Lord of the Earth

The ship of salvation set sail once again from the "City of Heavenly Crafts," filled with metal and the roar of machinery. It then flew over a vast and boundless ocean, its blue waves shimmering with a rich spiritual energy.

"Boom!"

Midway through the journey, the calm sea below suddenly exploded, and a violent and ferocious aura soared into the sky!

Dozens of ferocious sea monsters, each as large as a small mountain, burst forth from the waves, creating giant waves hundreds of meters high!
Their eyes were bloodshot, their bodies were covered with hard bone armor, their teeth were as sharp as swords, and even the weakest of them had an extraordinary level of aura. The giant octopus-like sea monster that led them waved its tentacles covered with suckers, and the energy fluctuations it emitted had reached the level of a demigod.

These sea monsters had a clear objective: to rush straight to an island in the center of the ocean, covered with crops, and attempt to swallow it up with towering waves!
"You beast! How dare you act so recklessly within the territory of Qianxia!"

Just as the waves were about to crash against the island, turning all the crops into waste, a roar imbued with immense Buddhist power resounded like a great bell, exuding an aura of unassailable authority!
Immediately afterwards, a huge golden Buddha image, a thousand feet tall, appeared out of thin air, its Buddha light shining everywhere. Like an invisible barrier, it held the earth-shattering wave firmly in mid-air, unable to advance an inch!

At the same time, a warrior clad in black armor and wielding a massive blade as wide as a door shot out from the island like a cannonball, even before he arrived.

A fierce blade of light, stretching across the sky, had already torn through the air, carrying a sharpness that could rip everything apart, and was aimed directly at the leader of the demigod octopus sea monster!
"Pfft——!"

Blood spurts out!
The demigod-level sea monster let out an extremely painful howl. One of its thickest tentacles, which contained its primal power, was severed at the root by the blade's edge and fell into the sea, stirring up a towering column of water!
Ordinary extraordinary and holy-level sea monsters were mostly cut in two by the aftershocks of the blade.

After succeeding in his attack, the general did not pursue the enemy. Instead, he stood in mid-air with his sword, coldly watching the wounded sea monster leader.

The sea monster, in pain, lost much of its ferocity. A flicker of fear flashed in its crimson eyes, and it let out a low, unwilling roar. Leading its remaining subordinates, it scrambled into the deep sea and quickly disappeared.

The golden Buddha image then slowly dissipated.

"This is yet another powerful figure capable of contending with a demigod. Could it be that every city in Qianxia is guarded by a demigod?"

The two Song Dynasty emperors looked even more shocked.

"That...that phantom image of a giant Buddha seems somewhat familiar?"

"I'm still in shock," Zhao Ji asked.

"It is the great Buddha statue in Sichuan built by the Tang Dynasty monk Haitong. It was originally a guardian building of the nearby Longyuan City. With the help of many fishermen, it generated the supernatural power to suppress aquatic creatures. No aquatic creature in this area, even a demigod, would dare to cause trouble."

Lin Pingzhi explained.

"By the way, what we just flew over was the 'Eight Thousand Li Liangshan Marsh' of Qianxia, ​​which is now one of the most important inland aquaculture bases in Qianxia. On this trip, we can take the opportunity to replenish some fresh fish and grains here."

"What, Liangshan Marsh? That name sounds rather familiar!"

When Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, heard this name, he couldn't help but freeze.

"Indeed. This vast expanse of water is extremely rich in aquatic resources. When my Qianxia established itself in this region, the first large-scale comprehensive 'fishing ground' we built was located here."

Lin Pingzhi, oblivious to Zhao Ji's odd behavior, continued his introduction with a hint of pride in his voice.

"From the initial eight hundred miles of misty waters to the current eighty thousand miles of 'golden fishing grounds,' this is also a microcosm of the continuous development and growth of my Qianxia Dynasty!"

"What, eight...eight thousand li? Just a...fish farm?"

Zhao Ji and Zhao Huan looked at each other, both seeing utter shock in each other's eyes. This was beyond their understanding of the "fishing grounds" and made them directly feel what "the grandeur of an imperial dynasty" meant!
"Of course, this process was not entirely harmonious."

Lin Pingzhi added.

"Originally, most of this sea area was inhabited by a quasi-supreme alien race called the 'Sea Clan.' They possessed the innate ability to control sea beasts and stir up storms, making them extremely difficult to deal with. Later, they were wiped out by our Qianxia army. Now, through special means, we have inherited to some extent their ability to control some gentle sea beasts, which we use for aquaculture and maintaining order in the fishing grounds."

"And over there, beneath the pool lies a vast underground water system, once the lair of the 'Water Ghost Clan.' These alien races are treacherous and cunning, lurking in the dark depths of the water, and their actual control over the area is far greater than it appears... However, they have long since been eradicated, and their lair has been transformed into a special underwater planting area."

"Furthermore, that place is the Crystal Palace of the Flood Dragon Clan, and now it has become a vassal race of my Qianxia, ​​raising these sea beasts in these waters on my behalf..."

