In the mortal world, twenty years form one full cycle. In the blink of an eye, twenty years had passed since Wang Chen unified the continent.
Over these twenty years, the continent had undergone earth-shaking changes.
Thanks to policies of migration and intermarriage, the new generation on the continent had grown up and become the backbone of society.
The former Star Luo Empire, Heavenly Soul Empire, and Spirit Empire had all been swept into the trash heap of history, reduced to relics of the past.
Now, everyone shared only one identity: citizen of the Sun Moon Empire.
In these twenty years, the Sun Moon Empire's soul tool technology advanced by leaps and bounds, and its population and productivity soared rapidly.
There were no wars on the continent, no natural or man-made disasters. The common people lived in peace and contentment, happy and fulfilled; it was truly a flourishing golden age.
............
Sun Moon Empire capital, Mingdu, Cabinet.
Ju Zi sat in the office reserved for Cabinet ministers, handling the empire's governmental affairs.
As Wang Chen's woman, Ju Zi enjoyed his complete trust. Before entering seclusion, Wang Chen had arranged for her to join the Cabinet and take charge of a portion of the Sun Moon Empire's administration.
Ju Zi gladly accepted. Her enemy, Duke White Tiger, was already dead, and even the Star Luo imperial family had been wiped out. Her wishes had been fulfilled.
For the rest of her life, Wang Chen was her core.
Sitting off to the side, Ye Guyi watched Ju Zi process documents with utter boredom and inwardly grumbled, "Who knows when Wang Chen will finally finish his seclusion? I never should've agreed to protect Ju Zi… ugh, this is so boring."
......…
Wang Family ancestral grounds, central area.
Inside a towering pavilion over a hundred meters tall, carved entirely from a massive golden ancient tree.
Wang Yan, the Grand Elder, and the other Wang family elders sat around a round table, discussing the recent state of the empire, each voicing their opinions.
As the saying goes, when one man attains the Dao, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. With Wang Chen reaching the pinnacle, the Wang family had reaped enormous benefits.
After twenty years of development, the current Wang family was no longer the small clan with just a handful of members it once was.
They now boasted one Limit Douluo who had condensed the resonance twin soul cores, five Super Douluo above level 95, and a full thirteen Titled Douluo.
Add to that the powerful soul tools Wang Chen had left behind and trump cards like the demi-god Golden Tree, and the Wang family could confidently claim to be the foremost great family of the Sun Moon Empire.
Moreover, as the imperial family of the Sun Moon Empire, the Wang family had two members in the highest seat of power—the Cabinet—and even commanded the most elite soul mentor legion. Their prestige was unmatched.
Wang Chen had fulfilled the promise he made in his youth to lead the Wang family to the peak of the Sun Moon Empire.
The Grand Elder and Wang Yan sat in the secondary seats at the round table, while the other elders sat below them. The head seat remained empty—no one dared to occupy the place that belonged to Wang Chen.
Wang Yan spoke, "Starry Sky Douluo Ye Yulin has grown old and retired from the Cabinet not long ago to return to his hometown. That leaves the ten-member Cabinet short one person.
Officials from the three original Douluo kingdoms' sects are planning to select a representative to compete for the vacant Cabinet position.
Jing Hongchen discussed with me the idea of blocking them. What do you all think?"
Elder Wang Yuan frowned. "Although they come from the sects of the three original kingdoms, the royal families of those kingdoms were all exterminated by His Majesty, and the three kingdoms themselves have been consigned to history's dustbin. I don't think there's any need to block them.
If we block them and deny them a path into the Cabinet or any chance of promotion, resentment will surely build in their hearts. Given enough time, that could breed trouble."
The Grand Elder frowned and said, "I wouldn't mind officials of common birth from the three kingdoms entering the Cabinet, but these sect-born officials all put their sects first.
Once inside the Cabinet, there's a high chance they'll abuse their authority to seek private benefits for the sects behind them. I think it's better to block them for now."
The other elders all voiced their own opinions. After nearly half an hour of discussion, the Wang family elders finally reached a consensus: block them for the time being and deal with the future when it comes.
After settling this major matter, the Grand Elder stretched tiredly. "If His Majesty were here, we wouldn't have to debate back and forth like this."
Elder Wang Yuan sighed, "Indeed. With His Majesty absent, I always feel uneasy. The last time His Majesty emerged from seclusion was three years ago, it seems.
Although the Cabinet handles daily governance, without His Majesty present, we don't dare make decisions on major issues."
Wang Yan calmly replied, "What is there to feel uneasy about? His Majesty is merely in seclusion, cultivating, seeking a higher realm—he hasn't vanished.
