**********
---Night---
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well,
As night fell, Lev finally turned his attention back to the matters at hand. He could be found together with Dugu Bo, having a serious conversation while Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and the rest of the summons relaxed in the hot spring nearby.
"Is everything going well?" Lev asked while looking at Dugu Bo.
He had actually ordered them to prevent news of the attack from spreading to the outside world. Although he knew it was impossible to completely conceal what had happened, he only wanted to delay the news for as long as possible.
"Yes, Young Master," Dugu Bo respectfully answered.
It was only now that Dugu Bo truly realized that Lev had become practically invincible.
Attacking an entire empire by himself was something no one had ever accomplished before, yet Lev had done exactly that. Just as Lev had declared, the Heaven Dou Empire had fallen in a single day.
With this, Dugu Bo had no doubt that the empire Lev would soon establish would become the most powerful empire on the continent.
"Good. Your next mission is to visit all the clans and academies that were affiliated with the former empire. I will personally meet with Ning Fengzhi tomorrow. I want the two of you to handle this matter together."
Lev continued speaking while calmly laying out his plans.
He knew that an empire wasn't controlled solely by its Emperor. The various clans, academies, and other influential organizations played significant roles in maintaining its stability.
Now that the Heaven Dou Empire had fallen, Lev intended to bring all of those forces under his control as well.
"Also, Senior Dugu..."
Lev suddenly stood up.
He then bowed respectfully toward Dugu Bo.
"Please allow me to take Dugu Yan as one of my wives."
His voice was sincere and serious.
Although Lev didn't necessarily need Dugu Bo's permission, he still felt that asking him formally was the proper thing to do.
Hearing Lev's sudden request, Dugu Bo was completely stunned.
His eyes widened as he looked at Lev, who was still bowing respectfully in front of him.
Then, a smile slowly appeared on his face.
Dugu Bo couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy.
He immediately stood up and bowed in return.
"It is Yanyan's greatest accomplishment to be able to be with you, Young Master. Please take good care of her."
"Don't worry. I will."
Lev smiled and nodded.
With that settled, Lev and Dugu Bo continued discussing various matters concerning the newly established empire and the plans they would carry out in the coming days.
After their conversation finally ended, Dugu Bo left to gather the people under his command. Lev had also given them various rewards for their efforts, so Dugu Bo intended to distribute them personally.
Meanwhile, Lev turned toward the hot spring.
Seeing Tsunade, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and the others relaxing there, a smile appeared on his face.
He then walked over and joined them, deciding to temporarily put aside all the matters concerning the empire.
For tonight, he simply wanted to relax and enjoy the company of the people closest to him.
***********
—Two weeks later—
After two weeks of successfully delaying the spread of the news, the truth about Lev's attack on the Heaven Dou Empire finally began spreading throughout the continent.
The news traveled from city to city, clan to clan, and organization to organization. Even remote towns eventually heard about the shocking event.
Everywhere the news reached, different reactions emerged.
Some were terrified.
Some were skeptical.
Some were excited.
And others simply couldn't believe that a single person had actually destroyed an entire empire by himself.
*****
Supreme Pontiff's Palace,
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong, the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, could be found sitting upon her throne while listening to a report from a subordinate kneeling before her.
Her expression gradually became more complicated as she listened to every detail.
When the report finally ended, Bibi Dong simply waved her hand.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The person immediately bowed before disappearing from the hall, leaving Bibi Dong alone.
She slowly closed her eyes and frowned.
No one would have expected that the Supreme Pontiff, one of the most powerful figures on the entire continent, would actually have difficulty processing the information she had just received.
Five years had already passed.
Yet Spirit Hall was still gathering information about one particular person.
Lev.
Bibi Dong might not have shown her concerns to the outside world, but she had been secretly making preparations all this time to protect Spirit Hall's interests.
Now, however, the situation has changed.
After remaining silent for a long while, Bibi Dong finally opened her eyes.
'It only took him five years to destroy an entire empire by himself.'
Her expression became solemn.
