You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Holding Lu Zuo, whose life was nearly extinguished, the leader of the Black-Clad Guards transformed into a dark shadow that tore through the night, rushing towards the palace.

The wind howled in his ears, and he had only one thought in his mind: Faster! Faster!

Your Majesty must not be harmed.

However, just as he barely crossed the tall palace walls of the imperial city and stepped into the inner garden,

The dying, cold body in his arms suddenly trembled slightly.

Immediately afterwards, a warm, vast, and seemingly life-giving current quietly welled up from Lu Zuo's heart and quickly flowed throughout his broken body.

This warm current originates from the deepest part of his own bloodline, the long-dormant true dragon bloodline originating from the founding emperor.

With its master on the verge of utter annihilation, it was moved by the sacrifice of the "Forbidden Technique: Return to Emptiness" and its last indomitable will, and began its final and complete burning and transformation.

"Buzz—!"

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only an invisible majesty that seemed to come from ancient times and rule the world, spreading silently from Lu Zuo as the center.

The leader of the Black-Clad Guards abruptly stopped in his tracks, looking down in horror at the object in his arms.

Lu Zuo's pale face was visibly regaining color, becoming even more radiant and luminous than before, with a subtle jade-like sheen.

His originally faint, almost imperceptible aura suddenly surged forth like an oil slick thrown into a Martian ocean.

This aura was not a simple recovery of true energy, but a higher and deeper "momentum" that seemed to resonate subtly with the earth beneath their feet and the sky above their heads.

It is the momentum of the imperial way, the momentum of the true dragon.

Lu Zuo's eyes moved slightly beneath his tightly closed eyelids.

At the ancestral aperture between the eyebrows, the divine light that was about to be extinguished shed its last trace of mortal energy and transformed into a pure, dazzling, crimson-gold flame that seemed to illuminate the netherworld.

The shackles of the "Spiritual Rhinoceros Forging Divine Technique" shattered at this moment, and his spiritual power underwent a qualitative leap, transforming into an even more powerful and profound "divine consciousness".

Within his body, the "Huangji Zhenshi Gong" operated wildly on its own. Under the influence of bloodline power and system energy, his meridians, dantian, and acupoints were repaired, expanded, and strengthened at an unprecedented speed.

His level of power has already broken through the common sense of martial arts in this world, stepping into a mysterious new realm—above the Martial Saint, half a step towards the Divine Realm.

All these changes, though seemingly lengthy, actually happen in the blink of an eye.

The leader of the Black-Clad Guards held Lu Zuo in his arms, feeling as heavy as a mountain yet as light as a feather.

The natural aura of authority emanating from him made even a man of iron will, a leader of the Black-Clad Guards who had experienced life and death, tremble in his heart and almost made him release his hands and kneel down.

Lu Zuo slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes no longer held the depth or sharpness of the past, but rather a calm stillness, as if reflecting the starry sky and the universe.

Beneath this tranquility lies absolute confidence in controlling everything, the vicissitudes of life and death, destruction and rebirth, and the majesty of a true dragon awakening and looking down upon the world.

With a slight movement, he stood firmly on the ground, as if his previous severe injuries and near-death experience were just a dream.

A flash of crimson-gold light disappeared in his eyes, and his tattered robes fluttered without wind. Though still simple, they exuded an aura of nobility that made people dare not look directly at him.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?!"

The leader of the Black-Clad Guards knelt on one knee, his voice filled with disbelief, excitement, and even deeper awe.

Lu Zuo nodded slightly, but his gaze was already fixed on the brightly lit Taiji Hall deep within the palace.

His divine sense, like an invisible tide, had already "seen" everything that happened in the palace.

Liu Daoling's trusted civil officials, held hostage by several generals, are attempting to take over the defense of key palace gates with forged "Emperor's Edict" and "Prime Minister's Decree," confronting the Golden Scale Guard led by Han Lie.

Yuwen Qing's most elite "Black Armor Cavalry" vanguard, under the pretext of "rescuing the emperor" and "suppressing the rebellion," has forcibly broken through several lines of defense around the imperial city and is heading surging toward the inner palace.

"A mere clown dares to lay his hands on my empire."

Lu Zuo's voice was calm and even, yet it carried a chilling coldness that could freeze one's soul.

