On a mountain peak at the border between the Wei Kingdom and the Qiu Kingdom, a middle-aged man gazed at the distant, retreating colossal warship, a deep worry etched on his face.
The woman beside him, noticing his expression, asked, "Palace Master, with the imminent collapse of Wei and Qiu Kingdoms, our years-long dream is about to come true. Why do you still look so troubled?"
This middle-aged man was none other than Leng Wuyi, the leader of the hidden organization Hall of Fate, which was comprised of talented individuals from among the common people of Wei and Qiu Kingdoms. He was the son of a humble farmer from a small town in Wei.
The woman was Qiu Xian, the current Deputy Palace Master of the Hall of Fate, hailing from the Qiu Kingdom.
Leng Wuyi pointed toward the massive metal beast soaring through the sky and said to Qiu Xian, "Look at that, the Huaxia Empire's war machine. To build four of those monstrous weapons, how much soul ore and soul crystals must have been consumed? I fear that the common people of the Huaxia Empire might not be faring any better than we are!"
"What worries me is that after Wei and Qiu Kingdoms fall, this Huaxia Empire might become the next power to feast on the blood and flesh of the common people."
Qiu Xian sighed, understanding his concerns. She too had harbored similar fears but had been avoiding the thought.
Gazing at the distant warship, Qiu Xian spoke with a hint of resignation, "Let's just hope that the Huaxia Empire is a little better, that they allow the common people to live with some dignity, not like the livestock we are now."
Leng Wuyi, still looking into the distance, his expression conflicted, added, "The Qin Dynasty is different from Wei and Qiu Kingdoms. Their people have no hope. I find myself both wishing for the Huaxia Empire to win, so the people of the Qin Dynasty can see some light, yet fearing that the Huaxia Empire might be no different from the Qin Dynasty. In that case, maybe it would be better if they didn't win at all."
Qiu Xian nodded in agreement, suggesting, "The best outcome would be if the Huaxia Empire defeats the Qin Dynasty but sustains heavy losses. That way, we might get a chance to breathe."
"Let's hope so!" Leng Wuyi nodded slightly, a look of melancholy crossing his face. "It's a pity that no matter whether it's an empire, a kingdom, a sect, or a noble family, the ones in power never truly care about the common people. Some are less harsh, while others, like the Qin Dynasty, Wei, and Qiu Kingdoms, are utterly brutal."
Neither Leng Wuyi nor Qiu Xian realized that everything they said had been overheard by a small bird perched on a nearby tree. Every word was transmitted back to the Huaxia Empire's Tiangong Department.
Bang! "These two are truly ungrateful! If it weren't for His Majesty's order to spare them, they wouldn't have the audacity to speak behind his back like this!" Zhuge Ming, a high-ranking official in the Tiangong Department, roared in anger as he reported the incident to Lin Qian.
Upon hearing Zhuge Ming's report, Lin Qian chuckled and sent a message to his chancellor: "Their concerns are understandable. But the Hall of Fate has noble intentions. In time, they will willingly become citizens of the Huaxia Empire."
Zhuge Ming was stunned by Lin Qian's response but quickly suppressed his elation and assured that he would remain silent on the matter.
For a long time, Lin Qian had avoided referring to himself as "Zhen" (the royal "I"), which had caused much anxiety among the people of the Huaxia Empire. It was as if a sword hung over their heads, always fearing that one day Lin Qian might declare that he no longer wished to be emperor. His indifferent attitude toward imperial authority had left them deeply worried.
But now, Zhuge Ming rejoiced in the realization that his emperor had finally embraced the full scope of his power, unable to contain his joy as he spread the good news throughout the empire.
In an instant, the Huaxia Empire erupted in celebration, their fears that Lin Qian might one day step down as emperor now put to rest.
Lin Qian was well aware of the concerns within his empire and understood why people feared he might relinquish the throne. It was clear that after his transmigration, the lives of his generals and officials had become real, no longer confined to the virtual world of his past.
In the game world of his previous life, before the Huaxia Empire became as powerful as it is now, Zhuge Ming and the others who were now top-ranking officials had been relatively weak. When players who had territories adjacent to the Huaxia Empire would quit the game, their abandoned lands would quickly fall into disrepair, and Lin Qian would waste no time in annexing them.
Zhuge Ming and the others had always feared that Lin Qian might abandon the Huaxia Empire, just as other players had abandoned their territories.
A nostalgic smile crossed Lin Qian's face as he recalled his struggles in the game world of his past life—the joy of each new advanced unit he unlocked, the excitement of training Zhuge Ming, Zhao Long, and the other generals to become more powerful.
"Now that I'm in another world, you're all real. I couldn't leave even if I wanted to," Lin Qian mused silently, stepping to the forefront of the warship and looking down at the city they had just captured.
"I am the emperor of the Huaxia Empire, and from now on, you will be my people."
The citizens in the city below, gazing up at the massive metal behemoth and the Imperial Army searching for the remnants of the city's defenders, fell to their knees in fear before the young, noble figure above them.
However, these anxious citizens could never have imagined how their lives would transform under the rule of the man they now knelt before in fear.
The events unfolding in the Qin Dynasty quickly spread like wildfire throughout the entire Southern Region, shocking countless powerful figures who could hardly believe the news they were receiving.
The five provinces surrounding Linhai Prefecture had all been incorporated into the Huaxia Empire. Additionally, three of the nine strange provinces in the southern region voluntarily joined the empire after being visited by the empress, Ye Xin.
Wei and Qiu Kingdoms were already largely conquered, with their capitals on the brink of falling. Their destruction seemed inevitable.
Two of the eight western provinces of the Qin Dynasty had already fallen. The third coastal province would likely be captured soon. The Eight-Armed Sea Clan had achieved great victories in the sea, aided by armored aquatic soul beasts, leaving the enemy with no chance.
The Eight-Armed Sea Clan had even begun landing forces on the Qin Dynasty's western coast to assist the five massive warships in their invasion.
In the south, the elders of the three allied forces had all followed Lin Qian's orders, leading the Imperial Army to conquer four of the Qin Dynasty's eight southern provinces.
Due to the mysterious methods employed by the Huaxia Empire to plant traps within the Qin Dynasty's own territory, any appearance of the Qin Dynasty's forces would trigger terrifying soul power attacks.
With its vast terrain of mountains and rivers, the Qin Dynasty found itself constantly ambushed by the Huaxia Empire's forces, leading to a situation where the larger the battlefield, the stronger the Huaxia Empire became.
At this moment, everyone in the Southern Region had the same thought: The Qin Dynasty is doomed.