Chapter 1394: A Brand New World

Clearly, now was not the time to immediately select three members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion. This matter had to be put on hold. Zhang Ruochen had more important things to do.

Qin Yutong stepped across the blood-soaked earth, arrived before Zhang Ruochen, and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Highness. The preliminary casualty statistics for the imperial court and the Sacred Bright remnants have been compiled."

Qin Yutong was different from usual. Instead of her vibrant, seductive dance attire, she wore a bloodstained suit of armor. Though heavily wounded, she was immensely excited and agitated, staring at Zhang Ruochen with an expression of worship and awe.

This battle had brought a massive shift in Qin Yutong's mindset. If Zhang Ruochen ever needed her, she would be willing to die for him.

Capturing the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion, slaying the Lingxiao Heavenly King, severely wounding the imperial army, and avenging the fathers and ancestors of the Sacred Bright remnants—these were things they had never dared to do before, nor could they have accomplished.

Only the Crown Prince possessed such cohesion and rallying power. It wasn't just because of his status, but because he charged to the front lines, unafraid of any danger. It was precisely this that could make the timid brave again and embolden those long oppressed by the imperial court to rise up in resistance.

This was boldness. This was courage.

When everyone had grown numb, when the Empress's ascension to godhood had terrified them into submission, someone like this was needed to step forward.

Thus, Zhang Ruochen could settle the battle with a single decisive strike, making the Sacred Bright remnants more united. Mingjiang Wang could never have achieved this.

It wasn't that Mingjiang Wang's status was less legitimate, but that he had grown old, terrified by the imperial court's power. Fear in his heart meant he would never dare to risk everything.

Zhang Ruochen glanced at Qin Yutong. "Speak."

Qin Yutong said, "Since many cultivators have been utterly obliterated, we can only provide rough estimates. On the imperial court's side, two Saint Kings, fifty to sixty Saints, and over seven hundred Half-Saints have fallen. Among the soldiers below the Half-Saint level, approximately two million four hundred thousand have died."

"On the Sacred Bright side, fourteen Saints, over one hundred fifty Half-Saints, and more than a million soldiers have been left forever on this land."

Zhang Ruochen listened to this series of shocking numbers without even blinking. He raised his head, gazing at the sky, and murmured to himself, "With so many Saints and Half-Saints fallen, the Heavenly Earth Chessboard should have detected it. Why haven't that Grand Preceptor and the Hall Master of the Earth Divine Temple launched an attack yet?"

"Your Highness, what is the Heavenly Earth Chessboard?" Qin Yutong asked.

"Nothing."

Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly, fixed his gaze on Qin Yutong's eyes, and then continued, "What do you think this battle was truly for?"

Qin Yutong said, "The Crown Prince naturally fought to avenge us. From today onward, Yutong is willing to lay down her life for Your Highness."

Zhang Ruochen's eyes narrowed as he stared intently at her.

Qin Yutong's eyes reddened, and she bit her lip. "Your Highness may not know that after the Sacred Bright Central Empire fell eight hundred years ago, our ancestors suffered terribly. Many families were nearly wiped out. Those who survived became the lowest of slaves—sold into brothels to be defiled, sent into mines to be worked to death, or used as feed for barbarian beasts and mounts. In that dark age, a ragged female slave bought from the market could have been the proud daughter of a once-great aristocratic clan."

"We wanted to resist. We didn't want to be slaves. We didn't want to be trampled. But every rebellion ended in failure, with more people dying. Our hatred accumulated, generation after generation, through these struggles."

"As long as we could destroy the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion, even if we were surrounded and killed by the imperial army by dawn tomorrow, it would still be worth it."

Zhang Ruochen sighed softly and patted her shoulder. "Revenge for grievances is not wrong. But we cannot make that our life's goal. Living is about welcoming a better world, not walking step by step into the abyss of death, forever dwelling in darkness. Do you understand?"

Qin Yutong pondered the meaning of his words. What did it mean to welcome a better world?

In her view, capturing the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion would inevitably invite frenzied retaliation from the imperial court. The days ahead would be even harder, with bloody battles coming one after another. She might even die here.

But so what?

When she had prepared to attack the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion with the Crown Prince, Qin Yutong had already embraced a death wish.

"Pass the order: all Saints and Half-Saints of the Sacred Bright remnants are to assemble outside the Xuanyuan Hall. Additionally, each family and organization is to send one representative. This Crown Prince has an important announcement to make." Zhang Ruochen said.

Qin Yutong relayed the message. Cultivators who met the criteria rushed to the Xuanyuan Hall, numbering over a thousand.

Among them were not only humans but also half-humans.

Eight hundred years ago, three hundred half-human clans had been vassals to the Sacred Bright Central Empire. Even now, many half-humans remained loyal to the Sacred Bright.

After the Crown Prince's decree was issued, they swarmed in.

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

...

There was no denying it—after the battle at the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion, Zhang Ruochen had firmly established his authority. Though he might not yet match the prestige of the former Ming Emperor, he could still awe the ambitious figures below.

