Fan Cheng returned to the military camp and immediately entered his study to retrieve a jade slip.
After recording all the day's events on the jade slip, he instructed a messenger to send it to the imperial capital.
Once this was done, he called for a guard and asked, "Have the southern reinforcements arrived yet?"
The mist barrier and the appearance of the iron ship made Fan Cheng feel pressured, worried that something terrifying might emerge from the depths of the endless sea.
The guard lowered his head and replied, "Reporting to the general, the southern reinforcements are almost here, expected in about half an hour."
Fan Cheng nodded slightly. The arrival of the southern reinforcements would alleviate much of his pressure.
However, he felt a headache coming on when he thought of the commander of the southern reinforcements.
That fellow was boisterous and always wanted to spar with him; a complete battle fanatic.
He would be in for some trouble once that guy arrived.
...
The Imperial Capital of Da Qian.
The imperial capital had been incredibly lively these past few days, with nearly ten thousand people flocking in from all directions.
Among the tens of thousands, nearly seventy percent were young women, who had come to the capital to watch the Emperor select his consorts.
The selection process for the Da Qian Dynasty was divided into three stages.
First, county officials would select women from each county who were of suitable age, exceptionally beautiful, and had appropriate figures.
Second, the women selected from each county would participate in the provincial selection. Only thirty women who distinguished themselves would qualify for the next stage.
Third, those who passed the first two stages were all exceptionally beautiful women with outstanding figures and temperaments. Only these women would be eligible for the final selection.
The Da Qian Dynasty had four regions and eighty prefectures. Thirty selected women were chosen from each prefecture, totaling two thousand four hundred women who would participate in the final selection.
In this final stage, palace maids, imperial consorts, and concubines to serve His Majesty would be chosen.
The competition was extremely fierce, with daughters of ministers, wealthy merchants, and even female knights participating.
The imperial capital was incredibly bustling at the moment, far more so than the hundredth anniversary of Da Qian's founding a few days prior.
His Majesty the Emperor had never selected consorts in his one hundred years on the throne.
Everyone had assumed His Majesty was uninterested in women, so his decision to select consorts now had taken everyone by surprise.
"Hiss! Isn't that Zhao Shishi, known as the most beautiful woman in Qing Prefecture? She's here for the selection too!?"
"Damn! That's Chen Yin, the most beautiful woman in Lian Prefecture! And the twin beauties from Xi Prefecture, Lin Xi and Lin Ting!"
"Have the women of Da Qian gone mad? I heard that even the Sword Immortal who cultivates the Heartless Sword has emerged and is coming to the capital to compete."
"Of course! Who wouldn't go crazy for the Emperor's selection? If I weren't a man, I'd be signing up for the selection myself."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I wonder how many women will catch His Majesty's eye this time. And how many will be eliminated, left to lament their fate."
"..."
The citizens of the imperial capital discussed animatedly, their spirits high.
Beautiful women were everywhere in the capital these days; after all, no cultivator was ugly.
Those young women known as the most beautiful or as fairies were all feeling the pressure.
As they sized each other up, their gazes were filled with intense rivalry.
Inside the Imperial Palace.
Gongsun Rou was handling the selection matters. Before her lay thousands of documents.
Today, she wore a loose white robe, the silk draped over her fair, smooth skin, looking exceptionally elegant.
"My lady, perhaps you should rest? You've been reviewing documents all day," a maid reminded her.
Gongsun Rou rubbed her temples, her eyes showing fatigue, but she still shook her head:
"No, the matter of selecting consorts is of great importance, and I must handle it all myself. If His Majesty is displeased, it will be my fault."
She rallied her spirits again and picked up a document to review the profiles of the aspiring consorts.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade her, the maid brought some invigorating incense and lit it to help her mistress relax.
"My lady, don't you want to participate in His Majesty's consort selection?" the maid asked curiously.
She was Gongsun Rou's personal maid, and their relationship was very close, which was why she dared to ask.
A faint blush appeared on Gongsun Rou's face, and she said shyly, "Of course, I do."
She didn't hide it, admitting it frankly because the maid knew her feelings.
"Then why aren't you participating, my lady?"
The maid was puzzled. She had been by Gongsun Rou's side and knew she wasn't participating in the selection.
Gongsun Rou shook her head. "My status does not permit me to participate in the selection. Moreover, I must help His Majesty with his burdens and become his right-hand woman. I am already very content to be by His Majesty's side and serve him."
She had lost her parents at a young age. If Da Qian's academies hadn't taken her in and nurtured her, she might have starved to death in the wilderness long ago.
And it was His Majesty who had proposed the establishment of Da Qian's academies.
Any citizen of Da Qian could attend the academies for free.
Those with cultivation talent were taught cultivation methods, while others were taught other skills, ensuring everyone had a trade.
Therefore, her life was saved by His Majesty. His Majesty had shown her the grace of saving her life and the grace of remaking her.
The maid seemed to understand but not fully. However, hearing that Gongsun Rou would not participate in the selection, she felt a pang of disappointment.
If her lady had participated, His Majesty would surely have chosen her as a consort.
And she, as her lady's personal maid, would have accompanied her lady into the palace to serve His Majesty.
But all of this was contingent on her lady participating in the selection. Her lady's words filled her with disappointment.
Just then, a female soldier arrived to report and presented a jade slip.
"My lady, General Fan Cheng of the Eastern Garrison has sent an urgent report!"
Gongsun Rou's expression turned serious. She took the jade slip and read it, her face instantly changing!
Such a major event had occurred in the endless sea!
"Xiao Lü, prepare clothes for me. I need to go to the palace to report to His Majesty!"
Without hesitation, she got up to change and then hurried to the palace where His Majesty resided.
Soon, Gongsun Rou met Xu Mo in the grand hall and presented the jade slip, allowing Xu Mo to examine it.
Xu Mo held the jade slip, his expression fluctuating. His heart was already in turmoil!
Fan Cheng had discovered a strangely shaped giant ship in the depths of the endless sea!?
According to Fan Cheng's account, the iron ship sailing in the endless sea was as large as Da Qian's Tianwei flying ship.
Furthermore, there were hundreds of humans on the iron ship, all wearing strange, exotic clothing, completely different from the attire of the Great Desolation. Their skin colors also varied, divided into several groups.
Xu Mo had never anticipated such a dramatic turn of events!
He had encountered the mist of the endless sea; it was formed from extremely peculiar substances that had turned into mist.
Once any living being approached, regardless of their strength, they would be consumed, their flesh and blood devoured.
And in the depths of the mist-filled endless sea, humans were surviving!?
This was completely beyond his expectations. He even suspected that Fan Cheng had encountered a ghost ship, and the people on board were merely spirits transformed.
But Xu Mo knew this was impossible; it was just his wild speculation.
Fan Cheng's strength was close to the Divine Rope realm, and he wouldn't mistake it. There were indeed humans surviving in the depths of the endless sea!