About half a month later, the territory of the Great Qian Celestial Dynasty was finally established. Yuan Lian and the forty-seven surrounding worlds were completely occupied.

Meanwhile, Gui Xuan's army continued its fierce advance within the borders of the Nine Capitals Celestial Court. Leveraging the extreme speed of the Taiyi Divine Thunder Ships and the Cold Crystal Shadow Blade Ships—speeds far surpassing those of ordinary aerial vessels—they seized a full twenty-six worlds in just twenty days, including two Middle Thousand Worlds.

However, by this time, the surrounding powers had reacted. They simultaneously pressured Da Qian and massed troops at the borders, while also joining forces to swiftly carve up the remaining territories of the Nine Capitals Celestial Court.

With limited troops, Gui Xuan could only halt and shift to a defensive posture. In truth, attacking further was infeasible; the territory seized from the Nine Capitals Celestial Court was distant from the Yuan Lian Realm and did not directly connect.

It was jaggedly intertwined with the domains of other powers. Governance was a headache, and defense, even more so.

Occupation was easy, but holding the ground was not guaranteed. Zong Shou was actually extremely satisfied with Gui Xuan’s prudent retreat when faced with the limits of their gains.

At this juncture, the total domains of Da Qian comprised five Middle Thousand Worlds and sixty-nine Minor Thousand Worlds, beginning to take tangible shape. The areas bordering Yuan Lian were especially rich, fertile lands.

The figure from the ‘previous life’ had relied precisely on the abundant wealth and manpower from this region to rise to power. With just a few years of consolidation, a formidable national strength could be accumulated.

What pleased Zong Shou the most were the Artifact Masters previously subsidized by the Nine Capitals Sacred Court. Yi Lingsu’s family influence proved immense.

Through her persuasion, nearly seventy percent of these masters agreed to relocate to Yuan Lian. The captured Cold Crystal Shadow Blade Ships also numbered more than anticipated, reaching a grand total of sixteen.

These aerial vessels lost significant value without the Nine Capitals Absolute Bladesmen to crew them, yet their inherent combat strength rivaled that of peak Immortal Realm experts, and their speed remained several times greater than standard ships, retaining immense worth. Typical Celestial Dynasties and Cultivation Societies would appoint one individual as the Lord of a Realm, responsible for defense, who would also need to remit the majority of the realm’s output annually.

Cultivators who reached the Divine Realm generally avoided mundane affairs and the entanglement of karmic residue. Therefore, candidates for Realm Lord were usually selected from cultivators in the mid-Immortal Realm.

Zong Shou’s Great Qian Celestial Dynasty was different; it did not establish the position of Realm Lord. According to the structure jointly devised by Zong Shou and Lu Wubing, every world would be divided into several states, each receiving three to five nominations to enter the Deliberation Hall in the Yuan Lian World.

One Guardian would be appointed, along with two Deputy Generals; neither would handle civil affairs, focusing solely on training conscripts and cultivating the realm’s cultivators. Furthermore, there would be one Circuit Inspector and one Chief Minister, along with several other officials like the Emissaries of the Hundred Flowers and the Emissaries of the Divine Beasts.

In addition to oversight responsibilities, these roles involved collecting taxes, mediating disputes between states and sects, and cultivating various spirit herbs and beasts to nourish local spirit veins. The latter two tasks were the priority.

Ordinary governmental affairs were managed by the respective states themselves. Only when a ruler proved depraved, or when the court was incompetent and popular resentment reached critical mass, would Da Qian intervene to fulfill its responsibility as the superior power.

There was also the Maritime Trade Commissioner, a position of paramount importance, overseeing all commercial affairs. The national policy was lenient; although fundamentally it aimed at complete extraction of resources, it was ultimately far gentler.

Consequently, the newly acquired territories did not face much resistance. The populace of these worlds were often half-believing, cautiously testing the waters as they engaged with Da Qian.

By now, the situation in the surrounding areas had stabilized. The neighboring Profound Spirit Cultivation Society, the Ultimate Sacred Court, and the Alliance of Seven Saints were either severely crippled or consumed by internal troubles, leaving them lacking the capacity to fully address Da Qian’s rise.

Other powers were largely embroiled in the struggle over the Nine Capitals Celestial Court’s former lands, leaving them temporarily unable to concern themselves with Da Qian. Logically, countless tasks remained—expanding the Dao Soldiers, increasing military strength, recruiting cultivator retainers, and so on.

Zong Shou, however, ignored all of it, casting aside every responsibility. It just so happened that the nine Taiyi Divine Thunder Ships had been brought back to the Cloud Realm by Shi Ruolan.

The scattered military forces were also gradually recalled. Having assembled roughly ten thousand Heavenly Stride Sword Soldiers, three thousand Mystic Fox Iron Cavalry, and a complete set of the Primordial Sea Heavenly Stride Supreme Demon Slaying Sword Formation, Zong Shou immediately set off, departing the Yuan Lian World.

The previous spoils included Liu Muchen’s flagship. Not only was it luxuriously and splendidly decorated, but it was also extremely practical.

Its void-traversing speed was comparable to an Immortal-grade artifact, and it was itself a warship. Its combat power was equivalent to the sum of five or six Earth-grade battleships.

While its value could not match the Demon Dispelling Divine Shuttle, its comfort far exceeded the latter. As Zong Shou intended to travel with the army and was in no hurry, he decisively transferred to this massive vessel, which he had renamed the ‘Qian Tian,’ making it his flagship.

Also joining him aboard were Ao Kun and Ao Yi. “Zong Shou, you are truly going to do this foolish thing?

Three thousand years of life essence, this is no laughing matter!” In the quiet chamber, Zong Shou sat alone in the center, while Ao Kun and Ao Yi sat on either side. Ao Yi’s expression was placid.

