Chapter 2172: Chapter 1046: The Faces of All Beings! Interrogating Zhi Yan!

Lanling issued an order for everyone to withdraw from the Sky Holy Palace, leaving only the Hell Knight, Wutou, leading twenty thousand samurai to guard the Floating Heavenly Palace.

Then Lanling led his entire family and the surrendered hundreds of thousands of the Sanctuary Legion, grandly leaving the dimension of the Sky Holy Palace and returning to the Human Kingdom.

Queen Empress Dienie, leading the Ashi Liren, Empress Zhi Ning, and others, greeted them at the Yanjing Holy Temple.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, congratulations on your triumphant return!"

Ashi Yuanba’s eyes were always fixed on Ashi Liren, who was not his biological mother but surpassed her.

After everyone had paid their respects, he held Qin Qin’s hand and ran to Ashi Liren, knelt down, and said, "Greetings, Mother."

Qin Qin softly said, "Greetings, Aunt."

Ashi Liren missed Ashi Yuanba and Qin Qin every day, worrying about them. Now seeing them, she instead remained very calm, gently stroking Ashi Yuanba’s face, then gently hugged Qin Qin, kissed her forehead, and said, "Qin Qin has become so beautiful."

Qin Qin softly said, "Aunt is the most beautiful woman in the world."

At this moment, Zhi Yu stared at Qin Qin for a while. Qin Qin once took him around to play, but he was too young to remember. However, being of Lanling’s bloodline, his bloodline energy and cerebral domain were more developed than an average person, so he had some impression.

"This is Sister Qin Qin," Zhi Ning said.

Qin Qin sweetly smiled at Zhi Yu and said, "Xiao Yu!"

Zhi Yu also sweetly called, "Sister."

Then pointed at Ling Yaya beside him and said, "This is my little wife Yaya, also father’s adopted daughter."

At that moment, Yaya was gazing at Lanling. Hearing Zhi Yu’s words, she unreservedly punched him with a pink fist and, unsatisfied, kicked him again, revealing her little white teeth and said, "Zhi Yu, if you ever say I’m your wife again, I’ll hit you."

This little appearance was fierce, but her big eyes were full of shyness.

She sweetly called towards Lanling, "Dad!"

Then, she flapped her wings and flew into Lanling’s arms, surprisingly able to fly.

Originally, Gui Ling’er had Lanling’s embrace to herself, but seeing Ling Yaya occupying the other half of the embrace and able to fly, she was both hateful and jealous, glaring at her fiercely and said, "I don’t like you."

Ling Yaya made a face, snorted, and said, "I don’t like you either."

Then the little girl deliberately kissed all over Lanling’s face, making Gui Ling’er’s little face redden with anger, wanting to wave her little fists to hit Yaya. Frustrated, she turned to Fu Zilin and said, "Fu Zilin, you’re not allowed to talk to her from now on."

Fu Zilin nodded seriously, agreeing, but turned around and smiled broadly at Yaya.

That evening, Lanling’s entire family gathered, dozens of people surrounded a huge table enjoying dinner.

More than ten years had passed, and this family finally sat together again. Although some people were missing, there were also more new faces.

The whole family was harmonious and happy, with many children laughing and talking, limitless happiness.

...

"Minister Gui Xingfu, at Your Majesty’s service!"

"Minister Yan Wuzhi, at Your Majesty’s service."

"Minister Tuli Ming, at Your Majesty’s service."

"Minister Tuli Yang, at Your Majesty’s service."

The four important ministers of Lanling in the Human Kingdom reported various affairs to him.

"The reconstruction of Tiandu has commenced, and it will be completed about three years later. At that time, if Your Majesty misses your homeland, you can visit," Gui Xingfu said.

Tiandu was originally Tianshui City. Since Lanling had become the great emperor of the world, his hometown naturally became one of the world’s capitals, praised as Tiandu.

