CHAPTER 161: CHAPTER 159: SEA CLAN_1

In the Imperial Study, Qin Wudao watched the four individuals of extraordinary bearing before him, his expression shifting several times before finally breaking into elation. That’s right! Gan Jiang and Mo Ye are not one person, but a husband and wife, both masters of artifact refinement!

The individual on the far left was a youth dressed in a blue robe, with white hair at his temples and a fair, somewhat somber complexion. He emanated a cold aura, like a block of ten-thousand-year-old ice.

Name: Li Ru!

Cultivation level: Middle Saint Realm!

Cultivation Technique: ’Heart Sutra of Ten Thousand Murders’!

Profile: Poisoned the young emperor, assisted Dong Zhuo in his tyranny, and set Luoyang ablaze!

A ruthless strategist indeed. He would certainly be unsuitable for the imperial court; it seems I can only use him in places hidden from the light, Qin Wudao secretly pondered after reading Li Ru’s profile.

Next, his gaze shifted to Gan Jiang and Mo Ye. The former, Gan Jiang, was dressed in blue attire and had a handsome appearance; the latter, Mo Ye, wore a red gown. They radiated a unique aura, like a celestial couple.

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Name: Gan Jiang! Mo Ye!

Cultivation level: Middle Saint Realm! Lower Saint Realm!

Cultivation Technique: ’Thousand Hammers Hundred Refinement Skill’!

Soul Level: Heaven-level Soul!

Profession: Saint-level Artifact Refiner!

Profile: Gan Jiang was a renowned swordsmith in the Spring and Autumn Period. He and his wife Mo Ye were ordered to forge swords for the Chu King. Knowing the king’s cruel nature, before presenting the Mo Ye sword, Gan Jiang entrusted the Gan Jiang sword to his wife to pass on to their son. Later, Gan Jiang was killed. His son, upon reaching adulthood, killed the Chu King to avenge his father!

A Heaven-level Artifact Refiner, this is almost heaven-defying! Qin Wudao nearly grinned, having learned about the ranks of artifact refiners from Gan Jiang and Mo Ye’s information. He understood that a Heaven-level Artifact Refiner could forge King-grade weapons.

Artifact Refiners had four primary levels: Yellow, Profound, Earth, and Heaven, corresponding to Mortal-grade, Spirit-grade, Dao-grade, and King-grade weapons respectively. Above Heaven-level was the Saint-level Artifact Refiner. To become a Saint-level Artifact Refiner, two conditions had to be met: first, one had to be a Heaven-level Artifact Refiner possessing a Heaven-level Soul; second, one’s cultivation had to break through to the Saint King Realm. Strictly speaking, Saint-level Artifact Refiners were still within the category of Heaven-level Artifact Refiners, differentiated only by their cultivation strength. In this world where martial might was paramount, one couldn’t forge powerful weapons without sufficient strength. Above Saint-level Artifact Refiners were Emperor-level and Immortal-level Artifact Refiners, each tier requiring corresponding strength to advance.

Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, being Heaven-level Artifact Refiners and possessing Heaven-level Souls, would see their artifact refinement level rise as their strength increased. Once they advanced to the Great Emperor Realm, they would become one of the few Emperor-level Artifact Refiners in the endless history of the Primordial Continent.

Lastly, Qin Wudao’s gaze landed on Zhuge Liang, dressed in a simple robe, holding a feather fan and wearing a silk kerchief. This man was legendary; almost every person in Huaxia knew of his deeds.

He was a dazzling star in the history of Huaxia!

Name: Zhuge Liang!

Cultivation level: Supreme Saint Realm!

Cultivation Technique: ’Yin Yang Bagua Map’!

Profile: Courtesy name Kongming, sobriquet Wolong. Prime Minister of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period. An outstanding politician, military strategist, man of letters, and inventor in ancient China!

Major achievements: Astute decision-making; assisting Liu Bei in seizing Jingzhou and Yizhou and establishing Shu Han; pacifying Nanzhong; five Northern Expeditions...

Excellent, excellent! Qin Wudao nodded to himself. With these four, the strength of the Qin Empire had ascended another step.

"Issue a decree: Confer Li Ru as Commander of the ’Abyss Guard,’ official rank of primary second-grade!"

