Origin Paradise!

"Before that, I need to go to the palace to gather information. The three Grandmasters of the new dynasty—the Emperor, the Chief Female Official, and the Martial Sect Master—are all on the verge of fulfilling the Holy Sect's thousand-year-old dream, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"I urge you all to spare no effort in helping me pass this audition."

The elders exchanged glances, their eyes then burning with anticipation. Rumor had it that the Tantric Zen master had broken through to the peak of the Grandmaster level. With such a powerful ally, they could easily snatch chestnuts from the fire.

Yin Shengzi bowed his head and said, “As the Holy Maiden has said, I will do my best. The sacrificial ceremony is not yet over, and there is still room for maneuver.”

"Then I'll have to trouble you all."

The White Lotus Saintess turned and walked towards the side room, her slender waist supporting the heavy fruits of her labor. She was quite confident in her appearance and figure, and with the help of the Holy Sect's planning, entering the palace was just around the corner.

……

In a side room not far away.

Two men and three women sat around the table.

In the main seat, Mia looked around at everyone and sighed almost imperceptibly.

Back in the world of Ember, she was a popular idol, but during her tour and performance at the Ninth Fortress, she encountered one riot and rebellion after another. Before Jiang Junzuo took the stage, facing the oppression of the dark creatures, she chose to join the Order Association.

After the mission ended, Mia joined the Bureau of Order and successfully enrolled her younger sister in Hongdu Academy, which improved their situation at the musician Mi family.

The conductor, violinist, singer, and pianist Mina all looked around. Unlike the last time when they "went astray," this time it was a normal world of the Bronze Rank. As long as they were careful, the chances of completing the mission were not low.

Mia said, "This is my Silver Promotion mission, so everyone must be careful. Hongdu Academy's special mission only happens once per semester. In other words, this is the only time I will be leading you all in the short term, so please don't become dependent on it."

"Yes," the four answered in unison.

Chapter 353 Heaven-Worshiping Ceremony

Late June of the first year of the Shengwu era.

The ceremony to worship Heaven was solemnly held in front of the Qingdu Hall in the Imperial City.

The new dynasty established itself through military force. The sacrificial offerings consisted of two heads each of the masters of the barbarian tribes, the demon tribes, and the rebellious forces. When these heads were lit in public, black smoke billowed into the sky, which was considered an auspicious sign.

Jiang Ada, the Grand General of Anbei, led the Yizhou army out of the border. Without any Grandmaster opponents, the army swept across thousands of miles, capturing and killing more than 300,000 barbarians.

All able-bodied men were convicted and executed, while the elderly and children were resettled on the spot and reduced to servants of aristocratic families and clans. Barbarian women were sent to various brothels in Yizhou. The congratulatory memorials were sent to the Qingdu Hall and burned in the furnace to appease Heaven.

At the same time, Jiang A'er, the commander of the Imperial Guards and Minister of War, who was then the General Who Conquers the East, had led his army to capture the capital of Yangzhou and was now sweeping through various prefectures to suppress dissent.

Of the nine provinces under heaven, the imperial court has already occupied four.

The emperor bestowed upon the two the titles of Marquis of Zhenbei and Marquis of Jingdong.

During the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, the officials lined up on both sides.

The Minister of War was retained by Chief Minister Yue, but everyone in the court knew that the Ministry of War had lost its power to command troops, and the Left and Right Vice Ministers Changsun Jie and Shanzhu were eyeing it covetously.

The Minister of Personnel was the Prince of Andong. The Ministry of Personnel was in charge of personnel appointments and dismissals and was the head of the six ministries. Its Minister was also known as the "Heavenly Official" and held great power. However, since the Marquis of Pingluan suppressed Daming Prefecture, this powerful prince from the previous dynasty had aged more than ten years.

The eldest son of Zhu, the Minister of Revenue, was appointed Minister of Rites by the Left Vice Minister. He had previously served as the Prefect of the Capital. Several years ago, he consulted the Emperor, who was then a Earl, on how to appease the displaced people. This matter has now become a beautiful story of harmonious relations between the Emperor and his minister.

