Lord of the Earth

"Phew, I didn't expect it to go so smoothly!"

Having persuaded three masters—Ou Yezi, Lu Ban, and Mozi—to temporarily serve Qianxia as "guest ministers," even Xia Tian was somewhat excited.

It should be noted that each of these individuals, possessing the qualities of "unparalleled geniuses," is a figure who can be counted among the most prominent in the history of Chinese and even global civilization, representing the pinnacle of their era and their field.

Even with the rapid development of Qianxia before, and its victory in the "Competition for Heaven" among many imperial and quasi-imperial dynasties, it only had seven peerless geniuses under its command, including Xia Tian himself, Zhuge Liang, Bai Qi, Wu Qi, Fan Li, Wang Yangming, and Li Bai.

In less than a day, he had managed to gain three more members by taking advantage of his position as the Lord of the Holy City and the resources of Qianxia.

"This is the immense benefit that comes with being the city lord of the City of Saints..."

Summer understood.

All of this was due to the convenience of his identity.

This is because the potential represented by the peerless genius is comparable to the "top god" aptitude at the "profound and yellow" level. Such a person is qualified to hold a central position even in the imperial dynasty!

For these unparalleled geniuses, building their own divine kingdom requires either relying on the power of the "Dynasty of Fortune" to provide massive resources and national fortune support, or relying on the unique environment of the "Holy City of Humanity" to absorb the ancient Daoist essence and accelerate their comprehension.

Therefore, the heroic spirits gathered in the Holy City rely on Xia Tian, ​​the "Lord of the Holy City," and thus, they have the possibility of being directly "recruited."

In fact, it can only be described as a temporary "recruitment." Whether these exceptional talents can be retained after their advancement depends on Qian Xia's further performance!
After all, strictly speaking, a peerless genius is never short of places to go!

He himself was merely relying on his status as the city lord to temporarily invite the other party to join him and assist in the advancement of the force in the name of "human righteousness"!

"Congratulations, City Lord!"

A figure quietly appeared; it was none other than Guiguzi, the envoy of the Holy City.

"Within a single day, three great sages have been acquired. Qianxia's fortune soars like a dragon in the sky, blazing brightly. It seems that the time for it to challenge for the title of 'Imperial Dynasty' is not far off. Moreover, each of these three great sages possesses the ability to make a nation rise. Even within an Imperial Dynasty, they would be considered 'pillars of strength.' With such outstanding individuals, Qianxia will surely advance by leaps and bounds! It will solidify our human race's position as the 'First Imperial Dynasty'..."

He smiled and bowed to Xia Tian.

"Master Guiguzi, you flatter me. I am also grateful for your recommendation."

Xia Tian replied with a smile that if Guiguzi had not guided Qian Xia to participate in this "Competition for Heaven Ceremony", Qian Xia would not have been able to obtain such benefits.

"What Master Guigu said is absolutely right."

"However, if Qianxia wishes to establish its imperial dynasty, it still needs more pillars to support it. I wonder if you, sir, would be willing to join my Qianxia and lend me a hand? Or would you like to recommend any of your outstanding disciples to Qianxia? I will certainly bestow upon them high-ranking official positions and generous salaries?"

Xia Tian was filled with anticipation. Guiguzi himself was an unfathomable "peerless genius," whose strategic thinking and military tactics had reached a state of perfection. If he could gain Guiguzi's assistance, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger.

Guiguzi smiled and shook his head: "Your Majesty flatters me. However, I am used to a life of leisure and am afraid that I would find it difficult to be bound by the tedious duties of the imperial court. As for my few unworthy disciples, such as Pang Juan, Sun Bin, Su Qin, and Zhang Yi, they may be able to serve as military commanders or prime ministers of an imperial court. However, in the magnificent imperial court that Your Majesty wishes to build, they may only be able to specialize in one area and are not enough to be called the core of the dynasty."

He changed the subject, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"However, if I had to recommend a place to Your Majesty, it might hold the people and resources needed to complete the final crucial piece of the imperial puzzle!"

"Oh? Where is it that you value so highly, sir?"

Summer sparks curiosity.

"Has Your Majesty ever heard of the 'Mysterious Inn'?" Guiguzi asked slowly.

"Of course I know," Xia Tian nodded.

Because back when the territory was just a village or town, Xia Tian obtained a mysterious inn's invitation scroll...

Later, Ximen Chuixue even entered into it to pursue the pinnacle of his swordsmanship, and now his children are already teenagers.

"It is said that this inn has a mysterious origin and always appears in spacetime rifts and the edges of all worlds... Could it be?"

"Exactly."

Guiguzi nodded, his gaze becoming distant, as if recalling a long-forgotten era.

