remaining seated on the Sun and Moon throne, Lin Qinghan simply allowed his soul rings to appear—glowing and hovering around his body.
Red, red, red, red, red, red, red… and red again. Some rings even bore terrifying golden threads.
As the eight red soul rings enveloped Lin Qinghan, a tremendous aura burst forth.
But this pressure was targeted solely at Kong Deming. The other ministers merely felt its grandeur—they weren't harmed.
As Lin Qinghan's pressure enveloped him, Kong Deming was struck with a death-like fear. He instantly activated his Silver Moon Divine Light Shield, and his ninth-level humanoid soul guide began operating at full power.
> Crack!
But Kong Deming's measures—though effective against ordinary Extreme Douluo—were useless here.
The moment Lin Qinghan's pressure landed, the Silver Moon Divine Light Shield cracked, then shattered completely within seconds, its fragments embedding into Kong Deming's body.
Fortunately, the guide had a self-repairing function, built using the Level 10 blueprint Lin Qinghan had "accidentally" leaked. Otherwise, the first true Level 10 soul guide of the era would've been ruined.
Lin Qinghan then pulled back most of his pressure, leaving only enough to completely suppress Kong Deming.
> "It is the Sun and Moon Empire's great fortune that I have become emperor. I acknowledge your achievements in soul guide development, so I'll let your offense slide—this time. But if it happens again… I pray your entire family dies in advance."
Lin Qinghan's blunt and menacing threat echoed in the grand hall. Ministers—whether bound by soul contract or not—broke into cold sweat.
Tyrant.
That was the only word in their minds.
No doubt, Lin Qinghan had inherited divine power. All of them had at least heard of him.
He was just sixteen, yet had crushed Kong Deming, the most powerful man in the Sun and Moon Empire, using only his pressure. His real strength had clearly surpassed the Extreme Douluo level.
But what shocked everyone even more was what he said to Kong Deming.
> Not just suppressing dissent—he threatened the man's family as well.
This wasn't unheard of for emperors of the past, but with Kong Deming's identity, it was deeply alarming.
Nearly all ninth-level soul engineers in the Sun and Moon Empire had been trained or influenced by Kong Deming.
Even the Mingde Hall, the Empire's most prestigious soul engineer force, was named after him.
And yet, Lin Qinghan publicly threatened such a cornerstone figure of the empire just for opposing him.
If this wasn't a tyrant—then what was?
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(End of this chapter)