Da Ming: The system granted me immortality; I clock in every day.

"Grand Tutor, this Ming Dynasty of cultivation... how should we proceed?"

Zhu Youzhen humbly sought guidance, his eyes sparkling with fervor for the unknown future.

Li Changqing turned around, tucked his folding fan into his sleeve, and strolled across the square, which was riddled with knife marks and sword holes, with his hands behind his back.

"Your Majesty, consider this: Why are those cultivators able to fly on swords? It's simply because they use the spiritual energy accumulated within their bodies to activate the magic arrays on the swords."

"If we had those sorcerers carve spirit-gathering and armor-piercing runes on the barrel of our Great Ming's Red Barbarian General Cannon, and used so-called spirit stones as fuses, how powerful would a single shot be?"

Zhu Youzhen and Song Yin gasped in shock, feeling as if a completely new door had suddenly opened in their minds.

Furthermore...

Li Changqing pointed to the Ming Dynasty dragon flag on the city wall in the distance.

"Those cultivators regard mortals as worthless because they monopolize cultivation methods. So we set up the Qintian Pavilion in the capital to copy and dissect all the cultivation manuals, pills, and array diagrams that we plundered from those immortal islands."

A wise and profound light shone in Li Changqing's eyes.

"We won't look at spiritual roots or aptitudes, only comprehension and practical skills. Let our Ming Dynasty's naturalists, shipbuilders, and mathematicians study those rune formations."

"Carve the immortals' wind-gathering formation onto the sails of the treasure ships, so that the Ming fleet can travel a thousand miles a day even without wind."

"Transform the immortal's alchemy furnace into a steelmaking furnace to forge armor and sharp blades that are impervious to ordinary weapons."

"At that time, the Ming Dynasty's iron cavalry will be able to traverse the skies, and its fleet will be able to cross the galaxy. Those high-ranking cultivators, if they are willing to submit, will be granted official positions and sent to search for minerals at sea for the court."

"If they refuse to submit, our Ming Dynasty's countless soldiers, wielding runic firearms, will teach them a lesson about the true meaning of equality for all!"

These words struck the hearts of everyone present like a heavy hammer.

This is to bring those high and mighty immortals and Buddhas down from their pedestals and turn them into fuel for the Ming Dynasty to operate its massive national machinery!

Song Yin was so excited that he trembled all over.

He seemed to see a magnificent and prosperous era, far beyond the imagination of his predecessors, slowly unfolding in the hands of this Grand Tutor in green robes.

"Grand Tutor, your vision is truly remarkable! Such a grand plan for lasting peace is something we, your subjects, would follow even at the cost of our lives to make it a reality!"

Song Yin kowtowed deeply, his voice booming like a bell.

Zhu Youzhen was also filled with enthusiasm.

He strode forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Li Changqing, gazing at the rising moon.

"With the Grand Tutor here, I feel very at ease. From now on, the Grand Tutor will remain the Grand Tutor of the Great Ming Dynasty. He will not bow to me when he sees me, nor will he hasten his steps when he enters the court."

"This Imperial Observatory will be placed under the full control of the Grand Tutor. He may freely allocate all the nation's funds, provisions, troops, and personnel, and I will not interfere in the slightest!"

Li Changqing looked at his disciple, who had grown into a mature emperor, and a look of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I am merely a figurehead offering advice; the actual tasks will have to be handled by Minister Song and his colleagues."

Li Changqing lightly dusted off the dust on his blue robe, and his carefree and unrestrained demeanor reappeared.

"However, before establishing the Qintian Pavilion, I must first return to the Changmen Inn."

Zhu Youzhen was taken aback and asked in confusion, "Why did the Grand Tutor return to that desert? Did you forget something important?"

Li Changqing smiled and shook his head, the image of the iron-clad poplar wood gate he had personally carried back flashing through his mind.

"It's nothing serious. It's just that the inn's gate was just repaired a few days ago, and if we don't go back soon, it's afraid it will be buried by the sandstorms from beyond the pass again."

"We have to put up a notice to tell the passing merchants that the shopkeeper has gone to the capital to do big business and that the business is closed indefinitely."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youzhen and Song Yin both burst into laughter.

This immortal being, who has witnessed a century of vicissitudes and can destroy immortal sects with a wave of his hand, still retains the carefree and down-to-earth spirit that is still present in his bones.

As the night breeze blew, the stench of blood within the Forbidden City gradually dissipated.

Instead, a vibrant vitality emerged from the ordeal.

Several months later.

Deep in the East Sea, on the three fairy islands of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou, cries of sorrow filled the air.

After learning that the man in green robes had annihilated the Nascent Soul Sect Master with a single palm strike like a god or demon, the cultivators of the Three Islands completely lost the courage to resist.

When the massive mixed fleet of the Ming Dynasty, which had undergone preliminary rune modifications and whose bows bore the imperial edicts of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, once again sailed into the misty seas.

What greeted them was not flying swords and magic.

Instead, it was the image of the sect leader of the Three Islands kneeling obediently on the beach, holding the inherited cultivation techniques and the treasured spirit stones.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Ming Dynasty, a magnificent building rose from the ruins of the former Western Garden.

Qintian Pavilion.

There are no alchemical furnaces with incense burning here, nor are there any meditation halls for quiet cultivation.

Only countless Ming Dynasty craftsmen, mathematical masters, and those cultivators who were forced to surrender were tirelessly discussing how to miniaturize the "Spirit Gathering Array" and engrave it onto the barrel of a musket.

Li Changqing, dressed in a faded blue cloth robe, lay on a bamboo rocking chair in the backyard of Qintian Pavilion.

He held a cup of freshly brewed pre-Qingming Longjing tea in his hand, listening to the sounds of arguing and clanging metal coming from the front yard.

A serene smile touched her lips.

"This game of chess has finally changed to a new board. Playing it slowly isn't so boring after all."