The essence of the rules contained in the Heaven-Splitting Axe and other cursed weapons allowed Lin Yuan to further advance towards the fourth tier.
To continue strengthening the Godslayer Society, Lin Yuan gave away the divine weapon fragments he had acquired earlier to cultivate new cursed weapon masters.
These fragments, after being comprehended by Lin Yuan, held no further meaning if kept by his side.
The divine weapon fragments Lin Yuan bestowed were refined to fully obey his commands.
Thus, the cursed weapon masters cultivated with these fragments were naturally completely loyal to Lin Yuan.
Time flowed by, and another five years passed in the blink of an eye.
At the capital of the Great Yan Nation, there was the Hundred Flowers Hall, the palace where Dowager Empress Wang Shangfeng lived when she was still a consort.
Though she could have moved to a palace of higher status, she didn't.
After living in the Hundred Flowers Hall for over ten years, she grew accustomed to it.
On this day, Lin Yuan came to visit his mother.
Since becoming emperor, Lin Yuan had spent most of his time cultivating and only visited once every six months or a year.
"My son, how do you feel about those consorts I picked for you last time?" Despite being in her nineties, Wang Shangfeng seemed only about forty-five, with a rosy complexion and a healthy appearance.
In this world’s cultivation system, a Blood Refining Martial Saint could match the extreme of the second tier but was practically useless in extending one's lifespan.
Even a Martial Saint couldn't live much past a hundred years.
Lin Yuan speculated that this was due to the divine weapon's influence.
The longer one lived, the more likely they could surpass the Martial Saint level.
Most of the thirty-six divine weapons remained dormant, ensuring that such uncontrolled advancements didn't occur.
Thus, lifespan limits were directly imposed, ensuring that powerful alchemists and Martial Saints, by the time they reached eighty or ninety years old, faced declining vitality and their life's end.
Wang Shangfeng’s youthful vigor was thanks to Lin Yuan secretly using the Muscle-Tendon Washing technique.
With Lin Yuan's current strength, this technique was like an elixir for Wang Shangfeng.
At this rate, she could easily live to two hundred.
"It's alright," Lin Yuan replied nonchalantly.
Bearing no children in his fifty-to-sixty-year reign, Lin Yuan found it unnecessary.
Unlike Emperor Liu Shi, Lin Yuan didn’t need heirs to settle succession disputes.
With his lifespan, even if he had a child to pick a crown prince, that prince would likely pass away before him.
Staying in this realm for a hundred and sixty years was enough to outlast any Blood Refining Martial Saint.
Hence, if offspring were ever necessary, it would be in his final decades here.
Wang Shangfeng knew Lin Yuan was just appeasing her, but she felt helpless.
Under Lin Yuan's rule, the Great Yan Nation nearly rivaled even the strongest of the Thirty-Six Nations of Central Plains.
Lin Yuan's prestige surpassed all prior emperors, marking him as the most accomplished sovereign in their history.
"By the way, your father hasn’t been feeling well lately. When you have time, please go check on him," Wang Shangfeng suggested.
"Alright," Lin Yuan nodded upon hearing her request.
Leaving the Hundred Flowers Hall, Lin Yuan was greeted by a royal elder.
"Your Majesty, it has been over a decade since our Great Yan Nation has seen a weapon master emerge," the aging royal elder reminded him.
For the Thirty-Six Nations of Central Plains, nurturing weapon masters was paramount; everything else was secondary.
Only with weapon masters could they stabilize the nation’s foundation.
The previous weapon master, Lin Yuan's seventh sister, passed a decade ago.
She never awakened or wielded the divine weapon, allowing her a longer life than most.
"Weapon master," Lin Yuan recalled the red-eyed last meeting his sister had with him fifty or sixty years ago.
A divine weapon master is forever bound to the divine weapon, and unless Lin Yuan’s power could overwhelm it, severing this bond was nearly impossible.
"No rush," Lin Yuan replied softly.
The royal elder hesitated but withheld further comments.
Dismissed, Lin Yuan soon visited the retired Emperor Liu Shi.
Unlike Wang Shangfeng, Liu Shi appeared much older, with white hair and wrinkled skin.
Lin Yuan refrained from using the Muscle-Tendon Washing technique on him.
As a former emperor, Liu Shi had often offered sacrifices to the nation-guarding divine weapon, leaving a divine weapon mark on him.
Using his strength for Liu Shi’s benefit would likely alert the divine weapon.
"Father," Lin Yuan conversed with Liu Shi for a long time, mostly listening as Liu Shi reminisced and speculated.
Liu Shi was proud, knowing his son was the most accomplished Sage Monarch in their history.
"My son, my time is near. Leaving the Great Yan to you is my greatest comfort," Liu Shi said before exhaustion overtook him, falling asleep.
"It’s time," Lin Yuan thought as he left the retired emperor’s residence.
Gazing northwards, he focused on the direction of the divine weapon ancestral land of the Great Yan Nation.
Five to six years ago, Lin Yuan had reached a near fourth-tier level, holding power comparable to divine weapons.
Now, after absorbing the essence of rules from various cursed weapons like the Heaven-Splitting Axe, his strength had further increased.
The next day, the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Nation were eager because Lin Yuan would join the morning court session, discussing state affairs with his ministers.
This was exciting news for them as their emperor, lauded as unparalleled throughout history, rarely made public appearances.
Many newer ministers had never seen him at all.
The populace revered Lin Yuan as their most respected figure, responsible for the nation’s prosperity.
Seated comfortably on the Dragon Throne, Lin Yuan listened as ministers stood to present their reports.
As proceedings neared conclusion, the Minister of Rites stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, having ruled for over fifty years, according to tradition, you should proceed to the divine weapon ancestral land for worship," the Minister of Rites stated, having long given up hope of a direct response.
For fifty years, across three Ministers of Rites, the emperor was urged to perform this ceremonial duty at each court session without reply.
None dared press the issue, resorting instead to hopeful reminders, turning it into a habit or a faint expectation.
Yet, upon finishing his reminder this time, Lin Yuan nodded slightly, standing up, "Indeed, it’s time to visit the ancestral land and worship the divine weapon."
Surprised by the sudden response, the Minister of Rites found his eyes wet with emotion.
After fifty years, the emperor finally decided to visit the ancestral land for the divine weapon rites.
(End of chapter)