71: Chapter 70 All Nations Pay Tribute

Great Yan Imperial Calendar, yuanchun, 18th day of the third month.

The third day after Crown Prince Xiao Xuan returned to the capital.

Before dawn, a long line had already formed in front of the Crown Princes Mansion.

They were not commoners coming to lodge complaints, nor were they officials coming to offer gifts; they were envoys from various nations.

From Great Xia, Great Shang, Great Qin, and those smaller nations—dozens of them, packing the entire Yongan Ward so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through.

They had only one purpose for coming: to submit their state letters and request an audience with Your Highness.

The state letter from Great Xia read, "Willing to serve Great Yan as an elder brother and forge an eternal alliance." The state letter from Great Shang read, "Willing to maintain friendly relations with Great Yan for generations." The state letter from Great Qin read, "Willing to advance and retreat together with Great Yan."

Zhang Liang stood in front of the mansion gates, holding a stack of state letters, reading them one by one.

After reading them, he smiled.

"Your Highness has said that he will not be seeing guests today. However, he will accept the state letters."

The envoys looked at each other, but no one dared to say another word.

They obediently handed over their state letters and turned to leave.

Because they knew that this Crown Prince could defeat even a Heavenly God, let alone mere mortals like themselves.

On the first underground level, Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat in the main seat, the stack of state letters spread out before him.

He finished reading one, set it aside, and then read the next. After finishing the last one, he remained silent for a long time.

"Zi Fang," he began, "what is your take on this?"

Zhang Liang stood beside him and smiled slightly: "Your Highness, the hearts of the world have turned toward you."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan shook his head: "It is not turning toward me. It is fear. They fear me, they do not submit to me."

Zhang Liang said: "After fearing for a long time, they will submit."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Zi Fang, what you say makes sense."

He stood up and walked to the map of the territories.

On the map, the Four Great Empires—Great Yan, Great Xia, Great Shang, and Great Qin—each occupied a region.

And there were those smaller nations, scattered around them like stars.

This world had not been unified for a very long time.

Ever since the Ancient Heavenly Emperor fell, the world had been fractured, with warlords carving out territories and constant warfare.

The Great Ancestor of Great Yan had unified it once, but only half the world. The Great Ancestor of Great Xia had also unified it, but also only half the world.

No one had been able to hold the entire world in their hands like the Ancient Heavenly Emperor.

"Your Highness," Zhang Liang walked to his side, "I have something to say, though I do not know if I should."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said: "Speak."

Zhang Liang said: "Your Highness's current strength is enough to destroy any of the empires.

But what happens after you destroy them? The commoners of Great Xia will hate Your Highness. The commoners of Great Shang will hate Your Highness. The commoners of Great Qin will also hate Your Highness.

Can Your Highness kill everyone? No. Therefore, Your Highness cannot destroy them. You must let them come on their own."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned around: "Come on their own? How?"

Zhang Liang smiled slightly: "Has Your Highness forgotten? The heavenly emperor seal."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was stunned. Zhang Liang continued: "The heavenly emperor seal is a relic of the Ancient Heavenly Emperor; whoever obtains it is the co-ruler of the world.

Your Highness now has the heavenly emperor seal; there is no need to fight, no need to kill.

You only need to reveal the heavenly emperor seal, and the commoners of the various nations will come to submit on their own.

Because in their hearts, the heavenly emperor seal is the symbol of the world. Whoever holds it is the one destined by heaven."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a long time. Then he smiled: "Zi Fang, your mouth is sharper than my sword."

Zhang Liang bowed: "Your Highness is too kind."

That night. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan sat alone in his study, the heavenly emperor seal spread out before him.

After the Fusion of the three fragments, it had become a complete seal.

The seal was entirely golden, with four ancient seal-script characters engraved upon it: "Received from Heaven."

He reached out his hand and touched the seal.

A vast power surged into his body; it was not spiritual energy, but something older and purer than spiritual energy.

His cultivation was climbing—Early Stage of the True God realm, Peak of the Early Stage of the True God realm, Middle Stage of the True God realm. Then, it stopped.

He opened his eyes and looked at his hands. Golden patterns were flowing in his palms, like tiny rivers. That was the mark left by the heavenly emperor seal.

He could feel an invisible connection between himself and this seal, like mother and child, like ruler and subject, like friends.

He stood up and walked to the window. Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

He took a deep breath and pushed open the window; the night wind rushed in, blowing his robes until they rustled loudly.

"Pass down the order," he turned around, "tomorrow at the morning court, I will attend."

The next day. Morning court. Chengde Palace. The officials stood solemnly, silent as the grave.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan sat on the Dragon Throne, his complexion ruddy and his eyes filled with a smile. His son had conquered the world.

"The Crown Prince has arrived—"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stepped inside. Today he wore the Crown Prince's court robes, with a black base and gold patterns, a white jade belt around his waist, and a purple-gold crown on his head.

