I Can Reap Qi Fortune from Players-Chapter 677 - 161: Courtly Studies and Changing Times

Swish!

As the melodious sound of court music resounded.

"Quickly serve the dishes."

Food God, Shao Chaikun, busily moved back and forth in the Imperial Kitchen, having prepared a large amount of food and wine to welcome the guests and clear away their dust.

With the serving trays carried by the Bone Demon maids, various delicious dishes were placed on the tables, making everyone's mouths water, even tastier than what was available among the Human Race.

Today, is the big event "Welcoming the Divine-level Professionals". A group of blacksmiths was very happy, enjoying the event thoroughly, playfully and joyfully.

They made it seem like they were holding a banquet, as happy as could be.

Soon, everyone important took their seats at the feast.

"His Majesty honors the talented, truly a wise ruler!"

An elder expressed a look of admiration.

He was a staunch proponent of Sea Race nationalism, and today seeing the prosperity of the Sea Race, he also had a fondness for this new emperor.

Not focusing on combat power is a good thing.

More time and energy can be spent managing the entire Sea Race.

Look at the Dragon Race, only focusing on combat power, can they manage everything under heaven?

"Hmph! This world is deformed, where might is right, making one the emperor."

Thunder Hammer Duke sneered, "Those muscleheads who only have brute strength, how can they govern lands properly? Fortunately, this deformity ends in this era!"

"Too kind." Ning Zheng said, "Strictly speaking, I am also a non-combat professional, in the same circle as everyone present... You all work with iron, or cultivate, and I manage."

"Manage?" Thunder Hammer Duke showed a hint of surprise.

"Yes, in my opinion, management is also a non-combat profession."

Ning Zheng said, "And in the Human Race, it's still the emperor managing, wasting so much time and energy. Wouldn't that time be better spent on cultivation?"

Ning Zheng paused,

"So, we act as agents, helping to manage various governmental affairs, more advanced than the Human Race."

Everyone chuckled upon hearing this.

This concept was quite interesting.

They were invited because they just acquired that bronze statue, ready to try to fuse the Bone Demon's Qi Fortune Divine Beast, and incidentally study the Embers Disaster...

And incidentally attempt to research a National Guardian Divine Artifact.

The Human Race has the sun and moon for stabilization, the Chronicles of Time... but the Sea Race has nothing, that's a bit lacking.

There has to be at least one ultra-large Immortal Artifact, right?

So, they came as invited.

Initially, they were hesitant, but now, seeing this prosperous scene, they were fully onboard.

Among their Sea Race, who wouldn't want their birthplace to become better?

Thunder Hammer Duke said, "Your Majesty, next, I'll be in charge of researching a new Dynasty Immortal Artifact, while some around me who are skilled in soul medicine, are preparing to study the fusion of the embers, as the Embers Disaster is unfolding in the Human Race, we can't fall behind."

"Then I leave it to you."

Ning Zheng said, "The Human Race is the main site of the Embers Disaster, while our Sea Race is the main site of the Pseudo-human Calamity... but the research on embers should not be neglected, the Human Race cannot be underestimated!"

Ning Zheng spoke solemnly, "Especially the Xirong Divine Craftsman, elusive, previously appeared once in the Dragon Race tomb, who knows what they've planned since."

"Indeed." Thunder Hammer Duke led the group of big shots, their expressions heavy, "The era's technology is erupting, our Sea Race and the Human Race are bound to compete whose technology advances faster, whoever leads can dominate the era."

Ning Zheng nodded.

He was quite hopeful to see if the technology of these big figures could help him create a fused progenitor ember of Money Child, bronze statue, Golden Turtle... with the Bone Demon.

For this group of super talents, Ning Zheng sincerely wished to make friends.

After all, Xinyi Baisan, Doukou Hong... those people are ultimately just collaborators.

But this group here?

They could be gathered under his imperial command.

Having under his command a group comparable to Xinyi Baisan, the benefits would definitely be tremendous!

With their technology support, he could really become the Nine-State's foremost Xi Rong, making illusion reality.

Of course.

Ning Zheng never thought of letting the blacksmiths take possession of them.

After all, possession leads to memory loss.

Maintaining their original personalities and talents is how they can be used by him.

Ning Zheng looked at this group of people, as if seeing his future team, and said, "Everyone, speaking of National Guardian Divine Artifacts, hasn't the Dragon Race built one over all these years?"

"Building a National Guardian Divine Artifact requires a lot of resources."

Thunder Hammer Duke shook his head with a smile, "The Dragon Race is very arrogant, they think they don't need one, they embody immense power within themselves... especially the Nine-headed Dragon Emperor, he himself is comparable to a National Guardian Divine Artifact, who can defeat him?"

"Indeed." Ning Zheng pondered a moment.

Continuing to chat, the atmosphere naturally grew more congenial.

They ate and drank well, marveling that the Food God's culinary skills were unparalleled in the world.

After all, indeed.

If culinary skills fall short, the ingredients make up for it.

How could food synthesized with the Yin Yang Creation Furnace not taste good?

For the next half day, the emperor's reception process came to an end.

The entire blacksmith's task was also completed perfectly.

