CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 286: TWO YEARS OF SPRING AND AUTUMN_1

Soon, news of the events at the border reached the Imperial Court of the Qin Dynasty, elating countless courtiers.

A city wall, capable of withstanding attacks from Semi-Emperor experts, had appeared along the one hundred twenty thousand kilometers of the Qin Dynasty’s border. As it descended, it had also crushed seven million soldiers of the Canghai Ancient Court.

"Excellent! With the Great Wall, the Qin Dynasty no longer fears threats on its borders!"

Many courtiers laughed heartily, their spirits soaring. While the Canghai Ancient Court feared an invasion from the Qin Dynasty, the Qin Dynasty was equally concerned about potential sneak attacks from the Canghai Ancient Court.

The current Qin Divine Court needed peace; it needed to develop!

An immense distance away, in Wanchang City, Liu Jimin stood on the city walls, gazing at the Great Wall in the far distance. His eyes were cold, his fists clenched so tightly they were bloodless, yet he was utterly helpless.

Over the past few days, he had attempted various methods—fire, flood, even digging tunnels thousands of feet deep—but none could bypass the Great Wall.

Furthermore, he had consulted numerous Array Masters to study the formations on the Great Wall, but they had made no progress whatsoever.

The Great Wall stood like an impassable chasm, completely cutting off the Canghai Ancient Court’s vast army.

If they could not find a way to overcome the Great Wall, they would remain passively vulnerable to attacks. This reality left Liu Jimin feeling extremely frustrated and aggrieved.

With the Great Wall in place, the Qin Divine Court entered a period of rapid development. In the blink of an eye, two years passed.

During this time, the strength of the Qin Divine Court underwent earth-shattering changes compared to two years prior, whether in politics, military affairs, or the economy.

Politically, Guo Jia, having successfully broken through to the Quasi-emperor Realm, ascended to the Imperial Hall and initiated sweeping reforms. He restructured local governance, establishing twenty-one provincial-level government offices across the nation.

Each provincial office oversaw ten to fifteen commandery-level offices. Below the commandery-level offices were county-level offices, then town-level offices, and at the most basic level, village-level offices were established.

This top-down administrative structure ensured that imperial decrees could be swiftly disseminated to even the most remote towns and villages.

Militarily, the major legions continuously recruited soldiers. The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird Armies each grew to a million soldiers. The Bei Wei Army reached six hundred thousand, and the remaining legions all maintained strengths exceeding four hundred thousand.

Thanks to the training grounds, the strength of the soldiers in all major legions improved by leaps and bounds, with all of them reaching the Cave Heaven Stage or higher.

Economically, agriculture developed rapidly, and commerce flourished. The tax revenue from just two years was enough to fill the imperial treasuries, with money and grain piled as high as mountains.

However, the most significant improvement was in the number of powerful experts.

Aided by the treasures left behind by the Kunlun Supreme, generals like Zhao Yun, Yue Fei, Lv Bu, and Guan Yu reached the peak of the Saint King Realm, just one step away from the Quasi-emperor Realm.

The strength of civil officials like Zhuge Liang, Yuan Tiangang, and Wang Yangming was also above the Seventh Transformation Saint King level.

Unfortunately, this depleted most of the treasures left by the Kunlun Supreme, leaving only a dozen or so Immortal-grade artifacts.

PHEW.

In the fragment of the Immortal Realm, Qin Wudao sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed. Two golden, draconic forms hovered around him, exuding an ultimate imperial pressure.

A cultivation base at the peak of the Saint Realm spread outwards!

He had not been idle these past two years, spending most of his time in secluded cultivation. His cultivation base had soared, allowing him to break through a major realm and reach the peak of the Saint Realm.

"What a pity!"

Suddenly, Qin Wudao opened his eyes, a look of regret on his face.

He was just a hair’s breadth away from breaking through to the Saint King Realm, and this tiny gap might cause his cultivation to stagnate for several years.

After stabilizing his aura, Qin Wudao walked out of the cultivation chamber. He looked at the two chambers at the far end and murmured to himself, "Still not out yet?"

One of these chambers was occupied by Huo Qubing, who was attempting to break through to the Emperor Realm.

