[Ding!! A member of your family has established a nation and proclaimed themselves emperor. Achievement unlocked: A Family Becomes a Nation!] [Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: +10 to the comprehension of all family members] [Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: +5% birth rate of Sacred Body family members] [Congratulations to the Host for receiving the reward: +2% birth rate of Divine Body family members] The system notification chimed loudly in Su Zhou’s ears. At the same time, several figures were rapidly approaching from the horizon. “The Divine Xia Empire congratulates the founding of Great Qin!” “As a tribute: a thousand spiritual mines, a hundred divine herbs, and a thousand Tianshan spirit stones…” At the edge of the sky, Liu Ran, emperor of the Divine Xia Empire, led a group of ministers and bowed deeply. Even before Su Zhou’s expedition, Liu Ran had already been aware of this matter. He had immediately gathered a number of powerful cultivators to come support, but they had only just entered the Tianhan Empire’s territory… when the proclamation of Great Qin’s founding had already resounded. Thus, they changed their support into an offering of tribute. Moreover, Liu Ran’s gaze kept shifting, as though contemplating something. He entered the imperial palace and strode directly to Su Zhou, casting aside his status as emperor, and bowed deeply before Su Zhou. “The Divine Xia Empire is willing to become a vassal to Great Qin. I humbly ask the Family Patriarch to take us in!!” Liu Ran’s voice rang with resolute conviction. This was a decision he had made just moments ago. The Su Family had accepted the Tianhan territory, but their ancestral grounds lay within Divine Xia’s borders. How could one allow others to snore beside one’s bed?—Liu Ran naturally understood this principle. Rather than wait for future risk, it was better to pledge allegiance to the Su Family directly. This Su Family’s origins were shrouded in mystery and awe— if he could enter under their banner, then one day he might truly soar to the heavens in a single step! Su Zhou clearly saw through Liu Ran’s thoughts and inwardly admired the man’s decisiveness. However, those not of our family must be viewed with suspicion. At the very least, he needed a reason to trust Liu Ran. Su Zhou turned his hand, and a Netherlord Pill appeared in his palm. He handed it to Liu Ran wordlessly. Liu Ran didn’t ask a single question—he swallowed it down in one gulp. After consuming the Netherlord Pill, one would unconsciously develop absolute loyalty to Su Zhou, though nothing would seem different on the surface. “Respected Lord!” Liu Ran said with reverence. In his eyes, Su Zhou now appeared as divine and majestic as a god. Even if Su Zhou were to order him to die now, he would obey without hesitation. Su Zheng, though born with the aura of a ruler, had no prior experience. Liu Ran, on the other hand, would serve as an excellent teacher. At present, Great Qin was in desperate need of rebuilding—there was much to do. And truth be told, Su Zheng was very well-liked among the family. Many family members voluntarily chose to stay behind and assist him in restoring the nation. Su Zhou was more than happy to see this. Afterward, he took the remaining family members and returned to the Lingxiao Blessed Land. From that moment, the Tianhan Empire ceased to exist. The Great Qin Empire took over all of Tianhan’s resources. The name ‘Lingxiao Su Family’ swept across the entire Tiandu Domain like a storm. A vast empire, yet it fell in a single night. That sky-shrouding Moon-Grasping Azure Dragon became an unseen shadow that loomed over the whole of Tiandu Domain. With the rise of the Great Qin Empire came a unique doctrine: Unlike other nations that revered gold, Great Qin revered black. It was rumored that this tradition stemmed from the mysterious and immensely powerful Su Family Patriarch, who had a fondness for wearing black robes. “Family Patriarch… I shall not let you down!” “You named our nation Great Qin, refusing allegiance to the Four Divine Empires—I understand your expectations!” “The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the Three Thousand Great Domains… there are too many nations, too much noise…” Su Zheng stood atop the imperial city wall, resembling a solitary crane. He gazed toward the heavens with an expression void of joy or sorrow, as if he were contemplating the engulfing of all creation. At this moment, his cultivation began to soar madly. In a matter of moments, his realm rose from the Seventh Level of Meridian Unblocking straight to the Peak of the External Manifestation Realm. This cultivation speed could rival even that of the god-demon Su Nan. He cultivated in tandem with the empire—its national destiny flowed into him. If, one day, Great Qin truly became the one and only eternal empire, then even in an era of declining cultivation, he could still become the unparalleled… Emperor!!! But Su Zhou remained unaware of Su Zheng’s changes and ambitions. Because no matter how strong Su Zheng became, his power would still be an extension of Su Zhou’s strength. At that moment, Su Zhou was seated atop Lingxiao Peak, examining the rewards he had just received. He immediately chose to activate the Ten Ferocities’ Kunpeng Technique. A flood of divine insights surged through his mind. Yin and yang energies swirled around him, cycling endlessly, and the surrounding space grew increasingly illusory. Su Zhou’s figure became increasingly unfathomable. Though clearly seated there, it was as if he existed beyond countless layers of space. Then, he stood up and took a single step. Space flickered in the void. That single step actually traversed over half the empire. And this was merely Su Zhou moving casually. If the Kunpeng Divine Art were used at full strength— it was unimaginable how terrifying his speed would be. Combined with his monstrous physique… he would be a natural disaster incarnate! “Not bad…” Su Zhou nodded in satisfaction. Next, a three-leaf herb appeared in his hand. Though it appeared plain at first glance, anyone with great magical ability would notice the faint currents of time rippling around it. Leaf of Reversing Three Lifetimes—an anti-heavenly treasure capable of granting a second lifetime. Countless near-death old monsters craved this herb with desperation. To live a second life… These beings, each capable of shaking the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, would give up everything just to obtain this tiny Leaf of Reversing Three Lifetimes, just to witness the world one more time. It was said this leaf grew at the edges of the River of Time—a supreme creation rarely seen in all of existence. Each time it appeared in the world, it invited endless bloodshed across all realms. And yet, Su Zhou had ten of them. “Tch, brimming with spiritual energy… not bad for a potted plant.” Su Zhou said casually. He was barely forty years old and already at the Star Holding Realm, with a lifespan of three thousand years. By that measure, Su Zhou’s youthfulness was almost terrifying. In the eyes of countless top cultivators, this herb was priceless, but in Su Zhou’s hands—it was just a decorative bonsai. After arranging the Reverse-Life Three-Lives Leaves around Lingxiao Peak, Su Zhou chose to examine the Son of Confucian Dao Template. This item had a very straightforward effect: Upon use, the family would give birth to a Son of Confucian Dao, one who bore a great Dao and surely possessed an extraordinary destiny. Without hesitation, Su Zhou activated it. Then, he turned his eyes to another item in his system inventory— the one he anticipated the most: Taboo Art: Ninefold Reversal of the Dao! A reward from his investment in Su Nan— for a technique to be labeled ‘Taboo’, it could only be unimaginably powerful. After all, the calamity that had once destroyed the most radiant era… was known as— Taboo! Without the slightest hesitation, Su Zhou activated the Ninefold Reversal of the Dao. In an instant, a brilliant golden light bloomed before his eyes— In the next moment, he seemed to arrive in a void. It was a barren emptiness, where countless corpses floated silently, and dead stars drifted slowly across the sky. The Heavenly Dao here was shattered and wailing, the Great Daos had fallen in lamentation— each corpse radiated terrifying Dao aura…