I only want to win over the fairy.

[Regarding the invitation from Emperor Xuanyuan to share power and status with you, you choose—]

【①, Good! I have so many things I want to do, and only in the position of Emperor can I fully realize my potential.】

[②, Refusal. Two emperors ruling simultaneously is not a good start, especially at the beginning of a dynasty. One should simply focus on fulfilling one's own duties.]

[③, questioning the Emperor: Why so quickly bestow titles upon the princes? Once these princes grow powerful, how will they differ from the immortal sects of the past? Will you then destroy them once again?]

[④, Immersive free simulation.]

Can you even choose for yourself?

Bai Yi was somewhat surprised. He believed that in the current situation, he didn't need to hesitate or make any choices. He could simply follow Xuan Yuanmeng's lead, and becoming an emperor would be entirely beneficial to him.

With himself becoming emperor, and two of the nine princes he had enfeoffed being his own people, Bai Yi believed that with a little maneuvering, at least half of the princes would be on his side, and it wouldn't be impossible for him to even partially sideline the emperor.

He began to re-examine this nascent dynasty and soon discovered an extremely fatal problem.

Does the simulated self truly support this nascent dynasty?

The reason why the Xuanyuan Dynasty was able to be established was because Xuanyuan Meng destroyed 99% of the past immortal paths. All the immortal sects were destroyed by her absolute power, including the Xuantian Sect where she lived and the Yongye Sect where Qin Xin lived.

Although he didn't have much affection for the Xuantian Sect, the only person he truly cared about was his master, Xiao Jinxuan, it was impossible for him to have no feelings at all. After all, it was the place where he had lived for many years, and there were people in the sect who had taken good care of him, such as Elder Yunzhai.

Most importantly, Xuan Yuanmeng never discussed any details with him from beginning to end, nor did she ask for his opinion. Instead, she took advantage of his transformation to resolve everything.

In other words, there has been a rift between the two, and they are no longer the same as when Xuan Yuanmeng was the Heavenly Dao's assistant, while he acted as the main force, leading his own group to conquer the forbidden zone of life.

First, it represents his willingness to shoulder the heavy responsibility of this new dynasty and to resolve existing conflicts as much as possible; second, it represents his consideration for the dynasty; and third, it probably represents his resentment.

Everything is now connected. The reason I didn't mention the two systems of capital and society earlier, but instead directly referred to the Eternal Imperial System, was probably with a hidden meaning.

What kind of system does a dynasty built on your personal military strength, without the participation of anyone else from beginning to end, need?

First, let's rule out option three. If I did that, I'm afraid that after the meeting, many people would approach me to discuss plotting a rebellion, and eventually they would bestow upon me the imperial robes so I could pursue my imperial ambitions.

After all, judging from the current situation, the only one in this dynasty capable of contending with Emperor Xuanyuan is himself, who has advanced to the Emperor realm.

As for Guiming, a veteran supreme being...

Forget it. Ever since I slashed this guy with my sword, he's become a female demon, and a lowly one at that.

So what's left are one and two.

First, take the initiative to assume responsibility and do your best to change the internal contradictions of the dynasty; second, abandon unrealistic fantasies and let nature take its course.

Bai Yi chose option two.

The Xuanyuan Dynasty is in a very bad state in its early stages, with many internal conflicts. Moreover, he is somewhat dissatisfied and resistant to Xuanyuan Meng's actions, which rely solely on his own strength and have no intention of winning over like-minded friends and companions. Furthermore, by placing himself on the throne with the same status as the emperor, he is only accelerating the division and decline of this nascent dynasty.

You rejected Emperor Xuanyuan's proposal, stating that there cannot be two suns in the sky, and how could an empire have two emperors? Emperor Xuanyuan, sensing the deep estrangement in your tone, did not take your refusal to heart. Instead, she appointed you as her second-in-command, making you a Grand General responsible for building a loyal army, which you respectfully accepted.

At this moment, a pitifully thick barrier separates the two of you.

Chapter 150 I used you as my genetic prototype, and mixed in some other things.

[You believe that if we want to develop better, the power of the people is indispensable. Even in a world where individual strength is paramount, the strong have all risen from the ranks of the people, and the armies responsible for conquest must naturally be selected from among them.]

