Chinese animation: Starting with Bad Guys

This was not just a tactical victory, but also a battle of wills.

Qin Chuan had quietly arrived at the military examination site at some point, standing on a high vantage point and taking in the entire thrilling duel.

He walked down slowly, and applause rang out in the silence, clear and powerful.

"Excellent! What a fierce battle!" Qin Chuan's voice broke the silence, filled with undisguised admiration. "Though the sand table is small, it fully displays the essence of military strategy and demonstrates the grand scheme of things!"

He walked up to Han Xin, his eyes blazing: "Han Xin, your strategic planning is flawless, your ingenious schemes are endless, and your military prowess has reached a state of perfection! I bestow upon you the title 'God of War'! I hope that with this title you will expand the empire's territory and establish its rule!"

"Han Xin, the God of War, thanks Your Majesty for bestowing upon me this title!"

Han Xin bowed deeply, his eyes shining with an unprecedented light.

This title is not only an affirmation of his abilities, but also his passport to the highest military stage of the empire!

Qin Chuan then turned to Xiang Shaoyu.

Xiang Shaoyu straightened his back, looking at Qin Chuan with a complicated expression, awaiting his judgment.

"Xiang Shaoyu!" Qin Chuan's voice carried both authority and a hint of approval. "You are the bravest in the army, your spirit is overwhelming, and though you have lost, you are still glorious! I admire your unyielding and domineering spirit! I bestow upon you the title 'Overlord'! I hope that with your courage and indomitable will, you will sweep away the external threats to the empire and deter the villains! Remember your promise, and remember my promise!"

The word "Overlord" struck Xiang Shaoyu's heart like a heavy hammer.

This is an acknowledgment of his past, as well as an expectation and constraint for his future.

He took a deep breath, knelt on one knee, and said in a low, powerful voice, "Xiang Shaoyu thanks His Majesty for bestowing upon me this title! I will certainly live up to the Empire's expectations!"

For the sake of his people, he accepted this title that bore the mark of destiny.

Han Xin, the "God of War"!

Xiang Shaoyu, the Overlord!

These two titles, along with this breathtaking sand table duel, instantly spread throughout the entire imperial examination hall, making them famous throughout Xianyang!

After encouraging the other outstanding students of the Military Academy, Qin Chuan left the Military Academy examination hall and went to inspect other examination halls.

As they approached the examination hall for "extraordinary arts," a strange fragrance of grass and trees wafted over, accompanied by the clear shouts of a young girl.

It was the people from Mount Shu.

Xiao Yu was intently manipulating a group of strange butterflies that shimmered with a faint light, trying to make them form a complex pattern.

Qin Chuan's arrival startled her, causing her flute playing to falter slightly. Several butterflies lost their way, and one of them drifted towards Qin Chuan.

"Ah! Be careful!"

Xiao Yu exclaimed in surprise, her cheeks instantly turning red, and she frantically tried to call back the butterfly.

Qin Chuan smiled slightly, did not dodge, but simply extended his finger.

The shimmering butterfly seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, obediently landing on his fingertip and gently fluttering its wings.

"A very exquisite technique of controlling insects."

Qin Chuan looked at the butterfly on his fingertip and praised it.

Looking at Qin Chuan's handsome profile and the gentle butterfly on his fingertips, Xiao Yu's heart pounded like a drum, her face burned, and she could barely speak.

"Thank you... thank you for the praise, Your Majesty! I'm still... not skilled enough..."

She hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look anymore, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.

Yu Ziqi, who was standing nearby, quickly stepped forward and bowed:

"Your Majesty, my younger sister has made a fool of herself. The Shu Mountain sect will certainly study this skill diligently and serve the empire."

Qin Chuan nodded, his gaze sweeping over the other achievements displayed by Shushan, and offered a few words of encouragement to Yu Ziqi.

As he left, his fingertips twitched slightly, and the butterfly gracefully flew back to Xiao Yu's side.

Holding the butterfly, Xiao Yu gazed at Qin Chuan's departing dark figure, lost in thought for a long time. Her face was still flushed, but a sweet smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

The empire's first imperial examination, lasting half a month, has finally come to a successful conclusion.

