Shrek Academy, Sea God Island, deep beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.
Massive roots crisscrossed like coiling dragons, filling the entire underground space.
At the very center, a mass of pure, dazzling golden-green life energy slowly revolved. With every pulse, the earth veins beneath all of Sea God Island rose and fell faintly.
Xu Tianyao descended above the Life Spring and sat cross-legged in midair.
The Mountains Rivers Sun Moon Map flew from between his brows, transforming into stars that filled the sky and patterns of mountains and rivers. It swiftly seeped downward along the thick roots, completely enveloping the Golden Ancient Tree.
Xu Tianyao closed his eyes, his divine sense sinking fully underground and merging with this planet's ancient Life Core.
Time flowed on, spring gave way to autumn, and five full years passed.
Over those five years, the Ming Empire's decrees were swiftly implemented throughout every corner of the continent.
The administrative systems of the former Douluo Three Kingdoms were completely dismantled. Soul tool trains and communication relay stations connected the major cities, while the former border passes were all rebuilt into trade towns.
Though small-scale rebellions by remnants occasionally arose, they were all wiped out within days before the Empire's legions, equipped with the newest standardized Soul Tools.
Over those five years, the Empire's largest military operation took place in the Evil Demon Forest.
Kong Deming personally led a special legion made up of dozens of Level-9 Soul Engineers, mobilizing the restored Civilization Sanctioner mech and penetrating deep into the Evil Demon Forest.
The Holy Spirit Cult's stronghold was reduced to scorched earth beneath the barrage of twelve Level-Nine Fixed-Mount Soul Tool Projectiles.
The surviving Evil Soul Masters were almost entirely killed or wounded. Ye Xishui exhausted herself under the siege of the Soul Tool formation formed