Great Qin, Capital City!
Grand Court Hall!
"Your Majesty!"
"This minister has received the reports from the generals leading our expeditions."
"Today, I present the battle reports and war achievements."
General Wang Jian stepped into the grand hall, his expression filled with excitement.
All the officials turned their gaze toward him.
Ying Zheng, seated high above, wore a smile, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
"Today..."
"Marks the final day of the one-year campaign."
"Just before this court session, I received a report from Supreme General Tu Sui."
"The last foreign kingdom in the far west has been completely conquered by Great Qin!"
"From the eastern seas to the northern pole!"
"From the southern ocean to the farthest west!"
"Now, all of it is the territory of Great Qin!"
"The entire mortal world is under our rule!"
"This minister congratulates Your Majesty! Great Qin has unified the world!"
Wang Jian's voice was filled with excitement as he made his report.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
The entire court of civil and military officials raised their ceremonial tablets, shouting in celebration.
Though they had already known of this achievement, hearing it officially announced still filled them with overwhelming pride and honor.
On the high throne.
Ying Zheng rose to his feet, a smile on his face.
He spoke loudly, "My loyal subjects! We have achieved what was once thought impossible Great Qin has unified the world!"
"I recall the past when I was young and ambitious, vowing to lead Qin to destroy the Six Kingdoms and unify the land."
"At that time..."
"I believed that the world consisted only of the Central Plains, that the Central Plains were the world itself."
"My vision was limited to this land alone."
"After conquering the Six Kingdoms and pacifying the Central Plains, I thought I had achieved the greatest feat in history and had truly unified the world."
"But then..."
"When I acknowledged my son, the Crown Prince, he opened my eyes."
"Only then did I realize that the Central Plains was but a small part of a vast world, an endless expanse beyond my previous imagination?"
"But today..."
Ying Zheng swept his gaze across his officials, exuding an unmatched aura of dominance.
"I can now declare to my subjects and all people under heaven that Great Qin has truly unified the world! From this day forth, the world is Qin, and Qin is the world!"
His words resounded throughout the grand hall.
The officials, filled with awe and respect, knelt and bowed.
"Your Majesty, we offer our congratulations!"
"Now that the world is unified..."
"A year ago, the Crown Prince and I planned for the future of our great empire."
"And now, the time has come to put those plans into motion."
Ying Zheng scanned the court and suddenly spoke again.
"Your Majesty, do you mean to reform the military system?" Wang Jian suddenly realized.
"Now that the mortal world is under our rule, Great Qin must evolve."
"Our future enemies are no longer mere mortals, but celestial beings, demons, and Buddhist cultivators."
"Great Qin no longer requires a conventional mortal army we must forge an army that surpasses even the Heavenly Court's celestial soldiers!" Ying Zheng declared.
"Your Majesty and the Crown Prince intend to emphasize innate talent and reorganize the military system?" Strategist Wei Liao understood immediately.
"From this day forth..."
"Only those with at least mid-tier martial aptitude may enlist in the army. Those with high-tier aptitude shall receive elite training."
"The same principle will apply to both the military and the academies."
"As for those below mid-tier martial aptitude, they may enter the academies for cultivation, but will not be allowed to serve in the military."
Ying Zheng's voice was firm.
Martial cultivation.
Like all other forms of cultivation, it was influenced by innate talent.
Martial aptitude was commonly classified into three grades: high, mid, and low. The better one's aptitude, the smoother their path in cultivation.
Beyond high-tier aptitude, there were even rarer physiques, such as postnatal spirit bodies, innate spirit bodies, and Dao bodies.
However, such extraordinary physiques were extremely rare.
Therefore, Qin's future military recruitment and training would be based on aptitude screening.
"This minister understands."
"I shall ensure Your Majesty's decree is carried out henceforth, soldiers will be selected based on their talent!" Wang Jian affirmed.
"Minister of Revenue!"
"In our military and academies, how many martial artists have reached the Grandmaster realm? How many cultivators have achieved the Refining Essence into the Qi stage? And what of the Buddhist practitioners?" Ying Zheng turned to Wei Liao.
