Juzi's enthronement ceremony did not last very long. After all, she had already held real power for a long time and did not need this grand ceremony to prove anything to everyone.
Moreover, the miraculous sight of the sun and moon appearing together could not last long. As the sun rose higher and higher, even with Kong Deming's power supporting it, the moon soon disappeared from the sky.
However, at this moment, not many people were really paying attention to those few ceremonial words just now.
The Sun Moon Empire had gone to great lengths to invite all the major sects here to witness the ceremony together. It was not just to let everyone listen to some polite formalities. Almost everyone understood that the words Juzi was about to say "in passing" were the real focus.
"I, having pacified the three kingdoms and unified Douluo, all that I have done is due to the united efforts of the Sun Moon Empire's people inscribed on this monument. Today's enthronement is also carried out under the witness of the Sun Moon Empire's heroes, as I take on the heavy responsibility of the Sun Moon Empire."
"From me onward, successive emperors must not forget the aspirations of the Sun Moon Empire's heroes, and must not forget the heart that is dedicated to the people."
"Looking back at the history of the Sun Moon Empire, every time troops were mobilized, it was for major events. For this reason, after careful consideration, I have decided that the Illustrious Virtue Hall will assist from the side. In the future, important military matters will be jointly discussed by Illustrious Virtue Hall and myself."
"We respectfully obey Your Majesty's decree." Jing Hongchen had been prepared for this and immediately bowed slightly to Juzi upon hearing her words.
The people around had not yet fully understood what Juzi meant by these words, but the host of the ceremony, Kong Deming, suddenly changed his expression. He abruptly looked toward Juzi, only to see that Juzi was also looking at him.
Others might not understand what Juzi meant, but he heard it clearly. Juzi was clearly handing over the emperor's complete authority to control the army.
Whether it was when Juzi managed the Sun Moon Empire as the Empress Dowager or when she prepared to ascend the throne as emperor, he had not obstructed her too much.
First, he was indeed no match for Lin Xiao. Second, as an ordinary soul master, Juzi's lifespan was only about a hundred years. After a hundred years, the great power in her hands would still fall to Xu Chengye.
However, now that Juzi had divided part of the military power, Illustrious Virtue Hall would naturally not give up this hard-won authority. The imperial power that Xu Chengye would receive would no longer be complete.
Juzi had once been the commander-in-chief of the three armies. With her prestige, even with Illustrious Virtue Hall by her side, it would not affect her management of the army. But the next emperor might not be able to do the same as her.
This was both her way of winning over Illustrious Virtue Hall and a restriction on the other emperors who would come after her.
Once this decree was issued, even if imperial power returned to the Xu family, all emperors after Juzi would be affected by this matter.
Kong Deming stared fixedly at Juzi, seemingly seeing a trace of... a smile at the corner of her mouth?
But before he could think further, another gaze interrupted him.
Turning his head to look, he saw that Lin Xiao was also looking toward the sky. Kong Deming's heart stirred, yet he inexplicably felt a few traces of doubt.
Juzi was willing to divide part of her military power with Illustrious Virtue Hall, so what about Lin Xiao? From the beginning, she had supported Juzi, even going so far as to assassinate Xu Tianran for this. What had she prepared for him?
Juzi withdrew her gaze, and her voice once again spread far into the distance.
"I still remember that five years ago, right here in my Sun Moon Empire, countless academy and sect elites came to compete. The grand occasion is still vivid in my eyes to this day."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of many people from the various sects changed drastically all at once.
It would have been better not to mention this matter. Once it was brought up, many people recalled how the Sun Moon Empire had detained the disciples of the major sects back then.
For a moment, some people could no longer sit still. They kept turning their heads to look outside from time to time, trying to see if there were people from the Sun Moon Empire already lying in ambush among the crowds outside.
The relatively powerful "sects" such as Shrek Academy and the Body Sect remained somewhat calmer, but they still exchanged glances with the people beside them, seemingly guessing what the Sun Moon Empire meant by bringing this up. Could it be a threat to everyone present?
"Calculating the time, it has been exactly five years since the last Elite Competition. For this reason, I intend to restart the Elite Competition."
"The competition is scheduled for the end of this year. As before, all elite soul masters under the age of twenty, regardless of whether they come from sects or academies, or even unaffiliated rogue cultivators without any sect or academy, as long as they meet the conditions, may register to participate in the Elite Competition."
"Those who win in the competition or show outstanding performance will be provided with cultivation resources by the Sun Moon Empire, and we will help them find suitable sects and academies."
Everyone looked at each other, pondering Juzi's words.
It was still acceptable to help the winning contestants find academies. After all, academies existed to train soul masters and soul engineers, and it was not difficult for the Sun Moon Empire to arrange students within them.
But helping them find more suitable sects would be somewhat difficult, as entry and exit from sects came with considerable restrictions...
Compared to the people around who were secretly speculating, Lin Xiao beside her understood the purpose of Juzi's move more clearly.
In the past, the Soul Duel Competition and the Elite Competition were used to determine the teaching standards of the various imperial academies, and there was even an underlying contest between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent.
Now that the Douluo Continent had been unified, the Elite Competition had lost some of its meaning. However, its greater role was not to determine which academy or sect was more powerful.
Instead, it was to select personnel for the Sun Moon Empire to prepare for the Abyss Plane, which would eventually arrive.
To find the contestants with the best talent, give them the best resources and cultivation conditions, and in the future, equip them with the best soul tools—all for the purpose of dealing with the Abyss Plane, which had already shown signs of activity.
Before the other sects could respond, the surrounding civilians had already begun shouting. After all, for them, every time a Soul Duel Competition or Elite Competition was held, it was a rare grand festival.
The people from the major sects secretly pondered in their hearts. After thinking it over, this was not a bad thing for the various sects either. If they could achieve good results in the Elite Competition, they might even attract more disciples.
However, it seemed that Juzi did not need the consent of the major sects. Without waiting for others to express their opinions, another statement came from her mouth.
"In addition, before the Elite Competition, there is one more matter that I wish to discuss with all the sects."
Here it comes.
As soon as these words were spoken, countless gazes instantly focused on Juzi.
"I still remember that back then, in front of Heaven Dou City, there were two battles that left a deep impression on me and also allowed countless soul masters on the continent to catch a glimpse of the methods of those soul masters and soul engineers who had cultivated to the highest depths."
"One was the battle between Shrek Academy's Dragon God Douluo and two evil soul masters, a contest at the Limit level that quelled the chaos of the evil soul masters across the continent."
"The other was the battle between my Sun Moon Empire's Heavenly Disaster Douluo and the Body Douluo, a contest between soul masters and soul engineers that laid the foundation for my Sun Moon Empire to unify the continent."
"When experts clash, every move and every technique can bring insight to countless people. It is truly a pity that such opportunities are so rarely seen by the world."
As Juzi spoke, she looked around in a circle. The square around them instantly fell completely silent, quietly waiting for what she would say next.
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Here are the chapters for today (づ￣3￣)づ╭～
"Don't forget there are chapters available on Patreon."
"From Douluo to Godhood by Defy 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo: Far North Invincibledo 30 Advance chapters."
"Douluo Peerless: Living as an Evil Soul Master the novel is already finished on Patreon."
"Douluo Dalu 2:Peerless Tang Sect Dawn of Sun and Moon 40 Advance chapters."
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