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

At this moment, Su Mei quietly appeared beside Ying Shaoyang, holding a newly formed jade slip in her hands, her fingers trembling slightly with excitement.

Her gaze toward Ying Shaoyang was filled with indescribable gratitude and awe.

She clearly remembered the records of certain legendary treasures in the ancient fox clan books, especially the "Cloud and Rainbow Robe"!
“Young Master,” Su Mei’s voice trembled slightly.

“My clan’s records state that there was an ancient treasure garment called ‘Cloud and Rainbow Glow’. It required the silk of a thousand-year-old ice silkworm as the warp, and was woven with the flowing clouds from the nine heavens and the purple aura of the morning glow. It was covered with thousands of runes and had unparalleled defense… The method of its creation has long been lost.”

Could it be... could it be that the inheritance the young master received from the Shangqing Palace actually contained this item...?

Before she could finish speaking, suddenly—

boom!
The entire main peak of Qingqiu, along with its internal secret realm, suddenly trembled violently! More violently than ever before!
At the very core of Qingqiu, a single point of extreme azure light burst forth, like the first ray of light at the beginning of creation, dazzlingly bright! The spatial structure of the entire secret realm seemed to possess its own life consciousness, beginning to autonomously and efficiently reorganize and optimize itself!
Beneath the roots of those newly planted medicinal herb seeds, faint golden energy networks, resembling the veins of the earth, are rapidly taking shape, forming a deeper connection with the main body of Qingqiu and even with the earth veins of the Great Qin world!

Qingqiu is undergoing a fundamental transformation! And all of this stems from Ying Shaoyang's 100,000 offerings of incense power carrying the fate of the Qin Dynasty, as well as his will at this moment!

Ying Shaoyang did not linger in Qingqiu for long. After sensing the stable and efficient transformation process within it, he took a step forward and returned to the top of the giant tree in the Qin Imperial Palace.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze seemingly piercing through the void, recalling all that was about the "cloud-like robe".

"I was being a bit presumptuous before."

Ying Shaoyang muttered to himself.

"If we pool the power of the Great Qin and disregard costs, we might be able to forge one in a month. In this world, it would be considered a decent treasure, but for the Great Qin, which now possesses immortal artifacts and even the power of the world, it is not a world-shaking treasure."

He shook his head slightly, reflecting on his previous judgment.

"I underestimated this item. For ordinary cultivators, or even a powerful force, the difficulty in collecting the materials for this cloud brocade Daoist robe and the high requirements for its crafting make it a truly top-tier defensive treasure, worthy of being passed down as a sect's most prized possession."

He had already made up his mind.

"Alright, let's leave this matter to Su Mei for now. We can make plans after she recovers to the peak of her primordial spirit. Let the other fox demons and Taoist priests take care of the practical tasks such as building roads and clearing mountains."

With a firm resolve, Ying Shaoyang's figure blurred once more, appearing in a quiet side hall deep within the palace.

With a wave of his hand, the "Cloud and Rainbow Robe," shimmering with iridescent light, its base a moon-white hue, and shimmering with countless rays of light, floated before him.

As Ying Shaoyang carefully scanned the unfinished treasure he had acquired in exchange for the Shangqing Palace, his understanding became even clearer. This robe was woven from a full twelve thousand two hundred and eighty-eight strands of "morning glow cloud silk," each strand densely inscribed with tens of thousands of tiny and exquisite defensive runes!

This is a pure magic weapon prototype that takes defense to the extreme, without any offensive or other fancy functions; it is dedicated solely to protection!

"The foundation is solid, but unfortunately the spirituality is not yet awakened and the runes are not fully activated."

Ying Shaoyang commented.

He raised his hands, his ten fingers dancing like phantoms, and refining techniques containing his own primordial spirit and understanding of the Great Dao rained down into his Daoist robe.

Om-!
The brocade robe trembled violently, as if awakened from a deep sleep! On the robe, the more than 120 million tiny defensive runes, like stars in the night sky, were lit up one by one, emitting a soft yet resilient spiritual light!

In an instant, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the side hall, and even within a hundred miles of the entire palace, was drawn together by an invisible force, like rivers flowing into the sea, surging towards the Taoist robe!

These spiritual energies did not flow in haphazardly, but rather in a clear order.

They prioritize replenishing and nourishing the slightly "weak" cloud threads refined by the weaker disciples of the Rainbow Cloud Sect, rapidly making their spiritual light fuller and stronger.

Once all the cloud threads have reached a balanced and full state, a massive amount of spiritual energy begins to truly flow into the hundreds of millions of defensive runes, activating and connecting them one by one to form a perfect and enormous overall defensive system!

The whole process lasted about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Once the last rune was fully illuminated and perfectly connected with the other runes, all the strange phenomena instantly subsided.

The brocade Taoist robe floated there quietly, looking much the same as before, still bathed in moonlight and glow, simple yet luxurious.

