The morning sunlight spilled over the palace, catching the golden edges of the throne. Feng Hao settled into the meditation hall, cross-legged, eyes closed, hands resting lightly on his knees. The Black Sun Remnant Dynasty had returned to their fiefdom, obedient and cautious, their loyalty intact — but here, none of that mattered. Here, it was only him and the flow of qi.
Qi Sea Realm — Mid Stage.
He inhaled deeply. Territory qi, bloodline resonance, and dynasty bonuses swirled around him, forming a dense, intricate lattice of spiritual energy. The Nine God Dynasty itself pulsed in quiet harmony, every breath of the wind, every blade of grass, every stone in the palace courtyard feeding his cultivation.
He focused. Circulation began. Golden qi spiraled up from his dantian, coursing through his meridians, refining each vein, each pulse. The sensation was exquisite — like standing inside a river of molten light that bent around his form.
The elders' auras intertwined subtly, invisible threads of wisdom and authority lending guidance. Even the lands of the newly submitted Black Sun Remnant felt different. Their spirit veins, stabilized by his presence, resonated with his cultivation, amplifying the flow of qi.
Minutes stretched into hours. His mind became a mirror of the dao — vast, fluid, inexhaustible. Every thought, every breath, every pulse of circulation condensed comprehension, refining his understanding of techniques, formations, and bloodline potential.
The palace walls vibrated faintly with the energy. The Celestial Forge hummed in response, as if aware its master was breaking past the boundaries of ordinary comprehension.
Qi Sea Realm — Late Stage.
Feng Hao opened his eyes for a fraction of a moment, the golden light of his aura spilling outward like dawn over mountains. The power of the Nine God Dynasty, already immense, now pressed subtly against the land itself. Soldiers and formations stabilized instantly, though none had been commanded; the dynasty was alive with his cultivation.
He inhaled again, deeper this time. Circulation accelerated. Bloodline resonance expanded. Territory qi folded into layers around him, building an invisible web of power that anchored him as it refined his body and soul.
Qi Sea Realm — Peak Stage.
The golden aura coalesced into a sphere that seemed to hum with authority. Every breath, every heartbeat reinforced it. The palace trembled slightly, banners fluttering without wind, and the earth itself seemed to acknowledge the elevation of its master.
For the first time, Feng Hao sensed the full potential of the Nine God Dynasty — not merely in numbers, lands, or soldiers, but in essence. Every submitted family, every territory, every elder — all contributed to this invisible lattice of power.
And as the sunlight struck the golden throne, Feng Hao's eyes opened fully, sharp, unyielding, and filled with clarity. He had crossed the threshold of Qi Sea Peak.
The Nine God Dynasty had grown. Not overnight. Not by conquest alone. But by the quiet, absolute force of one man, meditating in the heart of its power.
And even as the aura of the dynasty rippled outward, Hei Yunchen's old bloodline would have felt it faintly in the distance — a reminder that some forces were absolute, and some of them had no second chances.
The palace remained silent, save for the faint hum of circulating qi. Feng Hao's cultivation had reached the peak of Qi Sea, and even the Celestial Forge responded subtly to the surge, as if acknowledging its master's ascent.
A soft chime echoed through the golden throne. The translucent panel flickered once, then solidified into a single line of text glowing in the morning light:
System Announcement:
Event: Martial Conquest Challenge
Duration: 30 days
Objective: Conquer the greatest number of mortal and cultivator forces across all recognized territories.
Reward: Unique Mythical Asset (Tier Unknown) — Capable of amplifying host and dynasty potential exponentially.
Conditions: Must submit all conquered dynasties, groups, or territories under host authority.
Participants: All active dynasties and entities registered with the system.
Feng Hao raised an eyebrow, letting the words sink in. His gaze drifted across the courtyard, where soldiers and elders stood silently, their aura calm but attentive.
"Interesting," he murmured. "A competition… yet the prize is… unknown."
