At this moment, the Great Qin had already expanded its territory across billions of miles within the Earthly Immortal Realm.
Its population had exceeded ten billion.
These lands were once ruled by the Kunlun Immortal Sect. Under its dominion, hundreds of mortal kingdoms had existed, but now they had all been unified under Zhao Feng's rule.
Now, Zhao Feng's goal was to fully utilize this immense power.
By spreading martial cultivation, he would nurture Great Qin's warriors in the Earthly Immortal Realm.
The speed of cultivation here would far surpass that of the mortal world and even Zhao Feng's small world.
After all, the spiritual energy in the Earthly Immortal Realm was far denser than in the mortal world or his small world. Even though his small world had already grown into a Middle Thousand World, its spiritual energy could not compare to that of the Great Thousand World of the Primordial Wilderness.
Although this Primordial Wilderness was incomplete, it was still a Great Thousand World.
Its spiritual energy was tens of thousands, even millions of times denser than that of a Middle Thousand World.
Even though most humans in this realm had not embarked on the path of immortality, their natural talent and potential far exceeded that of mortal humans. If properly nurtured, Great Qin could produce countless martial cultivators in a short period.
"Every field has its experts."
"It's time for my father to send scholars to the Immortal Realm to establish academies."
Zhao Feng pondered for a brief moment before taking out the Heavenly Profound Mirror to send a message to Ying Zheng.
The Mortal Realm
Inside the Imperial Court Hall,
"Ministers,"
"Today, I have an important matter to announce to you all."
"This matter has been known to only a few ministers, and I have not made it public."
Ying Zheng stood at the front of the imperial throne, his expression solemn.
Seeing the Emperor's seriousness, the ministers immediately focused their attention on him.
However, Lü Buwei, Wang Jian, and Li Si remained calm they already knew what the Emperor was about to reveal.
"The Crown Prince entered the Immortal Realm a hundred years ago."
Ying Zheng's voice was calm but carried immense weight.
As soon as he spoke, the entire court was shaken.
No one had expected this revelation.
"Your Majesty!"
"The Crown Prince has been in the Immortal Realm for a hundred years?"
"What is the current situation?"
A minister couldn't help but step forward and ask.
"The Crown Prince has led tens of thousands of Great Qin's elite warriors to conquer billions of miles of territory in the Immortal Realm, gaining over ten billion subjects."
"He has annihilated countless immortal sects within these lands."
"Now, Great Qin has established a foothold in the Immortal Realm."
Ying Zheng spoke with pride.
"The Crown Prince is truly noble and virtuous!"
"We offer our congratulations to Your Majesty!"
The ministers all loudly proclaimed in unison.
"The Immortal Realm's population has now exceeded ten billion. Although abundant, the immortals and gods regard our people as mere ants, treating them as livestock!"
"The people of the Immortal Realm have been denied the path of cultivation, forbidden from stepping onto the road of transcendence."
"But the Crown Prince has already granted them the Heavenly Profound Mirror, spread martial cultivation techniques, and begun the unification of writing and currency."
"However, he needs manpower."
"I require scholars to establish academies and administrators to govern the territories in the Immortal Realm."
Ying Zheng's voice echoed through the hall.
"We are willing to enter the Immortal Realm and fight for Great Qin!"
One by one, the ministers stepped forward to pledge their service.
Seeing this, Ying Zheng's expression softened with satisfaction.
Then, he turned his gaze to Zhao Qi, who was seated on the steps of the hall.
"Qi'er."
Ying Zheng called out.
"Grandfather, I am here." Zhao Qi immediately responded.
"Your father has already secured vast territories in the Immortal Realm for Great Qin."
"Great Qin now has a firm foundation in the Immortal Realm."
"I cannot allow your father to fight there alone."
"From this day forth you shall oversee all state affairs in the mortal world!"
Ying Zheng smiled and waved his hand.
A seal floated up from the imperial desk.
It was not the Imperial Seal of the Nation, but the Regency Seal, symbolizing control over the empire's administration.
