The sounds of silver mining in the East China Sea Province shattered its usual tranquillity, but Liu Xun's ambitions remained undiminished. Deep within the combat laboratory of his flagship, the 'First Emperor', a massive global hydrographic map constructed using quantum projection technology floated in mid-air.
Liu Xun stretched out his hand and traced the vast ocean, considered an 'endless abyss' by ancient navigators, before landing heavily on a massive landmass across it.
"System," he said, "activate 'Global Geopolitical Scan', targeting 100–120 degrees west longitude and 30–50 degrees north latitude."
[System Command]: 'National Fortune Value' consumed 200,000 points.
Scan results: Geographical model of the Eastern Continent (Americas) completed. Resource assessment: The region possesses the world's most fertile black soil, astonishing reserves of shale oil and unexploited gold veins. Civilisation monitoring: Currently in the Tribal Stone Age with extremely low defence levels.
Host's note: this planet reserves its greatest treasures for the ultimate victor. Liu Xun gazed at the land like a treasure trove and activated 'Top Performance: The First Pioneer of All Time'. His eyes held no pity, only near-fanatical greed for resources. 'Gongshu Qi, look at this land.' Liu Xun casually drew a circle on the holographic map with his fingertip, determining the fate of tens of millions of square kilometres in the process. 'I call this place "Great Han Xinfeng Province". The bison, the gold, the fertile soil — even the air — all belong to the Liu family.'
'Your Majesty, that sea area is tens of thousands of miles away. Even with steel-hulled ships, a lack of fresh water and supplies would be fatal." Gongshu Qi was sweating profusely. 'That's a wasteland where not even the gods can tread.'
'Gods cannot tread here, but the pursuit of knowledge never ceases.' Liu Xun snorted coldly and opened the newly updated 'Transoceanic Patch'. In order to cross the Pacific Ocean, he launched the 'Maritime Mobile Base Project'.
[Artificial Floating Islands] — Using high-density hollow ceramics and solar wave generators, three semi-permanent offshore supply platforms were built in the centre of the Pacific Ocean. They were codenamed "Fusang", "Guixu" and "Ruomu".
Each 'steel Fujian ship' was equipped with a reverse osmosis high-pressure pump to transform the ocean itself into an inexhaustible water source.
[Ocean Current Accelerator] Using unlocked low-frequency sonar pulses, large deep-sea whale pods were attracted to pull the supply barges using biological force.
Liu Xun issued the 'Proclamation to the People of the Great Han' to the entire nation, initiating 'Holographic Broadcast: A Vision for the Golden Age". 'In the direction of the setting sun lies fertile land untouched by man, where sowing a handful of grass seeds yields pumpkins the size of millstones and rivers flow with gold. The valleys there hold black oil (petroleum) that could power a steam engine for ten thousand years.'
As the Han dynasty entered the early stages of industrialisation, conflict between people and land began to emerge. This imperial edict instantly ignited a nationwide colonization frenzy. Wandering knights, merchants seeking wealth and demobilised soldiers eager for glory all flocked to the ports of the East China Sea. Just as the first transoceanic advance team was preparing to depart, the system displayed a line of blood-red text:
[Deep Alert]
[Target Mutation]
Due to the collapse of the 'spacetime correction force', the Eastern Continent has experienced a localised evolutionary rampage.
The primitive tribes there have come into contact with the remains of a prehistoric civilisation. The leaked energy has evolved into 'biologically enhanced skeletons'.
[Deep Alert]: 'A localised evolutionary rampage has been detected in the Eastern Continent due to the collapse of the "space-time correction force".' The target mutation is that the primitive tribes have evolved 'biologically enhanced skeletons' due to contact with the leaked energy from the 'prehistoric crashed civilisation'.
'Host, please note: if you think you're going to harvest sheep, you might encounter "savage gods" armed to the teeth.'
Liu Xun tightened his grip on the plasma sword hilt at his waist. Looking at the vibrant yet murderous land in the holographic projection, he said, 'Interesting. It seems the system has deliberately left me with a few tough nuts to crack in this final territory. Gongshu Qi, replace all the 'Han Crossbows 2.0' with 'Electromagnetic Railguns'. Since the enemy has gods, let's destroy them.'