'What exactly happened during those five years? And how did he become powerful enough to accomplish something that even Spirit Hall has been trying to achieve for so long?'
Bibi Dong's fingers slowly tightened around the armrest of her throne.
'One obstacle has disappeared, yet another one has appeared.'
The destruction of the Heaven Dou Empire should have been beneficial to Spirit Hall.
Yet instead of feeling relieved, Bibi Dong felt an even greater sense of danger.
'We need to act immediately before he becomes completely uncontrollable.'
After carefully considering the situation, Bibi Dong came to a conclusion.
Lev was an unpredictable threat.
His existence was now directly interfering with Spirit Hall's interests, and allowing him to continue growing unchecked could eventually make him impossible to deal with.
He had to be eliminated before it was too late.
Even so, Bibi Dong still found the report difficult to believe.
The information she had received described events that were simply too absurd.
One person had destroyed an empire.
And that person had accomplished it in a single day.
*****
Star Luo Empire,
Meanwhile, inside the Dai Family Palace, a group of influential figures had gathered together to discuss their plans when a cloaked man suddenly interrupted their meeting.
The man respectfully knelt before them while delivering his report.
"I-Is this report really true?"
A handsome and well-built middle-aged man asked with a deep frown.
His appearance could be described with only one word—
Domineering.
Yet at this moment, his expression was completely different.
Shock and disbelief were clearly visible on his face.
"Yes, Your Majesty," the cloaked man respectfully replied.
"Although I was also doubtful when I first received the information, the source has repeatedly confirmed that the report is factual. There is no mistake."
The middle-aged man remained silent.
He clenched his fist while staring at the floor.
He didn't want to believe such an absurd report.
But there was no reason for the man standing before him to fabricate something of this magnitude.
Destroying an entire empire was not something that could be hidden.
Eventually, the middle-aged man waved his hand.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The cloaked man immediately bowed before disappearing from the hall.
The middle-aged man leaned back in his seat and let out a heavy sigh.
His expression remained conflicted as he tried to process everything that had happened.
"First, Spirit Hall..."
He slowly narrowed his eyes.
"And now this young man named Lev."
His expression became solemn.
"Looks like another trouble has appeared."
No one would have expected a man of his status to take such a matter so seriously.
After all, he was none other than the Emperor of the Star Luo Empire—
Emperor Dai of the Dai Family.
*****
Within the Star Lou Empire,
Meanwhile, as Emperor Dai was seriously contemplating the current news, a group of people could also be found gathered inside the Zhu Family Palace, a powerful family that was second only to the Dai Family.
"You're saying that Zhuqing returned two weeks ago with that person, Lev?" a middle-aged man asked. His expression was difficult to read, as he seemed to be displaying both happiness and anger at the same time. Despite his complicated expression, he didn't dwell on it as he looked at the handsome youth standing before him.
"Yes, Uncle," the youth replied with a smile.
He was none other than Dai Mubai, who had visited the Zhu Family residence after returning to report the news of Zhu Zhuqing being back in the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Good. I will order someone to bring Zhuqing ba—"
The Zhu Family Head was about to give an order when a man suddenly appeared inside the hall, surprising everyone present.
Seeing the man, the Zhu Family Head immediately looked at him seriously before listening to the report he had brought. However, after hearing everything, the expression on the Zhu Family Head's face became difficult to describe.
Dai Mubai, on the other hand, became curious after seeing Uncle Zhu's reaction. He wondered what kind of news the man had delivered that could cause such a drastic change in his expression. Judging from his demeanor, the news must have been extremely serious.
After processing everything in his mind, the Zhu Family Head dismissed the messenger.
A moment of silence followed before Dai Mubai finally broke it.
"If it's okay for me to ask, what was that about, Uncle?" Dai Mubai asked respectfully and curiously.
Hearing his question, the Zhu Family Head looked at him seriously before letting out a sigh.
"I think it's okay to tell you this. The report says that the Heaven Dou Empire is now completely gone. Emperor Xue Ye is dead, and a new Emperor has taken his place."
