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Translator: Fate
Translation Checker: Silavin
In addition to the matter with the list, Yin Mei also put forward many suggestions that Gu Changge found extremely useful. For example, under the newly established Divine Empire, various Forces would hold official positions within the empire, and they would get to enjoy both rights and obligations that came with the positions.
Yin Mei also noticed Gu Changge’s intention to support ordinary cultivators in seeking to balance the interests of various Forces, ensuring that everyone would be suppressed or supported accordingly. For instance, some Ancient Forces, with long legacies, could be asked to offer their Force’s heritage and techniques as a contribution. In return, the Divine Empire would bestow many benefits to maintain the balance while exerting pressure on them.
In short, Yin Mei had delved into the art of ruling like an Emperor. Ji Qingxuan, too, harboured great ambition and suggested many methods to suppress various Forces. Through mutual discussions and drawing inspiration from one another, they came up with numerous good ideas.
Of course, the establishment of the Divine Empire also required Talents in various fields. Gu Changge had anticipated this and had already planned to gather Talents when he distributed those ‘cheats’ to people with great Fortituity in the Lower Realm in the past. Now, these Fortuitous Ones, who possessed different abilities, were deeply devoted to Gu Changge, having received his blessings since their childhood. They referred to themselves as his Divine Envoys and Divine Disciples.
“Young Master, now that you are the Divine Lord and the ruler of both the Divine Empire and countless lands, you should consider all these as your territory. There is no land under heaven that is not yours…” Yin Mei’s delicate hands lightly massaged Gu Changge’s forehead as she spoke in a gentle tone.
She was ambitious. Although Gu Changge had not yet taken an Empress or even a concubine, many ministers of the Divine Empire believed she was capable of managing everything efficiently. Although Yue Mingkong was Gu Changge’s official wife, her presence and authority in the Divine Empire were far inferior to Yin Mei’s. Some even thought that Yin Mei might be a more suitable choice than Yue Mingkong if Gu Changge were to have an Empress of the Divine Empire in the future.
Of course, Gu Changge was aware of these opinions. He understood that such discussions were inevitable after the establishment of the Divine Empire. Yin Mei and Yue Mingkong had both mentioned it to him several times, urging him to address these matters and prevent the ministers of the Divine Empire from speculating. Many things required considering the bigger picture, and he couldn’t handle them as casually as before.
Moreover, Yin Mei was a bit worried that Yue Mingkong would misunderstand, which was why she would repeatedly ask Gu Changge about it. While Yin Mei was ambitious, she would not act unreasonably or overstep her boundaries.
“I’ve made arrangements for these matters way back. Now, what remains before me is the Immortal Ascension. In the face of absolute strength, these rules can be changed or established at will. Just like now, establishing the Divine Empire and ruling over all under heaven is nothing more than a whimsical game for me. It is up to me whether I want the world,” Gu Changge said with a faint smile as he took the tea that Yin Mei handed him and lightly blew on it.
He did not regard the foundation of the Divine Empire as something significant. All it was to him was a means to absorb the Power of Faith. After all, regardless of the current splendour of the Divine Empire, it was all upheld by him alone. If he were to suddenly disappear, Gu Changge would not be surprised if the Divine Empire collapsed overnight.
“Young Master, do you know how infuriating those words sounded?” Yin Mei’s beautiful eyes blinked when she heard Gu Changge’s words. She felt that he was too nonchalant and did not attach much importance to the matter at hand. “This is the Everlasting Immortal Divine Empire, the only True Immortal Force that has emerged in the Upper Realm after many years. It can be recorded in ancient history and exist for eternity. I believe that even if there are dramatic changes in the future, the Divine Empire will stand forever in the river of time…”
This was her greatest ambition: to help Gu Changge establish a True Immortal Empire that would last through the ages.
“Was it that infuriating?” Gu Changge smiled and pulled her into his arms. His gaze seemed to penetrate the vast expanse of space, overlooking everything from the pinnacle of the Divine Empire.
Yin Mei gazed at him with eyes filled with admiration and love. But then she remembered something as she quickly mentioned with a hint of distress. “Young Master, regarding the matter of choosing an Empress and taking in concubines, many ministers have been advising during this period, suggesting that we bring in the Saintesses or Gifted Ladies from various Families. Even some renowned women with unparalleled cultivation and exquisite beauty have expressed their desire to enter the Divine Palace. Among them is the Golden Sun Gifted Lady from the Godly Illusion Clan…”
The Golden Sun Gifted Lady was a true ancient powerhouse. She was a venerable existence from the Godly Illusion Clan who had plenty of encounters with Gu Changge. In her prime, she overshadowed the world and was pursued by countless. She eventually became a dominant figure of her era, achieving great cultivation heights.
Such practices were not uncommon in Forces, let alone in the Divine Empire that aimed to rule over all under heaven. Many Forces wanted to gain a foothold in the vast Divine Empire through such means, as it was the trend since ancient times.