If the previous 'steel Fujian ships' were a test of the sea, then the monster slowly sliding into the deep at Qingdao Shipyard today is the Han Empire's formal challenge to gravity itself — it is the ultimate flagship, the 'Emperor Xuan', built by Liu Xun over three years using the nation's resources and advanced systems technology.
When the massive black silk covering the hull was pulled back, envoys from various countries (including remaining merchant groups from the Western Regions and newly wealthy individuals from the East China Sea) fell to the ground in awe — it wasn't a ship, but a moving mountain of metal.
[System Panel: Emperor Xuan Flagship (SS-001)]
Displacement: Standard displacement: 65,000 tons; full load displacement: 82,000 tons (surpassing the Yamato class and approaching nuclear-powered aircraft carriers).
Armour: Tungsten carbide carburised alloy steel up to 600 mm thick at its thickest point, sufficient to withstand any present-day ballista or ramming gun.
Propulsion: High-pressure superheated steam turbine array + primary electric vector propulsion; speed: up to 32 knots.
Main guns: Triple-mounted 460 mm 'Gewu Leiming' cannons, with each shell weighing 1.5 tonnes.
'Your Majesty...' Gongshu Qi stood on the observation platform, wiping the oil from his face; his voice was hoarse.
'When this ship was launched, the sea level in the East China Sea rose by three inches.' Dressed in a dark blue naval marshal's uniform with a golden sash fluttering in the sea breeze, Liu Xun did not perform the traditional ritual. Instead, he took a bottle of high-purity liquor 'refined by the system' and smashed it forcefully against the alloy ram at the bow.
'My Great Han has no need to seek divine intervention for peace.' He activated his 'Top-Tier Performance: Dominator of a Dimensional Civilisation', his voice amplified by a powerful megaphone array that filled the entire city and caused seabirds to plummet to the ground.
'This ship embodies my will. Wherever it passes, the waves must subside, and wherever it points, kingdoms must change hands. I named it 'Emperor Xuan' to proclaim to the universe that the Han Dynasty's declaration is true!"
The Roman secret envoy and the remaining Parthian nobles, standing at a distance, could barely contain their astonishment. They had initially dreamed of regaining some initiative through ocean trade. But when they saw the silhouette of the 'Emperor Xuan' blocking out the sun, they realised that the Age of Discovery was not an opportunity for them, but a countdown to their demise.
'Those cannon barrels... you could stuff a cow inside,' the Roman envoy muttered. 'This isn't war; this is God cleansing the world.' Liu Xun led the first group of naval officers into the cabin. The interior was no longer a damp, dark wooden cabin, but a futuristic space filled with steam pipes, instrument panels and electric control levers.
[Sonar Listening Room] — Using an underwater microphone array, monitor fish and reefs within a 50-mile radius.
Cold Storage: A system-enhanced ammonia compression refrigeration system ensures that soldiers can enjoy fresh vegetables and Guanzhong beef while crossing the Pacific Ocean.
[Command Tower]: It has fully transparent bulletproof glass offering excellent visibility and is equipped with a mechanical fire control computer capable of automatically calculating wind drift and ballistics.
When the 'Emperor Xuan' starts its engines and its four massive propellers churn up towering white waves, the system emits a dark purple light.
[System Prompt]: Due to the creation of the world's first "intercontinental-class war weapon", the global situation has entered a new era.
'Great Han Hegemony Mode.' Additional penalty: Due to its excessive tonnage, the 'Emperor Xuan' generates specific frequencies during navigation that will attract 'prehistoric Leviathan-class creatures' slumbering in the deep sea, prompting them to hunt for food.
Liu Xun's note: 'Host, you've caused quite a commotion. The master of the sea wants to come and check things out." Liu Xun's fingers tightened slightly on the command console. Looking at the unfathomable sea through the electronic screen, a cold, killing intent flashed across his lips. 'Good. My cannons haven't been tested with blood yet. Only a prehistoric creature can serve as a sacrifice for my behemoth.'
The "Emperor Xuan," the premier warship of the mighty Han Dynasty, was cutting through the waves as it crossed the Pacific Ocean. However, within half an hour, the once jewel-like blue sea had been replaced by an oppressive leaden grey. Low-hanging clouds seemed almost within reach and the electrical charge in the air made the soldiers tremble. This was the first time the sea had acted in 'legitimate defence' against the Han Dynasty's hegemony.