He took a step forward.

Without using any lightness skill, his figure vanished from his original spot and reappeared on the roof of a palace dozens of feet away.

With another step, they swept past numerous palaces and, as if by teleportation, sped toward the source of the chaos—the square in front of the Taiji Hall.

The leader of the Black-Clad Guards hurriedly used all his speed to catch up, only to find that he could not keep up with His Majesty's seemingly leisurely pace.

In front of the Taiji Hall, on the square.

Torches stood in rows, their light reflecting off the armor with a cold gleam.

Han Lie led fifty Golden Scale Guards in formation, blocking the steps in front of the palace. They faced off against hundreds of Imperial Guards, Imperial Attendants, and martial artists privately raised by Liu Daoling, who belonged to different factions but were now subtly united.

The atmosphere was tense, ready to erupt at any moment.

Zhou Min, Liu Daoling's confidant and the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was holding a roll of silk and sternly rebuking Han Lie.

Han Lie's face turned ashen, the veins on his hand gripping the knife bulging, caught in a dilemma.

"Minister Zhou is quite imposing."

A calm voice suddenly came from above everyone's heads.

The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out all the noise in the room, as if it were ringing directly in everyone's ears.

Everyone was startled and looked up in unison.

A figure appeared on the tall, double-eaved roof of the Taiji Hall, which symbolized supreme imperial power.

The man, dressed in casual clothes, stood with his hands behind his back. The night wind blew the hem of his clothes, and behind him was the night sky, where the blood-red clouds had just dispersed and the clear moonlight had returned.

It was Lu Zuo.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?!"

Han Lie was both surprised and delighted.

Zhou Min and the others' expressions changed drastically, as if they had seen a ghost.

"Having seen me, why don't you kneel and pay your respects?"

Lu Zuo's gaze swept down indifferently, yet it felt like an immense pressure on Zhou Min and the others.

Zhou Min trembled, her legs went weak, and she cried out, her voice trembling with fear, "You...who are you? How dare you impersonate His Majesty!"

His words came to an abrupt end.

Because Lu Zuo only glanced at him.

There was no movement, no words.

But Zhou Min felt as if an invisible hammer had struck his chest, and boundless fear instantly gripped his heart.

He opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound. His face turned from red to white, then from white to green. The "blood edict" and "imperial decree" in his hands slipped limply from his grasp. He lay on the ground, his crotch quickly becoming wet. He had been so frightened by that one look that he lost control of his bladder and his mind collapsed.

This scene left the entire audience speechless.

Those soldiers and warriors who had followed Zhou Min were all horrified, and their morale plummeted instantly.

"I am Lu Zuo, the Son of Heaven of Great Hao."

Lu Zuo's voice rang out again, still calm, but carrying an unquestionable, almost divine pronouncement, meaning: "Liu Daoling and Yuwen Qing colluded with evil spirits, wreaked havoc in the capital, forged imperial edicts, and mobilized troops to force the emperor to abdicate. Their crimes deserve the extermination of their entire clan."

"Han Lie".

"Your subject is here!" Han Lie's voice trembled with excitement as he knelt on one knee.

"Capture these traitors and rebels. If they resist, kill them without mercy."

"As you command!"

Han Lie abruptly stood up, his long sword drawn, his eyes blazing with killing intent. "Golden Scale Guards! Follow me to kill the enemy and protect His Majesty!"

"Protect His Majesty!"

The fifty Golden Scale Guards roared in unison, their fighting spirit soaring to the heavens.

The hundreds of people opposite had already been overwhelmed by Lu Zuo's terrifying aura. Seeing the Golden Scale Guards rushing towards them like tigers and wolves, most of them dropped their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy, while the few who resisted were quickly killed.

Lu Zuo stopped looking at the small-scale chaos at his feet and turned his gaze to the outside of the palace gate, where the sound of horses' hooves and shouts of battle were getting closer and closer.

Yuwen Qing's "Black Armor Cavalry" have arrived.

"Your Majesty! The palace gates are under attack! Yuwen Qing, leading the Black Armor Cavalry and elite Breaking Camp troops, has breached the outer city and is fiercely assaulting Xuanwu Gate! The defending soldiers have suffered heavy casualties and are on the verge of collapse!"

