Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

"Weapon forging technique... Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend Formation..."

He muttered to himself, as if confirming something, or perhaps pondering an utterly absurd question.

"This imperial palace... could it now be considered... a magical artifact?"

The thought struck him as somewhat unbelievable.

How could a palace complex, so vast in area and so complex in structure, be transformed into a magical artifact?
This is simply unheard of! Yet the palace before him, with its transformed material, inherent ability to gather spiritual energy, exceptional sturdiness, and even the capacity to support the core of the grand array he had laid out, bears characteristics remarkably similar to those of legendary magical treasures.

The night breeze carried the faint sounds of the bustling city below the mountain.

Ying Xuan stood atop the palace, gazing at the "mystical" palace he had transformed into, and fell into a brief silence.

The path he pioneered seems to be leading this empire in a bizarre and unpredictable direction that even he himself could not have fully foreseen.

Ying Xuan stood atop the jade-like dome of the new palace, the night wind rustling his robes.

His gaze did not linger on the brightly lit palace complex below, but rather pierced through the surface of the material world, reaching a dimension that ordinary people could not perceive.

In his perception, invisible and intangible forces, yet containing pure spiritual intent, were converging from every household in Qin Capital and from every corner of the vast empire's territory, ultimately flowing into this magnificent imperial palace!

This power is not the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, but rather—the power of incense offerings and prayers!
These are mostly simple and unpretentious expressions of gratitude from the people before meals and after their work to the emperor who granted them a stable life, brought them miraculous meat, and lifted the curfew so they could earn a few more coins.

It was the officials' awe of the monarch who brought new laws and divided the provinces to give them a larger stage after they had finished their official duties.

It was the soldiers' loyalty to their commander, who led them to sweep away foreign enemies and was fair in rewarding and punishing them, that flowed into the palace from the pure thoughts of hundreds of millions of living beings, filled with gratitude, awe, expectation and blessings.

After Ying Xuan fundamentally transformed this palace using the weapon-refining technique that day, its materials had already transcended the ordinary. Furthermore, as it served as the central hub of the empire and symbolized imperial power, it naturally possessed the characteristic of gathering the nation's destiny and the will of the people.

At this moment, in Ying Xuan's "vision", the entire palace was bathed in a vast, warm, and pure golden sea of ​​light!

The sea of ​​light was not still, but slowly flowing and undulating. With each flow, the jade-like luster of the palace itself became more warm and restrained, and the spiritual energy and Daoist charm contained within it were growing and transforming at an unbelievable speed!
"In just a few days..."

A wave of emotion surged within Ying Xuan.

This palace, originally an ordinary building, was transformed into an exceptionally sturdy "object" by him using fossils as clay and refining techniques to forcibly enhance its material.

Now, under the influence and nourishment of countless incense offerings and vows, its essence has transcended the boundaries of "magical implement" and "magical treasure" in just a few days. The aura it exudes has now reached the pinnacle of a magical treasure!
There are even faint signs that it is transforming into a higher level!
What puzzled him even more was that, with the advancement of the "magic weapon" of the imperial palace and the gathering of the vast incense and prayer power, the concentration of the heaven and earth energy in the entire Qin world also rose accordingly!
The originally thin and mixed spiritual energy has now become pure and active. The foundation of the world seems to have been forcibly elevated, and it has already stabilized at the first-level high-grade level. It is even slowly and steadily climbing upwards, moving towards a higher level!

Ying Xuan's divine sense instantly traced the source of the incense offerings and vows.

Images flashed through his mind: old farmers in the fields clasping their hands in prayer before meals, facing the direction of the capital.

After packing up, the vendor muttered to himself, "Thanks to His Majesty's blessing."

When scholars studied diligently under the lamp, their eyes were filled with gratitude for the emperor's establishment of rural schools and the printing of teaching materials. These simplest and most direct sentiments are the source of the vast and enduring incense offerings.

"I see."

Ying Xuan understood.

This force stems from the people's recognition and gratitude of his status as emperor; it is a spiritual force born from the concept of "imperial power."

Although he was a cultivator, he followed a different path, and he could not directly absorb and refine this pure incense and vow power.

Thus, these forces naturally came to the aid of the symbol of the "emperor"—the imperial palace.

With the incense offerings received, the imperial palace's power surged, suppressing the nation's destiny and nourishing the heavens and earth, bringing favorable weather and prosperity to the Qin world and enhancing its foundation.

This is a tremendous good thing for the country and its people.

However, Ying Xuan's gaze deepened. No matter how powerful this palace was, it was ultimately an inanimate object fixed to this world.

It cannot accompany him as he travels through the heavens and conquers all realms.

