With a wave of his hand!
The Heavenly Profound Mirror appeared.
"To all officials in the imperial court, governors of the Nine Provinces, and the prefects of the Thirty-Six Commanderies..."
"I bestow [Martial Dao Profound Art] Level 1."
"I bestow a bottle of [Martial Dao Foundation-Building Pills]."
"I grant access to the [Cultivation Space]."
"I award 1,000 Contribution Points."
Zhao Feng spoke slowly.
As his will moved, the imperial court officials, the Nine Provinces' governors, and the Thirty-Six Commanderies' prefects all received his gifts.
The moment Zhao Feng finished speaking, joy appeared on the faces of the officials.
They could already sense that their Heavenly Profound Mirrors now contained the techniques and pills granted by Zhao Feng.
"We humbly thank His Majesty and the Crown Prince for their immense grace!"
All the officials in the imperial court bowed deeply, filled with excitement.
"Ministers," Zhao Feng continued, "I repeat what I have always said the world is vast, and the heavens stretch infinitely."
"Do not confine your vision to mere wealth, nor become blinded by the pursuit of power."
"The path of Great Qin is long, and so too are your journeys ahead."
"You have all received cultivation techniques, and you may now walk the path of martial arts. But remember, cultivation depends not only on talent but also on dedication and perseverance."
"I hope that in the future, all of you will be able to keep pace with the progress of Great Qin."
The path of cultivation...
Not everyone could progress smoothly on it.
If it were so simple, then the world would be filled with countless supreme experts.
Talent constraints.
Resource limitations.
And the invisible barriers of heaven and earth.
These factors determined the difficulty of cultivation.
"We will heed the Crown Prince's teachings!" The officials responded in unison.
"Good," Zhao Feng nodded.
"Now that the Land Distribution Policy has been established," he continued, "the next step is to promote the Heavenly Profound Mirror to the people."
"What are your suggestions?"
A moment later, Han Fei stepped forward.
"Crown Prince," Han Fei respectfully said, "as per your decree, all officials of Great Qin, from high-ranking ministers to local village leaders, have already received the Heavenly Profound Mirror."
"If we are to distribute it among the populace, we can do so through the village chiefs, county offices, prefectural governments, and provincial administrations. By using the household registration system as a verification method, every citizen can claim a Heavenly Profound Mirror.
"Those without proper registration or unknown origins will not be allowed to receive one. Any such individuals must be immediately detained and handed over to the authorities for investigation."
"This measure will ensure that the Heavenly Profound Mirror does not fall into the hands of exiled nobles, remnants of defeated states, or foreign spies."
Zhao Feng nodded in approval.
In reality...
The Heavenly Profound Mirror was a divine artifact.
Every sub-mirror split from the main mirror had to be authorized by Zhao Feng himself.
Even if spies from foreign nations managed to obtain one, the moment they used it, Zhao Feng would instantly know their whereabouts.
In the end...
If enemy agents got their hands on the Heavenly Profound Mirror, it would only lead to their own downfall.
"Very well," Zhao Feng declared.
"Proceed with full implementation."
"Once all the people of Great Qin have received the Heavenly Profound Mirror, we shall officially launch the Contribution Points system, allowing conversions between Contribution Points and Qin currency."
"We obey the Crown Prince's command!" Han Fei immediately acknowledged the decree.
Just then...
Xiao He stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, Crown Prince," Xiao He began, "a mining official from Xuzhou has submitted a report.
"While excavating an iron mine, his team discovered a different type of mineral vein.
"Some of the stones extracted from this vein emit light."
"The mining official has sent a sample for Your Majesty and the Crown Prince to inspect."
As he spoke, Xiao He held up a box and carefully opened it.
Inside...
Several stones glowed faintly with a soft white light.
Upon seeing them...
Zhao Feng's eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"This is truly the blessing of the heavens upon Great Qin!"
"Spirit Stones! I should have realized sooner!"
"With the abundant spiritual energy of Great Qin's land, it was inevitable that Spirit Stone mines would exist!"
Seeing Zhao Feng's excitement, Ying Zheng smiled and asked,
"Feng'er, are these stones some kind of treasure?"
Zhao Feng chuckled.
He raised his hand, and the box floated into the air, landing gently in his grasp.
The gathered officials watched in awe, their eyes filled with reverence.
Though they were already aware that the Crown Prince possessed divine abilities, every time he demonstrated his power, they couldn't help but feel deep respect.
The methods of an immortal were truly extraordinary.
"This stone is known as a Spirit Stone," Zhao Feng explained.
"What is its function?" Ying Zheng inquired further.
