Two months ago, news spread across the four corners of the Blood Spirit Continent that the entire land had been unified and a new dynasty was about to be established.
Accompanying this was the name of Yun Ming, the Lord of Destiny who had swept through seven kingdoms and unified the world, resounding throughout the continent.
Once this announcement was made, the common people across the continent celebrated with joy, for it meant that the endless wars on the continent had finally come to an end, and they could finally lead relatively safe and stable lives.
Inside the Royal Palace hall of the Blood Spirit City, the royal capital of the former Blood Spirit Kingdom.
Yun Ming sat upright on the throne, feeling the majestic Faith Power that had been growing day by day, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Not bad! This Faith Power is quite good! High in quantity and quality, it can be called top-tier. Do good deeds, reap the rewards, and the better the work, the greater the benefits—this positive cycle is something I, Yun, am very satisfied with.
"Your humble servant Han Yang, pays respects to Your Majesty!" Han Yang walked into the hall and bowed to Yun Ming.
Seeing his subordinate arrive, Yun Ming smiled slightly.
"Rise!"
"Have all the matters been confirmed?"
Han Yang stood up and replied.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, all preparations for tomorrow's founding ceremony are complete; there will certainly not be the slightest oversight."
Yun Ming responded.
"Good! I trust you with your work!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Han Yang replied solemnly, though judging by the gleam in his eyes, Yun Ming's affirmation was still effective.
Yun Ming felt that Han Yang's reaction was quite good. Being an official requires balance! Excessive greed is bad, as it leads to the exploitation of the people and makes one a parasite of the state, but one should also fear being without desire or ambition, just drifting through life. The current state is quite good, and he hoped he could maintain it.
Yun Ming: "You may withdraw."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Han Yang bowed and turned to leave, but he stopped at the entrance of the hall, turned back, and said loudly.
"Your Majesty!"
Han Yang's sudden outburst startled Yun Ming.
"Does Minister Han have anything else?"
Han Yang looked straight at Yun Ming, then performed another forceful, standard ninety-degree bow. Compared to his previous polite salutations, this one looked very heartfelt.
"Thank you for choosing me back then and leading me out of the cage called failure."
"Han Yang is deeply grateful!"
From a small border town to the center of the continent, Han Yang felt deeply moved and grateful.
"Gratitude is not just spoken; it must be acted upon."
"Maintain your original intent and govern well in the future. I will see your gratitude."
Yun Ming replied earnestly.
"Yes, this servant will strictly follow Your Majesty's teachings!"
"Get some rest early! Tomorrow will be very busy."
"This subordinate takes his leave."
This time, he truly withdrew.
Regarding Han Yang's sudden display of gratitude, Yun Ming's mood remained unchanged and calm. To him, this was just a small matter; without Han Yang, there would have been a Zhang Yang or a Wang Yang. At the time, he just needed someone to lead the way, and it made no difference to him. However, Han Yang's reaction reminded him of the weight of the position he was about to ascend to, and how many people's fates might be reversed by his casual words or actions in the future.
"Must be cautious."
Murmuring this to himself, Yun Ming closed his eyes and entered a state of cultivation.
The next day, early morning.
At that glorious moment when the morning light first broke and golden rays spilled across the earth, the founding ceremony of the first unified dynasty of the Blood Spirit Continent slowly began, and the world seemed immersed in an unprecedented solemnity and joy.
Within the capital, the streets were empty as the people gathered; men, women, young and old, wore festive attire, their faces overflowing with unprecedented happiness and pride.
On both sides of the streets, colorful flags fluttered, drums and music played in unison, and laughter wove into a stirring symphony. People held flowers or carried ribbons, flocking to the vast square in front of the Royal Palace, where a historic moment was about to be witnessed.
The square was already a sea of people, yet it remained orderly. A towering and magnificent altar had been erected in the center, with a dragon throne shining brightly upon it, symbolizing the supreme power of the throne.
Surrounding it, layers of officials were arranged according to their rank, dressed in gorgeous official robes, wearing high caps, and holding tablets, their expressions solemn and grave. Among them were civil and military officials who had endured the wars and remained steadfast, strategists and advisors who were learned and talented in assisting the new emperor, and even those meritorious officials who had made great contributions to the establishment of the new dynasty—er, referring to those who were sensible and didn't force Yun Ming to take action.
Han Yang, Qing Shu, Saint Spirit Old Man, and others—those who had come under Yun Ming's command either passively or actively—felt deeply moved when they truly saw the current situation of a unified world.
In their eyes, there was not only emotion for the arduous years of the past but also longing for the peaceful and prosperous age to come.
With a long, resonant bell toll, the ceremony officially began.
