Standing in Qiankun Hall, Ye Chen quietly felt this loneliness.
At the same time, he carefully savored it.
Because this kind of loneliness could become addictive.
To be honest, there were times when he wondered whether he had made the wrong choice.
Or rather, was this the life he wanted?
Originally, he had only wanted to complete the system's missions and establish a civilization of his own.
Then he would quickly raise the civilization to at least Level Two and develop technology that could extend lifespans.
After that, he would accumulate Civilization Points and exchange them with the system for powerful genetic technology, using it to become a god.
But things had looked beautiful in theory, while reality had refused to cooperate.
When he had first begun establishing a civilization, various factors—including the environment and the actual circumstances—had left him with no choice but to establish an empire.
In the end, when he suddenly looked back, he realized that he had unknowingly been pushed into this position bit by bit by the tide of events.
And little by little, that same tide had forced him to learn how to govern a country properly and how to ensure that his subjects had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear.
As well as what it truly meant to become a qualified emperor.
He now felt that the path he had taken had strayed wildly from the direction he had originally envisioned for his development.
Moreover, being an emperor was exhausting. Being a good emperor was even more exhausting.
Yet after doing it for a long time, he had somehow begun to enjoy it.
He felt that he might have contracted some kind of illness. Yes, he had contracted "Being an Emperor Is Exhausting but Enjoyable Syndrome."
It was somewhat like the saying, "Life has tormented me a thousand times, yet I still treat life like my first love."
In modern terms, it was called "Stockholm syndrome." Probably, perhaps, maybe that was what he had.
His thoughts slowly began to wander, and all kinds of chaotic ideas flooded his mind.
He shook his head, casting off those tangled thoughts. Then Ye Chen leaned over the desk and recalled the various technical points from his memories. Whenever he thought of something, he recorded it on paper.
If he really could not think of anything, he would spend Civilization Points to exchange for it from the system.
By now, the development of the entire Yanhuang Empire over the past century could be said to have been built up by him bit by bit.
Although he had once been an academic prodigy, that did not mean he could remember everything. Many things still required him to slowly recall them himself.
And the Yanhuang Civilization System had not helped him very much over these hundred years. Ever since the Yanhuang Civilization System had become bound to the Yanhuang Empire, obtaining technological data or other technological products required him to spend Civilization Points to exchange for them in the system shop.
Civilization Points, in turn, were obtained according to the development of the Yanhuang Civilization. In other words, the stronger the Yanhuang Empire became, the more Civilization Points he would obtain.
Over the past hundred years, the Yanhuang Empire he had created had not developed particularly quickly. Of course, that was also related to his deliberate control over its development speed.
Haste made waste. It had taken him great effort to reach this point and establish the Yanhuang Empire. This would be his foundation from now on, so he would not force premature growth for the sake of temporary gains or losses.
Of course, the core reason was that his lifespan was long enough. He could afford to wait.
Forcing the Yanhuang Empire to grow prematurely would only leave behind even greater hidden dangers in the future.
A large ship was difficult to turn. Compared with waiting until the empire became powerful before dealing with hidden dangers, it was better to eliminate those dangers at the very beginning.
His plan was to lay a solid foundation, gradually eliminate the old native population, devote every effort to expanding the population, then establish a complete education system and spread knowledge.
Finally, once a batch of students had completed their studies and graduated, industrial and technological development could begin. In this way, the entire social system could slowly be brought to life and set on a positive path of development.
Yanhuang Calendar, Year 124.
Within the empire, after decades of effort, the education system had finally been completed.
As the first few batches of graduates were distributed throughout the country to take up teaching posts, a vigorous nationwide education campaign officially began.
At the same time, officials from every province stationed themselves in each city and district to safeguard education across the nation.
In secret, Ye Chen ordered Long Yu to establish the Brocade-Clad Guard, an organization that monitored the entire country. Once it discovered any official daring to sabotage the education system or shirk their duties, it could execute them first and report afterward.
After several "chickens" were severely punished, the existence of the Brocade-Clad Guard gradually shifted from the shadows into the open. It became the Sword of Damocles hanging over every official in the country, ready to fall at any moment.
For a time, every official throughout the nation trembled in fear, and the Brocade-Clad Guard's prestige reached its absolute peak.
Nor would it decline in the future, because Ye Chen, the emperor, stood behind the Brocade-Clad Guard—and Ye Chen himself simply would not die.
As long as Ye Chen lived, the Yanhuang Empire would not descend into chaos.
As long as Ye Chen did not weaken the Brocade-Clad Guard's authority, its prestige would not diminish.
Now, with generation after generation of elders passing away and more than a century having passed since the empire's establishment, Ye Chen's indoctrination of each new generation born into the empire had made the entire Yanhuang Empire, in a manner of speaking, a one-man domain ruled by Ye Chen's word alone.
Everyone took pride in the empire, and everyone regarded Ye Chen as the one and only true god.
It was just like among the angels, where every member of the new generation blindly believed in Kesha and was willing to die for her.
Star Palace, court assembly.
Ye Chen wore a black Star Robe, a Twelve-Pearl Crown on his head, and held the Crimson Firmament Sword (formerly the Flame Sword) in his hand. Sitting firmly on the imperial throne, he looked down upon the civil and military officials filling the court.
Beside him, Yuan Long called out, "Bow!"
"Greetings, Imperial Sovereign."
Seeing everyone bow, Yuan Long called out again, "Cry out!"
"May the Imperial Sovereign live ten thousand years!"
"Cry out again!"
"May the Imperial Sovereign live ten thousand years!"
After the court rituals concluded, Ye Chen looked down at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Rise!"
"Thank you, Imperial Sovereign!"
After completing the required formalities, the ministers took their seats in separate rows.
The civil and military officials sat on either side, with a broad passageway running between them.
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