"A First-Rank Earl, with a fate boost of 112-fold… that's even higher than the fate I had as the ruler of a dynasty."
The Tianlong Emperor was deeply shaken. Though he had long understood the gap between a dynasty and a Sacred Court, it wasn't until now—feeling the immense tide of power wash over him—that he truly grasped the difference.
"This… this is the foundation of the Sacred Court. Simply terrifying."
As the emperor of a dynasty, his own fate amplification had only been 72-fold. Yet now, just as a First-Rank Earl under Great Yi, he received 112-fold—a shocking improvement.
He no longer felt he had lost anything. On the contrary, he had gained more by submitting. Being a wealthy idle noble under Great Yi… was not a bad outcome at all.
Even though the nobility system stipulated that a title descends one rank every thirty years, it could still be inherited or maintained by the original holder. The only thing that would change was the reduced fate amplification.
For instance:
A Second-Rank Earl still had 101-fold fate.
Even at Ninth-Rank Earl, there was 24-fold fate boost.
Dropping from Earl to Viscount still led to a First-Rank Viscount having 96-fold fate.
In some ways, the fate bonus actually increased again after that drop.
And beyond that, one could earn military merit to rise in rank, or even prevent title degradation altogether.
As long as the title wasn't passed on, it wouldn't drop—thus allowing one to enjoy its benefits longer.
As long as Great Yi endured and the title hadn't fallen to commoner status, they would always belong to the nobility class.
"Being a noble layman with a stipend isn't so bad."
A First-Rank Earl's monthly stipend included:
100,000 Eternal Coins
1,000 catties of high-grade spirit rice
Various resources and pills
He wouldn't need to work at all, yet could live comfortably with abundant resources.
Even a First-Rank Viscount still received:
10,000 Eternal Coins
300 catties of spirit rice
Such a noble could still easily sustain an entire family in wealth and luxury.
But to Great Yi, such stipends were minor.
Yi Tianxing had never valued wealth. Eternal Coins were just numbers—freely printed by Great Yi. Spirit rice was mass-produced across the Cloud Realm, with dozens if not hundreds of varieties, and high yields thanks to abundant spiritual energy.
Even ordinary households in Great Yi could now afford spirit rice as a staple food from time to time.
Still, for cultivators, spirit rice remained a crucial spiritual resource.
The Five Elder Stars were just as shocked. They had no objections to being named Second-Rank Earls—the fate bonus alone was higher than anything they currently had.
While they could no longer wield supreme power, this outcome was more than acceptable. In Great Yi, advancement paths still existed. With enough strength and merit, anything was possible.
"Thank you, Holy King, for your grace."
The Tianlong Emperor and the Five Elders bowed solemnly toward the edict, then turned to face Xuanhuang City and offered a ceremonial bow.
ROAR!
At the moment the Tianlong Emperor performed the ritual bow, the fate dragon of the Tianlong Dynasty let out a mournful cry.
Its body began to disintegrate.
Immediately, the golden fate dragons of Great Yi—waiting like predators—charged forth and devoured it.
Then, from the heavens, a seven-clawed golden dragon soared down.
As numerous lesser fate dragons merged into it, its size rapidly expanded—to a length of 1,800 zhang.
This was a heavenly feast: the Sacred Court had devoured an entire dynasty's fate.
Once the Demon Sea Realm was fully brought under control, the fate dragon might grow beyond 2,000 zhang.
As the fate dragon collapsed, the Tianlong Emperor's face turned pale, and his aura grew weak. But moments later, a more potent stream of fate descended upon him.
The seven-clawed golden dragon soared through the sky, roaring triumphantly, surveying its new territory.
Suddenly—SWOOSH!—a flash of seven-colored divine light split the air.
A massive scroll appeared beneath the fate dragon's claws, hanging in mid-air.
