Lord of the Earth

"Earth's First Lord?"

Summer liked this name very much, but she wasn't satisfied with it.

Because, in his heart, such a title still separated him from the emperors of ancient times.

In this "Competition for Heaven Ceremony", Qian Xia not only defeated the other lords, but also surpassed all ancient dynasties and imperial dynasties!
It could be called the first "dynasty" on Earth!

Of course, to a large extent, it was because the forces ruled by emperors such as Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Ming were unable to directly and completely establish the Eternal Land before, and thus did not participate in the early stages of the "Competition for Heaven Ceremony," allowing their side to "snag the loopholes."

However, no matter the reason, first place is first place, and its value is no less!
"Although I did not win the position of city lord, it is better than the spot falling into the hands of foreign tribes."

Liu Che stood with his hands behind his back, his black golden halberd pointing diagonally at the ground, the phantom image of the Han dynasty's dragon vein swirling around him. Although his tone was indifferent, his eyes held a burning commitment to the orthodoxy of China, and his sharp gaze shot towards Xia Tian like lightning.

"Our Great Han Dynasty has been established for four hundred years, and its fortune is as prosperous as the Yellow River. Even without the blessing of this holy city of humanity, with the iron cavalry of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing crushing Helan Mountain and the legacy of Emperors Wen and Jing benefiting all people, we can still forge a dynasty with great fortune!"

"The name of the Han people originated from the Han dynasty and has lasted for thousands of years. You, Qianxia, ​​are predominantly Han people, and you have managed to keep the position of city lord in China. I acknowledge this achievement!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority.

"As for the destiny that belongs to the Han Dynasty... it shall be reserved for the capable. Young man Qianxia, ​​do not disappoint me, and do not disgrace the name 'Han'!"

The black gold halberd trembled slightly, emitting a humming sound like a dragon's roar.

Han people, Han people!
As the origin of a "title", the Han Dynasty holds a special position among the Chinese people, and the population of Qianxia itself is mainly "Han people". In any case, Qianxia surpassed those non-Chinese civilizations and kept this "city lord" position within the Chinese camp.

Liu Che's words were not only an acknowledgment of the Qianxia dynasty, but also a weighty expectation and invisible pressure based on blood ties and cultural identity.

"Hahaha! Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young!"

On the other side, Li Shimin laughed loudly, displaying his dignified demeanor. His gaze swept over Xia Tian, ​​then over Liu Che, Ying Zheng, and others, carrying a hint of emotion and magnanimity.

"With so many veteran generals vying for supremacy, a newly established quasi-imperial dynasty has emerged victorious, truly living up to the saying 'a new generation replaces the old!' Our human race is blessed with talented individuals in every generation; this is the fortune of humanity and the foundation of a prosperous era!"

He looked at Xia Tian, ​​his deep eyes filled with sincere expectation, as well as a hint of subtle complexity.

"The Holy City has been restored, a great fortune for humanity. I hope you will embrace this spirit of tolerance!"

He emphasized the word "inclusiveness" as his gaze swept across the room.

"Gathering heroes from all over the world, integrating the strengths of all races, and jointly resisting foreign aggression. A prosperous era is not the achievement of one person or one city, but is forged by the hearts of hundreds of millions of guardians!"

His demeanor and character truly befit the title of "Heavenly Khan".

However, Li Shimin did not have much hostility towards the Xia Dynasty. Compared to the Han, Ming, and Qin Dynasties, which fought fiercely for famous ministers and generals, the Xia Dynasty did not take much from the Tang Dynasty, nor did it lose many famous ministers to its lords.

This is mainly because Li Shimin was the most "hexagonal" emperor in the entire history of China. Perhaps he was not as "born a succubus" as Liu Bei, but he won the hearts of all nations with his vision and ability!
Today, the number of alien races under its command is more than a hundred times that of humans, and it does not need human heroes to maintain its rule.

"Humph!"

A cold snort carrying a rough and unrefined air rang out, and Zhu Yuanzhang stepped forward, his unassuming figure exuding an imposing aura.

He pointed at Xia Tian, ​​grinning with a mix of arrogance and ruthlessness:
"Boy, Qi Jiguang was a great general of our Ming Dynasty! Now you, Qianxia, ​​have tricked him. You, Qianxia, ​​have gained a huge advantage in this battle, but we can't let you use our Zhu family's great general for nothing! We have to give you some real compensation, right?"

"Compensation will naturally be provided,"

Xia Tian remained neither humble nor arrogant, meeting Zhu Yuanzhang's scrutinizing gaze.