"Father, you have been at the Xiantian Realm for some time now," Zhao Feng said with a smile.
"You must have already sensed the spiritual energy in the world?"
"Naturally," Ying Zheng nodded.
After stepping into the Xiantian Realm, he began absorbing spiritual energy from the heavens and earth to enhance his cultivation.
"Spirit Stones are condensed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth," Zhao Feng continued.
"They contain pure and concentrated spiritual energy. If one cultivates using Spirit Stones, their progress will be much faster."
"But the most critical aspect is this"
"With Spirit Stones, we will no longer need to worry about energy consumption in the Heavenly Profound Mirror's cultivation space!"
"As long as we have enough Spirit Stones, in the future, every citizen of Great Qin will be able to cultivate within the Heavenly Profound Mirror's space!"
This was a game-changer.
Although Zhao Feng had granted access to the Cultivation Space to some, the energy required to sustain it came directly from his reserve of Spirit Stones.
Each use of the Cultivation Space drained his Spirit Stone supply.
Even with his vast reserves, it was not sustainable.
Thus, although martial cultivation had been implemented in the military, the Cultivation Space had not been widely opened.
Only high-ranking ministers, provincial governors, and commandery prefects had received access today as a reward for their contributions to Great Qin.
"These Spirit Stones hold such power?" Ying Zheng's face lit up with joy.
Ever since he embarked on the path of cultivation, he had relied entirely on the pills provided by Zhao Feng.
Spirit Stones, however, were a completely new resource for him.
"Has the extent of this mine been determined?" Zhao Feng immediately asked Xiao He.
"Crown Prince," Xiao He responded, "this mineral vein is filled with Spirit Stones not just a few, but everywhere!"
"Excellent!" Zhao Feng grinned.
Without hesitation, he issued a decree:
"From this day forth, all territories within Great Qin shall conduct a thorough search for Spirit Stone mines!"
"A special mining force shall be established for Spirit Stone extraction!"
"All mined Spirit Stones shall immediately be absorbed into the Heavenly Profound Mirror's system!"
"In addition," he declared, "within the borders of Great Qin, all Spirit Stone mines are the property of the state!"
"If a mine is discovered, it must be reported immediately!"
"Any individual who finds a Spirit Stone mine and reports it shall be rewarded with 1,000 gold coins!"
"However, those who discover and fail to report, or attempt private mining, shall be severely punished!"
Zhao Feng immediately issued an edict.
The discovery of this spirit stone mine was of immense significance to the Great Qin.
One could say that with spirit stones as a resource, the activation of the Tianxuan Mirror's cultivation space would allow Great Qin to enter the Martial Dao era ahead of time.
"Your servant receives the decree." Xiao He immediately accepted the order.
"Alright, let's continue the discussion." Zhao Feng nodded.
At this moment
Chen Ping stepped forward respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness."
"The composite strong bow."
"The composite strong crossbow."
"The composite repeating crossbow."
"The Mo Dao (a large two-handed sword)."
"The heavy armor."
"All have been successfully forged."
"I request Your Majesty and Your Highness to inspect them. However, to better demonstrate the power of these weapons, I ask that you move to another location." Chen Ping respectfully reported.
"Since it is a design from Feng'er, it must surely be an unparalleled weapon of Great Qin."
"Ministers, let us all go and take a look." Ying Zheng laughed heartily and immediately stood up from his throne.
Zhao Feng chuckled but said nothing.
The Great Qin Divine Continent was transforming, and naturally, its weaponry had to advance as well. Stronger weapons meant fewer casualties on the battlefield there was no reason to hesitate.
Thus, while Zhao Feng was pushing for the transformation of the Divine Continent, he was also driving the advancement of military weaponry.
Outside the court hall
A large plaza stood ready, lined with more than a dozen targets.
A dozen Imperial Guards stood at attention, each holding newly crafted weapons.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Chen Ping gestured to one of the guards, "this is the composite strong bow."
"Let's see its power." Ying Zheng smiled.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Without hesitation, two Imperial Guards stepped forward.
One held the newly crafted composite bow, while the other carried the traditional Qin bow.
Both stood ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) away from the targets.
Each nocked an arrow and drew their bows.
With the strength of their arms, they easily pulled their bows to full draw, the composite bow's mechanical assist mechanisms further amplifying its power.
With a sharp whoosh
Two arrows flew from their bows at the same time.
The arrow from the composite bow struck the target first, shattering it upon impact with a resounding bang!
Meanwhile, the arrow from the traditional Qin bow struck the bullseye, but the target remained standing.
At a glance
The superiority of the two bows was instantly clear.
