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

On the second floor of the teahouse, in a private seat by the window.

Li Changqing, fanning himself with a folding fan, listened intently to every word of the profound debate within the Imperial Academy.

A faint smile played on his lips as he picked up a piece of mung bean cake and put it in his mouth. The sweet and soft taste melted on his tongue, just like his mood at that moment.

"The true path lies in the mortal world, not in the clouds. This Shen You is indeed a talent worthy of great development."

Li Changqing muttered to himself.

This giant tree of the Ming Dynasty has not only grown branches and leaves for cultivating immortality on the surface.

Instead, it truly rooted the essence of immortal techniques deep into the rich soil of ordinary people's lives.

As long as this idea of ​​"practical application" takes root and sprouts in the Imperial Academy.

The artisans and scholars of the Ming Dynasty were able to continuously create miracles belonging to this era.

Those colossal starships, those rune cannons, and even future rune looms and array forging will all spring up like mushrooms after rain.

Just as I was pondering this, a series of steady and powerful footsteps came from the wooden staircase of the teahouse.

A middle-aged man in plain clothes, with a burly build, walked up to the second floor, surrounded by several guards.

The man's eyes were sharp as he scanned the area before finally settling on Li Changqing.

The man strode to Li Changqing's table and respectfully clasped his hands in a deep bow.

"This junior, Wang Shouren, Minister of War, pays his respects to you, sir."

Li Changqing slightly raised his eyes, looking at this great Confucian scholar and military genius who left a profound mark on history.

In the Ming Dynasty, whose course he completely altered, Wang Shouren did not experience those arduous exiles.

Instead, thanks to his exceptional strategic acumen and keen understanding of new learning, he was promoted by Zhu Youzhen to the position of Minister of War at a young age, in charge of all military affairs in the country.

"Why is Minister Wang out here at the Ministry of War, out planning military affairs, looking for a nobody like me in a teahouse outside the city?"

Li Changqing pointed to the empty seat opposite him, gesturing for him to sit down.

After expressing his gratitude, Wang Shouren sat down upright, his wise eyes revealing an undisguised excitement.

"Sir, you live a life of leisure and tranquility, and I should not disturb you. However, there is a matter of great national importance concerning the fate of the Ming Dynasty for the next century, which I must personally inform you of."

Wang Shouren lowered his voice and leaned forward slightly.

"Half a month ago, Admiral Zheng Yuan of the Fujian Navy led a fleet of three rune warships and fifty treasure ships on an ocean exploration mission eastward across the endless fog outside the fairy island of Yingzhou."

Li Changqing paused slightly while waving his folding fan, and calmly looked at Wang Shouren.

"Have you discovered anything?"

Wang Shouren nodded heavily and took a deep breath.

"Admiral Zheng's fast ship delivered a secret report. The fleet sailed at sea for two whole months, braving raging storms and towering waves. Finally, in the far east of that vast ocean, they discovered a boundless, unfamiliar continent!"

"That continent is covered with towering trees and rich in mineral veins. Our advance scouts, upon landing, discovered numerous exposed mineral deposits containing spirit stones! Their reserves far exceed the combined total of Penglai, Fangzhang, and Yingzhou islands!"

Upon hearing this news, even Li Changqing, whose mind was as calm as a still well, had a glimmer of light in his eyes.

New World.

New resources.

This was the grand blueprint he drew for Zhu Youzhen in the courtyard house back then.

Now, the Ming Dynasty's navy has finally carved out a path to reality for this blueprint.

"Aside from that, have you encountered any obstacles?"

Li Changqing picked up his teacup and asked slowly and deliberately.

Wang Shouren's expression became more serious.

"The secret report states that the continent is not deserted. It is inhabited by some primitive tribes who live by hunting and gathering, but these tribes are not to be feared."

"The tricky part is that deep within that continent, there seem to be some enormous, strange, ferocious beasts that can breathe fire and lightning."

"Admiral Zheng's reconnaissance team encountered a two-headed giant python while venturing deep into the territory, losing more than a dozen elite soldiers. The python's scales were as hard as iron, and ordinary muskets could not penetrate them. Only heavy cannons engraved with armor-piercing runes could repel it."

Wang Shouren looked at Li Changqing with admiration and gratitude in his eyes.

"If it weren't for your insistence on establishing the Qintian Pavilion and integrating immortal cultivation formations into firearms, the Ming Dynasty's fleet probably wouldn't have been able to even get close to the edge of that new continent, let alone gain a foothold there."

Upon hearing this, Li Changqing gently put down his teacup, a meaningful smile curving his lips.

"The presence of ferocious beasts highlights the preciousness of that spiritual vein. The Ming Dynasty has enjoyed peace for the past few years; it's time for our soldiers' swords and spears to see some blood."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked across the street at the Imperial Academy, where the sounds of reading aloud and the clanging of hammers filled the air.

"Minister Wang, that new continent is the best touchstone in the crucible of the Ming Dynasty."

Li Changqing turned around, his weathered eyes revealing a vast and majestic air that seemed to survey the ages.

"Go back and tell the Emperor. Now that the New World has appeared, open the gates of the nation wide and recruit heroes from all over the land. Anyone in the Imperial Academy who can create more powerful runic cannons and more sturdy spirit wood warships will be richly rewarded."

"For all common people and merchants who wish to accompany the navy to the New World to cultivate spiritual fields and mine mineral veins, the imperial court will allocate land and exempt them from taxes for three years. The spiritual stone resources obtained will be purchased by the Tongling Money House at market price."

"To completely draw the gaze of the people of the Ming Dynasty from the few acres of barren land on this land of China to the endless starry sky and the vast ocean."

"Tell them that wealth, immortality, and fame await them in that new world!"

Wang Shouren was deeply moved upon hearing this. He suddenly stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply.

"This junior obeys! The good fortune of the Ming Dynasty and the well-being of all people are all thanks to your foresight, sir!"

Li Changqing waved his hand, turned around and sat back down at the table, picking up a piece of mung bean cake.

"Go and carry out your errands. The summers in the capital are unusually hot; don't let them interfere with the Emperor's grand plans."

Wang Shouren dared not linger any longer, respectfully took his leave, and went downstairs to depart.

The hurried footsteps heralded that the massive war and expansion machine of the Ming Dynasty was about to unleash a terrifying roar once again.

Li Changqing sat alone in the teahouse.

A summer breeze swept by, ruffling his faded blue robe.

He looked out the window at the bustling city and listened to the sounds of students debating in the distance from the Imperial Academy.

Under his manipulation, the Ming Dynasty had completely deviated from its original path of decline and demise due to internal strife and isolation.

The clash between the civilization of immortal cultivation and the wisdom of mortals is giving birth to a colossal beast on this ancient land, a beast that will soon roar across the galaxy.

"A new continent, strange and ferocious beasts..."

Li Changqing shook his folding fan, a hint of leisurely anticipation in his eyes.

With such a magnificent and turbulent panorama accompanying us through these long years, it can be considered a truly exhilarating and grand spectacle.

He picked up the slightly cooled bitter tea on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

Let's see how these young men in their robes use their carving knives and array patterns to measure the vastness of the starry sea.