Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 589 The Immortal's Decree, the Tourism Authority's Countermeasures

The ultimate battle between the Sun Heaven Kingdom and the Dragon Soaring Kingdom, which would determine the fate of the Nine Provinces, ended in a way that surprised everyone.

The official battle reports of later game developers, and the compilers of future Kyushu history books, described this historic moment in the following way—

At that moment, an immortal descended to the mortal realm, riding auspicious clouds, his might overwhelming the universe. Under the radiant light of the immortals, heroes surrendered, and armies fell silent; even the divine dragon, upon seeing its head, bowed in submission, daring not to look up. With a single word from the immortal, the war ceased on the plains of Longhua, and the dynasty was established at noon! This was beyond the valor of any human king; it was truly the overwhelming might of the immortals, the mandate of heaven!

However, for the core members of both sides who personally experienced the ups and downs of this war, this ending was accompanied by some indescribable complex emotions and was not entirely satisfactory.

The Supreme Emperor was naturally extremely frustrated. He thought he had a sure win in this comeback game, holding the ace of the dragon, ready to dominate and reshape the world, but unexpectedly, he "ran into a royal flush with four aces", losing in a way that was both frustrating and helpless, like punching a steel plate with all his might.

Meanwhile, Long Xingtianxia was equally unwilling—had they really let the Supreme Emperor and his core followers go so easily, instead of taking advantage of the situation to completely eliminate them? Wasn't this like releasing a tiger back into the mountains, waiting for them to make a comeback in the future? He muttered to himself, but dared not say it aloud, so he could only send Xiao Jie a private message in a veiled manner:
“Brother Suifeng, this Supreme Emperor is ambitious. Although he was defeated today, I fear he will remain unconvinced and may cause trouble again in the future. Since you have extraordinary abilities, why not… resolve this once and for all, and eliminate future troubles?”

Xiao Jie received the private message, but simply chuckled and didn't respond directly. He naturally had no intention of killing the Supreme Emperor. Ultimately, he had no deep-seated hatred for them, and which guild ultimately dominated the Nine Provinces made little difference to him. His intervention this time was largely out of consideration for their past membership in the Dragon Soaring Kingdom; he was simply lending a helping hand.

Another practical reason is that Longxiang Kingdom currently occupies the largest territory and has the most stable situation. Supporting Longxiang to quickly complete unification is most conducive to stabilizing the chaotic situation in the Nine Provinces and preparing for the unknown "doomsday calamity".

But this by no means means that he will become a tool for Dragon Roaming the World to eliminate dissidents. Moreover, as a top player who can transform into a divine dragon, the Supreme Emperor's power may become an important force in the great calamity to come, and it would be a pity to eliminate him.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jie spoke loudly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority that echoed across the battlefield:

"Your Majesties, the outcome is now decided, and the fate of the world is sealed. We should quell the flames of war, cease hostilities, and join hands to create a peaceful and prosperous era. As the ruler of the Dragon Soaring Kingdom, you possess the sacred artifacts of the Nine Dragon Seal and the Benevolent King Seal, and you have the demeanor of a benevolent ruler. You should seize this opportunity to gather heroes from all over the world and jointly achieve this great undertaking."

His gaze turned to Long Xingtianxia, ​​his tone carrying a hint of expectation: "When the Nine Provinces are unified and you ascend the throne, I will have important matters concerning the well-being of the people to discuss with you. The great calamity of the end times is approaching, and it is no small matter. You must not disregard the greater good for your own selfish desires and plunge the world into chaos! You should prioritize the well-being of all people, bravely shoulder the burden of humanity, and become the wise and benevolent king that all people yearn for, leading the world through the crisis. Do you understand the weight of this?"

Upon hearing this, Long Xingtianxia was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, "Brother, what are you up to? How did it suddenly escalate to the level of saving the world?" But as his gaze swept over the countless soldiers and generals watching him, and seeing the undeniable earnestness on Xiao Jie's face, he had no choice but to suppress his distracting thoughts and solemnly cup his hands, saying, "I will keep the Immortal Venerable's teachings in mind. I will naturally prioritize the world and live up to your trust."