"Grandfather, you intend to enter the Immortal Realm?" Zhao Qi's expression changed.
"The Immortal Realm Great Qin's next battlefield!"
"In the past, when your father led his campaign, I wanted to go, but he refused."
"But now, our foundation has been established I have no reason not to go."
Ying Zheng smiled, his gaze then shifting toward the gathered ministers.
"Chancellor."
"Grand Marshal."
Ying Zheng spoke firmly.
"We are here!"
Lü Buwei and Wang Jian immediately stepped forward.
"The mortal world has been unified. The hearts of the people belong to Great Qin."
"Our culture is unified, and our people are loyal."
"My heir is capable, but he still needs wise ministers to assist him."
"I hope that the two of you will remain in the mortal world and guide my grandson in governance to provide Great Qin with an endless stream of talented individuals."
Ying Zheng's voice carried deep expectations.
"We shall not fail Your Majesty's command!"
Both Lü Buwei and Wang Jian bowed in unison.
Lü Buwei and Wang Jian Respond Immediately
"Xun Qing."
Ying Zheng turned his gaze to Xunzi.
"Your Majesty, please give your command." Xunzi stepped forward respectfully.
At this moment, Xunzi was the foremost scholar of all academies in the empire, and the national fortune surrounding him was incredibly powerful.
Even a true immortal would not be a match for him.
"Select 30,000 Void Shattering Realm cultivators, 3,000 Martial Dao Masters, and 1,000 Martial Dao Grandmasters from the academies."
"These warriors will all enter the Immortal Realm to establish academies and pass down martial cultivation."
"Apart from martial cultivators..."
"Immortal cultivators, Buddhist cultivators, alchemists, artifact refiners seventy percent of all experts in these fields shall be dispatched from the academies as well."
Ying Zheng's voice was deep and commanding.
"I accept Your Majesty's decree."
"I will immediately pass the order to the academy's chief scholars."
Xunzi accepted the command without hesitation, his mind linking to the Heavenly Profound Mirror as he transmitted the decree.
At That Moment
Wang Jian stepped forward.
"Your Majesty."
"The mortal world has now been fully pacified. Famine, war, and turmoil have all but disappeared the empire is at peace."
"Thus, our elite troops no longer need to remain in the mortal realm. All major military camps can now move to the Immortal Realm and continue expanding Great Qin's dominion."
Wang Jian spoke firmly.
"This matter..."
"I had already made up my mind."
"At present, the troops stationed in the mortal realm primarily serve to recruit and train new soldiers with exceptional talent."
"All elite troops are already undergoing cultivation and training."
"After this, they shall all be deployed to the Immortal Realm."
Ying Zheng declared decisively.
"Your Majesty is wise." Wang Jian immediately saluted.
"Your Majesty."
"The mortal realm is stable, and we also have the Heavenly Profound Mirror to manage affairs from afar."
"However, when Your Majesty enters the Immortal Realm, you must bring enough skilled administrators and ministers. The Crown Prince has already gained more territory and population than the entire mortal world, and in the future, the numbers will only grow. We need more capable officials to govern them."
Lü Buwei also voiced his thoughts.
"Hmm."
Ying Zheng nodded in agreement.
The court officials each stepped forward, offering their proposals.
Every discussion revolved around one thing ensuring Great Qin's success in the Immortal Realm!
The Earthly Immortal Realm – Eastern Victory Divine Continent
Everything was now stabilized.
Under Zhao Feng's command, the once rapidly expanding territory had finally paused its conquest. After taking control of all mortal kingdoms once ruled by the Kunlun Immortal Sect, Great Qin had ceased its offensives and redeployed forces to fortify its borders.
Internally, the Heavenly Profound Mirror played a central role.
The truth about the immortals and gods enslaving and feeding on humanity was now being spread.
Not just rumors but concrete evidence from within the immortal sects themselves.
Throughout Great Qin's territory in the Immortal Realm, the revelation of this truth sent shockwaves among the people.
