Become a king right from the start, beginning with receiving rewards from all the heavens.

Xia Zhaoyan has more than just Bai Yujing under his command!

Don't forget, there's also the existence of the underworld!

"Besides my thoughts on Baiyujing, the Underworld also needs a real headquarters and branches."

Xia Zhaoyan had always felt that the Underworld and the Jade Palace were a bit too ordinary in terms of prestige.

But he couldn't think of a better way.

Although they have the capability to create floating islands, such islands are useless; floating in the sky, they are simply sitting ducks.

"Even the underworld needs a true headquarters; if Baiyujing is a celestial city in the heavens!"

"Then in my imagination, my underworld is a true underground world!"

"In my vision, the headquarters of the underworld, built using mechanical engineering, would allow free movement deep underground. It would have eighteen levels, representing the eighteen levels of hell in mythology!"

"And the Thirty-Sixth Division is the mechanical city surrounding him, a mechanical city named after the thirty-six states of the Great Xia Dynasty!"

"I will make sure that no one in this world, by any means necessary, will be able to find their existence!"

"They can appear anytime, anywhere; their elusive nature is what makes them so special!"

At this point, Gongshu Chou's eyes were no longer bright.

Instead, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and a bitter feeling welled up inside him.

His Highness's demands really made him feel like he was losing control.

"So, Gongshu Chou, give me a estimate now: can you build these mechanical structures according to my ideas?"

"Oh right, I almost forgot!" Xia Zhaoyan suddenly clapped his hands.

"My forces already have such a powerful mechanical city, so of course I can't be without one."

"Once I ascend the throne, I will build a true immortal city to replace the current Xia capital!"

"This city can be entered into the earth, or ascended to heaven!"

"The city, constructed entirely of mechanisms, can both defend against enemy attacks and unleash powerful offensive energy!"

Everyone felt immense pressure on the Gongshu Chou family at this moment!

Just by listening to His Highness's description, one can tell what a massive undertaking this is!

Leaving aside the resources needed, manpower alone is a major problem.

Gongshu Chou calculated rapidly in his mind, and after a long while, he finally raised his head and spoke seriously.

"Your Highness, the requests you've made are actually not difficult in essence!"

"It needs to be able to defend, attack, penetrate the earth, and ascend to the heavens, while also having room for continuous upgrades!"

"With my subordinates' current capabilities, I am confident that I can definitely build it."

"But right now, we don't have enough manpower among our subordinates and family. Even the Twelve Towers under Bai Yujing's command require a lot of manpower."

"And they must also be skilled in mechanical arts or the puppetry techniques of this world!"

"Most importantly, some special materials are extremely difficult to obtain."

"For example, the earth-attribute materials needed to build underground cities are monopolized by a few top-tier forces!"

At this moment, Xia Zhaoyan recovered from his previous crazy ideas and realized that his demands had indeed put the Gongshu family in a difficult position.

"We can't get the materials now, but we'll seize them when we're stronger!"

"As for manpower, I will give you the authority to establish a force and recruit those in this world who understand puppetry."

"Or we could recruit some talented indigenous people and train them gradually!"

"We have plenty of time!"

A glint flashed in Gongshu Chou's eyes. His Highness actually allowed him to establish his own power?

This is a great opportunity to promote and develop the mechanical arts of the Gongshu family! By the time the Mo family emerges, the mechanical arts of this world may have already been unified by the Gongshu family, hehe!

"Of course, when recruiting disciples, it is necessary to implant a restriction in their minds."

"You can ask Shi Zhixuan and the others to help you with this!"

...

The palace returned to peace, and those who had renounced worldly life had all left.

At this moment, Xia Zhaoyan was holding the hidden weapon Rain of Pear Blossoms Needles, a reward from the system!

It is a cylindrical metal object, one foot long and three inches thick, with the front sealed and only having dozens of small openings.

After system improvements, it can fire both single shots and bursts, launching up to fifty tiny projectiles at once.

Furthermore, one can store true energy in hidden weapons and use true energy as hidden weapons.

The launched internal energy hidden weapon has a very good effect in breaking through the protective energy barrier.

This is an essential tool specially designed for assassins!

"Wanwan, inform Duan Lang to come to the Prince's Mansion."

"Take these concealed weapons and distribute one to each of the other major branches!"

The Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle is complex to make, but Gongshu Chou confirmed after examining it that they could imitate it.

In the future, everyone in the underworld will have a hidden weapon like this!

Of course, Xia Zhaoyan also knew that such hidden weapons would be imitated by outsiders sooner or later.

The Gongshu Chou family ultimately chose to settle in the northern border, and at the same time, the Haizhu Tower of Baiyujing will also be established in the Northern Wilderness!

With the underworld and Baiyujing secretly watching over them, Xia Zhaoyan was not worried about the safety of the Gongshu family.

...

Inside the Heavenly Punishment Division, Mu Wenhan looked at the documents in his hand with a complicated expression.

During this period, the Heavenly Punishment Division has seen two thousand Innate Realm cultivators and dozens of Purple Mansion Realm cultivators enter intermittently.

The aura emanating from these people gave him a sense of familiarity. "Your Highness, just how many secrets are you hiding?"

What shocked him most was that eighteen Grandmasters had joined the Heavenly Punishment Division.

Moreover, King Ren personally ordered them to be appointed as branch managers, and the key point is that each of these eighteen Grandmasters also led ten Purple Mansion Realm experts.

This force made Mu Wenhan increasingly unable to understand His Highness now.

"Who said His Highness is the weakest prince among all the kings? They must be blind!"

"Your Highness, if this continues, your ambition will become impossible to hide..."

Mu Wenhan had of course vaguely sensed Ren Wang's ambition. After all, he was the person closest to Ren Wang in the outside world, so how could he not see Ren Wang's ambition!

Just then, a subordinate's voice came from outside the hall reporting!

"Lord Qi, the personnel heading to the four major state branches are ready!"

Mu Wenhan got up and walked outside; this time, he would personally accompany them.

This includes the two rogue grandmasters who had already joined, as well as the eighteen grandmasters that His Highness arranged to join!

At this moment, four teams stood quietly in the Heavenly Punishment Division Square.

The others at headquarters watched these people silently, knowing full well that a conflict was bound to break out once they went down there.

Perhaps some of them will never come back.

"Gentlemen, this cleanup of the four major state branches is the largest operation His Highness has undertaken since taking office."

"Upon successful completion of the mission, you will receive various resource rewards or improved benefits!"

"Of course, if you unfortunately perish, your family members will be protected by the Heavenly Punishment Division from then on!"

Among all the ancient dynasties and kingdoms of Tianhuang, no other court or institution would make such a promise to its subordinates!

"For this operation, I will lead the team to Changzhou, while the two Grandmaster Envoys will each lead their teams to Shizhou and Shengzhou!"

"Eighteen branch commanders are leading their teams to Yongzhou!"

"His Highness has ordered that anyone from any of the branch offices who resists may be killed on the spot!"

"Set off!!"

Rumble!!

The four teams that emerged from the Heavenly Punishment Division headed towards teleportation arrays in different directions from the Imperial City!

This scene immediately attracted the attention of major forces in the government and the public!