Hua Fuguang and Hua Lüeying now admired their own judgement even more.
If they had chosen to become enemies with Ling Xiao back then, the One-Eyed Pirate Crew, the Black Python Family, and Jade Wave Island would have been their examples!
“Let us leave together, then.”
Everyone tidied up a little and departed from Sin City, which was thick with the smell of blood.
At this moment, Sin City had utterly become a dead city.
Heavenly Dynasty Empire, Divine Capital.
The city lived up to its name, exuding majestic divine authority and giving people an impression of incomparable dominance.
Across the entire Heavenly Dragon Continent, Divine Capital occupied the largest area and was the most prosperous metropolis. Not only was the economy developed, but the people’s lives were affluent.
Everyone in Divine Capital practised martial arts. It had become a prevailing custom.
At this time, several miles outside the walls of Divine Capital, at Divine Capital Port, countless common folk were watching the erection of a stone statue. Hundreds of craftsmen were busily working at full speed.
Huge engineering puppets had also become very useful tools.
Unlike in other nations where people were forcibly conscripted for labour, in the Heavenly Dynasty Empire, any court project offered generous remuneration.
Thus, it not only avoided exhausting the people and draining resources, but actually stimulated economic development.
Just this statue, over ten metres tall, had provided livelihood for many sculptors and masons.
The statue depicted a handsome face, clad in military attire, wearing white clothes and a white cloak, holding a three-foot green blade in hand, gazing far into the distance.
In those deep eyes shone wisdom and arrogance.
The subject of this statue was none other than the Heavenly Emperor of the Heavenly Dynasty Empire, Ling Xiao.
Heavenly Emperor Ling Xiao had stormed the world and awed the Heavenly Dragon Continent. Not only had he defeated the True Demon Empire, but he had repeatedly thwarted the Sea Clan’s ambitions to restore their rule.
Throughout the entire Heavenly Dynasty Empire, though not every place was as prosperous and peaceful as Divine Capital, life was absolutely far better than when they had been oppressed by the True Demon Empire.
Outsiders mocked the people of the Heavenly Dynasty for actually worshipping such a young, inexperienced lad.
Yet the people of the Heavenly Dynasty Empire took pride in this young man.
They cared not about age. As long as he could bring them a good life, he was the best ruler in their hearts.
Therefore, anyone who dared to insult Ling Xiao within the Heavenly Dynasty Empire would mostly meet no good end.
The current Heavenly Dynasty Empire was united from top to bottom. It truly possessed the vigour of a newly rising empire. Although still far from the Divine Phoenix Empire or the Black Crow Empire, in terms of land area and population alone, it was no longer inferior.
What followed next was the improvement in the quality and quantity of martial artists.
Only martial strength was the key in the Profound World. Everything else was merely auxiliary.
Otherwise, no matter how rich a nation was, in the eyes of others it would be nothing more than a juicy piece of meat.
Countless eyes were now quietly watching the Heavenly Dynasty Empire.
Before Ling Xiao had gone to Sin City, he had successively formulated and promulgated many regulations and laws concerning martial artists.
The emperor Wu Xiang had implemented them very well.
Now, in the Heavenly Dynasty Empire, the Heavenly Chosen Academy, the Heavenly Dynasty Institute, and the Heavenly Martial Hall stood as a tripartite force, becoming the three great martial holy lands within the country.
The Heavenly Chosen Academy trained martial artists.
The Heavenly Dynasty Institute trained administrative talents.
The Heavenly Martial Hall trained military commanders.
The division of labour was very clear.
Most martial artists graduating from the Heavenly Chosen Academy chose to travel freely around the world rather than join the court, enjoying greater freedom.
Those from the Heavenly Dynasty Institute were all exceptionally intelligent and wise civil officials.
The Heavenly Martial Hall was purely a place to cultivate talent for the army.
Of course, after graduation, martial artists were not absolutely fixed in their paths. Through certain assessments, they could choose a new direction.
In addition, Ling Xiao’s policy of twelve years of free martial education for the common people had allowed most boys and girls who previously had no access to martial arts to successfully step into the field.
Among them were many with outstanding talent who simply lacked power, influence, or money to study martial arts.
Such policies benefited not only humans, but even some from the Sea Clan, including people from the Divine Phoenix Empire, had settled here.
Although there might be some discrimination among the common folk, the Heavenly Dynasty Empire punished discrimination very severely.
A flourishing empire, broad-minded and inclusive, was steadily advancing in its formative stage.
The people seemed to hold a pent-up energy, determined to follow their Heavenly Emperor’s example, growing from obscure nobodies into towering figures.
Divine Capital Port was the important trade harbour connecting Divine Capital with the Divine Phoenix Empire. Martial artists and tourists coming and going all landed on the continent here.
Thus, it was extremely lively.
That statue over ten metres tall, facing the morning sun, was slowly erected, moving many onlookers deeply.
People quietly discussed how much progress they had recently made in martial arts, how business had improved, how grain yields had increased, and so on.
In the end, every topic inevitably returned to Ling Xiao.
“It is said that the ancient Human King was similarly wise and learned. Our Heavenly Emperor probably, like the Human King, comes from a higher plane. Otherwise, how could he know so many things others do not?”
“Definitely. With His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor here, our Heavenly Dynasty Empire will surely grow into a nation as rich and powerful as the Divine Phoenix Empire.”
“You lack ambition. At the very least, it should reach the level of the White Tiger Empire.”
The discussions rose and fell, filled with cheerful laughter.
However, at that moment.
A steam whistle blast shattered this harmonious atmosphere.
The whistle came from a luxurious steel giant ship, entirely powered by spirit stones. It appeared not only mighty, but domineering.
The emblem at the ship’s bow was a mermaid holding a huge water pearl, crafted so lifelike that one could not help praising it.
“Who is so bold? Do they not know this is already a no-horn zone?”
People on the shore began to murmur.
“Exactly. The Heavenly Emperor decreed that, to avoid disturbing the lives of nearby citizens, this area is a no-horn zone. This is clearly showing no regard for the Heavenly Emperor.”
Someone nearby said angrily.
Perhaps because the whistle was truly too loud and prolonged, it sounded almost like a funeral bell.
In an instant, it drew the attention of everyone at Divine Capital Port.
On the deck of the luxurious giant ship stood several young men and women, each dressed distinctively, utterly unlike the style of the Heavenly Dynasty Empire.
Moreover, these young men and women were all exceptionally good-looking. Wherever they were placed, the men could be called handsome, the women stunningly beautiful.
Yet even so, one man and one woman stood out particularly, like cranes among chickens.
The man was graceful and elegant, with clear brows and bright eyes, but in his gaze there always lingered a venomous malice, like a poisonous snake.
The woman was dignified and magnificent, proud and luxurious.
Several nearby female disciples attended to her obsequiously, some serving tea, others pouring water. She exuded completely the air of a queen.
“Senior Brother, Senior Sister, why have we come to this wretched place on the Heavenly Dragon Continent? It is not only backward, but the level of martial artists is extremely poor. There is no point at all.”
One young man spoke, his voice filled with strong disdain.
“Yes, look at those martial artists on the dock. They are truly abysmal. Why would Master send us here?”
Another young man asked in puzzlement.
He could not even be bothered to glance at those martial artists again.