You have placed your focus on guiding the people.

[Initially, you wanted to immerse yourself in the lives of ordinary people, working alongside them in the fields, to bridge the gap between you and them, allowing them to experience changes in their lives, thereby converting them into loyal members of the dynasty, and inspiring them to willingly believe in and fight for the empire. However, after a period of experimentation, you discovered that this approach simply wouldn't work.]

In this era where awareness is generally low, and people are even largely uneducated, choosing to work with them and use your resources to help them will only make them more dependent on you and constantly demand more from you.

Yesterday they wanted their crops to grow vigorously and be free from disease; today they want a cow and dozens of acres of fertile land. What they'll want tomorrow is beyond your wildest imagination.

Human desires are like a boulder rolling down a mountain; once it falls, it can never be stopped.

[This land was not yet ready to accept your ideas. Realizing this, you decisively distanced yourself from the people in the area you were responsible for, forcing them to rely on themselves to achieve a better life. After discovering that you refused to help them and would no longer offer them any assistance, the people there grew disgusted with you and the Xuanyuan Dynasty you proclaimed.]

Adhering to the principle that one has no right to speak without investigation, you begin to observe the situation in the various states under the jurisdiction of the kings. You discover that the people in the regions under their jurisdiction quickly join the Xuanyuan Dynasty. No extra actions are needed; they only need to demonstrate their power and incomprehensible miracles to ordinary people, and those people immediately bow down in worship, shouting "Immortal!" and then eagerly choose to join.

Despite this, you did not give up. Instead, you changed your identity and traveled from village to village as an ordinary teacher, instructing children and adults who were willing to learn, imparting them more advanced knowledge. When you encountered promising young immortals with the aptitude for cultivation, you would also teach them the methods of cultivation.

Bai Yi frowned. These troublemakers were actually quite honest and kind.

I chose to stand on the same side as them, communicate with them on an equal footing, treat them as equals, and constantly help them. But instead of being grateful, they became even more demanding of me.

While possessing truth, goodness, and beauty, humanity also possesses sins such as greed, delusion, and anger. It cannot be described simply as black and white; this is what makes humanity what it is.

Well, it can only be attributed to the limitations of the times.

The world has never even achieved true unification. Many regions have different languages, cultures, and currencies. Under such circumstances, this situation is actually quite normal.

Many people assume that spirit stones are the general equivalent of currency in the cultivation world, but that's not actually the case.

In the cultivation world, spirit stones are more like hard currency, such as gold, than ordinary equivalents. In addition to consumption, they have other huge added value, such as cultivation, weapon refining, and formations, all of which require spirit stones.

Ordinary people in the mortal world rarely come into contact with rare items like spirit stones, so they mostly use metal or paper currency that can only serve as a general equivalent.

[You suggested to Emperor Xuanyuan that if the empire is to become strong and its people feel a sense of belonging, the first thing to do is to standardize weights and measures, currency, and writing system, and to establish an official language. Otherwise, differences between regions will inevitably lead to internal discord and war.]

The Emperor has accepted your suggestion.

[You understand that you absolutely cannot simply copy the experiences of the Qin Dynasty's First Emperor and that mentor from your own memory; you must combine them with the actual conditions of the Nine Provinces to develop a cultural ideology unique to the cultivation world.]

[You explained to the Emperor and the princes the ideological line of seeking truth from facts, requiring everything to proceed from reality, combining theory with practice, integrating the universal principles of unification with the specific realities of the nine provinces, and adhering to the principle that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.]

[Through three years of tireless efforts, the people of the Nine Provinces have clearly come to recognize that they are subjects of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, subjects loyal to the Emperor. The monetary system has also been largely unified thanks to your tireless efforts. However, progress remains slow in areas such as writing, language, and culture.]

In response, some ministers suggested that violent measures could be taken, namely, eradicating the culture and thought of certain regions and executing intellectuals and patriots, thereby quickly achieving unification. This move was endorsed by more than half of the princes and their ministers. In the eyes of many of them, ordinary people were ignorant and foolish, only needing to obediently follow their orders and regularly hand over resources.

