Feng Hao's golden eyes narrowed as the last echoes of the Heavenly Tribulation faded. The Northern Campaign territories were alive, pulsing with a spiritual qi 250 times greater than before. Every mountain, every river, every village was now a node in the Nine God Dynasty's living lattice of power.
A soft hum sounded from the system, almost like a heartbeat in resonance with the dynasty itself. A notification appeared:
[Heavenly Dao Qi Strand Acquired — Total: 250,000 Units]
Source: All units, elders, generals, and Heavenly Kings contributing.
Storage: System Vault.
Potential Use: Peak cultivation breakthrough, dynasty augmentation, or crafting Myth Rank treasures.
Feng Hao stepped to the balcony's edge, letting the warm northern sunlight wash over him. Slowly, he reached out with his senses, drawing the strands of Heavenly Dao Qi toward himself. The 250,000 units coalesced like a swirling golden river, threads of pure Dao energy dancing and intertwining in midair.
He let the strands enter his golden core. Each unit of Heavenly Dao Qi was a drop of universal truth, a fragment of absolute order. The energy coursed through him, harmonizing with the lattice of Peak Qi Sea cultivation already within his body.
The sensation was overwhelming, yet perfectly controlled. His body, mind, and spirit expanded in unison as the strands fused with his essence.
System Prompt:
Heavenly Dao Qi Refinement — Initiated
Objective: Absorb, refine, and integrate strands for Peak Divine Bridge Breakthrough
Feng Hao closed his eyes. The strands wrapped around him, each pulse resonating like the strike of a celestial bell. Slowly, methodically, he began refining them. The process was unlike normal cultivation—this was divine alchemy within himself, weaving together the essence of all his units' contributions into a perfect whole.
Hours passed—or perhaps minutes; time had little meaning at this level. When the last strand had been absorbed, a wave of golden light erupted from the palace. Feng Hao's aura surged outward, more vast, more refined, more absolute than ever before.
The system confirmed:
[Peak Divine Bridge Breakthrough — Complete]
Current national power 21.9 Billion + 76 Billion –97.9 Billion
Current national power : 97.9 Billion
Cultivation Level: Divine Bridge — Peak
Total Heavenly Dao Qi Integrated: 250,000 Units
Feng Hao opened his eyes. They shone like twin suns, reflecting the golden aura now flowing through every inch of his northern territories. The lattice of the Nine God Dynasty was no longer just strong—it was unbreakable, omnipresent, and alive. Every soldier, elder, and general now shared a bond through the strands of Heavenly Dao Qi, their abilities subtly enhanced beyond even what they could achieve individually.
He extended his consciousness outward, touching the borders of the Nine God Dynasty. The spiritual qi of the northern territories responded instantly, shimmering like liquid gold. Streams, forests, and mountains pulsed in resonance, a perfect mirror of his cultivation state.
The golden light of Feng Hao's aura washed over the northern territories, flowing through every village, fortress, and spirit vein. A soft, omnipresent vibration pulsed across the land, like the heartbeat of the Nine God Dynasty itself.
From the barracks to the high peaks of the northern mountains, the units felt an overwhelming surge of spiritual qi—so potent that every cell, meridian, and energy pathway in their body resonated with it.
[Dynasty Cultivation Breakthrough — Initiated]
National power
A wave of golden energy radiated outward from the capital, enveloping all units. The soldiers gasped, some collapsing to the ground as their bodies adapted to the flood of qi, their cores spinning and expanding with newfound power.
Divine Soldiers—once Foundation Establishment Mid—felt their qi core explode, expanding and stabilizing. When the light faded, each soldier had stepped into Early Qi Sea.
Divine Cavalry—previously Foundation Establishment Late—had their cores ignited with raw, violent energy, stabilizing at Mid Qi Sea.
Divine Captains—Half-Step Qi Sea—found their Qi Sea strengthened and refined, now Late Qi Sea, their techniques sharper, faster, and more potent than ever.
Divine Commanders—Qi Sea Early—experienced a surge unlike any they had felt, their energy pathways crystallizing, their essence stabilizing. They had now reached Half-Step Divine Bridge, the precursor to truly empire-shaking power.
Divine Generals—Qi Sea Mid—were bathed in a golden torrent, their power erupting as they ascended to Early Divine Bridge.
Divine Marshal—Qi Sea Peak—was surrounded by a vortex of golden strands, each one embedding the Heavenly Dao Qi into his being. His aura soared, and he reached Peak Divine Bridge, standing among the most elite generals in the world.
The elders, too, were not left behind. Their innate power, already formidable, was magnified by the emperor's aura:
Low-Level Elders—previously Late Divine Bridge—advanced to Late Golden Core, their innate techniques refined and strengthened.