"Issue a decree: Confer Gan Jiang and Mo Ye as Imperial Consecrated Offerings. Establish the Artifact Refinement Pavilion with them as the first Pavilion Masters, official rank of second-grade!"

"Issue a decree: Confer Zhuge Liang as Deputy Prime Minister, to assist Li Si in governing state affairs, official rank of second-grade!"

Under the enhancement of Spiritual Energy, Qin Wudao’s majestic voice spread throughout the Imperial Capital, shocking countless citizens. Who exactly were this Li Ru, Gan Jiang, Mo Ye, and Zhuge Liang? They were granted second-rank official titles as soon as they appeared!

In the Qin Empire, official ranks ranged from ninth-grade (lowest) to first-grade (highest). The first-grade was a nominal title, representing only honor, making the second-grade the highest actual official rank.

Deputy Prime Minister... Is His Majesty planning to replace me?

In the Prime Minister’s Mansion, Li Si stood by the window, gazing at the magnificent imperial palace, his expression constantly shifting. Hearing this decree, his mind was thrown into complete chaos.

A new sovereign, a new set of courtiers!

In his view, this was Qin Wudao preparing to replace him! Political struggles were often invisible battles filled with blades and blood. Those who lost, how could they expect a good end?

No, I must devise a plan!

Li Si slammed his fist against the window frame, leaving a small indent. Whether for his political ambitions or the lives of his entire family, he could not afford to lose the position of Prime Minister.

"Someone! Get my carriage ready! We’re going to the Taiji Palace!" Having closed the window, Li Si commanded in a grim voice.

The Taiji Palace was the residence of the Emperor Emeritus, a colossal suspended palace located to the east of the Imperial Capital. Its scale was only slightly smaller than the Imperial Palace itself, but its interior decorations far surpassed it.

Li Ru! Zhuge Liang! All familiar names... Hopefully, certain people won’t act foolishly based on wild suspicions!

Jia Xu seemed to sense something, glancing intentionally or otherwise towards the Prime Minister’s Mansion. He was a perceptive man, and even more so, one skilled at self-preservation. He understood that the empire’s pool of talent would only continue to grow.

Survival of the fittest is the law of nature! It is also the law of the empire!

He understood this, however. But that didn’t mean everyone else did!

All in all, the events of this day shocked countless people and stirred up significant waves.

「Elsewhere, in the vast depths of the sea.」

A lone figure, Wanlihai, had arrived at a suspended, iridescent shell that radiated potent spatial energy.

"Who goes there?"

The sea surface exploded, heaving up waves several thousand zhang high that blotted out the sky. Within the churning waters, two colossal Deep-Sea Profound Turtles emerged. Their bodies were immense, a full ten thousand zhang in size, like two islands.

A deep, resonant hum echoed like crashing thunder!

Deep-Sea Profound Turtles! They were the mounts of the Sea Clan, guarding the passage entrance. Possessing Supreme Saint Realm cultivation and unparalleled defensive power, not even Saint King Realm experts could breach their guard quickly.

"Wanlihai, Sect Master of Qunxian Sect, has come to discuss important matters with your esteemed clan," Wanlihai stated calmly, standing on the sea surface.

The two Deep-Sea Profound Turtles stared at Wanlihai for a moment. Then, one of them submerged into the sea to relay the message.

Approximately five minutes later, the shell opened, revealing a spatial passage. It was a desolate blue, like a solitary, chilling eye that could devour one’s soul.

Spatial ripples undulated, and two beings appeared. They were humanoid, covered in blue scales, and carried tridents. They walked out and bowed in greeting, "Sect Master Wan, please!"

Wanlihai nodded and strode into the spatial vortex.

This single step signified his abandonment of the human race’s honor and his choice to collude with other races.

Deep within the ten-thousand-zhang sea, it was not entirely dark. A brilliant pearl hung suspended, emitting a blue-white light that illuminated the underwater world as if it were day.

Not far away lay a magnificent underwater city where countless Sea Clan members resided.

Terrifying auras lay hidden within, like colossal deep-sea beasts!

Once unleashed, they could shatter the heavens, sunder the earth, and overturn mountains and seas!