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

"With impurities removed, the essence purified, and spirituality naturally arises..."

Ying Shaoyang stroked the jade pendant at his waist, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

"It seems that it won't be long before it begins to transform into a true immortal artifact."

He gently straightened his robes and checked the status of the array at his waist once more. Then, he selected a pre-marked coordinate through the world's core.

With a flash, Ying Shaoyang disappeared from the Qin Imperial Palace and embarked on a new journey.

His figure seemed to tear through space, speeding westward at a terrifying speed far exceeding the speed of sound. In just a few breaths, he had traversed thousands of miles and arrived at the center of a vast, boundless desert filled with yellow sand.

Here, he stopped, slowly raised his head, and gazed up at the familiar yet unfamiliar sky. It was time.

He took a deep breath, and then completely released all the suppression on his body and spirit!
boom--!
A terrifying aura, like that of a slumbering ancient beast awakening, suddenly erupted from his body! The vast and boundless power of his blood and qi soared into the sky like smoke from a wolf's beacon, and the scorching heat instantly melted and crystallized the surrounding sand!
At the same time, his powerful primordial spirit, which had already nurtured a trace of pure yang essence, was released without reservation, merging with his blood and qi, causing the space around him to begin to slightly distort and vibrate!
At this moment, he clearly felt that his own existence had reached some kind of limit that this world could contain! The Great Qin world was like an invisible but real shackle, beginning to exert a faint sense of rejection and constraint on him.

He needs to break free from these constraints and overcome the limits imposed upon him by this world!
As if in response to his "provocation," the originally clear sky suddenly changed color!

Endless dark clouds appeared out of nowhere from all directions, as if being frantically stirred by an invisible giant hand, converging towards the sky above Ying Shaoyang's head! The energy between heaven and earth became extremely violent, being frantically drawn out by an irresistible force, forming an energy vortex with an extremely wide coverage area!

The vortex is expanding at an alarming rate, thousands of miles, tens of thousands of miles... and it is drawing energy faster and faster!
Thick, dark clouds piled up in layers, as if to crush the entire sky. Within the clouds, lightning danced wildly, flashes of thunder appeared and disappeared, and a muffled, oppressive roar echoed. Sunlight was completely blocked, and even starlight could not penetrate. This desert seemed to have entered night prematurely. Only the occasional blinding flashes of lightning in the dark clouds could briefly illuminate the solitary, proud figure below.

……

Meanwhile, in an ordinary county government office far north of the Yangtze River.

Yang Guang, the former Sui emperor who has now been demoted to a county magistrate, is sitting in a rather simple courtroom, handling county affairs in an orderly manner.

Although he was dressed in the official robes of a seventh-rank county magistrate, the imperial air between his brows, reminiscent of someone who once ruled the world, had not been completely extinguished.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked up towards the west, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

The faint sense of oppression emanating from the other side made his heart flutter, but he quickly regained his composure and focused his attention back on the official business at hand.

He had been in the Qin Dynasty for some time, and through his own eyes and feelings, he had developed a complex understanding of this vast empire.

On the surface, the Qin Dynasty was prosperous and powerful, with its military might unmatched, and Emperor Ying Shaoyang was like a god.

But when Yang Guang went deep into the grassroots, he saw a completely different scene.

Many of the migrants remained impoverished, with meager clothing, limited food, and a severe shortage of agricultural tools, particularly metal implements. Although the imperial court encouraged land reclamation and exempted newly cultivated land from land tax for several years, the area of ​​land reclaimed by the people far exceeded the area they could actually cultivate due to a lack of sufficient tools and animal power.

Roads were impassable in various regions, making the flow of goods difficult. Fortunately, His Majesty's supreme authority deterred all sides, and the Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) was omnipresent, maintaining basic order. Otherwise, given the current population structure and resource allocation, major chaos would have already broken out.

However, Yang Guang had to admit that this Qin Dynasty was full of "hope" that he had never seen in the Sui Dynasty. Cultivation techniques were open to all loyal subjects, and new levels of life and powerful strength were no longer unattainable dreams for ordinary people.

As long as one is willing to work hard, whether through labor or military service, one can obtain tangible rewards, and no one dares to withhold them. The imperial court has exempted all taxes and mandatory corvée labor, and all laborers are recruited with wages. Society is stable, and powerful regular troops, county soldiers, and even garrison troops are constantly launching attacks, capturing slaves, deterring foreign enemies, and seizing resources and living space for the Qin Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, you have truly created a... monstrous empire."

