The Ping Tian Crown was not the traditional golden yellow or black, but a deep purple, bordered with golden strips that exuded an inexplicable aura. The golden pool at the center was covered in intricate patterns, forming a complex array designed to calm the mind and awaken the spirit. Twelve tassels hung from the crown, each adorned with a bead of a different color, containing within them patterns of various mythical beasts.
Item - Ping Tian Crown (True) (Spirit Artifact)
Required Level: None
Required Class: None
Attributes: Majesty +30, Comprehension +10, Cultivation Speed (Experience) +200%, Skill Cooldown -15%, Real World Divine Sense Amplification +30%.
Characteristics: Indestructible
Description: This equipment can be worn by players when switching between the game and reality. It symbolizes kingship in the real world and has the effect of refreshing and clearing the mind when worn in reality.
Item - Zi Jin Dragon Robe (True) (Spirit Artifact)
Required Level: None
Required Class: None
Attributes: Physical Body Strength +50%, Majesty +30, Cultivation Speed (Experience) +200%, Skill Cooldown -15%.
Characteristics: Indestructible
Description: This equipment can be worn by players when switching between the game and reality. It symbolizes kingship in the real world.
The descriptions for these two Spirit Artifacts were astonishingly brief, and their attributes were so straightforward that Ye Yun doubted their authenticity. Not only were these two items not part of a set, but their attributes seemed incredibly lackluster. If sold, aside from their appearance, few sellers would likely pay a premium for them.
As Ye Yun muttered criticisms, he equipped the two items. He had to admit, the wide sleeves and the dangling tassels of the crown were hindering his sword-drawing speed. While they might look somewhat dashing, what was the point?
However, the experience boost and the skill cooldown reduction struck Ye Yun’s weak points. For advancing his talent, three conditions were needed: sufficient attribute points, learning a divine skill (he had already learned three), and just one more level. These two items, with their combined quadrupled experience gain and 30% skill cooldown reduction, seemed tailor-made for him.
This time, Ye Yun’s class advancement took a full three days. During these three days, Black Ant had killed over thirty gods in the Outer Heavens. It could be seen that Black Ant's kills of gods were increasing in number and frequency. In fact, one of the gods Black Ant had killed recently was a third-tier deity.
Ye Yun knew that Black Ant must have attracted the attention of the gods in the Outer Heavens, and it was likely that Black Ant would now be on the run from them. However, Ye Yun was not too worried. His own attributes had surged, especially his vitality and physical body strength, which indirectly contributed to Black Ant’s attribute growth. At least Ye Yun didn't have to worry about Black Ant being overwhelmed and killed in a crowd. Moreover, with the existence of the Heavenly Pot and Earth Cup, Black Ant’s strength was increasing exponentially every five days.
...
In the Tenth Cosmic Sphere, Yue Xia, leading five legions, had annexed thirty-six star domain alliances, greatly increasing their military might. In these three days, the five major legions had launched a full-scale assault, sweeping through over seventy star domains like a swarm of locusts. Their speed was so astonishing that even Sword Emperor and other top figures who remained to maintain order in the thirty-six domains watched with trepidation, while also feeling secretly relieved.
“Yue Di, have you contacted Fengle City? What is His Majesty’s attitude?” In the Mangshan Star Domain, Yue Xia sat at the main seat, with the leaders of the five major legions beneath him, including Black Ant, Molli, Feng Xi, and Dizang of the Ghost Clan. In terms of rank, the five were equal. However, as Yue Xia held the position of Grand Commandant among the Three Dukes, he was their superior in terms of office.
“Grand Commandant, there has been no news from His Majesty, nor from Fengle City. They also do not know where His Majesty has been these past few days,” Yue Di and the other legion commanders replied in low voices, each seated behind their respective commanders.
“Our five major legions are advancing too quickly, and the logistical support from the rear is not keeping pace, which is also a problem. Grand Commandant, I believe we should accept the suggestion of these one hundred star domain commanders. Let them continue to lead their respective star domains. They will pledge allegiance to His Majesty and submit taxes to our empire on a monthly basis,” Molli said, sitting beside Black Ant, breaking the silence in the tent.
“If we don’t fight, they will not know the might of our empire. If in the subsequent star domains, they also band together in the same way, or even two hundred or three hundred star domains combine, will we also accept such a situation?” Black Ant asked coldly at this moment. In his world, violence was the only solution to problems. Negotiation? Compromise? Impossible.
“Hei Mo, your words are a bit extreme. Although each of our legions has expanded to hundreds of millions of soldiers, these soldiers have only been integrated with us for two or three days. They are fine against individual star domain forces, but now we are facing a combined army of a hundred domains. Both their overall strength and numbers far exceed ours,” Feng Xi, the commander of the Divine Race, stated. “His Majesty’s requirement is unification, not necessarily conquest. If a war truly breaks out, do you know how many soldiers we will lose? A military defeat is a minor issue, but if it delays His Majesty’s progress, what then?”
The main objective of the Hundred Domain Alliance was not to oppose the empire, but to preserve their respective races’ independence and their own economic interests. Therefore, their demands were simple: they wished to retain their existing armies and sufficient control over their star domains. Only under these conditions would they be willing to surrender to the Tenth Cosmic Empire and pay tribute to the empire monthly. Of course, this tribute would not be as substantial as that from Ye Yun’s fiefdom. The difference between “levy” and “tribute” was significant.
Yue Xia frowned, listening to the opinions of the others. He felt that each of them had a valid point. He then glanced at the monk who had been sitting there silently.
“Dizang, what do you think we should do?”
“This humble monk’s opinion is just one word: Kill. The empire has its majesty, and His Majesty has his majesty. In my humble opinion, the Hundred Domain Alliance, though not actively hostile, is close to it. Lord Hei Ant is right; this precedent cannot be set. Once set, it will become the norm.”
“Dizang, you speak too lightly. Do you know that if a war truly breaks out, it will take us at least tens of days here! Rather than that, it would be better to wait until we have conquered the entire cosmic sphere before dealing with them,” Feng Xi said with a frown. They all understood the logic, but Zeno’s goal was rapid unification.
“If I do not go to hell, who will? General Feng, have you forgotten what I cultivate? If there is a war, my Underworld Buddhist Kingdom is willing to be the vanguard.” Dizang clasped his hands together, the prayer beads in his hands slowly turning, emanating a sense of peace tinged with a terrifying killing intent.