Chapter 1430 - 1420: Tianhe Royal Family Submits

Chapter 1430: Chapter 1420: Tianhe Royal Family Submits

"Before you make your choice, I wish to ask the Qin Emperor one question. If we had not formed an alliance, would the Qin Dynasty have sent troops against the Heavenly River Universe?"

The Empress fixed her gaze on Qin Wudao, her voice somewhat low.

"Yes!"

Qin Wudao did not even pause to think, and replied directly.

An unsurpassed imperial might burst forth from within him, flooding the entire great hall. It was the domineering will of ’none but I reign supreme’, and the resolve to unify all under heaven.

"I understand."

Hearing the final answer, the Empress nodded slightly, without anger.

Even the way she addressed herself had changed, from the earlier "We" to "I".

That the Qin Dynasty intended to occupy the Heavenly River Universe was within her expectations.

After all, water flows downward and men strive upward. The strength of the Qin Cosmic Dynasty far surpassed that of a low-tier universe; if it wished to continue its development, it could only expand toward mid-tier universes.

Were she in his place, she would do the same.

No one.

Is willing to remain beneath them.

To launch campaigns in pursuit of strength seems no error, and is not a matter of right or wrong.

This world has always been thus.

"The Tianhe Royal Family is willing to submit to the Qin Dynasty!"

Drawing in a deep breath, the Heavenly River Empress stepped to the center of the hall, slowly bent at the waist, and offered a formal obeisance.

From this moment on, she was no longer the Heavenly River Empress, but merely the Clan Leader of the Tianhe Clan.

"Rise."

Looking at the saluting Heavenly River Empress, Qin Wudao smiled faintly and asked, "What is your name?"

The Heavenly River Empress replied, "Heavenly River Jing."

After Qin Wudao heard this, he issued a stern command: "By imperial decree, confer upon Heavenly River Jing the title of Marquis of Heavenly River!"

His sonorous voice resounded through the nine heavens, falling into the ears of all present.

It stirred a wave of uproar!

"What?"

At the door of the Imperial Study, Tian Yi’s mouth hung wide open, utterly aghast. He knew that Heavenly River Jing was the Empress’s true name, so upon hearing Qin Wudao’s command, he was instantly dumbfounded.

He could not believe his ears.

Were they not here to form an alliance?

How had it turned into submission to the Qin Cosmic Dynasty?

Moreover, the reward for submitting to the Qin Dynasty was far too meager!

A mid-tier universe, plus the Tianhe Clan’s hundreds of billions of years of accumulated foundation—at worst it should be worth exchanging for a ducal title!

Marquis of Heavenly River!

In his eyes, this was somewhat low.

"As expected of His Majesty—he has taken the Heavenly River Universe without unsheathing a blade!"

"With the Tianhe Royal Family submitting, we must now shoulder the karmic entanglements they have incurred, and become enemies of the Tianhan Country and the Voidness Clan."

"The Voidness Clan has long harbored designs to occupy the Heavenly River Universe. Whether or not the Tianhe Royal Family submits, a great war between us and the Voidness Clan is inevitable sooner or later."

Within the Council Hall, Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, Xiao He and other ministers discussed.

But very quickly, everyone fell silent.

Each secretly pondering how to meet the Voidness Clan in battle.

"Strange. Why has the system not issued any prompt?"

In the Imperial Study, Qin Wudao waited for a moment, but heard no system notification. His brows knit slightly, and he asked Heavenly River Jing, "Has any territory of the Heavenly River Universe fallen?"

Within the Qin Cosmic Dynasty’s borders, dimensional wormholes and the ’Sky Net’ have been laid out; intelligence travels swiftly.

But the Heavenly River Universe has none of this.

Thus Qin Wudao knew only that the Voidness Clan had invaded; he did not yet know the specific situation.

"Yes. A few days ago, the Voidness Clan occupied the Ten Thousand Demons Territory."

Heavenly River Jing reported.

"No wonder..."

A sharp light flashed in Qin Wudao’s eyes, and he ordered in a deep voice: "Pass my command: summon Mohist, Gui Guzi, the three Prime Ministers, the heads of the three great intelligence agencies, and the lords of all main battle legions to the Imperial Study!"

"As you command!"

From outside the hall came Dian Wei’s voice.

"Your Majesty, you intend to send troops against the Voidness Clan?"

On hearing Qin Wudao’s order, Heavenly River Jing immediately divined his intent; even her breathing grew hurried.

"Indeed."