Xiao Jie nodded slightly, then looked at the Supreme Emperor, who still maintained his dragon form and was covered in wounds:

"Supreme Emperor, you are a descendant of the Dragon Emperor's bloodline and were once a powerful ruler. You should know that the world's affairs, like the rising and setting of the sun and moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, are all predetermined. The former glory of the Dragon Flower Empire has passed, and its reign has long ended. It is impossible to force a revival. Your defeat here today is also the will of Heaven. Going with the tide is the right path. In my opinion, you must not go against Heaven again and only add to the bloodshed."

His tone softened, carrying a hint of persuasion: "Why not quell the conflict here, lead the people to join Longxiang, participate in national affairs, and contribute to the stability of the Nine Provinces? You possess supernatural powers and extraordinary abilities. When the great calamity descends in the future, you can use this to turn the tide and save the world from peril. In this way, the bloodline of the Dragon Emperor can be preserved, and the glory of our ancestors can be continued. Wouldn't that be wonderful? What do you think?"

The Supreme Emperor was also somewhat bewildered at this moment, but the "chuunibyou" passion in his bones was ignited by Xiao Jie's ceremonial and "destined" words, and he suddenly had the illusion of "meeting a kindred spirit" and "participating in a grand narrative".

He raised his dragon head slightly and responded in a tone that was as fitting as possible to the occasion, tinged with a sense of tragedy and determination: "The Immortal Venerable's words are like a wake-up call! I am willing to obey the will of Heaven, cease hostilities, join hands in this grand undertaking, and help Brother Longxing establish his rule over the Nine Provinces to avert future calamities!"

After saying that, he didn't waste any time and directly brought up the system interface and performed some operations.

The next moment, a grand system announcement resounded throughout the entire server:

[System Announcement: The Supreme Emperor of the Sun Heaven Kingdom has announced its unconditional surrender to the Dragon Soaring Kingdom and will lead all its citizens to join the Dragon Soaring Kingdom.]

Looking at the system notification, Long Xingtianxia still had some reservations, but he knew that this was the best outcome for the time being, and he had no choice but to accept it.

[System Announcement: The ruler of Longxiang Kingdom has accepted the surrender of Ritian Kingdom, achieving victory in the national war and acquiring the new territory 'Longhua City'.]
"Hahaha, good! Excellent!" Xiao Jie clapped his hands and laughed. "From now on, we are all one family. With our hearts and minds working together, what worries do we have about the stability of the Nine Provinces? My mission can be considered successfully completed. The remaining matters can be handled by the two of you through negotiation. Remember, you must be fair and just, value harmony, and avoid any further disputes."

Upon hearing Xiao Jie's final words, "to handle it through negotiation," a glint flashed in the Supreme Emperor's eyes. He had long seen that Xiao Jie was not a core member of the Dragon Soaring Guild, but rather a transcendent guest master. Xiao Jie's statement at this moment further convinced him that this immortal only cared about overall stability, and would not interfere too much with the power distribution and profit sharing within the Dragon Soaring Guild.

Although the title of "King of Men" is out of reach, the interests of myself and my brothers must be fought for! The enormous benefits brought by unifying the Nine Provinces—territory, resources, NPC talents, future influence—and most importantly, various extraordinary abilities, are all of utmost importance.

By leading the entire guild to merge with Longxiang, he essentially established an internal faction within Longxiang, which has great potential for future development.

"Hahaha, what Immortal Venerable Suifeng said is true! Brother Tianxia, ​​from now on we will be in the same boat, and I hope you will take good care of me!" The Supreme Emperor transformed back into human form. Although his face was a little pale, he immediately put on a warm smile and cupped his hands to Long Xingtianxia.

"Of course, of course! It is truly a blessing for the entire land that Your Majesty is willing to abandon darkness and embrace the light! We will have to rely on Your Majesty's divine dragon power many times in the future!" Long Xing Tianxia was also a seasoned old fox who had been through many battles. He put on a flawless show and immediately offered a sincere smile.