This time, Dai Mubai was shocked to the core.
No wonder the Zhu Family Head had reacted that way. Even he found such news unbelievable.
"Is it the Spirit Hall?" Dai Mubai immediately asked.
The Zhu Family Head shook his head.
"No. The person who attacked and replaced the Emperor is someone named Lev."
Upon hearing a name he least expected, Dai Mubai became completely dumbfounded.
His mind immediately went to the person he hated the most—the very same person he had seen together with Zhu Zhuqing.
Just thinking about Lev made his agitation grow, especially whenever he remembered seeing Zhu Zhuqing standing beside him.
The Zhu Family Head noticed something strange about Dai Mubai and curiously asked, "Mubai, is something wrong?"
Hearing the Zhu Family Head's question, Dai Mubai quickly snapped out of his thoughts. He looked at him hesitantly, unsure whether he should tell him the truth.
Several seconds passed.
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth before finally deciding to speak.
"Uncle, to be honest, Zhu Zhuqing followed a person named Lev. I think the 'Lev' you just mentioned might be the same person."
The Zhu Family Head was surprised by his words, but he quickly calmed down.
After all, it was difficult for him to believe that someone around the same age as his daughter could attack an entire empire alone. Such a thing was simply too absurd.
"It's impossible, Mubai. It must just be a coincidence that they have the same name."
Hearing this, Dai Mubai wanted to say something but ultimately stopped himself.
Deep down, he also hoped that the Lev he knew was not the same Lev who had single-handedly destroyed the Heaven Dou Empire.
The two then continued their conversation for a while before Dai Mubai eventually bade his farewell and returned home.
The Zhu Family Head, on the other hand, immediately called for an emergency meeting.
The Heaven Dou Empire had fallen, and a new empire had risen in its place.
Whatever their relationship with the new ruler might be, the Zhu Family could no longer afford to ignore such a tremendous change in the continent's balance of power.
They needed to formulate a plan on how to deal with the newly established empire.
**********
—The next morning—
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan,
Inside a grand and luxurious dining hall, a group of people could be seen sitting around a large table while having a conversation. Unlike the reactions of the other major powers throughout the continent, the atmosphere inside this place could be described as rather harmonious.
"Clan Master Ning, I'm very grateful for your cooperation over the past two weeks," Lev said with a smile as he looked at Ning Fengzhi sitting across from him. Two weeks had already passed, and with Ning Fengzhi's assistance, convincing the other clans to acknowledge his authority had gone surprisingly smoothly. Although they had not completely placed their trust in him yet, Lev knew it wouldn't be long before they eventually changed their minds.
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. It is my honor to assist someone who will eventually stand at the pinnacle of this continent," Ning Fengzhi politely replied.
After everything that had happened two weeks ago, Ning Fengzhi had already decided to give Lev his complete support. The appearance of Lev's overwhelming strength had completely changed his worldview. As an intelligent man, Ning Fengzhi understood just how terrifyingly powerful Lev had become, and he knew it would only be a matter of time before Lev accomplished something that no one in the history of the continent had ever achieved.
Hearing this, Lev merely smiled before shifting his gaze toward the other two men beside Ning Fengzhi. Neither of them showed any reaction to their conversation.
Lev knew that Ning Fengzhi was an intelligent and cautious man who would naturally choose the side most favorable to his clan. However, this didn't concern him. As long as Ning Fengzhi remained useful and didn't betray him, Lev had no reason to interfere. If the situation ever changed, he could simply deal with it himself.
"Good. Then, as a token of your allegiance, let me ask you something, Clan Master Ning. How much do you know about Immortal Herbs?" Lev suddenly asked, changing the topic.
One way to make Ning Fengzhi truly indebted to him was to give him something that could benefit both him and his clan. For this very reason, Lev had decided to use one of the most valuable treasures he had kept in his possession.
"Immortal Herbs? I've heard about them, but I don't know much about them," Ning Fengzhi truthfully answered, curiosity appearing in his eyes as he wondered why Lev had suddenly brought up such a topic.