This move undoubtedly aroused your disgust. Faced with a decision supported by the majority of your subordinates, you chose—

[① Agreed. Some necessary sacrifices are worthwhile before achieving complete victory. Even Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of Qin, relied on violent means to achieve unification.]

[②, No. To raise swords against defenseless people is absolutely an unjust act, especially since these people are citizens of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, not enemies!]

[③ Since the majority of people agree, why bother making things difficult for yourself?]

[④, Immersive free simulation.]

really!

Although he knew that the internal conflicts within the Xuanyuan Dynasty would be severe, the fact that the first major conflict had occurred so quickly was truly beyond Bai Yi's expectations.

First, there is the conflict between the emperor and his subjects, namely the conflict between imperial power and the power of the prime minister. The conflict between the emperor and his subjects is almost irreconcilable. For their own interests and for the hatred left over from the past, many subjects will sooner or later raise their swords against the emperor.

Secondly, there is the conflict between cultivators and mortals. Cultivators are high above and think that ordinary people are ignorant and foolish. They believe that mortals only need to eat and drink their fill, get married and have children, and that they don't need to care about anything else. Therefore, when ordinary people encounter difficulties, most cultivators' first thought is not to solve the problem, but to solve the problem of the ordinary people who caused it.

The third issue is the conflict between the central government and local authorities. In the territories of the various kings, they will inevitably continue to develop their own power to counter Emperor Xuanyuan and gain more authority. Emperor Xuanyuan, on the other hand, must hold important authority in his hands. Therefore, there will definitely be a power struggle between the two.

Unfortunately, the contradictions between points one and three can be almost ignored.

As long as the Emperor lives, you ministers can only bow down and submit to him, serve him, fight for him, expand his territory, and govern the land.

Choose option 2!

When cultivators attack ordinary people, there is only one outcome: the ordinary people die without any power to resist. This cannot even be called a battle; it can only be considered a one-sided massacre. No matter the reason, Bai Yi will not allow such a thing!

You stepped forward, surveyed the assembled officials, and finally looked at Emperor Xuanyuan, who sat regally on the throne, without the slightest fear.

"In my opinion, this dynasty is currently in its early stages. If it is willing to arbitrarily kill its own people and use unjust and violent means to achieve its goals, then how is this land any different from the past?"

"Ordinary people's lives are also lives. We treat the common people like straw dogs, arbitrarily deciding their lives. How is this any different from the actions of the supreme rulers of forbidden zones?"

"Or is it that our Xuanyuan Dynasty is merely another small, unrecorded forbidden zone, not dedicated to leading this land and making life better, but willing to sacrifice everything for our own interests?"

A series of forceful questions landed, and none of the ministers dared to meet your gaze. It was unclear whether they were inwardly condemned or simply dared not challenge your overwhelming power.

After a moment of silence, Emperor Xuanyuan looked down at his ministers and said coldly, "I hope you haven't forgotten why the Immortal Sect was destroyed. If you continue to engage in underhanded schemes or harm the interests of this land, then I won't hesitate to annihilate you, the last remaining cultivators of the Shang Dynasty!"

[During these three years, the Empress kept a close eye on the affairs of the dynasty's subjects and the development within its borders. To make an example of him, she imprisoned the Emperor of Yingzhou, who had just proposed using violence to promote unification, and put him on trial through the newly revised dynasty laws.]

"Your Majesty! Since assuming office, I have been increasingly diligent and have never dared to slacken! Your Majesty can attest to this!" Emperor Yingzhou immediately knelt down, beginning to express his loyalty.

Faced with this situation, the Emperor simply propped his head up with his hand, smiled slightly, and the next moment, all the meridians of the Yingzhou Emperor were destroyed, his cultivation was completely lost, and he lay on the ground like a dead dog.

"My patience is quite limited. I chose you as the king of Yingzhou because I valued your ability to compile culture. I hoped you could promote the cultural development of the dynasty by writing various myths and stories. However, you betrayed my trust. Not only did you satirize me in your stories and write about me being torn apart by five horses, but you even secretly gathered talented immortal seedlings and instilled rebellious ideas in them, trying to plunge this world into chaos again. In that case, you have no choice but to die."