As Minister of Revenue, Wei Liao was responsible for managing these records.
"Your Majesty," Wei Liao responded.
"Great Qin has five major military camps: Lantian, Hangu, Northern Frontier, Zhenbei, and Wuan."
"Among them, there are currently 350,000 soldiers who have reached the Grandmaster realm, 28,000 at the Great Grandmaster realm, 3,758 at the Divine Ability realm, and over 300 at the Celestial Phenomenon realm."
"As for cultivators, their path is even more challenging. Currently, we have 170,000 who have reached the Refining Essence into the Qi stage, including both academies and military personnel. Those who have reached Refining Qi into Spirit number 11,000, while those at the peak of Refining Qi into Spirit are only about 1,500."
"As for Buddhist practitioners, their cultivation is based on enlightenment rather than talent, making them even fewer in number. Only 10,000 have reached Refining Essence into Qi, and just over 100 have reached Refining Qi into Spirit."
"After six years of implementing the Crown Prince's cultivation reforms, Great Qin has made tremendous progress in strength, all thanks to the Crown Prince's efforts in recruiting talented individuals and establishing places of cultivation."
This report was thorough and precise.
Yet, for Ying Zheng, these numbers were still far from enough.
If facing an ordinary cultivation sect, this strength was formidable, but against the celestial immortals and Buddhist saints of the Heavenly Court, it was still insufficient.
"Not enough," Ying Zheng muttered.
"Your Majesty," Wei Liao spoke again, "if we wish to further enhance Great Qin's strength, we must extend the time spent in cultivation grounds."
"A year ago, the Crown Prince provided me with 5,000 pills to enhance cultivation. I will distribute them to the most talented martial artists and cultivators."
"With these pills, they can swiftly break through to higher realms reaching the Divine Ability stage in martial arts, or the Returning to Void stage in cultivation."
"As for the cultivation grounds, now that the mortal world is unified..."
"We will continue with half-year training cycles, but increase the number of participants to 500,000 per cycle."
"The entry requirement remains the same only those who have reached the Innate Realm may enter."
Ying Zheng had already made up his mind.
"Your Majesty is wise!" The officials praised in unison.
"Father."
"Today, the world is unified. This is a joyous occasion for Great Qin!"
"We should celebrate with the people!"
Zhao Feng's voice rang out from outside the hall.
Upon hearing it, Ying Zheng's face revealed a slight smile.
"We pay our respects to the Crown Prince!"
The court officials all bowed in greeting.
"What Feng'er says is right."
"The unification of the world is indeed an occasion worthy of grand celebration."
"Pass down my decree."
"The grain tax across the empire shall be reduced by 20%. For the Huaxia and Jiuli people, the tax rate shall be adjusted to 30%, while for all other ethnic groups, it shall be set at 50%."
"This is to commemorate the joyous occasion of Great Qin's unification of the world."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
The court officials all cheered in unison, with not a single voice of opposition.
After all, with spiritual grains now widely cultivated throughout the empire, the state's granaries were overflowing. From the central treasury to the regional and provincial storage facilities, grain reserves were abundant, and a tax reduction would have no adverse impact.
"Father."
"The Path of Transmission has been implemented for six years now."
"Perhaps it is time to extend the teaching of martial cultivation to ethnic groups beyond the Huaxia and Jiuli people."
Zhao Feng suddenly spoke.
At his words, the court officials were all taken aback, many of them looking at him with expressions of surprise, some hesitating as if they wished to speak but held their tongues.
"Feng'er."
"What are your deeper considerations?" Ying Zheng asked immediately.
"The mortal realm is now fully under Great Qin's control, and its fate is also in our grasp."
"In the future, if Great Qin is to grow even stronger, there are two key factors: population and the overall cultivation strength of our people."
"I am the Martial Ancestor, the progenitor of the Martial Dao."
"All who cultivate martial arts are under my suppression. Other than the Huaxia and Jiuli, all other ethnic groups can only practice martial cultivation."