His true foundation lies in the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Formation, which integrates offense and defense, possesses boundless potential, and can grow alongside the world!

That is what he will rely on for his future path.

If this vast power of incense and prayers could be transformed into pure energy to nourish and strengthen the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Formation, its effects would likely far exceed expectations!
"This power should be used by me."

Ying Xuan had made up his mind.

He raised his hand, and a flash of light appeared in his palm. A warm and ancient jade seal, exuding a faint imperial aura, emerged. It was the Imperial Seal of the State—the He Shi Bi.

Ying Xuan gathered a point of divine thought at his fingertips and gently touched the He Shi Bi jade.

An invisible, special fluctuation that only cultivators who have reached the "first-level life" level (that is, those who possess divine sense and can sense the energy of heaven and earth) can receive spread out instantly from the He Shi Bi as the center, ignoring spatial distance and covering the entire territory of the Great Qin!

This fluctuation contained an extremely clear instruction: proceed immediately to the Qin capital palace!

Hundreds of miles away from the Qin capital, deep within a Taoist temple shrouded in mist.

An old Taoist priest who was sitting cross-legged on a futon with his eyes closed and his breathing deep and concentrated suddenly opened his eyes, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and looked in the direction of Qin Capital with surprise and uncertainty.

"This is... His Majesty's summons?! Such divine telepathy... His Majesty's cultivation is truly unfathomable!"

He dared not delay, immediately stood up, and in a flash, he transformed into a blurry afterimage, rushing out of the quiet room and speeding towards the direction of Qin Capital.

Beside a simple beacon tower on the northern frontier.

A middle-aged Taoist priest, dressed in a tattered robe and lazily basking in the sun, suddenly sat up straight with a start. The nonchalant expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely solemn one.

"Good heavens... His Majesty has summoned me? This commotion... something big must have happened!"

He slammed his hand on the ground, and amidst the rising dust, he shot southward.

On a painted boat in the water towns of Jiangnan.

A young Taoist priest, who looked to be no more than twenty years old and had an otherworldly air, was enjoying tea and discussing Taoism with several scholars and literati.

Suddenly, he paused, his teacup in his hand, a look of surprise in his eyes, before giving everyone an apologetic smile.

"Gentlemen, I have urgent business to attend to and must depart immediately. Please excuse my rudeness."

Before he finished speaking, he had already disappeared from the pleasure boat, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

In an instant, within the territory of the Great Qin, all Taoists whose cultivation had reached the first level of life, whether they were in deep mountains and forests, bustling city streets, or border fortresses, all sensed the clear call from the capital and originating from the Imperial Seal!

Hundreds of figures, some riding magical artifacts, some using lightness techniques, and some simply tearing through the air with their powerful bodies, converged from all directions toward the same goal—the Qin capital's imperial palace! Those closest were naturally the Taoists who were already traveling or residing near the Qin capital.

Within half a day, several figures began to appear in the spacious square outside the palace.

The first to arrive were three Taoist priests.

One of them was an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a faded blue Taoist robe, holding a whisk.

One was a burly, middle-aged Taoist priest carrying a sheathless giant sword, exuding a fierce aura.

Another one was a young Taoist priest with delicate features and bright, lively eyes.

As soon as the three arrived at the edge of the square, their eyes were immediately drawn to the palace before them, and they could not look away.

"This...this inspiration..."

The old Taoist priest's voice trembled, and he could barely hold the whisk in his hand.

In his eyes, the entire palace was shrouded in a vast, pure, and warm golden halo. That halo contained indescribable majesty and vitality. Just looking at it from afar made his mind tremble, and the meager magical power within him became active.

"The Daoist principles are naturally perfect! This imperial palace... is no ordinary thing!"

The middle-aged Taoist carrying the giant sword gasped. He could clearly feel the immense energy flowing through the palace walls and halls, as well as a kind of spirituality that seemed to come alive! This was definitely not something that could be built by human power!
"Master, Uncle-Master, look at the top!"

The young Taoist priest, with his sharp eyes, pointed to the highest point of the palace's dome.

The three of them looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a tall figure standing quietly on the dome that was dozens of feet high. His robes fluttered in the night wind, as if he were one with the entire palace and the world.

It was Emperor Ying Xuan!

The three dared not delay, quickly straightened their clothes, and strode to the center of the square. Facing the dome, they bowed deeply, their voices filled with utmost respect and excitement:
"This humble Taoist priest, Qingxu (Xuanzhong, Mingxin), pays his respects to Your Majesty! I humbly await Your Majesty's decree!"

Ying Xuan stood atop the palace, his gaze falling on the three Taoist priests bowing in the square, finally settling on the old Taoist Qingxu, whose white hair and beard and whose aura was the most profound.

