The royal palace was silent.
Who would dare voice opposition?
This was the man who had slain five Nascent Soul cultivators during the Nascent Soul battle, a ruthless figure who had earned the title of Blood-handed Butcher during the Baixing Holy War! As for the other Nascent Soul cultivators?
Most of them had either fought alongside Lin Li or owed him a debt from the Nascent Soul battle. Naturally, none would raise any objections.
Thus, with no opposition, the Hailan Kingdom, represented by Lin Li, was officially declared the sixth great kingdom of Baixing, with the ascension ceremony scheduled to take place a month later.
Following this, decisions were made regarding the six Nascent Soul cultivators from the Sacred Boundless Alliance who had surrendered.
Each of the six great kingdoms would take one Nascent Soul cultivator into their ranks.
To ensure their loyalty, each of these cultivators swore a soul blood oath in front of everyone—a vow of the highest order in the cultivation world. If broken, it would invoke a heavenly tribulation, utterly destroying the violator and preventing them from reincarnating.
This oath secured the loyalty of the newly integrated Nascent Soul cultivators to their respective kingdoms.
...
A month later.
The grand kingdom ascension ceremony was held in Hailan Kingdom.
Kings from over a hundred vassal states of Baixing, as well as the rulers of the five other great kingdoms, attended the event.
For the citizens of Hailan, it was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. The entire kingdom was in high spirits, celebrating their newfound status. Although Lin Li wasn't officially the king of Hailan, everyone knew that the kingdom's rise was entirely due to him. As a result, Lin Li's prestige in Hailan Kingdom reached unprecedented levels.
After becoming the sixth great kingdom, Hailan's authority and power increased significantly.
Six months later.
Baixing Kingdom's conquest of the Boundless Empire and Sacred Holy Empire was largely completed.
As the newest of the six great kingdoms, Hailan was awarded three large islands from the territories of the Boundless and Sacred Empires. These islands were granted as fiefs, expanding the kingdom's land and bolstering its strength.
Many ambitious individuals saw Hailan Kingdom as a land of opportunity and flocked to join, further enhancing the kingdom's power.
Moreover...
After killing five Nascent Soul cultivators, Lin Li had fully absorbed the energy feedback from Ye Fan, raising his cultivation to the third level of the Nascent Soul stage.
Today.
On Hailan Kingdom's main island.
Apart from the three newly acquired fief islands from the Sacred Boundless territories, the main island had undergone a complete transformation, now boasting the grandeur of a true kingdom.
Inside the royal palace.
The King of Hailan sat on his throne, with the Ninth Princess and Lin Li seated at his side.
The court was holding an audience to formally induct the many cultivators who had come to pledge allegiance to Hailan Kingdom.
After the appointment of over a thousand Qi Condensation cultivators, several hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators, and twenty Core Formation cultivators, the king turned to Lin Li with a questioning look. Though the six captured Nascent Soul cultivators had sworn a soul blood oath, deciding how to handle the one Nascent Soul cultivator who had surrendered was still a delicate matter.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Lin Li spoke.
"Hao Ren, you were once a Nascent Soul ancestor of the Sacred Holy Empire. Though you are now a part of Hailan Kingdom, we have no intention of treating you unfairly."
"Hailan Kingdom has acquired a fief island from the former Sacred Holy Empire. I propose that we appoint you as a lord of that island, allowing you to govern it on behalf of Hailan Kingdom."
"You have sworn a soul blood oath, so I have no doubts about your loyalty. As a former Sacred Holy Empire ancestor, I trust you will manage the fief well and contribute to Hailan's growing strength."
Hao Ren was utterly stunned.
He knew that the other five captured Nascent Soul cultivators had been confined within the kingdoms that took them in, forced to undergo a hundred years of reflection before being granted freedom as honored elders.
Naturally, this was to prevent any chance of rebellion—by the time a century had passed, Baixing Kingdom would have fully consolidated its power.
Never in his wildest dreams did Hao Ren expect Lin Li to show such generosity.
"Thank you, Ninth Prince Consort, for your boundless kindness! I will never forget this favor!" Hao Ren immediately knelt on one knee, pledging his loyalty to Lin Li.
After nodding at Hao Ren, Lin Li took a deep breath and finally voiced the long-standing weight on his mind.
"Additionally, I am issuing an order to all of Hailan Kingdom: search the entire sea for any ancient teleportation arrays that may exist!"
"Anyone who finds one will be heavily rewarded!"
"Whether you wish to become my personal disciple or seek a noble title, both opportunities will be available!"
Though Lin Li was not officially the king of Hailan, the King of Hailan deferred to him in all matters. The king raised no objections to Lin Li's decree.
Later.
In private, the King of Hailan and the Ninth Princess asked Lin Li about his motivations.
Having long since considered them his true family, Lin Li was honest.
"To tell you the truth, I'm not originally from this sea."
"My country was embroiled in a massive war between cultivators. While being pursued by the enemy and facing certain death, I stumbled upon an ancient teleportation array. That's how I ended up here."
The Ninth Princess's heart tightened as she grasped Lin Li's hand. "Husband, are you... planning to leave?"
"Yes," Lin Li nodded.
The King of Hailan frowned. "Are you really going to abandon everything here?"
"Does Zhao Country truly hold something worth returning to?"
Lin Li shook his head, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. "There is nothing left in Zhao Country that holds me."
At this point, Lin Li felt a pang of guilt...
Qinglian Immortal...
"I owe her," Lin Li thought.
He continued, "Actually, I'm not originally from Zhao Country, either."
"I was a minor lord from the Great Jing Dynasty, located to the northwest of Zhao Country."
"Unfortunately, when I was a child, a coup occurred in the Great Jing. My entire family was slaughtered by traitors who led the rebellion."
"I was also cursed by the traitor, dooming me to a life of endless calamity. Wherever I go, bloodshed and violence follow."
"Luckily, the royal bloodline of the Great Jing carries a trace of celestial heritage. That allowed me to survive many life-threatening situations, narrowly escaping death time and again."
Lin Li paused. "Now, I've issued the order to search for ancient teleportation arrays because I finally have the power to seek revenge!"
"I want to return to Zhao Country and head to the Great Jing! I will find the traitors who killed my family, and I will avenge their deaths!"