The joyful atmosphere is always fleeting.

In the blink of an eye, the blood-boiling King's Tournament drew to a close.

Ning Zheng, acting as the Bone Demon Emperor, presented the awards, encouraged the winners of the individual and team competitions, and then gave a speech.

Finally, he handed out trophies and resources to the victors, and the lively bonfire party began, where people began eating and drinking merrily.

It's worth mentioning that the blacksmiths, as the organizers, did not have even one make it to the finals.

And that was to be expected.

After all, who came to compete? Just what kind of formidable opponents?

Even the prodigies of the Five-Body Realm had strong combat awareness and command strategies, as well as the ability to ambush from grass.

Thus, this competition came to an end.

However, the established battle arenas and matchmaking rooms remained; one could still participate by paying 10 Magic Coins.

King's Canyon had become a permanent dueling ground.

Many scholars came because of its fame and saw the various advantages of this competition mode, believing it would become a new type of dungeon with special rules!

The embers within were the dungeon's masters.

This battlefield dungeon, where both sides send out troops on three lanes... It's expected that in the future, this will become mainstream, akin to the Red House and the Brothel.

Traditionally, literati and poets loved to visit the Brothel, recruit students, compose verses, and use it as a social venue.

King's Canyon would also serve such a purpose.

So it was that the Bone Demon's King's Canyon game quickly became popular, starting to spread beyond the East Sea and gradually sweeping across other sea domains.

Other Sea Races also began to imitate it. After all, with everyone so isolated in sieged cities, this mode was arguably the most suitable for in-town real combat settings.

"This suggestion must have been made by Yan Shuangying."

"It's pure genius! Now, with everyone reluctant to go outside due to the embers, this simulated battlefield can hone the cultivators' combat experience."

"An in-town battlefield is truly fascinating; it's just a small venue, yet it never gets boring each time we enter."

"It's like a chessboard; every match presents countless variations, testing wisdom."

...

At this critical time, with low-level cultivators not daring to go out, it indeed arrived just at the right moment!

The proud Human Race remains quite honest; while they say no, even backdoor it's becoming popular.

The blacksmiths made a significant impression, showcasing the Bone Demon Royal Race's managerial and operational capabilities to the world!

Moreover, think tanks from various powers were frantically analyzing the implications behind this competition event.

They discerned more than a dozen significances.

For example, diverting the populace's attention during chaotic times, invigorating public morale...

For instance, to better select prodigies, categorize talents.

See if the opponent is a leadership-type strategist, an expert in ambush tactics, or a detail-oriented opponent in head-to-head matches...

One battlefield can reveal all the talents' specialties!

For instance, promoting standard weapons, allowing the populace to understand directly.

For example, it can serve as a revenue-generating place for the nation, offering channels for socializing...

The blacksmiths' ideas and all sorts of implicit meanings were wildly speculated and analyzed by a group of think tanks.

The Bone Demon Race once again gained significant notoriety.

The Eye of Identification, paired with a plethora of standard weapons, and the promotion of competition venues were leading to the standardization and modularization of the entire cultivator's cultivation system.

The world was changing.

...

Sword Casting Manor.

The tournament ended, and the blacksmiths finally could enjoy themselves.

"Brothers, we acted cool, shocked the Nine-State, and now I'll leisurely head home for the New Year."

The external world was bustling with excitement all thanks to them, while the blacksmiths were packing up, tidying their rooms, preparing to lie low and leave for a while.

"I'll walk away freely, yet my legend eternally lingers in the martial world."

"Let them rave for a while; their shock and praise will be the best fireworks for our New Year celebration!"

"I was messed up by a marksman in my last game; my support play was solid. Damn, it feels uncomfortable going home for the New Year like this."

"Stop arguing; none of us even made it to the finals."

"I'm right on time to go home and get married."

"Oh my, didn't invite me for the wedding feast."

"Hehe, after I return, I'll throw a big feast at the manor and invite you all to drink."

"I'll remember that!"

"Hahaha, I'm logging out, see you later."

"By the way, for those not logging out and celebrating New Year, remember to help me look after my body when you log in daily."

...

Bang!

Bang bang!

A barrage of fireworks lit up, with colorful bursts filling the sky over Sword Casting Manor.

With the seven-day pre-New Year competition activities concluding, the blacksmiths would soon be celebrating the first day of the Lunar New Year, officially starting the New Year festivities.

And so, the blacksmiths began logging off in droves, lying low in their dormitories. The fully automatic iron beds began to turn, inserting tubes into their mouths to automatically feed them.

With eyes closed, they fell silent.

The following morning.

The population of Sword Casting Manor had dwindled by more than half, becoming considerably quieter.

After all, during the New Year, playing games wasn't an option—visiting relatives and hosting guests...

Very busy!

"Their turn to celebrate the New Year now."

Ning Zheng also found rare leisure, sitting in the room sipping tea:

"Their mass departure seems to have no impact? After all, their embers continue to drive their research progress."

With them or without them, it's all the same.

Why not just shut the servers down completely and not let them come back online?

A whimsical thought suddenly surfaced.

But Ning Zheng wasn't that ruthless; he still needed these greenhorns.

Moreover, calculating the time.

With seven days of leisurely activities followed by the New Year, which would take another five or six days.

Perhaps a full half month before they officially resume work.

A month would have passed with preparations, and soon it would be time to open the next Imperial Mausoleum, busily ushering in another round.

The previous Longevity Imperial Mausoleum had three bigwigs serving as free hitmen, making money while lying down for Ning Zheng, who didn't feel any difficulty or realism.

Lying down yielded victory.

The difficulties were all for Xian and Xin Xichen, having nothing to do with me.

However, the next mausoleum...

Seems to be called the Thirteen Countries.

A time of regional hegemony, a Warring States period without a unified Vassal State era.

Thirteen large and small powers dividing the entire Nine-State of the Central Plains.

Xian's rule in history spans over ten million years, this Thirteen Countries, over five million years, occupied a full third of the timeline.

But in those five million years, there were as many as 157 emperors who ascended the throne.

Quite absurdly exaggerated.

The throne was passed around like crazy!

It was said that, at its most exaggerated, a newly crowned Saint Emperor might be assassinated within a few centuries of rule.

A chaotic era truly within a chaotic era, filled with ruthless and foolish tyrants, infamous in history as the darkest ages.

However, that dark period also meant there weren't many treasures; it's likely they were all consumed in internal strife.

Ning Zheng even suspected the entire Thirteen Countries' imperial mausoleums wouldn't bury more than three Saints!

Furthermore, there would be no rare treasures inside.

Some of the monarchs might have been buried hastily without any offerings.

"Yet, history holds enigmas."

Ning Zheng pondered slightly, "157 Saint Emperors, isn't that an excessive number? Longevity Dynasty, Firewood Dynasty had only a dozen emperors each, typical for most dynasties."

"It seems, this dynasty concealed some peculiar things."

Ning Zheng, with nothing better to do.

Since the blacksmiths had gone home for the New Year, why not personally take a turn, advance the opening of the tomb, and undertake an expedition.

Considering this, the next morning.

On the second day of the New Year when the blacksmiths went home, Ning Zheng activated a Historical Painting Wall within himself, traveling back to the most renowned Thirteen Warring States period in history.