Lord of the Earth

In the dry summer, at the Jade Capital, in the Forbidden City!

A tall, strong young man with a full beard, his head wrapped in a veil, stepped into a magnificent reception hall, led by a guard in gleaming golden armor.

The golden-armored guard walked with a steady gait, his aura restrained, and his eyes gleaming with sharp light; he was clearly a seasoned veteran who had seen countless battles.

“Prince Hamman, please wait here for a moment… His Majesty is presiding over a grand court assembly, and will summon you all when the time is right.”

The golden-armored guard's voice was calm, yet dignified.

"Thank you for guiding us, Guard Zhan!"

The prince named Hamman smiled kindly and habitually took out a "Tianyuan Gold Coin" engraved with the mountains and rivers of Qianxia and full of spiritual charm from the lining of his luxurious robe. He was about to put it into the guard's hand as a sign of gratitude.

Upon seeing this, the guard surnamed Zhan simply shook his head slightly, a frank smile on his face as he politely declined.

"Your Highness, you are too kind. This is merely my duty, and I dare not accept such a generous gift."

His attitude was neither humble nor arrogant, clearly indicating that he was already used to such scenes, and there was no fluctuation in his eyes!
Prince Hamman was taken aback.

Isn't it said that Chinese people are particular about giving "tips" when doing things? Knowing this, I specifically brought these Tianyuan coins for tipping.

You should know that nowadays, a single Tianyuan gold coin that carries the national fortune of Qianxia is worth more than a hundred spirit stones, and this bunch is worth nearly a thousand spirit stones!
"Oh, which small town has this prince come from? He's certainly 'generous,' trying to bribe Guard Zhan with just a few Tianyuan gold coins?"

A slightly mocking voice came from the side.

"That's right. Did you know that Guard Zhan is a veteran who rose from humble beginnings to follow His Majesty Xia Tian? This suit of glazed golden armor he wears was personally bestowed upon him by His Majesty after he made outstanding military achievements! His status is comparable to that of a commander of an army! It is said that the annual salary given to him by the Qianxia court alone is no less than ten thousand Tianyuan coins, not to mention various cultivation resources..."

Another voice chimed in, its tone conveying both admiration for the Qianxia system and mockery of Hamman's "lack of appreciation."

Upon hearing this, Prince Hamman's face showed a hint of embarrassment and surprise.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the spacious waiting room in front of him was already filled with dozens of people dressed in different clothes, but all of them had extraordinary bearing and a faint aura of fortune flowing around them.

Some of them wore brocade robes with dragon patterns, while others wore fur coats made of exotic beasts. They were clearly envoys, princes, or even crown princes from various human races and their respective destinies.

"How could a soldier responsible for providing transportation receive such treatment?"

Prince Hamman was shocked and muttered to himself in disbelief.

"You think I'm lying to you? My cousin married General Ding Xiu, the 'Sword God' of Qianxia!"

The owner of the previous mocking voice, a young man dressed in fine clothes with a somewhat arrogant expression, raised his chin and spoke.

"Hiss... Is that the Qianxia 'Grand Army Commander' who single-handedly killed thirteen gods of the Ghost Clan and uprooted a foreign dynasty?"

Someone nearby immediately gasped and exclaimed in surprise.

Their gazes toward the richly dressed young man were now filled with awe and envy.

"That's right, Commander Ding is my brother-in-law!"

The young man in the fine clothes nodded smugly, which sparked a murmur of discussion among those around him.

"I had long heard that Qianxia was the first dynasty of our human race with the greatest fortune, and its power shook the four directions... But before I saw it for myself, I had some doubts."

At this moment, another prince, who claimed to be from the "Yelang Quasi-Dynasty," spoke up, his face filled with emotion.

"My Yelang Kingdom, with a population of one billion and tens of millions of armored soldiers, once thought itself a significant force in this eternal land... Alas!"

He recalled what he had seen and heard along the way in Qianxia territory.

Towering immortal city walls, inscribed with array formations; massive, mountain-like psionic levitation boats traversing the clouds; in the fields, even a casual old farmer seems to possess remarkable martial arts or planting magic; even children at play are practicing footwork imbued with some kind of battle formation principle...

All of this was far beyond his understanding of his own "power of destiny".

"On our journey, we were attacked by a Nightmare army led by a god-level 'Nightmare Clan.' The entire nation's strength was almost insufficient to resist, and we were on the verge of annihilation... At the critical moment, the leader of a passing Qianxia merchant caravan, a valiant female general, stepped forward. With a single strike, her spear flashed like a dragon, shattering the hearts of the 100,000 Nightmare army, causing them to collapse and scatter on the spot..."

The Yelang prince's tone was filled with lingering fear and gratitude, and even more so with deep shock.