Qin Wudao then instructed once more: "You will now return to the Heavenly River Universe, mobilize the powerhouses of the Heavenly River Universe, and prepare to counterattack the Ten Thousand Demons Territory."

With the Tianhe Royal Family submitting to the Qin Dynasty, the territories that once belonged to the Tianhe Royal Family now became the Qin Cosmic Dynasty’s domains. The Voidness Clan’s occupation of the Ten Thousand Demons Territory was thus a seizure of Qin Dynasty lands.

Beyond the matter of territory, there was another reason that made war unavoidable.

He wanted a complete Heavenly River Universe.

Only then could he obtain the chance to sign in.

As the Qin Dynasty’s strength increased, further assaults on low-tier universes could no longer yield anything of value; hence the occupation of the Heavenly River Universe had become an inevitable choice.

Any existence that obstructed the Qin Dynasty’s occupation of the Heavenly River Universe was an enemy of the Qin Dynasty!

"As you command!"

Heavenly River Jing offered a graceful salute, turned, walked out of the Imperial Study, and led Tian Yi out of the palace.

"I hope you are a wise woman."

Watching Heavenly River Jing’s departing figure, Qin Wudao spoke softly.

Before long, Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, Mohist, Zhao Yun and others entered the great hall and took their seats on either side. On every face there was a faint solemnity.

Civil ministers, martial generals, and powerhouses were all gathered—this was clearly the prelude to war.

As for whom they would fight, everyone already had a fair idea.

"Everyone, the Voidness Clan has occupied the Ten Thousand Demons Territory in the Heavenly River Universe. I intend to declare war upon the Voidness Clan."

Qin Wudao swept his gaze over the assembly and spoke in a low voice.

On hearing this, Zhao Yun, Bai Qi, Xiang Yu, Wang Jian and the other generals had their eyes light up, their qi coiling about them, their breathing growing heavy with anticipation.

Mohist and Gui Guzi remained calm, adopting an attitude of indifference.

By contrast, the brows of Zhuge Liang, Xiao He, Jia Xu and the others drew together; this seemed somewhat troublesome.

"Your Majesty, is it your will merely to drive the Voidness Clan out of the Heavenly River Universe, or to attack the Ten Thousand Universes Cosmos itself?"

Guo Jia pondered for a moment, then asked.

"First, we shall drive the Voidness Clan out of the Heavenly River Universe and retake the Ten Thousand Demons Territory."

Qin Wudao considered briefly, then replied.

He understood Guo Jia’s meaning. If the goal was only to expel the Voidness Clan from the Heavenly River Universe, then the Qin Dynasty need only battle the Voidness Clan’s vanguard forces.

But if they were to strike at the Ten Thousand Universes Cosmos, then the Qin Dynasty would have to wage decisive war against the Voidness Clan.

The former was easier.

The latter would be far more difficult.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia let out a quiet breath.

The comprehensive strength of the Qin Cosmic Dynasty was only somewhat greater than that of the Heavenly River Universe. To rashly declare war upon the Voidness Clan, whose depths were unknown, carried far too great a risk.

"This minister supports Your Majesty in declaring war on the Voidness Clan!"

Guo Jia bowed and spoke.

Zhuge Liang, Xiao He and the other civil ministers exchanged glances, then rose to salute, likewise supporting the declaration of war against the Voidness Clan.

"Transmit my order: appoint Bai Qi as supreme commander, with Mohist and Gui Guzi as supervising commissioners. They are to lead all main battle legions to engage the Voidness Clan’s vanguard army and retake the Ten Thousand Demons Territory!"

Qin Wudao issued a majestic command.

"This general accepts the order!"

"This minister obeys!"

Bai Qi, Mohist, Gui Guzi and the others bowed.

After the council dispersed, Bai Qi, Zhao Yun, Han Xin and other commanders went to the encampments outside the Imperial Capital. Clad in armor, their faces cold and stern, they stood upon the mustering platform and raised their war weapons high.

"War!"

One booming general’s shout after another echoed between heaven and earth.

"War! War! War!"

Immediately, the soldiers of all legions roared in fury, unleashing terrifying auras, bearing world-shaking slaughterlust that shook the winds and clouds in all directions and suppressed countless realms.

They were like slumbering tigers, now awakened!

Slaughter!

Battle-lust!

Blood boiling!

"A new campaign has begun."

In the imperial palace, Qin Wudao looked upon the morale outside the city that pierced through the cosmos and murmured to himself.

That very day, fourteen main battle legions rode the dimensional wormholes to the Heavenly River Universe. Their fearsome battle intent raged, dimming sun and moon, turning heaven and earth upside down.