"Your Majesty, do you know that the origins of this mysterious inn are actually closely related to a secret history of our human race in ancient times?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Tian immediately perked up her ears.

"In the past, our human race produced many wise and outstanding ancestors. With the help of the gods, we opened up new territories in the myriad worlds, our fortunes flourished, and we ascended to the position of the supreme race. It seemed like we were living a life of luxury and prosperity."

"However, there are also those who are prescient and have long been aware of the dangers even in times of peace. They have seen through the fact that the gods do not truly protect us, but in reality regard us humans as a pasture to harvest faith and extract fortune!"

"In order to achieve true independence and perpetuity for our race and avoid becoming puppets of the gods, the many sages of the human race, after much painful reflection, finally decided to implement a groundbreaking plan—to gather the strength of the entire race to forge a 'Supreme Artifact' capable of suppressing the fate of the human race and enabling our race to stand independently among the powerful races of the myriad worlds!"

Guiguzi spoke with a heavy tone, filled with endless emotion: "The Supreme Artifact is a supreme treasure that only the 'Supreme Race' recognized by the laws of the universe can possess. It contains incredible power, enough to suppress the race's destiny. Once it is forged, the human race's destiny will become a unified whole, forming its own unique system. At that time, even the gods will find it difficult to easily grasp and control it!"

"However……"

Guiguzi then changed the subject, his tone filled with deep regret.

"How difficult it is to undertake such a heaven-defying act! Not only does it require gathering the fortune of many races from all the heavens and myriad realms as a guide during the refining process, which arouses the fear and obstruction of many parties, but more fatally... the sages within the human race have even developed irreconcilable differences regarding the final form and powers of this supreme artifact!"

"Some advocate shaping it with supreme military force, forging an 'immortal monument,' using war to stop war, and deterring all races; others insist on solidifying it with civilization and education, achieving 'passing on the torch,' benefiting future generations, and shining for eternity; still others propose integrating all laws to forge 'the mystical unity of all things,' embracing all rivers and encompassing everything..."

"The debate over ideas and paths has intensified, eventually evolving from a discussion of principles into a struggle over principles!"

Xia Tian was deeply shaken and murmured, "This... is perfectly normal... The intelligence of the human race is so high that even in life-or-death situations, they often still scheme against each other."

"Indeed," Guiguzi sighed. "The differences could not be bridged, internal conflicts intensified, and with the gods secretly fanning the flames, what was originally a grand event to forge a vessel of hope ultimately triggered earth-shattering turmoil and conflict that affected countless worlds..."

"In that catastrophe, countless sages perished, many glorious civilizations were destroyed, and even the 'City of Saints,' which served as the embryo for the creation of the supreme artifact, was destroyed by the gods and has only been restored now."

"And that mysterious inn,"

Guiguzi's eyes brightened slightly, "Its original creator and wielder was a sage god who held a different view in that grand plan back then."

Perhaps he had foreseen the disaster, or perhaps he was disheartened after the conflict broke out, and before the calamity fully erupted, he used his great supernatural powers to separate the inn from the holy city and move it to the depths of the void to operate it independently.

And thus, they miraculously avoided the devastating catastrophe that swept through the core of humanity, and were able to survive.

"From then on, this mysterious inn traveled to the edges and dangerous places of the myriad worlds. Its whereabouts were elusive, but it always adhered to a certain unfulfilled obsession or agreement from the beginning - to secretly rescue and shelter those human people who were displaced and trapped in desperate situations due to conflicts between races and time-space catastrophes."

Guiguzi's tone turned serious.

"However, their salvation comes at a price. The inn has an ironclad rule: all those under its protection, regardless of strength, must sign a 'Guardian Contract.' The contract stipulates that the protected person and their descendants must serve the inn when needed, and the inn's primary 'need' is to fight against the 'Cataclysmic Creatures' that erode all worlds and destroy civilizations!"

"Cataclysmic destruction?"

Summer frowned deeply. Don't be fooled by the seemingly effortless victory of the group against the catastrophic creatures at the "Grand Ceremony of Competition." That victory represented the collective elite power of humanity across Earth…

It would be quite difficult for this "mysterious inn" alone to face the calamity and the suffering of the living.

"Exactly. The inn, situated on the edge of countless worlds, is often the first to be attacked by catastrophic creatures, thus becoming an invisible line of defense against their spread. For countless years, the inn and its 'contractors' have been waging a cruel and silent war against these catastrophic creatures. This is why the inn can accommodate a massive population yet is always short of resources, as most of its strength is devoted to this endless war..."

Guiguzi looked at Xia Tian, ​​his eyes gleaming.