However, if one were to perceive it carefully with divine sense, one could discover that it contained a terrifying defensive power as vast as an abyss and as heavy as the earth! Its defensive power had increased by at least 30% compared to before!
Ying Shaoyang nodded in satisfaction, changed out of the magnificent but more symbolic long robe presented by the Qingqiu Fox Clan, and put on this cloud-and-rain robe.

The Taoist robe he wore automatically conformed to his body shape, feeling light as if it were nothing, yet giving people an unparalleled sense of security and stability.

With a thought, his boundless primordial spirit power flowed gently into his Daoist robe like a gentle stream. It was not a forced refinement, but rather like a king surveying his territory, leaving his unique soul imprint, imbued with imperial might and purple aura, at the core of each of the more than twelve thousand cloud threads!

The moment the last strand of cloud was marked, the entire Taoist robe emitted a joyful hum, as if it had finally found its true master. Its spiritual light completely subsided, merging seamlessly with Ying Shaoyang's aura, becoming indistinguishable from one another.

Only then was this Cloud and Rainbow Robe truly and completely refined by Ying Shaoyang, becoming the second magic weapon he refined after the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends Grand Formation.

"The Great Qin Imperial Palace, the Demon Refining Tower, and even those immortal artifacts—if I were willing, I could certainly refine them with some time and resources."

Moreover, aside from the Qin Imperial Palace, which is connected to the fate of the Qin Dynasty and has growth potential, the potential of other immortal artifacts is ultimately limited for me.

Ying Shaoyang felt the protective connection emanating from the Taoist robe on his body and made his own judgment.

"This robe has an extremely solid foundation, focusing purely on defense. If an opportunity is found in the future and it is properly nurtured, it has the potential to grow into a top-tier defensive magic weapon! It can serve as my main defensive magic weapon."

He didn't allow the vast amount of spiritual energy accumulated within the palace to be absorbed by the Yun Jin Daoist robe. With a thought, the six million spiritual roots and herbs that had been transplanted earlier received special attention once again. Pure incense energy and spiritual energy from heaven and earth continuously showered upon them like sweet rain.

"Compared to strengthening a magical artifact, these elixirs that can continuously convert energy and improve the foundation of the Qin Dynasty are of greater help to the world."

Ying Shaoyang saw it very clearly.

He could sense that as the numerous treasures brought back from the world of Liaozhai gradually integrated and took effect, the world power of the Great Qin was slowly but steadily increasing, already reaching the level of two hundred points. Bringing back treasures from another world could indeed accelerate the development of the world.

However, he valued the elixir's ability to spontaneously transform the energy of heaven and earth, and he was absolutely unwilling to give it up.

Just as he was sorting out his achievements and future plans, a respectful announcement came from outside the hall.

"Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Wang Guan and Minister of the Imperial Treasury Liu Bang are requesting an audience outside the palace!" Ying Shaoyang said calmly, pulling himself out of his thoughts.

"Xuan."

Soon, Wang Guan and Liu Bang, heads bowed, quickly entered the hall and respectfully bowed.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Ying Shaoyang's gaze swept over the two of them, and he could see that their faces were filled with barely suppressed excitement, yet also seemed to harbor some lingering resentment from their argument.

Wang Fu spoke first, her tone filled with unbelievable excitement.

"Your Majesty, when we saw the towering tree outside Xianyang City today, which was shrouded in mysterious magic, we knew it was Your Majesty's doing and dared not disturb it."

But... but later I learned that His Majesty had bestowed upon me a divine art that could transform the world—the ability to turn fossils into mud!

Liu Bang then spoke, his voice slightly raised due to urgency.

"Your Majesty, you are wise! The Shu Road is more difficult than ascending to heaven! In the past, its construction required countless manpower and resources, taking many years and months, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries."

However, Your Majesty displayed your great supernatural powers, and the road was completed in a short time, allowing for unimpeded passage! This is a feat that will benefit future generations! However, we, your humble servants, know that Your Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state and dare not disturb you with such mundane matters as road construction.”

He changed the subject, his face lighting up.

"But now, according to reports from various places, thousands of women and thousands of Taoist priests have claimed to have mastered the divine art of 'turning fossils into mud,' and have been ordered by Your Majesty to go to various places to assist in the construction of roads! This is truly great news, Your Majesty!"

Wang Guan nodded repeatedly, his face full of joy.

"Exactly! If that's the case, the Great Qin's straight road network, connecting north and south, east and west, will be just around the corner! With smooth logistics and swift delivery of government orders, the nation's strength will surely reach a new level!"

However, their excitement quickly turned to embarrassment, and their faces soon showed signs of difficulty and argument.

Liu Bang interrupted.