A messenger covered in blood scrambled to the edge of the square and shouted hoarsely.

Lu Zuo remained expressionless and said to the leader of the black-clad guards who had just arrived at his side, "Go to Xuanwu Gate."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared from the rooftop.

......

Xuanwu Gate, the most important north gate of the imperial palace, has now been transformed into a battlefield.

The heavy iron city gate groaned under the impact, and arrows rained down from the gate tower, but the black-armored cavalry charging into the city gate were fearless. Moreover, some of Yuwen Qing's experts leaped onto the city wall and engaged in a fierce battle with the defenders.

The defense line is in grave danger.

Yuwen Qing rode his magnificent black horse, positioned slightly behind the charging troops. Gazing at the palace gates that were about to be breached, a savage grin spread across his face, a look of unwavering determination on his face.

Just then, a figure appeared silently on the eaves of the tall gate tower of Xuanwu Gate, like a ghost.

It was Lu Zuo.

Yuwen Qing's pupils constricted sharply, and he looked up abruptly, exclaiming in a trembling voice, "Lu Zuo?! How could you...?"

Lu Zuo looked down at the black-armored cavalry charging like ants below, his gaze finally settling on Yuwen Qing.

"Yuwen Qing, you have received the country's favor for generations and have risen to the rank of marshal, yet you do not think of repaying it and instead harbor rebellious intentions."

He privately amassed troops, colluded with evil spirits, wreaked havoc in the capital, and even dared to lead his troops to storm the palace, intending to rebel.

Do you know your crime?

Yuwen Qing felt a chill run down his spine as he was looked at by that calm yet infinitely majestic gaze, but it was quickly replaced by an even greater rage.

"You ignorant brat, stop your nonsense! I, the general, am here to purge the court of corrupt officials, eliminate evil spirits, and rescue the emperor!"

He roared, trying to quell the army's fears, "All soldiers, listen to my command! His Majesty has been possessed by an evil spirit and is delirious! Follow me into the palace and rescue the real His Majesty! Kill!"

He unleashed the immense true energy of a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm, personally wielding his spear, transforming into a raging black shadow as he charged fiercely toward the city gate.

Faced with this terrifying charge that could crush thousands of troops, Lu Zuo simply raised his right hand and made a feigned press in Yuwen Qing's direction.

There were no fancy moves, no powerful release of internal energy.

But the moment he pressed his palm down, the space within ten feet around Yuwen Qing seemed to freeze instantly.

The galloping warhorses, the wildly swirling spears, the howling wind, and even Yuwen Qing's ferocious expression and surging true energy, all froze for a moment.

next moment--

"puff!"

The mighty Grand Marshal Yuwen Qing, who commanded thousands of troops and whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Innate Grandmaster realm, along with the magnificent dragon steed beneath him, suddenly exploded into a cloud of blood mist.

The lance that had accompanied him in battle for many years also broke into pieces and turned into scrap metal.

A top martial arts master of the time, a marshal of the imperial court commanding hundreds of thousands of troops, is gone just like that.

He was crushed into dust by a palm strike from a distance, leaving no trace of his body.

Dead silence.

Absolute silence enveloped the area in front of Xuanwu Gate.

The charging black-armored cavalrymen stood frozen in place, their eyes filled with boundless fear and bewilderment, as if struck by a spell.

Lu Zuo slowly withdrew his hand, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

His gaze swept over the dark mass of rebels below, who were frozen in a daze. His voice remained calm, yet carried the power to decide life and death:

"Yuwen Qing has been executed."

Those of you who lay down your weapons and kneel down to surrender now, I will consider that you have been deceived and will be treated leniently, only punishing the ringleaders.

- We are dedicated to providing the most comfortable reading experience.

Those who stubbornly resist will be utterly destroyed, both physically and spiritually, and their entire families will be exterminated.

"Clang!" "Clang, clang!"

Like dominoes falling, the sound of countless weapons crashing to the ground rang out.

The black-armored cavalry at the very front were the first to break down, dropping their weapons, rolling off their horses, banging their heads on the ground, and trembling.

Panic spread like a plague, and thousands of elite rebels knelt down in droves, forming a dark mass on the ground.

The crisis at Xuanwu Gate was resolved in an instant.

