The ancestral rites for the Moon Vein were simple enough. Xu Jianwei led Zhang Yuexuan to kneel before a row of spirit tablets, murmured long prayers, then instructed her to perform four resounding kowtows. And with that, the ceremony was done.
By this point, Zhu Ziyang and his companions had achieved their goal. Xu Jianwei was not only the High Priestess of the Silvermoon Faith and the true power behind the Yin Clan, she was also now acknowledged as the present master of the Moon Vein itself.
With her recognition, Zhang Yuexuan's identity as a rightful descendant of the Moon Vein was no longer in question. Even if she had not truly borne that bloodline, Xu Jianwei's approval alone would have been enough. But as fate would have it, Zhang Yuexuan really was of pure Moon Vein heritage.
What followed was straightforward. Elder Song and Zhang Yuexuan, representing Shrek Academy, joined Xu Jianwei and Yin Zhengqi, representing the Moon Vein, to discuss cooperation and resource allocation. With that, the "Empress' Descent" plan could proceed into its second phase.
Xu Jianwei and Yin Zhengqi went to summon the Silvermoon clergy and the Yin Clan's upper echelon, while Zhu Ziyang, Zhang Yuexuan, and Elder Song left the Marquis' Mansion to reunite with Elder Zhu and Jiang NanNan. They agreed to meet again the following afternoon at the Marquis' Mansion.
"Who would have thought it would go so smoothly?" Zhang Yuexuan sighed in wonder as they stepped out of the Moon South Marquis' gates.
"How should I put it…" Zhu Ziyang mused. "This must be heaven's aid. Who could have imagined a princess of the fallen dynasty still lived within the Marquis' estate? Compared to the Yin Clan, entangled by self-interest, a displaced princess burned with far greater desire for revenge. That's why persuading them was so easy.
"Of course, the key was still your martial soul, Sister Yuexuan."
"Exactly!" Elder Song added with emotion. "Such is the fickleness of fate! At first, when you and Elder Mu proposed this plan, I was full of doubt. I thought there was no way Yuexuan's Moon Martial Soul alone could deceive the heavens. Yet now I see it was my own shortsightedness. The Sun Moon Empire's reverence for the Sun and Moon is no empty claim—it runs to the bone!"
"Ziyang, we still have the Moon Emperor's Imperial Seal. Should we reveal it?" Zhang Yuexuan asked suddenly.
"That depends entirely on you." Zhu Ziyang waved his hand. "If you wish to show it, or keep it as a hidden card, it's your choice. I can't decide for you."
"I see. Then I'll hold onto it for now," Zhang Yuexuan said after a moment's thought. "When I have fully secured control of the Moon Vein and the Yin Clan, then I'll reveal it. No sooner."
"A wise choice," Elder Song approved. "Keeping a trump card ensures we won't be helpless should complications arise."
When they returned to their inn, Elder Zhu and Jiang NanNan were already waiting. The two groups immediately exchanged their findings.
"To think a lost princess truly survived!" Elder Zhu exclaimed in astonishment.
"According to your intelligence, the Marquis now controls only the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Moon Islands, with no reach over the four farther islands?" Elder Song asked, ignoring his amazement. She pondered carefully. "And the remnants of the Moon Vein the Yin Clan shelters—where are they? Do they pose a threat to Yuexuan's claim?"
"The Yin Clan is very weak now," Elder Zhu explained. "The First, Second, Sixth, and Seventh Moon Islands pay them lip service at best, but in truth they answer to outside powers. The First Island especially—it's home to the Sun Moon Empire's South Sea Fleet.
"As for the Moon Vein survivors, there are seven in all, living on Fifth Island. Four are over sixty years old, while the other three are in their thirties or forties—but none have Moon Martial Souls, nor even Moon Vein bloodlines."
"I see." Elder Song nodded. "Then let's rest for now. Tomorrow, we'll make detailed plans."
Everyone agreed.
The next afternoon, at the Marquis' Mansion.
Shrek Academy's delegation numbered five—Zhang Yuexuan, Elder Song, Elder Zhu, Zhu Ziyang, and Jiang NanNan. The Moon Vein side arrived with more than ten people.
The Silvermoon High Priestess introduced them to Zhang Yuexuan. They were the remaining high-level strength of the Yin Clan: one Soul Douluo, three Soul Sages, and nine Soul Emperors. Counting Yin Zhengqi, the once-proud Yin Clan now possessed only fourteen mid-to-high-ranked soul masters.
No wonder they could not even control the whole Moon South Archipelago, Zhu Ziyang and the others thought with quiet realization.
As for the Silvermoon Faith, there was only Xu Jianwei herself.
It was ironic. The Yin Clan, once exalted for holding dominion over the Moon Faith, had risen to prominence precisely because of their Moon Martial Souls. Yet now, not a single clansman possessed that martial soul. Even the High Priestess' role had fallen to an outsider like Xu Jianwei. Without Zhang Yuexuan's arrival, the Silvermoon Faith's line of succession would likely have ended entirely.
And perhaps, if the Silvermoon Empress who led the clan into the imperial family ten thousand years ago could see this day, she might regret her choice.
But the Yin Clan were not truly at fault. After merging into the royal family, to preserve the imperial line's uniqueness, every clansman born with the Moon Martial Soul—save one in each generation to inherit the High Priestess' seat—was married into the imperial line.
Thus, over time, the chance of Moon Martial Souls arising in the Yin Clan dwindled to nothing. In the end, they even had to borrow imperial blood to preserve the Silvermoon Faith.
When Xu Jianwei finished introducing the Yin clansmen, she turned to them and said, "Now, let me present to you someone of far greater importance."
"Child, come." She beckoned Zhang Yuexuan forward and held her by the shoulder. "Show them who you are."
Zhang Yuexuan hesitated only for an instant before releasing her martial soul. A radiant silver moon appeared behind her, accompanied by eight shining spirit rings.
The Yin clansmen were dumbstruck, then overjoyed. Everyone with sense knew exactly what this meant. At the very least, the Silvermoon Faith's lineage would not end with them.
"This child's name is Xu Tianxuan, descended from my imperial uncle Xu Yidong," Xu Jianwei declared. "You see her Moon Martial Soul, her eight spirit rings, and her Soul Douluo cultivation. But more than that—she is only twenty-seven years old!"
Xu Yidong had indeed been Xu Jianwei's uncle, her father's youngest brother. He perished in the coup, but his five sons had escaped. Zhang Yuexuan's lineage likely traced back to one of them. Lacking further proof, Xu Jianwei had placed her in that line.
And so, she gave Zhang Yuexuan a new name—Xu Tianxuan—fitting her rightful place within the imperial genealogy.
At once, understanding dawned among the Yin clansmen. Their hearts burned with hope. Together, they fell to one knee and cried out:
"Greetings to Princess Xuanxuan!"
That kneeling meant everything. Whether heartfelt or not, it established Zhang Yuexuan's claim and title.
From this day on, she was officially the Princess of the Moon Vein of the Sun Moon Empire.
"Please rise, elders," Zhang Yuexuan said gently, lifting her hands with a smile.
The clansmen stood, their faces a swirl of emotions too varied to count—but none of it mattered.
Xu Jianwei then gestured toward Elder Song and Elder Zhu. "These two seniors are Princess Xuanxuan's kin. Both are Titled Douluo of the highest strength."
They had agreed not to reveal Shrek's involvement just yet. Until the Yin Clan was fully consolidated, the Shrek delegation would be presented as members of Zhang Yuexuan's family line.
Thus, Zhang Yuexuan's identity as Princess was sealed.
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