Chapter 739: Sense of Mission
Lin Feng looked at Huangfu Long and asked, "Why is following Heavenly Lake the best choice?"
"Lin Feng, it seems you don't understand the various imperial powers of this Qian Domain." Huangfu Long said with a smile. "In the Qian Domain, most are middle-grade empires, along with territories ruled by forces of comparable strength—such as the East Sea Empire, the Jade Heaven Empire, Fengdu, and our Heavenly Lake Empire. But among all the forces in the Qian Domain, our Heavenly Lake Empire is the strongest."
At this moment, Huangfu Long's voice carried a hint of pride. Lin Feng looked at the others and saw that they too wore solemn expressions, as if filled with immense pride. This sense of honor and disgrace surprised him somewhat.
"The reason Heavenly Lake Empire is the strongest isn't because our conditions are superior to others'. There's only one real reason: our Heavenly Lake Empire is the most united of all imperial forces." Huangfu Long seemed to have taken an interest now, speaking freely to Lin Feng. "Two thousand years ago, the Heavenly Lake Empire was the weakest among the middle-grade empires, suffering constant bullying. The Sacred Land Heavenly Lake was then established, with its purpose being to make the empire strong."
"Heavenly Lake does not conquer, nor does it plunder. It is a mission. Only those who take it as their mission to strengthen the empire can enter Heavenly Lake. The people of the empire regard Heavenly Lake as their faith. If a powerful force rises, Heavenly Lake not only refrains from suppressing it but instead encourages it to grow stronger. Take this expedition into the secret realm, for example. For other imperial forces, if someone represents them and enters the secret realm, they must hand over the most precious treasures. But the Heavenly Lake Empire does not require this. As long as someone from the empire obtains a valuable treasure, they don't need to hand it over to Heavenly Lake; they can keep it for their own cultivation. You can even bring the treasure into Heavenly Lake, where its powerful martial cultivators will guide you in using those treasures to cultivate and grow stronger. This principle and belief have been upheld for a full two thousand years. Anyone who dares to violate it will be executed by Heavenly Lake."
"Moreover, I believe that those who truly emerge from the secret realm with treasures will willingly hand over what they cannot use to Heavenly Lake and join it themselves, letting the strong guide them in using the treasures they can. Entering Heavenly Lake to cultivate is the supreme glory of the empire's people. Heavenly Lake is not a force; it is a cohesive power. It does not restrict anyone. The Sacred Land Heavenly Lake exists solely with the mission of strengthening the empire."
Huangfu Long spoke slowly, his hand placed over his heart. The usually lazy and unrestrained man now had solemn eyes, shining with the light of honor—honor for the empire, honor for the Sacred Land Heavenly Lake.
"The Sacred Land Heavenly Lake exists solely with the mission of strengthening the empire." The others also raised their heads high, placing their right hands over their hearts, speaking solemnly. This was sincere reverence, reverence for the sacred land.
Lin Feng and Tang Youyou looked at the solemn group, and their hearts couldn't help but tremble violently, as if struck by a powerful impact. Lin Feng had initially doubted Huangfu Long's words, but as he finished speaking and seeing everyone's reaction, that doubt vanished.
He could imagine what kind of powerful cohesion this was. Just as Huangfu Long said, Heavenly Lake is not a force; it does not restrict anyone. It exists in the form of a sense of mission.
People are not made of wood or stone; they all have emotions and a sense of belonging. If there were such a force that placed no restrictions on you and even unconditionally helped you grow stronger, who wouldn't take pride in it?
This is an infinite virtuous cycle. Heavenly Lake takes strengthening the empire as its mission, helping the empire's people grow stronger, and the empire's people take pride in Heavenly Lake, considering it an honor to cultivate there.
To uphold this belief for two thousand years—this is an empire with a profound sense of mission. If such an empire isn't strong, who could be?
This empire reminded Lin Feng of the democratic nations he had seen in his previous life, where rulers governed for the people, making the people prosperous and strong as the foundation of the nation. When the people are prosperous and strong, the nation naturally follows.
"Lin Feng, the Heavenly Lake Empire welcomes everyone to join. As long as you are willing to join my Heavenly Lake Empire and enter the secret realm under its identity, no matter what treasures you obtain, the empire will not interfere. Of course, the prerequisite is that you must not do anything to betray the empire; otherwise, you will be executed by Heavenly Lake."
