Book 2: Chapter 109: Many Trifling Matters

In a large hall of the Li Residence:

Li Shenji sat in the host’s seat, resting his hand on the tiger-head armrest. He looked coldly at a Divine Strategy Battalion disciple describing everything.

That rudimentary coffin lay in the middle of the hall as everyone else remained standing in respect.

“You say that Gu Hai killed Haoran?” Li Shenji said with narrowed eyes.

“Yes! Yes!” that Divine Strategy Battalion disciple insisted stubbornly.

“Hahahaha! The Divine Strategy Battalion, oh the Divine Strategy Battalion? I handed it to Li Haoran, and this is what you produced? To think that you dare to lie to me?” Li Shenji said coldly.

“I…I did not!” that Divine Strategy Battalion disciple said through gritted teeth. 

“Uncle, it is Gu Hai who killed First Brother!” A well-dressed man at the side backed that Divine Strategy Battalion disciple.

“Second Young Master is right!” another two Divine Strategy Battalion disciples chimed in.

Li Haoran smiled angrily and pointed. “You, you, and you! Men, drag them out and execute them in the plaza!”

“Yes!” A group of subordinates immediately walked over.

“Uncle, what are you doing?” that Second Young Master exclaimed.

“Master, why are you executing me?! Why?!” the three people being dragged out shouted.

However, Li Shenji already gave the order, so his subordinates continued dragging the three out.

“Second Young Master, save me! Second Young Master!” the three called out in fear.

That Second Young Master also felt shocked.

“Clan Head, I was wrong! It was Second Young Master who instructed me to say that! It was Second Young Master! Clan Head, spare me!” the three being dragged out shouted in horror.

However, Li Shenji already gave the order. No one dared to plead for mercy on their behalf.

“Execute!” A shout came from outside the hall.

“Argh!”

“Argh!”

“Argh!”

Three miserable shrieks rang out, and everyone in the hall trembled.

“Uncle…!” that Second Young Master exclaimed with an unsightly expression.

Li Shenji turned his head and said indifferently, “Drop everything you are doing and go to the Northern Sea tomorrow. Guard the island there.”

That Second Young Master turned ashen, wanting to plead for mercy.

However, someone at the side pulled him back and whispered, “Second Young Master, you were right to try to get justice for First Young Master. However, you lied to the clan head. He is already merciful in not executing you.”

That Second Young Master raised his head. Indeed, Li Shengji’s eyes appeared cold. This scared him into trembling, not daring to say anything more.

Then, Li Shenji looked coldly at everyone in the hall.

“Alright. Now, someone tell me everything from the start. What exactly happened when Li Haoran went to the Thousand Islands Sea?” Li Shenji asked coldly.

After that, the surviving Divine Strategy Battalion disciples described everything in detail. This time, there were no lies or deviations. 

Li Shenji listened quietly, gently tapping the tiger-head armrest with his finger and narrowing his eyes in the process.

After the Divine Strategy Battalion disciples finished their report, the hall fell silent. Everyone looked at Li Shenji.

“The hidden culprit? Haha, oh, Li Haoran, you really are good at getting into trouble. Princess Xiaoyue actually died at your hands? Ha!” A cold light flashed in Li Shenji’s eyes.

Li Shenji got up and slowly made his way to the coffin.

Whoosh!

When Li Shenji opened the coffin lid, cold energy came out. Clearly, that was used to preserve the body. Then, he carefully inspected Li Haoran’s corpse.

The head was already gone from the explosion, and wounds covered the body. However, the arms were reduced to dry bones.

Li Shenji slowly picked up a dry bone with a grave look in his eyes.

“The bone marrow was drained dry?” Li Shenji frowned.

“Clan Head, no matter what, First Brother’s death has something to do with Gu Hai. Second Elder Brother just let his anger get to him!” another man at the side said.

“Gu Hai?” Li Shenji narrowed his eyes.

“Li Shenji, receive the edict!” Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the hall.

The expressions of everyone in the hall immediately changed.

Li Shenji rushed out of the hall and saw a man in official robes standing on a large crane, looking at the hall’s entrance.