"Hmm. Then how about I tell you that I can evolve your spirit into the legendary 'Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda' with the help of an Immortal Herb?" Lev calmly said.
Yes, Lev had deliberately kept the immortal herb capable of evolving Ning Rongrong's spirit for this very purpose.
Knowing how much the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan desired the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Lev was certain that giving them such an opportunity would make Ning Fengzhi even more indebted to him.
Hearing Lev's words, Ning Fengzhi and the other two men immediately looked at him in shock.
They couldn't tell whether Lev was telling the truth or simply testing them. Yet the possibility alone was enough to make their hearts tremble.
For generations, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had dreamed of producing someone who could bring back the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. However, as countless years passed without anyone successfully achieving it, the legendary spirit gradually became nothing more than a distant myth to some members of the clan.
"Your Majesty Lev, i-is what you said really true?" Ning Fengzhi asked, his hands trembling slightly.
He knew that Lev would not casually lie about something of such importance. This matter was not only related to him personally but also concerned the future of the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"Yes."
Lev simply replied before reaching into his inventory.
A moment later, an exquisite immortal herb appeared in his hand.
"This immortal herb is called the Beautiful Silk Tulip. You can probably feel it already, can't you?" Lev said as he held it out toward Ning Fengzhi.
"This immortal herb is completely compatible with your spirit. Once consumed, it will help evolve your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Ning Fengzhi and the other two men stared intensely at the immortal herb.
Their expressions became increasingly astonished, especially Ning Fengzhi.
The moment the Beautiful Silk Tulip appeared, he could already feel a strange connection between the immortal herb and his own spirit. It was as though the herb was naturally drawn toward him.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip possessed stalks and leaves that draped down like wisteria, each one finely arranged and elegant. At its very top bloomed a dazzling golden tulip that radiated an extraordinary brilliance.
A rich and fragrant floral scent permeated the entire dining hall, carrying with it an indescribable sense of splendor and majesty.
Just by looking at it, Ning Fengzhi could already tell that the herb before him was no ordinary treasure.
His breathing gradually became heavier.
For the first time in his life, the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda no longer felt like an unreachable dream.
"But this immortal herb could be considered the only one of its kind on this continent. It takes several years for another one to grow," Lev continued.
In truth, Lev could easily purchase another Beautiful Silk Tulip from the system store. However, he didn't want to rely too heavily on the store. He wanted the people around him to gradually become self-sufficient rather than becoming dependent on him for everything.
"I'll give this to you as a gift for choosing to stand on my side."
Without any hesitation, Lev handed the Beautiful Silk Tulip to Ning Fengzhi. He didn't mind who ultimately consumed the immortal herb. What mattered to him was that he had already accomplished what he wanted.
The moment Ning Fengzhi touched the immortal herb, he became completely certain that Lev hadn't been joking.
His spirit seemed to instinctively urge him to consume the Beautiful Silk Tulip immediately. However, he stopped himself after remembering what Lev had told him earlier.
"Your Majesty, I sincerely thank you for this generous gift. I will forever remember the kindness you have shown to us," Ning Fengzhi said sincerely.
Following that, Lev and Ning Fengzhi continued their conversation, mainly discussing the future of the empire.
Lev had already begun formulating his plans for his newly established empire, and Ning Fengzhi offered several ideas and recommendations of his own. With Ning Fengzhi's intelligence and experience in managing a powerful clan, his suggestions proved useful to Lev.
It was only after nearly an hour of discussion that Lev finally bade them farewell and returned home.
"Fengzhi, are you really sure this is the right choice?"
Uncle Jian suddenly asked as he watched Lev leave the clan.
Although he still had some doubts about their allegiance to Lev, there was no denying that Lev's strength was simply too terrifying. If they wanted to survive the current situation and secure their clan's future, opposing him was practically impossible.
"Uncle Jian, I think this may be the best decision I've ever made in my life," Ning Fengzhi replied while looking at the Beautiful Silk Tulip in his hands.
"Let's support Lev. If we do so, I believe our clan will become something far greater in the future."