Wu He, the Minister of Justice, was also appointed Grand Secretary of the Qingdu Hall, making him the de facto head of the civil officials. He was secretly referred to as the Inner Chancellor by the court and the public. Rumors circulated that he was of demonic origin, but to this day, fewer than one or two people have actually seen him. The Emperor himself declared that this matter was nothing but speculation.

boom!

A black beam of light, visible from the top of the city, shot into the sky, its thunderous roar echoing through the air.

Before the Qingdu Hall, all the officials felt the intense heat that was almost within reach, as well as the unfathomable depths of the emperor's mind.

This Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire attack possesses the destructive power of a supreme-level spell and is further enhanced by the perfect-level skill, Extraordinary Burst, increasing its power by 206%, making its effect extraordinary.

The clouds parted, and the sky brightened.

Zhuang Ya held the imperial edict in both hands. As soon as she looked down, she saw a bunch of pinyin. Her delicate and beautiful face immediately scrunched up. She gritted her teeth and began to read the final eulogy.

"...Heaven above, in its majestic light, descends upon the earth below. It gathers the spirit of the land, bestowing upon it abundant rain and wind. All living things find their proper place..."

"...Now, with jade, silk, sacrificial animals, offerings, and other necessities, we offer this sacrifice to bless our homeland with peace and prosperity, to ensure the well-being of the people, and to bring peace and tranquility to the whole world..."

"...May you enjoy this meal."

The reading has concluded.

Although someone had already moved into the Qingdu Palace, from the perspective of the rites and laws of Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher, only now can he be considered to have officially become the supreme ruler.

Jiang He stood with his hands behind his back at the forefront of the assembled officials. The magnificent jade seal at his waist seemed to possess a spirit. By examining it with the aid of the Golden Will, one could see the hazy reflection of the four states on it, which represented the gathering of the new dynasty's national destiny.

At the same time, a notification sound rang in his ear.

[Hint: You have obtained the title "First Emperor"]

[Name: First Emperor]

[Category: Titles]

[Quality: Supreme]

[Effect ①: Emperor - When war begins, the four basic attributes of all members of his/her large group are temporarily increased by five points.]

[Effect ②: Divine Retribution - Targets that kill a large group of members are cursed by the heavens, each curse dealing 1 point of true damage (Standard - Normal Bronze Health: 100 / Normal Silver Health: 3000 / Normal Gold Health: 10000)]

[Effect 3: Reign (All land under heaven belongs to the king) - When activated, it allows you to return to a location you were in or passed through, consuming 1000 silver energy points each time (within the same world)]

[Effect 4: King's Subject (All Under Heaven Are King's Subjects) - The holder gains access to the five senses of a large group of members. When their mental will is not lower than Gold, they can descend with the will of the world.]

[Note: This title is currently the highest honor in the world (belonging to the following group: Evil Spirit/Dawn)]

"The assembled officials have completed their rites and bow in gratitude to the Emperor," Zhuang Ya shouted, a rare occurrence for him.

"Wait a minute."

Suddenly, a middle-aged censor with thin features stepped out from the ranks of civil officials.

"The Marquis of Pingluan has no father or mother, no respect for the emperor or the country, how can he talk about the throne? He is a mere snake and fly, a despicable tyrant and traitor who enriches himself at the expense of the world. We despise him, and the people cannot respect him!"

"Driven by the Martial Clan, they trampled across the land, causing countless wrongful deaths. They wantonly slaughtered aristocratic families, corrupting the moral order and human ethics. How dare such immoral people covet the throne!"

"He favored female officials, causing the inner court to wither. He befriended treacherous officials and allowed the demon race to wield power over the court. He sent the Supreme Daoist to assassinate the late emperor and secretly commanded common soldiers and bandits to plunder the capital. He was lustful, muddleheaded, ruthless, and greedy. How could such a despicable, shameless, tyrannical and immoral person rule the world?"

"Today, I offer my blood to the heavens, begging that Duke Anle be reinstated!"

The middle-aged civil official had a resolute gaze. He had previously held back his anger because the new emperor had not yet convened a court assembly. Without a grand occasion, his sacrifice would be meaningless and would not awaken loyal and virtuous ministers.

Seven or eight officials stepped forward and kowtowed to the ground.