Lin Pingzhi looked at the two emperors, who were still in shock, and spoke with pride as a member of Qianxia.

"His Majesty once said that our homeland, the entire land of China, once covered only about 80,000 li in length and width. Now, this one 'pond' in Qianxia, ​​specifically used for raising fish and shrimp, is already comparable in size to the entire land of China in the past!"

These words further stirred the minds of Emperors Huizong and Qinzong, making it difficult for them to control themselves.

"By the way, speaking of which, the nominal administrator of the Liangshan Marsh and its surrounding area, which spans eight thousand li, is Lord Song Jiang. In terms of his position and responsibilities in Qianxia, ​​he is half a grade higher than that of an ordinary city lord. He is mainly responsible for the security of the fishing grounds, resource allocation, and foreign trade... He himself is a person of the Great Song Dynasty and comes from the same era as the two emperors... Perhaps he has some past connection with the two emperors... Why don't you two come with me..."

Lin Pingzhi seemed to remember something and casually mentioned it.

"What, Song Jiang?"

It's important to understand that, as real historical figures resurrected and summoned from the Eternal Land, Emperors Huizong and Qinzong naturally also carry some "fictional memories" from popular works like "Water Margin"...

Emperor Qinzong of Song, Zhao Huan, had a shallow understanding of this, but Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, was the emperor who was the background figure in the Water Margin story. He had a vivid memory of this group of "Liangshan bandits", especially the "Timely Rain" Song Jiang who was determined to be granted amnesty, as well as Lu Junyi, Yan Qing and other "rebellious ministers". His impression of them was extremely complicated!

Unexpectedly, those "bandits" who raised the flag of rebellion and opposed the imperial court in his "dream" have now transformed into official officials of the Qianxia Dynasty who are in charge of the "Eight Thousand Li Water Margin," which is comparable in size to the former China!

"No, no need! General Lin, we are a little tired, let's go back to the cabin and rest for a while."

So when Lin Pingzhi, out of goodwill, invited them to go down and meet their "old friend," Zhao Ji almost immediately and somewhat hastily waved his hand in refusal. He then took the still somewhat bewildered Zhao Huan and fled back to the cabin arranged for them, closing the door tightly behind them.

"Father, why are you doing this? Why are you so eager to avoid Song Jiang?"

Upon entering the cabin, Zhao Huan couldn't help but lower his voice and ask, his face full of confusion.

“Just as General Lin said, since Song Jiang is from the same Song Dynasty as us, he is a natural fellow townsman in this foreign land. We are new here and unfamiliar with the place, so getting to know him can only be beneficial. Perhaps we can even learn more about the ins and outs of Qianxia from him... Why does Father avoid him like the plague?”

"Sigh—! What...what do you know!"

Zhao Ji sighed heavily. He walked to the window and looked out at the dreamlike yet unfamiliar sea of ​​clouds and fairyland of Baiyujing. His voice was tinged with bitterness.

"Do you know who Song Jiang is? He... he is the same Song Jiang who once gathered a band of rebels at Liangshan Marsh in Shandong! I never would have guessed... that he would be thriving in Qianxia now, serving as the lord of a city, ruling over an area comparable to our entire old China!"

The more he spoke, the more suffocated he felt. A strong sense of loss and identity dislocation made it difficult for him to breathe.

Back then, he ruled over a vast empire, while Song Jiang was nothing more than a bandit. Now, the tables have turned; the other has become a powerful regional official, while he himself has fallen to such a wretched state!

"So that's how it is, it's the leader of the Liangshan bandits..."

Zhao Huan then realized what was happening, and a complicated expression appeared on his face, but he quickly offered some words of comfort.

"...However, Father, the past is past. Now that we are in Qianxia, ​​our priority should be establishing ourselves. According to General Lin, Yue Fei, also known as Yue Pengju, holds a high position in Qianxia. Yue Fei once proclaimed his intention to 'straight to the Yellow Dragon and welcome back the two emperors,' demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to Father and his son. Now that he holds a high position in Qianxia and commands a large army, we can befriend him and rely on him for support. As long as General Yue is around, we naturally don't need to pay too much attention to Song Jiang and his ilk... these former outlaws. In fact, we might even be able to use Yue Fei's influence to ascend to a higher position..."

Zhao Huan said comfortingly.

"Hmph, quickly abandon such thoughts... Do you even know who the Military Affairs Commissioner of Qianxia, ​​who commands all the troops in the land, really is..."

Emperor Huizong turned around abruptly, his face unusually serious.

The terrifying imagery of Tang Bohu's "General's Hell" painting, depicting the slaughter of countless spirits and the overwhelming malevolent aura, seemed to reappear before his eyes, sending chills down his spine.

"who is it?"

Zhao Huan was startled by his father's expression.

"It's Bai Qi! 'The Butcher' Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi!"

"What?! The head of the military affairs office in Qianxia is... is that 'Butcher' Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi?!"