The emperor's gaze was constantly observing the world; no one's actions could escape her notice, let alone those who fabricated stories about themselves in widely circulated texts, secretly plotting a rebellion.

After having the Emperor of Yingzhou carried off the throne and imprisoned in the imperial prison, and making an example of him to warn the court officials, Emperor Xuanyuan said, "I know that many of you share her thoughts, but you dare not act rashly because of my presence. I do not care about your inner thoughts. As long as your actions are beneficial to the world and the development of the dynasty, then whether you want to kill me, tear me to pieces, or replace me, I can tolerate it."

The Empress secretly transmitted the collected evidence of their crimes to her ministers, but she did not dwell on it. Instead, she magnanimously forgave their past actions and encouraged them to contribute to the dynasty's future.

Your authority has been greatly enhanced, the rebellious intentions of the princes and ministers have decreased, and the work efficiency of your ministers has increased.

It seems we really need to make an example of someone to deter others.

Xuan Yuanmeng nodded. If she didn't teach these people a lesson, they would really think that she wouldn't touch them if she spared them.

With her newfound power, she can often detect any signs or actions of rebellion immediately. The reason she waits a while to deal with it is simply to deter others.

After the initial intimidation, she told them about the shady things the others had done in private, essentially telling them that if they didn't work hard, they would be next.

First, make an example of them to scare the rest, then intimidate them, and finally offer them a reward to forgive their sins.

This way, these people will understand that if they don't do their jobs properly and instead do things that harm the Xuanyuan Dynasty and the Emperor in private, then they will be the next ones to die.

However, if one wants to truly build a great empire and go further, one cannot be too far removed from the people.

Most of the court officials and princes were trembling with fear, their backs already soaked with sweat. For a moment, the court was completely silent. You found this quite amusing and, at the end of the meeting, revealed your plans.

You tell your ministers and kings, “As emperor, I should not be too close to the heavens, but closer to my ministers and people. Therefore, from this moment on, I will no longer sit on the throne as an intimidating emperor. I will walk among you, among the people of the dynasty, and work with you to contribute to the prosperity and development of the dynasty.”

As an emperor, you have no need to form factions or build your own party to oppose your subjects. As a god on earth who holds the power of the heavens, your ability to handle affairs is such that even if everyone else were united, they might not be a match for you.

After the meeting, you kept Bai Yi behind to inquire about the army's progress, one of your greatest concerns and also of paramount importance to the dynasty.

"I've accomplished nothing." Bai Yi shrugged, answering truthfully, "I haven't recruited a single person yet, and the army's development is nowhere in sight."

"Why? Three years have passed; there should be some progress by now." The Emperor frowned, utterly incredulous.

"Are there any people in this world who can serve as soldiers?" Bai Yi said. "Even if you recruited millions of people from the mortal realm, they would only be able to wait to die when facing a powerful being. Let alone the army we need that can fight against the Supreme Being and conquer beyond the realms. For the past three years, I have been searching for people who meet my criteria, but I haven't found a single one. It's because the kind of person I need hasn't been born yet. Rather than searching, I think it's more reasonable to create a military academy and start training people from scratch."

[You largely agree with Bai Yi's insights. What you need are talented individuals who excel in all aspects, including ideology, combat prowess, and awareness, not a group of guys like the Magnetic Field Madman who are only strong in terms of raw power.]

[In the ninth month of the fifth year of the Imperial Calendar, you established an academy, named the Nine Provinces Academy, and recruited all adult children from across the Nine Provinces to enroll. You personally served as the academy's principal, with Bai Yi serving as the vice-principal, and a closed management system was adopted.]

You oversaw the construction of roads in an attempt to connect all parts of Kyushu and facilitate transportation...

[You personally took charge, carving out a vast grassland in the desolate regions beyond the Nine Provinces, gathering manpower, and searching for superior horses and excellent demonic beasts for breeding experiments, striving to create high-quality horses that can be widely used as transportation tools within ten years.]

[In October of the 20th year of the Imperial Calendar, thanks to your tireless efforts, the first batch of students has come of age. The education they received has, to some extent, set them apart from the times. These accomplished new students, brimming with ambition, have embarked on various careers, and you place high hopes on them.]