In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Those graceful and beautiful figures were truly exceptional beauties, each one a gem in their own right. They wore long, flowing gowns woven from cloud-like silk, their hair styled in elaborate, flowing robes, exuding an air of unparalleled elegance. Their slender, graceful steps and every smile and gesture were captivating.

For envoys from various countries, it was naturally a visual shock.

The grand banquet was divided into two types: the Great Harmony Banquet of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, and the Great Harmony Banquet of the Nine Provinces, which represented the difference in status and position.

Even for most people, the Great Harmony Feast was not a rare dish.

However, the ingredients for the Great Harmony Banquet still shocked many people.

A king crab the size of a small millstone, a five-foot-long lobster, a braised bear paw the size of a washbasin...

These, in turn, served as the main courses, placed in the most important and prominent positions throughout the entire feast, creating a stunning and eye-catching spectacle.

After all, the main ingredients in Central China are limited to hairy crabs, Shandong-style prawns, abalone, and shark fin...

In comparison, the difference is like night and day.

Moreover, this is not just a simple ingredient; it represents the entire world.

Every item from the ends of the earth is a local specialty, and each one is a top-quality ingredient with a distinctive character.

Only when the empire conquers these places can they enjoy these top-quality delicacies.

Even without top-notch cooking skills, you can still enjoy the finest ingredients.

"The ingredients for this feast were provided by the Zhang family, and there was a large quantity of them."

When you all leave later, you may take some with you to share with your families; it will also represent my goodwill.”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!"

Everyone was overjoyed upon hearing this, never expecting that they could take it with them.

But considering that the Zhang family brought six hundred carriages of seafood at once, even the Imperial Palace couldn't finish it in a year.

Moreover, those who can afford to eat these things must have an extraordinary social status.

In addition, eating too much would inevitably lead to satiation, hence the "boundless imperial grace" reward.

At the grand banquet, Emperor Ying Zheng only ate a small portion before bestowing the food upon his sons and heirs.

Apart from Fusu and Huhai, the other princes and princesses undoubtedly enjoyed the meal to the fullest as well.

These are things they can't normally eat even if they want to.

Given their status and position, they did not enjoy the privilege of "a concubine's smile as a rider gallops through the dust."

As for the civil and military officials below, they could only take a small bite of each dish. After a while, they were basically seven-tenths full, and the remaining three-tenths were for drinks.

"Your Majesty the Great Qin Empire!"

I, Tyrande, Holy Roman Empire's envoy and Archbishop of the Western Church of Light, pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of the East!

At this moment, a Western envoy stepped out from the ranks.

Aside from his blond hair and blue eyes, he was over seven feet tall and had a robust build.

Such a figure would be considered tall and imposing in the West, making one a nobleman. At that time, the height difference between races was greatest among the descendants of Yan and Huang north of the Long River, which was understandable given the martial spirit of the north.

Later, as Western powers gradually developed and became overnourished, they gradually earned the title of "Sick Man of East Asia" in the eyes of Westerners.

Ultimately, it's still a case of "the rich feasting while the poor freeze to death on the streets."

Despite the apparent prosperity of the Qing Dynasty, most of the common people at the bottom of society were starving and lacked nutritious food, resulting in sallow complexions, emaciation, and short stature.

Instead, they signed one humiliating treaty after another, demanding reparations of tens or hundreds of millions of taels of silver.

Where do all these come from? They're just squeezed from the hands of ordinary people.

"The Holy Roman Empire? I have heard of it. I've heard it's a vast empire that's not much smaller than the Persian Empire. Your esteemed envoy is very kind."

Based on the timing, it's unlikely that the other party came to offer congratulations intentionally.

However, since they were envoys from the Roman Empire, a powerful empire no less than the Persian Empire, Emperor Qin Shi Huang naturally welcomed them with a smile.

Moreover, if it weren't for this Great Harmony Feast, he wouldn't have known that the West had such a vast area, no less than the Nine Provinces.

After all, the Great Feast of the Nine Provinces uses the finest ingredients from all over the world.

Western fungi and top-quality seafood are included in this category.

"Your Majesty is truly learned!"

Tyrande's visit is not only on behalf of the Empire to congratulate His Majesty, but also on behalf of the Empire's Holy Light Church, to retrieve the Church's lost sacred artifacts from the Central Plains.

The Shroud of Turin and the Spear of Godslayer!

Holy relics of the Church?

Upon hearing the purpose of the other party's visit to the Central Plains, even the Dragon Emperor Ying Zheng couldn't help but show curiosity.

He was still very interested in the treasures of the Western Holy Church.

"Oh, does the envoy have any leads? Do we need the Empire's help?"

"Your Majesty, these two sacred artifacts were originally stolen by traitors and then looted by warriors of the Persian Empire. Later, we heard that the artifacts ended up in this land of gold in the East."

We have been in the Central Plains for quite some time and have gradually learned some news.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately looked at Zhang Yuan, who was leading the group to one side.

Given its connection to the Persian Empire and the fact that it's a treasure, the Zhang family is the most likely candidate.

At this moment, Zhang Yuan was focused on his own thoughts, not paying much attention.

After all, what the West lost, even if he knew it was in the Zhang family, was none of his business.

"Is the envoy's lead from the Zhang family?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, but we are not here to retrieve it; we wish to make a deal with the Zhang family."

The Shroud of Turin and the Spear of Godslayer hold extraordinary significance for the Holy Roman Empire and the Church of Light. If they are not returned in time, the Empire may very well disintegrate.

"We humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"

Hiss...

Upon hearing about the consequences of the stolen relic, everyone immediately looked at Tyrande in the center with suspicion.

