Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

"His Majesty……"

His Majesty sometimes likes to say things that others don't understand, but most of the time, he makes sense.

Liu Bingxuan paused briefly, then respectfully bowed to Xie Cangrong and asked for guidance: "Your Majesty, I am foolish and ignorant, please enlighten me."

"Let's leave the barbarians for now. I'm still alive! They're quite obedient now. It's good to have an external conflict that we can resolve at any time. It's better to direct our efforts outward than to let them be directed inward."

Liu Bingxuan nodded thoughtfully: "Hmm..."

Xie Cangrong stood up and walked out of the hall, with Liu Bingxuan following closely behind him.

The sky was perfect today, the sun shining brightly. Stepping out of the palace gates and gazing at the vast blue sky, it felt as if even my heart had broadened. Xie Cangrong looked at the dazzling sunrise on the horizon and sighed softly, "Bingxuan... this world is both vast and small."

Liu Bingxuan could not see the vast world beyond the Great Xia Dynasty, nor did he know about the brilliant civilization that once existed in another time and space, let alone imagine where the future would lead. His vision was limited by his era and his understanding—this was not his fault.

Xie Cangrong turned to him and asked, "Did you see the car that the Ministry of Works produced?"

"Your Majesty is referring to... that four-wheeled vehicle that can move forward on its own without animal power?"

"right!"

"If I told you that a hundred years from now, this thing will replace horses and travel a thousand miles a day with ease—would you believe me?"

"this……"

"If I told you that one day, humans will be able to break free from the earth's shackles and soar into the sky—would you believe me?"

"this……"

"If I told you that in the future, we could communicate instantly with people thousands of miles away using invisible threads—would you believe me?"

"this……"

Xie Cangrong turned his head, his eyes reflecting Liu Bingxuan's stunned face: "At that time, will our Great Xia still be big?"

"This...this is absolutely impossible."

"Don't say it's impossible, Xuanqing. Muskets and cannons were created by our hands, and the million-pound behemoth, the Shenwu, was also created by our hands. Before this, did you ever believe that such creations existed in this world?"

Liu Bingxuan: ...

He was an intelligent man, and although he could not truly imagine the world Xie Cangrong described, he could force himself to understand and accept it.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Your Majesty, even so, why not take it slow? Why not proceed gradually, and wait until we truly possess the power Your Majesty speaks of before setting sail?"

Instead of clinging to distant, unattainable dreams, it's better to be more grounded and practical.

Xie Cangrong smiled, gazing at the blazing sun on the horizon, and said softly, "Bingxuan, I'm worried!"

Do you know what kind of world lies beyond the endless ocean? Do you know if, millions of miles away, there are powerful nations like ours?

"What if they come knocking on our door before we even set sail?"

"If someone else discovers us first—do you understand what that means?"

Ambitious rulers are never content with the status quo, nor do they let their guard down. Past rulers viewed the vast land beneath their feet as the entirety of the world, their lifelong pursuit nothing more than unifying the land. But Xie Cangrong clearly desired more than that.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bingxuan couldn't help but frown.

Xie Cangrong is undoubtedly a skilled negotiator, always eloquent, almost to the point of manipulating people. In his past conquests, it was precisely with his silver tongue that he turned enemies into friends, instigated internal strife, and gained countless advantages. Regardless of whether he is right or wrong, following his words makes it easy to be swayed by his emotions and led by the nose.

If the other side arrives first, it means that the other side is more powerful and has higher skills. We are in the open while the enemy is in the dark... that would be an extremely troublesome external threat.

However, as reason returned, Liu Bingxuan wondered if His Majesty was being overly anxious.

For thousands of years, they had lived on this land and had never heard of anyone from overseas. No one knew where the endless sea ended.

"on the contrary--"

Xie Cangrong abruptly changed the subject and turned around.

He stood with his back to the sunlight, the crimson dragon pattern flowing across his dark brocade robe. His face, usually radiating a warm smile, now betrayed an unbridled, wild ambition: "What if we find them first?"