During the Hundred Schools of Thought period, many outstanding talents emerged.

The "God of War" Han Xin and the "Overlord" Xiang Shaoyu were unsurprisingly included in the empire's highest military staff.

Many talented individuals from Confucianism, Legalism, and Agriculturalism, who were well-versed in politics, law, and agriculture, were selected to serve in central and local government offices at all levels.

The mechanical masters of the Mohist and Gongshu families were recruited by the Ministry of Works to be in charge of the empire's engineering and weaponry research and development.

Physicians, artisans skilled in all trades, scholars knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and even beast tamers and herbalists from Mount Shu were all assigned to the positions most needed by the empire based on their talents.

Even the disciples of the Yin-Yang School, after participating symbolically, were assigned to departments responsible for observing celestial phenomena and performing sacrifices.

The empire, this massive machine, was infused with fresh blood and wisdom from the Hundred Schools of Thought, and began to operate with unprecedented efficiency.

The intellectual ferment of a hundred schools of thought was transformed into a powerful driving force propelling the empire forward within its framework.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the magnificent palace complex of Xianyang in a layer of molten gold.

Two figures stood side by side, overlooking the capital city that had been revitalized by the imperial examination system, and the vast outline of the empire's territory in the distance.

The man on the left, dressed in a black dragon robe and wearing a twelve-tassel crown, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with a dignified and serene face. He was none other than the First Emperor of Qin, Ying Zheng.

His deep gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, containing an ambition to encompass the entire world.

The man on the right, dressed in a black robe with gold patterns, also stood tall and had a calm and composed demeanor, which was none other than the Emperor Qin Chuan.

His gaze was sharp, like the most precise ruler, measuring the empire's present and future.

Xiaomeng stood still for a moment, her cool gaze reflecting on the two brothers before her who would decide the fate of the empire and even the world.

"Brother Chuan." Ying Zheng's voice was deep and powerful, like a great bell, echoing in the silent palace. "The gathering of a hundred schools of thought, the selection of officials through the imperial examinations, and the hearts of all the scholars are won over... You have made an excellent move."

His gaze swept over the lights of the academies of various schools in the city, where the wisdom of the world gathered. "To subdue the scholars and adopt their wisdom for my own use is the cornerstone of unifying the world. Now, the cornerstone is in place."

Qin Chuan nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the city of Xianyang beneath his feet—a melting pot of ideas, a gathering place for talent.

"What Brother Zheng said is absolutely right. Subduing the sons and making their wisdom the sword of the empire and the cornerstone of the empire is the only way. Now that all schools of thought are united and all the talents are gathered in the empire, the will of the empire can be implemented and this foundation is solid."

His tone was calm, carrying an air of confidence that he was in control of everything.

Ying Zheng cast his gaze toward the distant horizon, where a wider world lay.

His voice carried unparalleled resolve and longing: "With the foundation solidified, where should the sword of the empire be pointed?"

Qin Chuan followed Ying Zheng's gaze, his eyes sharp as a knife:

"Wherever the sun and moon shine, wherever rivers flow, all is Qin territory! This is the vow we brothers have made together—to unify the world and usher in an era of lasting peace!"

"To unify the world and usher in an era of lasting peace!"

Ying Zheng repeated these nine words, his eyes burning with fierce flames.

The two brothers' eyes met in the air, and without needing to say more, their shared, timeless ambition was already evident.

In Xianyang, the lights of thousands of homes gradually illuminated the city, their glow reflecting off the lights of the academies, as if illuminating the path forward for this grand blueprint.

With the imperial examinations coming to an end, the curtain slowly rose on the golden age of the empire, surrounded by a hundred brilliant talents.

Having successfully subdued the various princes, the path to unifying the world, which the two brothers aspired to together, now stretches majestically from the summit of the Xianyang Palace towards the ends of the starry sky!

Chapter 81 Purple Maiden Playing with Jade, Demon God of Soldiers

The afterglow of the setting sun, like molten gold, flowed slowly across the majestic glazed tiles of the Xianyang Palace, refracting a colorful yet solemn halo.