.....

Lu Zuo stopped looking at them and his figure disappeared from the gatehouse again.

When he appeared on the highest star-gazing pavilion in the Prime Minister's residence, Liu Daoling gazed at the faint firelight in the direction of the palace, a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, and a calm smile on his face that suggested he had everything under control.

"Prime Minister Liu has refined tastes."

Lu Zuo's voice suddenly rang out behind him.

Liu Daoling's fingers, which were twirling the prayer beads, suddenly stopped, and he abruptly turned around.

When he saw Lu Zuo's calm and composed face under the moonlight, his composure instantly cracked, turning into extreme shock and disbelief.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty?"

Liu Daoling's voice was dry and hoarse.

"Are they waiting for Yuwen Qing's report of victory, or for the 'purging of corrupt officials' in the palace?"

Lu Zuo took a step forward, the moonlight illuminating his deep eyes. "Or perhaps, he's waiting for that Blood Rakshasa to turn me into a part of her sea of ​​blood?"

Liu Daoling's face turned deathly pale instantly, and his last shred of hope vanished.

He suddenly crushed the Buddhist beads in his hand, and his refined and peaceful aura suddenly turned cold and sharp, unleashing a powerful true energy that was not much weaker than Yuwen Qing's.

He had also concealed his extremely profound martial arts skills.

"Since Your Majesty is already aware, this old minister has nothing more to say."

Liu Daoling's eyes were sinister as he stared intently at Lu Zuo. "But this old minister doesn't understand, Blood Rakshasa..."

"She's dead."

Lu Zuo interrupted him, his tone indifferent, "Destroyed both body and soul."

Liu Daoling's body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning, and the same fear as Yuwen Qing had shown before his death finally appeared in his eyes.

"You should go and keep her company too."

Lu Zuo stopped talking nonsense and pointed his finger like a sword, pointing it out from a distance.

A finger strike, condensed to its extreme and tinged with pale gold, shot out from the air at a speed that exceeded Liu Daoling's reaction limit.

Liu Daoling roared, and his body erupted with dense gray-black true energy, which condensed into a thick tortoise-shell-like energy shield. At the same time, he retreated rapidly, and two poisoned short blades slid out from his sleeve, turning into a sky full of cold stars that pointed towards Lu Zuo.

However, all of this seemed so futile in the face of Lu Zuo's seemingly casual finger.

"laugh!"

The pale gold finger force easily pierced through the tortoise shell-like qi shield, like a hot knife cutting through butter, and then touched Liu Daoling's brow.

Liu Daoling froze, his eyes dimmed rapidly, and a touch of crimson seeped from between his brows.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately failed to utter a sound. His body went limp and he collapsed, lifeless.

This prime minister, who had held power for decades and whose protégés and former officials were scattered throughout the land, thus met his demise.

Lu Zuo didn't even glance at Liu Daoling's corpse before his figure faded and disappeared once more.

That night, Nanjing was destined to be sleepless.

Emperor Lu Zuo, like a deity walking among mortals, appeared at various crucial junctures in unimaginable ways and with overwhelming force.

In the midst of laughter and conversation, the mastermind behind the chaos in the capital, Blood Rakshasa, was annihilated; with a wave of his hand, the powerful Grand Marshal Yuwen Qing turned into a bloody mist; and with a snap of his fingers, the Prime Minister Liu Daoling, who held sway over the court, died in a high pavilion.

With their leader gone, the power of the Liu and Yuwen factions quickly collapsed.

With the cooperation of the Golden Scale Guards and some of the rebel Imperial Guards, Han Lie quickly took control of the palace and wiped out the remaining enemies.

With the covert assistance of the Black-Clad Guards, Yan Qingfeng, together with the forces in the Demon-Suppressing Platform and the Demon-Suppressing Division that were not yet completely corrupt, made every effort to wipe out the remaining demons in the city, appease the people, and treat the wounded. The situation stabilized at an astonishing speed.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the darkness and illuminated this ancient capital that had suffered so much damage over the past thousand years, the shouts of battle, explosions, and the roars of demons in the city had largely subsided.

Only wisps of smoke, broken walls and ruins, and bloodstains and remains of armor that had not yet been completely cleaned up on the streets tell the story of the terrifying catastrophe of last night.