Three words shone brightly upon it:
Nobility Roll! (封爵榜)
Names began appearing on it:
Long Yaoren (Tianlong Emperor): First-Rank Earl, 112-fold fate
Hei Lao (Black Elder): Second-Rank Earl, 101-fold fate
Hong Lao (Red Elder): Second-Rank Earl
Lan Lao (Blue Elder): Second-Rank Earl
Bai Lao (White Elder): Second-Rank Earl
Lv Lao (Green Elder): Second-Rank Earl
As the names appeared, threads of fate descended from the sky.
Each name was linked to a strand of their soul, now imprinted into the Nobility Roll.
From now on, even if they perished, as long as their name remained on the Roll, their soul would endure—with the possibility of reincarnation, or even ascending to the divine path.
The path forward had diverged—now filled with choices.
With the fate boost from the Sacred Court, they not only suffered no backlash from the collapse of their dynasty—but actually felt closer to the laws of Heaven and Earth.
Such was the power of the Sacred Court's fate.
Within its realm, one moved like a fish in water.
"So this is the Nobility Roll... another nation-founding artifact of Great Yi. A supreme treasure of fate.
Just the fate bonuses alone… they already surpass dynasties."
The news quickly spread through the Demon Sea Realm.
Countless pirates, navies, and cultivators of all races were left stunned.
This wasn't the Deification Roll. It had no absurd thresholds. As long as one had merit, even a commoner could rise.
You could win a title, gain a fate bonus, and even enter the bureaucracy of Great Yi. A brand-new path of advancement had been opened.
It gave the people something priceless:
Hope.
For many, the idea of joining Great Yi no longer seemed like submission—but a strategic choice.
Meanwhile, many of the pirate crews began to seriously contemplate their future.
Every landmass in the Demon Sea Realm had already been occupied by Great Yi's Immortal Cities.
And time was only strengthening their grip.
Pirates—by nature—survive through plunder. But if every island was now ruled by Great Yi, then plunder became impossible.
"If we try… it'll lead to our annihilation."
The mere thought was terrifying.
"Send word to all major pirate fleets.
Gather at once.
We must discuss a way forward."
Whitebeard, one of the pirate lords, looked toward the sky, face solemn.
He could already feel a shackling force descending upon the realm. Since the Tianlong Dynasty had surrendered, that pressure had only grown.
The unification of the Demon Sea by Great Yi was now inevitable—a fact, not a theory.
The pirates now faced a crucial decision:
Leave, while they still could.
Stay, and adapt.
Each choice would affect millions of lives.
Such decisions could not be made lightly.
"Now that the Nobility Roll has appeared, the Demon Sea Realm is already in the bag."
said Jia Xu, gazing into the sky.
"This Roll is worth more than ten million soldiers.
It strikes directly at the hearts of men.
Without unity of heart, no one can resist Great Yi.
And now, Great Yi has won their hearts."
"The people's hearts are now as firm as a mountain—immovable."
"Congratulations, Commander,"said Wu Yong with a smile.
"Your efforts in unifying the Demon Sea are unmatched.
Your merit is extraordinary.
Once we return, you'll surely be granted nobility—perhaps even a high-ranking title."
For the ministers of Great Yi, the Nobility Roll was an incentive—a new way to be recognized.
Everyone wanted a title, a mark of status.
"I don't ask to be a Marquis,"Jia Xu replied with a calm smile,"Only that Great Yi continues to prosper and grow.
This is only the beginning."
As the Tianlong Dynasty collapsed, its former rulers—the Tianlong Emperor and the Five Elder Stars—began actively cooperating with Great Yi.
Population statistics were gathered, residents relocated, and Immortal Cities were rapidly occupied.
The dynasty's old cities were either destroyed or moved, under the guidance of Feng Shui masters.
Across the seas, pirate crews realized the sky had changed.
The time of the Tianlong Dynasty was over.
The once untouchable islands now belonged to Great Yi.
The days of pirates bullying locals were over.
They had gone from wolves to rabbits.
And in the midst of it all, a massive gathering of pirate fleets was being arranged—deep in the sea, where the final decision of survival would be made.