After saying that, Ning Fengzhi turned toward the other person beside him.
"Uncle Gu, could you call Rongrong for me?"
Hearing this, Uncle Gu looked at Ning Fengzhi but didn't ask any questions. He simply nodded before leaving immediately.
After a while, inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Uncle Gu returned together with a beautiful young girl.
"Father, why did you summon me? Is there a problem?" Ning Rongrong curiously asked after entering the hall.
She had been staying in the clan for the past two weeks and had already begun feeling bored. She wanted to leave and do something, but her father had forbidden her from going anywhere for the time being.
"Come here. I have something to give you," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile before presenting the Beautiful Silk Tulip to his daughter.
He had already passed his prime and could no longer make significant improvements to his cultivation. Therefore, he had already decided that this immortal herb would be given to his only daughter.
Uncle Gu and Uncle Jian, on the other hand, were completely surprised when they saw Ning Fengzhi hand the immortal herb to Ning Rongrong instead of consuming it himself.
Although they understood why he had made such a decision, they still felt that it was somewhat risky. After all, they couldn't completely trust everything Lev had told them.
"Father, what is this beautiful herb?" Ning Rongrong asked as she carefully held the Beautiful Silk Tulip.
"I can feel some kind of special connection with it. It's such a strange feeling."
She looked at her father curiously, waiting for an explanation.
"This herb will help evolve your spirit. Try it," Ning Fengzhi answered.
He then explained the method Lev had told him earlier regarding how to consume the immortal herb. Although Ning Fengzhi already knew some information about immortal herbs, he still chose to follow Lev's instructions precisely to ensure that its effects would be maximized.
With that, Ning Rongrong excitedly followed her father's instructions and consumed the Beautiful Silk Tulip in her hands.
Her heart was filled with anticipation.
The thought that her spirit could actually evolve was enough to make her excited.
Although she still didn't know whether Lev's words were truly accurate, she trusted her father completely.
Thus, without hesitation, Ning Rongrong began absorbing the power of the Beautiful Silk Tulip.
**********
—Noon—
After several hours of waiting, Ning Rongrong finally woke up from her meditation.
The first thing she noticed upon waking was the astonishing increase in her spirit power. Her spirit power had risen by six levels, something that was almost unbelievable.
"Father, what kind of herb was that? It actually increased my spirit power! Do you have another one? I think it has the ability to increase spirit power," Ning Rongrong immediately asked, looking at her father with great excitement.
Seeing Ning Rongrong finally wake up safely, Ning Fengzhi and the others were relieved. However, they barely had time to celebrate before her words completely shocked them.
Lev had only told them that the Beautiful Silk Tulip could evolve her spirit. He had never mentioned that it could also increase her spirit power by such a tremendous amount.
After a moment, Ning Fengzhi finally calmed himself down and answered excitedly, "Unfortunately, such an herb is extremely precious. According to what we know, it is the only one of its kind on this continent."
He then looked at his daughter.
"Rongrong, how about showing us your spirit?"
Ning Rongrong became slightly disappointed after hearing her father's answer. She had initially thought that she could continue increasing her spirit power if she consumed more of such herbs.
However, she quickly returned to her normal expression and followed her father's instructions.
She summoned her spirit.
The moment the spirit appeared, Ning Fengzhi, Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, and even Ning Rongrong herself widened their eyes in disbelief.
Before them was a spirit that looked almost identical to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Except there were two additional layers.
The legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had truly appeared.
"F-Father, w-why does my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda have two more layers?" Ning Rongrong asked in shock as she continued counting the layers of her spirit.
"Did the herb really evolve my spirit?"
Ning Fengzhi was completely stunned and excited as he stared at the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda before him.
He had heard countless stories about this legendary spirit, but seeing it with his own eyes was an entirely different matter.
"R-Rongrong, the herb you consumed earlier was not an ordinary herb," Ning Fengzhi finally explained. "It was called the Beautiful Silk Tulip. It is an Immortal Herb, and as far as we know, it is completely unique on this continent."