The vast Guanzhong Plain stretches out in the twilight, casting long shadows of Qin Chuan and Ying Zheng standing side by side, as if they were about to merge into this ancient land.

That grand vision of "unifying the world," with its ambition and boldness, still lingers in the cool evening breeze, its echoes lingering on the eaves of the palace.

Qin Chuan bowed to Ying Zheng to take his leave, then turned and, with Xiao Meng in tow, returned to his residence as dusk deepened.

Throughout the journey, Xiaomeng quietly followed beside her. The overwhelming aura of Ying Zheng and Qin Chuan during their conversation stirred a ripple in her usually cold eyes.

In front of the mansion, two large red lanterns were already lit, their dim and warm glow swaying gently in the cool night breeze, casting a hazy warm light on the stone steps in front of the gate.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard and passed through the screen wall, two long-lost yet unforgettable figures came into view.

They stood quietly beneath the carved corridor, their robes fluttering gently in the night breeze, as if they had been waiting there for a thousand years, imbuing time with a touch of wistful poetry.

The woman on the left is wearing a deep purple dress, with lotus patterns embroidered on the hem that are faintly visible under the lamplight.

Her figure was as graceful as a ripe purple grape on a branch, voluptuous yet lively, with a languid air that had been refined by the years between her brows, yet revealing a fatal allure in the flow of her eyes—this was Zi Nu.

The woman on the right wore a light blue dress, and her temperament was gentle and ethereal, like a clear spring under the moon.

She held an antique seven-stringed zither diagonally in her arms; the zither's body gleamed with a warm luster, clearly something she often played with.

Between her brows, the weariness from her long journey was unmistakable, and there was also a hint of fatigue that was barely perceptible. This was Nongyu.

Xiaomeng's cool gaze instantly froze on the two women, especially Zi Nu's extremely aggressive and charming style, which was like an invisible thorn, causing her to subconsciously tense her back and her inner alarm bells to ring.

She subtly took half a step closer to Qin Chuan, her clear voice carrying a hint of sourness and inquiry that she herself was unaware of: "Brother, who are these two?"

Qin Chuan's gaze was already firmly locked onto those two figures, his deep eyes churning with complex emotions like a raging storm.

Surprise was like a stone thrown into water, rippling outwards; nostalgia was like fine aged wine, growing richer and more mellow in his heart; and the intense heartache overwhelmed him like a tidal wave.

He could clearly see that the fine lines at the corners of Zi Nu's eyes were the marks of hardship; Nong Yu's originally fair and slender fingers were now rough, clearly showing that she had gone through a lot of hardship.

He reached out and gently grasped Xiaomeng's slightly cool hand. The warmth of his palm was a comforting gesture, as well as a silent signal.

His voice was deep and filled with indescribable emotion:

"Xiaomeng, they are Zinu and Nongyu. They were my original team and family when I was just starting out and my position was not yet secure."

He spoke the word "family" with particular solemnity.

Upon hearing this, Zi Nu's red lips slowly curved into a captivating smile, her voice possessing a unique magnetism, like a fine, mellow wine:

"Master Xiaomeng, it's been a long time since I last saw you. It's been ten years, and Your Majesty's demeanor is even more dignified than before. You also have such an ethereal fairy by your side. It's truly a cause for celebration."

The words sounded like flattery, but there was a subtle sharpness hidden between the lines, as if they were asserting some kind of invisible sovereignty.

Nongyu, on the other hand, bowed gracefully, her movements as gentle as a spring breeze swaying a willow branch.

"Nongyu greets Master Xiaomeng."

Xiaomeng was incredibly intelligent; how could she not understand the implied meaning in Zi Nu's words, as well as the subtle scrutinizing gaze?

The bitterness in my heart was like a small lake tossed with a pebble, rippling outwards in circles, becoming clearer and clearer.

At the same time, she also keenly sensed the weight of the word "family" in Qin Chuan's words, and saw the undisguised weariness and world-weariness between the two women's brows.