Zhao Huan gasped in shock, his face turning deathly pale. He instinctively took a half-step back, as if the name itself carried the stench of blood. Bai Qi's name was synonymous with a god of death throughout Chinese history, enough to silence a child's nighttime weeping. In this eternal land where the strong reign supreme, his ferocity was undoubtedly ten times greater than before!
Qian Xia actually put this infamous "killing god" in charge of the entire army's affairs. His sharpness and iron-fisted nature were enough to intimidate all enemies and those within the army who had abnormal ideas!

Even Yue Fei, the legendary general, with his brilliant military strategy, probably wouldn't have been able to contend with him.

"Furthermore, do you know who that master carpenter known as 'Palace Master Zhu' that we met in the Mechanized City was?"

Zhao Ji lowered his voice even further, with a tension of discovering a secret.

"I sensed an extremely subtle yet undeniably real... imperial dragon aura emanating from him! Though dormant, its essence is incredibly profound! If I'm not mistaken... that carpenter who seems focused on mechanical arts might even be of imperial lineage, just like us..."

This news shocked Zhao Huan even more than hearing the name Bai Qi. He opened his mouth wide and couldn't speak for a long time.

How could an emperor become the head of the Craftsmen's Hall in Qianxia? Just what kind of den of dragons and tigers is Qianxia, ​​a place where hidden talents abound!
"A rebel becomes the city lord, Bai Qi commands the army, and the emperor becomes a craftsman. With the world turned upside down like this, behind it all is naturally the Qianxia emperor who can turn his hand to make clouds and rain..."

Zhao Ji let out a long breath, his face filled with helplessness.

"After much thought, I believe that Lin Pingzhi's seemingly unintentional act of showing us these people and sights was actually a subtle warning. He was clearly telling us that in Qianxia, ​​no matter if you were an emperor or a general in the past, or a hero from humble beginnings, you must abide by Qianxia's rules and find your place again..."

"Father means... that although Qianxia is willing to accept us, it may not be willing to give us too much power and status... or even... just want us to behave ourselves?" Zhao Huan's voice trembled slightly; he found this conjecture hard to accept.

"How could this be? We are also emperors, and even as prisoners, the Jurchens would still feign kindness to show their benevolence. But the Qianxia are also human, yet they want us to be among the common people?"

Zhao Huan felt a sense of humiliation.

"We should be able to find out their true attitude once we reach Baiyujing and meet with higher-ups."

……

After replenishing their supplies on the Ship of Salvation.

The two human emperors then witnessed the peculiar jade slips from the "Langhuan Jade Palace" that could impart knowledge and aid in enlightenment, as well as the awe-inspiring pillar of light in a side hall called the "Hall of Heroes," formed from the heroic spirits and beliefs of countless fallen soldiers, and the "Sky Net·Spirit Realm," which allowed people to meet across thousands of miles above the clouds...

There were so many shocks that day.

So much so that when the group finally arrived at their destination—the magnificent "White Jade Capital" floating in the clouds, a place even more breathtaking than a fairyland—through the incredibly mysterious and ever-expanding "Great Qin Road," the two emperors were almost numb.

And the teleportation plaza of Baiyujing.

A squad of soldiers, clad in gleaming silver armor and exuding a sharp aura, were already lined up and waiting. At the head of them was an old man with white hair and beard, his face weathered by time, yet he stood straight and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He was none other than Zong Ze, the old minister of the Song Dynasty whom they had longed for!
"This old minister, Zong Ze, greets Your Majesties!"

When Zong Ze saw the two emperors, Huizong and Qinzong, looking haggard and wearing old robes, his eyes instantly reddened. He quickly stepped forward, his voice trembling, and was about to perform a grand salute.

"Master Zong! No, you mustn't! Please rise!"

When Emperor Huizong saw that the visitor was only Zong Ze, he sighed inwardly.

Then, she hurriedly stepped forward, held Zong Ze's arm tightly, overwhelmed with emotion, her voice choked with sobs, and she could barely utter a complete sentence.

"I...I have no face to see you! It is I...I have been foolish and ignorant. I have failed our ancestors, I have failed the Song Dynasty, and I have failed you, my loyal ministers and generals..."

"Your Majesty, please don't do this! What's done is done, and it wasn't solely Your Majesty's fault."

Zong Ze, tears streaming down his face, gripped Zhao Ji's hand tightly in return, his tone resolute.

"To be able to reunite in this eternal land is the will of Heaven! Now that we have Qianxia as our support, with endless resources and countless powerful figures, it is the time for us to regroup, fight for our human race, and for the people of the former Song Dynasty, to fight for our honor and create a new world!"

"By the way, I have already informed Pengju. However, he is currently leading the Beiwei Army to clear out a large 'Cataclysmic Creature' nest at the front line. The battle is at a critical moment, and he is temporarily unable to come and greet Your Majesties. Once he returns victorious, he will come to pay his respects as soon as possible!"

Zong Ze added.

"Understood. Everything depends on you, my dear minister."

Emperor Huizong gripped Zong Ze's hand tightly, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. (End of Chapter)