The Great Ming Empire!!! (Seeking Follow-ups!)

Ming City.

Great Ming Square.

"Report!"

"Of the two hundred thousand Dragon Guards expected, fifteen thousand have arrived!"

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Their synchronized footsteps, sharp gazes, and the faint, intimidating aura of slaughter radiating from them—complemented by the golden dragon armor they wore—all served to showcase the might of the Great Ming Kingdom's strongest military force: the Dragon Guard.

"Your Majesty, as you commanded, the million people of the Galloping Wolf Kingdom... have all been dealt with. As for the remaining remnants, I have left two hundred and fifty thousand men behind; they should be able to finish the job within a month."

Xu Yi did not understand why Xu Nian'an was so furious, venting his rage upon a race whose kingdom had already fallen.

However, he would execute any order Xu Nian'an issued without a moment's hesitation.

Beyond the fact that the blood of the Xu family generals flowed through his veins, in Xu Yi's eyes, those tribesmen of the Galloping Wolf Kingdom were hardly even human.

Years ago, they frequently harassed the portion of the Starry Sky Kingdom's territory located far away in the Star Luo Empire, and now, by inciting Li Xingyao to establish a duchy on his own, they were simply asking for death.

The entire kingdom deserved to be wiped out!

Swish, swish, swish!

Hearing the commotion at Great Ming Square, countless citizens of the Great Ming Kingdom within Ming City swarmed out!

"Wait... are those soldiers in golden dragon armor, so imposing and burly, the most elite force of our Great Ming Kingdom... the Dragon Armor Army?!"

The news of their overnight sweep across the entire Gulei Kingdom, their night raid to conquer the Star Shine Duchy and reclaim lost territory, and their brutal annihilation of the Galloping Wolf Kingdom had all reached the Great Ming homeland.

The Dragon Guard had long since gained a loyal following, affectionately dubbed the "Dragon Armor Army."

"Wait, look at that Great Ming Flag in the square—it's... it's the King's royal carriage!"

"The King... the King has left the palace to inspect Great Ming!"

"What... what? I must see him! The man who pulled our Great Ming from the brink of destruction to the pinnacle of kingdoms!"

The news of the Dragon Armor Army's return and Xu Nian'an's appearance at the Ming City square spread like wildfire. Ten people told a hundred, and soon, more and more people gathered.

Forty thousand Imperial Guards joined in to maintain order.

"Go ahead. Although I don't know why you are doing this, the Holy Spirit Sect and I will fully cooperate with you."

Inside the carriage.

Hearing Long Xiaoyao's words, Xu Nian'an slowly stood up, his face devoid of expression.

Only Xu Nian'an knew just how dangerous the Great Ming Kingdom was right now!

Yet, he had no regrets.

Step!

With one stride, Xu Nian'an stood beneath the scorching sun.

He swept his gaze over the fanatical eyes surrounding him, finally letting it rest upon the Dragon Guard.

"I have been to the Heaven Dou Empire, where many things happened, and I have come to understand many truths."

"So much so that it led me to make today's decision."

At this, Xu Nian'an looked up.

"I know that after today's decision, the international status Great Ming has achieved may cease to exist. Many will use various excuses to invade and attack our Great Ming!"

"But I must do this, so that we never have to bow our heads before others again, and so that our Great Ming and its people may become one of the noblest races on this continent!"

"In the past, the Gulei Kingdom dared to lie through their teeth, using the excuse of missing soldiers to surround our capital. Tomorrow, the two great empires could just as easily walk into our capital, burning, killing, and looting... and so, I have made a decision that defies our ancestors!"

Flames gradually filled Xu Nian'an's eyes.

"I want the people of Great Ming to stand tall, never again fearing being beaten or displaced by invasion, never again to be bullied!"

"I want Great Ming to rise above the status of a kingdom and become the third great empire, unprecedented in history!"

"I want everyone to tremble at the mere mention of the words 'Great Ming'!"

"I want to secure eternal peace for Great Ming!"

The scene fell into a deathly silence; only Xu Nian'an's ringing, powerful declaration remained.

It deeply shook the hearts of everyone present!

Undeniably, Xu Nian'an was a staunch, unprecedented nationalist.