The news of the Immortal Selection List had long spread throughout the Upper Realm, causing shock and drawing discussions in every corner of the cosmos. Even the ancient Forbidden Areas that had been dormant for a long time were in upheaval.
The myriad realms were vast, and even the most powerful cultivators could not claim to know every corner and comprehend everything. However, the establishment of the Divine Empire presented hope to all living beings and showcased the awe-inspiring ambition of ruling over all under heaven.
As the Lord of the Divine Empire, everything Gu Changge did had a profound impact on every corner of the universe. Who wouldn’t fear and respect him? For the Upper Realm, this would be a groundbreaking era, a new era that would reshape the epochs.
Gu Changge’s expression remained unchanged even after he heard those words. He had anticipated this, and Yue Mingkong had mentioned it before. As the Divine Lord of the Divine Empire and a true Emperor, he couldn’t possibly only have a single Empress.
Yue Mingkong, as the Empress of the Unrivalled Celestial Dynasty and having ruled for many years, naturally knew what Gu Changge would face. She didn’t mind at all. She even believed that Gu Changge needed to consider this matter carefully and make arrangements for the many women to be by his side.
Although she had been more domineering and jealous in the past, many of her thoughts had changed since their marriage. In Gu Changge’s eyes, she now exuded an aura of a motherly model of an entire nation, and she could handle everything.
“What about that Golden Sun Gifted Lady? How many epochs has she lived for? I’m actually quite surprised that even she has considered coming to the Divine Palace.” Gu Changge shook his head. He would find it quite normal if it were Jiang Luoshen from the Godly Illusion Clan who wanted to become his concubine. But the fact that the Golden Sun Gifted Lady had such intentions genuinely surprised him.
After what happened in the Resplendence Universe, the number of hidden experts had sharply declined, let alone female hidden experts.
Yin Mei also felt somewhat resigned. “The Senior Golden Sun Gifted Lady from the Godly Illusion Clan has voluntarily expressed her desire to enter the Divine Palace and be in your company, Young Master…”
Gu Changge put on a small smile. “She is an experienced woman who has lived for a long time. It’s unlikely that her intention is solely based on admiration. I suspect she is worried about hidden dangers in the Immortal Selection List but doesn’t want to miss the opportunity to become an Immortal. That’s why she came up with this idea.” He didn’t believe that his charm was so great that a hidden expert would willingly serve him in the Divine Palace. It was merely a decision made for the sake of becoming Immortal.
Of course, Gu Changge didn’t feel anything about this. It was difficult for someone at his level to casually express his emotions, no matter the joy, anger, grief, or resentment.
However, Yin Mei’s expression turned serious when she heard Gu Changge’s words. On her enchanting and beautiful face, a solemn look appeared as she explained, “You shouldn’t say that, Young Master. To all in the Upper Realm, you have braved dangers, resolved numerous calamities, and established the only true Everlasting Immortal Divine Empire in the past myriad ages. How magnificent is that? It’s an achievement that no cultivator would even dare to imagine. Moreover, you are a True Immortal in this era. How many men out there can compare to you in terms of appearance? In terms of talent and aptitude, too, there is no one who can surpass you. You are someone who rarely appears even in myths and legends. Who among the women in this world wouldn’t be captivated by you?
“Senior Golden Sun Gifted Lady was a divine beauty who surpassed all in her era, and she was pursued and admired by countless. It’s normal for her to have feelings for you.”
This was how Gu Changge appeared in Yin Mei’s eyes. She hadn’t said a word she didn’t mean.
Gu Changge chuckled and couldn’t help but tap her nose gently. “When did you learn to flatter others?”
His thoughts wandered a bit as he looked at Yin Mei before him. Initially, he had only planted a Demonic Seed in her to make her do tasks for him. He even planned to discard her like a disposable chess piece once she had fulfilled her purpose. Who would have thought that she would end up becoming one of the closest people to him? All along, Yin Mei had helped him. In some matters, she had done more than Yue Mingkong. It was such a twist of fate.
“I’m not making it up, Young Master! If you don’t believe me, you can personally ask around and see if any of the prodigal damsels would say otherwise.” Yin Mei’s face was solemn.
Gu Changge only smiled as he took out a booklet and placed it in front of her. “Mingkong gave this to me. You can take a look.”
Hearing that, Yin Mei curiously took the booklet, and her gaze fell upon its contents. The main focus of the booklet was about the selection of the Empress and the consorts. It discussed how to divide the powers within the imperial harem, with the Empress holding the highest position, followed by the divine consorts and heavenly consorts. There would be one empress, while there could be three or four divine consorts, and the number of heavenly consorts could be even greater. The system was very casual and flexible, ready to take in even more concubines, even going with classification such as main consort and side consorts.
“Was this prepared by Empress Yue Mingkong in advance?” A pleasantly surprised expression appeared on Yin Mei’s face when she saw her position among the divine consorts. Without a doubt, the position of Empress belonged to Yue Mingkong alone, and the other positions were to be discussed and decided with her at a later time.
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Well, I’m a bit surprised to be perfectly honest.