As long as His Majesty remains, no one under heaven would dare act presumptuously!"
All the Wang family elders present nodded in agreement.
Indeed, if anyone truly dared to misbehave, once His Majesty emerged, even a thousand or ten thousand lives wouldn't be enough for that person to die.
...…
Hongchen Clan.
Jing Hongchen lounged leisurely in a reclining chair, holding a teacup, drinking tea with his grandson Xiao Hongchen. As for his granddaughter, Meng Hongchen, she was naturally in the palace as the Empress.
Now in his thirties, Xiao Hongchen still looked handsome and refined, but the youthful naïveté of his teenage years had been replaced by a touch of maturity.
Jing Hongchen said, "Xiao'er, your cultivation has already reached level 94. When you reach the peak of level 94 and still haven't comprehended the realm of Heaven and Man Unity, Grandpa will take you to the Wang family.
I believe that under the Wang family's Golden Tree, entering a state of deep meditation will give you a high chance of comprehending the realm of Heaven and Man Unity."
Xiao Hongchen raised a brow and confidently declared, "Grandpa, a mere realm of Heaven and Man Unity—how could it possibly stump me?!"
Jing Hongchen: …Let's hope so.
Jing Hongchen gazed comfortably at the sky and smiled. "Xiao'er, your grandpa has broken through to Limit Douluo in this lifetime and enjoyed three hundred years of longevity. I'm content.
Grandpa doesn't have any grand expectations for you. I only hope that in the future you'll inherit my mantle and not disgrace the reputation of the Hongchen Clan."
Xiao Hongchen replied with dissatisfaction, "Grandpa, I may not be sure about other things, but surpassing you? I'm confident I can do that."
Jing Hongchen teased, "Oh? Then Grandpa will wait and see just when you manage to surpass me."
...…
Sun Moon Empire Imperial Palace, Kun Ning Palace.
Noble Consort Xu Tianzhen sat cross-legged in the centre of the hall, absorbing heaven-and-earth origin energy.
Over the past twenty years, thanks to diligent cultivation, Xu Tianzhen had broken through to level 95 Super Douluo. His strength placed him among the top experts of the entire Sun Moon Empire.
Although his wife's husband, Wang Chen, had seized the Xu family's empire, Xu Tianzhen harboured no hatred toward him.
As a princess of the imperial family, Xu Tianzhen's mindset was vastly different from ordinary people. He understood full well that power struggles were extremely cruel.
Victors typically eradicated the losers—even blood brothers would show no mercy.
Just like his own brothers who had fought life-and-death battles for the throne, or his father who had stained his hands with fraternal blood for the same reason.
Children of the imperial family, having witnessed endless schemes for power, always took such matters in stride.
Especially since after seizing power, his husband Wang Chen had not raised a hand against the Xu family.
Aside from losing their authority, the Xu family faced no threat to their lives—this was already an enormous favour.
...…
Imperial Palace, Imperial Garden.
Empress Meng Hongchen strolled among the flowers. Under the bright sunlight, her snow-white skin glowed with captivating radiance.
Her stunningly beautiful face made even the rare, colourful blooms vying for beauty in the garden pale in comparison.
After walking for a while, Meng Hongchen sat in a pavilion, gazing out toward the depths of the palace, her eyes filled with a deep longing.
"Brother Wang Chen, you cultivation maniac… when will you finally finish cultivating? Meng'er misses you so much."
At that moment, Meng Hongchen suddenly noticed that deep within the palace, a pillar of seven-colored light abruptly shot up, piercing straight into the clouds and even breaking through Douluo Planet's atmosphere.
That seven-colored pillar of light instantly drew the attention of countless people.
Staring at it with wide eyes and sparkling sapphire-like pupils, Meng Hongchen exclaimed, "Brother Wang Chen, you're finally coming out of seclusion!!"
At the very top of the seven-colored pillar, in the starry sky above, Wang Chen looked down upon the entire Douluo Planet.
In total, he had spent twenty years completely mastering the Soul Laws, Time Laws, Space Laws, Destruction Laws, Life Laws, and Elemental Laws, then fusing them into a supreme Fruit of Rules.
These laws complemented and reinforced one another; once combined, their power was beyond imagination.
It could be said that although the current Wang Chen still lacked a divine position, relying solely on the power of the Fruit of Rules, his strength had already reached the level of a Supreme God.
Killing a God King would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Wang Chen raised his head toward the God Realm, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
"Tang San… between you and me, it's time we settled things once and for all!"