"My Qianxia has recently formed a business alliance, and one of the leaders is, in fact, an old friend of Your Majesty the Hongwu Emperor in the eyes of many. If Your Majesty does not mind, Qianxia is willing to send him to discuss cooperation with the Ming Dynasty and jointly develop the endless resources of this eternal land."

After a pause, Xia Tian added.

"In addition, there is a descendant of His Majesty in Qianxia City who also... misses His Majesty very much."

"Oh? Old acquaintances? Descendants?" Zhu Yuanzhang raised a thick eyebrow, his eyes gleaming, his interest piqued. "Our old acquaintances? Which old acquaintances? And our descendants... who are they?"

The "old acquaintances" Xia Tian mentioned naturally referred to Shen Wansan.

Legend has it that Shen Sanwan once paid out of his own pocket to build one-third of the city wall for Zhu Yuanzhang, and even personally rewarded the army on Zhu Yuanzhang's behalf... As a result, he angered the emperor and was eventually killed!

However, in reality, the "grudge" between "Shen Wansan" and Zhu Yuanzhang was most likely fabricated by the Qing Dynasty to smear the Ming Dynasty!

According to some historical records, Shen Wansan most likely died before Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, and the two never met.

As for his descendants, it was Zhu Youjian, who abandoned his imperial status and joined Baiyujing as a carpenter!

He relinquished his imperial destiny to serve Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. This affection and resolute decision deeply moved Zhu Yuanzhang.

"When heaven and earth are completely united, and our Great Ming Dynasty sets foot on the land of eternity,"

Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, tacitly agreeing to the cooperation, but his eyes held a warning: "I must make a trip to your Qianxia! To see my 'unworthy' descendants, and to see... which 'old friend' still remembers old Zhu!"

His last sentence carried a profound meaning.

"Humph!"

A deeper, more resonant snort, imbued with boundless majesty and icy fury, rang out, like a chilling wind sweeping across the netherworld. Ying Zheng, clad in a jet-black dragon robe, fixed his gaze on Xia Tian with eyes as deep as an abyss.

"The He Shi Bi jade! The elixir of immortality!"

Zu Long's voice wasn't loud, but every word was like thunder, making the surrounding space seem to freeze.
"These two items were carefully arranged by me for one person, to nourish his soul, so that he could embark on the path of destiny after his revival! Now, they have become a wedding dress for you!"

He took a small step forward, and an invisible pressure surged forth like a mountain collapsing.

“Originally, he should be leading the elite Qin warriors right now, standing shoulder to shoulder with me to fight against the gods and demons! However, without the nourishment of these two things, his consciousness has not yet fully awakened... My century-long plan has been ruined by you! How will you, Qian Xia, repay this debt of karma?”

A chilling aura, seemingly emanating from the ancient tomb of Qin Shi Huang, swept across the land.

Xia Tian felt a chill run down his spine; facing the questioning of this emperor who had ruled the world for thousands of years, the pressure suddenly increased.

It seems that the First Emperor harbored deep resentment over his own "visit" to the imperial tomb and the theft of its core artifacts, and was far from being as calm as he appeared. The identity of the "he" he spoke of is becoming increasingly clear!

"The cause and effect have been settled, and we shall bear the consequences." Before Xia Tian could answer, Ying Zheng's gaze swept over the Holy City Seal in Xia Tian's hand, and then seemed to pierce through the void, seeing the Great Wall of Destiny of Qianxia and the phantom of the Imperial Seal of the State.

"You have inherited the spirit of my imperial seal and contributed to the foundation of the Great Wall; this cause and effect are now tied to you. My Great Qin has now gained the full qualification to set foot on the land of eternity. One day..."

Zu Long's voice carried a resolute tone, and his figure began to slowly fade.

"If you fail to defend this holy city during this period and fall behind others, then all my possessions... will naturally be taken back! You'd better watch yourself!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the black dragon phantom swirled, carrying Ying Zheng, as well as generals Meng Tian and Wang Jian, and instantly disappeared into the sea of ​​clouds, leaving only a chilling aftereffect.

Genghis Khan's projection remained silent; he merely glanced coldly at Xia Tian before his figure completely vanished.

That gaze, like an eagle soaring through the heavens looking down upon the earth, carried scrutiny, indifference, and a hint of barely perceptible wildness.

Ouch!

The giant thunder wolf beneath him let out a deep, soul-shaking roar, its four paws shattering ripples in the void. Man and wolf alike instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning that tore through space and vanished without a trace.

Without uttering a word, this extreme silence and the manner of departure were themselves the strongest stance—the will of the grassland overlord needs no further explanation; actions speak for themselves.

"The ruler of Qianxia is quite interesting!"

In the Western region, Caesar's voice carried a Roman-style rationality with a touch of playfulness.

