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

Xia Zhaoyan glanced sideways. He really hadn't expected that the guard captain who came out this time was a level higher in cultivation than the previous ones!

With his current cultivation level, he could naturally see through the realms of these people at a glance.

"Everyone, please rise!"

The movement of a thousand people getting up was so synchronized that it stirred up a ripple in the air.

Ten centurions, each at the early stage of the Purple Mansion Realm!

This is similar to the current cultivation level of Hongyang and others; it can only be said that the later one is born, the higher their cultivation level will be.

Twenty centurion deputies, each of whom was at the late stage of the Innate Realm!

As for the ordinary guards behind them, each of them was at the peak of the Acquired Realm!

At this moment, not only Xia Zhaoyan realized it, but Zhang Han and the two women also realized that these guards could undergo tribulation at any time.

What to do? He was in a bit of a dilemma!

Should these people be assigned to the Heavenly Punishment Department or the Underworld?

He felt it was a pity that so many people at the Innate Realm were assigned to the Heavenly Punishment Division once they survived the Heavenly Tribulation.

After all, if he had to choose between the Underworld and the Heavenly Punishment Bureau, he would rather keep the Underworld.

"Your Highness, they are not suitable for the Underworld." As if sensing Xia Zhaoyan's dilemma, Zhang Han stepped forward and suggested.

"You need to completely take control of all branches of the Heavenly Punishment Division within two years."

"Once these people survive the Heavenly Tribulation, any two of them could easily take control of the local Heavenly Punishment Bureau in any major city."

Oh right! Xia Zhaoyan suddenly slapped his forehead, realizing he had almost forgotten about his two-year mission.

So he gave the order directly.

"Everyone, after you leave here, go to the Heavenly Punishment Division in batches to report."

"Someone there will take care of you."

With that, he waved his hand, and the rune armor, bow, crossbow, and sword rewarded by the system fell to the ground with a clatter.

It's piled up into a small mountain in the backyard. If outsiders saw this, they'd probably call Xia Zhaoyan a spendthrift.

Rune weapons are not uncommon, but who would just pile them up like that?

"Each centurion should arrange for his men to line up and collect their rewards!"

After that, a large number of spirit crystals and pills appeared here.

To be honest, this group of guards was lucky; their weapons were all upgraded.

The guards before were all clad in battle armor, armed with ordinary bows and crossbows and other sharp weapons.

While they can gain an advantage within the same realm, ordinary armor becomes insignificant when facing a martial artist of a higher realm.

Even a fully equipped Acquired Realm cultivator, with rune armor, rune bow and crossbow, and sword, can fight to a draw with an Innate Realm early stage martial artist.

It might even be possible to defeat a martial artist in the early stage of the Innate Realm.

And most importantly, these people are about to undergo tribulation, and these rune equipment can at least greatly increase their chances of success.

Xia Zhaoyan wasn't that optimistic, believing that all of these people would successfully overcome their tribulations.

But every one more is better, since these are all his trusted confidants.

Next, he looked at the rewards in the system, and then a thought struck him. The next moment, a tall figure walked out.

Xia Zhaoyan sensed an aura of righteousness and chivalry emanating from him.

"Your subordinate, Zhuge Zhengwo, pays his respects to Your Highness, the Benevolent King!"

His voice was both dignified and gentle, immediately revealing him to be a person who was both firm and kind, and upright and honest.

Xia Zhaoyan was overjoyed and personally stepped forward to help the other person up.

In his past life, he liked this character when he read the novel.

He was a powerful figure who never lost his sense of propriety, was righteous, and had a clear sense of right and wrong; he was also very idealistic.

"Divine Marquis, please rise quickly!"

"Your Highness need not address me as the Divine Marquis. This world is a new beginning. Now I am merely Your Highness's subordinate, not the Divine Marquis of the Northern Song Dynasty in my previous life."

Although Zhuge Zhengwo's voice was calm, his tone was very firm.

"Very well, from now on I will address you as Master Zhuge!"

Zhuge Zhengwo was about to decline, but he dared not let the King of Ren address him as "sir".

However, Xia Zhaoyan raised his hand to stop him, saying, "Sir, as you know, I don't have a suitable advisor by my side right now."

"All the capable people in the court and among the people have long been won over by my brothers."

"To be honest, I've been dealing with the court all by myself lately, with no one to offer me advice, and it's really hard to keep going."

"In your previous life, you were a divine marquis of the imperial court, a divine constable of the Six Doors, and also the Grand Tutor."

"As the saying goes, no matter how things change, the essence remains the same. Whether it is a high-ranking military court or an ordinary court, the essence of the struggle for interests is the same."

"I hope that in the future, you will be able to offer me advice and strategies!"

"Therefore, it is only right to address you as 'sir'!"

Zhuge Zhengwo was deeply moved after hearing this, and even Zhang Han and Wanwan, who were standing beside him, were also filled with emotion.

They had witnessed firsthand how difficult things had been for His Highness over the past few months.

Don't be fooled by his ability to escape danger in court every time; it's all thanks to the deliberate support of the Xia Emperor and a bit of luck that he manages to avoid certain death each time.

But luck always runs out, and the Xia Emperor wouldn't always secretly support you.

It's a pity that they have military strength but lack the wisdom and experience in court struggles, and are unable to truly share His Highness's burdens.

"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's high regard for me. I will serve Your Highness with utmost loyalty and dedication from now on!"

...

"Okay, hahaha..." Xia Zhaoyan laughed heartily at this moment.

He finally had his own strategist. In that world, Zhuge Zhengwo was a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and he was a top-notch figure in terms of both strategy and cultivation.

In his mind, the information about Zhuge Zhengwo came to mind.

Name: Zhuge Zhengwo.

Cultivation level: Late stage of the Dharma Aspect Realm.

Combat strength: Invincible at the Dharma Aspect Realm. (Capable of taking down an early-stage Celestial Realm cultivator in one fell swoop.)

Lifespan: 15,000 years.

Technique: The Myriad Phenomena of the Three Realms Technique.

Xia Zhaoyan was somewhat surprised after seeing Zhuge Zhengwo's combat strength.

It should be understood that the gap between the Dharma Aspect Realm and the Celestial Human Realm is even greater than the gap between the Celestial Human Realm and the Shattered Realm!

"By the way, sir, I currently have the Underworld and the Heavenly Punishment Bureau under my command. Which faction would you like to join?"

"Or I can arrange for you to enter other institutions of the court."

To be honest, it's a pity that someone like Zhuge Zhengwo didn't enter the imperial court.

However, Zhuge Zhengwo hesitated for a moment before finally expressing his thoughts.

"Your Highness, in my previous life I toiled for the court my whole life, and in this life I want to live a different way."

"Therefore, the imperial court and the Heavenly Punishment Bureau are not suitable for me, and the underworld is different from my ideals!"

At this point, he glanced cautiously at Xia Zhaoyan, and seeing that the other party was not angry, he continued speaking with peace of mind.

"Now that I have come to this vast world in this lifetime, I have two goals for the rest of my life."

"One of them is to serve Your Highness until your death."

"Secondly, I want to make progress in martial arts!"

"However, Your Highness, rest assured, whatever arrangements Your Highness makes, I will accept them."

Xia Zhaoyan fell silent after hearing this, pondering how to arrange things for Zhuge Zhengwo.

The underworld was clearly unsuitable for him; it was a gathering place for evil people and heretics.

Just like Jiang Renjie and the Evil King, they were not suitable for the imperial court.

Should we create a new faction?