While his actions were largely driven by personal motives, Xu Nian'an also understood the principle that when one person attains the Tao, their entire household ascends to heaven.

Since this battle had to be fought sooner or later.

Then let it be fought!

Let the storm come even more fiercely!

Swish—!!!

Hearing Xu Nian'an's words, Xu Yi was overcome with wild joy, his blood boiling within him.

"Great Ming Empire! Imperial Guard Commander Xu Yi, pays respects to Your Majesty!!!!"

Following Xu Yi's shout, the scene instantly erupted into a frenzy.

Every single person exerted their utmost strength, their heart-wrenching roars echoing across the heavens and earth.

"Long live the Great Ming Empire!!! Long live His Majesty the Ming Emperor!!!"

"Long live the Great Ming Empire!!! Long live His Majesty the Ming Emperor!!!"

"Long live the Great Ming Empire!!! Long live His Majesty the Ming Emperor!!!"

[Ding, congratulations to the Host. The Great Ming Kingdom has proven its strength to the continent. Do you wish to declare yourself Emperor immediately?]

A gentle breeze drifted by, causing the black python robe on Xu Nian'an to snap and flutter.

"We declare!"

"The Great Ming shall transition from a Kingdom to an Empire!!!!"

[Ding, congratulations to the Host for successfully declaring yourself Emperor after demonstrating the strength of your kingdom to the continent. Rewards:...]

[Empire Aura! Great Ming Imperial Seal, Empire National Destiny Divine Beast Five-Clawed Golden Dragon (Juvenile), 300,000-year Spirit Ring (Adaptive), 300,000 Great Snow Dragon Cavalry! ... 100,000 Brocade Guard, 100,000 Western Depot ... Myriad World Character Summoning Card X3!]

The moment Xu Nian'an officially declared himself Emperor, the reward notifications chimed incessantly in his mind.

Three hundred thousand Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, one hundred thousand Brocade Guard, one hundred thousand Western Depot eunuchs... Good heavens, that was a full five hundred thousand troops.

Is this the reward for an Empire!!!!

One must know that Xu Nian'an already had fifty thousand troops in the Galloping Wolf Kingdom, the original Gulei City (Star Shine Duchy) area with its replenished one hundred thousand elite soldiers, one hundred thousand militia, plus twenty thousand Dragon Guard and one hundred thousand Imperial Guard.

Coupled with the recruitment drive before heading to the Heaven Dou Empire, his total military strength had already surpassed one million.

A million troops was merely the starting point for an Empire!

With the system's current rewards, the Empire could easily bring them forth; what did it matter if the two great empires joined forces!

The Ming King Hall had already been renamed by Xu Nian'an to the Ming Emperor Hall.

Returning to his palace, Xu Nian'an did not immediately absorb the spirit ring, but instead immersed his consciousness into the system space.

[Empire Aura: Under the blessing of the Empire Aura, the combat effectiveness of the empire's troops is increased by 100%!]

This wasn't just an Empire Aura; wasn't this an Invincibility Aura?

One had to realize that in this era where ordinary people made up the bulk of combat power, the Dragon Guard were the ceiling of human strength. With this buff, wouldn't they be able to take on seven or eight opponents each?

[Great Ming Imperial Seal: Imperial divine artifact. Within the territory of the Empire, one can borrow the national destiny to influence the heavens and earth!]

[Empire National Destiny Divine Beast Five-Clawed Golden Dragon (Juvenile): National destiny divine beast. The empire where the divine beast resides becomes the center of this world's fortune. The Emperor's cultivation speed increases by 100%, and the empire's citizens will have a 100% chance of possessing spirit power upon martial soul awakening!]

Seeing the notification for the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, Xu Nian'an's pupils constricted sharply.

A 100% chance of possessing spirit power meant that as long as one was a citizen of the Great Ming Empire, they had the potential to become a Spirit Master.

With the blessing of spirit power, wouldn't it be effortless for his soldiers to take on ten enemies at once!

"Report, Your Majesty! A massive number of Heaven Dou soldiers have appeared at the border, currently attacking Gulei City!"

[Ding, triggered main quest: Launch the Empire's first battle!]