Lanling said: "The construction of Tiandu is not merely a personal triumphal return. More importantly, it serves as a window for the new policies, a window for the new type of human metropolis. All structures, crystal stone energy power, rail transport, and aerial transport must be complete. This is a window to showcase to the entire Human Empire, so the steps need to be taken as large as possible."

"Yes," Gui Xingfu said. "I have had several meetings with Prime Minister Tang. He has organized a design team of more than three hundred people to plan the construction of Tiandu. It has basically been finalized, and is awaiting Prime Minister Tang’s review. I believe Prime Minister Tang will soon submit it to Your Majesty for final approval."

Yan Wuzhi said: "Your Majesty, currently in the Human Kingdom, there is an extreme shortage of talent for the new policies. A large number of personnel might need to be allocated from the Flame Demon Empire. However, the journey from the Flame Demon Empire to the Human Kingdom is excessively long; it takes a month and a half by crystal stone-powered airship. Since Your Majesty unified the world, humans entering the Demon Territory are no longer energy-suppressed, and demons entering the Human Kingdom are no longer energy-suppressed. Therefore, is it necessary to open up a faster pathway, enabling normal interactions between the Flame Demon Empire and the Flame Dragon Empire?"

Lanling closed his eyes, contemplating this very important point.

Previously, while in the Demon Territory, he thought about closing the Northern Aurora Gate, to prevent humans from easily entering the Demon Territory. Now it seemed necessary to open the Energy Gate, making it easy for demons to pass through the Aurora Gate into the Human Kingdom.

In this way, the distance between the Demon Race and the Human Kingdom could be reduced to within five days.

However, is it necessary to open this Aurora Gate? 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

...

"Both of you were once leaders of the Sky Holy Palace. Do you think it’s necessary to open the energy gate from the Demon Territory into the Human Kingdom?" Lanling asked.

Ning Wuya fell into silence, unsure of how to respond for a moment.

Tian Daoqi said: "The condemned minister thinks it might be necessary. Your Majesty has unified the world and possesses the Chaotic Bloodline. Therefore, the energy repulsion between demons and humans is dissolved in invisibility. At this time, it is just right to break previous divisions, discard past grudges, and jointly develop the Dragon Demon Planet. We strive for the earliest possible repair of the huge fissure in the Fallen Land, aiming for an uplift in world civilization."

Lanling laughed: "Your Excellency Tian Daoqi has such a broad vision, but why didn’t you think of this earlier?"

Tian Daoqi bowed and said: "This requires leadership by an extremely strong leader to lead demons and humans to abandon hate and build together. Originally, the Sky Holy Palace intended to assume this role, but now it is impossible. So perhaps Your Majesty as the mediator is the most perfect result."

Lanling chuckled without agreeing or disagreeing; in fact, he had already made up his mind long ago, but he was just asking on purpose.

...

Gui Xingfu and Yan Wuzhi, as key ministers of the Human Kingdom, were almost busy to the point of flying every day. They finished work at twelve midnight and started work again at five in the morning.

Sometimes, their workplace was the Yanjing Palace, while other times it was the palace in the Rage Wave Kingdom. Fortunately, Lanling granted them a higher level of bloodline; otherwise, they would have long collapsed from exhaustion.

Lanling didn’t like the Flame Empire’s palace, so after staying in Yanjing for a day, he returned to Zhi Du in the Rage Wave Kingdom. All the key ministers also followed him to Zhi Du.

At the break of dawn, the two of them rode a carriage to the palace.

The road was packed with people. Upon seeing the carriage, they all knelt neatly on both sides of the road, not daring to block the way, just kneeling there, waiting for the two ministers to meet them, or even not daring to seek an audience, just hoping to be seen.

These people were the surviving elite of the Human Kingdom’s civil and military officials, nobility, and bureaucratic class.

Now that the ruling class of the entire Human Kingdom had been wiped out, countless positions were vacant. They kneeled here day after day, just to be seen by Gui Xingfu, Yan Wuzhi, and others.

