This was a truly astronomical number.
It required 28 million merit points just to be promoted to a first-rank Earl.
From this alone, it was clear just how precious and exalted this title was.To be ennobled, one needed real merit—a symbol of identity and status.
Inside the hall, all the officials were visibly shaken.
This was no cheap reward—titles in Great Yi had weight.
Yi Tianxing continued calmly:
"To be ennobled as a Marquis, one must have earned military merit.
It is not a title given lightly.
To receive the title of Marquis, one must have accumulated 30 million military merit points.
From there, each promotion in rank requires an additional 14 167 000 merit points.
To reach the first rank of Marquis, one would need 157.5 million merit points."
"To become a Duke, one needs 160 million.
Each promotion requires 156 million more.
The first-rank Duke needs 1.567 billion merit points."
"As for Kingship—to receive the title of King,
one needs 2 billion.
Each rank higher requires an additional 252 million,
and the first-rank King requires 4.275 billion merit points."
Hisss...!
Even though the officials were highly composed,hearing this still made many draw in a sharp breath.
The higher the title, the more astronomical the requirement became.And most importantly: titles beyond Marquis required military merit.The phrase "ennobled on horseback" was no empty rhetoric.
Yet even so, none of this dampened the fervor burning in the hearts of those gathered.
Military merit might be hard to earn, but this system gave them a clear path.If you earned the merit, you could be made a Marquis or even a King.
This wasn't a distant dream anymore.
Now, for the first time—you could see the cake on the table.
Such temptation…No one could resist it.
Not just officials—across the common folk of Great Yi and beyond,countless people were stirred.
Even if the merit requirements seemed unreachable—
At least they were visible.
A threshold was better than a mystery.
Many would rather know how high the bar was,even if it was beyond reach—for it meant hope.
And as Great Yi continued expanding,as more battles across realms unfolded,opportunities for military merit would grow.
In the army, wars are never lacking.
Yi Tianxing smiled and declared:
"This time, the ennoblement shall not require merit points.
All of you here are my founding ministers,
companions who walked with me from the beginning.
Consider this a gesture of gratitude,a token of our bond between sovereign and subject."
This was a one-time exception.
Everyone present had followed him for decades—a lifetime in mortal terms.
They deserved this honor.
From now on, noble titles would require earned merit.
"Thank you, Holy King!"
All the ministers bowed in unison—deeply moved.
"We ennoble Huang Chengyan as a first-rank Earl.
Bestow upon him the Earl's Seal!"
The Ancestor of Sunflowers read the edict aloud.
Above them, the Noble Rank Ledger manifested in the void.
As Huang Chengyan's name appeared in glowing script,a copper seal descended from the heavens into his hand.
It was the size of an egg, easy to play with,and had an innate shapeshifting divine power.
Huang Chengyan shrank the seal into the shape of a jade pendant and wore it at his waist—a mark of his status.
The materials used for each noble seal varied by rank:
Baron – wood
Viscount – iron
Earl – copper
Marquis – silver
Duke – gold
King – jade
These seals would become all the rage in Great Yi—symbols of glory and ambition.
"We ennoble Yang Ye as a third-rank Marquis.
Bestow upon him the Marquis's Seal!"
A flash of light—and a silver seal fell into Yang Ye's hand.
He too transformed it into a jade pendant.
His hand trembled.
He was now a Marquis.
His family—the Yang Clan—had become a noble house.
At this moment, he felt that if Yi Tianxing ordered him to die—he would do so without hesitation.
"A soldier dies for the one who understands him."
The entire hall was shaken.
Though it was only third-rank, he had been ennobled as a Marquis!
And this wasn't the limit. With more merit, he could climb even higher.
One day, perhaps the title of Marquis could be passed down through generations.
"Glory to General Yang. Glory to the Yang Clan."
Countless citizens throughout Great Yi were inspired.
There was no jealousy—only admiration.