"Later I learned that it was just a guard team of a merchant guild under the 'Qianxia Merchant Alliance'! A merchant caravan with a god-level expert in charge, this... this is simply unbelievable! You must know that in the entire Yelang Kingdom, there is only one ancestor who is at the god level!"

His words resonated with many of the envoys present, who shared their experiences in Qianxia, ​​their words filled with amazement, longing, and even a sense of powerlessness.

"It seems that most of you here have been 'subdued' by Qian Xia's military prowess or might..."

Although the newly arrived Prince Hamman was somewhat annoyed by the ridicule he had just received, he was now deeply captivated by the information being revealed in the conversation among these people!

The "Blackwater" dynasty he belonged to was merely a "dynasty of destiny" with a population of less than 100 million. It didn't even have a single god. In a palace full of quasi-dynasties and even princes of dynasties, it was definitely at the bottom.

Originally, because it had just been "conquered" by Qianxia, ​​the "first imperial dynasty of the human race" was still just a legend!
Only now do I truly realize what a behemoth this is.

"To be honest, my greatest hope during this meeting with His Majesty Xia Tian is to secure a few more places for our country to study at the 'Emperor's Academy'..."

The prince of Yelang spoke with longing in his eyes.

"A quota? If you could win His Majesty Xia Tian's approval and gain his favor, not only would the quota increase, but your chances of returning to the country and inheriting the throne would also increase by 30%!"

"A slightly overweight messenger said in a low voice."

"The throne? What's that!"

Another prince from a coastal country scoffed; he was clearly better informed.

"In the Eternal Land, countless rare and precious treasures exist to prolong life. Not to mention, the 'Heavenly Treasure Pavilion' of Qianxia openly sells 'Blood Bodhi' that can add a hundred years to one's life, and even… according to inside information, the legendary 'Thousand-Year Peach of Immortality,' said to have existed in the ancient Celestial Court, granting immortality! In such an environment, do you think you can rise to power by outliving your father? You might not even be able to outlive him!" "If you ask me, if you were fortunate enough to become a disciple of His Majesty Xia Tian, ​​your status would be no less than that of the ruler of a dynasty! Even if you settle for second best, entering the 'Emperor's Academy' and gaining the favor of the Chancellor, Master Yangming, to become his disciple would be enough to bring glory to your family and guarantee a limitless future!"

A fat prince's eyes gleamed.

"I've heard that Master Yangming had already condensed his own 'Tao of Teaching and Transformation' twenty years ago. When he opened the altar to preach, flowers rained down from the sky and golden lotuses sprang from the ground. Anyone who could comprehend even one or two aspects of his philosophy of mind could break through bottlenecks as easily as drinking water! It is said that the Heavenly Academy itself has also been transformed into a supreme treasure at the level of a quasi-true god under the nourishment of his Taoist aura!"

"It is said that in a remnant of ruins, Master Yangming comprehended the residual Daoist essence left behind by many true gods of the 'First Immortal Court of Humanity' during their sermons... Through Master Yangming's supreme philosophy of mind, even if we only grasp one or two parts of its true meaning, it would be enough to greatly increase our chances of breaking through to the god level!"

A prince sighed with longing in his eyes.

To achieve godhood, one needs to gain the approval of the will of the Eternal Land and obtain the title of "Genius," which cannot be achieved simply by accumulating resources.

Upon hearing this, everyone was even more eager to try it.

However, let alone being accepted as a "disciple" by Xia Tian, ​​even being accepted as a personal disciple by Wang Yangming is something that can only be hoped for but not achieved.

They have come to realize that in the world of Qianxia, ​​they, who are considered noble "princes and nobles" and "princes and grandsons of emperors" in the outside world, are nothing at all.

Among the students at the Imperial Academy, there are countless geniuses and prodigies. With their lowly status, they don't even have the right to attract attention!
"Hmph, if you ask me, our dynasty's decision back then was truly wise!"

A voice, tinged with smugness, rang out from a Western dynasty that had long since submitted to the Qianxia.

"Back then, our dynasty encountered the might of General Bai Qi, the current Lord of Wu'an of Qianxia, ​​the god of war... Heh, you haven't witnessed the scene of that murderous aura soaring to the sky..."

"Come on, everyone knows that your King Louis XVI was so frightened by the fact that General Bai Qi never spared the heads of those who resisted that he surrendered the city overnight..."

Someone bluntly pointed out his shortcomings, which drew a burst of low laughter.

"What's so great about being forced to surrender? My 'Singapore-Malaysia Dynasty' assessed the situation and took the initiative to request annexation! We have now obtained Level 5 cooperation qualifications within Qianxia's 'Myriad Realms Chamber of Commerce' system. Wherever we go, even extraordinary races will open their doors wide for us and treat us with utmost respect!"

Another member of the human royal family, waving a "purple-gold fan," spoke proudly.

