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December 25, 1009 in the Galactic Calendar was once a sacred festival on humanity's original home planet. Though nearly a thousand years had passed since that time, the significance of this festival had faded for those living in the space age. However, today marked the revival of this ancient celebration, as it became a festival for all of humanity. This day was the founding day of the Golden Lion Empire.
The city of New Rome was adorned with lights and colorful decorations, despite some well-informed sources revealing that the Empire's legions were still engaged in battles with distant galactic barbarians, and some planets far from the center of civilization had yet to fully embrace the Golden Lion's rule. However, these facts didn't dampen the spirits of the celebrants. Countless individuals from various races across the galaxy had gathered in the city, hoping for a chance to glimpse the founding Emperor Ryan. If they were truly fortunate, they might meet him in person, perhaps even shake hands with him. Ryan was viewed as a hero, having transformed from an ordinary individual into the ruler who brought stability and prosperity to countless planets, defeating space pirates, barbarians, warlords, and slave traders.
The time for the founding ceremony had arrived, and the doors of the grand New Roman Palace swung open slowly. The crowd fell into a hushed anticipation, and a solemn air enveloped the entire city. Mounted royal guards emerged from the palace, their horses adorned with golden armor, and the knights themselves wearing gleaming silver armor. The knights drew their swords as they exited the palace, and a procession of royal knights, in perfect formation, proceeded toward their destination.
The appearance of the royal guards elicited thunderous cheers from the crowd. Many, unable to see clearly from a distance, cheered along with those around them. The online live broadcast host reported that these mounted guards followed an ancient tradition, with the twelve horses being purebred creatures from the Origin Star, and their armor being replicas of Origin Star relics based on archaeological findings. The audience watching online paid little attention to these details, as another group followed closely behind the Royal Knights.
The second group exiting the palace consisted of Jedi Knights, dressed in black robes. These Jedi Knights, known for their extraordinary powers, were said to originate from a secret temple on the Origin Star. They had played a crucial role in ending the galaxy's turbulent era by helping Emperor Lane defeat the sinister force known as Black Star.
Following the Jedi were the Emperor's Guards, the most elite legion in the Empire, who served directly under Emperor Lane. Comprising only 300 members, these elite soldiers had fought alongside Emperor Lane to pacify the unrest and bring peace to the galaxy. Their appearance garnered even greater cheers from the crowd, expressing admiration for those who had vanquished chaos and restored order.
As the Emperor's Guards departed through the palace gates, they were succeeded by an air of expectation. Then, a golden carriage appeared, glistening in the sunlight. This carriage, shaped like a crescent, featured a golden lion emblem on its doors. Two soldiers of the Emperor's Guards stood on either side of the carriage, each holding a pedal wide enough for a person to stand on. Incredibly spacious, the carriage could accommodate up to six passengers. However, at that moment, only one person was seated within: Emperor Lane, adorned in a golden robe and a battle helmet crowned with red feathers, glittering in the sun. He wore a blue sash and a chest full of medals. Emperor Lane, the first ruler of the Golden Lion Empire, sat in the middle of the carriage, waving to the people as the procession passed by.
Excitement filled the crowd. Emperor Lane's presence ignited an unprecedented wave of cheers.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Imperial Parliament Building in New Rome, where a red carpet had been rolled out from the entrance of the building to the bottom of 20 grand stairs. Prime Minister Besman stood beside the carriage, opening the door for Emperor Lane. Following him were the founding fathers of the empire.
Emperor Lane, accompanied by Prime Minister Besman, ascended the steps of the Parliament Building and stood on the open-air balcony. Before him, a podium had been set up. Emperor Lane waved to the crowd, signaling for silence, and they complied, eagerly waiting for his speech.
With a solemn expression, Emperor Lane announced, "After a millennium filled with ups and downs, humanity has once again found its place in civilization. Today, I am elated to proclaim to the entire universe that the Golden Lion Empire is officially established!"
Emperor Lane's words resonated throughout the universe via the star network. Even those still in the midst of battles heard this momentous declaration. The entire galaxy celebrated with overwhelming excitement.
As his speech concluded, a 21-gun salute echoed through the air, releasing a flurry of balloons, pigeons, and flowers into the sky. Amphibious fighter jets roared overhead. People hugged one another, and tears of joy flowed freely.
At the far end of the Milky Way's spiral arm lay a small galaxy. Within it, remnants of humanity's past could still be found. Compared to the bustling and advanced areas of the Milky Way, this small galaxy remained untouched by civilization. On the third planet in this small galaxy, nature thrived, with towering trees, blue skies, and tranquil seas. The planet featured no towering structures or common sky vehicles. The sky belonged to the birds, the sea to the fish, and the forests to nature. It was as if humans had never set foot on this land. Only ancient city ruins occasionally hinted at human presence, though most would regard this planet as an uncivilized place.
Yet, on this almost forgotten planet, hidden within its southern hemisphere's ocean, there existed a mysterious island. If passing galactic travelers were to scan the planet, they would likely overlook this island, but it lay quietly in the ocean.
A small transport ship, at that very moment, penetrated the atmosphere of this peaceful asteroid. It rapidly descended, heading for this secluded metal island. The transport ship reached the skies above the metal island in no time.
