The plaza in the Pope Palace in Spirit City.
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on the smooth floor tiles.
Around the square, tens of thousands of elite knights stood in formation, their heavy armor gleaming, their long spears like a forest, the silence exuding a suffocating sense of solemnity and majesty.
On the towering flagpole, the flag representing the former Spirit Hall was being slowly lowered.
Countless eyes converged on this place, including elders and bishops of the Spirit Hall, representatives of various forces that had just surrendered, and ordinary people who had come from all over the continent to witness this historic moment.
Among the crowd, Xue Ye stood in the front row, his face pale and his expression complex.
The flag of the Heaven Dou Empire had already been lowered several days ago, and now, even the flag of the Spirit Hall was about to become history. An old era was coming to a complete end before his eyes.
A brief silence fell over the square as the old flag was completely removed from the flagpole and respectfully folded and stored away by the two Cardinal.
Immediately afterwards, the dull sound of war drums boomed out.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
The drums thundered, shaking the hearts of everyone present.
Three figures slowly emerged from the depths of the Pope Palace's high platform.
Leading the way was Bibi Dong. Today, she was not wearing her usual Pope robes, but rather a magnificent dark gold imperial ceremonial robe, a purple-gold crown on her head, and a scepter in her hand. Her exquisite face exuded an undeniable majesty.
Half a step behind her on the right was Qian Renxue.
She also changed into a platinum gown symbolizing imperial power, her blonde hair pulled up high, her brows exuding nobility and pride.
To Bibi Dong's left, Qian Renyuan was also half a step behind.
He wore a fitted black robe with gold patterns, and his figure was tall and straight. At the age of eleven, he possessed a composure and coldness far beyond that of ordinary people.
His gaze swept over the dark mass of people below without the slightest fluctuation, as if everything before him was rightfully his to possess.
Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing stood on the first step below the platform, gazing up at the black figure. Hu Liena's eyes were filled with fervor and admiration, while Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists, her cool eyes flashing with determination.
"Raise the flag."
Bibi Dong's voice, enveloped in powerful Soul Power, resounded throughout the entire Spirit City.
Two heavily armored Imperial Knights, carrying a brand-new banner, strode toward the flagpole.
It was a dark gold banner. In the center of the banner, Six-Winged Angel was crossed with a sword, and below the sword was a golden emblem representing the convergence of military forces from all sides.
Accompanied by the stirring sound of bugles, the new flag slowly rose.
A sudden gust of wind arose, and the dark gold banners fluttered in the air like a giant wave that blotted out the sky, announcing the birth of a new empire.
"From this day forward, the Spirit Hall is dissolved, and the names of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire cease to exist."
Bibi Dong raised her scepter high, her voice booming like a great bell, shaking the heavens.
"Unify the continent, establish the nation— the Spirit Hall Empire!"
"I, Bibi Dong, together with Qian Renxue and Qian Renyuan, will wield the highest core authority of the empire and rule the world!"
Xue Ye's pupils contracted slightly as he looked at the black-clad youth on the high platform.
At the age of eleven, he stood at the pinnacle of power on the continent. With such intellect and skill, the Heaven Dou Empire's defeat was not unjustified.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Your Highness, we pay our respects!"
The elders and bishops of the Spirit Hall were the first to kneel on one knee and shout loudly.
Immediately afterwards, tens of thousands of elite knights knelt down on one knee in unison, the clanging of their armor echoing through the sky.
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
A tsunami of cheers spread from the square throughout the entire Spirit City, and countless people knelt on the ground, bowing and worshipping the three figures on the high platform.
Qian Renyuan stood on the high platform, looking down at the kneeling masses below, who were like ants.
His gaze did not linger, but instead passed over the walls of Spirit City, looking towards the more distant north, towards the former Star Luo Empire, and towards the endless sea.
Get up.
Bibi Dong's voice rang out again, carrying an air of complete control.
The crowd rose to their feet like a tidal wave.
Next came the long and complicated process of the founding ceremony.
He appointed officials, promulgated new laws, and redefined the provinces.
Qian Renyuan did not interfere in these specific political affairs. He knew that Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue would handle them well. He only needed to stand here as the empire's sharpest sword, deterring all those with ill intentions.
The founding edict spread like wildfire across the Douluo Continent in a very short time.
With the issuance of the imperial edict, an unprecedented upheaval unfolded across the continent.
The reform of the old Xinjiang region was the first to be affected.
The former territories of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire were completely shattered and re-divided into dozens of provinces.
The Spirit Hall Empire dispatched a large number of capable officials and Soul Master to take over the administration and defense of various regions.
The noble families of the two once high and mighty empires can now only tuck their tails between their legs under the new laws.
Any force that dares to resist or outwardly comply but inwardly defy will be ruthlessly crushed by the Spirit Hall Empire's army in the first instance.
Unified military command is of paramount importance for the new empire to consolidate its rule.
The armies that originally belonged to Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire were all scattered and reorganized into the legions of the Spirit Hall Empire.
All military power was highly centralized in the imperial center, jointly controlled by Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Qian Renyuan.
The newly formed Imperial Guard, clad in black armor, took over the defense of key cities and the palace, deterring potential rebellions.
The reopening of trade routes injected new vitality into this war-torn continent.
In the past, the two great empires were separated by numerous checkpoints and strict trade barriers, and merchants often had to pay high prices to conduct cross-border transactions.
Now, with the unification of the mainland, all checkpoints have been dismantled, and a unified currency and system of weights and measures have been implemented.
On the wide official road, caravans came and went in an endless stream, with silk and tea from the south being transported to the north in a steady flow, and minerals and furs from the north flowing smoothly into the south.
The city's markets have become bustling and vibrant again, and the long-lost smiles are gradually returning to the faces of the people.
In every city and town on the mainland, the dark golden banner of the Spirit Hall Empire flies high.
At first, people were filled with awe and unfamiliarity with the new flag, but as time went on, they gradually began to accept and identify with this new empire.
Without endless wars and exorbitant taxes, they could live peaceful lives as long as they obeyed the laws of the empire.
For ordinary people, it doesn't matter who is the emperor; what matters is who can give them enough to eat. And the Spirit Hall Empire did just that.
Spring passes and autumn comes, cold comes and summer comes.
The joy of the reunification of the mainland gradually settled into the tranquility of daily life.
Time, on the track of the new order, moves forward steadily and firmly.
Seven years have passed in the blink of an eye, yet they have left an indelible mark of iron and blood on the map of the Douluo Continent.