"The Celestial Demon race has a mysterious origin and deep, ongoing enmities with the Demon race. The Human Emperor should exercise caution."
"Regarding the Myriad Beasts Realm on the East Barren Continent, the Human Emperor is likely somewhat familiar. The Blazing Cloud Cave, where this humble one resides, reigns supreme in the Myriad Beasts Realm. In the grand scheme of the Cangyuan World, Blazing Cloud Cave is a nascent force, its foundations relatively weak compared to other established powers."
"The East Barren Continent's East Spirit Realm is the hallowed ground of the Sword Gods. The tribes belonging to this power are known as the Sword Race. Blessed by heaven and earth, the Sword Race possesses a unique understanding of the sword. Through millennia of refinement and tempering, the Sword Race stands unrivaled; in the entire Cangyuan World, no other power dares claim supremacy in the Way of the Sword."
"The Sword God Sacred Land is currently the supreme sanctuary for sword cultivators across the Cangyuan World, wielding immense influence and authority."
"As for the final realm, the Central Plains Realm, it shares a lineage with the Human Emperor, being a land solely for humanity. Before the emergence of the Great Han, the Southern Heaven Family was the sole top-tier human-established force in the Cangyuan World."
"Originally, humanity was abundant in the Cangyuan World, spread across all four continents. However, humans were prone to internal strife, with power struggles leading to endless bloodshed. Coupled with the envy of other tribes towards humanity's innate cultivation talents, they united against us. Humanity suffered defeat after defeat, tribe after tribe wiped out. Currently, the Southern Heaven Family is the sole surviving human lineage in the Cangyuan World."
"Human Emperor, a great calamity is imminent. Perhaps the Southern Heaven Family can forge a close alliance with the Human Emperor."
"The Savage Realm has just been unified, and the Human Emperor likely has numerous state affairs to attend to. I shall not impose further and will take my leave. I hope that upon our next meeting, the strength of the Great Han Dynasty will have advanced by another step."
"Farewell!"
Ji Hongwen stood up, a smile on his face, and bowed slightly to Yang Hao before transforming into a streak of orange light, vanishing into the distant horizon.
"Li Si, how much credence should we give his words?"
Yang Hao stood up, his eyes narrowed, watching the disappearing orange glow as he spoke indifferently.
"We should neither fully believe nor entirely disbelieve him," Li Si replied, stroking his beard softly.
"Li Si, convey my imperial decree!"
"By decree, all Great Han legions are to be stationed at the borders, closely monitoring the movements of Blazing Cloud Cave in the Myriad Beasts Realm."
"By decree, the Ministry of War is to gradually absorb outstanding martial practitioners from myriad tribes into the Great Han military and the Taoist sect."
"By decree, led by Prime Minister Li Si, with assistance from various ministries, the establishment of provincial and prefectural administrations in the newly acquired territories shall be gradually implemented. Officials at all levels are to be appointed accordingly."
"By decree, Yuwen Kai, Minister of Works, is to construct cities and academies in the newly acquired territories. Ministries and prefectures are to commence construction rapidly, provided it does not jeopardize the nation's foundation."
"By decree, the remaining legions are to gradually garrison the cities and lands of the newly acquired territories. Any tribal martial practitioners who resist are to be apprehended and imprisoned; severe cases will be executed without mercy!"
"Your subject obeys the imperial command!"
...
"System, check the faith points!"
"Ding! Host's remaining faith points: Five hundred million!"
Several months had passed since the Great Han unified the Savage Realm, and the construction and prosperity of the Great Han's territories were gradually being implemented and restored.
After Ji Hongwen returned to Blazing Cloud Cave in the Myriad Beasts Realm, the troops stationed in the Boundless Mountains by Blazing Cloud Cave were gradually withdrawn. The Great Han and Blazing Cloud Cave officially began diplomatic relations.
Yang Hao immediately dispatched the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Shadow Hall, working in conjunction with distinct focuses, to gradually infiltrate the territories of the Myriad Beasts Realm, with some even venturing into the Scarlet Night Dynasty to the far east.