The other was where Li Yuanba was in seclusion, integrating the Origin of Thunder. If successful, he too could break through to the Emperor Realm.

After resting for a moment in the peach grove, Qin Wudao prepared to leave the fragment of the Immortal Realm. But just then, a pillar of blood-red light erupted from Huo Qubing’s chamber.

This pillar of light seemed as if it would pierce through Heaven and Earth. Countless streams of sparkling and translucent Power of Laws permeated the Void for a thousand zhang in every direction, exuding a supreme aura.

Instantly, the Spiritual Energy within the fragment of the Immortal Realm surged madly towards the chamber, forming a massive Spiritual Energy vortex.

Before long, the Spiritual Energy within the fragment of the Immortal Realm grew thin, so much so that even the vortex could barely coalesce. At this critical juncture, the spirit trees planted within the fragment of the Immortal Realm began to radiate a continuous stream of Spiritual Energy, compensating for the deficiency.

"Break!"

A voice like a clap of thunder boomed from the chamber, followed by innumerable rays of blood-red light. Mixed with terrifying murderous intent and Evil Qi, they dyed the fragment of the Immortal Realm crimson.

Within the sanguine light, countless tormented souls howled, and myriad deceased figures pleaded for mercy...

"Is this... a breakthrough?" Qin Wudao exclaimed, his voice filled with surprised delight at the sight.

Huo Qubing’s breakthrough meant that the Qin Dynasty now possessed an Emperor Realm expert, elevating it to the second most powerful faction in the East Border and officially marking its entry among the continent’s top-tier powers.

Of course, Qin Wudao was self-aware enough to know that the Qin Dynasty, with only a single Emperor Realm expert, was certainly no match for the other sacred lands. Nevertheless, this was an excellent beginning.

Four hours later, an even more potent aura radiated from the chamber. The chamber itself, capable of withstanding attacks from a Saint King Realm expert, instantly shattered, turning into ash.

A towering figure, clad in battle armor, strode out from the ashes.

With each step he took, his aura diminished slightly.

By the time he stood before Qin Wudao, he appeared to be an ordinary man.

"This general, Huo Qubing, thanks Your Majesty for your guidance!"

Huo Qubing knelt on one knee, saluting respectfully. His heart overflowed with gratitude. If not for the cultivation resources bestowed by Qin Wudao, his breakthrough to the Emperor Realm would have remained a distant dream.

"Please rise!"

Qin Wudao quickly helped Huo Qubing to his feet, his face wreathed in smiles. "Come, let’s attend to the Heavenly Tribulation first!"

The Emperor Realm! It was considered the strongest power in this world, requiring one to pass the Heavenly Tribulation and obtain the approval of Heaven and Earth.

However, the fragment of the Immortal Realm was an independent world, beyond the perception of the Heavenly Dao, which was why no thunderclouds had appeared.

But the moment one left the fragment of the Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Tribulation would manifest automatically!

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Huo Qubing stood up. Thinking of the Heavenly Tribulation’s might, his expression turned somewhat grave. With a wave of his right hand, a long spear materialized, its shaft covered in profound Dao patterns and glowing with a crimson light.

He dared not be the least bit careless regarding the Heavenly Tribulation.

"Your Majesty, please proceed first!" Huo Qubing said to Qin Wudao once he was prepared. He worried that if they exited together, the Heavenly Tribulation might target them both, mistaking Qin Wudao for someone assisting him in undergoing the tribulation.

If anyone interfered to help, the Heavenly Tribulation’s power would increase manifold.

"Very well."

Qin Wudao nodded and was the first to leave the fragment of the Immortal Realm.

Upon returning to the imperial palace, he immediately ordered everyone in the vicinity to clear the area. After waiting for about two minutes, a pillar of blood-red light shot into the Nine Heavens. The formidable aura shattered the vast expanse of the sky for ten thousand li.

RUMBLE...

Dark clouds began to gather in dense clusters.

Streaks of heavenly lightning darted through the dark clouds, radiating a brilliant light that illuminated the world. The massive, booming rumbles sounded like the wrath of the heavens, threatening to annihilate the world.