"If Great Qin seeks to prosper, these populations should not be wasted; therefore, we should transmit the Martial Path to them." Zhao Feng spoke slowly, his tone filled with confidence.
Previously, before he had obtained the title of Martial Ancestor, Zhao Feng had been extremely wary of foreign ethnic groups acquiring cultivation techniques, fearing the potential dangers that could arise.
But now, there was no need to worry.
As the Martial Ancestor the very source of the Martial Dao any martial practitioner stood no chance of rebelling against him.
Allowing foreign ethnic groups to cultivate martial arts was completely within his control!
Moreover, the more martial practitioners there were, the stronger Zhao Feng's fortune as the Martial Ancestor would become.
As citizens of Great Qin, their martial cultivation would contribute to the empire's fortune, and with his status, Zhao Feng could gather and harness the power of all martial artists, infinitely increasing his strength.
"Furthermore…"
"Does Great Qin truly intend to remain confined to the mortal realm?"
"The Celestial Court has invaded, and the immortals and Buddhas seek to annihilate Great Qin and enslave our people."
"So why should Great Qin not retaliate and march upon the Celestial Realm?"
"In the future…"
"Our empire will not be limited to governing just the human clans."
"The Earthly Immortal Realm is home to myriad races, many of whom have suffered under the oppression of the immortals and gods. These will be our future targets for recruitment and conquest."
"Compared to the vast array of races in the Earthly Immortal Realm, those already under our control in the mortal realm are practically our kin."
"Esteemed ministers, as long as Great Qin remains strong, any race can be of use."
"But this must all be built upon absolute strength and absolute control."
Zhao Feng's gaze swept over the court officials, his words carrying profound implications.
Hearing his argument, the ministers and generals fell into deep thought.
"The Crown Prince's reasoning is clear."
"Let me remind you all of one thing."
"Do not confine your vision to that of a mere mortal dynasty."
"Great Qin has already become a Fate Dynasty."
"And in the future, who is to say that we cannot replace the Celestial Court itself?"
Ying Zheng laughed, his voice brimming with boundless ambition.
At this, the expressions of the court officials turned fervent.
"To seize the Celestial Court and take its place…"
"As ministers of Great Qin, would we not then ascend to godhood?"
"To become deities, attain immortality, and wield divine authority?"
"Is this truly possible?"
The officials and generals were astonished, their gazes burning with both desire and ambition.
"This vast world has already been conquered by Great Qin."
"If our future goal is to storm the Celestial Realm and usurp the Celestial Court…"
"What? Do you all now cower in fear?"
Ying Zheng smiled, but his tone grew solemn.
At that moment, every court official snapped out of their daze, their expressions filled with fervor and even deeper ambition.
"We, your ministers, pledge our lives to Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!"
"One day, Great Qin shall march upon the Celestial Realm and replace the Celestial Court!"
The entire court roared in unison.
At that moment, Ying Zheng and Zhao Feng had planted a new ambition in their hearts.
The mortal realm had been unified.
The ministers, having completed their earthly duties, had begun to relax but now, a far grander vision had been set before them.
Conquer the Celestial Court and take its place!
"One year has passed."
"The Celestial Court has yet to send its armies down."
"This time, it will not be like before. The Celestial Court will surely dispatch a greater force of heavenly soldiers and generals." Zhao Feng said slowly.
"Then we shall meet force with force."
"If they send soldiers, we will resist them." Ying Zheng laughed.
"But for now…"
"We must first absorb the mortal realm's fate entirely, transforming it into national fortune and ascending to an Imperial Fate Dynasty."
"The more national fortune we possess, the faster our subjects can cultivate." Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"Indeed."
Ying Zheng's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
At that moment
The Sacred Court of Creation began to operate.
A piercing cry echoed.
In the void above, the national fortune of Great Qin converged, manifesting into the totemic form of Qin's Fortune Blackbird.
Its colossal body, stretching 470 zhang in length, enveloped the entire sky in an aura of overwhelming might.
As the national fortune materialized
The Nine Cauldrons resonated in response.
The invisible barrier that once shrouded the entire territory of Great Qin was now fully revealed.