Mid-Level Elders—Early Tao Pagoda—now reached Peak Golden Core, their presence alone enough to warp the battlefield.
High-Level Elders—Mid Tao Pagoda—found themselves stepping into the Middle Nascent Soul, the pinnacle of mortal cultivation before true transcendence.
The Heavenly Kings, those titanic anchors of the dynasty, absorbed the golden aura and broke through as well:
Low-Level Heavenly Kings—Late Divine Bridge—now stabilized at Mid-Late Golden Core, their aura alone capable of crushing entire minor sects.
The golden energy slowly settled, leaving a land humming with absolute power. Every unit, every elder, every general, and every king had crossed a threshold. The Nine God Dynasty's forces now dwarfed most mortal dynasties in sheer cultivation potential.
The system panel flickered in awe:
[Dynasty-Wide Cultivation Breakthrough Complete]
Feng Hao's golden eyes scanned the lands. The northern territories shimmered like molten gold, mountains pulsing with life, rivers flowing with divine energy, and every unit exuding strength that could challenge Tier 7 forces without hesitation.
A faint, satisfied smile curved his lips. This was only the beginning.
Beyond the northern peaks, Tier 7 sects and Tier 8 dynasties now had to take notice—the Nine God Dynasty no longer relied on strategy alone. Every soldier, every elder, every general was now a living embodiment of imperial authority, ready to bend the world to Feng Hao's will.
The sun had begun its slow climb over the eastern peaks, casting long shadows across the Nine God Dynasty's sprawling northern territories. For the first time in weeks, Feng Hao decided to leave the palace and the relentless hum of duty behind. He headed toward the back mountains, a quiet stretch of pine-covered slopes where the air was thick with refined spiritual qi, yet untouched by fortresses, barracks, or village affairs.
The path was serene, the golden aura of the dynasty trailing behind him like a ribbon of sunlight. Streams whispered over smooth stones, carrying the faint resonance of the Northern territories' Peak Qi Sea amplification. Feng Hao inhaled deeply, letting the cool mountain air cleanse his mind. Here, he could feel the pulse of the Nine God Dynasty without actively commanding it—a quiet satisfaction that only an emperor of his caliber could know.
At a small plateau near a cliffside overlooking the valley, the elders were gathered. Despite their immense cultivation and world-shaking power, they were enjoying simpler pleasures.
Low-Level Elders leaned back on carved stone chairs, their Late Golden Core auras simmering softly as they moved chess pieces with meticulous precision. Each move was subtle, a test of strategy that mirrored battlefield tactics.
Mid-Level Elders lounged on nearby benches, Peak Golden Core energy radiating like a calm sun, discussing minor refinements to the northern territories' spirit veins with the occasional amused chuckle.
High-Level Elders, Middle Nascent Soul cultivators, sat cross-legged in meditation circles, quietly exchanging insights about Heavenly Dao strands, though their expressions betrayed the faintest hints of amusement at their own contemplations.
"Still at it, I see," Feng Hao remarked lightly, stepping onto the plateau.
The elders didn't even look up immediately, their attention focused on the game. A subtle move of a chess piece, the faintest shift in energy, and one elder murmured, "Little Hao Come sit down dont disturb us just observe"
Feng Hao smiled faintly, the warmth of the moment touching the rare human side he allowed himself to show. "Then I shall sit quietly and observe," he said, settling onto a stone bench nearby.
The valley stretched below him, mountains in the distance glowing with the golden pulse of the Nine God Dynasty's enhanced spiritual qi. The rivers sparkled with light refined by countless breakthroughs, and the villages moved in quiet harmony. No enemies, no crises, no tribulations—just the quiet, steady heartbeat of his dynasty, flowing outward from every unit, elder, and cultivated mountain peak.
Even here, in relaxation, Feng Hao's aura was impossible to ignore. The trees swayed subtly, responding to the faint currents of his Peak Divine Bridge energy. Streams shifted slightly in their courses, aligning perfectly with hidden spirit veins. It was as though the northern mountains themselves were bowing, not in fear, but in deference to his calm presence.
The elders finally glanced up, chuckling softly. One Low-Level Elder waved a hand in mock admonishment, "Boy sit, but do not interfere with our game. Even the most powerful man is no match for a well-played gambit."
Feng Hao let out a quiet, rare laugh, the sound blending with the rustle of the pines. For once, the emperor could simply be—watching the chessboard, listening to the elders, feeling the pulse of his dynasty flowing through every stone, tree, and stream in the northern mountains.
Here, the Nine God Dynasty was not just a force of war or conquest—it was a living organism, thriving under his guidance, and for a fleeting moment, Feng Hao allowed himself to simply enjoy the view.