"Your Majesty, I believe that those who possess divine abilities should be prioritized for constructing roads leading to major mines and frontier military fortresses! Smooth mining roads ensure a steady supply of raw materials for military production; accessible military roads allow for the swift deployment of troops! This is of paramount importance for strengthening the military and enriching the nation!"

Wang Guan immediately retorted.

"Lord Liu, you are mistaken! While a strong army is important, the people's livelihood is the foundation of the nation! This old minister believes that we should prioritize the construction of roads connecting major grain-producing areas with populous cities! Smooth grain routes can regulate the balance between harvests and famines, stabilizing public sentiment; open trade routes will facilitate the flow of goods and greatly increase tax revenue! This is the only way to ensure long-term stability!"

"Prime Minister Wang! How can we talk about people's livelihood when the borders are unstable?"

"Prefect Liu! How can you build a strong army if the granaries are not full?"

The two men, right there in front of the hall, started arguing again, their faces flushed and neither willing to back down. Clearly, they had been debating this matter all the way here, unable to reach an agreement, and had come together to await Ying Shaoyang's final decision.

Looking at the two high-ranking officials arguing endlessly below, Ying Shaoyang showed no displeasure but instead revealed a meaningful smile.

The existence of disputes indicates that the officials are working diligently.

The effects of this "fossil-to-mud" technique are only just beginning to emerge.

In the imperial court, the debate between Grand Secretary Wang Guan and Minister of the Imperial Household Liu Bang intensified.

Wang Guan's beard and hair trembled slightly as he bowed to Ying Shaoyang.

"Your Majesty! The territory of Great Qin has expanded due to the advancement of the world. However, there are still many counties within Qin territory that are remote, lack roads, and are difficult to implement government orders and collect taxes, making them virtually uncivilized!"

As the Grand Secretary, my primary responsibility is to ensure the smooth implementation of government orders and maintain the court's control over the local areas! Therefore, I insist that those possessing divine abilities should be prioritized and dispatched to remote mountainous regions to construct roads connecting these counties!

His tone carried an undeniable firmness.

“Road construction in mountainous areas has always been difficult. In the past, conscripting laborers and prisoners resulted in numerous deaths and injuries, yet it was still difficult to complete the project. Therefore, many projects were put on hold.”

But now, with the aid of divine magic, this is the perfect opportunity to solve this deep-seated problem! Even if it costs some slaves their lives and invites some criticism, this old minister will bear it all! The purpose is to free the slaves who were originally confined to building roads in the mountains and instead use them to construct smooth roads between counties, so as to quickly weave a network of straight roads for our Great Qin!

Wang Guan's goal was clear: sacrifice the efficiency of road construction in the mountainous areas in exchange for skilled technicians tackling the most difficult parts, thereby freeing up a large amount of labor to complete the more crucial project of connecting various counties. For this, he didn't care about his reputation, and was even willing to bear the accusation of "disregarding slave labor."

Liu Bang immediately stepped forward to refute him; he was younger and his tone was more urgent.

"Your Majesty! Chief Minister Wang's words seem to focus too much on decrees! Little do you know that Your Majesty once proclaimed to the world that you wish every household in the Great Qin Empire to possess metal farming tools! This is the benevolent rule of the Holy Son of Heaven and the foundation of a strong nation! However, crafting farming tools requires iron, copper, and various ores! Mining, in turn, requires a large number of slaves!"

He turned to Ying Shaoyang, his words earnest.

"Your Majesty, if we follow the chief minister's plan and use the masters of divine arts in remote mountainous areas, the road to mining will still be difficult, and the number of slaves required will be enormous. My Ministry of Works is really unable to allocate more slave laborers to the mines!"

Your Majesty, I believe we should prioritize using divine magic to construct roads leading to the major mines! Once the roads are open, all the slaves withdrawn from the mountains can be deployed to the mines! In this way, Your Majesty's promise of "metal farm tools for every household" can be fulfilled sooner! This is the foundation of a prosperous nation and a benevolent people!

Liu Bang's calculations were also quite shrewd; he was eyeing the emperor's past promises and the enormous demand for mineral resources. He planned to use divine magic to open mining routes, freeing slaves to mine, and quickly achieving the emperor's goals—a tangible political achievement.

The two men each held their own views and refused to yield, each believing they were acting in the fundamental interests of the Qin Dynasty.

On the dragon throne, Ying Shaoyang listened quietly, his smile gradually fading into a deep, calm expression.

In his view, the argument between the two men was essentially the same.

Whether it's building roads to remote county towns first or opening up roads to mines first, these are things that must be done for the development of Qin, only the order in which they are done is different.

But his gaze was mostly fixed on Wang Guan.

This old minister, seemingly devoted to public service and willing to sacrifice his own reputation for the smooth implementation of government orders, revealed a subtle, underlying motive in Ying Shaoyang's words—an urgent desire to demonstrate his abilities and consolidate his position, as well as a persistent defense of the "Grand Secretary's" authority. (End of Chapter)