'Your Majesty, the wind pressure monitor is alarming!' Gongshu Qi roared from the first mate's seat, but his words were instantly ripped apart by a sharp whistle outside the window.
The previously calm waves on the sea's surface rapidly surged, transforming into a 30-metre-high black wall of water. The strong winds sheared half of one of the 'Emperor Xuan's' secondary gun turrets off at the base. Before these colossal waves, the 10,000-tonne behemoth resembled a withered leaf swaying in the wind.
[System High-Risk Warning] Supersonic cyclone detected—"Deep-Sea Great Red Spot" (mutant).
Wind Speed: Level 17 (exceeding known meteorological limits).
Wave height: 45 metres
Sinking probability: 85% (due to the excessive tonnage of the host, the wind-exposed area of the centre of gravity increases).
Liu Xun sat firmly in the command position, his hands gripping the alloy armrests tightly and his eyes flashing with divine white light once more. He took direct control of the system's underlying logic and commanded, "System, activate 'Weather Forecasting & Fluid Dynamics Simulation'!"
[System Command]: 'Consumes 150,000 points of national fortune.'
[Visual presentation]: 'A complex layer of isobars and airflow vector diagrams covered Liu Xun's retina.'
[Skill Effect]: 'Predicts the direction of every giant wave surge and the drift trajectory of every storm eye within the next thirty minutes.'
'Gongshu Qi, be quiet! Heed my command!' Liu Xun activated Top-Tier Performance: The Dancing Commander in the Natural Disaster." His voice no longer came through a megaphone, but resonated directly in the minds of all the helmsmen thanks to 'bone conduction technology'.
'Hard to port! Reduce speed to five knots and prepare for the lateral impact in fifteen seconds!"
'Full engine power! Fifteen degrees pitch, charge into the crest of that wave!'
To everyone, Liu Xun's orders seemed suicidal; he was ordering the 'Emperor Xuan' to abandon its escape from the hurricane and plunge headlong into the eye of the storm's strongest winds instead.
However, a miracle occurred: at the moment the giant wave was about to shatter the ship, the Emperor Xuan, utilising the 'gravity feedback point' predicted by Liu Xun, performed an almost miraculous tail-drift with the wave's thrust; simultaneously, aided by the 'watertight compartments' automatic ballast balancing function, the giant ship carved an arc through the gaps in the wall of water.
'That's not a cloud; it's a moisture barrier.' Liu Xun stared at a red dot on the weather map. 'That's the heart of the hurricane. Gongshu Qi, load the 'cloud-burst thermobaric bomb.'"
'Your Majesty, that's a cannon for shooting people...' Gongshu Qi was stunned.
"Strike at the heavens!" The triple-mounted 460 mm main guns roared deafeningly and three thermobaric shells, with the destructive power to obliterate a city, were fired straight into the sky and exploded violently at the centre of the hurricane. The intense heat, reaching tens of thousands of degrees Celsius, instantly evaporated vast quantities of water vapour and forcibly altered the local pressure balance. This single shot ripped open the previously closed eye of the hurricane.
The 'Emperor Xuan' emerged from the destroyed path and saw the sunlight once more. The sea was now silent and desolate, a testament to the catastrophe's aftermath. The former pirate naval officers knelt on the flooded deck, gazing at Liu Xun standing in the sunlight, with the battered yet still proudly upright giant ship behind him.
'Your Majesty, you are not only the ruler of this land; you can even change the fate of Heaven!' Zhou Meng choked back tears as he kowtowed.
[System Prompt]:
[Fleet Loyalty]: Locked at 100% (title 'Storm Overlord' obtained).
[Physics Branch Unlocked]: Weather Weaponisation
Current coordinates: Crossed the Pacific median line; three days' journey to the 'Eastern Continent'.
Liu Xun looked at the horizon where he had claimed his territory and where the system had just detected a "high-energy reaction signal" from that mutated civilisation.
'The hurricane is just an appetiser,' sneered Liu Xun. 'Next, I'll show the "gods" of that land what true thunder is.'
After navigating the hurricane-battered deep sea, the 'Emperor Xuan' was left with jagged salt stains and scratches along its sides. Liu Xun stood on the bridge, a green dot appearing on the system map in his line of sight. In the heart of the vast ocean lay a chain of emerald-like islands, silently embedded in the Pacific, awaiting the arrival of the Han Dynasty's ironclad forces.