"I never imagined that all our planning and bloody battles would ultimately benefit a newly born human lord..."

Queen Victoria responded, her tone elegant yet revealing a complex mix of emotions.

"However, this holy city will not have a true master. The so-called city lord is more like a... helmsman. The capable rise, the incapable fall!"

She looked at Xia Tian meaningfully.

"good,"

Augustus's steady voice rang out, tinged with scrutiny, "The road ahead is long. We'll discuss the length of the journey again when our respective territories have fully descended upon this world!"

The phantom of the Senate and the bronze eagle banner slowly faded away.

"The glory of the sun that never sets will eventually illuminate a new ocean."

Queen Elizabeth I left behind her final words, disappearing with the phantom image of her newly acquired "dreadnought".

Although these top Western emperors were unwilling, their composure and understanding of reality far surpassed that of ordinary people. They quickly accepted the outcome and turned their attention to the longer-term competition!
"Everyone!"

As these people were leaving, Guiguzi's aged yet supremely authoritative voice rang out once more.

"Do not think that the catastrophe is over!"

Pointing to that void where chaotic energy and spatial rifts remain.

"Though the gateway to this catastrophe has been destroyed, its source remains! What we have destroyed today is merely a forward 'fortress' for the beings of the catastrophe! The real enemy, those dark forces hidden behind endless darkness and distorted spacetime, have not yet shown themselves!"

His words made everyone's hearts tighten, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"More importantly,"

Guiguzi looked around at everyone and spoke earnestly.

"Once this round of fusion of heaven and earth is completely completed, the will of the Nine Provinces will fall into a deep 'silence,' and its protection and blessing for you will become extremely weak... The road ahead will depend on your own strength to overcome all obstacles!"

Everyone suddenly realized why the Earth's will had been so generous this time, almost giving away all its accumulated resources.

"Furthermore," he said, turning his gaze to Xia Tian and then to all the emperors, "this restored 'City of Saints' is merely an 'embryo'! To forge it into a true 'Supreme Weapon of Humanity' cannot be accomplished by the efforts of one person or one city alone! It requires the combined imperial fortune of all those present, the united will of all people, and their joint efforts to refine and empower it!"

"Only in this way can we protect the billions of human beings in the coming cruel era of the gods' descent and the struggle of all realms, and fight for that one sliver of... the position of 'Supreme Being of Heaven and Earth'!"

Guiguzi's words were like a resounding bell.

It shook the hearts of every emperor and lord, painting a picture of a future that was both grander and more perilous.

"Is this grand ceremony of competing for heaven considered over?"

Summer stood tall atop the holy city like a javelin, watching the imperial figures, carrying immense fortune and endless armies, vanish and return.

"The current number one lord of the entire Earth, the acting city lord of the human race's 'City of Saints'..."

Qianxia, ​​it has finally come to this!

Only they themselves know the hardships and glory involved.

He took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of the holy city beneath his feet, which had been reborn and was exuding a true "supreme" aura, and feeling the immense power within his body, which had become incredibly refined due to the repeated blood battles and the burning of the nation's destiny, and had even touched the threshold of a higher level!

The "Seal of the Holy City" he held tightly in his hand was both a beacon of hope for humanity and an immense burden weighing on his shoulders.

He gazed at the site of the Cataclysmic City's collapse, where terrifying chaotic energy and grotesque spatial rifts still lingered, like unhealed scars. He knew that the destruction of the Cataclysmic City was not the end, but merely the beginning.

The true masterminds behind the catastrophe, who manipulated its invasion of the Eternal Land, have not been dealt with. The threat they pose, like an ever-present dark cloud, still hangs heavily over the heads of all humankind.

"We must seize this opportunity of the fusion of heaven and earth... Mobilize the entire nation of Qianxia to make a full-scale assault on the realm of the Imperial Dynasty!" On the main hall of the Holy City, Xia Tian's eyes were like torches, and his belief was boiling and burning like volcanic lava.

While the "quasi-imperial dynasty" is powerful, its entire national strength can only forge a top-tier deity. Only by advancing to a true "imperial dynasty" can it possess the resources to confront the once-glorious "peerless deity," and even to face the "mastermind" mentioned by Guiguzi in the future! That requires forging an immortal dynasty, or even more powerful forces...

"The road ahead is long and arduous..."

Summer murmured to herself, but the fighting spirit and conviction in her eyes burned like an inextinguishable flame.

"But the flame of humanity, passed down from generation to generation, will never be extinguished! From now on, let me, Qianxia, ​​be the guide, gathering the will of billions of human races to jointly forge this sacred city that protects our people!" (End of Chapter)