Upon its arrival, a black hole suddenly formed at the heart of the trident image on the island's surface. The transport ship entered the black hole, disappearing from view. The black hole closed, erasing all evidence of its existence.
Yoda, with his teacher in tow, ventured into the most mysterious room within Longyuan Pavilion: the astrology room. Stepping inside, Yoda felt as though he had been transported to the heart of the universe. Galaxies spun around him, revealing the birth and death of planets, as well as the civilizations that emerged and perished within them. Yoda, entranced, felt like a god observing the galaxy's myriad life forms.
"Yoda, pay close attention to what I'm about to do. This is my final lesson," instructed his teacher.
Yoda nodded, understanding the gravity of this moment. The room, imbued with cosmic imagery, seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space. His teacher stood at the center of the universe, closed his eyes, and began to perform intricate hand movements at an increasing pace. Yoda watched intently, following the movements with his mind's eye.
"Yoda, you must see clearly what the teacher does later. This is the last lesson the teacher can teach you."
Yoda replied affirmatively, attentive to his teacher's actions. He had
learned that what lay before him couldn't be observed through physical eyes but required the mind's eye. As his teacher continued, Yoda perceived every movement with clarity, culminating in a powerful white beam, which extended from the teacher's index finger to the Milky Way ahead.
The moment the beam connected, the Milky Way seemed to come alive. Stars surged forward, passing before Yoda. This cosmic journey led him to a planet that held the size of three origin stars. A planet of relative youth, it harbored a welcoming environment for human habitation. This planet was teeming with spacecraft as they orbited it. Yoda even glimpsed scenes on the planet's surface, witnessing a grand city bustling with life, a celebratory parade, and the sky illuminated with flowers and fireworks. At the heart of it all stood a man he knew well – Lion. This man, who had started with nothing, now ruled the entire universe. Lion was the first emperor of the Golden Lion Empire, and Yoda saw him sitting at the podium in the midst of the celebration.
The visions continued, revealing Lion's death, the struggles of his offspring for the throne, periods of prosperity, and eventual destruction. The journey extended to other star systems linked to the planet, granting Yoda a glimpse of the events that were destined to occur.
Time seemed to vanish within the astrology room. The teacher finally opened his eyes, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Yoda watched in astonishment, and the teacher appeared frail, on the verge of collapsing. Yoda rushed to support him.
The teacher regained his composure with Yoda's help and gestured for him to step back. Yoda withdrew but remained vigilant, prepared to assist if needed. The blood his teacher had coughed up hovered in the air, defying gravity. His teacher directed the blood to a faint fire, merging the two, creating a brilliant red light that radiated throughout the room. Yoda instinctively closed his eyes, and when he opened them, everything had returned to its previous state.
The teacher displayed a golden scroll. Yoda received the scroll, which appeared to shimmer with cosmic secrets. His teacher instructed, "Deliver this scroll to Lion's envoy. Inform them that it contains the information they seek, but only Lion himself can decipher its contents." The scroll was handed over to Yoda.
Outside Longyuan Pavilion on the apron, a small transport ship floated quietly. In an adjacent boarding room, a man wearing dark blue robes paced restlessly. Two Praetorian guards stood by the door. The door opened, and Yoda entered.
"Hello, Special Envoy. This is what Emperor Ryan requested. Please ensure it reaches him," Yoda conveyed, extending the golden scroll to the man in the robes. The man accepted it with great respect.
"May I ask if the master had any other instructions?" the man inquired.
Yoda replied, "The teacher said that only Emperor Ryan may read the contents of the scroll. There were no further instructions."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Please convey the highest regards of His Majesty to the master on my behalf." The man in the robes bowed to Yoda and exited the boarding room, the Praetorian guards following behind him.
The small transport ship gently ascended and then disappeared into the sky, leaving a fading blue trail.
Yoda returned to his teacher's chamber. The sight that met him was nothing short of horrifying. "Teacher, how could you?" he exclaimed, seeing his teacher's body, which had rapidly aged, resembling a centenarian. Only bones remained, devoid of flesh and blood, with thin wisps of gray hair clinging to the wrinkled scalp.
"Child, this is the price of performing an audacious celestial magic. Though we in Longyuan Pavilion can extend our lives almost infinitely through secret methods, casting such astronomical magic leads to immediate demise. I am delaying the inevitable through secret techniques," his teacher explained, urging Yoda not to interrupt.
Yoda's eyes filled with tears as he approached his frail teacher. "Please, take a rest, teacher. If you wish to speak further, we can do so after you've rested."
"Good boy, I will rest soon, forever," the teacher declared. With a sudden burst of strength, he raised his hand and placed it over Yoda's head, making a solemn declaration that Yoda would be the new Pavilion Master of Longyuan Pavilion. The power of the declaration compelled Yoda, who felt like an iron nail drawn to a powerful magnet. A surge of energy flowed into Yoda's soul through the crown of his head, causing him to lose consciousness.
When Yoda awoke, everything was as it had been, except his teacher was gone, leaving behind a brown robe. Yoda clutched the robe, his tears flowing freely.
Ryan's proclamation of the Golden Lion Empire's establishment marked a new chapter in human civilization across the galaxy. Longyuan Pavilion had embraced a new Pavilion Master, and the wheel of history had returned to its starting point.
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