Qingyang Kingdom

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Qingyang Kingdom (青阳国)
Alias(es)	Former Qingyang Kingdom; renamed the Nine Union Kingdom after Demonic Orc occupation 300
Species/Race	Human kingdom
Affiliation	Qingyang Kingdom government; its military; Luojing Transcendent Academy
Status	Dissolved by its King after more than 90% of its territory was occupied; subsequently divided and occupied by nine Demonic Orc nations 297 298 300
Capital	Luojing City, the kingdom's political center 289
Ruler	An unnamed King
First Appearance	61

Background / History

Qingyang was formerly a great empire. In earlier eras, surrounding Transcendent nations were described as too weak to resist it and paid annual tribute for safety. Rather than pursuing conquest, Qingyang generally aided smaller states that showed it respect. 61

By the present era, the kingdom remained the largest among the human nations, making instability within its borders globally significant. Its long history and cultural heritage later made its collapse a symbolic break in the balance between humans and Demonic Orcs. 147 298

Government and Society

Relationship with the Seven Great Families

The Seven Great Families—Zhao, Chu, Qin, Chen, Jiang, Su, and Ye—were pillars of the kingdom, but their strength also posed a political risk. The government encouraged their internal rivalry because a united bloc of all seven could threaten state authority. 65

The families maintained an implicit hierarchy and competed publicly through the achievements of their younger generation. Their connections allowed their children to gain influence even in ventures ostensibly belonging to the kingdom. 65 75

Talent and Corruption

The kingdom's institutions historically favored connections, social maneuvering, and wealth over genuine ability. Talented people who lacked opportunities sometimes defected to beastmen forces instead. 75

The leadership later attempted to correct this by promoting capable people and suppressing entrenched favoritism. Chen Nan's emergence at Luojing Transcendent Academy was treated as an opportunity to cultivate talent needed for Qingyang's future. 75

However, major technical projects still suffered from patronage: practical experts could be excluded while socially adept figures obtained funding and diverted state resources. 181

Transcendents and Ordinary People

Qingyang placed comparatively effective restrictions on Transcendent beings, allowing ordinary people to live with more security than in many other places. 100

This restraint was incomplete. Transcendent influence over private business remained substantial, and companies without powerful Transcendent backing could lose both their legal representatives and assets. 100

Many Transcendents felt little national loyalty, regarding themselves as above ordinary society and able to join transnational organizations such as the Temple of Strength, Temple of Shadow Dance, or Temple of Mysteries. 136

Military and Technology

Qingyang's military maintained Transcendents for special operations but generally did not use them in conventional warfare. They functioned as a strategic deterrent: necessary to possess, but rarely deployed openly. 187

The kingdom fell behind Demonic Orc nations in advanced research and manufacturing, relying heavily on technology originating from the Demonic Beast Kingdom. Sophisticated Transcendent equipment was difficult to acquire and traded through Mana Crystals rather than ordinary currency. 68 228

Chen Nan later cooperated with the military on transcendent-mecha research. His AI System analyzed military data faster and more accurately than the military's research teams, leading the military to treat his protection as its highest priority. 239 246

Conflict with the Demonic Orc Nations

Zhiyun Region Separatism

Foreign-backed separatism in the Zhiyun Region became the immediate trigger for Qingyang's wider crisis. Separatists accused the government of human-rights abuses while Kroya, Jialuo, and other Demonic Orc nations condemned Qingyang internationally and supplied the rebels with military equipment. 129 156

The rebel forces possessed Transcendent-level mecha technology, including agile single-pilot and heavy mechs that Qingyang's conventional army struggled to destroy. Though foreign Transcendent intervention was apparent, Demonic Orc nations denied it at international conferences. 156

Qingyang considered extreme measures, including saturation bombing of the region, but did not carry them out. The government faced the choice between allowing territorial loss or entering a war it was unlikely to win. 156 162

Full-Scale Invasion

The conflict expanded beyond Zhiyun as Kroya, Jialuo, and other Demonic Orc nations advanced from multiple fronts under slogans of democracy, equality, and freedom. Qingyang publicly pledged to fight rather than surrender. 167

Its regular army initially slowed the invasion, but the kingdom's Transcendent elite largely emigrated or transferred assets abroad. The Seven Great Families prioritized preserving their wealth and future status over defending the country. 162 167

Demonic Orc agents and collaborators further destabilized Qingyang from within, distributing supernatural mechas throughout the kingdom. Many of these machines contained self-destruct programs intended to cause mass destruction during the final assault. 262 263

Fall and Occupation

By the late war, more than 70% of Qingyang territory had been occupied and its regular army was nearly exhausted. Chen Nan planned to defend Luojing through attrition because retaining the political center was necessary for Qingyang to remain a sovereign state. 289

The strategy failed to prevent the kingdom's collapse. Demonic Orc forces occupied more than 90% of the territory, surrounded Luojing, and issued an ultimatum to the King. 297

At the final national conference, the King chose to declare Qingyang's demise in the belief that surrender would preserve its civilization and heritage. Chen Nan and the Nature Masters rejected the decision, seceded, and declared their intention to continue fighting the Demonic Orcs. 298

Nine Demonic Orc nations then occupied the former kingdom, raised their flags over Luojing, and renamed the territory the Nine Union Kingdom. The conquerors exploited Qingyang's resources, including rare-element and Mana Crystal mines, while the surviving human population was reduced to slave labor. 300

Former Qingyang Transcendents and members of the Seven Great Families were resettled as privileged but subordinate administrators under Demonic Orc rule. Ordinary humans suffered severe oppression, while even human Transcendents were expected to defer to Demonic Orc authority. 300 303

Relationships

• Seven Great Families — Powerful domestic families whose competition was encouraged by the government; many later relocated assets and cooperated with Demonic Orc forces. 65 167
• Luojing Transcendent Academy — The kingdom's foremost Transcendent academy and a major source of talent, though weakened by internal rivalry and favoritism. 71 157
• Qingyang Kingdom Military — Defended the kingdom during the invasion and later collaborated with Chen Nan on transcendent-mecha development. 187 239 246
• Nature Masters — A patriotic Transcendent faction that resisted surrender, seceded when the kingdom fell, and continued opposing the occupation. 298 300
• Demonic Orc Nations — Foreign powers that backed separatists, invaded Qingyang, occupied its territory, and reorganized it as the Nine Union Kingdom. 156 167 300
• Kroya Kingdom — A western Demonic Orc power with several combatants comparable to Qingyang's Lord Dongfang Mingde; involved in political pressure against Qingyang. 75 156
• Jialuo Kingdom — A western Demonic Orc kingdom involved in the international campaign against Qingyang and associated with criminal activity inside its borders. 120 156