Huangfu Long added, "The Heavenly Lake Empire embraces all rivers."
A smile appeared on Lin Feng's face, and he said slowly, "Representing the Heavenly Lake Empire to enter the secret realm probably isn't that easy. You should first take me to meet your wife."
Hearing Lin Feng's words, Huangfu Long grinned again, the solemnity from before disappearing, and said with a chuckle, "Alright, let's go to Heavenly Lake first. Only those who have passed the trials of Heavenly Lake can represent it in the secret realm. Right now, not just us, but countless geniuses from the empire are probably on their way to Heavenly Lake."
"Let's go, everyone follow me to meet my wife, Tianchi Xue." Huangfu Long's shamelessness drew disdain from the group behind him. However, Lin Feng could clearly sense that although they gritted their teeth at Huangfu Long, there was no malice in their eyes.
Though they had suffered quite a bit of abuse from that bastard Huangfu Long, their cultivation had indeed improved significantly. For such a carefree scoundrel, they couldn't really muster any hatred.
Including Lin Feng and Tang Youyou, there were eight people in the group. Huangfu Long's cultivation was at the Eighth Layer of the Mysterious Martial Realm, while the others were at the Sixth or Seventh Layer. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to cultivate in these snowy mountains—they would have frozen to death.
Xue Linglong ran over from the snow and jumped directly into Lin Feng's arms. The beautiful snow-white beast made the others pause—what a lovely little demon beast.
"What kind of demon beast is this?" Huangfu Long asked curiously.
"This is my wife," Lin Feng said calmly, causing Huangfu Long and the others to stiffen. Lin Feng's wife?
"Hehe, I think my wife is still more beautiful," Huangfu Long said with a simple smile, a bit narcissistically.
"That's not necessarily true," Lin Feng replied, glancing at Huangfu Long. He didn't believe any woman could compare to Meng Qing's beauty.
"Even if your wife is a celestial demon beast, when she takes human form, she definitely won't be as beautiful as my wife. My wife, Tianchi Xue, is the Heavenly Lake Saintess, the most beautiful woman in the empire." Huangfu Long's eyes sparkled with brilliance. Seeing his expression, the five behind him gritted their teeth, wishing they could punch him in the face.
Shameless! This guy was too shameless! The reputation of their beloved Saintess Tianchi Xue was being ruined by this bastard.
Lin Feng looked at Huangfu Long with surprise. Although this guy was carefree, he was very sharp—he had guessed in one go that Meng Qing was a celestial demon beast.
"I'll see Tianchi Xue," Lin Feng said with a smile, as if competing with Huangfu Long. He didn't believe anyone could be more beautiful than Meng Qing, even if she was the Heavenly Lake Saintess.
The eight figures continuously flickered toward the direction of Heavenly Lake. They left the stretch of continuous snowy mountains, but outside that area, snowflakes still fell from the sky. The people of the Heavenly Lake Empire seemed to love snow. Lin Feng could feel the snow aura on them, just as they said—the Heavenly Lake Empire called such martial cultivators snow cultivators.
Along the way, Lin Feng noticed that it wasn't just their group of eight. Many people from the Heavenly Lake Empire were heading toward Heavenly Lake, especially talented youths. Even if they couldn't enter the secret realm, they could still pay homage to the seniors of Heavenly Lake. Moreover, this time, they would also get to see the Heavenly Lake Saintess, Tianchi Xue.
On the journey, Lin Feng heard many people talking about Tianchi Xue. Moreover, whenever anyone mentioned the word "Heavenly Lake," it was always with reverence. This only deepened Lin Feng's curiosity about Heavenly Lake and Tianchi Xue. What kind of force could unite the hearts of the empire's people so strongly? And how beautiful was this Heavenly Lake Saintess to captivate so many?
Heavenly Lake was the faith of the empire's people, and Tianchi Xue was the dream lover of countless young men.
After traveling for six days, Lin Feng found himself entering another snowy region. This snowy land connected to the largest city of the Heavenly Lake Empire. In the distance, a snow mountain as tall as the heavens exuded a misty aura. At a glance, it seemed to touch the sky, a breathtaking sight.
"Lin Feng, we've arrived. That is Heavenly Lake." Huangfu Long pointed at the distant snow mountain, a flash of excitement in his eyes. They had arrived.
PS: Please support! Making up for yesterday's chapter!