The female sect master glanced once more at Zhao Ziyan, then spoke calmly,"When she awakens, bring her to me. I will personally take her as my disciple. With my status, I will not disgrace her identity as a princess of the Yi Dynasty. Heavenly Mandate, Golden Phoenix Possession, the destiny of a dynasty's royal princess... With fortune on her side and proper guidance, she will become another mighty figure of our Qionghua Immortal Sect."
She vaguely saw a golden phoenix soaring around Zhao Ziyan—an omen not seen in ordinary people. In a dynasty, only noble daughters—princesses or titled ladies—could manifest such a celestial sign. If she couldn't perceive Zhao Ziyan's identity from that, she'd hardly be qualified to lead the sect.
Still, it was just a sign of potential.
Heavenly Mandate is merely that—a mandate. Whether one can truly grow into strength depends not just on their destiny or the magnitude of fortune, but on whether they encounter the opportunity to grow.
Above the Great Yi Dynasty, the sea of fortune clouds churned.Within it, the Hall of Ten Thousand Immortals emerged faintly, sometimes revealing glimpses of its interior.
Inside, Yi Tianxing sat solemnly upon the Supreme Throne, with Cai Yan by his side.
Beneath them, rows of thrones displayed the visages of those who had received imperial titles—vivid and lifelike, nearly indistinguishable from their real selves.
"That's the Hall of Ten Thousand Immortals? I saw the King and Queen within!"
"Even the newly ennobled ministers are there, looking as majestic as real gods. If only I could one day earn a place in that hall…"
"Just like the legends—once enshrined there, even in death, you ascend to divine status. A new form of immortal path—to live again! It's almost like immortality."
"The Great Yi was just founded. With the King's unmatched wisdom, he'll surely open the imperial examinations. If so, maybe someone like me could join the ranks. Now is the best time—dynasties always need talent like us at their founding!"
The creation of the Great Yi Dynasty stirred the hearts of many who had been hesitant.To join a Fortune Dynasty (Yun Dynasty) was a rare chance.
It promised a boundless future—a chance to fulfill lifelong ambitions.
"I've heard that the Eternal Academy is a direct path. Graduates have priority to become officials in Great Yi. If I can enter the academy, becoming an official would be simple."
Countless scholars began making secret preparations.
"A Fortune Dynasty... the Great Yi Dynasty... It's unprecedented. If I can join it, my future will be limitless. Must I really rot behind this tiny shop forever?"He Shen looked up at the sky, his small eyes filled with wonder and complexity.
His reputation had long been tarnished. If he tried to enter politics, no one would trust him. The thought of becoming an official had crossed his mind, but he never dared act on it.
"I must not be greedy anymore. Truly, no more greed. This Eternal World is a new era. I, Hé Shēn, must have a new future too."
Determination flickered in his eyes.
Time passed unnoticed.
In the Hall of Heaven, people began awakening one by one.
Each was radiating a powerful aura—the result of the Fortune Feedback from the dynasty, granting tremendous benefits. Many directly broke through to the Life Aperture Realm.
What used to be the most difficult step—condensing a Sea of Life Core—now felt as easy as reaching enlightenment. Time seemed to blur. Symbols formed naturally, and breakthroughs were smooth. Some even skyrocketed through multiple realms, leaping into the Life Aperture stage.
Those already in the Life Aperture Realm felt their internal aperture essence rapidly grow. The surrounding Heavenly Dao Rhythms were as clear as a naked beauty—visible, unhidden, easily absorbed into their cultivation. Barriers melted away like they never existed.
Even someone like Jia Yucun, who previously had poor talent, experienced multiple breakthroughs under the Fortune Feedback, tasting what only true geniuses normally feel.
It was unforgettable.
"Cultivating within a Fortune Dynasty truly is a blessing. Even an ordinary man like me can rival prodigies. And the prodigies will now reach monstrous levels—equal to true paragons."
"As His Majesty said, the stronger the dynasty, the more powerful its fortune becomes. When our dynasty ascends, the enhancement might grow from tenfold to dozens—maybe even hundreds. It's far better than any pill or shortcut—and completely safe."
"We must work hard to make the Great Yi stronger."
Everyone in the hall felt the power of the Heavenly Mandate on their bodies. And so, one thought formed in each heart—this kingdom was not just Yi Tianxing's; it was theirs too.
To make the kingdom grow was to grow the shared pie—and earn a bigger slice for themselves.
Their resolve, already firm, became unshakable.
This was the shortcut to a dynasty's rapid rise—a unified sovereign and ministers.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"
Once everyone had awakened, feeling the surge in their cultivation, they bowed to Yi Tianxing in gratitude.
"Rise."
Yi Tianxing nodded slightly."This is all what you deserve. I, Yi Tianxing, have never mistreated those who follow me with loyalty and diligence. The Great Yi is mine—but it is also yours, and belongs to all of humanity."
His words made every heart in the hall swell with reverence. Their loyalty deepened further.
"Your Majesty," said Xue Jin, stepping forward and bowing,"Now that we've founded a Fortune Dynasty, it's time to establish a tax system, to settle the hearts of the people."
Taxes are the backbone of any nation. Without them, there's no wealth, no grain, no way to mobilize resources. Many dynasties collapsed simply because they lacked funds.
How taxes are levied, and at what rate, are matters of utmost importance. His Ministry of Revenue needed clarity to function.
But this was a Fortune Dynasty, and more importantly, a dynasty of cultivators.
In Great Yi, everyone was a cultivator. The circumstances were vastly different from mundane empires. Add to that the national policy of governing through Immortal Cities amidst wilderness, and the tax structure had to adapt.
In traditional Chinese context, "tax" (税) and "levy" (赋) were distinct.
"Fu" referred to labor, corvée, or military conscription.
"Shui" was a monetary or material tax based on land or commerce.
But now...
In the Eternal World, crops matured extremely fast. A single harvest could produce mountains of grain. Yields per acre were astonishing.
Moreover, most land technically belonged to Xuanhuang City. It was distributed to the people only for farming—not for sale. This cut off the possibility of land annexation at the root.
Besides, cultivators had little need for mundane food—it only served to fill the belly. To earn a living by farming ordinary crops was no longer viable, unless one switched to growing spiritual grain.
But growing spiritual grain required special environments—ideally spiritual fields, which were rare. Even ordinary land could be used, but the growth time would increase dramatically, making the endeavor less profitable.
"Regarding taxes… I've decided… Great Yi shall forever remain tax-exempt!!"
Yi Tianxing spoke after a moment of thought.
"Forever tax-exempt?"
A wave of shock swept through the hall. Faces were full of disbelief. Then silence—and deep contemplation.
No dynasty had ever done this. It was revolutionary.
Taxes were the foundation of rule. To renounce them was to destroy that foundation.
Yet, after some thought, many ministers nodded in understanding.
"Your Majesty's decision is a blessing for the world," said Jia Xu with a smile."If farmers grow ordinary food, it will pile up endlessly. No one in Great Yi will go hungry. With miscellaneous spirit rice priced so cheaply, anyone can afford it. There's no need to wrest profit from the people—especially tiny scraps. This also encourages planting of spiritual crops, since there's no risk of tax-based loss."
He continued,"I propose that each Immortal City be assigned a special region as State Fields. These fields can be planted with spiritual or mundane grain, at the city lord's discretion. The workers can be hired civilians, paid fair wages. The harvests go directly into state granaries as official reserves, in case of emergencies."