"Now, the Qianxia Dynasty is strong and well-equipped, with a wealth of talent, and has a great ruler like His Majesty. It has already begun to possess the strength to actively participate in the fight against the calamity."

"Your Majesty, do you know that for a dynasty, especially one that aspires to advance from an 'Imperial Dynasty' to the legendary 'Immortal Dynasty', besides fortune, resources, and talent, there is one other thing that is of paramount importance—the merit of Heaven and Earth!"

"Actively eliminating the calamity-stricken beings and protecting the order of heaven and earth is one of the most direct and effective ways to obtain a large amount of merit from heaven and earth! This merit can not only help Your Majesty cultivate and consolidate the foundation of the dynasty, but also greatly increase the success rate of future attempts to break through to the 'Immortal Dynasty'!"

Xia Tian completely agreed with this point. Without such benefits, emperors like Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han would not have devoted themselves to resisting the calamity during these days!
"If we can get those experienced warriors and generals from the Mysterious Inn who have been fighting against the calamity creatures for many years to join us, Qianxia's efficiency in eliminating the calamity creatures will greatly increase, and the speed of accumulating merit will naturally rise accordingly."

Guiguzi paused, then continued meaningfully.

"As far as I know, there are two remarkable figures in the headquarters of that mysterious inn."

"One possesses extraordinary talent and ambition, with the ability to restore order to the nation and restore order to the land. Although his methods may seem ruthless, they are truly capable of reshaping the world and may help His Majesty efficiently integrate resources to sustain a protracted war. The other is loyal to the heavens and his spirit shakes the sky. He is a master strategist and his righteous spirit can defeat evil. He is a pillar of the nation and an excellent commander to fight against the calamity and lead the 'legion'!"

"These two men, one skilled in civil administration and the other in martial arts, are both exceptionally talented. If Your Majesty can obtain their full assistance and combine civil and military prowess, you can strengthen the nation internally and accumulate immense merit externally. The foundation of the Qianxia Dynasty and even the future Immortal Dynasty will surely be as solid as a rock!"

Guiguzi's face showed admiration.

Such praise is undoubtedly high for the "founder of the School of Diplomacy" who taught Pang Juan, Sun Bin, Zhang Yi, and Su Qin!

"There really is such a prodigy?"

Even in summer, it's still quite tempting.

Although Qianxia already possesses two unparalleled geniuses in both literature and martial arts, Zhuge Liang and Bai Qi, for the imperial dynasty, the number of geniuses has always been "the more the merrier"!

After all, even the most basic imperial dynasty had a population of trillions... Even if Zhuge Liang possessed the ability to "distract," it would be difficult for him to multitask effectively.

"If there really is such a talented scholar and martial artist who can rival the two of them, Qian Xia will naturally do his best to win them over."

Xia Tian took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. The mysterious inn was not only crucial for Qianxia to acquire enough talent and manpower, but also for the noble mission of fighting against the catastrophic creatures and the enormous merit and benefits behind it! This was indeed an essential path for Qianxia to reach a higher level in the future!
"If Your Majesty wishes to find these two people, you may need to personally visit that mysterious inn."

"However, the inn has special rules, and those two are extremely ambitious and cannot be swayed by ordinary interests. Your Majesty may be able to invite them with the noble ideal of 'joining hands to fight against the calamity, protecting the human race for eternity, accumulating merits for heaven and earth, and opening a new era for the imperial dynasty,' which may resonate with them."

"Furthermore, if Qianxia's strength can share some of the defensive pressure on the inn, the chances of this proposal succeeding will greatly increase."

Guiguzi then said...

"Thank you for your guidance, sir!"

Xia Tian solemnly thanked Guiguzi, and this time the gratitude was far deeper than before, because Guiguzi's words were of great help to Qianxia's development.

"Your Majesty is too kind. As a member of the City of Saints, I naturally hope to make the city even more prosperous and become a true supreme holy land for our human race..."

Guiguzi smiled and nodded, "Moreover, it is my great fortune to witness the rise of a human dynasty and even to look forward to the future of a celestial dynasty."

Summer stood there, her heart surging with emotion, her thoughts already clear.

Now, three masters—Ou Yezi, Lu Ban, and Mozi—have agreed to join, fulfilling the most basic requirement for outstanding individuals to advance to the imperial dynasty.

If they can successfully recruit the literary and martial talents from the mysterious inn and acquire that massive "population" and their experience in fighting against the calamity-ridden creatures, the number of Qianxia's peerless geniuses and overall strength will reach an unprecedented height, and an imperial career will be within reach.

Furthermore, it is not only for the immediate advancement to an imperial dynasty, but also to lay a solid foundation for the distant and glorious path to an immortal dynasty!

However, a question arises: how to enter the mysterious inn? (End of Chapter)