Chapter 266: The Founding of the Spirit Empire

Chapter 266: Chapter 266: The Founding of the Spirit Empire

A golden rift appeared out of thin air across the horizon. The rift grew ever wider and ever brighter, as if an invisible, colossal hand were tearing a gaping wound across the very fabric of the sky.

Then, an overwhelming torrent of golden holy light poured forth from that rift.

Within that radiant holy light, the colossal apparition of a Six-Winged Angel materialized, stretching majestically across the entire expanse of the heavens. That was not a Martial Soul manifestation, nor the effect of a Soul Skill; rather, it was a projection of innate divinity—a manifestation born directly from the Angel God’s Trial.

Six wings unfurled, blotting out the sky and obscuring the sun.

Every single feather upon those wings shimmered with a golden divine radiance—sacred, majestic, and awe-inspiring.

The Angel’s face remained indistinct and blurred, yet its eyes seemed to gaze down upon the entire continent, observing every living soul within it.

A terrifying pressure descended from the heavens.

It was not Soul Power, nor Spiritual Power; it was... Divine Might.

Everyone present—whether commoner or Soul Master, whether Soul Saint or Titled Douluo—felt their knees go weak. A sense of absolute submission, rising from the very depths of their souls, compelled them to bow their heads in obeisance.

No one could resist it.

For it was the pressure of a god.

Amidst the heavens filled with holy light, a solitary figure descended from the sky.

Qian Renxue.

Today, she did not wear her customary white-and-gold gown; instead, she was clad in a ceremonial Pontiff’s robe of pure gold.

The robe was embroidered with subtle, intricate patterns of a six-winged angel, each line and curve shimmering with a faint, divine glow.

Her golden hair cascaded down her back, and upon her head rested the Angel’s Crown.

She did not manifest her Soul Rings.

She did not manifest her Martial Soul.

She simply descended—silently, calmly—stepping upon the divine light, one step at a time.

It was as if an angel had descended into the mortal realm.

The instant the tips of her feet touched the ground, the entirety of Pontiff Mountain gave a gentle tremor.

Qian Renxue stood at the center of the high platform, her gaze calmly sweeping over the multitude kneeling below.

There was no trace of the wild ecstasy that typically accompanies the attainment of the pinnacle, nor any hint of ostentatious arrogance; there was only the serene composure of one who had unified the continent and taken the very cosmos into her grasp.

She slowly turned to face the statue of the Angel God situated upon the altar.

Upon the altar, the statue of the Angel God appeared startlingly lifelike. It depicted an angel clad in golden armor, wielding a holy sword, with six wings spread wide; its face remained indistinct, yet it exuded an aura of sacred, inviolable majesty.

She bowed her head slightly, clasped her hands together over her chest, and closed her eyes.

Empowered by the blessing of divine energy, her voice rang out clearly, resonating throughout the entirety of Spirit City.

"Great Angel God, Your faithful devotee, Qian Renxue, hereby proclaims to the heavens and the earth: The Spirit Hall, having received the grace of the Angel God, has quelled the strife across the continent, brought an end to the wars between nations, and unified the entire realm under a single rule."

"Today, a nation is formally established—the Spirit Empire. We pledge allegiance to the Angel God as the sole legitimate faith of this continent, to be revered for generations to come, and vow to forever uphold the Divine Oracles. We pray that the Angel God may bless and protect this Empire, granting it a long and enduring reign, bringing peace to its people, and ensuring its prosperity for ten thousand ages."

As her words faded, the eyes of the ethereal Angel apparition hovering in the sky seemed to gather a divine radiance; it gave a slight nod, as if bestowing its divine sanction upon this newly founded nation.

The very next instant, a celestial tide of holy light surged down from the heavens toward Qian Renxue, enveloping her completely and making her appear as if a true Angel had descended into the mortal realm.

Witnessing this spectacle, the multitude of kneeling subjects bowed even lower, prostrating themselves in reverence, daring not to harbor even the slightest trace of disrespect.

After a long while, the holy light gradually dissipated.

Qian Renxue turned around, and her voice—clear, cold, and filled with majesty—echoed across the plaza as she formally proclaimed the various laws and institutions of the Spirit Empire.

"Effective immediately, the Spirit Hall shall be renamed the Spirit Empire. I hereby declare myself the Empire’s first Emperor, ruling over the continent through the divine authority of the Angel God.

