December 1st, the first year of the Great Han Dynasty.
At this time, the city of Chang'an had been expanded outwards by hundreds of feet. The vast city, straddling the center of Sili, was like a vibrant heart, propelling the entire Great Han Dynasty across its vast territory of hundreds of millions of miles.
A golden five-clawed dragon of immense fortune, coiled above the city of Chang'an, endlessly exhaling golden dragon's breath.
The four great gates of Chang'an city were all sealed. Only at the south gate of Chang'an did tens of thousands of common people gather.
Among them were citizens of the Great Han, as well as top powers from the Holy Yuan Dynasty, the Ten Great Families, and the Fourth Prince Ying Zhong and Eighth Prince Ying Jia of the Holy Yuan Dynasty.
The Great Han's unification of the Eight Great Dynasties had utterly astounded many forces of the Holy Yuan Dynasty. Especially after the death of Granny Wang, the current Human Emperor, without a word, directly unleashed his fury upon the Bai family. Each successive event fueled the flames, solidifying the Great Han Dynasty's strength, which was no weaker than a Royal Dynasty.
A month ago, the Great Han had hosted guests from all directions to attend the Qian Yuan Festival a month later. This was the birthday of the King of Han, Yang Hao, and it was named the Qian Yuan Festival.
Invitations were sent to many forces of the Holy Yuan Dynasty, and prominent figures of the Holy Yuan Dynasty all rushed to the Great Han territory, wishing to witness the imperial prestige of the Great Han.
As the sky was just beginning to lighten, many stars were still faintly visible.
At this time, the four gates of Chang'an city were tightly shut, and hundreds of millions of cultivators were gathered at the south gate of Chang'an, waiting silently.
"Is this the Great Han?" a young man dressed in white, holding a feather fan, said in a low voice. "I wonder how the Holy Yuan Dynasty governs its subordinate dynasties. This Great Han is right under the nose of the Human Emperor of the Holy Yuan, yet it reigns supreme among dynasties. It is even rumored to be able to contend with our Royal Dynasties!"
"Who do I see? Isn't this the Third Prince Yun Han of the Great Yuan Dynasty? What, does your Great Yun Dynasty wish to overshadow the Great Han? Our Holy Yuan Dynasty will not interfere!" Ying Zhong said with a dark face and a deep voice.
There were as many as four Royal Dynasties bordering the Holy Yuan Dynasty: the Great Yuan Dynasty, the Cang Mu Dynasty, the Bei Han Dynasty, and the Tian Yuan Dynasty. These five great Royal Dynasties occupied the southwestern corner of the Eastern Wasteland, making them the five overlords of this region.
"Heh heh heh, Ying Zhong, you should worry about how to contend for the position of Human Emperor with your eighth brother. The affairs of our Great Yun Dynasty do not require your concern!" Yun Han's face changed drastically.
The Great Han, for reasons unknown, had merged with the eight dynasties it had conquered, becoming a new continent in the southwestern seas, comparable in size to the Great Yun.
At this time, the Cang Mu Dynasty, the Bei Han Dynasty, and the Tian Yuan Dynasty had not come to the Great Han because they were too far away. No matter how powerful the Great Han was, it could not threaten them.
Currently, the only powers facing the Great Han across the sea were the Holy Yuan Dynasty to the east and the Great Yun Dynasty to the northeast.
The Great Han, by merging the eight islands, had greatly expanded its land area. Even without using teleportation arrays, it would only take half a month by ship to reach the two great Royal Dynasties.
"Hmph!"
Upon hearing Yun Han's words, Ying Zhong's face immediately darkened. After the Second Prince and Seventh Prince interfered in the affairs of the Great Han, their foundations were all wiped out by the Great Han. He had not mobilized a single soldier, yet he had eliminated two rivals.
What he did not expect was that he, who had always been favored by the Human Emperor, had suddenly fallen out of favor for some unknown reason. His eighth brother, Ying Jia, had become the favored one before the Human Emperor.
In the span of a month, half of the power he controlled had been instantly stripped away. And at this moment, his dear eighth brother was watching him with a smile not far away.
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
Suddenly, within the mountains surrounding Chang'an city, a commotion erupted. Roars like those of a million-strong army striking the void echoed and shook all directions.
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Rumble!!"
"Stomp stomp stomp!!"
In an instant, it was as if ten thousand armies were galloping through the mountains, raising dust and smoke!
Behold, over two million soldiers of the Great Han emerged from the mountains with a thunderous roar, marching mightily towards the plaza at the south gate of Chang'an.
In that instant, all the martial artists present flinched aside, and the vast plaza at the south gate, filled with martial artists, rapidly emptied.
These millions of soldiers were too formidable. Especially the million-strong army at the very front, divided into eight different colors. At the forefront of each army stood a blood-soaked banner, imbued with different divine beasts and ferocious beasts.
"That's the Vermilion Bird Legion!"
"That's the Sky-Rending Rhinoceros Legion! I saw it in the capital of the Ao Long Dynasty!"
"I've seen it too, that's the Azure Dragon Legion!!"
...
In an instant, the citizens of the former various dynasties became frenzied, all rejoicing at being protected by the powerful army of the Great Han.
Flanking the Azure Dragon Legion, the Sky-Rending Rhinoceros Legion, and the Vermilion Bird Legion were the Qilin Legion, clad in red armor, and the Qiongqi Legion, clad in yellow, also displaying their formidable might to the world for the first time.
"Grandmasters!"
"An entire legion of Grandmasters!"
Ying Qu exclaimed. He had expected the Great Han to possess top-tier martial strength, but he never imagined that its army would be on par with those of the Royal Dynasties.
The Great Han, terrifying indeed!
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
The million-strong army, as if a single entity, marched with perfect uniformity to within tens of feet of the south gate of Chang'an, and then halted instantly. Each Great Han soldier’s face was solemn as they held their sharp blades, gazing at the city tower of the south gate, silently awaiting the King's command.
"Buzz~~"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
Suddenly, the south gate of Chang'an city slowly opened. Imperial Guards, clad in flying fish robes, swiftly emerged from within the city and lined up on both sides of the gate!
Stomp stomp stomp!!
"By order of the Human King!"
Mao Xiang, holding the Human King's decree, stepped into the void, looking down at the million-strong army and the tens of thousands of martial artists!
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Hah!"
"Boom!!"
The million-strong army instantly sheathed their spears and halberds and knelt down on one knee with a rumble. The resounding sound, like a tidal wave tens of thousands of feet high, spread outwards from Chang'an city as its center!
"Greetings to my King, long live the King, long live the King, ten thousand years!"
"Greetings to my King, long live the King, long live the King, ten thousand years!"
"Greetings to my King, long live the King, long live the King, ten thousand years!"
...
In an instant, the citizens of the Great Han also knelt down, their eyes filled with tears, shouting "Long live!"
"Foreign subjects pay respects to the King of Han!"
Ying Jia, Ying Zhong, Yun Han, and other figures from the Royal Dynasties slightly bowed, performing a grand salute!
"By order of the Human King!"
"Citizens of the Great Han, and all foreign martial artists, you may now enter Chang'an city to participate in the Human King's Qian Yuan Festival!"
Mao Yang used the primal energy of his spiritual sea realm to envelop his voice, causing it to boom and spread, clearly reaching the ears of every martial artist.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your sacred grace!"
...
The martial artists shouted in unison, offering their thanks to the Human King. With solemn expressions, they all entered the legendary capital of the Great Han—Chang'an city!