“This humble citizen, Li Shenji, greets the heavenly envoy! Long live His Holy Eminence! May His Holy Eminence live for ten thousand years!” Li Shenji immediately greeted.

“His Holy Eminence issued a verbal order. Li Shenji is to reorganize the Divine Strategy Battalion within three months and wait for His Holy Eminence’s deployment!” the official on the large crane said seriously.

“Yes. This official receives the edict!” Li Shenji said with a respectful bow.

Now, that official started smiling. “Congratulations, Lord Li! Lord Li, please bring your Divine Strategy Battalion to the dynasty’s capital three months later to meet His Holy Eminence. This humble one will take my leave, then!”

“Respectfully sending off Milord!” Li Shenji answered.

Coo! 

The large crane let out a loud cry as it carried that official into the sky.

“Clan Head, you have been reinstated?”

“Clan Head, when you call, all your old subordinates will immediately rush back!”

“Clan Head, has his Holy Eminence forgiven you?”

Everyone rejoiced, as though they did not care about Li Haoran’s death.

“Where is the Divine Strategy Token?” Li Shenji asked indifferently.

“Gu Hai took it!” a Divine Strategy Battalion replied gravely.

“Gu Hai again? Ha! It looks like I have to meet this Gu Hai before going to the capital.” A cold glint flashed in Li Shenji’s eyes.

——

Soaring Palace Hall, Han Royal Dynasty:

Gu Hai sat on the throne, wearing black imperial robes and a crown, as he gazed coldly at the two columns of officials. Gu Qin stood at the head of the left column, along with the old managers. Gao Xianzhi, Chen Tianshan, Scar, and the other new people stood in the right column.

Smack! Gu Hai slammed his hand on the throne’s armrest as he looked coldly at the officials in the left column.

The expressions of the officials changed.

“It has not even been a month since I established the Han Royal Dynasty. Ha! To think that I hear news of people selling noble titles? One can become an official through bribery?!” Gu Hai stared coldly at the officials.

“Your Majesty, the Han Royal Dynasty has too much territory, resulting in many empty positions needing to be filled. Although we prepared many talents, it is still insufficient. We came up with this idea to fill the positions quickly so we can establish proper governance. That way, we can also quickly fill up the nation’s coffers!” one of the officials insisted stubbornly.

“The ones buying the positions are your own family, right? Haha! Quickly increase the nation’s coffers? Are you responsible for filling the state treasury?” Gu Hai rebutted coldly.

The many officials no longer dared to say anything.

“Imperial Father, indeed, we are shorthanded, as we obtained vast territories within a short period. We are unable to establish governance in many places!” Gu Qin sighed softly as he pleaded for mercy on behalf of the old managers.

“Since we cannot establish governance, then don’t. Didn’t I get you to make preparations for imperial examinations? Use the imperial examinations to select talents; won’t that do?” Gu Hai said seriously.

Gu Qin lowered his head.

“Meng Tai!” Gu Hai called out.

“This official is present!” Meng Tai stepped forward.

“It has been about one month. How goes the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s establishment?” Gu Hai asked.

“I have already recruited three thousand people. While they are not elites, they can be improved over time. The Embroidered Uniform Guard can operate already!” Meng Tai replied.

“Good. We grant you a Nine Dragon Token. Check every city. Punish anyone who is selling official positions, accepting bribes, making policies for personal gain, or causing trouble among the citizens, according to the Han Royal Dynasty’s laws. Everywhere you go, the Nine Dragon Token represents us. It shall be treated as us personally arriving!” Gu Hai said as he handed out a token.

“This official obeys the decree!” Meng Tai stepped back after receiving the token.

The group of old officials at the side sighed. However, no one realized that a bloodbath was about to begin.

“Scar!”

“This official is present!” Scar stepped forward respectfully.

“Activate the soldiers of the various cities and work with the Embroidered Uniform Guard in this operation!” Gu Hai said.

“This official obeys the decree!” Scar replied.

“How goes the takeover of the other five mundane regions of Nine-Five Island?” Gu Hai looked at Gu Qin.

“Reporting to Imperial Father, the takeover of three mundane regions went extremely smoothly. However, that is not the case for the remaining two; they are still holding hope in their hearts!” Gu Qin reported with a frown.

“Chen Tianshan!”

“This official is present!”

“Lead the border troops and pave the way. Connect all the mundane regions of Nine-Five Island. Start with the two mundane regions that refuse to submit to my Han Royal Dynasty. At the same time, take charge of dealing with the three mundane regions willing to submit to my Han Royal Dynasty!” Gu Hai said.

“This official obeys the decree!”

“Gao Xianzhi!”

“This official is present!”

“We need a group of elite soldiers. You may pick from all the soldiers we have. Pick eight hundred thousand elite soldiers and fill the First Corps first. You will train them and use them in the battle in these two mundane regions. We need an undefeatable army. In this battle, the enemy will not have any Innate Realm cultivators participating. You will not have any, either. We hope that the Han Royal Dynasty’s strength does not come from just strong commanders but also strong soldiers!” Gu Hai said.

“This official obeys the decree!” Gao Xianzhi answered.

Gu Hai handed out various decrees during the imperial assembly. Despite Gu Hai making arbitrary decisions today, no one questioned them.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Shangguan Hen seeks an audience!” a guard announced respectfully.

“Oh? Permitted!” Gu Hai said, feeling puzzled.

Shangguan Hen had not wanted to accept an official position in the Han Royal Dynasty, so Gu Hai felt helpless about it. There had to be something important for him to seek an audience with Gu Hai during the imperial assembly.

When Shangguan Hen entered the hall, the two columns of officials looked over in puzzlement.

“Your Majesty, Yao Zhengtian is here. He is outside the palace hall and seems to have bad news!” Shangguan Hen said gravely.

“Oh? Yao Zhengtian?” Gu Hai revealed a trace of misgivings.

Yao Zhengtian was the baxia. Before Gu Hai established his nation, Yao Zhengtian had asked Gu Hai to solve the Go puzzle on his shell and given the Heavenly Dynasty Outline to him. At that time, he promised Gu Hai that he would do his best to help if there were any requests.

Gu Hai felt quite grateful to Yao Zhengtian. After all, while the Heavenly Dynasty Outline might not be precious in the Divine Continent, it was extremely necessary to Gu Hai.

Gu Hai did not put on airs. He immediately stood up and followed Shangguan Hen out of the palace hall.

The many officials followed behind Gu Hai.

Yao Zhengtian stood on the plaza outside the palace hall, smiling at Gu Hai.

“Congratulations, Mister Gu. No, Congratulations, Han Royal Emperor! From the moment you established your nation, you established a royal dynasty!” Yao Zhentian said while smiling.

“Mister Yao, I don’t deserve so much praise. Might I ask why Mister Yao is here today?” Gu Hai asked, feeling puzzled.

Yao Zhentian’s expression turned solemn as he said, “When Mister Gu established his nation, this humble one had matters to attend to and could not come. I hope Mister Gu will forgive me for that. However, this time, I come bearing bad news. I hope that this will help Mister Gu!”

“Oh?” Gu Hai said.

“Previously, countless Innate Realm cultivators and Golden Core Realm cultivators came when they heard news of Mister Gu obtaining a Century Lifespan Immortality Peach. Now, Mister Gu obtained a dragon vein. The allure of a dragon vein is horrifyingly greater than a Century Lifespan Immortality Peach. Some of the Nascent Soul Realm island masters, sect masters, and rulers could not resist the temptation and rushed over to Nine-Five Island. I caught wind of this news not long ago. Now, twenty Nascent Soul Realm cultivators have already allied to come and snatch Mister Gu’s dragon vein!” Yao Zhengtian said with a bitter smile.

“Oh? Twenty Nascent Soul Realm cultivators?” Gu Hai’s face sank.

Right after Gu Hai said that, Yao Zhengtian’s expression changed suddenly, revealing bitterness. Then, he said, “It looks like this old man came too late. They have already arrived!”

Twenty bright beams of light shot over from the distant south. Everywhere they passed, strong winds blew.

Boom!

The twenty beams of light suddenly stopped in front of the Soaring Palace Hall, causing strong winds to blow everywhere.

Gu Hai raised his head and looked coldly at the twenty figures who suddenly appeared.

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