Chapter 231: Chapter 146: Another Sixty Years Pass, the Teeming Masses Enter My Dream

Wang Xiao found himself busier than ever, handling state affairs day and night with practically no time to rest.

He could finally feel it—wisps of an intangible, indescribable energy flying in from all corners of the kingdom and coiling around him.

It was the hope of his countless subjects.

And the threads of their Destiny.

’It’s almost time...’

Wang Xiao immersed himself in this feeling, dedicating himself even more to the affairs of the state.

He examined every matter, great or small, with meticulous care.

Just like that.

Day after day, year after year.

In the blink of an eye.

A cycle of sixty years had quietly passed.

Sixty years is neither a long time nor a short one.

It’s long enough for one generation to give way to the next.

And long enough for a new dynasty to be completely transformed.

Since the new Emperor announced his new policies,

after a brief period of stagnation, the population across the land experienced explosive growth.

The regional economies gradually recovered as well.

Commerce and agriculture, in particular, flourished with each passing day.

The land reform policy enacted by the new Emperor was especially effective, ensuring everyone had land to cultivate and that hard work was rewarded with greater yields.

The grain they toiled to produce no longer had to be surrendered to the Noble Families.

Moreover, the seeds distributed by the new Emperor were not only hardy but also produced astonishing yields.

Now, nearly every household had a surplus of grain, and the fear of famine was a thing of the past.

「Celestial Capital」

As the heart of the Yongchang Kingdom, it had become magnificent beyond measure.

Spanning thousands of miles, its gates saw a daily flow of millions of people.

WHOOOOO—

A loud, resonant whistle suddenly echoed from outside the Capital City.

Passengers disembarked one after another from an iron vehicle over a hundred meters long.

This iron vehicle, a new mode of transport developed by the new Emperor, was called the Armored Horse.

The Armored Horse ran on specially laid tracks, connecting it to every province and prefecture.

It could cover thousands of miles in a single day.

As a result, even ordinary mortals could now travel to see other parts of the kingdom.

The advent of the Armored Horse also gave a massive boost to inter-provincial trade and economy!

"Extra! Extra! The Celestial Destiny Emperor has rolled out a new Martial Arts System! This new system can make mortals as powerful as Spirit Embryo Realm Cultivators! The Emperor’s goal is for every person to be as mighty as a dragon! Read all about it! Don’t miss out!"

A newsboy holding a stack of papers shouted with all his might.

"Senior Brother, what do you think this Celestial Destiny Emperor is up to? He’s diligently ruled for over sixty years, yet he hasn’t waged wars to expand his dominion and prove his Law. He seems content to just be a worldly emperor."

A woman from whom faint fluctuations of Spiritual Power emanated, asked.

They had descended from their Immortal Sect after hearing tales of a kingdom where mortals and Cultivators were equals.

Naturally, they couldn’t resist coming to see it for themselves.

Their journey here had repeatedly shattered their preconceived notions of a mortal kingdom.

The prosperity of the Yongchang Kingdom far surpassed that of any nation they had ever witnessed.

Unique infrastructure like the Armored Horses, windmills, and even automobiles seemed to appear one after another.

It was a truly eye-opening experience for them.

This place was nothing short of a paradise for mortals.

The man beside her gazed toward the distant Celestial Capital.

His gaze flickered as he focused on the Imperial Palace dominating its center.

"This Celestial Destiny Emperor is truly extraordinary. He is treating his emperorship as a form of cultivation. He controls the lifeblood of the world, gathers Imperial Dragon Qi... once he attains his Enlightenment, the result will be world-shaking!"

"Is he really that formidable?" the woman asked, perplexed.

The man shook his head, offering no further explanation.

In his eyes, he could almost see boundless streams of Destiny converging on the central Imperial Palace.

And its source was none other than the Celestial Destiny Emperor!

「At that moment.」

In a courtyard in a corner of the Imperial Palace.

Chen Fang lay on his sickbed.

This man, the Chief Eunuch of the Rituals Department who had served two generations of emperors, was finally reaching the end of his life.

He had lived for nearly one hundred and fifty years, a remarkable age even in an era where it was common for mortals to live past one hundred.

He looked up at Wang Xiao, standing beside the bed, and spoke in a weak voice:

"Your Majesty, you are burdened with countless duties, yet you’ve taken the time to see this lowly servant. This servant is unworthy."

Wang Xiao placed a hand on Chen Fang’s forehead, and a gentle current of Gang Qi flowed into his body, easing his pain.

"Eunuch Chen, there’s no need for such words between us."

Chen Fang’s natural lifespan had run its course; ordinary Elixirs of Life could no longer prolong it.

Not unless he had a Spirit Pill capable of reversing life and death.

Unfortunately,

Wang Xiao did not possess such an Elixir Pill.

Chen Fang spoke again, "Your Majesty, after this servant is gone, you must remember to eat and rest properly. I... will no longer be able to serve you."

"You have done more than enough over the years," Wang Xiao said. "Now, it is time for you to rest."

Chen Fang’s consciousness began to fade, and he mumbled,

"Your Majesty... this servant... will serve you again... in the next life..."

His eyelids drooped shut and his hands fell limp. He passed away peacefully, without a sound.

Wang Xiao watched Eunuch Chen, and it seemed as if he could see a faint wisp of light float up from his body.

Within that light, the entirety of Eunuch Chen’s life played out.

His family had fallen on hard times, so he had voluntarily entered the palace to become a eunuch. After passing the rigorous selections of the Jail Courtyard, he finally entered the Rituals Department.

Later, he caught the eye of the Late Emperor and was kept by his side, where he served with utmost diligence.

It was a life filled with political intrigue, the warmth and coldness of human relationships, and the harsh realities of the world.

His life was but a single reflection of the countless mortals in the world.

"Life... and Luck... Fate... and Fortune... It all changes in a thousand ways, leaving no trace..."

Wang Xiao murmured to himself.

The accumulation of sixty years.

The issuing of decree after decree.

The series of societal transformations.

At this very moment, it was as if he had finally grasped a single thread of Destiny itself.

HUM!

An invisible ripple suddenly emanated from him, spreading out between Heaven and Earth.

Countless invisible threads emerged from Wang Xiao’s body, stretching out to connect with every single person across the Nine Provinces of the Yongchang Kingdom!

Wang Xiao’s Divine Thought surged, merging with Heaven and Earth.

Everything that had happened over the past sixty years seemed to transform into a magnificent dream.

Then, he raised his hand and plucked at the countless threads!

HUM!

The next moment,

people all across the Nine Provinces paused in unison.

They raised their heads, their gazes turning toward the Imperial Palace as if by instinct.

They felt as if they had entered a fantastical realm.

It was an ideal world, unique to each and every one of them.

’Destiny! Destiny!’

Wang Xiao’s Inner World completely merged with Heaven and Earth.

His Great Daoist Nascent Soul roamed Heaven and Earth, holding a mass of intangible energy gathered from across the Nine Provinces.

The energy gradually coalesced, taking the form of a fruit.

The fruit had not yet fully taken shape.

Yet it already emanated an indescribably profound aura.

This was the destiny of mortals, and the great fortune of Heaven and Earth!

This was... Destiny!

A profound understanding bloomed in Wang Xiao’s mind.

With this moment of Enlightenment, all living beings had entered his dream!