Among these people were former cabinet members of the Rage Wave Kingdom and the Flame Empire, who survived Lanling’s previous purge by luck. Now they wanted to regain official positions. Meeting Lanling was out of the question, so they could only kneel to Gui Xingfu here.

"Guilty minister Ji Mengbai, pays respects to the Prime Minister and the King’s Father-in-Law."

Ji Mengbai was bold enough to kneel directly in the middle of the road.

Gui Xingfu was truly speechless. Ji Mengbai had really let go of his pride; he was a direct disciple of the Sky Holy Palace, a person high above the clouds. Yet here he was, kneeling, waiting for Gui Xingfu and Yan Wuzhi.

The previous Ji Mengbai probably didn’t even regard the King of the Rage Wave Kingdom.

"What is it?" Gui Xingfu asked.

"The two lords have worked tirelessly for Your Majesty’s grand cause and for the welfare of the Human Kingdom. It pains me to see this, so I brewed some Crystal Stone Elixir to refresh and nourish both lords. Please, don’t consider it too humble," Ji Mengbai said, presenting two crystal stone jugs.

The Crystal Stone Elixir comes in several varieties, but it’s absolutely not something the commoners of the Human Kingdom can enjoy; it’s used exclusively by the Sky Holy Palace. In order to curry favor with the ministers, Ji Mengbai brewed it according to the formula and knelt here to offer it.

Then, Ji Mengbai knelt upright, holding the two crystal stone jugs, waiting for Gui Xingfu and the others to respond.

"Take them," Gui Xingfu instructed, and then said to Ji Mengbai, "You have a thoughtful heart."

Ji Mengbai was overjoyed and pressed his forehead to the ground, motionless.

...

In the evening, Gui Xingfu returned home early.

"Grandfather..." Gui Ling’er joyfully ran over.

Gui Xingfu hurriedly squatted down, and the little girl crashed into his arms, knocking him to the ground.

"Hahaha..." Gui Xingfu laughed, "My beloved Ling’er is really strong."

Then, he carried his granddaughter into the home.

"Father," Gui Qinshao stood up and said.

"Hey," Gui Xingfu replied.

Outside, every time Gui Xingfu saw Gui Qinshao, he always greeted him meticulously.

"I heard you accepted Ji Mengbai’s Crystal Stone Elixir this morning?" Gui Qinshao said.

Gui Xingfu smiled, "You learned of it so quickly?"

Gui Qinshao said, "It’s already spread throughout Zhi Du."

"Your Majesty won’t mind," Gui Qinshao said. "Ji Mengbai, such a shameless person, if Your Majesty accepts his surrender, he can use him. It’s just a matter of whether Ji Mengbai is perceptive. Few are both morally high and highly skilled."

Then, Gui Xingfu couldn’t help but remember his adoptive son Ling Ao, his eyes warming with tears, "If your brother Ling Ao were still here, it would be so wonderful. With His Majesty’s disposition, he might directly enfeoff him as the Duke of Rage Wave, entrusting him with a nation’s governance."

Gui Qinshao said, "How is that possible? Zhi Ning’s son Zhi Yu is the king of the Rage Wave Kingdom."

Gui Xingfu shook his head, "His Majesty would not be constrained by such things; I’ve come to understand. If you can have a son, that’s great; if not, it doesn’t matter. His Majesty is very spontaneous in employing people, and if Gui Ling’er is talented enough in the future, he might even enfeoff her as a queen."

Gui Qinshao said, "Father, you haven’t considered finding another woman to extend the Gui Clan?"

Gui Xingfu displayed a sorrowful expression, "The honor I have today—if I still covet more, I will incur heaven’s wrath."

...

Zhi Yan never sought a private meeting with Lanling, so Lanling simply sought her out.

At this time, Zhi Yan was no longer in the water prison; she was in another cell, simple yet clean.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Zhi Yan quietly knelt down.

Lanling smiled and said, "Zhi Yan, I’ve heard you’re an Observer for the Lunar Holy Palace; is this true?"

...

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