"The antiquated systems of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires are hereby abolished. The feudal system of all subordinate kingdoms and duchies is rescinded; instead, a unified provincial system shall be implemented across the entire realm, dividing the continent’s territory into thirty-six administrative provinces. Each province shall be headed by a Governor, appointed directly by the Imperial Central Authority, who shall oversee all vital local military, political, and civil affairs, and report directly to Me.

"All Spirit Master Sects and secular clans throughout the continent must, upon receipt of this Imperial Edict, proceed to the Angel Temple in Spirit City within one month to swear their allegiance and submit to the Empire’s reorganization and governance.

"Any who fail to pledge allegiance by the appointed deadline shall be deemed guilty of treason. The Imperial Legions shall be dispatched immediately to purge such traitors without mercy or leniency.

"The Empire shall establish four central institutions to administer state affairs; these bodies shall operate independently without overlapping jurisdiction, answering directly to Me."

"The first is the General Administration of Internal Affairs, which shall oversee all national civil matters—including census registration, urban maintenance, tax collection, agriculture and commerce, and disaster relief—and coordinate the governance of public welfare across all regions.

"The second is the General Administration of Spirit Masters, responsible for the registration and cataloging of all Spirit Masters throughout the realm. It shall regulate Spirit Master advancement, mission assignments, and resource allocation, while strictly prohibiting private duels and the unauthorized amassing of private forces. All Spirit Masters must be integrated into the Imperial system, receiving appropriate official ranks and stipends commensurate with their cultivation levels.

"The third is the Angel Temple, which shall oversee all national religious rites and ceremonies, propagate the faith of the Angel God, command the clergy across all regions, provide moral and spiritual guidance to the populace, and solidify the foundations of divine authority.

"The fourth is the Privy Council, which shall exercise supreme command over all national military affairs, including the reorganization and integration of existing armies and the Spirit Hall’s Knight Legions...

"Concurrently, the Empire hereby abolishes the disparate and antiquated laws of the former nations, promulgating a unified legal code to regulate all matters pertaining to civil life, commerce, and criminal justice.

"The Empire shall standardize the national taxation system. Furthermore, all rare cultivation resources—including Spirit Beasts, Spirit Rings, and Spirit Bones—shall be placed under exclusive Imperial control; private trading, hoarding, and forcible seizure of such resources are strictly prohibited." "

"All Soul Master Academies across the land shall be brought under direct Imperial supervision, with standardized curricula established to cultivate qualified Soul Master talent for the Empire."

"Furthermore, the Empire shall open its cities to commerce, encourage agricultural production among the populace, provide relief to those displaced by war, and grant a three-year tax exemption to remote regions, thereby enabling the people of the continent to swiftly restore their peaceful livelihoods."

"..."

Each Imperial decree was proclaimed with crystal clarity, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation or dissent.

Below the dais, the assembled multitude knelt prostrate upon the ground, listening in silence; not a single soul dared to voice an objection.

Those harboring treacherous intent had long since been reduced to dust during the preceding purges.

Now, with the entire continent held firmly within the iron grip of the Spirit Soul Empire, resistance meant nothing less than total annihilation.

...

Night fell.

After the grand ceremony concluded, Qian Renxue returned to her private chambers.

She shed her heavy ceremonial robes, changed into a light, flowing gown of white and gold, and leaned back against her chair, letting out a long, weary sigh.

"I’m absolutely exhausted..."

Jiang Bai walked over to her side and reached out to gently ruffle her hair.

"Relax a little. You are the Emperor of the entire continent now—no longer merely the Pope guarding the Spirit Soul Hall. It’s only natural that you’d be tired."

"And believe me, you’ll have plenty more opportunities to be tired in the days to come!"

"..."

Your attempt at comfort was excellent—now please, never try to comfort me again!

Qian Renxue leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes.

Jiang Bai smiled.

"What are you thinking about?"

Qian Renxue murmured softly, "I’m thinking about... the days ahead."

"The days ahead?" Jiang Bai smiled gently.

"Won’t the days ahead be wonderful? At the very least, there will be no more war to fight, and no need to shoulder such heavy burdens; all that remains is to ensure stability and foster the people’s well-being."

Qian Renxue shook her head.

"It’s not nearly that simple. Founding the nation was merely the beginning; there is still so much work left to be done. The selection of provincial governors, the organization of regional armies, tax policies for every district... a mountain of tasks awaits my attention."

Jiang Bai lowered his head and planted a soft kiss upon her earlobe.

"Then take your time with it. There’s no rush; we have all the time in the world."

Qian Renxue closed her eyes and let out a soft, contented hum.

Outside the window, the moonlight flowed like water.

In the distance, the lights of Spirit Soul City slowly began to fade.

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