"Today, I offer my blood to the heavens, begging that Duke Anle be reinstated!"

In a short while, another twenty-three people stepped forward, ranging from the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to the compilers of the academy; all of them were ready to die for their cause.

In the shadows of Qingdu Hall, Wuhe's face was not good. He had been busy dealing with cases recently and had not been able to effectively supervise the capital. If tens of thousands of birds had been deployed inside, this problem would never have occurred. These people would have been nipped in the bud.

Zhuang Ya stared intently at the middle-aged official, her eyes flashing with murderous intent.

Old Hei closed his eyes; he found it difficult, and was unwilling, to stop this bloodbath.

Among the officials, the eldest son of the Zhu family sighed softly, the Prince of Anbei remained silent, and the chief minister Yue hesitated to speak. The most terrified of all was the "Duke of Anle," who was about to be reinstated, according to the censors. Even though he was young, he knew that his life was in imminent danger. These guys were practically roasting him on a fire.

An eerie silence fell over the scene.

Everyone knew that the emperor would not back down, otherwise it would mean admitting to all sorts of crimes.

Jiang He turned her head indifferently and said nonchalantly, "It seems you don't want to abandon your entire family."

The paternal clan consists of four members, the maternal clan three, and the wife's clan two, which together constitute the nine clans. Sometimes, this term refers to all related people. Upon hearing this term, all the officials present trembled. If all those who offered advice were to be executed along with their nine clans, at least tens of thousands of people would be implicated.

The middle-aged official, unyielding and resolute, raised his head and declared, "So what if my entire clan is exterminated!"

Many officials who had offered their advice looked up in bewilderment. This was different from what had been agreed upon beforehand. It was naturally inappropriate to kill people on the day of the sacrificial ceremony. In theory, it would be sufficient to execute the "chief culprit" and exile the "accomplices." Most people had not yet reached the point of disowning their parents and children.

"Your Majesty, we..."

"it is good."

Jiang He waved his hand, his dragon robe sleeves swaying slightly. He didn't care at all; he was just asking to die.

"I also wish to help others achieve their goals. The thirty-two people present will be executed along with their entire families. This case will be investigated together with the palace purge case and the Dao Palace spying case. The executions will be carried out in front of the Qingdu Hall, and the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Horse Administration will be in charge of this matter."

"Your Majesty, I am wronged!"

"This fellow is just trying to attract attention; Your Majesty should investigate!"

"Your Majesty, I have an elderly mother to care for and young children to raise. I was confused for a moment today, and I beg Your Majesty to have mercy!"

"Hahaha, how wonderful! How wonderful!"

The middle-aged official sat cross-legged and laughed heartily.

Three hundred fierce knights stepped forward and took the crowd away. The officials lowered their heads and remained silent. This was a close and intense confrontation, and no one could fathom the emperor's emotions at this moment. They might all be punished as accomplices if they went up against him. Since none of them had the chance to have another nine generations of their families, they had to proceed cautiously.

"Chief Minister Yue."

"The minister is here."

Old Man Yue stepped forward, looking at the young man before him with a complex expression. Even with his vast experience in judging people, he had to admit that the young man possessed the bearing of a dragon and the appearance of the sun and moon. Just a few years ago, the man was a minor military officer on the border of Yizhou, but in the blink of an eye, he had ascended to the throne.

"The conversion of rice into medicine in Jingzhou requires Your Excellency's utmost effort," Jiang He said.

After hesitating for a long time, Old Man Yue sighed and said, "Please, Your Majesty, kill me."

Low, suppressed gasps rose and fell. At this moment, he still dared to speak like this. The officials once again witnessed the old man's backbone. It was no accident that he had once attacked the powerful Grand Secretary Yan.

Jiang He raised an eyebrow. The guys executed before were useless, so killing them was fine. But Chief Minister Yue was indeed exceptionally talented, which was why he hadn't replaced him. In the Great Qian Dynasty, with the nine provinces divided and heroes rising up everywhere, the central government was still able to organize two field battles with 100,000 elite troops. Yue's contribution was indispensable.

"what for?"

