1394 A New World

Clearly, it wasn't the time to choose three Guarding Dragon Pavilion members now. This could be put to the side. Zhang Ruochen had more important things to do.

Qin Yutong stepped over the bloodied land. She went before Zhang Ruochen and bowed. "Your Highness, we have calculated the casualties and injuries of the imperial court and the Sacred."

Unlike usually, Qin Yutong wasn't wearing a sexy dance costume. Instead, she wore bloody armor. Though badly injured, she seemed extremely excited. She looked at Zhang Ruochen with a gaze of worship and reverence.

After this battle, Qin Yutong's mindset had changed greatly. Basically, if Zhang Ruochen needed her to, she was willing to die for him.

Conquering the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion, killing Heavenly King Lingxiao, badly hurting the imperial court army, and taking revenge for their fathers and ancestors were all things they didn't dare to or couldn't do before.

Only the Crown Prince had the power to unite and summon them. It wasn't only because of his status. It was also because he rushed to the front and didn't fear any dangers. It was also why the fearful people became brave again, why the people repressed by the imperial court dared to rebel.

It was the guts and courage!

When everyone became numb and terrified by the Empress becoming a goddess, they needed someone like him to step out.

Thus, Zhang Ruochen could make history with one battle, uniting the Sacred followers even more, but Lord Mingjiang couldn't do it.

It wasn't because Lord Mingjiang wasn't legitimate enough but that he was already old. He was already intimidated by the imperial court. If one felt fear, one wouldn't be able to go all out.

Zhang Ruochen glanced at Qin Yutong. "Speak," he said.

"Many of the cultivators don't even have corpses remaining, so we could only get an estimate," Qin Yutong said. "For the imperial court, they lost two Saint Kings, 56 Saints, and more than 700 Half-Saints. Around 2.4 million soldiers under the Half-Saint Realm died as well.

"For the Sacred, 14 Saints, more than 150 Half-Saints and one million soldiers will forever remain in the land."

Zhang Ruochen didn't even blink when he heard those shocking numbers. Raising his head, he looked at the sky and murmured to himself, "So many Saints and Half-Saints have died. The Heaven and Earth Chessboard must have sensed something. Why hasn't Lord Taizai and leader of the Earth God Temple attacked?"

"Your Highness, what is the Heaven and Earth Chessboard?" Qin Yutong asked.

"Nothing."

Zhang Ruochen shook his head softly. Looking at Qin Yutong's eyes, he continued, "Why do you think we fought this battle?"

"Your Majesty obviously did it so we could take revenge. After today, I am willing to die for you."

Zhang Ruochen's eyes narrowed. He stared at her.

Qin Yutong's eyes were a bit red. Biting her lips, she said, "Your Majesty might not know, but 800 years ago, after the Sacred Central Empire was destroyed, our ancestors met horrible ends. Many families were completely wiped out. The living ones were turned into the lowest of slaves, sold into brothels as sex slaves, died of exhaustion after working in mines, or were fed to savage beasts. During the dark times, any ragged slave from the market could have once been the pride of a powerful family.

"We wanted to rebel. We didn't want to be slaves and be stepped on, but each rebellion ended in failure. More and more people died. Our hatred grew over the generations through the protests.

"As long as we could defeat the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion, it would be worth it, even if we'll be killed by the imperial court's siege tomorrow morning."

Zhang Ruochen sighed and patted her shoulder. "There is nothing wrong with taking revenge, but we can't make it our life goal. We live to welcome a more beautiful world, instead of walking toward the abyss of death and living in darkness forever, understand?"

Qin Yutong thought about what Zhang Ruochen meant. What was welcoming a more beautiful world?

To her, conquering the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion would definitely cause the imperial court to strike back furiously. The coming days would be even more difficult. Bloody battles would come continuously. In the end, she may even die here.

But, so what?

While preparing to conquer the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion with the Crown Prince, Qin Yutong had already been ready to die.

"Send the order. All Saints and Half-Saints of the Sacred gather outside Xuanyuan Pavilion. In addition, each family and organization must send a representative. I have something important to announce."

Qin Yutong spread the message. Every cultivator who qualified hurried to the Xuanyuan Pavilion. There were actually more than 1,000 people.

In addition to humans, there were also Half-Humans.

Eight hundred years earlier, 300 Half-Human Clans were under the Sacred Central Empire. Even now, many of them were still loyal.

After the Crown Prince sent the order, they all swarmed over immediately.

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

"Long live the Crown Prince!"

…

One must admit that Zhang Ruochen had completely made his name after the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion battle. Though he didn't reach the late Emperor Ming's reputation, he could still intimidate the people below him.

He stood outside the dilapidated pavilion gates and looked down on everyone. His eyes moved past the figures. Suddenly, he saw someone familiar.