In his hands, he held a golden seal—the heavenly emperor seal.

The seal emitted a faint golden light, illuminating the entire palace.

All the officials knelt in unison: "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan walked to the center of the hall, turned around, and faced the officials: "Everyone, from today on, the world has only one master."

He raised the heavenly emperor seal, and the golden light flared, illuminating the entire Chengde Palace.

The golden light pierced through the walls, through the roof, and through the entire capital.

The commoners in the capital looked up, watching that golden light soaring into the sky, and knelt one after another. They did not know what it was, but they knew it was the Crown Prince's light.

The golden light lasted for a full quarter of an hour before gradually dissipating. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan lowered the heavenly emperor seal and looked at the officials kneeling all over the ground.

"Pass down the order: from today on, Great Yan, Great Xia, Great Shang, and Great Qin, the Four Great Empires are united. The national title is—Great Hua."

There was dead silence in the hall. The Four Great Empires united? Great Hua? This was something that had never happened in the three thousand years since the founding of Great Yan.

But no one dared to oppose it. Because they knew that opposition was useless.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan sat on the Dragon Throne, looking at his son, his eyes full of pride.

He suddenly spoke: "Good. Great Hua. My son is indeed stronger than me."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned around and looked at Emperor Xiao Yuanshan: "Father Emperor, I have a request."

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan said: "Speak."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said: "I would like to ask Father Emperor to be the first emperor of Great Hua."

The hall was in an uproar. The Crown Prince had conquered the world, yet he wanted to yield the throne to his father? What kind of move was this?

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan was also stunned. He looked at Crown Prince Xiao Xuan for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Number Seven, are you testing me?"

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan shook his head: "It is not a test. I am speaking the truth.

Father Emperor has been the emperor for forty years and has more experience than I do. Great Hua has just been established and needs an experienced and prestigious emperor to preside over it. I am still young and need more training."

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan was silent for a long time. Then he spoke: "Good. I agree. But I have one condition."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan said: "Please speak, Father Emperor."

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan said: "When I am old, you will take over. For now, you will continue to be the Crown Prince."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan smiled: "Good."

The father and son looked at each other and smiled at the same time.

Great Xia, Imperial Capital. Emperor of Great Xia received Crown Prince Xiao Xuan's state letter and was silent for a long time.

There was only one line on the state letter—The Four Great Empires are united, the national title is Great Hua. Great Xia, from today on, is a part of Great Hua.

He did not hesitate, picked up his pen, and wrote one word: "Approved." Because he knew that not agreeing meant death.

Great Shang, Shang Capital. Emperor Zhao Yu received the state letter, was silent for a moment, and also wrote "Approved."

He was not afraid of death, but he saw the future. Great Hua would be a nation more powerful than Great Xia, Great Shang, Great Qin, and Great Yan combined.

Rather than being enemies, it was better to be friends.

Great Qin, Xianyang. Emperor Ying Hao received the state letter and smiled. He picked up his pen and wrote the word "Approved," then threw the pen aside and laughed heartily.

He had waited for this day for a long time.

Great Yan Imperial Calendar, yuanchun, 25th day of the third month. Great Hua was founded.

The capital was decorated with lanterns and colored streamers, and the commoners cheered with joy.

Emperor Xiao Yuanshan ascended the throne as emperor, with the national title Great Hua and the reign title Taichu.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan remained the Crown Prince, but everyone knew that he was the true master of Great Hua.

That night. Crown Prince Xiao Xuan stood alone in the courtyard of the Crown Princes Mansion, gazing at the stars in the sky.

The heavenly emperor seal was tucked in his bosom, slightly warm. He could feel a power summoning him, coming from beyond the heavens.

It was not a Heavenly God, but an existence more powerful than a Heavenly God.

"What is Your Highness thinking about?" Master Jiang walked to his side.

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan did not turn back: "Master Jiang, what kind of place is beyond the heavens?"

Master Jiang was silent for a moment, then said slowly: "It is the place of gods."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan turned around: "Gods? What kind of gods?"

Master Jiang said: "Those gods on the investiture of the gods. Your Highness, I conferred the titles of three hundred and sixty-five righteous gods, and they are all in the Heavenly Realm. Now, they have awakened."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was shocked. Master Jiang continued: "They sensed the aura of the heavenly emperor seal. They know that the successor to the Ancient Heavenly Emperor has appeared. They will come to find Your Highness."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan was silent for a long time. Then he smiled: "Let them come. I am not afraid."

Master Jiang looked at him, his eyes full of gratification: "Your Highness, you have grown up."

Crown Prince Xiao Xuan also smiled: "Master Jiang, you have said that many times."

Master Jiang shook his head: "This time, it is for real."

The two looked at each other and smiled at the same time. The moonlight spilled into the courtyard, stretching their shadows long.