Epic Prelude

Sensing the fervor and respect in Hu'erlun's eyes, Kubana said warmly, "Then let us proceed this way. Also, to strengthen the legitimacy of our claim, besides the Chosen One, you may publicly proclaim that even I, who possess the knowledge of fire and plants, have submitted to the divine glory of Pantheon.

Directly denounce the fire used by the Blazing Flame Alliance as heretical, obtained without my approval.

In short, do everything possible to establish your legitimate reputation. Given enough time, everyone will naturally accept it from the bottom of their hearts."

Hu'erlun nodded and said, "Good! Then I shall leave this matter entirely to the Sage!"

Yet Kubana shook his head. "No. I will only offer counsel. Such an important matter must be carried out by you personally. After all, I am merely your advisor. I have no intention of competing with you for power."

Hu'erlun sighed in admiration. "With the Sage, there is the continent! In all major matters, Hu'erlun will certainly heed your advice to the utmost!"

With that, he headed outside. "The Sage's plans have made me impatient to witness the founding of the Eagle Empire. Rest assured, even for your sake, I will not fail. Your deeds as a pioneer will be sung by all!"

Kubana smiled behind him. "I look forward to the day you rule the world."

Hu'erlun said, "You will see it. Without a doubt!"

After watching Hu'erlun disappear around the corner, Kubana only withdrew his gaze after quite some time.

He looked up at the blue sky and white clouds overhead, then fell into a daze once more.

After a long while, he murmured, "Aethelred, you will not blame me, will you? These are merely seeds planted for the final harvest... After all, I am still only a mortal."

And so, humanity's first organization to bear the name of a nation—the Eagle Empire—was established!

Under the behind-the-scenes guidance of Kubana, the Imperial Preceptor, Emperor Hu'erlun employed both favor and force against the loose tribal alliance.

At first, under the threat of his military might, no one dared utter a word of defiance.

Later, as the Empire stationed its appointed "honorary chiefs" among the major tribes, resentment grew to an extreme degree.

Yet gradually, people discovered that those honorary chiefs had not engaged in any power struggles with the original tribal leaders.

Moreover, as members of Sage Kubana's tribe, they brought new things to the various tribes, opening everyone's eyes.

For example, they used thin mud to make a simple furnace, then applied a certain forging method to something called "Iron Ore."

A material called "ironware" could actually be refined from it!

Though it was extremely crude and mixed with all sorts of impurities, people discovered that it was practically a divine technique!

Ironware could be forged into pots, bowls, ladles, and all manner of weapons. It was sharper than crude wooden and stone weapons, and some finely made iron weapons could even pierce the scales of ferocious beasts!

Beyond that, the honorary chiefs also brought new knowledge of plants, as well as the technique of Poison Quenching, allowing them to easily hunt agile and savage beasts.

So long as a poisoned arrow pierced the skin of those beasts, no matter how nimble they were, they would ultimately be captured!

Gradually, the honorary chiefs were no longer rejected by their tribesmen. Instead, they were regarded as pioneers, representing the Sage in enlightening humanity.

They did not fight for power, yet they gradually came to be respected and worshipped by the people!

The Sage's prestige also reached an unprecedented peak.

Even in the Sun Empire across the border, which had imitated the Eagle Empire's founding, many subjects deeply respected Kubana.

If one day the Sun Empire were to breach the Eagle Empire, then among the Eagle Empire's leaders branded as heretics, Kubana would likely be the only one allowed to live.

He was humanity's greatest pioneering enlightener thus far and deserved such an honor.

Afterward, the Eagle Empire and the Sun Empire began a struggle destined to last for decades.

Tang Chuan looked down upon everything happening across the continent like a god.

Hu'erlun, whose individual strength transcended the limits of this planet's creatures.

Loserius, who could communicate with wild beasts and command dozens of Supernatural Beasts.

The Eagle Empire, where imperial authority was divinely bestowed, and royal authority in turn granted imperial authority, with centralized power united as one.

The Sun Empire, which revered nature, advocated living in harmony with it, feared its mighty power, and stood alongside Supernatural Beasts.

And...

Sage Kubana, who survived in the cracks beneath the crushing pressure of the two great empires, barely maintaining his operations while seeking opportunities, and whose prestige rivaled that of the Chosen One.

Tang Chuan could not help but sigh.

It was clearly only an era of ancient tribes, yet with the intervention of three gods and the push of enlightening knowledge.

I could actually see the epic prelude to a struggle for dynastic supremacy.

Was this "civilizational evolution"?

Perhaps the term itself had always carried an indescribable weight.

It made Tang Chuan look forward even more to the future order of the Canghuang Continent.

After slightly raising the Time Flow Rate by another two or three hundred times, Tang Chuan withdrew his gaze and exited God's Perspective.

Inside the room.

Light returned to Tang Chuan's eyes. He stood, pulled open the curtains, and bathed in the blazing white sunlight as he looked down upon the civilization of Heka Star. "A new day. Let me go experience this already mature civilization again."

After casually tidying himself up, he walked onto the balcony and stepped into the landing pod. Within a few breaths, he reached the ground through the landing passage.

When Tang Chuan stepped out of the hotel entrance, he froze.

He stared at the strangely styled building across from him, utterly bewildered, and could not help asking Quintessa through their mental link:

"When I came yesterday, I remember this building being white. How did it turn silver after just one night? Even the beast carvings and patterns above are completely different. Did I remember wrong? Or is this not the front entrance, but the back?"

Quintessa answered with a smile, "Master, look up."

Tang Chuan raised his head and looked toward the upper part of the building, finally realizing what had happened.

He had not gone the wrong way. This was indeed the front entrance, and the building was still the same building.

Several dozen meters overhead, four instruments the size of vehicles floated in the air around the building, one on each side. From time to time, Shuttles injected some kind of substance into the floating instruments.

Above the four floating instruments, the building still retained yesterday's white appearance, and its patterns had not changed.

But below them, the floating instruments were projecting wisps of material, renovating the entire building from bottom to top—both its color and style.

Quintessa explained, "This is a Material Projection Device. It can project any desired solid form according to specifications formulated by the Light Brain. It is somewhat like Azure Star's 3D printing technology, except far more precise in both function and efficiency.

In roughly half a day, it can complete one exterior renovation of this ninety-eight-meter-tall building.

In fact, this building itself was constructed by a Material Projection Device. Well, so was the hotel where Master is staying."

Tang Chuan withdrew his gaze, clicking his tongue in amazement. "Interesting. If that is the case, even native Heckarians who stayed away for more than a year probably would not recognize where their own homes used to be.

Mr. Lu Xun truly did not deceive me. The development of civilization really does change with each passing day.

Now I understand why a Level 4 Civilization can control Paradox Weapons. If a Level 9 Civilization is already like this, it would make no sense for a Higher Civilization not to have some style.

Quintessa, find me somewhere lively. Let us spend the day having fun, then point me toward a tavern tonight so I can experience the Heckarians' nightlife."

"Certainly. Go left."