It was a woman. She stood in a cloud of black saintly smoke. Her figure was slender but very blurry. He couldn't see it clearly.

Even so, Zhang Ruochen recognized her immediately. It was Han Qiu.

Her beautiful face showed through the black smoke and she smiled eerily at Zhang Ruochen.

Expression unchanging, Zhang Ruochen announced, "We have already conquered the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion. We have killed Heavenly King Lingxiao. What do you think we should do now?"

The Saints knew that Zhang Ruochen had plans, so they kept quiet.

However, the people under the Saint Realm were all divided. Someone said, "The Crown Prince should immediately claim the throne and reestablish the Sacred Central Empire in the Royal Capital. Fight to the end with the First Central Empire. I am willing to die for the Crown Prince."

"We should go conquer the Peakless Mountain, destroy the Demonic Sect, and help the Crown Prince steal back the Saintess."

"Yes, yes. How can our Crown Princess marry a tree? Destroy the Demonic Sect, destroy the fire tribe, and kill the tree."

…

After the chaos died down, Zhang Ruochen finally said, "With the Sacred's current abilities, are we able to counter the First Central Empire?"

Everyone fell silent.

Eight hundred years. In eight hundred full years, it was the first time the old followers of the Sacred Central Empire could stand up with straight backs and speak. Everyone was still excited, but Zhang Ruochen crushed the excitement.

Actually, they were all clear that going up against the First Central Empire now was like an egg hitting a rock. But they were in high spirits. How could he say something that lowered his own power and prestige?

"The most important reason why I issued this edict was to unite everyone," Zhang Ruochen continued. "I don't wish to see everyone continue to hide here and there, or become slaves. Even more, I don't wish to see you all die.

"If you want to live, we must live well and with dignity.

"It was the Zhang Family's fault that the Sacred Central Empire was destroyed. We affected you all. But today, I, Zhang Ruochen, am back to reestablish the Sacred Central Empire. I will open my protection again and help push up a dignified space for you all.

"But the new Sacred Central Empire won't be in the Royal Capital. It will be elsewhere."

Using spatial power, Zhang Ruochen pushed forward. He opened the gates of the Universe World. A hundred-foot-tall door of light appeared outside the Xuanyuan Pavilion.

All the Saints, Half-Saints, family lords, and leaders of organizations walked through the light door and entered the Universe World.

"Oh my, this is actually another world. The Spiritual Qi is much denser than the Kunlun's Field. That poor world can't compare."

"Are my eyes lying? That's the Divine Sky-connecting Tree. Wasn't the legendary World Spiritual Root cut already? How could it be growing in this world?"

"The Spring of Life, Spring of Life. If we can always cultivate in this world, everyone's lifespans will increase too."

"The Sacred Central Empire will be established here? This is great! The Cai Family will establish a saintly city."

"This world is so vast and filled with resources. Does this all belong to the Sacred Central Empire?"

"Cultivating here, I will definitely reach the Saint Realm. I'm not leaving. I won't leave even if you kill me. It would be even better if my entire clan could move to this world!"

…

In the Universe World, all the cultivators were going crazy with excitement, even the Saints. Many people just sat down below the Divine Sky-connecting Tree and started cultivating.

Outside the Xuanyuan Pavilion

Whoosh—

A black spot of light appeared out of nowhere.

It spun quickly and enlarged. Finally, it transformed into a 30-foot-wide black hole.

Han Qiu stood in the center of the black hole. The power of darkness spreading from her seemed to be enough to swallow all the surrounding light. "You actually dared to send them all into the Universe World. Aren't you afraid that they have spies from the imperial court and will spread the news?"

Zhang Ruochen was calm. "You think a spy would be willing to risk their lives to conquer the Lingxiao Heavenly Kingdom with me? Plus, the Universe World and Divine Sky-connecting Tree aren't any secrets. Doesn't the top authority of the imperial court already know about this? So what if news spreads to them?"

Hearing this, a cold smile appeared in Han Qiu's eyes. "I told you long ago that Huang Yanchen is a bitch. She isn't good enough for you at all. Next time I see her, I'll kill her for you."

There was no change in emotion on Zhang Ruochen's face. He was extremely calm.

Han Qiu collected the coldness and evil Qi. She walked out of the black hole. A slender hand hooked onto Zhang Ruochen's wrist and she fell into Zhang Ruochen's arms. "Earlier," she said sweetly, "I killed five imperial court Saints. Crown Prince, what kind of reward will you give me?"

Having a beautiful and soft woman in his arms, Zhang Ruochen didn't push her aside like before. "You should know that I'm never one to be stingy. If you work for me and have achievements, you will definitely receive the best cultivation resources. Since you chose to come back, don't leave and go report to the Guarding Dragon Pavilion!"