"Brother Suifeng, we really owe you a lot this time," Long Xingtianxia said sincerely, turning to Xiao Jie. If Xiao Jie hadn't descended like an immortal at the crucial moment and turned the tide, the outcome of this battle would have been unpredictable.

"No need to be so polite, I have my own considerations," Xiao Jie replied calmly.

Long Xing Tianxia nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will never forget what I promised. When I unify the Nine Provinces and ascend the throne, you and Brother Chengxian will definitely receive a share of the imperial offerings."

These were naturally agreed-upon conditions. Xiao Jie's actions this time were not without reward. His main request was that after the unification of the Dragon Soaring Empire, a considerable portion of the vast "incense offerings and vows" should be allocated to support himself and my desire to become immortals.

Once the Nine Provinces were unified, the ruler, as the "Human King," would possess the authority to "bestow titles upon deities." Although those bestowed titles were mostly lower-level gods such as City Gods, Earth Gods, and Mountain Gods, there were still distinctions of rank among them. The highest position was that of "Guardian Deity of the Nation." In the past, the Longhua Empire bestowed the title of Guardian Beast upon the Golden Dragon clan, granting them the enjoyment of incense offerings throughout the nation and a position of utmost respect.

It is precisely because of this that the Golden Dragon Clan was able to obtain the power of the Divine Dragon.

Xiao Jie's plan was to have his "White Dragon Dharma Form" replace the Golden Dragon and become the guardian beast of the new empire. In this way, the White Dragon Dharma Form would receive a massive amount of incense offerings and prayers, enough to unlock all the Dharma Form's supernatural powers and greatly increase its power.

Besides himself, my path to immortality also lies in this. Xiao Jie had already planned a divine position for him—one of the Four Guardian Kings. This is one of the highest-ranking divine positions that a human king can bestow. There are four in total, each in charge of the east, west, south, and north, respectively. They are responsible for protecting the borders, exorcising evil spirits and demons, blessing the people, and suppressing misfortune. Their positions are prestigious, and the offerings to them are sure to be abundant.

Of course, the total amount of incense offerings in the empire is limited, and a sufficient share must be reserved to be distributed to other meritorious officials, especially those players who died on the battlefield, so that they can condense divine bodies in the underworld and enjoy sacrifices, instead of becoming lonely ghosts.

With everything arranged, Xiao Jie had no intention of lingering any longer. He had little interest in getting involved in the subsequent power transition, the division of interests, the reorganization of the army, and other trivial matters.

"Gentlemen, you shall discuss and decide the remaining matters yourselves; I will not participate further. I only hope that you will remember that a great calamity is approaching, and internal unity is of paramount importance. Do not forget the greater good for the sake of petty gains."

In his final sentence, Xiao Jie's tone turned serious, carrying a hint of warning. He believed that with the intelligence of Long Xing Tianxia and the Supreme Emperor, they should be able to understand the weight of his words.

Having said that, Xiao Jie said no more. Auspicious clouds spontaneously formed beneath his feet, slowly lifting him up. Under the astonished, fervent, and awe-inspiring gazes of countless soldiers below, and amidst the envious sighs of the surrounding casual players, his figure gradually faded, finally disappearing into the vast clouds. Gazing in the direction where Xiao Jie vanished, the Supreme Emperor sighed deeply. This feeling of having one's fate controlled by others was truly unpleasant.

As Long Xing Tianxia completed the system-level surrender operation, the titles above his and his core members' heads were simultaneously changed to the prefix of Long Xiang Kingdom.

The Supreme Emperor chuckled, then said to Long Xing Tianxia in a complex tone, "Brother Tianxia, ​​you're truly lucky to have managed to summon an immortal to your aid. In this round, I have no complaints about our defeat." (If you hadn't found an immortal to help you, I would have wiped you all out long ago.)