"Bingxuan, what is an emperor?" His voice was deep and resonant, each word striking the heart: "I want all under heaven to be the king's land, and all within the borders of the land to be the king's subjects!"

"The resources of this world are limited. I want minerals, I want wealth, I want food, I want energy, I want manpower... The dynasty that conquers the world first will hold the power to enslave the world."

Xie Cangrong spread his arms, and the crimson dragon pattern on his black brocade robe seemed to rise as well, exuding a profound elegance. He enthusiastically addressed his subordinates, painting a rosy picture: "Bingxuan, our Great Xia reigns supreme over the world, looking down upon all directions. Isn't that wonderful?"

However, Liu Bingxuan seemed unmoved by these bold words. He didn't even look at the emperor, his gaze passing over the noble figure and landing directly on the distant sky, his brows furrowed: "Your Majesty, is that what you meant by overcoming the shackles of the earth and soaring into the sky?"

"Um?"

An airplane? Could they really build one at this time? They haven't even seen an internal combustion engine yet... Has the Ministry of Industry come up with some new surprise?

Xie Cangrong was taken aback and subconsciously turned around to look into the distance.

A strange wooden boat appeared on the distant eastern horizon, hovering in mid-air.

What the hell is this thing?

This dilapidated wooden boat, suspended in the sky, was somewhat beyond the comprehension of Xie Cangrong, this materialistic war god.

Xie Cangrong: ...

Oh no, things seem to be getting a bit bad now.

This is a bit beyond the scope of what's taught.

If I don't honor this, where did I get it from?

I'm looking for a hardworking, black man, not a Trisolaran!

The ship hadn't even set sail yet, and they'd already been attacked right at their doorstep!

Am I the one being colonized?

However, the moment after witnessing this incomprehensible thing, his mind was shaken, his cognition was penetrated, and he seemed to fall into an indescribable state.

Everything seemed to be resolved by this one opportunity.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely, and the field of vision suddenly became as vast as the universe. Liu Bingxuan stood motionless before him, while Xie Cangrong seemed to see through his essence, and even felt that he could "bestow" something upon him.

An invisible aura surged in from all directions, converging on him.

Standing on this land, he heard the resonance of the sun, moon, mountains, and rivers, felt the devout call of heaven and earth and all people, and saw countless heroic souls who lived, fought, and perished here... The vast fortune gathered in him and converged in this imperial city.

The fate of a nation rests on my shoulders.

It was as if he could control everything in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, the unfamiliar aura from the east, not belonging to this world, grew clearer, making him inexplicably irritable. Xie Cangrong raised his hand and gently waved it in that direction.

At the same time, the distant sky suddenly changed color.

Just moments ago the sky was clear and blue, but now it was filled with dark, inky clouds. Thunder roared, the wind howled, and towering waves surged across the sea, as if the end of the world had suddenly arrived.

The strange wooden boat, suspended in mid-air, seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force, swaying violently in the storm and lightning, almost becoming unstable...

After struggling for a while, it finally couldn't hold on and fell from the sky.

Time seemed to pass in an instant, yet it also seemed to pass for a very long time.

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting a few strands of hair at his temples. Xie Cangrong snapped out of his reverie, looking down at his palms and gently clenching them into fists. He then looked up at the sinking floating wooden ship in the east, momentarily stunned.

It seems... things aren't so bad after all.

"Forehead……"

Liu Bingxuan didn't know what had happened; he only saw the strange wooden boat in the distance fall down.

And right before him, this familiar emperor seemed to change for a moment.

Today's conversation was beyond his comprehension, and the events that unfolded were equally beyond his understanding, leaving even this astute and composed strategist somewhat bewildered. He subconsciously looked up at Xie Cangrong and asked, "Your Majesty..."

Xie Cangrong turned his gaze eastward, his eyes deep: "Have Boxing lead eight hundred men to the east immediately to investigate the situation. If they encounter outsiders, regardless of their appearance, treat them with the utmost courtesy."

"yes!"

The winds of change are rising, and this world, which has only been at peace for a short time, seems to be about to undergo a major transformation.