She and Zong Shou did not share much personal history; their connection stemmed entirely from Ao Kun. Ao Kun owed Zong Shou a great debt, and she was deeply mindful of it.

Whatever Zong Shou intended to do, she would assist with all her might, but she would not interject unnecessarily. It was Zong Shou’s choice, not hers to comment upon.

Ao Kun, however, wore a slight expression of displeasure. ‘You, Zong Shou, have done enough for the Path of All Beings!

You can clear your conscience. Why risk this now?

Even if you succeed miraculously, you might temporarily gain Saint Realm strength, but at this juncture, the Path of All Beings is neither significantly better nor worse with you. What is the necessity?’ His words were indignant, truly unable to fathom Zong Shou’s intentions.

“Brother Ao, without the Path of All Beings, there would be no Zong Shou today. I cannot simply feel at ease just because I’ve done something for it.

Knowing the Path of All Beings faces peril of annihilation, yet standing idly by—I do not agree with the Path’s concept of equality for all beings, but I am grateful for its grace.” Zong Shou shook his head, unconcerned. “Furthermore, even setting aside this debt of gratitude, simply for your sake and Master’s, I could not stand by.

This time, Master Long Ying and you are both endeavoring to assist the Path of All Beings, correct?” Ao Kun started, then fell silent. He owed Wei Xu a favor; this time, even knowing the Path of All Beings was likely doomed, he had to go.

If he didn't repay this debt now, he might never get another chance. He was like this, and the old man Long Ying was probably the same.

Ao Yi also showed a subtle shift in emotion, casting a surprised glance at Zong Shou. The bond between these two was indeed one of shared spirit and deep camaraderie.

“Therefore, this calamity facing the Path of All Beings, whether willing or not, I, Zong Shou, must be involved in it.” Zong Shou chuckled, his eyes reflecting utter indifference to life and death. “Besides, it is only three thousand years of life essence, not wasted; it is directly converted into cultivation.

Why hesitate to spend it? Even if it is used, I will still have a thousand years remaining.

No rush—” “A thousand years remaining? You truly do not care,” Ao Kun scoffed.

“Other cultivators desperately wish to live longer. You, however, are completely unconcerned.

After the Immortal Realm comes the Divine Realm, and after the Divine Realm, the Saint Realm. You, Zong Shou, have at most ten thousand years of life left.

Can you guarantee you will break through those trials and bottlenecks within a certain time? With your talent and accumulation, proceeding step-by-step, you could become a Saint Venerable in merely a few thousand years.

Why this urgency?” “Li Wuque entered the Ultimate Realm in two thousand years. Does Brother Ao think I am inferior to him?

After reaching the Ultimate Realm, true longevity is assured. Why covet these three thousand years of lifespan?” Zong Shou’s demeanor remained calm, displaying the attitude of someone wealthy now who could afford to spend freely.

“Zong Shou is impatient and dislikes tedious, incremental progress. To let time grind away in cultivation—the path ahead is treacherous; ten thousand years is too long.

Zong Shou prefers to seize the day.” There was one sentence he left unsaid: if this technique truly succeeded, it would significantly perfect the method to eradicate Ao Kun’s existence. Even Ao Yi might benefit from it.

However, he knew that if Ao Kun discovered this, his sworn brother would never agree. It looked too much like sacrificing his own lifespan to complete his path.

He would not mention it now; once the process began, everything would be in his hands, and Ao Kun would be unable to renege. “Li Wuque is naturally no match for you!

But when you step into the Ultimate Realm in the future, I hope you do not end up with his flaw of unstable foundation and incomplete Dao path!” Hearing this, Zong Shou couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. With Li Wuque as a precedent, he did indeed harbor some worry.

But this time, his decision was final and unchangeable. Ao Kun was exasperated and tried to persuade him further, but his spiritual sense caught Ao Yi opposite him, her expression firm, shaking her head slightly.

He knew further persuasion was useless. With a grumpy huff, he relented.

“Fine, I’ll agree to it this time. There will be no next time—” His words were decisive.

If Zong Shou continued to disregard his own life and lifespan like this, Ao Kun might as well strike him down himself. “I cannot guarantee that!” Hearing this, Zong Shou burst into loud laughter.

“To outsiders, this is an opportunity one cannot find even with a lantern. Yet, my sworn brother is worried for me.” The spirit stone array was already set up.

As Zong Shou finished speaking, he brought his hands into seals and began to move. Innumerable luminous runes materialized within the ten-foot chamber, drifting in the air, flickering and flowing.

A surging tide of spiritual energy crashed outwards, so dense it overflowed the array and scattered outside the room. The Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu (Cosmic Fate Chronicle), placed at the core of the formation, gradually rose and hovered before Zong Shou.

Page by page, it flipped open, landing precisely on the fifth page. This instantly accelerated the flow of time in that area by a hundredfold.

And this change did not cease. Characters imbued with profound mystery manifested from the book, and directly above the Zhou Ji Ming Shi Shu, a mass of black mist formed.

It possessed a faint spiral shape, and the moment it appeared, it almost completely drained all the true force and soul energy within Zong Shou. Just as he was about to falter, Ao Kun and Ao Yi on the side each channeled a stream of power inward.

Zong Shou smiled and began chanting the True Words: “Ten Thousand! Dao!

Rites! Profound!

Law! Void!” Seven True Words, seven hand seals, instantly elevated the spell to a higher echelon.

Within Zong Shou’s nascent soul, a thunderous explosion suddenly rang out. He was drawn by an immense power, sucked into an unknown location.

A chaotic expanse—upon steadying his ‘gaze,’ He saw a scene of chaos before creation, precisely what he had witnessed on the Boundary Observation Instrument several years prior— The Vision of the Primal Beginning!