The old man Yue brushed off his official robes, slowly knelt down, and said sincerely, "If Your Majesty does not kill me today, the people of the world will kill me tomorrow. If a prefecture is converted to rice, hundreds of thousands will starve to death. In my opinion, abandoning the project halfway could endanger the country."

Jiang He thought for a moment and asked, "What if Yangzhou had sufficient grain supplies?"

Old Man Yue replied, "Thirty percent."

"One hundred thousand loyal young men are at your command," Jiang He said.

Old Man Yue closed his eyes and pondered for a long time before answering, "Seventy percent chance. If His Majesty seals off the three passes and orders that no one from Jingzhou may leave the prefecture, with violators to be executed, then there is a ninety percent chance. In addition, His Majesty must see things through to the end for there to be any hope of a complete success."

"The title of Grand Secretary of the Qingdu Hall was conferred upon Yue Fei, the chief minister."

Jiang He mobilized thirty Dawn Warriors and five hundred Fiend Knights to cooperate with the enemy. In addition to providing some protection, these personnel were mainly to prevent the Fiend Army from being arbitrarily driven and wasted.

Next, the decree, which had been prepared in advance, was issued.

"Jiang Danglu is hereby granted the title of Governor-General of the Nine Provinces and concurrently the title of Grand General of the Four Seas, in charge of all the troops under heaven."

"Wuhe, you are promoted to Grand Tutor of the Qing Capital and concurrently Grand Preceptor of the Sage, in charge of all internal and external affairs, and can make decisions on matters of state with a single word."

The entire Qingdu Hall was completely silent.

Simply put, the emperor appointed a second emperor and a third emperor, and the latter two together were no different from the emperor. There was truly no one left to appoint, and they had no other way to go but to usurp the throne.

This time, the old man Yue was truly at his wit's end. However, he was far more astute than the previous officials who had spoken out against him. He immediately proposed, "I request that the female official in charge of the seal, Zhuang Ya, be made empress, so that she may be the mother of the nation."

Not far away, Zhuang Ya fell into deep thought, and couldn't help but rub her lower abdomen. If she replaced the Empress, she would probably have to serve the giant snake just like the Empress. Based on what she had observed over the past few days, the process was like slaughtering a pig, and begging for mercy would be useless.

"My mind is made up, there is no need to discuss anything else."

Jiang He stepped away from the palace. Lao Hei and Wu He could obtain the Excellent-grade title through this conferment, so there was no room for discussion on this matter. Moreover, the Empress could not be deposed for the time being. After all, the Five-Pill Pill was indeed very important, and a reprimand now would suffice.

It's worth mentioning that obtaining a title requires a corresponding objective reality. Players can farm for it, but the Origin can also choose not to grant it. Once you become a violator, you'll be able to see the Executor.

The ceremony to worship Heaven has ended.

Since these officials were no longer ordinary ones, the Imperial Horse Administration immediately launched a crackdown, arresting their entire families throughout the city.

As for Jiang He, he activated the "Reign of the First Emperor" skill and returned to the Jianchi Mountain Range in Yizhou.

……

Since Zhuang Ya accompanied him to the capital, the mining of gold and stone has encountered great resistance. Although the locations were marked in advance, the relatively ancient method of digging deep into the ground took an astonishing amount of time.

A hundred miles east of Daming Prefecture, a general named Shuguang suddenly emerged from his military tent and ordered all laborers to evacuate.

Half an hour later, a sphere with a diameter of 100 meters fell from the sky, and the ground melted in large areas as if it were ice and snow meeting the scorching sun.

Jiang He opened the domain barrier, and the black sun behind him released a terrifying devouring force. Countless rock layers and stones flew into it and were reduced to dust and annihilation, while the gold and stone raw materials were preserved and eventually fell into the portable holy temple, Rock Town.

The mining of a large gold mine was completed in just ten minutes.

Jiang He activated the King's Landing, arriving above the mineral site he had previously surveyed, and once again activated the Black Sun Domain.

This mining efficiency far exceeds that of the Zhuangya brand super shield tunneling machine; in half a day, 1800 tons of gold were refined.

Jiang He arrived at Dangguan City, where A Da summoned the various Yizhou armies to transport the corpses of barbarians and prisoners.