When they learned the true nature of the immortals and the horrifying secret of the so-called Ascension Ceremony, fear and outrage gripped the masses.
"Immortals are demons?!"
"They were never true immortals they feast upon us!"
"The so-called Ascension Ceremony… ha! A ridiculous farce! It's nothing more than a slaughterhouse selecting the best livestock those with spirit roots are just better-tasting meals, while those without spirit roots are kept to breed future generations of food!"
"My grand-uncle entered an immortal sect decades ago… He never returned. We thought he had achieved immortality, but now it seems he was likely devoured by the so-called immortals!"
"For years, we have revered and worshipped these so-called immortals… but now we see they are nothing more than monsters in disguise. Laughable! Ridiculous!"
"We mortals have always respected and feared the immortals, but in their eyes, we are nothing more than food and ants! From this day forward, I will never worship them again!"
"If not for His Highness, we would have never known the truth."
"If not for His Highness, we would never have seen the true face of the immortal sects."
"His Highness' grace is immeasurable!"
"Indeed!"
"As mere mortals, we could never have uncovered the truth on our own. Without His Highness, we would have remained ignorant forever trapped as cattle for the immortals to feed on. His Highness has not only revealed the truth but has also sent troops to annihilate the immortal sects and protect us! How can we ever repay such an immense kindness?"
"His Highness' favor is eternal we shall never forget it!"
"Not only has His Highness shielded us, but he has also bestowed upon us the Heavenly Profound Mirror and the path of martial cultivation! It is said that the armies under His Highness do not cultivate immortality, yet they can slay immortals with martial arts alone!"
"From this day forward, I will devote myself to martial cultivation!"
"One day, I will stand by His Highness' side and fight against the so-called immortals!"
Throughout Great Qin's Territory in the Immortal Realm
The truth about the immortals spread like wildfire.
Zhao Feng exposed the cruel reality that humans were merely livestock to the immortals.
This deception, which was meant to remain hidden for eternity, had been shattered.
With the natural flow of communication across the mortal world and the Immortal Realm, the truth was beginning to spread across the entire Eastern Victory Divine Continent.
The Heavenly Court – Lingxiao Palace
A glance across the grand palace revealed a significantly reduced number of celestial beings.
A heavy, unspoken atmosphere hung over the entire Heavenly Court.
Many immortals and deities, whose true souls had not been inscribed upon the Fengshen List, were absent from the hall.
Among those missing were celestial beings of varying cultivation levels some at the Heavenly Immortal Realm, others as high as the Golden Immortal of the Great Firmament Realm.
A plague unlike any before had swept through the Heavenly Court in an incredibly short period.
A Grim Report
"Your Majesty,"
"In just ten short days, the Heavenly Court has suffered severe losses."
"Among the fallen… even several Golden Immortals of the Great Firmament have perished."
The old and wise Taibai Jinxing stepped forward, his expression tense.
Hearing this, the celestial officials in the hall reacted in different ways some showing shock, others worry, and a few barely concealing their fear.
Upon his throne, Haotian, the Supreme Heavenly Emperor, wore an extremely grim expression.
This mysterious plague was far too terrifying in just over ten days, it had ravaged the entire Heavenly Court, from the First Heaven to the Thirty-Third Heaven, sparing no one.
To contain the outbreak, Haotian had ordered all infected immortals to be isolated, preventing further spread.
"Siming," Haotian's eyes turned to Siming Xingjun, the Star Lord of Fate.
"Have you uncovered the cause?"
"Your Majesty,"
"After careful investigation, I have found the source."
"The plague emerged after spiritual essence and flesh-forged pills from Nanzhan Buzhou were delivered as a tribute to the Heavenly Court."
Siming Xingjun stepped forward and respectfully reported his findings.
"Nanzhan Buzhou?"
Haotian's brow furrowed in deep thought.
At the same time, he felt a faint sense of relief.