Yun Ming was seen wearing a dragon robe and an imperial crown, slowly stepping onto the altar surrounded by the ministers. His pace was steady and his bearing heroic; every step seemed to land on the hearts of his millions of subjects.
Han Yang stepped forward to preside over the ceremony.
"The Empire's founding ceremony, now begins!!!"
"First rite of the ceremony, sacrifice to heaven and earth."
Afterward, Yun Ming cooperated to finish the rites, sacrificing to heaven, earth, and the ancestral temples, and accepting the congratulations of the hundred officials. Following a series of conventional procedures, the process reached the key point of the day. Yun Ming proclaimed to the world and changed the era name to grant a general amnesty.
Han Yang: "Please, Your Majesty, proclaim to the world and change the era name to grant a general amnesty!!"
The plan was to deliver an inaugural address, establish a new era name for the empire, and grant a general amnesty to the world, signaling the beginning of a new reign. This step not only proclaimed the new emperor's rule but also served to stabilize the hearts of the people and the social order through the act of amnesty.
After ascending the dragon throne, Yun Ming faced the assembled officials and the common people. Looking out at the sea of faces below, he felt a rare surge of excitement in his heart. Being an emperor was a first for him, too. However, after the excitement faded, seeing those eyes filled with joy below, he thought of Han Yang and the heavy pressure that came with it. After today, he would truly be bearing the fate of an entire nation.
Yun Ming paused for a moment, his expression solemn and grave.
"I have encountered this prosperous age and accepted the mandate of heaven to govern the myriad people. Today, holding this founding ceremony to announce the birth of our dynasty is truly a grand occasion celebrated by heaven and earth, and rejoiced in by all people.
In the past, within the six directions, kings fought in chaos, and across the eight wildernesses, the fires of war raged. The people were displaced, misery was everywhere, and the world had long yearned for unification.
Since I began my military campaigns, I have upheld justice, taken benevolence and virtue as my foundation, opened wide the paths for talent, and accepted counsel like a flowing stream. After enduring bitter battles, I finally swept across the four seas, unified the universe, and established this eternal, grand, and unified dynasty.
I know deeply that the foundation of the state cannot be built by one person's strength alone. It is because of the civil and military officials who have exhausted their efforts and served until their dying day, and the soldiers who fought bravely and bled in battle, that we have today's peaceful and prosperous age.
My heart is deeply gratified, yet I also feel the weight of this great responsibility. At this moment, I wish to share this grand occasion and enjoy this peace with the people of the world.
I swear to uphold benevolent governance and rule by virtue. I will lighten taxes and corvée labor to allow the people to rest; I will build water conservancy projects and develop agriculture; I will open schools widely to cultivate talent. I will ensure the people live and work in peace and contentment, and that culture flourishes. I will also strengthen border defenses to resist foreign insults, protect the integrity of our territory, and secure the foundation of our dynasty for ten thousand generations.
Today's founding ceremony is not only a celebration for our dynasty but also a celebration for all the people of the world.
Finally, the new dynasty's name shall be 'Dou Spirit', with the capital at 'Dou Spirit City' (formerly Blood Spirit City). May our dynasty live as long as heaven and earth, and shine as brightly as the sun and moon; may our people flourish for generations and enjoy eternal peace!"
When Yun Ming reached the final words, "flourish for generations and enjoy eternal peace," the skyline itself seemed moved, displaying an unprecedented magnificence and serenity.
The dawn broke in the east, and ten thousand rays of rosy light pierced through the clouds like the hand of a deity gently lifting the curtain of night, signaling the dawn of a new era. In the sky, auspicious clouds swirled in colorful patterns, dancing slowly and weaving together into designs of good fortune, as if they were the most exquisite brocade in the world, woven specifically for this solemn moment.
Purple vapor came from the east, circling the golden, magnificent palace, adding a sense of sanctity and solemnity to this holy place. A hundred birds sang in unison, their voices crisp and melodious like heavenly music, as if offering their most sincere blessings for Yun Ming's ascension.
Furthermore, a bright moon hung high in the daylight, flawless and clear, its light gently spilling over the earth to nourish and protect all things. It truly reflected Yun Ming's speech: the sun and moon shining together.
Against this grand backdrop of heaven and earth, Yun Ming was dazzling.
He stood tall like a pine, his brow revealing an otherworldly temperament, as if a star had fallen from the heavens into the mortal world. His deep eyes flickered with the light of wisdom and compassion, as if he could perceive the essence of all things and gently soothe every wounded soul. His nose was high and straight, his lips like vermilion; with a single smile, he was like a spring breeze bringing rain, making all things shine.