Yang Guang sighed inwardly.

At this moment, his Empress Xiao, along with several wives and concubines who had accompanied him, emerged from the inner hall.

Their faces showed confusion and worry.

"Your Majesty," Empress Xiao asked in a low voice, still using the old form of address.

"Why did you borrow money from the wealthy families in the city to buy so many farm tools, and then distribute them to the people for free? The county government is already strapped for cash, this..."

Yang Guang looked at his wife, who had been with him through thick and thin, and the other women with worried expressions, and a mysterious smile appeared on his face.

Although he is now a county magistrate, his vision and methods are far beyond those of an ordinary seventh-rank official.
"You guys are still too shallow in your understanding."

Yang Guang explained patiently.

"This move serves two purposes: first, it can bring the county government closer to the people, show them kindness, and win their hearts; second, it can also give wealthy households a reputation for being 'charitable,' which is not a bad thing for them."

With the county government acting as guarantor, the loan will eventually be recovered; it's not a free gift. Thirdly, if this matter is handled well, it will enhance the county's reputation in the eyes of superiors and even the imperial court, which will benefit us in the future.

He paused, a shrewd glint in his eyes.

"More importantly, this is preparing for large-scale promotion and the development of agricultural tools! Only when people have seen the convenience of good agricultural tools will they be willing to spend money or work harder to obtain them."

He turned to the several deputy officials below him who had followed him from the Sui Dynasty and volunteered to assist him, and gave them a solemn order.

"Issue the order: effective immediately, all farmland in the county shall be prioritized for planting staple crops! During spare time, recruit people to participate in road construction, paying them according to their work, and be sure to mobilize everyone's enthusiasm!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The deputies respectfully agreed.

Those who followed him here were all his trusted confidants, and had received special permission from His Majesty, so naturally they would follow Yang Guang's lead without question.

One of the subordinates hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"My lord, now that the superior is encouraging the planting of high-yield crops such as pumpkins to prepare for unforeseen circumstances, should we switch to planting all staple crops...?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Guang's lips curled into a cold smile.

"The grain seeds of Great Qin are divine seeds brought by His Majesty, and their yield is already quite high! Some officials, in order to achieve so-called political achievements, may keep mobilizing the people to grow pumpkins."

But you must remember, the people have been eating pumpkins for one or two years now! People shouldn't just seek to be full; they should also eat well and have hope for the future!

His eyes sharpened.

"Once the county's staple grains are harvested, we can leverage this advantage to exchange them for pumpkins and other grains from neighboring counties at higher prices! At that time, with full granaries, the people of this county will have the resources to raise poultry and livestock! In this way, we can revitalize the entire county and create more wealth! My official position will naturally rise accordingly!" He seemed to already see the vibrant scene of the entire county at that time, and the possibility of returning to the center of power based on his political achievements.

However, when he thought of his experiences at the end of the Sui Dynasty, the posthumous title of "Emperor Yang," and the tragic fates of his descendants and palace women after the fall of the country and the destruction of his family... Yang Guang's expression instantly turned as cold as iron, and a chilling and humiliating look flashed in his eyes.

"Li Yuan...Li Shimin..."

He silently repeated those two names in his heart, filled with boundless hatred and a hint of barely perceptible apprehension. "I remember, my 'good cousin,' and his 'good son,' seem to have also come to this Great Qin Empire..."

His fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, making a soft, rhythmic sound, as if he were plotting a silent storm.

In this new world called Great Qin, old grudges and new ambitions are quietly intertwining.

Meanwhile, far away in the desert, the earth-shaking changes triggered by Ying Shaoyang seemed to foreshadow an unprecedented baptism for this land.

Meanwhile, in a rather grand mansion in the capital, the atmosphere was completely different from the cold scheming on Yang Guang's side. Li Yuan's family was immersed in a rare joy and ease.

The eldest son, Li Jiancheng, beamed with joy and bowed to his father, Li Yuan, who was seated in the main seat, to offer his congratulations.

"Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Father! His Majesty is wise to appoint you as the prefect, giving you complete control over a region! Yang Guang is merely a county magistrate! This shows His Majesty's discerning eye and recognition of your talent!"

Since entering this Qin world more than a month ago, most of the Sui Dynasty officials who surrendered in various places have been rewarded and settled, but the Li family has been "detained" in the capital without any news.

During this time, someone "kindly" delivered a history book recording the history of the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, and the atmosphere in the mansion became extremely oppressive and heavy from then on.