"That makes sense! The expansion of Qianxia is currently unstoppable. Rather than trying to stop a chariot, we should go with the flow. When we meet His Majesty this time, we should sincerely offer up the rare treasures, ancient books, and secret techniques treasured within our country to show our sincerity in submitting. Perhaps this will allow our people to secure a place in the future map of the Qianxia Immortal Dynasty..."

Everyone praised it.

It should be known that the current territory of the Qianxia dynasty stretches for more than 10 billion miles, encompassing a vast number of human dynasties and imperial dynasties.

Although the Qianxia Kingdom adopted a relatively mild "covenant" policy towards human forces, allowing these human forces to retain their national titles and a certain degree of autonomy.

But it's clear to anyone with eyes that, next to the blazing sun of Qianxia, ​​the brilliance of any star would pale in comparison.

Wherever the Qianxia Qiyun Cloud Sea extends, its advanced culture, powerful military force, prosperous economy, and pathways to immortality and power act like a giant vortex, constantly "siphoning" the population and resources of surrounding forces.

The increase in population during the Qianxia reign in recent years is partly due to the reproduction and growth of its own people.

The other large part, however, came from various forces, especially the elite classes of human dynasties and imperial dynasties who actively "migrated"!
Nowadays, obtaining permanent residency in core cities of Qianxia, ​​such as Baiyujing, is extremely difficult. One must possess at least the qualifications of an outstanding individual and pass a rigorous examination!

Even so, the lines for approval are still incredibly long, and tickets are extremely difficult to obtain.

All of this is because, in the eyes of many forces, Qianxia already possesses the unparalleled potential to challenge the legendary "Immortal Dynasty"!

The path of destiny, the higher one climbs, the more unimaginable the rewards and benefits become. If one can become a citizen of the future Immortal Dynasty as early as possible, one will surely receive immense blessings and opportunities when Qianxia completes its ultimate leap!

At the same time, in the Tianyuan Hall, the core of the Forbidden City, the annual grand court assembly of the Qianxia dynasty was underway. The hall was shrouded in celestial mist, and civil and military officials stood on both sides, their auras profound, with even the weakest among them already possessing the cultivation of a "god"!
"Your Majesty,"

Now, Wen Tianxiang, the 'Head of the Heavenly Palace' who was in charge of population affairs, stepped forward, holding a jade scroll that shone with spiritual light.

"According to the latest statistics, the total number of registered beings within the territory of Qianxia has now exceeded ten quadrillion! Among them, the human race accounts for about 30%, which is over three quadrillion!"

When this number was announced, even Xia Tian's eyes flickered with a hint of emotion.

It should be noted that fifty years ago, the total population of the Qianxia Dynasty was only around 100 trillion. In just a few decades, the population has increased tenfold, especially the number of human beings, which has exceeded 300 trillion.

This is undoubtedly an amazing achievement, far exceeding the total population of Earth at its peak in the previous era by tens of thousands of times!
All of this is largely due to the population policy of "encouraging childbirth, providing preferential treatment to the young and weak, and attracting talented people" that Zhuge Liang established in his early years.

Seventy years of diligent governance have led to an explosive growth in the population of Qianxia. Even disregarding any additional rewards that the Earth's will might bestow, this massive population base itself is the empire's most solid foundation and a symbol of its boundless potential!
"After our dynasty was promoted to an imperial dynasty, the country was peaceful and prosperous, the territory was stable, foreign tribes were subdued, and the Great Wall, which has been upgraded to a 'glass treasure', protected the territory. The cities and towns of all prefectures, counties and cities were as solid as a rock, providing an excellent environment for the people to live and recuperate."

Bai Qi, the head of the Military Affairs Office, also stepped forward and spoke.

"It is also thanks to the concerted efforts of all the officials and the effective governance they have achieved."

Summer spoke slowly, her voice calm yet carrying supreme authority.

"His Majesty!"

Bai Qi, the head of the military affairs office, also stepped forward to report, with the "Sword of the Million Man Slayer" hanging from his waist. His powerful voice echoed throughout the hall.

"Three days ago, General Qi Jiguang listened to a sermon at the True Martial Emperor's Taoist temple and gained profound insights. He has successfully condensed the rudimentary form of the 'Suppressing Bandits and Pacifying the Seas' Taoist fruit and has officially stepped into the realm of Quasi-True God!"

"good!"

Xia Tian, ​​seated on the nine-dragon gilded throne, nodded slightly, his eyes revealing approval.

"also,"

Bai Qi continued his report, his voice filled with passion.

"Your Majesty, General Han Xin, while training troops in the Northern Star Region yesterday, unleashed the killing intent of military strategists that swept across the universe, successfully condensing the embryonic form of his 'Immortal of War' Dao Fruit and ascending to the realm of Quasi-True God!" (End of Chapter)