'System, lock latitude and longitude. Assess the strategic value of this island chain.'
[System Command]: 'Target location successful — Hawaii Islands (Han Dynasty name: Changming Island Chain).'
Strategic assessment: Located in the absolute heart of the Pacific Ocean, this is a vital transportation hub.
Resource characteristics: It has abundant freshwater resources and natural deep-water harbours (a precursor to Pearl Harbor), and is suitable for cultivating high-yield sugar and tropical crops.
Additional mission: Establish a perpetual transit station.
Mission rewards: A basic radio relay tower and a high-energy geothermal well.
Liu Xun gazed at the gradually clearing coastline in the distance, where volcanoes were spewing thin smoke. He activated 'Top Performance: Sower of Civilisation', tracing a line on the nautical chart. 'This is the last stepping stone for the Han Dynasty to reach the Eastern Continent. I will ensure its lights burn brightly for ten thousand years.'
As the enormous 'Emperor Xuan' slowly entered the tranquil inland sea, Liu Xun officially renamed the location 'Changming Island', meaning 'the eternal flame of the Han Dynasty, illuminating the distant ocean'.
Liu Xun initiated 'Infrastructure Maniac – Overseas Version': The Pearl Harbor expansion project used 'underwater detonation technology' to blast open coral reefs and construct a heavy-duty pier large enough to accommodate three 'Emperor Xuan'-class behemoths. A freshwater purification project used 'Gewu centrifuges' to convert the island's spring water into a pure supply meeting aerospace standards.'Sugarcane Revolution': The system provided 'high-sweetness variant sugarcane', instructing agricultural officials to trial-plant it. This provided the Han Dynasty with cheap energy in the form of alcohol and sugar. Meanwhile, the island's Polynesian natives circled the 'steel mountain' in their canoes, awestruck. According to their mythology, no monster had ever been capable of breathing fire and sailing against the wind.
Liu Xun walked to the edge of the deck. This time, he didn't use force; instead, he activated the 'holographic translation module' and instructed Gongshu Qi to retrieve the 'high-precision stainless steel kitchenware' and 'multicoloured glass mirror' crafted by the Han Dynasty.
'I am the emperor from the East, who commands the stars and lightning,' echoed Liu Xun's voice through the bay via loudspeaker. When a native chieftain received the glass dagger, shimmering with iridescent light in the sunlight, from his hands, he knelt on the sand without hesitation. To these Stone Age islanders, the industrial civilisation of the Han dynasty was a miracle.
To ensure contact with Chang'an, Liu Xun erected the 'Eternal Relay Tower' on the island's highest peak, Mauna Kea.
'Your Majesty, can this iron frame truly transmit sound back to Chang'an?' Gongshu Qi asked, setting up the massive metal antenna.
'Through ionospheric reflection, in conjunction with our satellite matrix,' replied Liu Xun, looking at the flashing red signal lights. 'From now on, this sea will no longer be an isolated abyss. I can whistle on Changming Island, and all the civil and military officials in Chang'an will hear me."
[System Notification]:
[Global Communication Network]: Coverage increased to 15%.
[Changming Island Supply Efficiency]: Max (fleet status fully restored).
On the night that Changming Island was brightly lit in celebration of the establishment of the new province, the Crust Monitor in the system suddenly emitted a series of rapid vibrations.
[High-Risk Warning]: 'The host's installation of a signal tower on top of the volcano has accidentally activated a "prehistoric thermal reactor" deep underground.' Detected: 3,000 metres below Changming Island, a 'bionic war machine' codenamed 'Zhurong' lies dormant.'
Liu Xun's note: 'It is absorbing the electromagnetic waves from the relay tower and is expected to undergo a "trial awakening" before the host's departure.' Liu Xun gripped the hilt of his sword and looked at the slightly trembling rocks beneath his feet. A gleam of excited fervour flashed in his eyes.
'Zhurong? Using the Han Dynasty's electricity to fatten itself up?' Liu Xun sneered. 'Gongshu Qi, prepare the "electromagnetic capture net" for the "Emperor Xuan's Ship". My relay station still needs an eternal power bank.'