"Your Majesty is too modest. The might of the Divine Dragon has truly broadened our horizons today. In the future, to sweep away the remaining forces of the Nine Provinces and complete the great cause of unification, we will still need Your Majesty's strong assistance." (Since you've surrendered, shut up. You'll have to fight for me in the future. Don't think you can lie down and get benefits.)

Long Xingtianxia responded politely, but he was not completely relaxed in his heart, and at the same time, he felt a little regretful.

"Sigh, those legendary 'ascension items' are indeed all incredibly powerful. Dragon Blood Essence, and the Hidden Immortal Map that Wentian Wuji took before... aren't they all treasures capable of creating extraordinary beings?" Long Xing Tianxia sighed inwardly. "The power of divine dragons and the abilities of immortals are powers that mortals can hardly attain. If only I could obtain even a fraction of them..."

However, upon further reflection, with the addition of the Supreme Emperor's power and Xiao Jie's implicit support, at least for now, the path for the Dragon Soaring Kingdom to unify the Nine Provinces should be unobstructed. The position of "Human King" seems secure. The only question is, what kind of wondrous powers and responsibilities will the legendary "Mandate of Heaven" bestow?
Just as he composed himself and began directing his men to clean up the battlefield and take over the defenses of Longhua City—

Didi didi! Didi didi!
A rapid ringtone sounded from his communicator. Long Xingtianxia took out his dedicated communicator and, unsurprisingly, saw that the caller ID read "his superior."

Strictly speaking, this "superior" has no clearly defined position in the official structure, and there has never been a formal subordinate relationship between the two parties. Legally speaking, Longxing Tianxia is now simply a "freelancer," a game player.

However, some connections and influences never need to be proven in black and white.

"Hello." Long Xing Tianxia answered the call.

A slightly hurried voice came from the other end, skipping even the basic pleasantries: "We've seen what happened. What exactly is this 'immortal'? Where did you find him? Why wasn't such important information reported beforehand?"

Long Xing Tianxia felt helpless. Would you believe him if he told you this in advance? In fact, even though Ba Tian Kuanglong and others had been confirmed by the resurrected person, he himself was still doubtful before he saw Xiao Jie display the power of an immortal. Based on his understanding of his superiors' behavior, if he reported "my vice president is an immortal" too early, he would probably be suspected of being mentally unstable immediately.

Of course, this cannot be said directly.

“I had some reservations before; he didn’t want his immortal status to be revealed too early. Besides, this matter is too unbelievable, and I need time to observe and confirm it,” Long Xing Tianxia offered a relatively safe reason.

"Alright, we'll discuss that later. The most urgent matter right now is determining how to deal with this... 'immortal.' Director Li from the Tourism Bureau and I are in urgent discussions and need to come up with a unified strategy. You've had the most contact with him, what suggestions do you have?"

Long Xingtianxia took a deep breath. He had pondered this question countless times, and the answer was clear and unambiguous:

"I've met Yin Yue Sui Feng in real life. He has a rather easygoing and calm personality, and doesn't seem like the kind of person with a strong desire for power or destruction. As long as you don't provoke him, there shouldn't be any danger."

He emphasized, “But whatever you do, whatever you do, do not try to provoke or threaten him! As far as I know, everyone who has ever been his enemy in the game has met a tragic end. Considering that he has now become an immortal, I'm afraid that in reality… even if some ‘accident’ happens, he might still be able to intervene. I don’t know the upper limit of an immortal’s power, but one thing I’m certain of is that it is absolutely beyond the power we currently possess to contend with.”

"Therefore, my advice is very simple, just three words: Don't provoke, don't provoke, and don't provoke! If possible, it's best to treat him as if he doesn't exist and avoid any unnecessary contact. If you must contact him due to special circumstances, be sure to maintain the utmost politeness and respect."

After a moment of silence, the other party offered another idea: "Is it possible... to try recruiting him? If we can bring a 'celestial being' into our system, it will be of great help in handling special events and deterring other unruly players in the future."