"Is there really such an herb?!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed.
"Mmm."
Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.
"Then where did you get this Immortal Herb, Father?!" Ning Rongrong excitedly asked.
She knew that something this precious couldn't possibly be easy to obtain. She even began wondering what price her father and the clan had paid to acquire such a treasure.
Ning Fengzhi and the other two exchanged smiles.
Even now, they were still shocked that Lev had truly been telling the truth and had sincerely given such a precious treasure to their clan.
"Well, this Immortal Herb was actually given to us," Ning Fengzhi said.
He couldn't help but feel somewhat regretful.
He had initially hoped that there might be more Immortal Herbs like this one. However, after hearing from Lev himself that the Beautiful Silk Tulip was unique, he could only accept reality.
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
Who could possibly be generous enough to simply give away such a priceless treasure?
"Then... who gave it to us?" she asked.
Ning Fengzhi looked at his daughter before answering.
"Lev."
"W-What?! Did Lev come here today?"
"Yes. He came earlier and left after giving this to us."
Ning Fengzhi smiled when he saw his daughter's reaction.
Although he had never directly asked about it, he could already tell that his daughter seemed to have developed some special feelings toward Lev.
It was just unfortunate that Lev already had three women by his side.
"W-Why didn't you tell me?" Ning Rongrong blurted out.
The moment she heard Lev's name, his face immediately appeared in her mind, causing her cheeks to turn slightly red.
Although she was still somewhat frightened by everything that had happened over the past two weeks, she couldn't deny that she had become increasingly curious about him.
Ning Fengzhi could only sigh after seeing his daughter's reaction.
"Don't worry. You'll be meeting him from time to time from now on."
Although part of him wanted to interfere, Ning Fengzhi ultimately decided not to force his daughter to suppress her feelings. He didn't want to become the reason she eventually resented him.
Following that, they continued discussing various matters, especially Ning Rongrong's newly evolved spirit.
They were all extremely curious about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and spent the rest of the day examining and discussing its changes inside the clan.
**********
—Night—
Dugu Bo's Mansion,
After everything had finally been taken care of, Lev and the others were resting together on the bed, comfortably embracing one another. Zhu Zhuqing and Tsunade were nestled against Lev's arms, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
Dugu Bo had taken Dugu Yan with him for a while, wanting to spend some private time together with his granddaughter. This left Lev, Zhu Zhuqing, and Tsunade alone in the room.
"Zhuqing, I plan on heading to the Star Luo Empire soon. How about returning to your family with me? We can formally break off the engagement between you and Dai Mubai," Lev suddenly suggested as he gently caressed Zhu Zhuqing's head.
With everything here progressing smoothly, he was already preparing to move on to the second phase of his plan. However, before leaving, there was something he wanted to settle for Zhu Zhuqing.
Zhu Zhuqing was slightly surprised when Lev brought up her engagement. She remained silent for a moment before looking at him with an indifferent expression.
"Do we really need to go back there? It doesn't really matter to me anymore."
"Stupid." Lev lightly flicked her forehead before continuing. "No matter what happens, they're still your parents. Besides, I plan on heading there in about two weeks."
Lev had never actually met Zhu Zhuqing's family, nor did he know much about the current situation within the Zhu Family. Since he would eventually have to visit the Star Luo Empire, he figured this would also be a good opportunity to meet her family and understand more about where she came from.
"Hmm..." Zhu Zhuqing hummed softly before a small smile appeared on her lips. "I'll show you around the palace when we get there."
Although she was already content with staying by Lev's side, she couldn't deny that there was still a small knot in her heart regarding her family and everything that had happened in the past.
Perhaps returning there with Lev would finally allow her to put those matters to rest once and for all.
At that moment, Tsunade had already fallen asleep while listening to their conversation, her breathing gradually becoming slow and steady.
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing also snuggled closer to Lev, eventually closing her eyes.
It wasn't long before Lev followed them into sleep.
Thus, the night passed peacefully, with nothing else disturbing their rest.