Zhang Ruochen stood outside the dilapidated hall's entrance, looking down at the crowd. His eyes swept over each figure until they landed on a familiar one.

It was a woman, standing within a mass of black saintly mist. She was tall and slender, yet hazy, her true form indistinct.

Even so, Zhang Ruochen recognized her at a glance—it was Han Qiu.

Han Qiu's beautiful face emerged from the black saintly mist, and she gave Zhang Ruochen a sinister smile.

Zhang Ruochen's expression remained unchanged. He raised his voice, "The Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion has been captured, and the Lingxiao Heavenly King has been slain. What do you all think we should do next?"

The Saint-level figures knew Zhang Ruochen must have a plan, so they all remained silent.

Those below the Saint level were a mixed lot. Someone said, "The Crown Prince should immediately declare himself emperor, right here in Sacred Bright City, and rebuild the Sacred Bright Central Empire. We will fight the First Central Empire to the end. Your subordinate swears to follow the Crown Prince to the death."

"Next, we should attack Wuding Mountain, destroy the Demon Sect, and help the Crown Prince reclaim the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden."

"That's right, that's right. How can our Sacred Bright Crown Princess marry a tree? Destroy the Demon Sect, destroy the Fire Clan, and cut down Wutong."

...

After the clamor subsided, Zhang Ruochen said, "With the Sacred Bright's current strength, can we stand against the First Central Empire?"

The crowd fell silent.

Eight hundred years. For eight hundred years, the Sacred Bright remnants had finally been able to stand tall and speak. Everyone was still in a state of excitement, but Zhang Ruochen had doused them with cold water.

In truth, everyone knew that challenging the First Central Empire now would be like throwing an egg at a stone. Yet, with morale so high, how could they say something that would "boost the enemy's morale and deflate their own"?

Zhang Ruochen continued, "This Crown Prince issued the decree primarily to gather everyone together. I don't want to see you continue hiding or being enslaved, nor do I want to lead you to your deaths."

"To live, we must live well, with dignity."

"The fall of the Sacred Bright Central Empire was my Zhang family's fault. My family let you down. But today, I, Zhang Ruochen, have returned. I will rebuild the Sacred Bright Central Empire, once again spread the protective umbrella, and carve out a dignified world for all of you."

"But the new Sacred Bright Central Empire will not be in Sacred Bright City. It will be in another place."

Zhang Ruochen mobilized the power of space, pushing his hands forward to open the world gate of the Qiankun Realm. Instantly, a radiant gate a hundred zhang tall appeared outside the Xuanyuan Hall.

The Saints, Half-Saints, family heads, and organization leaders present stepped through the light gate, entering the Qiankun Realm.

"Heavens! This is another world. The concentration of Heaven and Earth spiritual qi here surpasses that of the Kunlun Realm. It's nothing like a barren ruin realm."

"Am I seeing this right? Is that the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree? Wasn't this legendary celestial root supposed to have been cut down? How is it growing in this world?"

"Spring of Life! A Spring of Life! If I could cultivate in this world forever, my lifespan would definitely increase."

"Is the Sacred Bright Central Empire going to be established here? Wonderful! My Cai family will build a sacred city."

"This world is so vast, with such abundant resources. Does it all belong to the Sacred Bright Central Empire?"

"Cultivating here, this family head will definitely break through to the Saint realm. I'm not leaving, no matter what. If I could move my entire clan here, that would be even better."

...

In the Qiankun Realm, every cultivator, including the Saint-level figures, was nearly driven mad with excitement. Many sat down directly beneath the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree to begin cultivating.

Outside the Xuanyuan Hall.

"Swoosh—"

A black speck of light materialized out of thin air.

The black dot spun rapidly, growing larger until it became a black hole three zhang in diameter.

Han Qiu stood at the center of the black hole. The dark force radiating from her seemed capable of devouring all surrounding light. "You dare let them all into the Qiankun Realm? Aren't you afraid that among them are imperial court spies who will leak the news?"

Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. "Do you think an imperial court spy would have been willing to die with me attacking the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion? Besides, the Qiankun Realm and the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree are no secret. The highest authority in the imperial court has known about them for a long time. Even if the news reaches them, so what?"

Hearing this, a cold smile flickered in Han Qiu's eyes. "I told you long ago, Huang Yanchen is a cheap woman. She's not worthy of you. Next time we meet, I'll kill her for you."

Zhang Ruochen's face showed no emotion, as calm as still water.

Han Qiu retracted the chill and evil aura around her, stepping out of the black hole. Her slender jade hand took Zhang Ruochen's wrist, and she leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and coquettish. "Earlier, I killed five imperial court Saints. What reward is the Crown Prince going to give me?"

With the warm, fragrant softness in his arms, Zhang Ruochen did not push her away as he once had. "You should know I've never been stingy. If you work for me and achieve results, you'll get the best cultivation resources. Since you've chosen to return, don't leave again. Report to the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion."