He has been reincarnated through countless worlds, adorned with billions of mythological terms!

Time flies silently, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The Yunming Empire has not expanded its territory on a large scale in the past two years, but the internal changes are more profound than in previous years.

The newly incorporated territories were gradually absorbed, and the previously independent local forces were gradually integrated into the unified administrative system.

The border settlements and military towns were being built in an orderly manner, and the granaries and post stations in various prefectures were being continuously repaired and expanded.

The Yunming Empire is already the undisputed overlord of the Southern Region, but it is still one step away from becoming the true "common ruler of the Southern Region"—those ancient sects, reclusive families, and several independent city-states that have been passed down for thousands of years still exist as "vassals" rather than "subjects."

They nominally acknowledge the Yunming Empire's suzerainty, but their internal affairs, military affairs, and finances remain independent.

Yun Yi is fifteen years old this year. He has grown much taller, and his face has lost the roundness of a child. His features have become clear and distinct, and his brows carry a calmness that is not quite in line with his age.

He no longer needed to stand on a stool to sit on the dragon throne, and the dragon robe he wore no longer seemed too big; everything was just right.

The matter of holding court was decided in the Imperial Study.

That evening, Yunling pushed the plan, which was spread out on the map, in front of him.

The plan is very clear—the core of the ascension is to consolidate the national destiny based on the entire Southern Region, unite the various forces in the Five Continents that have not yet fully submitted, and upgrade the dynasty from the "Cloud Nether Empire" to the "Southern Region Immortal Dynasty".

The plan was meticulous, detailing everything from the procedures of the imperial court ceremony to the contingency plans for each faction, from the methods of uniting national destiny to the key arrangements of the protective formation. It was a full dozen pages long, so detailed that even the orientation of the seats for the envoys from each sect on that day was marked.

After reading the proposal, Yun Yi placed it on the table and asked, "Will those forces that haven't yet submitted agree?"

"No," Yunling replied crisply. "They won't agree, but they will come."

"Because they dare not not come."

"If a celestial dynasty were to emerge in the Southern Region, they wouldn't even be able to keep their vassal status."

"So they will definitely try to stop them—in any way they can."

Yun Yi nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

He put the plan away and began preparations.

The news spread faster than expected.

The news that the Yunming Empire was about to hold its grand court ceremony spread to every corner of the Southern Region within half a month, and then crossed the border into the Eastern Wilderness, Western Desert, Northern Cold, and Central State.

The reactions of the major powers in the Southern Region were almost exactly as Yun Ling had predicted—most of the smaller powers remained silent for a few days after receiving the invitation before sending envoys with gifts to the imperial city.

Meanwhile, those truly influential ancient entities—hidden families with a history spanning tens of thousands of years, ancient sects that control several spiritual veins, and independent city-states occupying blessed spiritual mountains—are also silent, but for different reasons.

Their silence is a form of scrutiny, a weighing of options, and a covert conspiracy.

In the imperial study, Yunling spread a new intelligence report on the table, which marked the movements of the three largest independent forces in the Southern Region.

"The Xuan Tian Sect, Wan Ling Valley, and Han Yuan City have already made secret contact."

"The envoys they sent did not come to the capital; instead, they went to the northern border."

Yun Yi sat behind his desk, wiping something, his eyes never leaving his work: "Who did you go to see?"

"The Reincarnators," Yunling's voice was calm, "They felt they couldn't stop you on their own, so they went to cooperate with those extraterrestrial demons."

Yun Yi put down the cloth in his hand and looked up: "What bargaining chips can they offer?"

"Two Martial Emperors who are nearing their end." Yun Ling tapped the intelligence report with her finger. "The Xuan Tian Sect has a Supreme Elder who has lived for twelve thousand years. His life force has long been exhausted, and he is only being kept alive by spiritual medicine."

"There is also a similar existence in the Valley of Ten Thousand Spirits. They are all nearing the end of their lifespan and, although their cultivation level is high, they are already unable to move much."

"Those who reincarnate have quite a few ways to prolong their lives."

Upon hearing this, Yun Yi's lips twitched slightly: "The Reincarnator has agreed."

"Of course." Yunling smiled as well. "Two Martial Emperor-level combatants at this stage are a devastating blow to both those with authority and those who have reincarnated."

"With these two helping us, those reincarnators are probably already eyeing us."

Yun Yi was silent for a moment before asking, "Are you confident?"

Yunling nodded: "One hundred percent."

Yun Yi didn't press the matter further. He picked up the cloth again, wiped the item in his hand once more, and then placed it on the table.

It was a jade seal the size of a fist, with a warm and smooth texture, and a translucent body. Inside, a faint light seemed to flow and slowly rotate—this was the core artifact used to unite the nation's destiny during the grand ceremony of the ascension to the throne.

As night deepened outside the window, the faint sounds of patrolling guards' footsteps and shouts of commands could be heard in the distance; everything seemed normal.

Three days later, at dawn, Yun Yi was reading a border military report in his study when a voice announced from outside: "Your Majesty, there is a person outside the palace gate requesting an audience. He claims to be an authority figure from Zhongzhou and wishes to see Your Majesty."

Yun Yi put down the military report, looked up, and gazed at Yun Ling, who was sitting by the window drinking tea.

The latter also put down his teacup, and the two exchanged a glance.

Yunling's lips curved slightly: "Let him in."

The eunuch who was in charge of the mission departed.

Not long after, footsteps came from outside the hall, unhurried, as if following a fixed rhythm.

The palace doors were pushed open, and a young man walked in.

He looked to be about the same age as Yun Yi, around fifteen or sixteen years old. He was tall and slender, wearing a moon-white robe with a silver belt around his waist, and his long hair was tied back with a plain hairpin.

He had a handsome face, gentle eyes, and an indescribable air of composure.

He stood in the center of the hall, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yun Yi, his posture neither humble nor arrogant, his voice clear and resonant:

"Lin Qingxuan of Zhongzhou greets His Majesty Yunming."

Yun Yi looked at him without saying a word.

Yunling didn't say anything either.

Lin Qingxuan remained in the cupped-hands position for a moment, then straightened up and looked calmly at Yun Yi:

"I come from Zhongzhou. I heard that Your Majesty is about to hold a grand court ceremony, so I came here specifically to serve Your Majesty."

He paused, then added, "We are all authorized users of the Paradise of Reincarnation, and we hope to cooperate to fight against those hunters."

"I am well aware that the various forces in this world are deeply intertwined. Although Your Majesty currently holds a strong position in the Southern Region, there will inevitably be various forces trying to obstruct your ascension to the throne."

"My cultivation level isn't top-tier, but I believe I can still share some of His Majesty's burdens."

Yun Yi listened quietly without answering immediately.

Lin Qingxuan's attitude seemed sincere, and his words were impeccable, but he remained quietly seated, as if waiting for something.

A little while later.

"Okay." Yun Yi spoke, his voice not loud, but clear enough. "You will stay and be responsible for perimeter security during the imperial ascension ceremony. Someone will tell you the specific arrangements."

Lin Qingxuan was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting him to agree so readily, and then cupped his hands and said:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Yun Yi nodded and said nothing more.

After Lin Qingxuan was led out, the Imperial Study became quiet again.

Yunling put down her teacup, tilted her head, and looked at Yunyi:

"Aren't you afraid he'll cause trouble?"

Yun Yi shook his head: "If he really is an authority holder, I'm really not at ease with him."

"Unfortunately, he isn't."