"This bow… is simply too powerful!"
"As expected of the Crown Prince! Not only has he pioneered the Martial Dao, but he also has such remarkable insight into military weaponry. With such a formidable bow, our Great Qin warriors will become even more invincible!"
"Amazing!"
"The target was destroyed with a single arrow what terrifying power!"
The ministers erupted in exclamations of amazement.
"Not bad." Ying Zheng nodded in approval.
"Continue."
Zhao Feng smiled and motioned for Chen Ping to proceed.
Next
One after another, the weapons designed by Zhao Feng and crafted by Great Qin's master artisans were demonstrated:
The composite bow,
The composite strong crossbow,
The composite repeating crossbow,
The Mo Dao,
The heavy armor.
Each was displayed before the ministers.
Especially the heavy armor
Blades could not cut through it, and arrows could not pierce it. It was truly an ultimate battlefield defense.
"Feng'er,"
"The weapons you've created are truly divine arms. Once implemented throughout the army, Great Qin's military strength will rise to an even greater level!" Ying Zheng praised with satisfaction.
"A strong military is not only about the Martial Dao but also about superior weaponry." Zhao Feng smiled and turned to Chen Ping, "Begin full-scale production of these weapons and ensure they are distributed throughout the entire army as soon as possible."
"Your servant obeys!" Chen Ping immediately complied.
By this point
The morning court session had come to an end.
The ministers dispersed.
On the steps of the grand hall
Ying Zheng and Zhao Feng stood side by side.
"Had I not already known of the true nature of the world you described," Ying Zheng mused, "perhaps I would not have been so moved by these weapons."
"With such divine weapons, Great Qin's military strength will flourish, the Divine Continent will stabilize, and in the future, we will be able to expand outward."
Anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
"The world is vast."
"And it shall be conquered by Great Qin."
Zhao Feng's gaze was filled with ambition ambition for the world itself.
"However,"
"Now that the Divine Continent is unified and the people are of one culture, the process has moved faster than I anticipated."
"I can now implement the next phase of my plan." Zhao Feng's expression carried a hint of solemnity.
"What is the next phase?" Ying Zheng inquired.
"Father."
"I have a path not the Martial Dao, but the Dao of National Fate."
"Using oneself as the cauldron and the nation as the fortune, one fuse with the fate of the country. As long as the nation stands, so too shall the practitioner. When national fate flourishes, so too does the practitioner grow stronger."
"Would you like to cultivate this path?" Zhao Feng asked seriously.
"If the nation does not fall, then one does not perish?"
"If Great Qin never falls, then does this mean one can achieve eternal life?" Ying Zheng's eyes lit up.
"Precisely." Zhao Feng nodded.
After a moment of contemplation, Ying Zheng said, "Such a powerful method… Feng'er, you should cultivate it."
"Father,"
"This path of cultivating national fate is indeed formidable. The stronger the nation, the stronger the practitioner. With Great Qin's current level of national fate, if you successfully cultivate this path and gain full control over it, even a true immortal would not be your match."
"However, this path also has limitations it is bound to the nation. Though I am here and would never allow Great Qin to perish, this is not the path I seek." Zhao Feng explained.
"You intend to solely pursue the Martial Dao?" Ying Zheng asked.
"No."
Zhao Feng shook his head, a deep thoughtfulness crossing his face.
"In this world, there are many paths of cultivation. But the Martial Dao is not the path to becoming an immortal it is an entirely new system of cultivation that has never existed before in this world."
"To condense great national fortune requires one's strength to withstand it."
"I, too, can cultivate the Dao of National Fate, but it will not be my main path. Instead, it will serve as my auxiliary path."
"With the Dao of National Fate, I will forge the Path of Humanity. If it succeeds, I will become the ruler of the human path and achieve transcendence." Zhao Feng's eyes gleamed with determination.
In Zhao Feng's heart, he had already mapped out the path for his cultivation journey.
The path of martial arts could not be abandoned.
Moreover, the martial arts technique Zhao Feng cultivated not only strengthened his martial prowess but also allowed him to draw upon the power of fortune, accelerating his cultivation speed.
As for "Creating the Sacred Court",
it was a pure fortune-based cultivation method.
Zhao Feng could use this technique to gather and command the fortune of Great Qin, but he would not make himself the vessel of national fortune, binding himself completely to the fate of the state.
What Zhao Feng intended was to harness this vast fortune. As Great Qin grew stronger and expanded step by step, he hoped that one day, he could revive the Path of Humanity by gathering the fortune of the mortal realm. If successful, he could seize the authority of the human path itself.