......

The Imperial Palace, Taiji Hall.

Lu Zuo sat high on the dragon throne. Despite a night of fighting and running around, he showed no signs of fatigue. Instead, he exuded a divine aura and emanated an imposing presence without anger.

Below, civil and military officials knelt in fear and trembling.

Many people still bore the marks of smoke and fire, their faces were pale, and their eyes darted around.

Now that the dust has settled, all that remains is liquidation and restructuring.

Lu Zuo did not deliver a lengthy speech, but simply issued a few concise yet menacing decrees.

I. Yuwen Qing and Liu Daoling have colluded with evil spirits, disrupted the court, and plotted rebellion to usurp the throne. The evidence against them is conclusive. They are hereby stripped of all their official titles and ranks, their family property is confiscated, and the three clans of Yuwen and Liu are all imprisoned, interrogated severely, and punished according to the law, as a warning to others.

His associates were jointly tried by the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate, who distinguished between the ringleaders and accomplices and punished them severely without any leniency.

Second, Yan Qingfeng, the deputy commander of the West City branch of the Jingmotai, is promoted to commander of the Jingmotai, in charge of the extermination and capture of demons in the capital and surrounding areas, and assisting the Ministry of War in reorganizing the Demon Suppression Division.

He was granted the title of "Loyal and Brave Earl," a reward of one thousand taels of gold, and a mansion.

Third, Han Lie, the commander of the Golden Scale Guard, was promoted to the position of Commander of the Palace Guard for his meritorious service in protecting the emperor, and was given overall command of the imperial city's guards.

He was granted the title of "Earl of Wu'an".

Fourth, a general amnesty is declared, exempting Nanjing and surrounding disaster-stricken prefectures and counties from taxes for one year. The imperial court will allocate funds and grain to provide relief to the disaster victims and repair the city and houses.

Fifth, the "Inspectorate" was established, directly under the emperor, to supervise all officials, inspect local areas, and have the power to execute first and report later. It was specifically responsible for eliminating the remnants of Liu and Yuwen, punishing corruption, and rectifying officialdom.

The first inspector was a member of the Black-Clad Guard.

VI. Proclaim to the world the conspiracy of the Blood Rakshasa and the Blood Worship Cult, and demonstrate the imperial court's merit in quelling the chaos and protecting the people.

The court declared that, effective immediately, it would strengthen its military and eliminate disloyal forces from all directions, and that anyone who colluded with evil spirits or harmed the people would be punished, no matter how far away they were.

.....

The imperial decree sent shockwaves through the court and the public.

The cleansing was bloody and thorough, but new forces were also rapidly rising.

A group of middle and lower-ranking officials, including Yan Qingfeng and Han Lie, who were loyal to the emperor, capable, and principled, were promoted without regard to precedent and placed in key positions.

The Black-Clad Guards, moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, together with the newly established "Inspectorate," form the sharpest blade in the emperor's hand.

The entire court was refreshed.

In the following months, Lu Zuo took charge of the central government, using an iron fist to sort out the government affairs, reform the military system, and promote the martial arts and basic body-strengthening and spirit-cultivating methods that he had sorted out and improved in the "Zangzhen Pavilion" to suit military formations, greatly improving the overall combat effectiveness of the army.

At the same time, with the help of the Black-Clad Guards and the Inspection Bureau, the power of the Liu and Yuwen factions was eradicated, and their embezzled wealth was poured into the national treasury, laying the foundation for subsequent expansion.

Lu Zuo did not explain his strange changes and the almost miraculous power he displayed that night to anyone.

The court officials believed that His Majesty was a true dragon emperor, blessed by Heaven, and had activated the divine power inherited from his ancestors in times of crisis.

This, on the contrary, brought his prestige to an unprecedented height, and no one dared to harbor any dissent.

......

Time flies, and twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Spring of the twentieth year of Yongchang.

The former imperial city of Nanjing has been expanded and renovated many times, becoming more and more magnificent and spectacular.

Today, it is no longer a dynasty capital confined to a corner of the southeast, but a supreme divine capital that governs the entire land of Haotian.

Twenty years is enough to change everything.

Under Lu Zuo's rule, the Great Hao war machine operated at a speed far ahead of its time.