These Sea Race big shots left the Imperial Palace, did not hurriedly begin research, but instead entered a half-day period of integration.

They walked around the streets, tasting snacks, increasingly impressed by the might of this Sea Race city.

Overall, it was the same process as when the blacksmiths entered the capital years ago.

At that time, the blacksmiths also went to the capital to meet Jiu Shui, then began to collaborate with Xinyi Baisan, Doukou Hong, and others, barbequing and chatting before starting to work.

Today, they are doing the same.

They are prepared to unite and create the most perfect work in their professional lives, making a name in history, and suppressing a dynasty!

Meanwhile, this news quickly spread to the Human Race side through various Sea Race spies.

"The newly appointed Sea Race Emperor is modeling after the Saint Jiu Shui from a century ago, calling for professionals from all over to start crafting a National Guardian Divine Weapon?"

"Just a mere Bone King, thinking they're so incredible?"

"The Sea Race always likes to compare themselves, because they lack dignity, so they increasingly crave obtaining dignity; whatever the Human Race does, they want to surpass it."

"I understand; previously they built a bigger Royal City, and now they probably want to create a stronger Sun Moon."

"Ridiculous, can they match the Xirong Divine Craftsman? Their artifact can't even compare to a thousandth of that person's!"

...

In many taverns, it was being spread and mocked.

Professionals from the Sea Race were red with anger upon hearing the information, ready to prove themselves as if injected with adrenaline.

Ning Zheng looked and sat back to enjoy the show.

Let them all get caught up in the fervor.

On the Human Race side, they want to outdo the Sea Race.

On the Sea Race side, they want to outdo the Human Race.

"They seem to be madly competing, but really it's me benefiting, because both sides are mine." Ning Zheng sat on the throne, feeling the palace's extravagance.

Lately, life has been increasingly good.

...

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Ning Zheng had already fallen in love with the leisurely life within the palace.

Occasionally giving speeches, sometimes visiting the labs of old researchers to see the new Bone Demon race being studied.

They are very fierce!

Even more formidable than Xinyi Baisan and Doukou Hong back then!

Though, perhaps it's because a hundred years have passed, with a major explosion in Immortal Path technology, Xinyi Baisan and others probably getting much stronger too, though it's been a long time since seeing them, so unsure how their skills have progressed.

Watching these big shots forging immortal artifacts and cultivating immortal herbs, Ning Zheng felt in his heart he must protect his research talents well, or any problems would be a major loss.

He also occasionally visited these old folks, reminiscent of his youthful days in the palace crafting Sun Moon with Xinyi Baisan and others.

Now, after establishing the new statue collector, Ximen City's daily fortune value has dropped to between 250,000.

Marriage Dress Town, around 150,000.

Bone Demon Royal City, about 350,000.

Indeed, after just over a week from building the city, it's already surpassed the long-established Ximen City.

And this income is continuing to rise as more Sea Race enter the city, with Ning Zheng's daily speeches ensuring steady increase.

The naive and innocent Sea Race citizens are truly adorable.

Altogether, the daily fortune value is around 750,000, and it's steadily rising.

Ning Zheng started wondering if he should avoid teaching them to read.

The illiterate are best to deceive.

Otherwise, like the cunning Human Race, it would be hard to earn fortune value.

However, he reconsidered, thinking about incorporating patriotism in education, constantly brainwashing.

For example, recently compiled textbooks by the blacksmiths, "Will of Water" seemed quite useful, full of loyalty and patriotism, could be even better -2.

Meanwhile.

Next door at Sword Casting Manor, the blacksmiths also researched an initial cursed divine artifact — the scarecrow, used for bad luck against opponents.

But Ning Zheng saw that it's effective against Five-Body Realm cultivators, but not really useful against those with several hundreds of fortune value.

No great use, Ning Zheng glanced at it and let them continue researching.

As an emperor, he also received various information.

"Pseudo-humans seem to be making some moves again... But they are ultimately weak and scattered, only some small actions."

How long have the pseudo-humans been around?

For the growth of a powerhouse, a few years is insignificant.

However.

Recent intelligence from the Nine-State side suggests a complete outbreak.

"Are there really Embers beginning to awaken? Over there in Nine-State, two Ghost Kings have appeared?"

Ning Zheng looked at the latest land intelligence, falling into silence.

The Embers Disaster outbreak has been over a week old.

Now according to their latest research.

It was found that when Embers of similar obsessions combine, the obsession strengthens, making it easier to awaken.

Like simple obsessions saying "I want a peaceful life," when several similar obsessions among Embers stack together, awakening becomes easier.

Additionally, with now a 50% Ember outburst rate, a larger base of Embers naturally increases the chances of Ghost Kings appearing!

"With the Embers Disaster outbreak, it looks like Ghost Kings won't be few in the future."

Ning Zheng pondered, "But they are still quite different from my perfect Ghost King... I am a complete awakening of Muddy Qi + Embers, while they are awakening from singular Embers."

At the same time, Ning Zheng also received the most critical information.

Sacrificial Tomb.

After over a week, it was completely formed, with countless powerhouses attempting to enter this human myth's [initial dungeon], exploring the true fate of sacrifices and the source of ancient history.