The Three Paths Heaven, Earth, and Humanity.
These were the foundations of the Primordial Era!
If this truly were a Primordial World, then the current reality should be one where the Heavenly Path reigns supreme, while the Human Path and Earthly Path remain dormant.
If he truly wished to establish himself in this world, he had to consider what Guiguzi had said the Earthly Immortal Realm had already turned into a demonic abyss, where living beings were nothing more than blood sacrifices, where all life was mere prey.
Zhao Feng speculated
This world had undoubtedly suffered a great catastrophe and not just an ordinary one.
For the sake of survival, for the sake of his family, Zhao Feng had to proceed with extreme caution.
"You speak of things I still do not understand," Ying Zheng said.
"But since you have made your choice, then do as you see fit."
"Father will support you."
Ying Zheng smiled.
When it came to governance, Zhao Feng was not yet his equal, but when it came to cultivation, understanding the world, and charting the future path, Ying Zheng knew that he was no match for Zhao Feng.
Aside from offering his full support, he had no other choice.
"Very well."
"In a few days, I will begin gathering the fortune of Great Qin, transforming it into a national fortune. By then, Father, you will be able to cultivate the Path of National Fortune, refining your divine soul, drawing the nation's fortune into your body, and becoming one with the state."
"Furthermore,"
"Once the Fortune Dynasty is established, Great Qin's ministers will also be able to cultivate the Path of Ministerial Fortune. They too will be able to wield the power of national fortune in battle the stronger their divine soul, the more fortune they can command, and the greater their strength will be."
Zhao Feng spoke with a smile.
"Good."
Ying Zheng nodded.
"What else is needed to gather national fortune?" he asked.
"The recognition of the people."
"The greater the people's recognition of Great Qin, the more fortune I will be able to gather."
"Conversely,"
"If the people do not acknowledge Great Qin, then their fortune cannot be drawn into the national fortune."
Zhao Feng smiled.
"In that case,"
"Let us delay the imperial decree regarding land redistribution for another five days. Once the land is granted to the people, their recognition of Great Qin will surely soar to new heights."
Ying Zheng immediately made his decision.
"Yes."
Zhao Feng suddenly realized the brilliance of this move.
"You should go rest now,"
"I will handle this matter myself."
Ying Zheng smiled.
"Alright."
"I will take my leave then."
"Five days later, I will return to the palace."
Zhao Feng chuckled, then turned and walked down the steps.
Even though he was now the Crown Prince,
he still chose to reside outside the imperial palace. Though he could have taken up permanent residence within the palace, he preferred the freedom of his estate, where he could act with greater ease.
Tuan's Capital City
As the capital of a small kingdom,
this city was not even as prosperous as one of Great Qin's provincial capitals.
"Your Majesty,"
"News has arrived from Qin."
"The border is now open, awaiting our delegation to escort the princess to the frontier, where Qin's envoys will receive her for the wedding."
A court official reported to King Tuan, who sat upon his high throne.
"So it has come to this, after all..."
King Tuan sighed, yet there was a trace of relief on his face.
"Make the preparations."
"From the capital to the border, a journey of four days will suffice."
King Tuan commanded.
"As you wish."
The minister responsible for the marriage alliance immediately withdrew.
At that moment
"Your Majesty!"
"Must we send the princess to Qin in marriage?"
"Does Tuan truly fear Qin so much?"
A warrior named Jin Feng stepped forward, his expression filled with anger.
Hearing this,
King Tuan forced a bitter smile.
"General Jin,"
"I know of your deep affection for Yushu. Originally, I had indeed intended to betroth her to you."
"But now, our kingdom stands bordering Qin a nation of overwhelming strength. The other states of the Central Plains have all fallen before Qin's might."
"With our strength alone, we cannot oppose Qin."
"For the sake of Tuan's people, no sacrifice is too great."
Jin Feng clenched his fists, his expression filled with unwillingness.
"Your Majesty,"
"Tuan may be small, but we have an army of 200,000 battle-hardened warriors!"
"Tuan may be weak, but we can ally with other states and tribes to resist Qin together!"
"Sacrificing the princess for mere temporary peace is not the right course!"
Jin Feng gritted his teeth as he spoke.
For so long, he had already regarded Princess Yushu as his woman.
Now, he had to stand by and watch as she became Qin's Crown Prince's consort how could he accept that?
"Enough!"
"The decision has been made it cannot be changed!"
"This is all for the sake of Tuan!"
"As for your marriage, I shall select another bride for you."
"Now, withdraw!"
King Tuan waved his hand dismissively, unwilling to discuss the matter any further.
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