Chapter 1345: 1337: Crisis Approaches

Time flowed like water. In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

In this span of time, not too long yet not short, the lords of the great civilizations repeatedly led their retinues to the Myriad Heavens and Worlds; their purpose was simple—to attend the Grand Ceremony of Submission.

In a certain tavern by the city gate, on the second floor by the window, Wood Blossom and the Lord of Immortal Jade sat, looking down at the bustling street below, packed shoulder to shoulder.

"The nine hundred and seventy-fifth civilization!"

As cups were raised and replaced, yet another civilization’s procession passed through the city gate tunnel, drawing the Lord of Immortal Jade’s attention; he spoke in surprise.

"In two more days, His Majesty will hold the Grand Ceremony of Submission. I do not know what fate awaits our civilizations, where we are to go from here!"

Wood Blossom set down her cup, her tone carrying a faint trace of worry.

Across all ages, the ways in which powerful civilizations deal with weaker ones usually fall into two categories.

First, annihilating strikes.

Second, forceful annexation of the weaker civilization.

Yet whichever method is adopted, for the weaker civilizations it is a blow of destruction; as time passes, they will gradually vanish within the long river of history.

Of course, there is one circumstance that may be an exception.

That is when the civilization is based on a multi-racial alliance system, highly inclusive, able to accept the existence of other civilizations and races.

But unfortunately, the Qin Dynasty’s cosmic empire is mono-racial!

The supreme rulers are of the human race.

"I heard that the Qin Dynasty has an autonomous system that allows for racial self-governance..."

At this moment, the Lord of Immortal Jade seemed to think of something; his eyes lit up and he spoke in eager anticipation, but before he finished, he closed his mouth again, not believing it himself.

Racial autonomy!

Is that even possible?

In his view, the Qin Dynasty’s autonomous system should be an early, leftover institution; now that the Qin Dynasty seeks to unify the Mysterious Universe, how could it possibly adopt a system of autonomy?

If such a system were adopted, would it not be tantamount to allowing countless kingdoms, large and small, to arise under the Qin Dynasty’s rule?

"In two days, we’ll know the result."

Wood Blossom fell silent for a moment, then lifted her head toward the towering imperial palace and spoke softly.

Her view differed from that of the Lord of Immortal Jade. She believed that the Qin Dynasty was very likely to implement an autonomous system, for after spending three years within its realm, she knew that the Qin Dynasty was a nation of extreme confidence.

Beyond that, there was another crucial reason.

And this reason would determine the Qin Dynasty’s attitude toward the many civilizations of the Mysterious Universe.

The Mysterious Universe had never yet been unified.

Never.

Before the rise of the Qin Dynasty, the Mysterious Universe had given birth to countless resplendent civilizations, and the races it contained numbered in the tens of thousands.

If the racial question was not resolved, the Qin Dynasty’s territories would not be stable.

And to resolve the racial question, violence alone could not be relied upon—unless the Qin Dynasty intended to carry out a great cleansing of the Mysterious Universe; yet that would be time-consuming and laborious, and would not accord with the Qin Dynasty’s interests.

Therefore, the Qin Dynasty had to promulgate a system to address the racial question.

At the same time.

In the imperial court.

The civil and military officials were gathered together, deliberating over the Grand Ceremony of Submission two days hence.

"Prime Minister, how many civilizations have now arrived in the Myriad Heavens and Worlds?"

On the imperial throne, Qin Wudao wore the dragon robe, two Ancestral Dragons coiling about his body. His imperial might was vast and mighty, distorting the surrounding space-time, like the azure heavens of ten thousand ages—boundless, infinite, supreme beyond compare.

"In reply to Your Majesty, within the Imperial Capital there are already nine hundred and seventy-five civilizations, and there are still many civilizations that have entered the Myriad Heavens and Worlds. In total, there are one thousand two hundred and ninety-one civilizations!"

Zhuge Liang stepped out of the ranks and saluted with respect as he spoke.

One thousand two hundred and ninety-one civilizations!

