Today, the establishment of the Thunder Emperor Hall kept Xi Renjun and Qing Fengtao busy, arranging for guests from various major and minor forces.
The congratulatory gifts from the Fang family, Yin Yang Sect, and Kui Lian Sect were exceptionally generous. Coupled with the personal attendance of three Tribulation Crossing ancestors, the Thunder Emperor Hall's prestige was fully showcased.
Even the Wu, Zhou, and Dun families sent envoys to offer gifts as a symbolic gesture.
Time ticked by, and everyone grew impatient. It wasn't until noon that Qing Feng's booming voice was heard from outside the entrance,
"The Hall Master of the Thunder Emperor Hall has arrived!"
At this announcement, everyone in the hall turned to look towards the entrance.
Five figures appeared at the main entrance of the hall.
Leading the way were Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu, hand in hand. Following them were Huofeng, Xi Renyuanjun, and Buzhihuo Qingwu.
Wan Lei was clad in a luxurious black robe, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon. Although the crowd didn't recognize this snake-like creature, it exuded a sense of majesty.
Fang Xiaoyu, on the other hand, wore a bright yellow robe adorned with a fire phoenix.
The fire phoenix was familiar to everyone, being the one standing behind them. People wondered why they would embroider the likeness of their subordinates onto their clothing, interpreting it as a sign of valuing their subordinates.
In truth, neither Wan Lei nor Fang Xiaoyu understood the meaning of the dragon and phoenix; the idea for the clothing had come from Gouzi.
As the five entered, everyone in the hall parted to make way.
"Congratulations to Hall Master Wan on rebuilding the Thunder Emperor Hall!"
"Today marks the opening of the Thunder Emperor Hall, a joyous occasion for all."
"Hall Master Wan possesses remarkable valor and an imposing presence..."
Amidst the well-wishes, Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu walked straight towards the inner part of the hall, their gazes unwavering.
The attention of the crowd followed them, as well as the pure gold throne situated beneath the Thunder Emperor's statue at the very center of the hall.
They awaited to see if Wan Lei would ascend the throne.
If Wan Lei were to sit upon it, it would signify his intention to ascend to the throne and assume the position of Thunder Emperor.
However, there was considerable debate among the people regarding Wan Lei's qualification to be the new Thunder Emperor.
After all, the Thunder Emperor represented the faith of the people, supreme power, and the most revered deity in the entire Lei Feng Realm.
While everyone welcomed the rebuilding of the Thunder Emperor Hall by Wan Lei, given his lineage as a direct descendant of the Thunder Emperor, his strength, merits, and qualifications, the notion of him ascending to the emperorship was met with skepticism.
His strength was not unrivaled, nor were his merits unprecedented. With foreign enemies invading and the realm in unrest, his choosing this moment to declare himself emperor might be perceived as an act of ambition.
Fortunately, Wan Lei was well aware of his own strength and achievements.
"Everyone, please join me in paying homage to the Thunder Emperor."
Wan Lei walked to the throne but did not sit. Instead, he knelt directly before the statue of the Thunder Emperor.
"Your unworthy descendant, Wan Lei, pays his respects to the Thunder Emperor Ancestor. May the Thunder Emperor be blessed with eternal prosperity."
"We pay our respects to the Thunder Emperor. May the Thunder Emperor be blessed with eternal prosperity!"
Seeing that Wan Lei had not taken the throne, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down, kowtowing to the statue of the Thunder Emperor.
Even the Tribulation Crossing powerhouses from the three families, under the prevailing circumstances, had no choice but to kneel and bow to the Thunder Emperor's statue.
After all, the Thunder Emperor had been the faith of everyone in the Lei Feng Realm for fifty thousand years. To bow to the Thunder Emperor was not shameful; rather, it was natural.
After the homage, Wan Lei rose and turned to face the assembly.
Fang Xiaoyu stood closely by his side, while the three Tribulation Crossing experts stood behind him. In that moment, their combined aura silenced the entire hall.