Through extensive inquiries, Ji Hongwen's account was found to be largely accurate. The opportunity that arose once every two million years and the Supreme Hall were indeed real.
Regarding the investigation of the entire East Barren Continent, it would require another month or so.
"Five hundred million!"
In the Imperial Palace's sleeping quarters in Chang'an City, Great Han, Yang Hao sat cross-legged, looking at the remaining faith points, and couldn't help but ask, "Can five hundred million faith points be used to advance my cultivation to the God Nurturing realm?"
"Ding! Reminder to the Host: The Host has currently stepped into the Nirvana realm. Only two major realms separate you from the peak of this plane. Therefore, advancements in cultivation at this stage will incur exponentially increasing faith point costs!"
"Ding! Reminder to the Host: Advancing to the God Nurturing realm requires six hundred million faith points!"
"Ding! Further reminder to the Host: Having entered the Nirvana realm, due to the low-level nature of this plane, the highest cultivation realm of heroes summoned by the Host will be capped at the peak Venerable realm!"
"Five hundred million is still not enough to elevate myself to the God Nurturing realm. Forget it."
Yang Hao shook his head with a wry smile. Currently, the Great Han had only one cultivator at the Venerable realm, Yan Tiancheng. In the past few months, Yan Tiancheng had advanced by a minor realm, reaching the second layer of the Venerable realm.
Not only that, but Yang Ye and Fei Yingdong had broken through the barriers of the God Nurturing realm and ascended to the Venerable realm. Gao Changgong, Ma Yuan, and Han Shizhong had all broken through to the God Nurturing realm.
"I am currently at the third layer of Nirvana, and within the Great Han Dynasty, I can instantly mobilize the national destiny of the Great Han to unleash a full-powered strike that transcends two major realms. My top-tier combat power is temporarily sufficient."
After some thought, Yang Hao decided to upgrade the Barracks. Currently, all soldiers of the summoned legions of the Great Han were at the Divine Mansion realm, while the soldiers recruited locally were mostly balanced at the Origin Returning realm.
A few days prior, the sub-branch demons were all at the Divine Mansion realm. However, they were merely a sub-branch, not the regular army of the Demon race, but rather vanguards sent to scout the East Barren Continent, akin to scouts.
"System, upgrade the Barracks!"
"Ding! Reminder to the Host: Given that the Nine Cauldrons of Destiny have now entered level eight, the Barracks can be upgraded to level seven in one step, consuming a total of three hundred and fifty million faith points!"
"Ding! Do you wish to upgrade at once?"
"Upgrade to level seven?"
Yang Hao frowned. While he had forged the Emperor's Golden Body and cultivated at an extremely fast pace, upgrading the Barracks was essential. The Great Han needed not only top-tier combat power but also a solid foundation and intermediate strength.
The current investment would undoubtedly yield substantial returns if the Venerable Hall were to appear and the calamity in the Cangyuan World were to reignite.
"System, after the Barracks are upgraded to level seven, what cultivation realm can the soldiers achieve?"
"Ding! According to the assessment by the Samsara Profound Yellow Tower, the Barracks are currently at level four, and the soldiers summoned by the Great Han are at the Divine Mansion realm. After three consecutive level upgrades for the Barracks, the summoned soldiers can enter the Barracks for cultivation and advance three levels, directly entering the Spiritual Venerable realm!"
"Spiritual Venerable?"
Yang Hao instantly stood up. This cultivation realm, in the past, during the era of dynasties, represented pillars of support, truly remarkable!
The Great Han had summoned soldiers to form seven major legions, totaling over three million soldiers. Once they entered the Barracks for cultivation, it would instantaneously create over three million Spiritual Venerable powerhouses!
...
Cangyuan World Cultivation Stages:
Bone Forging – Essence Gathering – Acquired – Innate – Grandmaster – Origin Returning – Divine Mansion – Spirit Comprehension – Spirit Sea – Spiritual Venerable – Heavenly Martial – Heaven Merging Realm – Heaven Transformation Realm – Heaven Piercing Realm – Creation – Nirvana – God Nurturing – Venerable!