Long Xing Tianxia almost burst out laughing upon hearing this. Recruit an immortal? You guys are really dreaming. He patiently explained, "Immortals have long transcended worldly desires. If we want to recruit them, we have to offer something they would find appealing, right? The problem is, they can resurrect the dead, fly through the air, summon wind and rain... What we can do, they can do effortlessly; what we can't do, they can also do. Tell me, what do we have to 'recruit' such a being?"

He paused, then added, "However, if we really encounter a major problem that we can't solve and that is morally justifiable in the future, given our current relationship, we might try to ask him for help—of course, provided that the matter itself is plausible."

This statement has a hint of self-justification in it.

However, Long Xing Tianxia believed that he had treated his brother Sui Feng quite well. He had always tried his best to meet any resource needs that his brother had. Although their relationship wasn't exactly close, they were still quite friendly. As long as it was a legitimate matter, they could still have a word. So, he wasn't bragging.

"……I see."

The communication was disconnected.

In a heavily guarded conference room, a group of people with solemn expressions looked at each other. Those present were all high-ranking officials from the Game Management Bureau and heads of relevant departments, urgently summoned to discuss countermeasures. Although they already knew that the game "Old Land" could grant players extraordinary powers, and had previously dealt with numerous real-world incidents caused by players abusing their game abilities, the appearance of the "immortal" still instilled in everyone an unprecedented sense of pressure and bewilderment.

"Everyone heard the conversation just now, let's share our thoughts." Director Li, who was chairing the meeting, glanced at Long Xingtianxia's 'superior' next to him and rubbed his temples.

A middle-aged official wearing glasses spoke first: "My view is that since the other party has not shown any hostility so far, we should remain calm and wait for the right moment. Even if he is a sage, he still has to be reasonable, right? The best strategy is to remain unchanged in the face of all changes. If we have to make contact in the future, we can rely on our official background and proceed in a formal and sincere manner. After all, the other party is a new generation of young people who grew up under the red flag and has received a good education. As long as we can reason with them and appeal to their emotions, we should be able to communicate with them."

Another middle-aged man in military uniform held a different opinion: "Young people these days think differently, and the various ideologies on the internet are very complex. What if the other side becomes arrogant and unruly after gaining power, or even intentionally challenges the existing order? I suggest that we should first send some experienced and psychologically strong agents to conduct probing contact in an unofficial capacity to assess their true mentality and the danger they pose."

Everyone expressed their opinions, and the discussion was lively. Director Li, sitting in the main seat, kept his brow furrowed until the discussion subsided slightly, at which point he slowly spoke:
"Everyone, please stop for a moment, let me say a few words." He looked around. "In my opinion, the emergence of such a person may not be entirely a bad thing. At least, if other players who gain great power act excessively and endanger society in the future, he may serve as a check and balance. Moreover, he is someone nurtured by our own cultural background, so we have a natural advantage in communication and understanding."

"But how can we ensure he doesn't lose control?" someone asked worriedly. "Many players undergo drastic changes in temperament after gaining power; history has shown us painful lessons. What if he..."

Director Li sighed deeply, his face filled with helplessness and a sober understanding of reality: "Control? What control is there? Faced with power at this level, any means we currently have are probably futile. Under these circumstances, we can only pin our hopes on his personal moral bottom line, his sense of social responsibility, and... his feelings for this land and his compatriots. Apart from that, there is very little we can do."

In my opinion, Long Xing Tianxia's suggestion is very worth considering. Before the other party does anything special or finds a good enough solution, we should not be too proactive. We should not mention the matter of spies, nor should we conduct any surveillance or investigation. We should try our best to avoid disturbing or angering the other party.

I think we should focus on what's truly important. Since he can become an immortal, it means that becoming an immortal is replicable. I believe the most urgent task is to study how this process of becoming an immortal actually works.

If possible, let our own people become immortals as much as possible. The number of people becoming immortals may increase in the future, and we must seize this power before others do so.

Upon hearing this, everyone showed expressions of deep agreement.

"I propose that each department select some outstanding agents to enter the game and try to find a way to become an immortal. We must make sure that this power is under our own control."

(End of this chapter)