In addition, Li Xiuning, the daughter, refused to stay in the palace and insisted on joining the army. Many former Sui Dynasty officials who were originally on good terms with her, and even some officials who should have been Tang Dynasty officials in history, began to intentionally or unintentionally distance themselves from the Li family, for fear of being implicated.

Finally, the cabinet appointments were issued today—Li Yuan was appointed as a prefect, Li Jiancheng as a county magistrate, and Li Shimin as a military officer in the Imperial Guard!

At this moment, Li Jiancheng only mentioned his father's promotion and never mentioned that he was also just a county magistrate. While congratulating Li Yuan, he also sighed with a hint of regret.

“Father, because of the historical records… our Li family’s reputation is tarnished, and we may find it difficult to reach the highest positions.”

But since His Majesty has agreed to appoint us, he has given us an opportunity! Our descendants still have hope! Moreover, Xiu Ning is currently in the palace; considering this, His Majesty will surely offer the Li family much protection.”

Li Yuan's expression was calm, revealing little emotion. He stroked his beard and spoke slowly.

"I have read the historical records of all dynasties. The past events are like fleeting clouds."

Now that we have entered the Qin Dynasty, the entire Li family should unite to serve the country and leave behind a legacy of loyalty and patriotism. Only in this way can our descendants have a foundation for a resurgence.

He turned his gaze to his second son, Li Shimin, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

“Shimin is decisive and has a reputation for leading troops. Since Your Majesty has appointed him as a military captain, you must value his talent and he will surely be given important responsibilities in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Li Jiancheng also looked at his second brother, his gaze quite complex.

He secretly thought.

"His Majesty will naturally give him an important position... Otherwise, why would His Majesty easily grant military power to someone with a history of 'imprisoning his father and killing his brother' recorded in history?"

He didn't say these words aloud, but the meaning in his eyes made the sensitive Li Shimin lower his head instantly.

Li Shimin felt his face burning with embarrassment.

Although he was young, he had read those history books repeatedly and was both shocked and embarrassed by his future "deeds".

His elder brother's unspoken sarcasm felt like a needle pricking his heart.

But deep down, he also believed that His Majesty placed him in the army precisely because he valued his military leadership skills. This made him both apprehensive and eager to prove himself.

Li Yuan observed his two sons' reactions, sighed inwardly, and finally spoke solemnly.

"What's past can't be retrieved."

In this Great Qin Dynasty, we are all new citizens. As one family, we must help each other, work together, and lay a solid foundation for future generations. Let us not… allow those things that have never happened to repeat themselves in this world.

His words subtly suggest that the grievances suffered by Li Jiancheng may have stemmed from the "Xuanwu Gate Incident" recorded in history, and also imply that in his heart, Li Shimin might indeed be more suitable to be emperor.

Li Jiancheng's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it turned into a silent sigh.

at this time--

Boom! ! !

A deafening roar, far more muffled than before and seemingly originating from the very source of the world, suddenly came from the northwest, causing the entire mansion to tremble slightly!

Immediately afterwards, everyone felt as if their surroundings had become "empty" in an instant! The omnipresent energy of heaven and earth that nourished all things was suddenly sucked away!
Everyone in the mansion looked up in shock, gazing towards the northwest.

The sky was as dark as ink, as black as night, as if some world-destroying beast was being conceived within it!
……

In the heart of the desert, Ying Shaoyang stood proudly, looking up at the heavy, oppressive clouds that seemed to weigh down the sky.

Just now, a bolt of lightning, thicker than a water tank and carrying blinding light and endless destructive intent, like a celestial spear of judgment, tore through layers of dark clouds and, ignoring spatial distance, fiercely struck down towards his head!

"Well done!"

Ying Shaoyang's mind raced, and the jade pendant formed by the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend Array hanging at his waist instantly shone brightly, flew up automatically, and rapidly spun and expanded above his head, transforming into a solid barrier of chaotic starlight!

boom!
The lightning slammed into the barrier! The array trembled violently, its surface radiating a dazzling white light, as countless runes swirled, frantically dissipating and disintegrating the lightning's power.

However, the power contained in this lightning bolt was too terrifying. Even after being weakened by the great formation, the remaining power still crashed against Ying Shaoyang's body like a raging torrent!
Sizzle—Bang!

The cells on his body's surface turned charred black in large patches the instant they came into contact with the aftershocks of the lightning, like charcoal scorched by a raging fire! A piercing pain shot through him! (End of Chapter)