"Master Qingxu."

Ying Xuan's voice was calm and even, yet it clearly reached the ears of the three people below.

"I have a question to ask you."

The old Taoist priest Qingxu bowed again immediately.

"Your Majesty, please speak. This humble Taoist priest will certainly answer all your questions to the best of his ability."

“You cultivators should be able to sense the power of incense that gathers here.”

Ying Xuan's gaze swept over the vast golden sea of ​​light that enveloped the palace and was invisible to ordinary people.

"This power originates from the people's gratitude towards me and the imperial authority, and it has gathered in the palace, causing it to transform. However, I wish to transfer this power into the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array that I have set up. Does the Daoist Master have a good plan?"

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest Qingxu suddenly looked up, his cloudy old eyes flashing with disbelief as he gazed at the palace once more.

This time, he observed more carefully, cautiously extending his divine sense to sense the vast and warm golden sea of ​​light, as well as the magnificent Daoist charm and spiritual energy emanating from the palace itself, far exceeding his comprehension!

"This this……"

Qingxu's voice trembled noticeably.

"In just a few days, it has risen from a mortal palace to a supreme magical treasure?! Moreover, its aura is perfectly harmonious, and its Daoist charm is innate, reaching the pinnacle of magical treasures?! Your Majesty... Your Majesty is truly a divine being!"

Having cultivated for decades, he knew all too well how difficult it was to create a magical artifact. It required rare and precious materials, profound refining techniques, and a long period of nurturing and refining.

And this palace in front of us has completed this incredible leap in a very short period of time!
This has completely overturned his cognition.

After the initial shock, the old Taoist priest Qingxu calmed himself down and began to carefully consider the emperor's question.

He frowned, pondered for a long time, and then slowly spoke, his tone filled with deep confusion and uncertainty.

"Your Majesty is wise. The power of incense offerings is extraordinary. Its essence is the condensation of the spirit and will of all people, which is the purest, yet also the most 'stubborn'."

The reason they converged in the imperial palace was because it was the residence of His Majesty, a symbol of imperial power, and the concrete embodiment of the concept of 'emperor' in the hearts of the people. This was a predetermined destiny, not something easily changed by human power.

He paused, organizing his thoughts.

"The Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array that Your Majesty has set up, though profound and unpredictable and infinitely powerful, has no direct connection with 'imperial power' or 'emperor'."

In the hearts of the people, it was merely a powerful array, perhaps capable of protecting a region, but not the direct object of their gratitude. To forcibly strip away the incense and prayers attached to the symbol of imperial power and channel them into a grand array that had no essential connection to imperial authority… this humble Taoist is too dull to imagine a feasible method. These two are like the Jing and Wei rivers, seemingly from the same source, but actually flowing in different directions; forcibly guiding them might risk causing them to clash and collapse.”

The words of the old Taoist Qingxu were clear and objective, pointing out the core of the problem—the flow of incense offerings and prayers is rooted in the collective perception of the people regarding the concept of "emperor," and is difficult to reverse easily.

Ying Xuan listened quietly, without any disappointment on his face.

He understood that Qingxu's words were true. But he believed even more that things could be accomplished through human effort.

"Master, you might as well give it a try."

Ying Xuan's voice remained calm, yet it carried a certain power.

"Use your own divine sense as a guide, try to visualize my appearance, and at the same time visualize the shape of the core array plate of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Grand Array. Then integrate this thought into your feelings for me, and see if you can draw upon the power of incense offerings and guide it to the grand array."

Upon hearing this, the old Taoist priest Qingxu was taken aback at first, then his eyes showed a clear understanding.

He immediately sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

As a cultivator at the first level of life, his divine sense, though far less vast than Ying Xuan's, was still sufficiently refined.

He first clearly visualized Ying Xuan's majestic yet calm face in his mind, as if it were branded.

Immediately afterwards, he visualized the core array plate of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array, which was suspended above the solitary peak, surrounded by the illusory images of one hundred and eight stars, and exuding a vast and powerful aura!

Finally, he poured all his reverence and loyalty to His Majesty the Emperor, as well as his strong desire to guide the incense offerings at this moment, into this dual visualization!

The instant he completed the visualization!

A golden power of aspiration, hundreds of times purer and more refined than that of ordinary people, suddenly rose from the Baihui acupoint on the top of Qingxu Daoist's head!

This force of will no longer drifted aimlessly toward the palace, but instead, carrying the strong will of the old Daoist Qingxu, precisely and without hindrance traversed space, instantly disappearing into the core array plate of the visualized Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array atop a distant solitary peak! (End of Chapter)