Although Nanzhan Buzhou was under Heavenly Court jurisdiction, it was also contested by the Buddhist sects, numerous demonic clans, and various other factions. It was the most fiercely contested continent.
However, the true source of the Heavenly Court's spiritual essence was Dongsheng Shenzhou.
As long as Dongsheng Shenzhou remained unaffected, then there was no cause for major concern.
"From this day forward,"
"The Heavenly Court shall no longer accept spiritual essence or flesh-forged pills from Nanzhan Buzhou."
Haotian issued the decree immediately.
This plague had shaken even him to the core.
Though the tribute from Nanzhan Buzhou was valuable, the losses the Heavenly Court had suffered were far too great.
Until the cause was fully understood, he would not risk accepting further tribute.
The Plague Reaches the Buddhist Sects
"Your Majesty,"
"The Buddhist lands have also fallen victim to the same plague as our Heavenly Court."
"Many bhikkhus and even Buddhas have perished."
A celestial official stepped forward and reported.
Upon hearing this news, a subtle flicker of satisfaction crossed Haotian's otherwise cold and solemn face.
At the very least…
The Heavenly Court was not the only one suffering the Buddhist sects had also taken a heavy blow.
This somewhat eased Haotian's frustration over his losses.
"Taibai, has Old Lord Laojun discovered the cause?"
Haotian turned his gaze toward Taibai Jinxing.
"Your Majesty,"
"This is a sample of the plague's essence, extracted from the corpses of deceased immortals by Old Lord Laojun."
"It was also extracted from the spiritual essence itself."
Taibai Jinxing held out a transparent jade box.
Within it, traces of black mist flickered, sometimes visible, sometimes fading into nothingness, as if they didn't truly exist.
Haotian flicked his sleeve, and the jade box flew into his grasp.
Extending his divine sense, he probed the contents.
Even with his supreme cultivation, he could not discern anything from it.
"This… is the toxin that has devastated my Heavenly Court?" Haotian murmured in shock.
"Old Lord Laojun says this toxin is highly unusual."
"It appears to spread through slaughter, but the exact mechanism requires further investigation at its source Nanzhan Buzhou."
Taibai Jinxing respectfully explained.
"Hmm."
Haotian nodded, his expression serious.
"This must be thoroughly investigated."
"Zhang Tianshi."
Haotian's gaze turned to Zhang Daoling.
"Your subject is here."
Zhang Daoling stepped forward at once.
"Since the Heavenly Master is present, and since you have always been deeply concerned with mortal affairs, I shall entrust this critical task to you."
"Find out whether this plague is a natural disaster… or an act of deliberate malice."
"Trace it to its source. The moment you discover anything, report it at once."
Haotian's voice carried unquestionable authority.
"Your subject obeys the decree."
Zhang Daoling accepted the order without hesitation.
Just then
"Urgent report!"
"A message has just arrived from the Hall of Merit and Fortune."
"In Dongsheng Shenzhou, the Kunlun Immortal Sect's Celestial Inscription has shattered!"
"For days now, many immortal sects in Dongsheng Shenzhou have continued their spiritual essence tributes…"
"But Kunlun has not!"
A Heavenly Court official hurried into the Lingxiao Palace, announcing the report in a loud voice.
"Kunlun?"
Haotian's expression immediately changed.
"Hand this matter over to the Grand Emperor of Longevity."
"Kunlun belongs to the Chan Sect, which falls under his jurisdiction."
"This matter should be his to handle."
Haotian shifted the responsibility elsewhere.
The Hierarchy of the Heavenly Court
Within the Heavenly Court, Haotian was indeed the supreme ruler.
However, beneath him were four other Great Emperors, each wielding significant power.
This system was established following the Great War of Deification, decreed by the Saints themselves.
Even though the Saints had since vanished, the power structure of the Heavenly Court remained unchanged.
Even when the lower realms sent their tributes, these offerings were divided among multiple Great Emperors.
Haotian received the largest share, but the other Great Emperors each had their portions as well.
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