With the advanced military ideas and improved military technology provided by Lu Zuo, as well as his unfathomable and terrifying personal strength that could determine the course of a battle when occasionally revealed, the Great Hao army was invincible.

The Northern Expedition swept away the various tribes of the grasslands, pushed the northern frontier to the ice fields and deserts, and established the two major protectorates of Beiting and Anbei.

The westward expedition completely conquered the entire territory of Tibet, opened up the Western Regions, destroyed dozens of kingdoms such as Gaochang, Kucha, and Khotan, established the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and made the Silk Road unobstructed, with merchants traveling in droves.

Nanping subdued the southwestern barbarians, its navy traversed the South China Sea, incorporated the islands into its territory, and established the Nanhai Commandery.

The Eastern Expedition, a cross-sea expedition, completely wiped out the remaining Japanese forces, established the East China Sea Province in the area, and reformed customs and traditions.

Wherever the sun shines, whether in the east, west, south, or north, and wherever rivers flow, red flags with golden dragons are planted.

The territory of the Great Hao reached an unprecedented vastness, with all directions paying tribute and all nations submitting.

Lu Zuo was revered as the "Shenwu Emperor of Haotian," and his civil and military achievements were praised as rivaling those of the Three Dynasties and surpassing those of the Han and Tang Dynasties.

On this day, in the capital city, at the Haotian Palace.

At the grand court assembly, all officials stood solemnly.

Compared to twenty years ago, the hall now has many more young and energetic faces, as well as a number of composed and capable middle-aged officials.

Yan Qingfeng has already been appointed as the Deputy Privy Councilor, in charge of military affairs across the land, and is known for his solemn and dignified demeanor.

Han Lie served as the Commander of the Palace Guards, guarding the palace with utmost loyalty.

In the imperial court, there was no longer any factional strife or infighting, only efficient operation and vibrant vitality.

Lu Zuo sat on the nine-dragon gilded throne. Time seemed to have left few traces on his face, but his temperament had become more profound and deep as the sea. His eyes seemed to contain the birth and death of stars, making people dare not look directly at him.

He had already pushed the "Imperial Supreme World-Suppressing Skill" to an unbelievable level, connecting it with the nation's destiny and merging it with the dragon vein, making his cultivation unfathomable.

As for the system, it has been silent since that night, as if it had completed its final mission and completely disappeared, or perhaps it had become part of his power.

"Your Majesty," the newly appointed prime minister stepped forward, his voice booming, "spring planting has been completed in all prefectures and counties, and the promotion of new agricultural tools and improved varieties is progressing smoothly, promising a bumper harvest this year."

The Ministry of Works reported that the final section of the "Grand Canal of Shenjing," which connects the north and south, was completed last month and will soon be fully navigable.

The Academy of Sciences' latest improved "Divine Might General Cannon" has passed acceptance testing, with greater power and range than before...

Each report on the empire demonstrated its prosperity and strength.

With a clean and honest political system, a prosperous economy, a powerful military, and a flourishing culture, people did not pick up lost items on the road and did not lock their doors at night—it was almost a golden age in legend.

Lu Zuo listened quietly, but his gaze seemed to pierce through the magnificent palace and reach into the distant void.

He achieved the unification of the world and the peace of the four seas.

The lurking demons and threats of the past have long been wiped out by him with swift and decisive measures, and a comprehensive monitoring and prevention system has been established.

The treacherous officials in the court have long since turned to dust.

His own power had reached the pinnacle of this world, truly making his words law and his mouth a symbol of divine authority.

However, standing at the pinnacle of power, enjoying boundless glory and awe, a faint sense of loneliness arose in his heart.

On this day, Lu Zuo climbed alone to the highest star-gazing platform in the palace.

Leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, the vast landscape unfolds before my eyes like a painting.

In the capital city, thousands of lights shone, and wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

He stretched out his hand, palm up.

With a slight thought, a point of crimson-gold light condensed in his palm. Within the light, the faint images of mountains and rivers, the prayers of the people, and the changing fortunes of the nation could be seen.

This is the "heart of national destiny" that he has cultivated for twenty years and is closely connected with the vast land of Haotian. It is also one of the sources of his strength.

"This world is now entirely under our control."

(End of the book)