Hearing this figure, Qin Wudao nodded in satisfaction. Once the Grand Ceremony of Submission was concluded, he would obtain one thousand two hundred and ninety-one sign-in opportunities.

With so many sign-ins, surely some fine treasures would emerge!

...

"At last, the Mysterious Universe!"

At the edge of the Mysterious Universe, the starry sky was torn open, and a figure stepped out. He wore black armor, his bearing divine and towering. A pair of wings grew from his back, inscribed all over with profound Dao patterns.

With his appearance, the surrounding starry sky began to boil, unable to withstand his terrifying power.

This was the Old Ancestor of the Demon Race.

After journeying for several decades, he had finally reached the Mysterious Universe.

"Hongmeng Purple Qi, this forebear has arrived!"

The Demon Race Old Ancestor murmured, his voice cold and merciless.

As he spoke, a blazing light flared in his eyes; two streaks of pitch-black brilliance shot forth, malice surging to the heavens, ice-cold to the extreme.

Then he determined his direction, tore the Void, and vanished.

"Hm?"

"Strange, why is there Rule Power here?"

Half an hour after the Demon Race Old Ancestor left, the starry sky was torn open once more; a man in white robes stepped out, war-sword in hand, radiating a razor-sharp light that illuminated the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

This was Cloud One!

He hailed from The Shangguan Family!

"Could it be that the master dispatched other experts as well?"

Cloud One glanced around, sensing the lingering Rule Power within the Void, puzzled in his heart.

The Mysterious Universe was far too remote.

Seldom did experts of the rule domain descend upon this place.

Thus, aside from Shangguan Yunjian having sent experts, he could think of no other possibility.

"No, I must hasten my pace and complete the mission first!"

Cloud One muttered. He stamped his foot, turning into a streak of sword light that tore through the boundless starry sky, rushing toward the Myriad Heavens and Worlds.

Boom!

Soon, another day passed.

At this time, beyond the Mysterious Universe, in another universe, a sudden white radiance appeared, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, crossing the starry sea and plunging straight into the Mysterious Universe.

It was a warship, bearing a banner emblazoned with a golden ingot, snapping and unfurling in the wind.

Upon the warship, one hundred figures stood ramrod straight, emanating the supreme and terrifying power of transcendence, sweeping across the boundless cosmos.

Vast stretches of the starry sky shattered.

Innumerable stars trembled and shuddered.

Many living beings close to the warship felt as if burdened by a God Mountain; unable to bear the weight, they fell to their knees.

Whoosh!

The warship’s speed was immense; in the mere span of a blink, it vanished without a trace.

Once the warship had gone far, several figures appeared in the universe beyond the Mysterious Universe. They were dressed in splendid robes, their every gesture bearing a powerful authority.

"What a formidable aura!"

"Strange—why have experts been continually heading toward the Mysterious Universe of late?"

"From them I sensed boundless killing intent; clearly, once they enter the Mysterious Universe, there will be no lack of slaughter!"

"Alas! Let us hope they do not implicate the Great Nether Universe..."

They gazed toward the Mysterious Universe, speaking in hushed speculation, their eyes filled with deep concern.

These individuals were the rulers of the Great Nether Universe.

And the Great Nether Universe was the neighbor of the Mysterious Universe; but unlike the Mysterious Universe, it was a great unified cosmos, its strength formidable.

...

Elsewhere.

Within the Qin Dynasty’s cosmic empire, inside the Bureau of Heavenly Observation.

Zhang Sanfeng sat cross-legged, the River of Fate flowing around him, surfacing countless scenes, until at last there appeared a smear of blood-red, bewitchingly bright, devouring to the soul.

Rumble!

The once placid River of Fate began to boil, a bloody gale rising, sweeping across the cosmos.

The sight was exceedingly eerie.

"So, you’ve come?"

Suddenly, Zhang Sanfeng raised his head, gazing into the deep, boundless universe, a cold smile upon his face.

His voice was calm, yet his eyes were threaded all through with the rules of the Dao, as though he could see through all things beneath heaven and earth, discerning the danger soon to arrive.