Long Zai Tian emerged from the Village Hall, greeted by the sight of tents neatly distributed around the village. He thought to himself, 'Very good, it seems Li Si and Bai Qi didn't waste time; they have quickly set up temporary housing. I must check with Li Si about the residents' status, but that will have to wait until I resolve the matter of Si Ji.'
He continued walking accompanied by Li Si until he reached a young man bound with sturdy ropes on the ground, guarded by two soldiers under Bai Qi's orders. Long Zai Tia stepped forward and gestured to the soldiers: "Leave me and Li Si alone here."
The two soldiers saluted the Emperor and withdrew. Long Zai Tian looked indifferently at the youth and spoke in a calm tone: "So, Heir of Xia... welcome. How are you feeling?"
The youth snapped back angrily, "Who are you, you treacherous rogue?! How dare you betray me?! If you do not untie me and return what you took, your end will not be a pleasant one, believe me!"
Long Zai Tian looked at him with utter indifference. He recalled from the novel that Si Ji was indeed the Heir of Xia, but his location shouldn't have been the Terror Forest. Furthermore, he didn't know Si Ji's actual appearance, so he had to play his cards with calculated precision.
"You are the Heir of Xia, I know that," Long Zai Tian replied coldly. "Do not try to threaten me, boy. I am higher than you in authority, power, and status, in any era. You are nothing but prey that fell into my den... But now, tell me, Si Ji, why are you in the Forbidden Terror Forest?"
Long Zai Tian used the name fluently to gauge a reaction. The youth, not wanting to show surprise, replied: "So you know who I am. Good, good. You claim to be higher in status, but there is no one who does not fear the Si Clan, is there?"
"I must disappoint you," Xuan Long smirked. "The Ying Clan fears no one. I am the Heir of Qin, haha."
The youth's eyes widened in shock and regret. Damn it! He had fallen into the hands of the worst possible enemy: the Great Qin Dynasty, the Ying Clan! At that moment, only one name flashed in his mind.
"Are... are you... the Heir of Qin? Are you the Noble Young Lord of the Ying family, Ying Long Zai Tian?"
"Yes, it is I," Long Zai Tian replied. "What do you think of me? Handsome, isn't it? Or treacherous, as you say? Haha."
"I... you... you stole my most precious possession," the youth pleaded. "Please, return it to me. I beg of you, Noble Young Lord."
Long Zai Tian leaned in slightly and spoke with imperial charm: "Fine, I will return it to you, but on one condition: become a follower of Great Qin. You shall have a place at my table, a seat in my headquarters, and your vision shall be secured under my wing. I shall grant you the heavens to soar within. If you seek a peer, I have no peer, and my reputation is enough for you to know that. You seem to know me, so... what do you say?"
The youth looked at the ground, staring into the void. This was the end before he had even begun. No sooner had he obtained the Xia inheritance than he fell into the hands of a Ying noble. There was no escape.
"Give me time to think..." he muttered.
"I will give you an hour to decide," Long Zai Tian said, then turned to Li Si and gave him a casual wink, which confused the minister and made Long Zai Tian laugh.
"Soldiers!" Long Zai Tian called out.
Two soldiers arrived immediately and cupped their hands. "Bring him water," Long Zai Tian ordered, "and call the Zhang Baizhu to tend to his head."
'Alright, everything seems to be going well. He has no escape anyway. Sometimes the harshest incidents, no matter how absurd or unbelievable, can happen—and that is what happened to him. On the other hand, the most precious things are not requested, but achieved; no matter how easy or unrealistic, they are achieved.'
'I still haven't seen my status. System, show me my status.'
[Ding]
[ STATUS SCREEN ]
Name: Ying Long Zai Tian
Race: Human
Age: 22
Status: Commoner (0/200)
(Note: Status follows the five ranks of nobility, with three levels for each rank.)
Rank: Jade
Bloodline: [Royal Soveregin {15}]
(Note: Bloodline Tiers: Common 1-3, Refined 4-6, Elite 7-9, Noble Master 10-12, Royal Sovereign 13-15, Imperial Monarch 16-18, Holy Heaven 19-21, Origin Being 22-24)
Title: Heir of the Qin Dynasty
Traits:
Fate of the Unifier: Increases the success rate of conquering and annexing enemy territories by 50%.
Heavenly Mandate: All territory resource production is boosted by 50%.
Legacy of the First Emperor: Historical and Legendary figures have a 40% higher chance of appearing in the territory.
Aura of the Son of Heaven: Increases all personal attributes by 80% when within the village boundaries.
Profession: Emperor {SSS}
Traits:
Absolute Command: All soldiers under his leadership receive a 50% increase in all combat stats.
Imperial Treasury: Increases the amount of gold and rare loot obtained from all sources by 100%.
Supreme Governance: Reduces the time and cost of building and upgrading structures by 60%.
Monarch's Wrath: Grants a 20% chance to instantly demoralize and force surrender upon weaker enemy units.
Universal Dominion: Allows the user to suppress the special stats and buffs of enemy villages when engaging in war.
[ ATTRIBUTES ]
[Imperial Presence]:
An oppressive, regal aura that radiates from the Emperor. Enemies within his vicinity suffer a -50% reduction in Morale and combat spirit; weak-willed foes may experience "Absolute Terror," causing their legs to give out or forcing them to kneel involuntarily in his presence.
[Cold Judgment]:
The Emperor's mind becomes as calm as a frozen lake. This trait grants -50% reduction in emotional interference, allowing him to make the most optimal, ruthless, or logical decisions even in the heat of slaughter or personal tragedy. It grants near-perfect immunity to provocations and taunts.
[Ruler's Charisma]:
A natural, magnetic charm that draws people to his cause. It provides a +80% boost to Loyalty growth for all subordinates. Those who serve under him feel an innate sense of pride and belonging, making them far more likely to perform "Critical Success" actions when executing his orders.
[Strategic Vision]:
The ability to see the world as a grand chessboard. This grants +40% efficiency in long-term planning, allowing the Emperor to perceive the cascading consequences of his actions years into the future. It sharpens his intuition when managing resources and anticipating enemy movements before they even begin.
[Will of Dominion]:
An indomitable spiritual force that refuses to be shackled. It provides +60% Resistance to all control effects (including charm, hypnosis, paralysis, and soul-binding). The Emperor's soul is a fortress of sovereignty; any attempt to bend his will only serves to strengthen his resolve.
[Eye of Discerning Truth]: Allows the user to perceive loyalty ranks, hidden skills, and weaknesses of any individual within their line of sight. This inspection cannot be deceived by anyone below the (Jade) rank.
[Sovereign's Memory]: +100% efficiency in comprehending war plans, law books, and cultivation techniques. Any information read once by the Emperor is permanently etched into his mind and can never be forgotten.
[Aura of Prosperity]: +25% regeneration speed for Energy Qi and Health for all allies and residents within the village boundaries due to the Emperor's presence.
[Unyielding Dignity]: Complete immunity against any intimidation attempts or psychological pressure from enemies. The greater the danger surrounding the Emperor, the more his calmness and clarity of thought increase by 40%.
Cultivation Method: [Great Qin Mantra {Platinum - Epic}]
Cultivation Level: Mortal