His attire further highlighted the nobility and divine radiance of an emperor. Draped in a dragon robe, gold and red intertwined like morning clouds reflecting over a sea of mist, both majestic and ornate. Embroidered on the robe was a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon, riding the clouds and mist with such imposing power that it seemed ready to burst from the fabric and soar into the nine heavens. As the hem swayed gently in the wind, every step he took seemed to tread upon auspicious clouds, with lotus flowers blooming at his feet.
He wore a crown with twelve strings of jade beads that swayed gently, emitting a crisp, melodious sound—the music of heaven, washing the dust from people's hearts. Beneath the crown was his calm and wise face, seemingly able to foresee the future and lead the nation toward prosperity.
Within him, there was not only a mortal body of flesh and blood but also what seemed to be the power of divinity. Every word and action was filled with love for the common people and a sense of duty toward the world. With his wisdom and courage, he had pioneered a brand-new era, earning the reverence of the masses and the praise of future generations.
It was as if a deity had stepped out of ancient legend, using his beauty, wisdom, and benevolence to illuminate the sky of the Blood Spirit Continent, becoming an eternal legend.
This scene was truly witnessed by both heaven and man, celebrated by all things. As the officials and commoners beheld such an auspicious sight, they knew for certain that this was a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives.
Did this heaven-sent auspiciousness signify that Yun Ming was the true Son of Heaven for the Blood Spirit Continent, and that under his wise leadership, the continent would usher in unprecedented peace and prosperity?! After a moment of silence, the scene vanished, replaced by fanatical, mountain-shaking cheers.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Heaven Spirit Empire!!"
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Heaven Spirit Empire!!"
"."
At this moment, the officials knelt and bowed, their shouts of "long live" echoing through the clouds. They held their tablets high, foreheads pressed to the ground, expressing their loyalty and reverence to the new emperor. This act was not only a sign of respect and submission to imperial power but also a firm belief in and shared pursuit of a bright future for the Heaven Spirit Empire.
Below the altar, the common people cheered wildly, tears in their eyes. They waved flowers and ribbons, shouting at the top of their lungs, as if to transform all their joy and excitement into this deafening roar. Children darted and played in the crowd, while the elderly held hands and smiled at each other; every face was filled with expectation and longing for their new life.
At this moment, the entire capital seemed to be unified by an invisible force, becoming an unbreakable whole. The founding ceremony of the Heaven Spirit Empire was not just the birth of a dynasty, but a milestone of profound significance in the history of the Blood Spirit Continent. It marked the end of long-term division and war, signaling that a brand-new, hopeful era was arriving.
At this moment, only Yun Ming had other thoughts in his heart. He knew clearly who the true destiny of this era was, so this phenomenon could only be one possibility: someone from the God Realm had intervened. But who?
With no clues, Yun Ming had to put it aside for the time being and continue with the remaining procedures. After reading the decree for the general amnesty, the entire Dou Spirit City plunged into a wild, celebratory feast for the founding of the nation.
Three days after the grand imperial celebration, everything returned to normal. The Blood Spirit Continent had just ended years of war and was in a state of needing reconstruction; the new empire had piles of government affairs to handle, and there was simply no more time for them to indulge.
First was the power structure. In this regard, the strategy Yun Ming adopted for the Heaven Spirit Empire was very similar to the current structure of the Martial Soul Empire.
He officially summoned the world's powerhouses to establish the Dou Spirit Hall! It would hold the highest power in the world, including changes to the throne and military command, while also taking on functions such as managing Soul Masters. Aside from religious beliefs, it was basically equivalent to the current Martial Soul Hall, with Yun Ming serving as the first Hall Master.
Regarding the court structure, he threw the Six Ministries System to Han Yang and the others. After selecting high-level officials like department heads, he let them handle the rest themselves. In such matters, there were many in the court who understood more than he did; they could handle it themselves. Yun Ming only needed to keep his eyes and ears open to ensure no one below was playing tricks.
With the center established, the local level was easy to settle. Government departments could be built based on the original prefectures, modeled after the central government. All that was needed was to strip away powers that were not suitable for local authorities, such as military command and the right to mint currency.
After solving the structural issues, what Yun Ming had to do was much simpler: assign tasks to his subordinates! Statistics of imperial personnel, Spirit Awakening in various regions, updates to laws, and so on. There were also major decisions to be made.
But even with only these tasks, Yun Ming was still busy every day, unable to catch a break. With a nation newly established, there were too many major affairs of all kinds. It took over a month of hard work before he finally had a chance to rest.
That evening, after Yun Ming finished handling government affairs, he returned to his Chamber to perform his daily cultivation. Suddenly, however, he felt a wave of mental dizziness, and the world before his eyes underwent a cataclysmic change. This was no longer Yun Ming's Spirit Space.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader