If Heaven hadn't given birth to me, I would be arrogant.

"Divine Machine Battalion? What a fine name!" After Zong Ze finished naming it, a name that evoked a sense of nostalgia for him, Fox was the first to exclaim in praise: "A battalion composed of machines of divine craftsmanship, appearing and disappearing like ghosts, should naturally be called the Divine Machine Battalion. Your Majesty, I think this name is excellent!"

Everyone nodded in approval, and Lan Qizhan finally decided: "Excellent, let's call it the Divine Machine Battalion. It not only preserves the mystery of our Imperial Air Force, but also highlights its godlike and extraordinary combat power!"

Thus, the Shenji Battalion, originally an air force that shook the continent and later became the most mysterious organization on the continent, was born!

"Little Zongze!" Lan Qizhan, now possessing the Divine Machine Battalion, beamed with satisfaction. "You just said you had one request and two suggestions. Your request was to establish the Divine Machine Battalion, and your first suggestion was to keep it secret, which I granted. Now, you may make your second suggestion!"

"Hehe!" Zong Ze said with a smile, "This second suggestion is not actually for myself, but rather I've come up with a word for His Majesty!"

"Oh? You've come up with a word for me?" Lan Qizhan became interested: "Tell me about it!"

Zong Ze bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, when you bestowed the title upon me just now, I heard you say that my title could be passed down to my descendants. I think that sounds convoluted and unpleasant. How about changing it to hereditary succession?"

"Hereditary succession?" Lan Qizhan murmured a few times, but he didn't quite understand its meaning. He had no choice but to ask Old Freud, "Teacher, this hereditary succession sounds quite nice, don't you think?"

"Hereditary succession!" Old Florent clicked his tongue, his eyes lighting up. "Passed down through generations, never to be replaced! Your Majesty, excellent!"

"Good!" Lan Qizhan finally understood the meaning of hereditary succession. He immediately slapped the armrest of the imperial throne: "I approve Zong Ze's suggestion. From now on, all titles, except for lifelong titles, shall be hereditary without fail!"

Thus, the court council, which had been raging for two days, finally came to an end, and the biggest beneficiaries were the Zong family. Not only did they win a lot of money, but they also gained a general and a marquis title. As they left the palace, the way everyone looked at the Zong family's group of three had changed!

Inside the palace, Lan Qizhan, dressed in a purple cloak, sat on a dark wooden chair, while Finance Minister Fox knelt before him.

"Fox, you have truly disappointed me!" Lan Qizhan looked at Fox, who was kneeling before him, head bowed and silent.

"Your Majesty, I don't think it's because my son is incompetent. It's just that Zong Ze is too cunning. Who would have thought he would use those thorn seeds to harm my little Fox!" Fox quickly explained upon hearing Lan Qizhan's question.

"Hmph! No matter what, you still lost!" Lan Qizhan sneered!

"Your Majesty!" Fox raised his head slightly: "Rest assured, the Fox family will cover all the money you lost!"

"Take responsibility my ass!" Lan Qizhan suddenly roared, kicking Fox so hard he tumbled over. "Do I need your little bit of money? Isn't your money mine too? You're using my money to pay off my debts?"

"Your Majesty, please calm down!" Fox quickly scrambled to his feet and knelt before Lan Qizhan. "I know Your Majesty originally wanted little Fox to defeat that little beast Zong Ze, so as to take the opportunity to suppress the Zong family's reputation among the people. Your Majesty, rest assured, this was little Fox's mistake. I will definitely find an opportunity in time..."

"Looking for my ass..." Lan Qizhan kicked Fox away again: "When did I say I was going to suppress Marshal Zong's family? Get out, don't make me angry here!"

"Yes!" Fox jumped up, bowed to Lan Qizhan, and then carefully turned and walked outside!

"Wait a minute!" Lan Qizhan suddenly spoke up: "I'm warning your brat, don't provoke General Zong again. He's the most important person in the empire now, or else I'll really exterminate your entire family!"

"General Zong?" Fox was about to say, "That brute Zong Kuang, let alone my son, I don't even want to mess with him." But in an instant, Fox realized that the General Zong Lan Qizhan was talking about was not Zong Kuang at all, but that little bastard Zong Ze!

Fearing a cold sweat, Fox hurriedly agreed, and only after Lan Qizhan nodded did he scramble out of the palace!

Just after Fox left, Lan Qizhan's slightly angry expression suddenly calmed down. After a long while, he seemed to be talking to himself, saying, "Sir, what do you think of this matter? Originally, I wanted to use this incident to suppress the Zong family, but..."

"Sigh..." With a sigh, a black shadow suddenly appeared slowly in front of Lan Qizhan. Lan Qizhan was not surprised at all. Instead, there was a hint of longing in his eyes. Until the black shadow solidified, a man wearing a black robe and whose face was covered stood in front of Lan Qizhan!

"You're being too hasty!" The man in black robes slowly moved forward, while Lan Qizhan carefully stepped aside, allowing the man to sit in the chair where Lan Qizhan had just been sitting. Lan Qizhan, however, stood aside like a servant!

"Please enlighten me, sir. I also feel that I was a bit too hasty!" Lan Qizhan was extremely respectful. "But you said that Zong Xiaozhang would leave, and I have waited for ten years, and Zong Xiaozhang has not made a move at all!"

"Is ten years a long time?" The man in black robes said coldly, "I said that when he breaks through again, he will definitely leave the Rune Empire and never come back. At that time, it will be much easier for you to deal with the Zong family. A brute who only knows how to fight and kill, Zong Kuang, are you worried about him?"

“I’m not worried about Zong Kuang at all!” Lan Qizhan shook his head and said, “What I’m worried about is his son, Zong Ze. He’s too clever. Today he actually said he could build an air force for the empire!”

"I heard that! Isn't that the Divine Machine Battalion?" The man in black robes scoffed. "This world is one where strength reigns supreme. You can never achieve anything great by relying on clever tricks. Otherwise, Tengyun would have dominated the continent long ago! As for the Divine Machine Battalion, it sounds like they achieved their aerial combat power through external forces. They are utterly useless in the face of actual strength!"

"However!" The man in black robes changed the subject: "But this Divine Machine Battalion is still somewhat useful to you. You did very well today. Giving that little guy an official title was the right thing to do. It not only adds military strength to the empire, but also deceives that arrogant old man, Zong. Once he leaves, you can take action against the Zong family with peace of mind!"

"Yes, sir!" Hearing the black-robed man praise him, Lan Qizhan's face lit up with a hint of joy: "That little fellow even taught me a punishment that punishes nine generations of a family today. Hehe, I reckon the main family will be the first to try this punishment! At that time, we'll have to rely on you and your colleagues..."