Spirit Hall's Shock!

Great Ming Square.

Xu Fu's slightly sharp, effeminate duck-like voice began to ring out, then, processed through a special Soul Tool, the sound spread across the entire Great Ming capital, Ming City.

"The Western Alliance United Nations (Haagen-Dazs, Sylves, and Hadrian) presents items valued at ten million Gold Soul Coins, congratulating Great Ming on pacifying the imperial turmoil and sweeping across the four corners of the world!"

Ten million. Xu Nian'an raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting to three middle-aged men outside the Great Ming Square.

These were the kings of the three primary nations currently in the Western Alliance.

Understanding that the Western Alliance was built upon the foundation of Great Ming's strength, the three kings had made the very sensible choice to attend in person on such an important day for Great Ming.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Just then, the sky above Great Ming Square flickered, and a moment later, a holographic projection appeared.

The three middle-aged men were visibly stunned, but once they reacted, they composed themselves and wore amiable smiles.

"We fully support His Majesty the Emperor of Great Ming, and we hope that Great Ming continues to flourish!"

The holographic projection over Great Ming Square was massive; almost anyone in Ming City could see it just by looking up.

"The Pelagi Kingdom offers a tribute of ten million Gold Soul Coins, hoping to wash away all previous grievances with the Great Ming Empire and conclude a covenant!"

Previously, the Western Alliance had presented items valued at ten million Gold Soul Coins, though perhaps many of those items were overvalued.

However, the Pelagi Kingdom was different; this was ten million Gold Soul Coins in hard currency.

The lines Xu Fu read were also quite interesting.

Under what circumstances would one country need to pay tribute to another?

Isn't it because they want to curry favor, or because they are fearful and have already submitted to another nation?

And as it happened, the Pelagi Kingdom had previously belonged to the Star Luo Empire's camp.

One must remember that before the Great Ming Empire and the Star Luo Empire went to full-scale war, Xu Nian'an had openly declared war on numerous countries across the continent.

That year, Xu Nian'an was in high spirits, pointing his finger at the world and reciting the names of one country after another.

Everyone had assumed the Great Ming Empire would pay a heavy price for this, perhaps even face national extinction.

But no one expected that, despite the joint siege by the two great empires, the Great Ming Empire not only held its ground—it went on to surround the capitals of both empires, forcing them to concede and sign humiliating treaties of defeat.

So, this was no tribute from the Pelagi Kingdom; this was clearly paying protection money.

On this continent where both great empires had submitted, the Great Ming Empire was, without question, the number one superpower.

With the two great empires as a cautionary tale, did anyone dare not pay their protection money?

Actually, there were some who dared.

"The Heaven Realm Kingdom presents supplies valued at ten million Gold Soul Coins, hoping that the people of Great Ming can recover quickly from the wars of aggression. The Heaven Realm Empress expresses her peaceful condolences to all the people of Great Ming!"

The Heaven Realm Kingdom was a state Xu Nian'an had established through his own machinations; it was formerly a super-province of the Star Luo Empire with over a million residents.

Now, it was controlled by the Heaven Realm Empress, who was actually Ma Xiaotao in disguise.

It was a country that yearned for freedom and peace.

"The Yunluo Principality donates five million Gold Soul Coins to the Great Ming border, free of charge!"

Speaking of which, it was quite comical.

There was a country called Yunluo to the west of the Star Luo Empire; because of its small land area and low population, it was designated as a principality.

For this Great Ming military parade, invitations had been sent to every country on the continent, and representatives from all of them had arrived.

Even the Balak Kingdom, which had been ceded after Emperor Xue Ye signed the treaty of defeat, had sent a delegation.

"The Star Luo Empire presents one million in aid supplies..."

"The Heaven Dou Empire presents one million in supplies..."

Xu Fu had rattled off the names of almost every country still existing on the continent, yet he had omitted two.

The Balak Kingdom and the Gilikris Kingdom.

Of these two, the Balak Kingdom had been ceded to the Great Ming Empire due to the treaty of defeat signed by Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xu Nian'an could understand them not paying money or providing supplies.

After all, the people living there for generations to come, and the country itself, were already his; it was understandable that they wouldn't pay.

But what Xu Nian'an could not understand was how a kingdom that was still on his list of enemy states dared to not pay, yet still have the audacity to attend the Great Ming military parade.

Was this Great Ming parade really just a parade?

Wasn't this just blatant robbery under the banner of a military parade?

What did you think those countries were scrambling to pay for?

It was all just to wash away the label of the Great Ming Empire being an enemy state.

"Ahem..."

Seeing Xu Fu on the stage looking toward the representatives of the Gilikris Kingdom with words caught in his throat, the representative of the Gilikris Kingdom froze for a moment before slowly standing up.

"Everyone, my Gilikris Kingdom has only recently gained independence and is still in the midst of development. If there is anything we have done that is lacking, I ask for your kind understanding."

"Furthermore, before the Warring States period, my Gilikris Kingdom was the center of the Western Battlefield. As a result, our economy is not well-developed, and many people are displaced and unable to afford a meal. If we could obtain some resources, then... screech, screech, screech!"

The holographic projection above Great Ming Square vanished in an instant.

Good grief, not only did they not pay to attend the Great Ming military parade, but they actually dared to beg for sponsorship.

Xu Nian'an walked up with a dark expression on his face.

Indeed, Xu Nian'an's motives for holding this parade were not entirely pure, but this was him giving them face. He was offering them a way to pay up; otherwise, this wouldn't be a military parade, but the Great Ming Iron Cavalry trampling over their faces. Xu Nian'an had never imagined that there would actually be someone so tactless.

"Right, next we would like to thank the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall for their friendly sponsorship of one million!"

That's right, not only did Xu Nian'an not spend a single cent on this parade, but he actually made a fortune. In places unseen, there was also support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall. At the same time, this was Xu Nian'an's first direct contact with people from the Spirit Hall.

"Next, the military parade... begins... Dear audience members, please look to your right rear!"

Swish—!!!

Hiss—!!!

Suddenly, the neighing of horses rang out across the sky. In the empty space to the right rear of Great Ming Square, a massive cavalry force suddenly appeared. This group of cavalrymen wore silver armor and white robes, with a deep yellow soul ring floating above them. A closer look revealed a phantom image behind each of them, holding a long spear and carrying a bow and arrows. They were clearly their martial souls and soul rings.

Swish—!!!

Beside the private box of the envoys from the two great empires, the flag of the Spirit Hall swayed slightly, but the people inside the box were thrown into a panic.

"This is... a martial soul... cavalry... They actually... possess Soul Power and have become Spirit Masters!"

An elder of the Spirit Hall widened his eyes in an instant. One had to realize that this cavalry unit consisted of nearly a hundred men. With so many people possessing essentially identical martial souls, how could their Spirit Hall have no record of them!

"Kill!!!!"

Before they could even react, a deafening roar resounded, and rays of golden light shone forth. Before long, a group of Dragon Armor Infantry slowly marched out. A closer look showed there were no more than a hundred men in the formation, but the terrifying part was that the first soul ring on every one of these men was a thousand-year ring!

"This... how is this possible!"

Within the Spirit Hall, a feminine voice rang out instantly!