Yang Ye had followed Yi Tianxing since the earliest days,rising up through oceans of blood and corpses.
He deserved it.
"He really did it…
The Holy King said 'ennobled on horseback',
and now—he's doing exactly that."
Among the hidden experts of the realm, voices murmured in awe.
"I want to enlist in the army.
Great Yi's military has excellent benefits—
reserve duty can transition to formal enlistment.
Battle means merit—
even if I can't become a Marquis, maybe I can be a Baron."
"Men should strive forward with courage!
I'll train hard—join the army—and earn glory!"
Young men throughout the land silently made their vows.
Even in the Battle Soul War Realm,the eyes of many soldiers burned with fire.
This wasn't a dream.
They too could earn titles.
And with it—honor, status, and a future for their families.
Glory for the ancestors.
Pride for generations.
"Next battle—I'll earn even more merit!"
Countless soldiers made silent oaths.
"We ennoble Qi Jiguang as a fourth-rank Marquis.
Bestow the Marquis's Seal!"
One edict after another was proclaimed.
Those receiving titles were all legion commanders—
heroes who had once fought in the Divine-Demon Battlefieldand the Eternal Night Warfront.
Their ranks ranged from fourth to ninth.
This was the honor of the army.
Zhuge Liang was likewise ennobled.
First-rank Marquis — Marquis of War (武侯).
From first rank and above, titles came with an honorary title.
Zhuge Liang had led the Military Cabinet for years,handling all matters with precision and grace.
He was worthy of the name.
Jia Xu was granted the title:
First-rank Marquis — Marquis of Wisdom (智侯).
This round of ennoblement was massive.
Those who received titles could not hide their joy.
"From this moment on—
Great Yi will draw the hearts of the world's strongest.
Talented recluses will now be willing to serve."
Among the hidden powerhouses of Great Yi, many sighed in admiration.
Cultivators may speak of detachment—
but that's only for things they don't desire.
Titles in Great Yi carried real weight, not mere vanity.
This was no ordinary dynasty.
The noble titles reached over a hundred recipients,some publicly announced, others quietly added to the noble ledger.
All received their seals, and their status confirmed.
The court session ended.
But joy followed:
In the Sacred King Palace, another royal son was born.
His mother was Gong Qianyu, the Feather Consort of the Celestial Human Race.
She received the baptism of fate, gaining a natural Dao heart,greatly enhancing her comprehension of heaven's laws.
The child was named Yi Sidào (易似道).
The palace historians recorded:
Eleventh Royal Son, born on the 16th day of the 11th month, Eternal Year 50.
Constitution: Baptized by fate, born with a natural Dao heart.
Possesses innate connection to the laws of heaven,
easily entering the "unity of man and heaven."
Progress in cultivation: miles per day.
The other pregnant consorts showed no signs of urgency.
What they were thinking—anyone could guess.
Soon after, Zheng Zhilong and others were also granted noble titles.
Several of the once-pirate fleet captains joined the army,stepping into the Battle Soul War Realm for further training.
They began practicing military techniques.
Yi Tianxing made it clear:
If they proved themselves in future conquests,
they could become vanguard generals,
and might even command the Sunless Legion or the Sea Beast Corps.
Whether they could seize such roles would depend on their own ability.
Among all treasures, the most valuable were their legendary pirate ships.
Once acquired, the Craftsmen Pavilion immediately dispatched artisans to study the vessels and attempt to replicate their secrets.
Time flew by.
On New Year's Eve, Great Yi held another Immortal Delicacy Banquet.
Guests flooded in. Joy filled the air.
Song and dance filled the capital.
The prosperity and strength of Great Yi was on full display.
As the year ended, the Eternal Calendar entered its 51st year.
Time marched forward.
Every day brought new changes across Great Yi—especially in newly annexed realms.
In just a month, the difference between before and after was like heaven and earth.
Within and beyond the Celestial Cities, the transformation was immense.