The ship Xuan Di departed from Changming Island (Hawaii) and headed into the vast expanse of the eastern Pacific Ocean. The initial desire for conquest was gradually consumed by the boundless blue sea. Twenty consecutive days without sighting land made the atmosphere on board even more oppressive than during the previous hurricane.
The roar of the machinery became torture and the salty sea breeze became a curse. Even the toughest 'sea pirate' officers began to feel a poisonous weed called 'deep-sea fear' as they faced the seemingly endless horizon. In the dimly lit lower decks, several young soldiers stared blankly at the dim kerosene lamps.
One soldier asked in a trembling voice, 'Are we really still in the human world?' The radar shows nothing but water. The wheat back home should be ripe by now, yet here we are, chasing after this vague 'Eastern Land'. What if that's the end of the world — an abyss we can't fall into?" This feeling spread like a plague. Despite having ample canned food and fresh water, the lack of a sense of grounding made these descendants of an agricultural civilisation feel as if their souls were adrift. System monitoring shows that the ship's morale has plummeted to 45%, with mass depression and multiple hallucinations (siren effect) detected.
Warning: Without intervention, an internal mutiny may erupt within three days.
Liu Xun stood quietly in the command tower, watching the dejected faces on the monitor screens. He did not resort to military law or corporal punishment because, in the physically isolated depths of the ocean, only 'faith' could overcome 'nihilism'.
He ordered: 'System, activate ship-wide audio synchronisation transmission. Load psychological suggestion — sacred frequency.'
[System Command]: 'National Fortune Value' consumed 40,000 points.
Background sound: Low-frequency chime bells guiding the subconscious back to Chang'an.
Sound effect enhancement: Magnetic voice enhancement and emotional resonance algorithm.'Soldiers of the Great Han, I am Liu Xun.' His magnetic, authoritative voice echoed without warning throughout the ship, instantly turning the previously noisy vessel into a place where you could hear a pin drop. Liu Xun launched into his 'top-tier performance: Soul Mentor." Rather than preaching grand theories, he sketched a grand vision with an almost whispered warmth.
'I know what you fear. You fear that this sea has no end and that your souls won't be able to return to your ancestral graves in Guanzhong after death.'
'But look out of the window. What's that?'
"Those are the stars. In our calculations, we are not fleeing our homeland, but chasing the sun. Every kilometre we travel is laying an unshakeable foundation for your descendants. The moment you set foot on this eastern land, you will be divine beings who created heaven and earth, not vagrants or farmers! In order to utterly shatter fear, Liu Xun unleashed his ultimate weapon:
[System Projection]: 'Holographic Particle Imaging – Hometown Reappearance.' Suddenly, the outline of the bell tower in Chang'an, the snow-capped Qinling Mountains and even a steaming bowl of mutton soup from the streets of Xianyang appeared in the air above the vast deck and cramped mess hall. The soldiers reached out to touch them, but couldn't. The sheer visual impact brought tears to everyone's eyes.
Liu Xun's voice rose again, filled with an undeniable fervour: 'I assure you that on the day the Xuan Emperor's ship returns triumphantly, I will make the waters of the East Sea flow backwards in a golden rain to welcome you all home! As long as the banner of the Han Dynasty still flies, I will be your support!'
That night, a deafening roar erupted from the 'Xuan Emperor's Ship': 'We are willing to die for His Majesty! We are willing to open up a new era for the Han Dynasty!'
[System Projection]: Holographic Particle Imaging – Hometown Reappearance. [System Prompt]: [All ship morale]: Off the charts (increased to 120%).
[Special status triggered]: Frenzied Sailing (crew work efficiency increased by 50%).
Achievement obtained: Sea Pope.
[System Prompt]: [All Ship Morale]: Off the charts (increased to 120%).
Special status triggered: Frenzied Sailing (crew work efficiency increased by 50%).
[Achievement]: Sea Pope Liu Xun turned off the microphone and looked at his reflection in the mirror. A trace of weariness and indifference flashed in his eyes. He rubbed his temples and sighed deeply.
'Gongshu Qi, the show's over. Tell the engine room to proceed at full speed.' He turned around to look at the faint echo representing 'land' on the radar. 'If we don't reach it soon, I'll have no more motivational speeches.' Suddenly, a sharp whistle sounded from the lookout tower: 'Land shadow detected at the ten o'clock position directly ahead!'