"The fate of all lands under Great Qin's rule shall belong to Great Qin."
"Fate shall transform into a national fortune."
With a resounding command from Ying Zheng,
The Fortune Blackbird soared high into the air.
The fate of the entire mortal realm surged toward the blackbird, converging into its form.
As the fortune merged
The blackbird's totemic body expanded at a rapid pace.
500 zhang.
550 zhang.
600 zhang...
"The fate of the entire mortal realm should be enough to elevate Great Qin to the status of an Imperial Dynasty."
"Once we ascend to an Imperial Dynasty, Great Qin's Fate Dynasty will reach the pinnacle of the mortal realm, and we will finally gain true dominion over fate itself." Zhao Feng's eyes flickered with expectation.
Under the watchful gaze of the entire court, and even the citizens of Xianyang City
The blackbird's manifested totem grew ever larger.
At last
It reached a critical threshold.
700 zhang!
800 zhang!
Finally, it stabilized at 830 zhang!
This was already the level of a Mid-Tier Imperial Dynasty.
"Today"
"Great Qin ascends to an Imperial Dynasty!"
Witnessing the Fortune Blackbird successfully absorb the fate of the entire mortal realm, Ying Zheng's voice rang out in elation.
Immediately after
The Imperial Seal of State appeared in his hand.
"I, as the Emperor of the Great Qin Imperial Dynasty, decree Let my officials, my soldiers, be blessed with the power of our national fortune!"
"The Governors of each province within Great Qin, by their official seals, may command a province's national fortune to repel enemies and slay foes!"
"The Prefects of each commandery within Great Qin, by their official seals, may command a commandery's national fortune to repel enemies and slay foes!"
"The County Magistrates within Great Qin, by their official seals, may command a county's national fortune to repel enemies and slay foes!"
Ying Zheng's voice resonated through the grand hall.
As soon as his words fell
The corresponding authority was instantly granted to Great Qin's regional governors and officials.
This was the power of Fate Dynasty Authority, obtained upon ascending to the Imperial Dynasty!
"His Majesty is wise and brilliant!"
The court officials all cried out in unison.
"The entire territory of Great Qin"
"Shall be fortified by our national fortune, supported by the Nine Cauldrons, and protected by the Nine Provinces Barrier, safeguarding all under Great Qin's rule!"
Following this, Zhao Feng controlled the power of national fortune.
The Nine Cauldrons dispersed, each anchoring one of the Nine Extremities of Great Qin's territory.
The Nine Provinces Barrier now enshrouded the entire mortal realm.
Under the protection of the Nine Provinces Barrier
Empowered by national fortune
The divine calamities and celestial disasters wielded by the immortals and gods could no longer penetrate the lands of Great Qin.
With the power of the Nine Cauldrons, all within Great Qin's domain would enjoy prosperity, free from natural calamities and celestial oppression.
In ancient times, how did humanity survive under the overwhelming might of the Wu (Sorcerer) and Yao (Demon) Clans?
First, humanity possessed an indomitable spirit.
Second, the Nine Cauldrons safeguarded their very foundation.
With the power of the Nine Cauldrons, human territories were shielded, preventing divine catastrophes and demonic plagues from afflicting them.
After the court session ended
"Feng'er."
"Are you planning to go to the Immortal Realm?"
Once the great hall was empty, leaving only father and son, Ying Zheng couldn't help but ask.
"Father, what makes you say that?" Zhao Feng smiled in response.
"A gut feeling," Ying Zheng chuckled.
"As expected of my father," Zhao Feng teased with a grin before nodding.
"Yes."
"Mere defense is not my way."
"This time, once the Heavenly Court sends its forces again and we annihilate them com will ascend to the Immortal Realm."
"But I won't act recklessly I will devour it bit by bit." Zhao Feng's gaze gleamed with determination.
"How do you plan to do it?"
Ying Zheng's tone carried a hint of concern.
"Father," Zhao Feng chuckled.
"How did Great Qin once sweep through the Six Kingdoms and unify the Divine Continent?"
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