Zhang Yuan, who had seemed indifferent, couldn't help but speak up when he heard that the Zhang family was directly involved in the matter:

"The Holy Roman Empire in the West was not a system of absolute imperial power, but rather a system of divinely ordained authority, with divine authority and imperial authority being equal."

While the Roman Empire appeared to be a vast, unified empire, it was actually linked together by the Holy Church and consisted of numerous nobles and small federal states. The nobles held absolute power of life and death in their territories, making it more similar to the feudal system during the Zhou Dynasty.

"If the Pope loses absolute authority, the empire could indeed disintegrate!"

As the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Yuan has learned many secrets over the years, including those about the West.

"As for the two sacred objects mentioned by the messenger?"

I haven't seen it myself, but it should be one of my son's many collections.

"If it's a trade, my son will agree; after all, it's not some priceless treasure. However, to get him to agree to an exchange, I'm afraid your side will have to pay a hefty price."

Upon hearing this, even the Dragon Emperor Ying Zheng nodded in agreement.

Even if someone in the Zhang family has grand ambitions to unify the world, they know that the other party might not pay any attention to their decision.

Moreover, since this is someone else's collection, he has even less authority to make decisions.

But Zhang Yuan's words directly solved his problem.

"How do we trade?"

"Let the envoy speak with the boy himself. I have no knowledge of these treasures, let alone their specific value!"

But the child must know some things that others don't, therefore the value of the treasure will also be determined by the child.

"Thank you so much, sir!"

Looking at Zhang Yuan, the imperial envoy knew that half of the purpose of this trip had been achieved.

However, everyone smiled and realized that obtaining a treasure from the Zhang family, especially one related to the fate of the empire, was no easy task.

If the imperial envoy exposes his own shortcomings, or if the Zhang family is already fully aware of them, they would all think the Zhang family is merciful if they weren't skinned alive.

This also made them realize the Zhang family's background and resources.

Even such sacred objects from the far west are collected by the Zhang family, truly demonstrating their abundance of treasures.

If it weren't for the fact that Emperor Ying Zheng couldn't easily leave the palace, everyone would want to see just how rich Zhang Xiaoshan's collection really was.

After all, besides these, Zhang Xiaoshan had previously plundered the grasslands, Tibet, and the Later Jin...

After several rounds of drinks, the banquet came to an end!

Whether they were envoys or civil and military officials, they received, according to their rank, tuna, lobster, king crab, abalone, and sections of octopus tentacles weighing dozens of kilograms each…

Seeing these legendary seafoods, the group agreed to gather together and share them.

After all, most of them can only receive one serving, and since they are different in size and species, gathering together is the best way to consume them.

As for how to eat it?

Just find the Zhang family's chef; it's not a big deal.

The diplomatic missions from various countries, apart from those from small countries in the East China Sea region, were also present.

The Tibetans, Northern Yuan, and Turks received a fish over three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in size. This terrifyingly enormous creature showed them what truly 'top-tier' seafood was like!

These large fish are not just seafood that are not found in their local area.

Moreover, they appeared one after another, not just one or two exceptions; they were clearly large, adult fish.

Especially in front of the imperial palace, the fish skeleton, which was twenty-two or twenty-three feet long, made them marvel at the vastness of the world and realize that they were probably just ants in the eyes of those giant fish.

However, what they valued most was the significance it represented. As the core of various diplomatic missions, how could they not understand it?

The grand ambitions behind the "Feast for Universal Harmony" are already quite evident.

Compared to the whole world, the Nine Provinces are merely a small corner of the land.

This emperor of the Qin Empire would not stop his conquests after conquering the nine provinces.

Moreover, the sacrificial ceremony we witnessed today was far from simple.

Chapter 598 Mutually Restrained Trust: A Bloodless Murder

"Offer sacrifice to the heavens! Dragon Ball!"

At the founding ceremony of the Qin Empire, many anti-Qin forces, upon hearing of the Dragon Ball's transformation, immediately understood that the Dragon Ball's changes were related to the empire's destiny.

Although fortune is elusive, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Especially the higher one's level, the more one can see!

Zhang Xiaoshan can even create a primordial spirit; he can even create a Bian He offering jade.

The empire has countless experts; it's not impossible for them to create a dragon vein to protect the country, especially a sacred object like a dragon pearl.

In an instant, everyone's attention was focused on the Dragon Ball.

Not to mention that the Dragon Ball made Zhang Xiaoshan famous, it was a legendary top-tier divine object;

They even want to dig up the very foundation of the empire.

However, the Dragon Balls are mysterious, and Ying Zheng also knew that many people might want to get their hands on them, so he had a bodyguard on hand to guard against them.

They even invited Zhang Xiaoshan and Donghuang Taiyi, wanting to set up a super feng shui array for the Dragon Ball of Fortune to suppress the empire's fortune!

It can also protect the Dragon Balls!

It must be understood that at this moment, Emperor Long and the Dragon Pearl are essentially one in destiny. If anything happens to the Dragon Pearl, he will be unable to suppress the backlash from the longevity elixir within his body, and will inevitably face destruction.

Zhang Xiaoshan had already explained the situation at that time.

That night, inside the Imperial Palace:

Emperor Ying Zheng took out the Dragon Pearl and presented it to Zhang Xiaoshan and Donghuang Taiyi.

The two did not appear during the day, not wanting to show themselves in front of the officials and various powerful forces of Wencheng.

At night, their curiosity about the Dragon Balls leads them to gather here.

The Dragon Ball of Fortune - Earth!

The dragon balls in Zhang Xiaoshan's hand are divided into four types: Pure Yang, Wind, Fire, Metal, and Water!