The fall of the Bureau of Military Affairs marked the end of an era. From that point on, the Qi State Affairs Bureau became the continent's sole ruling authority.
But that was not all. The accession of Yama Island, the Saint Wing Alliance, and the Natating Kingdom transformed the Qi State into a federation, expanding its influence dozens of times over. From the east to the Western Pole, no one failed to know the names Ning Wanjun and Xia Fan.
The scattered small states that had not been incorporated into the federation also feared that the Tianqi Army's fleet might suddenly appear on their doorstep. One after another, they sent envoys to befriend Shangyuan City, placing themselves in the position of tributary states in both etiquette and tribute.
For a time, the world showed signs of great unification.
Another major event of that same period was the marriage between Empress Ning Wanjun and Xia Fan.
Although many had long guessed that this day would come, the marriage alliance still caught them by surprise—after the wedding, Xia Fan not only did not retreat to the sidelines and become a "prince consort" who had relinquished power, but instead took sole command of the court and brought the army under his own authority as well. Ning Wanjun, meanwhile, appeared only between the Martial Arts Arena and the New Mechanical Bureau, seemingly no longer involving herself in state affairs at all.
Such an abnormal situation left everyone dumbfounded.
There were even rumors that the two had no feelings for each other whatsoever, that the marriage was merely a smokescreen, and that Xia Fan had been plotting for this day all along.
As for the Tianqi Army, which was loyal to Her Majesty, the massive influx of Qi Sense Users forced it to yield as