Fang Fa Hui, Qu Tian Lei, and Chen Man Lian stood at the forefront, followed by Old Fang and two other sect leaders, as well as the Great Ascension stage elders of the Thunder Emperor Hall, including Xi Renjun, Yun Xiao Shangren, and Bei Hanwu.
Further back were the Nascent Soul stage powerhouses of the Thunder Emperor Hall, and attendees from other forces who had come to offer congratulations.
Looking at the people before him, Wan Lei’s expression was solemn. His cultivation flowed through his voice, which resonated throughout the entire Thunder Emperor Mountain range.
"Fifty thousand years ago, my ancestor, the Thunder Emperor, eradicated the evil sects and unified the Eight Wastelands with his supreme power, granting the Lei Feng Realm fifty thousand years of peace.
Now, Liu family, Huo family, and the Kaitian Sword Sect, these scoundrels, have betrayed their kin and colluded with powerful foreign races to invade our Lei Feng Realm, intending to overthrow our lineage and enslave the countless souls of the Lei Feng Realm to the demon race.
Such wicked deeds are an outrage to both gods and men, an offense against heaven!
All upright individuals of the Lei Feng Realm, those unwilling to bow their heads in submission, are willing to shed their blood and toil to resist the enemy, drive the demon race out of the Lei Feng Realm, annihilate all scoundrels, and restore peace and order to our Lei Feng Realm!
At this critical juncture of survival, as a direct descendant of the Thunder Emperor Ancestor, I, Wan Lei, though untalented, am willing to use my humble strength to rebuild the Thunder Emperor Hall, restore the glory of the Thunder Emperor, and rally all cultivators of the Lei Feng Realm to jointly resist the enemy!
Today, your unworthy descendant, Wan Lei, swears before the Thunder Emperor Ancestor!
I, Wan Lei, and my Thunder Emperor Hall, swear to fight the enemy to the bitter end. Even if it means fighting to the last man, as long as we have a breath left, we will never compromise with the demon race or the scoundrels!
In this war against the demon race, I, Wan Lei, will not take a single step back.
As long as the enemy is not vanquished, I, Wan Lei, and my Thunder Emperor Hall, will not slacken. We will continue to fight!
Today, my Thunder Emperor Hall is established as a sect!
All members of my Thunder Emperor Hall shall forever remember this!
My Thunder Emperor Hall takes it as its duty to protect the citizens of the Lei Feng Realm!
We swear to coexist and perish with the Lei Feng Realm, to annihilate the enemy and defend our homeland!"
Wan Lei's words were impassioned, igniting the hearts of everyone on Thunder Emperor Mountain.
Instantly, the entire mountain peak echoed with shouts that pierced the heavens, the sound waves even pushing back the dark clouds, causing the winds and clouds to surge.
"We swear to coexist and perish with the Lei Feng Realm, to annihilate the enemy and defend our homeland!"
"We swear to coexist and perish with the Lei Feng Realm, to annihilate the enemy and defend our homeland!"
"We swear to coexist and perish with the Lei Feng Realm, to annihilate the enemy and defend our homeland!"
"We pay homage to Hall Master Wan!"
Inside the hall, everyone except the three Tribulation Crossing experts cupped their hands in a respectful bow towards Wan Lei.
"We swear our loyalty to the Hall Master, to slay the demon race, and to destroy the Liu family!!!"
Outside the hall, the people of the Thunder Emperor Hall shouted in unison.
With Wan Lei's declaration and the cheers of the millions present,
The once supreme and revered Thunder Emperor Hall,
Today,
Formally rose again.
In the past, this place was the most sacred site in the Lei Feng Realm.
Even after the Wan family was annihilated by the combined forces of the six families, the six families dared not destroy the Thunder Emperor Hall.
Instead, for the past fifty thousand years, the six families took turns guarding the Thunder Emperor Hall, fearing any damage. They would also promptly repair any dilapidated structures.
This was because the Thunder Emperor Hall was not the Thunder Emperor Hall of the Wan family, but the Thunder Emperor Hall of the entire Lei Feng Realm.
If they were to destroy the Thunder Emperor Hall, not only would the world not permit it, but a majority within their own clans would also object.