Feng Hao's lips curved slightly. "Then it's simple. Conquer. Expand. And make certain none even dream of challenging the Nine God Dynasty."
He tapped the panel lightly. Immediately, a map expanded, showing current borders, nearby mortal dynasties, and minor cultivator sects. Tiny golden points pulsed faintly — every force, every territory unclaimed or vulnerable, waiting to be annexed.
The elders in the hall, sensing the spike of authority, bowed slightly. Even the Black Sun Remnant Dynasty — quietly observing from their fief — felt a subtle weight in their souls. It was the kind of pressure that reminded them who was absolute without a word being spoken.
Feng Hao's eyes narrowed. "Let them come… let them try. By the end of this challenge, no dynasty will question the Nine God Dynasty's supremacy."
A faint ripple of golden qi rolled through the palace, a signal to the entire dynasty: Prepare. Expand. Conquer.
And in the quiet corridors of the system, a soft note was added to his achievements — invisible to mortals, but tangible to him:
Event Registered: Martial Conquest Challenge
Current Standing: 0 Conquests
Feng Hao inhaled deeply, the golden sunlight spilling across the palace courtyard. His Qi Sea cultivation had reached Peak Stage. Territory qi, dynasty resonance, and the flow of bloodline energy pulsed in harmony, strengthening everything under his domain.
"System," he said calmly, "Daily summoning."
The Divine Mountain barracks responded instantly. Light flickered across the formations, crisp and precise.
Ranks of Divine Soldiers appeared first. Their aura had sharpened — Foundation Establishment (Mid) now — faster reflexes, refined perception, and naturally coordinated formations. Each soldier's qi subtly thrummed in rhythm with Feng Hao's heartbeat, as if the entire corps were an extension of him.
The Divine Cavalry descended next, mounts folding wings elegantly. Riders radiated Foundation Establishment — Late, their presence dominating the air around them. They moved with precision, formations perfect, reactions instantaneous.
Divine Captains appeared mid-command, cultivation at Half-Step Qi Sea, guiding units with foresight and battlefield intuition far beyond normal standards.
Divine Commanders stepped forward, Qi Sea — Early, aura vast and stabilizing, every decision executed as if the battlefield were already theirs.
Divine Generals followed, Qi Sea — Mid, each one an anchor in the chaos of war, their presence reinforcing every formation beneath them.
At the peak, the Divine Marshal hovered slightly above the ranks, Qi Sea — Peak, aura radiating like a miniature storm. Just a glance from him could stabilize an entire army or crush an enemy formation's morale before a blade was drawn.
The Elder Hall doors glided open as if aware of the surge of power. Golden light spilled over the courtyard. The elders stepped out, their auras enhanced by Feng Hao's cultivation:
Low-Level Elders: Late Divine Bridge, subtle but powerful, guiding troop strategies and reinforcing bloodline resonance.
Mid-Level Elders: Early Tao Pagoda, presence vast, augmenting formations and territory qi naturally.
High-Level Elders: Mid Tao Pagoda, aura profound, each breath resonating through the dynasty itself, stabilizing armies and refining battlefield comprehension.
[Active Forces — Updated]
Divine Soldiers: +12,500 (Foundation Establishment — Mid)
Divine Cavalry: +1,250 (Foundation Establishment — Late)
Divine Captains: +625 (Half-Step Qi Sea)
Divine Commanders: +125 (Qi Sea — Early)
Divine Generals: +12 (Qi Sea — Mid)
Divine Marshal: +1 (Qi Sea — Peak)
Elders:
• Low-Level Elders: +20 (Late Divine Bridge)
• Mid-Level Elders: +8 (Early Tao Pagoda)
• High-Level Elders: +2 (Mid Tao Pagoda)
Heavenly Kings:
• Low-Level Heavenly King: +3 (Late Divine Bridge) — mirrors Low-Level Elders, reinforcing formations and bloodline resonance
National power : 637 million + 2.4 Billion
Current national Power : 3.037 Billion
His dynasty power Had finally surpassed the billions.